Life, Volume 15, Issue 2

Living kidney transplantation yields better outcomes for recipients than deceased donation, though it may present long-term challenges for donors. This study assessed the quality of life (QoL) of living kidney donors in Greece using the SF-36 questio...

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), Interleukin-17A (IL-17A)...

Hainan tropical rainforest is the largest contiguous tropical rainforest in China, but it has experienced increasing disturbances from anthropogenic activities in recent decades due to economic and social development. However, the current status of w...

We examined long-term trends in the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in Lithuania using data collected from 1980 to 2024. Over 10,000 individuals were captured and 5666 were necropsied to measure standard morphometric traits, including body...

This research investigated the unstudied impact, in 416 cases of stone-induced hydronephrosis detected radiographically in 369 patients, of stone size on the stone’s location in the urinary tract and on the hydronephrosis grade. Most (62.5%) of...

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a severe condition with high rates of illness and death. Current treatments are limited and not always effective because the cancer responds differently to drugs in different patients. This research aims to use...

The genus Camphora encompasses species of significant ecological and economic importance, such as C. parthenoxylon and C. officinarum, which exhibit distinct phenotypic traits and stress responses. This study seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of...

Objective: This study aimed to establish a dominant and non-dominant limb muscle strength evaluation model to evaluate the asymmetry of lower extremity muscle strength. Methods: The hip, knee, ankle flexors and extensors of 86 runners were evaluated...

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a nutrient-dense byproduct of mushroom cultivation, has emerged as a promising feedstock for biochar production, offering a sustainable solution to modern agricultural and environmental challenges. This review explores...

Lip augmentation has become increasingly popular in aesthetic medicine, driven by advancements in dermal filler technologies and injection techniques. This review provides a comprehensive overview of lip anatomy, age-related changes, and current best...

In the published publication [...]

Background: Ankle fractures commonly affect mobility and quality of life. Although unstable fractures typically require surgery, post-treatment protocols vary widely, including both surgical and conservative approaches. This systematic review and met...

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a significant portion of heart failure cases, but diagnosis is challenging due to its diverse presentation and the limitations of traditional echocardiographic parameters....

The use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as an oxygen therapy post-extubation has demonstrated varying success rates across different surgical populations. This study aimed to identify the predictive factors influencing HFNC weaning outcomes in pati...

Background: This 24-week randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation on telomere length in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study also assessed secondary outcomes including high-sensitivi...

Phytoremediation stands at the forefront of modern environmental science, offering an innovative and cost-effective solution for the remediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils through the natural capabilities of plants. This study aims to investig...

Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) significantly impacts individuals’ self-perception, body image, and overall quality of life, while also imposing considerable economic costs. These challenges highlight the necessity for complementary therapeutic s...

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a significant global health issue that impacts mainly middle-aged women, severely affecting their quality of life. Emerging research highlights the urinary microbiome’s complex role in the etiology and management of...

Objective: This study aimed to establish a reproducible protocol for obtaining four plasma fractions (autologous platelet-rich plasma (C-PRP, PRP LCC) and platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF, F-PRF)) from a single blood draw and to evaluate their effectivene...

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder of the esophagus with rising prevalence. Dupilumab (DUPI), a monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin-4 receptor α, has shown promise as a treatment option. We conduc...

Purpose: This study systematically evaluated the effects of altitude training on athletes’ aerobic capacity, focusing on optimal training modalities and intervention durations. Methods: Eight databases (CNKI, CSPD, PubMed, Ovid Medline, ProQues...

Supraorbital hollowness and pretarsal fullness, commonly known as the sunken eyelid and charming roll, respectively, are significant anatomical features that impact the aesthetic appearance of the periorbital region. Supraorbital hollowness is charac...

Among the Pilates-based exercises, the modified side-arm (MSA) and modified high-five (MHF) are commonly used for shoulder strengthening and rehabilitation. This study examined shoulder girdle muscle activity and ratios across different spring intens...

Semen preparation and sperm selection techniques exploit the morphological and physiological characteristics of sperm function, including motility, morphology, density, and maturity, as reflected by their cell-surface charge and the expression of hya...

Odontogenic cysts, commonly detected during routine examinations involving head and neck imaging such as orthopantomograms and computed tomography (CT), are classified into two groups: developmental and inflammatory. Radicular cysts, which belong to...

Copper contamination in coastal water environments poses a significant health risk, and traditional treatments for copper intoxication include gastric lavage, chelation, and hemodialysis. Recent research suggests that probiotics may help mitigate hea...

Solar photovoltaic technology has consistently been regarded as a crucial direction for the development of clean energy systems in the future. Bio-photovoltaics (BPV), an emerging solar energy utilization technology, is mainly based on the photosynth...

Background: Alport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common monogenic kidney disorders. Recent studies have highlighted the modifier effect of variants involving podocyte and non-collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in AS. Methods: We repor...

Background: Effective pain management is essential to early extubation and recovery in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has emerged as a potential strategy to address postoperative pain...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pain, pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength, lower extremity functionality, exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with chronic...

Brain function declines because of aging and several metabolites change their concentration. However, this decrease may be a consequence or a driver of aging. It has been described that taurine levels decrease with age and that taurine supplementatio...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation are recognized as criti...

Cardiac metastases (CMs) are more common than primary cardiac tumors, with autopsy studies reporting incidence rates between 2.3% and 18.3%. Their increasing detection is largely attributed to advances in cancer treatments, which have extended patien...

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), or Graves’ orbitopathy (GO), is a complex autoimmune disorder affecting orbital tissues, often leading to vision-threatening complications such as dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). In this systematic re...

Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, with significant differences in the incidence and outcome of the disease in Europe. Eastern European countries face particular challenges due to differences...

Purpose: Porto-systemic shunting (PSS) in patients with Abernethy malformation (AM) or obstruction of the portal vein (OVP) is often associated with normal liver parenchyma and hepatic function. This association provides an interesting natural model...

Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score has shown promise in predicting outcomes in various malignancies; however, its role in autologous stem cell...

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) challenges traditional paradigms by manifesting in lean individuals. The link between MASLD and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) underscores the importance of the gut–liver axis i...

Introduction. Volumetric changes in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) are strongly associated in healthy circumstances, as recent three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic (3DSTE) studies confirmed. However, the complex relation...

“How old are angiosperms” is a frequently asked but still unanswered question. Although the underlying reason includes a lack of consensus on the criterion for fossil angiosperms, limited fossil finds, and other factors, the final answer...

Biochar, produced from biomass, has become recognized as a sustainable soil amendment that has the potential to improve soil quality and agricultural production. This review focuses on production processes and properties of biochar derived from diffe...

Numerous studies have investigated the effects of exercise on post-stroke depression (PSD), yet the findings remain inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the impact of exercise on depressive symptoms in stroke patients and to identify the most ef...

Apart from the importance of bittering acids in the brewing sector, hops also produce terpene-rich essential oils, recognised for their therapeutic benefits. Agri-processing practices of this crop in South Africa produce tonnes of discarded (waste) p...

Tumor treatment has undergone revolutionary changes with the development of immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors. Because not all patients respond positively to immune therapeutic agents, and severe immune-related adverse events (ir...

Salicylic acid (SA) plays a crucial role in alleviating drought stress in plants. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying exogenous SA on the drought tolerance of kenaf. In this study, the kenaf seedlings were subjected to...

Touch, particularly affective touch mediated by C-tactile fibers, plays a key role in emotional regulation and therapeutic interventions. However, tactile stimulation is underutilized in sensory stimulation (SS) protocols for brain injury patients, d...

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a renal replacement therapy that removes solutes, electrolytes, and water via the infusion of dialysis fluid into the peritoneal cavity. However, the non-physiological composition of conventional PD fluids can cause perito...

This study aimed to evaluate the static and dynamic pupil changes, and light sensitivity following a single dose of low-dose atropine at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.025%, and 0.05% over a 24 h period. Healthy young adults (20–22 years; n = 25) p...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Women are disproportionately affected by IBS due to a complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and...

Recent advances in virology, particularly in the study of HIV-1, have significantly progressed the pursuit of a definitive cure for the disease. Emerging therapeutic strategies encompass innovative gene-editing technologies, immune-modulatory interve...