Search Results (43)

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), may impair bone metabolism, particularly in children. The RANKL/OPG axis, as a key regulator of bone turnover, may contribute to these disturbances. However, data in the pediatric population remain limited. Methods: A single-center, prospective observational study included 100 children aged 4–18 years, with a comparable number of girls and boys. Among them, 72 had IBD (27 CD, 45 UC) and 28 were healthy controls. Anthropometric, biochemical, and densitometric assessments were performed, including serum levels of RANKL and OPG, and markers of inflammation and bone turnover. Results: Children with CD had significantly lower height and weight percentiles compared to UC and controls. Serum RANKL and the RANKL/OPG ratio were significantly elevated in IBD patients, particularly in CD (p < 0.01). Total body BMD Z-scores were lower in IBD compared to controls (p = 0.03). Low BMD was found in 14.7% of UC and 26.3% of CD patients. In both groups, over 30% had values in the “gray zone” (−1.0 to −2.0). A positive correlation was observed between height and weight and bone density (p < 0.01). Higher OPG was associated with lower body weight (p < 0.001), while increased RANKL correlated with osteocalcin (p = 0.03). Patients receiving biological therapy had significantly lower BMD. Conclusions: Pediatric IBD is associated with significant alterations in the RANKL/OPG axis and reduced bone density. These findings support early screening and suggest RANKL/OPG as a potential biomarker of skeletal health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hemiarthroplasty (HA) and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (RTSA) are both reliable treatment options for complex proximal humerus fractures. The role of the subscapularis tendon is well-defined in HA, whereas it plays a controversial role in RTSA. The purpose of our study is to evaluate its role in patients with proximal humerus fractures treated with HA and RTSA and investigate its association with clinical outcomes. Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients with proximal humeral fracture were prospectively enrolled into the study from June 2015 to May 2020 (RTSA = 36; HA = 32). Pre- and postoperative shoulder CT scans were performed to measure the subscapularis muscle cross-sectional area (SMCSA) and the supraspinatus fossa cross-sectional area (SFCSA). The SMCSA/SFCSA ratio was employed to normalize measurements against individual patient anatomy. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated at the final follow-up. Results: The RTSA group demonstrated superior patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and range of motion (ROM) compared to the HA group. Notably, the Constant Score was significantly higher in the RTSA group (58.00 vs. 38.50; p = 0.0001), as well as forward flexion (147.50° vs. 90.00°; p < 0.0001). A postoperative reduction in subscapularis size of >35% occurred more frequently in RTSA patients (55.6%) than in HA patients (25%) (p = 0.01). The loss of subscapularis surface was greater in the RTSA patients (p = 0.018). Conclusions: RTSA demonstrated better results compared to HA, providing better ROM and PROs. Postoperative reduction in subscapularis size was significantly higher in RTSA compared to HA. Subscapularis condition seems to show no correlation with functional outcome in RTSA. Full article

This study examines four shallow-water, reef-coral-bearing carbonate successions belonging to the Jhill Limestone Unit of the Gaj Formation, exposed in the area near Karachi (southern Pakistan). Sixty-two samples were collected for the quantitative analysis of the skeletal and foraminiferal assemblages. The analysis of large benthic foraminifera suggests a placement within the late Oligocene, characterized by the setup of the Late Oligocene Warming Event. Thanks to quantitative analyses and multivariate statistics, three biofacies were identified: (1) the reef coral biofacies (BFA), indicative of a sheltered, shallow-water environment above fair-weather wave base; (2) the coralline algal biofacies (BFB), deposited within a mesophotic setting and representing the deepest biofacies among the three recognized ones; and (3) the large benthic foraminiferal and coralline algal biofacies (BFC), subdivided into two sub-biofacies, namely (a) the miogypsinid, thin and flat large benthic foraminiferal and coralline algal sub-biofacies (BFC1), indicative of deeper setting, comprised between BFA and BFB, and (b) the miogypsinid and coralline algal sub-biofacies (BFC2), indicative of shallower settings than BFC1, and bearing evidence of paleo-seagrass meadows. All these biofacies were developed within the photic zone, in a relatively flat seafloor punctuated by patch reefs and seagrass meadows and characterized by a notable nutrient influx. Foraminiferal-based experimental paleobathymetric parameters, including the lepidocyclinids/miogypsinids, the flat nummulitids/lepidocyclinids, and the hyaline/porcelaneous foraminifera ratios, were tested and confirmed as reliable tools for paleodepth and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Full article

Due to the increasing demand for food, the agricultural sector is facing a huge challenge related to its production without having a negative impact on the environment. The above issues are regulated by the current EU policy, indicating the need to conduct plant production by the European Green Deal strategy (2020), based on reducing the use of chemical plant-protection products by 50% and reducing the level of mineral fertilization by 20% by 2030. Using appropriate techniques of applying mineral fertilizers, which have a positive effect on the development and activity of soil microorganisms, the availability of nutrients in the soil can be increased while reducing fertilizer applications. This study aims to show whether the use of foliar nitrogen fertilizers in combination with sulfur in a two-year field experiment with triticale stimulates the multiplication of selected groups of microorganisms and the level of soil enzymatic activity. In addition, effects on the content of available forms of nutrients in the soil, triticale yield, and total nutrient uptake were analyzed. It is shown that the applied foliar fertilizers enriched with sulfur, compared to fertilization with ammonium nitrate, contributed to a 100% increase in the number of analyzed groups of microorganisms, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activity; a 44% increase in dehydrogenase activity; and a 15% increase in acid phosphatase activity. The hybrid application technique, with reduced doses of nitrogen fertilizers enriched with sulfur by 20 and 25%, resulted in grain yields exceeding 8 t/ha. Moreover, compared to conventional fertilization based on ammonium nitrate, an increase in the grain yield of triticale was obtained in the range of 16 to 24%, as well as an increase in the accumulation of nutrients in the plant. It is shown that foliar fertilization is a promising alternative to standard fertilization techniques. Full article

This study aimed to compare outcomes of early active motion (EAM) using the relative motion extension (RME) approach to outcomes of early passive motion (EPM) with a dynamic extension orthosis (DEO) and to evaluate whether the RME-only approach is equivalent to the RME-plus approach. Fifty adults were randomized into one of the three intervention groups receiving the DEO, RME only, or RME plus orthosis. The score of the Jebsen–Taylor hand function test (JTHFT) without writing and QuickDASH at T1, all measures of mobility at T1 and T2, and grip strength were better in the RME-only and RME-plus group compared to the DEO group, whereas the values of Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) at T1 and T2, as well as QuickDASH score at T2, orthosis adherence, and the patient’s comfort while wearing the orthoses did not statistically significantly differ among the three groups. The RME concept after extensor tendon injuries in zones 4–6 is superior to the DEO protocol in terms of earlier regain of hand function. The DEO and RME protocols were equivalent regarding patients’ adherence and satisfaction with the orthosis. We found no differences in the RME-plus and RME-only protocols, indicating the safe use of the RME-only protocol in single extensor tendon injuries in zones 4–6. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is considered an irreversible preneoplastic precursor for gastric adenocarcinoma in adults. However, its significance in children and the long-term outcome remain poorly understood. Methods: All children diagnosed with GIM between 2000 and 2020 were identified at a large tertiary referral centre. Upon reaching adulthood (≥18 years), the patients were invited to undergo follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (using narrow-band imaging additionally to high-definition white light endoscopy), with gastric biopsies obtained according to the updated Sydney protocol. Childhood and adulthood gastric biopsies were re-evaluated by two experienced gastrointestinal pathologists using Kreyberg staining. Results: Paediatric GIM was diagnosed in 178/14,409 (1.2%) esophagogastroduodenoscopies performed during the study period. Fifty adult patients with childhood GIM agreed to participate in the study. The mean age at childhood and adulthood endoscopies were 14.3 years (median 15) and 25.2 years (median 24), respectively. The mean follow-up interval was 10.5 years. All childhood GIM cases were classified as complete-type. Notably, GIM completely resolved in 41/50 of patients (82%) by the time of adulthood follow-up. No dysplasia or carcinoma was detected in any patient. Childhood Helicobacter pylori infection, similar to other evaluated host-related factors, was not significantly associated with the persistence of GIM into adulthood (11.2% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.41). Conclusions: Childhood GIM was a rare finding but demonstrated a high rate of reversibility by adulthood regardless of Helicobacter pylori status, with no cases of dysplasia or carcinoma observed during long-term follow-up. Full article

Introduction: Patients with head injuries usually return to their home environments after completing rehabilitation, which is an additional challenge in the case of functional, motor or cognitive impairment. In order to identify the problems that such patients face and to objectify their problems with integration, we used the Community Integration Questionnaire-Revised (CIQ-R). At the same time, the validity of the translation of the questionnaire into Slovenian was checked. Methods: The CIQ-R was translated, and patients were telephoned twice, 14 days apart. In addition, they were assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) during the first call. The reliability of the CIQ-R in terms of internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Guttman’s lambda-2. The reliability in terms of repeated measures was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC). The association between FIM and CIQ-R scores was assessed using Pearson’s correlation. Results: Internal consistency of the CIQ-R was high (α = 0.8, λ = 0.85), and there was a very high re-test stability of the overall CIQ-R score (ICC = 0.95). The cognitive component of the FIM in the home environment was linearly associated with the CIQ-R score (r = 0.8, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The translation of the CIQ-R questionnaire into Slovenian was successfully validated, and we proved its potential suitability for clinical use. Full article

The embryogenic transition of plant somatic cells to produce somatic embryos requires extensive reprogramming of the cell transcriptome. The prominent role of transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs in controlling somatic embryogenesis (SE) induction in plants was documented. The profiling of MIRNA expression in the embryogenic culture of Arabidopsis implied the contribution of the miR156 and miR169 to the embryogenic induction. In the present study, the function of miR156 and miR169 and the candidate targets, SPL and NF-YA genes, were investigated in Arabidopsis SE. The results showed that misexpression of MIRNA156 and candidate SPL target genes (SPL2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15) negatively affected the embryogenic potential of transgenic explants, suggesting that specific fine-tuning of the miR156 and target genes expression levels seems essential for efficient SE induction. The results revealed that SPL11 under the control of miR156 might contribute to SE induction by regulating the master regulators of SE, the LEC (LEAFY COTYLEDON) genes (LEC1, LEC2, FUS3). Moreover, the role of miR169 and its candidate NF-YA targets in SE induction was demonstrated. The results showed that several miR169 targets, including NF-YA1, 3, 5, 8, and 10, positively regulated SE. We found, that miR169 via NF-YA5 seems to modulate the expression of a master SE regulator LEC1/NF-YA and other auxin-related genes: YUCCA (YUC4, 10) and PIN1 in SE induction. The study provided new insights into miR156-SPL and miR169-NF-YA functions in the auxin-related and LEC-controlled regulatory network of SE. Full article

Biostimulants are gaining more and more attention in modern agriculture. As follows from the definition, their role is aimed at influencing the plant’s metabolism, which results in increasing the quantitative and qualitative parameters describing the yield. Significant attention should be paid to biostimulants increasing the content of health-promoting substances contained in plants. Treatments with biostimulants should be properly incorporated into existing plant protection schemes, which, of course, requires detailed research in this area. However, reliable research on active substances contained in biostimulants should be made first, and the activity of a given biostimulant must be proven. This work presents the results of a field experiment in tomato cultivation for two new active substances belonging to the group of benzothiadiazoles. The results indicate a positive effect on plant yield and, above all, on the lycopene content in tomato fruits. Increasing the lycopene content in fruit is of key significance, as it opens up opportunities for these active substances to be incorporated into new plant protection programs. Full article

The need for sustainable development in the context of pesticide use has been recognized by the European Union. The “Farm to Fork Strategy” indicates a goal of 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030. To address this challenge, we used the concept of ionic liquids to modify known resistance inducers, i.e., a group of substances whose action is indicated as an alternative to fungicides. A new, patented substance developed by us, which is a choline 3,5-dichlorosalicylate, has been tested in the context of its use in sugar beet cultivation with the aim of controlling Cercospora leaf spot (CLS). The results suggest that the use of this substance in combination with one fungicide treatment reduces disease infection and produces yields very similar to the use of a standard protection program assuming the use of two fungicides. Such results provide the basis for further development of 3,5-dichlorosalicylate in terms of its use in agriculture. Thanks to its use, it was possible to resign from one fungicide treatment, while maintaining protection against CLS and yields at the same level as for the full fungicide protection program. Such an approach is in line with European Union policies. Full article

Dual use of water for fish and crop production could be a promising approach to improve irrigation under arid conditions. A watercress pot study was carried out to assess the effects of irrigation by catfish and tilapia aquaculture water on the sandy soil properties as well as the growth parameters of watercress with various combinations of artificial NPK fertilizers at El-Minia Governorate of Egypt (28°18′16″ N latitude and 30°34′38″ E longitude). Catfish aquaculture water had the greatest phytoplankton abundance at 83,762 units (×10⁴/L), while the minimum number of phytoplankton existed in tilapia aquaculture water, recorded at 14,873 units (×10⁴/L). There were significant average changes that varied from 120 to 237 (×10⁴ cfu/mL⁻¹) in total bacterial counts in tilapia and catfish waters. Watercress growth quality parameters closely paralleled at all NPK application rates, indicating that the highest quality plants were produced in pots receiving 25% of the recommended levels and irrigated with catfish aquaculture water. Nitrate concentrations of watercress plants were determined under pollution levels established by the European Commission for leafy and tuber vegetables. In conclusion, the use of microbial and phytoplankton-rich aquaculture water to irrigate vegetables and as fertilizer can maintain a balanced soil ecosystem. Full article

circRNAs constitute a novel class of RNA, generally considered as non-coding RNAs; nonetheless, their coding potential has been under scrutiny. In this work, we systematically explored the predicted proteins of more than 160,000 circRNAs detected by exome capture RNA-sequencing and collected in the MiOncoCirc pan-cancer compendium, including normal and cancer samples from different types of tissues. For the functional evaluation, we compared their primary structure and domain composition with those derived from the same linear mRNAs. Among the 4362 circRNAs potentially encoding proteins with a unique primary structure and 1179 encoding proteins with a novel domain composition, 183 were differentially expressed in cancer. In particular, eight were associated with prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. The functional classification of the dysregulated circRNA-encoded polypeptides showed an enrichment in the heme and cancer signaling, DNA-binding, and phosphorylation processes, and disclosed the roles of some circRNA-based effectors in cancer. Full article

In this study, we tackle a key scheduling problem in a robotic arm-based food processing system, where multiple conveyors—an infeed conveyor that feeds food items to robotic arms and two tray lane conveyors, on which trays to batch food items are placed—are implemented. The target scheduling problem is to determine what item on an infeed conveyor belt is picked up by which robotic arm at what position, and on which tray the picked up item will be placed. This problem involves critical constraints, such as sequence-dependent processing time and dynamic item and tray positions. Moreover, due to the speed of the infeed conveyor and latency in the information about entering items into the system, this scheduling problem must be solved in near real time. To address these challenges, we propose a scheduling solution that first decomposes the original scheduling problem into sub-problems, where a sub-problem formulated as a goal program schedules robotic arms only for a single tray. The performance of the proposed solution approach is then tested under a simulation environment, and from the experiments, the proposed approach produces acceptable performance. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether and how anaerobic fatigue induced by sport-specific exercise affects the postural control of highly-trained adolescent road cyclists. Twenty-three male athletes, aged 15–18 years, were included in the study. Postural control was assessed using the pedobarographic platform (bipedal upright stance, sequentially, with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) for 60 s each, with a 30 s interval), before and 3 min after a 30 s all-out effort performed on the ergometer. The results showed significant increases in the 95%-confidence ellipse area (p-value 0.000 and 0.001 for EO and EC, respectively), as well as centre-of-pressure (CoP) range displacement in the anteroposterior (p-value 0.000 for both EO and EC) and mediolateral (p-value 0.011 and 0.001 for EO and EC, respectively) planes. In addition, a significant decrease in CoP mean sway frequency was observed (p-value 0.000 and 0.001 for EO and EC, respectively), but no changes were noted in CoP mean velocity (p-value 0.316 and 0.670 for EO and EC, respectively). In our study, it has been indicated that anaerobic fatigue induced by sport-specific exercise deteriorates postural control in adolescent cyclists. Moreover, cycling training may affect the quality of postural corrective reactions occurring in response to anaerobic fatigue. Full article

Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs) are key pollutants from the point of view of the operators of biogas plants. H₂S poses corrosive hazards, while VMSs transform into difficult-to-remove deposits, reducing the availability and yield of biogas combustion equipment. This study provides a critical overview and evaluation (so-called SWOT analysis) of implemented and promising methods to reduce the content of the above pollutants in biogas, with particular emphasis on biological techniques. The aim of the analyses was to develop an innovative concept for a hybrid biological method for the combined removal of H₂S and VMSs using the same device, i.e., a two-phase biotrickling filter (BTF), in which the organic phase that intensifies the mass transfer of VMSs is in the form of a low-viscosity methyl silicone oil. The finally developed technological schematic diagram includes the basic devices and media streams. The concept is characterized by closed media circuits and comprehensively solves the problem of purifying biogas from sewage sludge. In conclusion, key issues requiring further research are identified. Full article