Long-term effects of antipsychotics on serum BDNF levels in patients with schizophrenia.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia, and peripheral BDNF levels are affected by the short-term antipsychotic treatment. However, the data on their long-term effects on BDNF levels are scarce, and there is no information whether BDNF levels change during sustained remission in relation to values in healthy individuals. The aim of the present study was to compare serum BDNF levels in patients in long-term remission and healthy controls.

The gender and age perspectives of allostatic load.

The role of chronic stress in the development of chronic diseases, especially multimorbidity, through the pathways of increasing allostatic load, and finally, allostatic overload (the state when a compensatory mechanism is likely to fail) is being emphasized. However, allostatic load is a dynamic measure that changes depending on sex, gender, age, level and type of stress, experience of a stressful situation, and coping behaviors. Many other factors such as race, ethnicity, working environment, lifestyle, and circadian rhythm of sleep are also important.

Expression of Wnt signaling proteins LEF1, β-catenin, GSK3β, DVL1, and N-myc varies across retinoblastoma subtypes and pRb phosphorylation status.

Retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer, has hereditary and non-hereditary forms. While TNM classification helps in prognosis, understanding molecular mechanisms is vital for the clinical behavior of retinoblastoma prediction. Our study aimed to analyze the expression levels of key Wnt pathway proteins, GSK3β, LEF1, β-catenin, and DVL1, and associate them to non-phosphorylated active form (pRb) and the phosphorylated inactive form (ppRb) and N-myc expression, in retinoblastoma cells and healthy retinal cells, in order to elucidate their roles in retinoblastoma and identify potential targets that could help to improve diagnostic and therapy.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose tolvaptan (7.5mg) in the treatment of inpatient hyponatraemia: a retrospective study.

Objectives: The recommended dose of tolvaptan for hyponatraemia secondary to SIADH is 15mg. We evaluated the efficacy of an initial 7.5mg dose and determined the frequency where sodium (Na+) correction exceeded safe limits, defined as an increment of ≥10 mmol/L, within the initial 8 or 24 hours of administration.

Personalized Ultra-Fractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Varian Ethos Therapy System.

We present a patient treated with personalized ultra-fractionated stereotactic adaptive radiotherapy (PULSAR) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the adaptive Varian Ethos™ system equipped with the novel HyperSight imaging platform. Three pulses of 12 Gy were separated by a pause of four weeks during which the tumor was given enough time to respond to treatment. Only initial planning computed tomography (CT) was acquired on a CT simulator (Siemens Somatom Definition Edge), whereas other pulses were adapted using online cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images (iCBCT Acuros reconstruction) acquired while the patient was lying on the treatment couch and delivered immediately.

Diagnosis of West Nile virus infections: Evaluation of different laboratory methods.

Background: The diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) is challenging due to short-term and low-level viremia, flavivirus cross-reactivity, and long immunoglobulin M (IgM) persistence.

Aim: To evaluate different methods for WNV detection [reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), IgM/IgG antibodies, IgG avidity] in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine samples of patients with confirmed WNV infection.

Methods: The study included patients with confirmed WNV neuroinvasive infection ( = 62), asymptomatic WNV seropositive individuals ( = 22), and individuals with false-positive WNV IgM antibodies ( = 30).

Trace element and radiological characterisation of ash and soil at a legacy site in the former Raša coal-mining area.

Coal mined in the shut-down Raša mine in Istria, Croatia had a high organic sulphur content. What has remained of its local combustion is a coal and ash waste (legacy site) whose trace element and radionuclide composition in soil has enduring consequences for the environment. The aim of this study was to follow up on previous research and investigate the potential impact on surrounding soil and local residents by characterising the site's ash and soil samples collected in two field campaigns.

Design and Characterization of Novel Naphthalimide Fluorescent Probe for HS Detection in Human Serum.

In this work, a novel fluorescent probe (compound 2) based on the Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism was designed and successfully applied to determine HS in human serum. Fluorophore 1,8-naphthalimide was chosen, while the azide group was the recognition group for HS determination. By introducing p-toluidine moiety on the imide part of the molecule, a donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated system was formed.

Serum progastrin-releasing peptide in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Introduction: Higher concentrations of the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) serum marker, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP), in lung inflammations has been indicated in literature. The objective of this study was to compare serum proGRP concentration in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Materials And Methods: An observational study was performed to assess serum proGRP against other lung cancer markers in pneumonia, COPD and in stage 1/2 carcinomas.

Core outcome set of daily monitoring of gastrointestinal function in adult critically ill patients: a modified Delphi consensus process (COSMOGI).

Purpose: Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is common in critically ill patients and associated with poor outcomes. There is a lack of standardised methods for daily monitoring of GI function. COSMOGI aimed to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for daily monitoring of GI function to improve consistency and comparability in future studies in critically ill patients.

Association of Ego Defense Mechanisms with Electrolyte and Inflammation Marker Levels, Interdialytic Weight Gain, Depression, Alexithymia, and Sleep Disorders in Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis.

: Ego defense mechanisms are subconscious processes that help individuals cope with stressors from both external and internal realities. They are divided into three levels based on their adaptive function. Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis are those who have been treated with this method for longer than three months.

Chronic Total Occlusions in Non-Infarct-Related Coronary Arteries and Long-Term Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndromes.

: Patients with non-infarct-related artery chronic total occlusion (non-IRA CTO) found during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) are not rare and have worse clinical outcomes. We aimed to analyze their long-term clinical outcomes in regard to clinical characteristics, revascularization strategies, and adherence to medical therapy. : The dual-center ACS registry of patients treated from Jan 2017 to May 2023 was used to identify 1950 patients with timely PCI in ACS who survived to discharge with documented adequate demographic, clinical, and angiographic characteristics, treatment strategies, and medical therapy adherence during a median follow-up time of 49 months.

Green Microfluidic Method for Sustainable and High-Speed Analysis of Basic Amino Acids in Nutritional Supplements.

Amino acids (AAs) have broad nutritional, therapeutic, and medical significance and thus are one of the most common active ingredients of nutritional supplements. Analytical strategies for determining AAs are high-priced and often limited to methods that require modification of AA polarity or incorporation of an aromatic moiety. The aim of this work was to develop a new method for the determination of L-arginine, L-ornithine, and L-lysine on low-cost microchip electrophoresis instrumentation conjugated with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets.

Analysis of microplastic (MP) occurrence in commercially relevant species is a prerequisite for food risk assessment. Using a standardized methodology, we aimed to investigate MP contamination in point-of-sale clams, mussels, and Crustacea shellfish collected from various markets (Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, and South Korea). An improved digestion protocol yielded ≥ 99.

Calcitonin-Gene-Related Peptide in Migraine and Tension-Type Headache in Children During Interictal Period.

Research on calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) in adult migraine is extensive, but its role in childhood migraine remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate serum CGRP levels in children experiencing migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) during interictal periods, comparing these levels to age-matched healthy controls. A total of 66 migraine patients, 59 with TTH, and 53 controls were recruited and stratified by headache onset age: under 7, 7-12, and over 12 years.

Magnetic ordering and half-metallicity in hydrogenated graphene-hBN nanoribbons.

Graphene (Gr) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoribbons have shown significant potential for various applications owing to their unique electronic and magnetic properties. This study explored the effects of hydrogenation on the magnetic and electronic properties of Gr-hBN nanoribbons (Gr/BNNRs). The influence of hydrogenation of one or both edges, i.

Evaluation of hydrazone and -acylhydrazone derivatives of vitamin B6 and pyridine-4-carbaldehyde as potential drugs against Alzheimer's disease.

The growing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease calls for a drug that can simultaneously act towards several targets involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. In our study, we evaluated the potential of hydrazone and -acylhydrazone derivatives of vitamin B6 and pyridine-4-carbaldehyde to be used as multi-target directed ligands targeting cholinergic system by inhibiting acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase, lowering the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques by inhibiting both the β-secretase activity and amyloid self-aggregation, and maintaining the biometal balance by chelating certain biometals. Our results showed that all of the tested hydrazones were potent inhibitors of human cholinesterases with inhibition constants (i) in micromolar range able to lower the activity of β-secretase, inhibit amyloid aggregation, chelate biometals and act as antioxidants.

Calcifediol and paricalcitol as adjunctive therapies for HSV-1 keratitis and corneal perforation: A case report.

Rationale: Herpes simplex virus 1 establishes a latent infection in trigeminal ganglia. Reactivation causes cold sores, as well as viral keratitis. The purpose of this study was to report potential benefits of using active vitamin D receptor ligands (VDR-agonists) as adjunctive therapies for the treatment of infectious corneal perforations, and prevention of HSV recurrence.

The good, the bad, and the unknown nature of decreased GD3 synthase expression.

This paper explores the physiological consequences of decreased expression of GD3 synthase (GD3S), a biosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of b-series gangliosides. GD3S is a key factor in tumorigenesis, with overexpression enhancing tumor growth, proliferation, and metastasis in various cancers. Hence, inhibiting GD3S activity has potential therapeutic effects due to its role in malignancy-associated pathways across different cancer types.

A rare case of cerebellar abscess caused by .

Background: Gram-positive opportunistic bacteria of the species are responsible for a large spectrum of infections, such as pneumonia, skin infections, and more widespread conditions, including brain abscesses.

Case Description: A 67-year-old male patient suffered from headache, gait disorder, and vertigo for a week before admission to our department. An enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a mediosagittal hyperintense infratentorial lesion with concomitant compression of the fourth ventricle.

Ethical attitudes and perspectives of AI use in medicine between Croatian and Slovenian faculty members of school of medicine: Cross-sectional study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is present in preclinical, clinical and research work, in various branches of medicine. Researchers and teachers at school of medicines may have different ethical attitudes and perspectives about the implementation of AI systems in medicine.

Methods: We conducted an online survey among researchers and teachers (RTs) at the departments and institutes of two Slovenian and four Croatian Schools of Medicine.

Exploratory study on reference intervals of calprotectin and pentraxin 3.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to determine reference intervals for serum pentraxin 3 and calprotectin, as well as for urine calprotectin according to the CLSI EP28-A3C guidelines for defining, establishing, and verifying reference intervals in the clinical laboratory.

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 serum and urine samples from either healthy volunteers or outpatients were used for reference interval establishment. The participants had CRP levels, leucocyte counts, serum urea levels, creatinine levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (CKD-EPI eGFRs) within the reference range and no medical history of acute/chronic inflammatory diseases/conditions or cancer.

Educational Nutrition Workshops: Impact on Nutritional Status in Organized Living Beneficiaries with Severe Mental Disorders and Their Caregivers.

Background/objectives: Individuals with severe mental disorders often face challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper dietary habits. Educational nutrition workshops, as a form of nutritional intervention, may play an important role in improving their nutritional status. This study aims to assess the impact of nutritional workshops on the dietary habits and nutritional status of individuals with severe mental disorders and their caregivers.