Toward harnessing biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships in fungi.

Fungi are crucial for terrestrial ecosystems, yet the role of fungal diversity in ecosystem functions remains unclear. We synthesize fungal biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) relationships, focusing on plant biomass production, carbon storage, decomposition, and pathogen or parasite resistance. The observed BEF relationships for these ecosystem functions vary in strength and direction, complicating generalizations.

Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa carriage on intensive care unit-acquired pneumonia: a European multicentre prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a common causative pathogen of pneumonia acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of PA ICU pneumonia (PAIP) and to quantify its independent association with PA colonization at different body sites.

Methods: Adult patients on mechanical ventilation at ICU admission were prospectively enrolled across 30 European ICUs.

Not feeling it: lack of robust emotion effects on breadth of attention.

Emotional states are believed to broaden or to narrow the focus of attention. However, numerous inconsistent findings call for renewed efforts to understand the conditions under which such effects occur. We conducted a pair of high-powered web experiments.

Factors influencing medical students career intentions in Flanders, Estonia and Hungary: a multivariable analysis.

Background: The career decisions of medical students are pivotal in shaping the future healthcare workforce. In many countries, the number of medical students who choose general practice (GP) as their career is insufficient to meet the needs of the healthcare system.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the factors influencing medical students' career intentions and their preference for a career in GP.

Diagnostic Features of Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Survey Study of Estonian, Finnish, and Lithuanian Speech-Language Pathologists.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to investigate how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) from Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania rate the significance of different features for diagnosing childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) in their languages.

Method: An online survey was conducted among 197 Estonian, Finnish, and Lithuanian SLPs who have worked with children with CAS. The SLPs were asked to rate the significance of 63 features for CAS diagnosis in their respective language.

Large mitochondrial genomes in tenthredinid sawflies (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae).

We sequenced and assembled mitochondrial genomes of three tenthredinid sawflies (, , and ) using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION. The Canu assembler produced circular assemblies (23,000-40,000 bp). Still, errors were found in the highly repetitive non-coding control region because of the fragmented DNA which led to no reads spanning the complete control region, preventing its reliable assembly.

Daily Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning for Intermittent Claudication: A Sham Controlled Randomised Trial.

Objective: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a promising non-invasive strategy in which brief episodes of ischaemia and reperfusion can increase skeletal muscle resistance to ischaemia and improve mobility. This study aimed to determine whether 28 consecutive days of RIPC improved intermittent claudication (IC) symptoms compared with sham intervention.

Methods: This single centre, parallel, randomised, sham controlled, double blind trial was conducted from January 2022 to April 2023 in outpatient settings.

Polyphenolic Compounds in the Stems of Raspberry () Growing Wild and Cultivated.

The stems of L., a byproduct of the fruit-food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of polyphenolic compounds in stems.

Nanomaterial Texture-Based Machine Learning of Ciprofloxacin Adsorption on Nanoporous Carbon.

Drug substances in water bodies and groundwater have become a significant threat to the surrounding environment. This study focuses on the ability of the nanoporous carbon materials to remove ciprofloxacin from aqueous solutions under specific experimental conditions and on the development of the mathematical model that would allow describing the molecular interactions of the adsorption process and calculating the adsorption capacity of the material. Thus, based on the adsorption measurements of the 87 carbon materials, it was found that, depending on the porosity and pore size distribution, adsorption capacity values varied between 55 and 495 mg g.

Transition to Enteral Triazole Antifungal Therapy for Pediatric Invasive Candidiasis: Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Cohort Study Conducted by the Pediatric Fungal Network.

Of 319 children with invasive candidiasis, 67 (21%) transitioned from intravenous to enteral antifungal therapy. Eight (12%) transitioned back to intravenous antifungal therapy, one due to perceived treatment failure defined by clinical progression or worsening. Global treatment response at study completion was successful in 66 participants who transitioned to enteral therapy.

The Multi-Functional Use of Large Tree Cavities by Arboreal Vertebrates in a Temperate Broadleaved Forest of Eastern Europe.

Tree cavities offer protected shelters and resources for arboreal vertebrates worldwide. In general, cavities with larger openings are better accessible for predators and are avoided by smaller species for breeding, but can still be attractive for occasional use. The current study explores the diversity of functional use types and species interactions at the largest available tree cavities (entrance width ≥ 10 cm) in a temperate European forest with a low number of large cavity-breeding species.

Genome-wide meta-analysis conducted in three large biobanks expands the genetic landscape of lumbar disc herniations.

Given that lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a prevalent spinal condition that causes significant individual suffering and societal costs, the genetic basis of LDH has received relatively little research. Our aim is to increase understanding of the genetic factors influencing LDH. We perform a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of LDH in the FinnGen project and in Estonian and UK biobanks, followed by a genome-wide meta-analysis to combine the results.

SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 Induce Amyloid Aggregation in Human CSF Resulting in Drastic Soluble Protein Depletion.

The corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and the resulting long-term neurological complications in patients, known as long COVID, have renewed interest in the correlation between viral infections and neurodegenerative brain disorders. While many viruses can reach the central nervous system (CNS) causing acute or chronic infections (such as herpes simplex virus 1, HSV-1), the lack of a clear mechanistic link between viruses and protein aggregation into amyloids, a characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases, has rendered such a connection elusive. Recently, we showed that viruses can induce aggregation of purified amyloidogenic proteins via the direct physicochemical mechanism of heterogeneous nucleation (HEN).

Poland, Public Health, Chaplains, Clergy, Mindfulness and Prayer.

This issue commences with a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most cited articles on religion. It then presents the first of a two-part series relating to research from Poland and progresses to examine the relevance of religion and spirituality to public health. Finally, this issue revisits the long-established and productive discipline of healthcare chaplaincy and various factors relating to parish clergy.

CILP-2 expression in the intervertebral discs of patients with lumbar radiculopathy.

Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is one of the main causes of low back pain. One of the most important features of IVDD is the loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) with its structural components. Cartilage intermediate layer proteins (CILPs), minor glycoproteins residing in ECM, have been found to be increased in IVD as degeneration and aging progresses.

Associations of Cardiovascular Health Metrics in Childhood and Adolescence With Arterial Health Indicators in Adolescence: The PANIC Study.

Background: Our aim was to assess the relationships of cardiovascular health metrics, cardiorespiratory fitness, lean mass, and fat percentage with arterial structure and function from childhood to adolescence.

Methods And Results: Five hundred four children aged 6 to 9 years were examined in the PANIC (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children) study at baseline, 2 and 8 years later. The associations of adjusted American Heart Association cardiovascular health metrics (smoking status, body mass index-SD score, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, diet quality, plasma total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose categorized into poor, intermediate, and ideal), the American Heart Association cardiovascular health score, cardiorespiratory fitness measured by maximal oxygen uptake in a bicycle exercise test, lean mass and fat percentage with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were analyzed cross-sectionally and longitudinally in 277 participants at age 15 to 17 years.

Evaluation of in-house-built pipette-tip micro-solid-phase extraction devices for sample preparation in the analysis of amino compounds by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Amino compounds are of significant interest in dietary, clinical, and quality control fields. Efficient extraction is crucial for comprehensive metabolomics, especially for amino acids and biogenic amines, but traditional solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods are costly and require large solvent volumes. Miniaturized SPE techniques, like pipette-tip micro-solid-phase extraction (PT-µ-SPE), offer promising alternatives by improving throughput and reducing solvent and sorbent usage.

Distinct Genetic Risk Profile in Aortic Stenosis Compared With Coronary Artery Disease.

Importance: Aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexist. However, it is unknown which genetic and cardiovascular risk factors might be AS-specific and which could be shared between AS and CAD.

Objective: To identify genetic risk loci and cardiovascular risk factors with AS-specific associations.

Assessment of potential myopia risk factors, including chronotype, in Estonian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Myopia is a growing healthcare concern worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that sleep and circadian rhythms may be associated with myopia. Furthermore, the risk factors of myopia have not been studied in the Estonian population to date.

Spirituality in Professional Patient-Centered Care for Adults with Primary Brain Tumors: An Exploratory Scoping Review.

People with primary brain tumors face spiritual challenges due to neuro-cognitive disturbances such as aphasia and rapid neurological deterioration. This scoping review aimed to map the evidence regarding professional spiritual care in this neuro-oncological population. The literature search was conducted utilizing two databases (PubMed, CINAHL) and two peer-reviewed journals ('Spiritual Care', 'Journal of Religion and Health').