Search Results (512)

Four client-owned dogs with histopathologically confirmed periorbital tumors were included in this retrospective case series: one spayed female, one intact male, and two neutered males. The dogs ranged in age from 6 to 8 years. The most common clinical signs were slowly progressive exophthalmos (4/4 dogs), epiphora (3/4 dogs), and prolapse of the nictitating membrane gland (2/4 dogs). Periorbital disease was initially suspected based on the clinical examination. Computed tomography (CT) was subsequently used to characterize the presence, location, and extent of the lesion and for surgical planning, whereas histopathological examination confirmed the tumor type. The identified tumors included two multilobular tumors of bone (MTB), one inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), and one sebaceous carcinoma (SC). Treatment for the first three dogs consisted of wide tumor excision via combined modified lateral orbitotomy and partial ostectomies of the zygomatic arch and mandibular ramus. The remaining dog received conservative therapy. For the first two surgically treated dogs, survival times were 55 months; the third dog was lost to follow-up two weeks after surgery. For the conservatively treated dog, the survival time was 4 months. Although limited by the small number of heterogeneous cases, this report suggests that the described surgical approach facilitated en bloc excision in these three surgically treated dogs. However, histologically tumor-free surgical margins were confirmed in only one of the three surgically treated dogs, and clinical outcomes varied according to tumor type, extent of disease, and duration of follow-up. Therefore, further studies are required before definitive conclusions regarding oncologic outcome or prognosis can be drawn. Full article

Background/Objectives: Post-COVID follow-up may provide an opportunity to reassess persistent and modifiable cardiometabolic risk. We characterized six-month cardiometabolic and vascular trajectories after COVID-19 hospitalization and explored associations with routinely documented dietary counseling and omega-3 recommendations. Methods: This single-center retrospective longitudinal cohort included 238 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2024. Patients were classified according to recorded post-discharge management as usual care (n = 64), dietary management (n = 60), omega-3 supplementation (n = 59), or combined management (n = 55). Outcomes were assessed at the index visit and at visits labeled approximately three and six months later. Longitudinal changes were estimated using generalized estimating equations; six-month associations were evaluated using baseline-adjusted ANCOVA with robust standard errors and Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Results: Mean age was 54.0 ± 10.6 years, 54.6% were women, 82.4% had hypertension, 40.8% had diabetes, and mean body mass index was 33.8 ± 4.6 kg/m². At six months, endpoint-specific data were available for 182 participants for blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C; 180 for waist circumference; 179 for SCORE; 177 for LDL-C and bilateral carotid IMT analyses; 173 for HOMA-IR; and 164 for IL-6. Across the cohort, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7.91 and 4.75 mmHg; several lipid, anthropometric, and insulin-resistance markers also improved. No omnibus group-by-time interaction was significant. After false-discovery-rate correction, only higher six-month HDL-C in the dietary and combined-management groups versus usual care remained statistically significant; all other between-group findings were nonsignificant after correction. Conclusions: Several cardiometabolic risk markers improved during follow-up, but no recorded management category showed consistent trajectory-level superiority. Because intervention content and adherence, time-updated medication use, acute COVID-19 severity, and lifestyle changes were not captured, the comparative findings are exploratory and noncausal. The isolated HDL-C associations should not be interpreted as evidence of cardiovascular benefit. No cardiac biomarkers, echocardiographic measures, incident heart failure, or cardiovascular events were assessed. Full article

Background: Inspiratory training after stroke has been used to improve muscle function and strength; however, its acute effects under different inspiratory loads are not well understood. Aim: To assess inspiratory muscle activation under different incremental inspiratory loads in individuals with hemiparetic stroke and healthy controls and to compare muscle activation between hemibodies and sexes in post-stroke subjects using surface electromyography. Methods: Individuals with stroke and healthy controls were recruited. An incremental inspiratory load test was performed using the Threshold^® IMT device, with progressive increases of 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) or up to the maximal device load based. Muscle activation of the scalene, sternocleidomastoid, and lowest intercostal space was recorded bilaterally using surface electromyography. Results: The sample consisted of 32 stroke participants (11 females and 21 males) and 14 healthy controls (six females and eight males). Muscle activity was decreased in stroke subjects in comparison to healthy individuals (p < 0.05). The paretic side showed decreased muscle activity when compared to the healthy side in all muscles during different incremental loads and maximal inspiratory pressure (p < 0.05), mainly in males. Females with stroke showed decreased activity in sternocleidomastoid (15% of MIP) and scalene (15% of MIP and MIP) (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Stroke males showed decreased diaphragm activity during 60% or maximal device load of MIP compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Incremental inspiratory loads increased muscle activity in both stroke subjects and controls of both sexes, although in different patterns. Reduced inspiratory muscle activity on the paretic side suggests an influence of stroke on muscular function and should be considered during rehabilitation. Full article

Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) is a well-established intervention for enhancing respiratory strength; however, its clinical efficacy is frequently compromised by low adherence and high dropout rates due to the repetitive nature of traditional protocols. While screen-based gamified biofeedback is the most common digital training approach, these non-immersive (NI) conditions often lead to split attention and lack the controlled, private environments necessary for optimal engagement and exercise quality. This study evaluated the impact of immersion level on respiratory performance and user experience by comparing two conditions in gamified Virtual Reality (VR) environments: fully immersive (FI) and NI. The IMT was performed using an instrumented threshold load device, where real-time mouth pressure drove gamified environments designed to guide respiratory patterns. The results demonstrate that perceived effort and fatigue remained consistent across immersion levels; however, the FI condition provided a higher level of immersion despite a reported reduction in breathing control. Notably, 73% of participants found the FI condition more motivating, with higher scores in focus (60%), user preference (63%), and efficacy (40%). Crucially, increased task complexity widened the performance gap between immersion levels. In scenarios requiring higher respiratory muscle workload, significant differences emerged in breathing regulation, specifically regarding the inspiratory duty cycle, favoring the NI condition. Specifically, the NI condition exhibited a higher inspiratory duty cycle and higher scores compared to the FI condition. These findings suggest that while FI significantly boosts user motivation, the synergy between the head-mounted display (HMD) and the physical demands of the threshold device may disrupt respiratory regulation during high-effort tasks. This highlights a critical design trade-off between immersion levels and physiological precision that must be addressed in the development of future digital pulmonary interventions. Full article

The 8.025–8.400 GHz band is one of the key X-band downlink ranges for modern Earth observation satellites, enabling high-rate transmission of imagery and sensor data for agriculture, environmental monitoring, greenhouse gas assessment, disaster response and security-related applications. The potential introduction of 5G networks into this band raises serious concerns about harmful interference to Earth observation ground stations cand, consequently, about the continuity and growth of the global Earth observation data chain. This paper investigates the feasibility of sharing this downlink band between Earth observation systems and 5G networks using a Monte Carlo simulation framework. The model includes a low-Earth-orbit Earth observation satellite with dynamically tracking ground stations and dense urban, suburban and rural deployments of 5G base stations and user devices, together with established radio-propagation and clutter models and representative protection objectives for satellite downlinks. The results suggest that, to keep interference at acceptable levels, ground stations would need to be located far from 5G deployments, which is difficult to achieve in practice and could seriously limit the future expansion of Earth observation infrastructure. Full article

Background: Recent research has drawn attention to potential systemic inflammation in patients with inherited epidermal differentiation disorders (EDD)—rare genetic skin conditions that may contribute to vascular dysfunction. Objective: This study assessed selected vascular, inflammatory, and biochemical parameters in 20 patients with selected EDD and 20 matched healthy controls. Methods: Assessments included Doppler ultrasound, ankle-brachial index, intima-media thickness (IMT), and laboratory profiling focused on lipid metabolism and systemic inflammation. Results: EDD patients showed significantly lower LDL cholesterol and higher interleukin-17A (IL-17A) than controls. IMT values were similar across groups and disease types, but correlated positively with age, body weight, waist circumference, triglycerides, and glucose, and negatively with reactive lymphocytes. No link was found between IMT and self-reported cardiovascular symptoms. Conclusions: In patients with selected EDD, we observed a distinct biochemical profile characterized by lower LDL cholesterol and higher IL-17A concentrations, without accompanying structural arterial changes—carotid IMT and ABI did not differ from controls and remained stable at short-term follow-up. These alterations may reflect disease-specific disturbances of lipid and inflammatory homeostasis rather than classical atherosclerosis. Although they could be of theoretical relevance to long-term vascular health, no structural arterial abnormality was demonstrated. Longitudinal studies incorporating endothelial function testing are needed to clarify their significance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Long COVID-19 (LC) has been associated with persistent inflammation and impaired vascular health. Dietary minerals are involved in oxidative stress, endothelial homeostasis, and arterial stiffness; however, their relationship with vascular health in LC remains poorly explored. This study aimed to examine the association between energy-adjusted dietary mineral intake and markers of vascular stiffness and vascular aging in adults with LC, while exploring potential sex-specific patterns. Methods: A total of 304 adults with LC from the BioICOPER study were included. Dietary mineral intake was assessed using a validated 7-day dietary record from the EVIDENT tool and expressed as mineral density per 1000 kcal for the regression analyses. Vascular assessment included carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the vascular aging index (VAI). Hierarchical multivariable linear regression models, false discovery rate (FDR) correction, restricted cubic spline analyses, sensitivity analyses excluding supplement users, and formal sex × mineral interaction tests were performed. Results: In descriptive adequacy analyses, adequate iron intake was associated with lower baPWV. In energy-adjusted linear regression models, no mineral-outcome association remained statistically significant after FDR correction. In the fully adjusted sensitivity model, zinc density showed a nominal positive association with cfPWV, but this association did not survive FDR correction. Restricted cubic spline analyses suggested possible non-linear associations of magnesium and potassium density with cfPWV and VAI. Formal interaction analyses did not provide robust evidence of sex-related effect modification. Conclusions: After energy adjustment and correction for multiple testing, the evidence for independent linear associations between dietary mineral density and vascular outcomes in adults with LC was limited. These exploratory findings suggest that mineral intake, dietary sources, and non-linear patterns deserve further evaluation in prospective studies and nutritional intervention trials. Full article

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk beyond traditional risk factors. Carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and may be influenced by chronic inflammation in RA. Objectives: This study aimed to compare carotid IMT between women with RA and age-matched controls, and to investigate the associations between IMT and RA-related factors, including disease duration, menopausal status, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 59 women with RA and 55 age-matched controls. All RA patients received methotrexate and had no recent biologic DMARD exposure. Carotid IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Clinical, laboratory, and immunologic parameters, including anti-CCP antibodies and CD4/CD8 ratio, were analyzed. Results: Mean carotid IMT was significantly higher in RA patients than in controls (0.85 ± 0.09 vs. 0.63 ± 0.08 mm, p < 0.0001). Within the RA group, IMT correlated positively with disease duration (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), years since menopause (ρ = 0.44, p = 0.001), anti-CCP titers (r = 0.31, p = 0.018) and CD4/CD8 ratio (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), and inversely with CD8 T-cell counts (r = −0.34, p = 0.009). In multivariable analysis, RA duration and CD4/CD8 ratio remained independently associated with IMT after adjustment for age, lipids and blood pressure. Conclusions: Women with RA had greater carotid IMT than age-matched controls. Longer disease duration and a higher CD4/CD8 ratio were independently associated with IMT, supporting a link between cumulative disease burden, T-cell imbalance and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in RA. These findings support routine cardiovascular risk assessment and consideration of vascular imaging in high-risk RA subgroups. Full article

Background and Objectives: A relationship between cognitive decline (CD) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), common among the elderly population, has not yet been clearly established. Our study aims to evaluate the link between severe cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment, as measured by various neuropsychological tests in patients with or without CCS. In addition, we sought to identify cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) that influence the severity of CD and severe cognitive impairment. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted on 264 people with CVRFs. Of the 264, 132 were classified as patients with CCS and 132 as control subjects without CCS. Neuropsychological assessment tools included the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scales, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Clinical characteristics, echocardiographic measures, and vascular parameters of all subjects were also evaluated. Results: Patients with CCS had significantly lower cognitive performance (MMSE, p = 0.010; MoCA, p = 0.021), reduced functional status (IADL, p = 0.030; ADL, p = 0.012), and higher depression scores (p = 0.004) compared with controls. They also had worse cardiovascular profiles, including lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p = 0.001), higher NT-proBNP levels (p = 0.005), and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) (p < 0.05). IMT and blood pressure values were negatively correlated with cognitive and functional scores and positively correlated with depression severity (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified systolic and diastolic blood pressure, age, body mass index, heart rate, reduced daily activity, and depression as independent predictors of cognitive decline in patients with CCS. In the GDS-15 score, each unit increase was associated with a 32.1% higher risk of cognitive decline and a 37.1% higher risk of MMSE-defined severe cognitive impairment, while improved ADL scores significantly reduced this risk. Conclusions: CCS is associated with an increased risk of severe cognitive impairment and also with cognitive decline, influenced by hypertension, subclinical atherosclerosis, depression, and reduced functional status. These findings emphasize the importance of early identification and multidisciplinary management of cognitive impairment in patients with CCS to prevent progression to severe cognitive impairment. Full article

Aim: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm with few reported mandibular cases. This review aims to describe the clinical characteristics, surgical management and outcomes of 13 mandibular IMT cases, and to introduce the Jaw in a Day (JIAD) approach as a novel surgical option. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched systematically. From an initial pool of 261 articles, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Results: Thirteen mandibular IMT cases were identified in the literature. A new case is also presented: a 15-year-old female treated with surgical excision using the JIAD approach. At 12-month follow-up, oral function was restored with no disease recurrence. Discussion: Mandibular IMT is exceedingly rare. The JIAD approach offers immediate reconstruction with satisfactory functional outcomes, as supported by both the current case and the reviewed literature. Conclusions: The JIAD surgical approach may represent an effective management strategy for mandibular IMT. Further cases are needed to validate this approach and establish standardized treatment protocols. Full article

Background: Long COVID (LC) has been associated with persistent endothelial dysfunction and vascular impairment. Although nutrition is a key modifiable determinant of cardiovascular health, the relationship between dietary macronutrient intake and vascular alterations in LC remains poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the association between dietary macronutrient intake and markers of vascular structure, arterial stiffness, and vascular aging in patients with LC, including potential sex differences. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 304 patients with LC. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 7-day dietary record (EVIDENT study). Vascular evaluation included carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), augmentation index adjusted to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@75), and vascular aging index (VAI), measured using carotid ultrasound and validated devices (SphygmoCor^® and VaSera^®). Results: The mean age was 53 ± 12, higher in men (p = 0.001). The study included 207 women (68%) and 97 men (32%). Energy intake and carbohydrate intake in g/day showed a negative association with cfPWV in Model 2 (energy intake: β = −0.06; 95% CI: −0.11 to −0.01; p = 0.02; carbohydrate intake: β = −0.47; 95% CI: −0.87 to −0.07; p = 0.02). The percentage of carbohydrate/total energy intake was positively associated with AIx@75 in Model 2 (β = 0.8; 95% CI 0.12 to 1.49; p = 0.02), and percentage of fat/total energy intake showed a consistent inverse association (β = −0.30; 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.11; p = 0.002). No significant associations were observed for cIMT, baPWV, CAVI or VAI. Conclusions: In patients with LC, total energy intake and absolute carbohydrate intake were negatively associated with cfPWV, whereas the relative contribution of carbohydrates and fats to total energy intake showed divergent associations with AIx@75. These findings suggest that both absolute macronutrient intake and relative macronutrient distribution may be related to central arterial stiffness and wave reflection parameters LC. However, given the cross-sectional design of the study, these results should be interpreted as exploratory and do not allow causal inference. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to confirm these findings and to assess whether nutritional strategies may contribute to modulating vascular risk in this population. Full article

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of abnormal tau protein, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Because of neurons’ high energy demands, such impairments significantly contribute to neuronal vulnerability. Recent evidence indicates that mitochondria can be transferred between cells to support energy-deficient cells through intercellular mitochondrial transfer (IMT). Given the impact of pathological tau on mitochondrial transport and cytoskeletal dynamics, we hypothesized that IMT is altered in tauopathies. We investigated IMT from astrocytes to neurons, as well as the influence of abnormal tau protein on this process, using co-cultures of SH-SY5Y cells (neuronal model) and A172 cells (astrocytic model). Key data were then confirmed in human iPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes. We show that IMT is enhanced in the presence of abnormal tau and occurs predominantly through contact-dependent mechanisms. Transferred mitochondria were either integrated into the host mitochondrial network, degraded in lysosomes, or remained isolated in the recipient cells’ cytosol. This transfer improved cellular respiration and was associated with increased bioenergetics in pathological cells. Together, our results highlight IMT as a link between tau pathology and neuronal metabolic adaptation, suggesting that this process reflects an endogenous metabolic adaptation holding therapeutic potential to mitigate energy deficits in neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular alterations. Our 2017 study compared 60 RA patients to healthy controls, assessing vascular, neurological, and cognitive parameters. The present study is a follow-up of these RA patients to evaluate disease progression and vascular changes over time, using their 2017 results as baseline. Methods: In 2023, we reassessed 43 of the original 60 RA patients using laboratory testing, carotid ultrasound, functional transcranial Doppler (TCD) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Changes over time were analyzed within the same individuals. Results: Inflammatory markers and lipid profiles showed a trend toward improvement, though changes were not statistically significant, except for a significant increase in vitamin D (p < 0.001) and a decrease in Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints (DAS28) scores (p < 0.001). Carotid ultrasound revealed a significant increase in plaque burden (p = 0.022 on the right side and p = 0.008 on the left), while carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) showed a non-significant rise. TCD measurements indicated significantly increased pulsatility (p < 0.001 on the right, p = 0.001 on the left side) and resistance (p = 0.001 on the right, p = 0.012 on the left side) indices and reduced flow velocities (p < 0.001 on the right and p = 0.001 on the left side) in bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). The cerebrovascular reserve capacity was significantly lower on the right side overall (p = 0.013), with further decline noted in the methotrexate (MTX)-treated subgroup on the left side (p = 0.043). MRI findings showed non-significant numerical trends toward worsening lacunar small-vessel disease (p = 0.405) and cerebral atrophy (p = 0.063), with higher but stable lacunar infarction scores among MTX users (p = 0.023). Conclusions: Despite improved inflammatory control, RA patients demonstrated progressive vascular and hemodynamic alterations over time, while MRI changes should be interpreted as trends. These findings support multimodal vascular monitoring in RA. Full article

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks within the same spectrum is a key enabler for extending mobile connectivity in future communication systems. In this context, the Direct Connectivity between Mobile Satellite Service and International Mobile Telecommunications user equipment (DC-MSS-IMT) paradigm, currently under study within the International Telecommunication Union foresees the use of terrestrial IMT frequency bands by satellite systems to directly serve conventional mobile devices. This paper presents an experimental study to assess the coexistence between a terrestrial 5G-NR receiver and a co-channel interfering signal representative of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite downlink. A controlled laboratory setup in a conducted configuration was implemented to ensure repeatability and accurate control of interference conditions. Measurements were performed over four carrier frequencies representative of IMT bands (763 MHz, 1482 MHz, 2150 MHz, and 2635 MHz), considering different traffic load conditions (100% and 50%) and Doppler shifts associated with satellite motion. The interference impact was evaluated in terms of receiver desensitization, defined as the increase in the total received power relative to the baseline noise level. The results show that a 1 dB desensitization threshold is consistently reached when the interfering signal power is approximately 5–6 dB below the receiver noise floor, corresponding to an interference-to-noise ratio (I/N) of about −6 dB. This behavior is observed across all tested frequency bands, traffic conditions, and Doppler scenarios, indicating limited sensitivity to frequency offsets within the considered range. The findings confirm the validity of commonly adopted coexistence criteria and provide experimentally derived reference values to support ongoing regulatory and technical studies on spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial IMT systems. Full article

Objectives: To assess associations between body weight metrics and eating disorder (ED)-psychopathology in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) at baseline and four weeks post-discharge (4-week follow-up) from inpatient psychiatric multimodal treatment (IMT), calculating full and partial body mass index (BMI) percentile/ED-psychopathology remission rates. Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort study in adolescents (12–18 years) with AN-restricting (AN-R)/-binge–purge (AN-BP), and atypical AN (AAN). Body weight metrics and ED-psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q) were assessed at baseline and 4-week follow-up. Remission at 4-week follow-up was calculated by applying German-AN-S3-guidelines-based vs. DSM-5 criteria. Results: In 40 adolescents (mean age = 15.6 ± 1.5 years; females = 90%; BMI z-score = −2.59 ± 1.07) receiving IMT (median duration = 118 (IQR = 90–150) days), BMI z-score increased (−2.61 to −1.04, p < 0.001) and EDE-Q global score decreased (3.26 to 1.81, p < 0.001) from baseline to 4-week follow-up. Greater weight gain/week during IMT had a positive impact on ED-psychopathology at 4-week follow-up. In multivariable analyses, greater BMI z-score improvement was independently predicted by lower baseline BMI z-score (p < 0.001) and fewer baseline comorbid psychiatric diagnoses (p = 0.034) (R²_Adjusted = 0.545). Greater EDE-Q global score improvement was independently predicted by typical vs. atypical AN (p = 0.005), higher baseline BMI z-score (p = 0.012), and higher baseline EDE-Q restraint (p = 0.048) (R²_Adjusted = 0.376). By applying stricter S3-guideline-based vs. DSM-5 BMI percentile criteria, full BMI percentile/ED-psychopathology remission was lower (12.5% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.001), while non-remission was higher (25.0% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The complex relationships between body weight metrics, ED-psychopathology, and treatment outcome trajectories in AN, including treatment response and remission criteria, require further investigation. Full article