Inorganic nitrogen and organic matter jointly regulate ectomycorrhizal fungi-mediated iron acquisition.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play a crucial role in facilitating plant nutrient uptake from the soil although inorganic nitrogen (N) can potentially diminish this role. However, the effect of inorganic N availability and organic matter on shaping EMF-mediated plant iron (Fe) uptake remains unclear. To explore this, we performed a microcosm study on Pinus taeda roots inoculated with Suillus cothurnatus treated with +/-Fe-coated sand, +/-organic matter, and a gradient of NHNO concentrations.

The Impact of Hypomagnesemia on the Long-Term Evolution After Kidney Transplantation.

Background/objectives: Magnesium plays a crucial role in immune function, influencing immunoglobulin synthesis, antibody-dependent cytolysis, and other immune processes. In renal transplant patients, magnesium deficiency is primarily induced by calcineurin inhibitor treatment, through the reduction of magnesium transporter proteins in the renal tubules, leading to magnesium loss.

Methods: To assess the correlation between serum magnesium levels and the long-term outcomes of renal graft and transplant recipients, we conducted a retrospective study on 87 patients who have had a transplant for more than 5 years, a period considered immunologically stable.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of bulevirtide monotherapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HDV-related cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Bulevirtide (BLV) 2 mg/day is EMA approved for treatment of compensated chronic hepatitis due to Delta virus (HDV) infection, however real-life data in large cohorts of patients with cirrhosis are lacking.

Methods: Consecutive HDV-infected patients with cirrhosis starting BLV 2 mg/day since September 2019 were included in a European retrospective multicenter real-life study (SAVE-D). Patient characteristics before and during BLV treatment were collected.

Management of acute myocardial infarction in chronic kidney disease in Germany: an observational study.

Background: Managing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease on dialysis (renal replacement therapy, RRT) presents challenges due to elevated complication risks. Concerns about contrast-related kidney damage may lead to the omission of guideline-directed therapies like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in this population.

Methods: We analysed German-DRG data of 2016 provided by the German Federal Bureau of Statistics (DESTATIS).

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Hemodialysis Patients in the Era of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment: Observational Study and Narrative Review.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global public health concern, particularly in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aims to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of HCV-positive patients undergoing HD and assess the long-term impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on patient outcomes. Moreover, a narrative review aims to summarize the current knowledge regarding HCV treatment in HD patients.

The Interplay of Molecular Factors and Morphology in Human Placental Development and Implantation.

The placenta is a vital organ that supports fetal development by mediating nutrient and gas exchange, regulating immune tolerance, and maintaining hormonal balance. Its formation and function are tightly linked to the processes of embryo implantation and the establishment of a robust placental-uterine interface. Recent advances in molecular biology and histopathology have shed light on the key regulatory factors governing these processes, including trophoblast invasion, spiral artery remodeling, and the development of chorionic villi.

Aggression and the Big Five Personality Factors Among Fitness Practitioners and Pre-Workout Consumers.

: The use of pre-workout supplements has surged among fitness practitioners, with various ingredients purported to enhance performance and recovery. This study aims to explore the potential link between pre-workout supplement consumption and aggression, as well as the correlation between the Big Five personality traits and aggression levels. : The sample comprised 62 male fitness practitioners aged 20-55 years, divided into two groups: 32 pre-workout consumers and 30 non-consumers.

Bacterial Infections, Trends, and Resistance Patterns in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania-A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns over bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Romania. This systematic review explores bacterial infection patterns and resistance during the pandemic to address critical gaps in knowledge. A systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines, was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Scopus, focusing on studies of bacterial infections from 2020 to 2022.

Are Pediatric Cancer Patients a Risk Group for Vitamin D Deficiency? A Systematic Review.

: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a global health concern, with potential implications for cancer development and progression. This systematic review investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric cancer patients and its potential impact on clinical outcomes. : A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify the relevant studies published between 2009 and July 2024.

Outcomes and Impact of Device Iterations in Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: The REPAIR Study.

Background: The PASCAL P10 system for mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair has undergone iterations, including introduction of the narrower Ace implant and the Precision delivery system.

Objectives: The study sought to evaluate outcomes and the impact of PASCAL mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair device iterations.

Methods: The REPAIR (REgistry of PAscal for mltral Regurgitation) study is an investigator-initiated, multicenter registry including consecutive patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) treated from 2019 to 2024.

Respiratory Viruses in Patients With Hematological Malignancy in Boreal Autumn/Winter 2023-2024: EPICOVIDEHA-EPIFLUEHA Report.

Community-acquired respiratory viral infections (CARV) significantly impact patients with hematological malignancies (HM), leading to high morbidity and mortality. However, large-scale, real-world data on CARV in these patients is limited. This study analyzed data from the EPICOVIDEHA-EPIFLUEHA registry, focusing on patients with HM diagnosed with CARV during the 2023-2024 autumn-winter season.

Adipose tissue as target of environmental toxicants: focus on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Obesity, diabetes, and their cardiovascular and hepatic comorbidities are alarming public health issues of the twenty-first century, which share mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation as common pathophysiological mechanisms. An increasing body of evidence links the combined exposure to multiple environmental toxicants with the occurrence and severity of metabolic diseases. Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are ubiquitous chemicals or mixtures with persistent deleterious effects on the living organisms beyond the endocrine system impairment; in particular, those known as metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs), increase the risk of the metabolic pathologies in adult organism or its progeny.

Exploring the Shared Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Endometriosis and Cancer: Stemness and Targeted Treatments of Its Molecular Pathways-A Narrative Review.

Endometriosis is a benign disease but with malignant behavior, sharing numerous features with cancers. Endometriosis is the development of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, with the presence of both glands and stroma. Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis; it involves high social costs and affects the patient's quality of life.

Rosuvastatin Attenuates Vascular Dysfunction Induced by High-Fructose Diets and Allergic Asthma in Rats.

Background: A growing body of evidence links a high-fructose diet (HFrD) to metabolic disturbances, including inflammation, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and also endothelial dysfunction, yet its role in allergic asthma remains underexplored. Considering that obesity and hypercholesterolemia exacerbate asthma by promoting systemic inflammation, investigating interventions with dual metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the potential modulatory effects of rosuvastatin in ameliorating the effects of HFrD-induced metabolic and vascular dysfunction in the context of allergic asthma.

Endoscopic papillectomy versus surgical ampullectomy for adenomas and early cancers of the papilla: a retrospective Pancreas2000/European Pancreatic Club analysis.

Objective: Ampullary neoplastic lesions can be resected by endoscopic papillectomy (EP) or transduodenal surgical ampullectomy (TSA) while pancreaticoduodenectomy is reserved for more advanced lesions. We present the largest retrospective comparative study analysing EP and TSA.

Design: Of all patients in the database, lesions with prior interventions, benign histology advanced malignancy (T2 and more), patients with hereditary syndromes and those undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were excluded.

Impact of Measured and Predicted Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Prosthesis-patient mismatch after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can be measured echocardiographically (measured prosthesis-patient mismatch [PPMm]) or predicted (predicted prosthesis-patient mismatch [PPMp]) using published effective orifice area (EOA) reference values. However, the clinical implications of PPM post-TAVR remain unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of PPMm and PPMp post-TAVR and their impact on mortality in a large international cohort.

Assessing the Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Respiratory Infections in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objectives: Recent studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation and higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations may reduce the incidence of respiratory infections in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between different concentrations of vitamin D supplementation, serum 25-OHD concentrations, and the frequency of respiratory infections among individuals aged 1 to 18 years, for a duration of 2 years.

Methods: Concerning sun exposure in relation to vitamin D, the study took place in Romania, at approximately 45-degree northern latitude.

The Influence of Atorvastatin Treatment on Homocysteine Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in an Experimental Model of Diabetic Rats.

Objective: In our experimental study, we evaluated the influence of treatment with atorvastatin on the antioxidant activity of intracellular and extracellular systems factors, homocysteine levels (Hcy), and lipid profiles in obese and diabetic rats.

Method: Twenty-one male Wistar rats, aged 6 months, 450-550 g, were allocated into three groups. From the beginning of the study, the first group (G-I, control) received only standard food, while the second and third groups (G II-obese, G III-diabetic) were administered a high-fat diet (HFD) with 2% cholesterol.

A Comparison of Open Ventral Hernia Repair Risk Stratification Systems: A Call for Consensus.

: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) is a common surgical intervention linked to specific surgical site complications. In such occurrences, the related morbidity is often substantial. Although known risk factors have long been recognized, their systematic inclusion in risk stratification systems lacks universal validation.

Characteristics of Urinary Tract Infections in Patients with Diabetes from Timișoara, Romania: Prevalence, Etiology, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Uropathogens.

: Diabetic patients are more likely to develop infections compared to the general population, especially urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of UTIs in a population of patients with diabetes (DM) from Romania, to identify the most common uropathogens and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns, as well as to determine the correlations between resistance behavior and particularities of patients with UTIs according to DM type. : The hospital records of 1282 type 1 (T1D) and type 2 DM (T2D) adult inpatients who were ordered urine cultures during hospitalization were reviewed, and all 241 patients who presented a positive urine culture were included in the present study analysis.

Factors Influencing the Development and Severity of Cognitive Decline in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

: Considering the increasing prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) and cognitive decline (CD) observed in recent decades and the complex interrelation between these two pathologies often encountered in the same patient, in this study, we aimed to highlight the connection between CHF, defined as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, and CD, evaluated by employing five neuropsychological scales. : Our study was conducted on 190 patients with very high cardiovascular risk profiles admitted between 5 September 2021 and 15 November 2023 in the Municipal Emergency Hospital Timisoara. Of these, 103 had CHF (group A) and 87 did not (group B).

Oxidative Stress and Placental Pathogenesis: A Contemporary Overview of Potential Biomarkers and Emerging Therapeutics.

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in placental pathogenesis and pregnancy-related complications. This review explores OS's impact on placental development and function, focusing on novel biomarkers for the early detection of at-risk pregnancies and emerging therapeutic strategies. We analyzed recent research on OS in placental pathophysiology, examining its sources, mechanisms, and effects.

The Influence of COVID-19 in Glycemic Control: Predictive Value of Inflammation and Metabolic Parameters.

Background/objectives: Predicting post-COVID-19 diabetes is crucial for enhancing patient care and public health. This study investigates the role of metabolic factors in predicting the glycemic outcomes in patients recovering from moderate to severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 135 patients without pre-existing diabetes, selected from a cohort of 1980 individuals hospitalized between January 2020 and December 2022.

Pancreatic Morphology, Immunology, and the Pathogenesis of Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is a complex inflammatory disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. This review aims to integrate the current knowledge of pancreatic morphology and immunology with the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, providing a comprehensive understanding of this critical condition. We conducted an extensive literature review, synthesizing data from recent studies and authoritative sources on pancreatic anatomy, histology, immunology, and the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis.

Arterio-Venous Fistula Calcifications-Risk Factors and Clinical Relevance.

(1) Background: Arterio-venous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the gold-standard vascular access (VA) in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy. AVF calcifications represent a less studied VA related complication, even though HD patients are at a higher risk for extraosseous calcifications. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of AVF calcifications, as well as the 5-year impact on AVF functionality and on overall mortality.