Revisiting the place of surgical portal decompression for adults with noncirrhotic portal hypertension due to chronic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction: a scoping review.

Background: Liver cirrhosis accounts for more than 90 % of portal hypertension cases, and the other cases are due to noncirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Variceal bleeding is the most life-threatening complication of portal hypertension and its primary treatment is medical according to the Baveno VII guidelines. This review discusses the evidence on surgical portal decompression for adult patients with NCPH secondary to chronic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO).

Micronutrient-Antioxidant Therapy and Male Fertility Improvement During ART Cycles.

Today, accumulating evidence highlights the impact of oxidative stress (OS) on semen quality. It is considered to be a key factor contributing to the decline in male fertility. OS is detected in 30-80% of men with infertility, highlighting its strong association with impaired reproductive function and with clinical outcomes following the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

Optimization of the Antibacterial Activity of a Three-Component Essential Oil Mixture from Moroccan , , and Using a Simplex-Centroid Design.

Background/objectives: The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has become a global health crisis, necessitating the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. This study aimed to optimize the antibacterial effects of essential oils (EOs) from , , and , enhancing their efficacy through optimized mixtures.

Methods: This study utilized a simplex-centroid design to optimize the mixture ratios of EOs for maximal antibacterial and antioxidant effectiveness.

Efficacy and Safety of Roxadustat in Patients with CKD: Pooled Analysis by Baseline Inflammation Status.

: Inflammation may contribute to hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and is often present in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Roxadustat is approved in multiple countries for the treatment of anemia of CKD. This pooled analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of roxadustat in patients with dialysis-dependent (DD) or non-dialysis-dependent (NDD) CKD by inflammation status.

Quantification of Free Circulating DNA and Differential Methylation Profiling of Selected Genes as Novel Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Endometriosis Diagnosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent disorder associated with the presence of endometrial cells mainly in the pelvic cavity, causing systemic immune inflammation, infertility, epigenetic dysregulation of differential DNA methylation, coelomic metaplasia, and pain. It affects approximately 10-12% of women. Despite decades of research, full pathophysiology, a diagnostic roadmap, and clinical management strategies for endometriosis are not yet fully elucidated.

Effects of Essential Oils as Antioxidant and Cryoprotective Agents in Improving Frozen and Thawed Human Sperm Criteria.

Sperm cryopreservation provides patients undergoing oncological, surgical, or infertility treatments the opportunity to conceive their own children, using assisted reproductive technologies. However, the freezing-thawing process can negatively influence both the quantity and the quality of spermatozoa, mainly due to an excessive production of reactive oxygen species and/or an impaired antioxidant defense system in sperm. Aromatic and medicinal plants synthesize essential oils with antioxidant proprieties as a part of their ecological adaptation to environmental stress, thanks to their rich bioactive phytochemical components.

A Non-Equilibrium Species Distribution Model Reveals Unprecedented Depth of Time Lag Responses to Past Environmental Change Trajectories.

Previous studies have demonstrated legacy effects of current species distributions to past environmental conditions, but the temporal extent of such time lag dynamics remains unknown. Here, we have developed a non-equilibrium Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) approach quantifying the temporal extent that must be taken into account to capture 95% of the effect that a given time series of past environmental conditions has on the current distribution of a species. We applied this approach on the distribution of 92 European forest birds in response to past trajectories of change in forest cover and climate.

The Dynamics, Degradation, and Afterlives of Pectins: Influences on Cell Wall Assembly and Structure, Plant Development and Physiology, Agronomy, and Biotechnology.

Pectins underpin the assembly, molecular architecture, and physical properties of plant cell walls and through their effects on cell growth and adhesion influence many aspects of plant development. They are some of the most dynamic components of plant cell walls, and pectin remodeling and degradation by pectin-modifying enzymes can drive developmental programming via physical effects on the cell wall and the generation of oligosaccharides that can act as signaling ligands. Here, we introduce pectin structure and synthesis and discuss pectin functions in plants.

Cytokine Hemoadsorption versus Standard Care in Cardiac Surgery Using the Oxiris® Membrane: the OXICARD single center randomized trial.

Background: Cardiac surgery can lead to dysregulation with a pro-inflammatory state, resulting in adverse outcomes. Hemadsorption using the AN69 membrane (Oxiris membrane) has the properties to chelate inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized that in patients at high risk of inflammation, the use of the Oxiris membrane could decrease inflammation, preserve endothelial function, and improve postoperative outcomes.

Acute effects of virtual reality exercise bike games on psychophysiological outcomes in college North-African adolescents with cerebral palsy: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that can affect motor skills and psychophysiological well-being. Virtual Reality Exercise (VRE) improves cognitive and physical outcomes in patients with CP. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of VRE on attention, vigor, and decision-making abilities in adolescents with CP.

Unraveling the Connection Between Ion Channels and Pancreatic Stellate Cell Activation.

Quiescent pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) represent only a very low proportion of the pancreatic tissue, but their activation leads to stroma remodeling and fibrosis associated with pathologies such as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PSC activation can be induced by various stresses, including acidosis, growth factors (PDGF, TGFβ), hypoxia, high pressure, or intercellular communication with pancreatic cancer cells. Activated PSC targeting represents a promising therapeutic strategy, but little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of PSCs.

Prevalence and comorbidity rates of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder in epidemiological and clinical samples: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the prevalence of disruptive mood dysregulation disorders (DMDD) in community-based and clinical populations.

Methods: PubMed and PsychINFO databases were searched, using terms specific to DMDD, for studies of prevalence and comorbidity rates conducted in youths below 18.

Results: Fourteen studies reporting data from 2013 to 2023 were included.

Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Mechanical and Hygroscopic Properties of an Innovative Clay-Sand Composite Reinforced with Fibers.

The viability of using fibers as reinforcement material for developing lightweight sustainable non-structural construction materials in compliance with the valorization of local by-products has been investigated in this work. This study aims to investigate the effect of the chemical treatment of fibers on the mechanical and hygric properties of bio-sourced clay-sand- fiber composite. This lightweight specimen has been produced from a mixture of 60% natural clay and 40% sand by mass, as a matrix, and reinforced with different amounts of Juncus fibers.

Exploring the Photocatalytic Efficiency of Gold Nanoparticles Deposited on Ni-Al-Zr-Layered Double Hydroxides for Selective Glucose Oxidation.

Confronting escalating challenges in energy security and environmental sustainability has intensified interest in renewable sources for fuels and chemicals. Among the most promising alternatives, sugars derived from biomass are emerging as a cornerstone in advancing an environmentally sustainable economy. Within this framework, the development of sunlight-driven carbohydrate oxidation is of significant interest, as it enables the production of a broad spectrum of high-value, bio-sourced chemicals through eco-friendly processes.

The effect of sevelamer on serum calcification propensity in patients with chronic kidney disease: the results of a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Background: The serum calcification propensity test (or T50 test) might become a standard tool for the assessment of vascular calcification risk and T50 might be a valuable biomarker in clinical trials of treatments intended to slow the progression of vascular calcification. Literature data suggest that non-calcium-containing phosphate binders can influence T50 in chronic dialysed patients. However, it is not clear whether similar interventions are effective in patients at earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Quantifying the potential contribution of drugs to the occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: We sought to comprehensively describe drug-related components associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), describing the incidence of drug-related AKI, the proportion of preventable AKI, identified the various drugs potentially associated with it, explored the risk factors, and assessed the 1-year incidences of the recurrence of drug-related AKI, kidney failure, and death.

Methods: CKD-REIN is a French national prospective cohort of 3033 nephrology outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m²).

Association between urate-lowering therapy and kidney failure in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Hyperuricemia is a hallmark of gout and a suspected risk factor for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the impact of urate-lowering therapy on CKD progression is subject to debate. The objective of the present study was to describe the prevalence of inappropriate urate-lowering therapy prescriptions and evaluate the association between urate-lowering therapy prescription and the progression of kidney disease in patients with CKD.

Whipping Creams: Advances in Molecular Composition and Nutritional Chemistry.

Whipping cream (WC) is an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion used in food industry that can be transformed into aerated foam. The cream market has expanded significantly, driven by consumer demands for healthier and higher-quality products, leading to significant scientific research and innovation. This review focuses on formulation challenges related to ingredients such as fats, emulsifiers, and stabilizers, and how these components interact to form a stable emulsion and foam structure.

Analyzing exercise-to-rest ratios in U19 American football European championship: implications for team success and injury prevention.

Background: The teams' collective playing strategy rather than the individual player attitudes could explain event outcome and risk of injuries.

Objective: The study aimed to examine the playing style of European teams and compare it to the USA.

Method: 12 matches from the U19 European championship of American Football were analysed.

Fortuitous discovery of a superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery originating from the right branch of the hepatic artery during cadaver dissection.

Introduction: The duodeno-pancreatic region is a highly vascularized area. The superior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a vessel primarily originating from the gastroduodenal artery. It exhibits rare anatomical variations, such as its emergence from the right branch of the hepatic artery, which we fortuitously identified during a cadaver dissection.

Transmantle pressure under the influence of free breathing: non-invasive quantification of the aqueduct pressure gradient in healthy adults.

Background: The pressure gradient between the ventricles and the subarachnoid space (transmantle pressure) is crucial for understanding CSF circulation and the pathogenesis of certain neurodegenerative diseases. This pressure can be approximated by the pressure difference across the aqueduct (ΔP). Currently, no dedicated platform exists for quantifying ΔP, and no research has been conducted on the impact of breathing on ΔP.

Body composition is associated with changes in health-related quality of life in patients with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the association between body composition and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients followed for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Longitudinal data from the Knee and Hip OsteoArthritis Long-term Assessments (KHOALA) cohort, a multicentre cohort of 878 patients with symptomatic knee and/or hip OA, were used. The main outcome criteria were changes in patient-reported outcomes measures, the Study Short Form-36 (physical functioning, pain, mental health and vitality) and the OsteoArthritis Knee and Hip Quality Of Life (OAKHQOL)(physical activity, pain and mental health).

Investigating the cognitive architecture of verbal fluency: evidence from an interference design on 487 controls.

Introduction: Numerous studies have explored the linguistic and executive processes underlying verbal fluency using association designs, which provide limited evidence. To assess the validity of our model, we aimed to refine the cognitive architecture of verbal fluency using an interference design.

Methods: A total of 487 healthy participants performed letter and semantic fluency tests under the single condition and dual conditions while concurrently performing a secondary task that interferes with speed, semantics, phonology, or flexibility.