Search Results (264,540)

The functional properties of high-pressure processing (HPP)-assisted protein hydrolysate from tamarind kernel powder (TKP-HD) and the physicochemical characteristics of its foam-mat powder were studied. TKP-HD consisted of more non-polar than polar amino acids, with higher solubility at pH 5 and 7 than soy protein isolate (SPI) but lower than egg white (EW). The water-binding capacity of TKP-HD increased at pH 5 while TKP-HD had a higher foaming capacity than SPI at pH 5, and the highest oil-binding capacity. The physicochemical properties of TKP-HD after foam-mat drying were investigated using 1 and 1.5% (w/w) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), with drying at 60, 70, and 80 °C. Samples with 1.5% HPMC had lower water activity than those with 1% HPMC at all drying temperatures. The sample with 1% HPMC had higher antioxidant capacity at 60 °C than at 70 °C, but this decreased at 1.5% HPMC. Samples with 1.5% HPMC and dried at 60 °C recorded the highest solubility and viscosity, with increased porosity of the powder structure. The most suitable foam-mat drying conditions for TKP-HD were the addition of 1.5% HPMC and drying at 60 °C. Full article

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) is a highly invasive, polyphagous scarab causing significant agricultural and ecological damage across invaded regions. While molecular studies are gaining traction, the unavailability of P. japonica cell lines has constrained in vitro investigations. To overcome these limitations and provide a platform for controlled biological investigation, we developed the first cell culture derived from P. japonica larvae. Fat bodies from field-collected third-instar larvae were dissected and cultured. Cells initially formed floating spheroids before transitioning to adherent monolayers. Cultures remained stable over several splits, whereas a marked reduction in cell number was observed at the eighth split due to the onset of contamination. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed nuclear integrity, while transmission electron microscopy at split 5 revealed cytoplasmic features consistent with insect fat body cells, including lipid droplets. The cell culture predominantly contained trophocyte-like cells, consistent with the known cellular composition of insect fat bodies. Transcriptomic analyses comparing fresh fat bodies and cultured cells revealed moderate transcriptional divergence, with limited upregulation of genes associated with iron homeostasis and stress response, consistent with adaptive responses to in vitro conditions. While not immortalized, this cell culture offers a short-term model for studying P. japonica physiology, toxicology, host–pathogen interactions, and potential gene-targeting strategies under controlled conditions. This work represents a first step toward enabling molecular and cellular research in this economically important pest species. Full article

Background/Objectives: Few studies have simultaneously evaluated spatial accessibility to both food destinations and spaces for physical activity in relation to body weight in children. The aim of this study was to determine whether spatial accessibility to food destinations and places for physical activity is associated with body weight among children, differentiating between boys and girls. Neighborhood socio-economic status and walkability were incorporated as covariates. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Valencia, Spain. The initial sample comprised a sample of 808 children. GIS-based procedures were used to evaluate access to food outlets, walkability and socio-economic status (i.e., household income) among home neighborhoods. Access to different types of food destinations and destinations where children can engage in physical activity was assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y-IPEN). Weight and height were objectively assessed. The body mass index (BMI) percentile was calculated. Mixed-model regression analyses were performed. Results: Being a boy was positively associated with BMI percentile (p = 0.003), whereas physical activity was negatively related to this outcome (p = 0.028) in the whole sample. None of the built environment attributes were significantly associated with BMI percentile in boys. Access to healthy restaurants (p = 0.035), as well as neighborhood income (p = 0.049), were negatively associated with BMI percentile among girls. Conclusions: The relationship between built environmental attributes and BMI varies significantly between boys and girls. Understanding these differences is key for designing effective public health interventions with the aim of reducing childhood obesity. Full article

Background and Objectives: Recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) remains common and burdensome, with growing emphasis on antibiotic stewardship and non-antibiotic prevention. We characterized what women with rUTI know, do, and receive in everyday care and identified gaps between patient understanding and guideline-concordant management. Materials and Methods: We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional survey of consecutive adult women presenting with rUTI to a urology clinic in Poland. A structured questionnaire captured demographics, knowledge, symptoms and triggers, diagnostics, treatments and prevention, and satisfaction. Responses were standardized a priori; descriptive statistics and exploratory comparisons were performed (N = 36). Results: The mean age was 53.0 years (SD: 14.8). Only 36.1% identified the correct rUTI definition, while 83.3% recognized bacteria as the common cause. The symptom profile was dominated by frequency and dysuria (each 88.9%); 27.8% reported intercourse as a precipitant, and this was more frequent among sexually active women (43.5% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.031). Over half (55.6%) perceived no seasonality. The median number of episodes in the prior year was five (IQR 4–6). Urine culture was obtained before treatment in 38.9% and after treatment in 13.9%. The overall satisfaction with care was low to moderate (13.9% were very satisfied, 61.1% were moderately satisfied, and 25.0% were dissatisfied). Prior antibiotic exposure included ciprofloxacin (55.6%), furazidin (75.0%), and fosfomycin (47.2%). The uptake of preventive options was uneven: immunoactive vaccines accounted for 19.4%, methenamine hippurate for 16.7%, pelvic floor physiotherapy for 33.3%, and vaginal estrogen for 5.6% overall (9.5% among women ≥ 50 years). Conclusions: In this clinic-referred cohort, rUTI was frequent and disruptive, factual knowledge was limited, urine culture use was inconsistent, and fluoroquinolone exposure remained common. Preventive care was misaligned with guidelines, with underuse of vaginal estrogen and variable adoption of non-antibiotic strategies. Targeted education, stewardship, and structured access to evidence-based prevention may improve outcomes. Full article

Background: Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas are aggressive malignancies. Complete surgical resection with negative margins is crucial to decrease the risk of recurrence but can be risky due to vascular involvement. The aim of our study was to evaluate the different approaches to IVC and renal vein management and their impact on postoperative complications. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery for retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma with IVC and/or renal vein involvement at our institution from 2016 to 2024. Patients were stratified by intraoperative vascular management, including ligation only versus varying forms of vascular reconstruction. Postoperative complications, including bleeding, transfusions, the need for acute and chronic hemodialysis, and thromboembolic events, were recorded. Chi-squared tests were used to compare rates of postoperative complications by vascular management. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We identified 60 patients at our institution who underwent surgery for leiomyosarcoma with IVC and/or renal vein involvement. Ten patients underwent IVC ligation alone due to thrombosis, thirty-six had IVC replacement, and fourteen had patch angioplasty. In the entire cohort, twenty-six patients (43.3%) experienced an adverse event after surgery. When looking at postoperative adverse events by IVC management, we did not find any statistically significant differences among rates of adverse events by group. There were also no statistically significant differences in complications following renal vein ligation versus renal vein reconstruction. Conclusions: Patients with leiomyosarcoma with IVC and/or renal vein involvement have several options for intraoperative vascular management. Our data demonstrates that there are no statistically significant differences in rates of complications among the different groups. Full article

Background: Eosinophilia, defined as peripheral blood eosinophil counts > 0.5 K/μL, is associated with various clinical conditions, including allergic, infectious, and malignant diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that eosinophils may contribute to thrombo-inflammatory processes, but their association with thromboembolic events and mortality remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate whether eosinophilia is independently associated with increased risk of thromboembolic events and mortality in hospitalized patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records from Sheba Medical Center (2011–2020). Eosinophilia was classified as mild (0.5–1.5 K/μL) or hypereosinophilia (HE, >1.5 K/μL). Patients with eosinophilia were matched 1:1 to controls with normal eosinophil counts based on age, sex, and follow-up duration. Results: Among 93,320 patients (46,660 with eosinophilia and 46,660 controls), thromboembolic events occurred in 20.9% of eosinophilic patients vs. 9.8% of controls. Eosinophilia was independently associated with thrombosis (OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.28–1.38; p < 0.0001), with increased risk from counts ≥ 0.7 K/μL. Mortality was also higher among eosinophilic patients (HR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13–1.20; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Eosinophilia is associated with increased thromboembolic and mortality risk, highlighting the importance of eosinophil monitoring in clinical practice. Full article

Background: Adjuvant tamoxifen reduces recurrence in patients with ER-positive DCIS treated with lumpectomy and radiation, but its benefit after mastectomy remains unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 287 patients who underwent mastectomy for pure DCIS at Siriraj Hospital between 2008 and 2017. Recurrence risk factors were assessed using log-rank test, and survival probabilities were estimated with Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Of 180 patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive pure DCIS treated with mastectomy, 120 (66.7%) received tamoxifen, while the remaining 60 (33.3%) did not. The median follow-up was 8.07 years (0.05–13.8 years). Sixteen (8.9%) recurrences were identified, with 5 in the tamoxifen group and 11 in non-endocrine-therapy (ET) group. The 10-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 94.7% in the tamoxifen group compared with 77.9% in the non-ET group. Patients with HR-positive DCIS treated with tamoxifen following mastectomy had significantly less subsequent breast cancer (HR = 0.178; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Recurrence of breast cancer after mastectomy for DCIS is rare; however, it carries a high mortality rate for those who relapse. Adjuvant tamoxifen after mastectomy demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence in ER-positive DCIS. This study supports the decision to prescribe adjuvant ET in patients with DCIS who underwent mastectomy. Full article

Background and Objectives: Thoracic trauma usually results in high morbidity and mortality. It is the leading cause of death in patients within the first four decades of life. In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors for intensive care mortality and to evaluate factors affecting clinical outcomes and complications in patients with thoracic trauma who were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study. Patients diagnosed with thoracic trauma and followed up in the ICU between 1 May 2023 and 1 January 2025 were included. Critically ill patients aged 18 years and older whose admission blood values were available and who had undergone radiological imaging were included in the study. Patients were grouped as Survivors or Non-survivors. The primary outcome was to determine risk factors for mortality. The secondary outcome was to evaluate factors affecting clinical outcomes and complications. The tertiary outcome was to determine the predictive value of the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for mortality. Results: A total of 104 patients (male/female ratio: 76/28) were included in the study. Twenty-four patients (23.1%) died, and eighty (76.9%) were discharged. Age in the Non-survivor group was found to be significantly higher (59.33 ± 22.21 vs. 40.50 ± 17.71; p < 0.001), and the proportion of women was also significantly higher in the Non-survivor group (p = 0.0082). Mortality was associated with advanced age, female sex, lower GCS score (p < 0.001), higher APACHE II scores (p < 0.001), and the presence of comorbid conditions (p = 0.003), including head trauma (p = 0.024) and cardiac arrest before ICU admission (p = 0.011). The Non-survivor group more frequently required mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), vasopressor support (p < 0.001), and continuous renal replacement therapy (p < 0.001), and they developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (p < 0.001) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (p < 0.001) at higher rates. ICU length of stay was also significantly longer in the Non-survivor group (p = 0.045). The APACHE II score demonstrated the highest discriminatory performance, emerging as the strongest clinical predictor of mortality (AUC = 0.751, 95% CI: 0.630–0.872; p < 0.001). Age (OR: 1.06) and serum lactate levels (OR: 1.57) consistently emerged as strong independent predictors of mortality. The presence of head trauma significantly increased the risk of mortality, particularly in the APACHE II-adjusted model (OR: 9.08). The APACHE II–based model yielded high specificity (96.3%) and accuracy (88.5%), with good discrimination (AUC = 0.894) and the highest Nagelkerke R² (0.548). Conclusions: Factors that may shorten the length of ICU stay include infection control, early correction of acidosis, and maintenance of hemodynamic stability, which may reduce mortality. APACHE II was more closely related to overall clinical severity than the other scoring systems. Our data indicate that age-related frailty and acute physiological derangement, as best represented by the APACHE II score, are more significant determinants of survival than anatomic injury severity alone. Full article

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most frequent healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) worldwide. Changes in the functioning of healthcare systems may affect the implementation of SSIs prevention practices, with consequent alterations in the occurrence of HCAIs. The main aims of our study were to analyze specific SSIs prevalence and proportions together with overall HCAIs prevalence in acute care hospitals (ACHs) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional aims were to identify bacterial causative agents, the use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP), related structural and process quality indicators, and to determine trends between two periods. Methods: The National Reference Centre for HCAIs (University Hospital Centre Zagreb) conducted point prevalence surveys in May 2017 and May 2023 in ACHs throughout Croatia, using the technical protocol developed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Results: The prevalence of HCAIs in ACHs in Croatia rose from 5.3% (95% CI 4.8–5.7) in 2017 to 7.2% (95% CI 6.6–7.8) in 2023 (p = 9.93 × 10⁻¹⁴). This trend was paralleled with the rising of the HCAIs prevalence in surgical departments from 5.1% to 6.7% (p = 0.0099). The prevalence of overall SSIs across ACHs increased from 0.9% (95% CI 0.7–1.1) in 2017 to 1.2% (95% CI 1.0–1.5) in 2023 (OR 1.36 (1.03–1.80), p = 0.032. While the prevalence of superficial incisional SSIs significantly decreased (OR 0.53 (0.30–0.95), p = 0.028), the share of deep-seated SSIs (deep incisional and organ/space SSIs) among classified SSIs shifted from 48/92 to 77/96; odds ratio (OR) 2.09 (95% CI 1.45–3.01). In 2017, Gram-positive cocci were the most frequently isolated bacterial causative agents (44.6%). By 2023, this shifted, with Enterobacterales species comprising most isolates (42.2%). In 2023, significantly a higher proportion of patients received PAP (χ² = 25.419, df = 1, p  < 0.5). An increase in the positive trend of alcohol-based hand rub antiseptics use in surgical departments (+15.7 L/patient-days, p < 0.001) contrasted with a decrease in infection prevention and control (IPC) nurses and medical doctors per hospital (−0.5, p = 0.041/−0.5, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Findings of the two point prevalence surveys over time indicate the changes in trends in surgical site infections burden, and highlight the need for the implementation and strengthening of preventive measures with the focus on targeted prevention of deep-seated infections. Full article

This study focuses on the development of refrigerated doughs without chemical preservatives to obtain a clean-label product. Sourdough-based strategies were applied to replace conventional preservatives, using both spontaneous flour fermentation and a defined starter culture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CIDCA 8327. In parallel, a partial substitution of wheat flour with 7% amaranth flour was evaluated. To monitor fermentation, pH, titratable acidity, and viable microorganism counts were determined in the sourdoughs, along with culture-independent analyses of microbial communities in two independent spontaneously fermented trials. Dough discs prepared from these sourdoughs were analyzed for pH, titratable acidity, and viable microorganisms, and shelf life was determined based on the appearance of visible mould during refrigerated storage. No substantial differences were observed in the physicochemical parameters of the sourdoughs; however, significant differences in microbial communities were detected, influenced by both amaranth addition and wheat flour batch variability. Dough discs prepared with amaranth flour and spontaneous fermentation showed an extended shelf life and lower mould and yeast counts during refrigerated storage. The use of the starter increased shelf life compared to non-fermented doughs but was less effective than spontaneous sourdough with amaranth. Overall, these results highlight the potential of sourdough technology and amaranth flour for developing clean-label refrigerated products. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of rearing conditions with outdoor access on carcass traits, technological meat quality, and muscle fibre morphology in broiler chickens. Hubbard JA757 broilers were reared until 81 days of age under either control or experimental conditions. Both groups were housed indoors under identical management until day 35; thereafter, the experimental group had access to an outdoor paddock, while the control group remained indoors. At 81 days of age, birds were slaughtered, carcass composition was recorded, and breast (pectoralis major) and thigh (biceps femoris) muscles were analyzed for pH, colour, cooking loss, and shear force. Muscle fibre characteristics were assessed histochemically. Control birds showed higher slaughter and chilled carcass weights, whereas experimentally reared birds exhibited higher carcass yield, lower breast proportion, higher thigh proportion, and reduced abdominal fat. Experimental rearing was associated with higher L* values, higher shear force, and lower cooking loss in both muscles. In the pectoralis major, fibre density was higher in controls, while fibre diameter was higher in the experimental group. In the biceps femoris, the experimental group showed a higher proportion of oxidative βR fibres and larger fibre cross-sectional areas. These results demonstrate that the rearing system influences carcass composition, technological meat properties, and muscle fibre characteristics, leading to distinct phenotypic and technological differences between the groups. Full article

While fixed, unactuated rotor tilt is increasingly utilised in commercial multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), its impact on forward flight performance remains poorly documented in the literature. The current work addresses this gap in the literature by systematically quantifying the performance trade-offs of rotor tilt across various airspeeds. Furthermore, a novel rotor configuration is proposed to mitigate some of the tilted rotor configuration’s inherent drawbacks. The different configurations are evaluated using a computationally affordable numerical approach that combines steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, a simple proportional–integral (P–I) trimming algorithm, and actuator disk rotor modelling (ADM). The findings reveal that the aircraft’s power requirements can be reduced by more than 29% for airspeeds greater than 20 m/s, while its range can be increased by up to 22% with the alternative rotor configurations. However, the modifications were found to have a significantly lesser impact on endurance, as only a 2.9% increase is noted at best. Full article

This study aimed to examine the combined effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) and living setting on fall risk trajectories in older adults over a 16-week period. A total of 124 older adults were recruited from nursing homes (n = 65; M_age: 84.4 ± 7.7 years) and community settings (n = 59; M_age: 70.3 ± 3.6 years). Participants were stratified by BMI (normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and assessed for functional mobility using the 8-foot Timed Up and Go test at baseline and after 16 weeks. A 3 × 2 × 2 repeated-measures GLM using the multivariate approach (Pillai’s Trace) revealed significant main effects for time (p < 0.001) and Living Setting (p < 0.001), but not for BMI (p = 0.408). A significant time × living setting interaction (p < 0.001) indicated that institutionalized older adults demonstrated a significant reduction in 8-foot Up-and-Go completion time (~16%), whereas community-dwelling peers maintained their baseline levels. These findings suggest that the observed reduction in time reflects a test familiarization effect rather than physiological improvement. Analysis revealed that the living setting profile was strongly associated with performance, showing a more significant link to functional decline than BMI-defined weight status, as no significant differences were found across BMI categories. Full article

This study examines the effectiveness and implementation fidelity of the Mind–Grit Pathways framework, a blended and personalized learning intervention integrating academic instruction with growth mindset and grit development in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). Using a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design, the study analyzed Grade 11 students from two demographically comparable urban high schools (n = 933). Treatment students (n = 491) participated in the intervention across mathematics, science, and English/reading for one academic year, while control students received traditional instruction. Multivariate analyses indicated significantly greater academic gains for treatment students across all subject areas and total achievement (p < 0.001). Within the treatment group, substantial teacher- and homeroom-level variation was observed, with large effects in mathematics and moderate effects in science and English/reading, highlighting the role of instructional enactment. Teacher professional development hours were positively associated with student engagement and achievement gains, and student platform usage demonstrated a strong relationship with academic growth, providing objective evidence of implementation fidelity. The results suggest that blended learning frameworks can produce meaningful and equitable academic gains when supported by sustained professional development and high-quality classroom implementation. Full article

Background: Untargeted microbiome modulation has achieved conflicting results in post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Methods: In a case–control study of PI-IBS patients, cases received targeted microbial modulation informed by microbiome profiling, while controls were managed by standard therapy. Treatment response was defined as a decrease in IBS-symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) ≥50 points. Results: All thirteen cases (100%) and 11/20 controls (55%) experienced treatment response (p < 0.0001). The mean IBS-SSS score after treatments was 163 in cases and 231 in controls (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Based on our preliminary results, therapeutic microbiome modulation might be a promising strategy for PI-IBS. Further studies are needed to clarify its role. Full article