Search Results (11,939)

Non-invasive assessment of oocyte quality remains a challenge in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Through their bidirectional communication with the gamete, cumulus cells (CCs) act as a functional mirror of oocyte competence; however, the specific angiogenic signature within this microenvironment is still poorly understood. In the present study, we performed RNA-seq on CCs from healthy oocyte donors and infertile patients, utilizing a multi-pipeline bioinformatic approach (STAR-Cufflinks, TopHat-HTSeq, and HISAT2-StringTie) to establish a high-confidence, exploratory transcriptomic profile. A set of 234 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) consistently identified across pipelines was obtained, with functional enrichment highlighting blood vessel morphogenesis and angiogenesis as primary drivers of transcriptomic divergence between groups. RT-qPCR validation in individual samples confirmed statistically significant differences for ANKRD22 (upregulated) and E2F7 (downregulated) in infertile patients, while other angiogenesis-related genes, including ANGPT1, ANGPT2 and THBS1, showed consistent but non-significant expression trends, suggesting alterations in angiogenesis-related processes within the follicular microenvironment. These findings support the presence of coordinated angiogenesis-related alterations in cumulus cells and provide a basis for future studies exploring their potential relevance in oocyte competence and ART outcomes. Full article

Purpose: The posterior tibial plateau offset (PTPO) is a parameter of sagittal plane bony tibia morphology with high variability and clinical relevance, particularly in cases involving stemmed tibial implants, where posterior tibial cortex interference may occur. However, its change during total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and its relationship to tibial component positioning remain unknown. Methods: Pre- and postoperative sagittal radiographs of 98 patients undergoing primary, mechanically aligned TKA using a single implant system were retrospectively analyzed. PTPO was measured as the distance between the tibial anatomical axis and the center of the tibial plateau or tibial component. Tibial component placement (TCP) was assessed anteriorly and posteriorly and categorized as anatomical (0–1 mm), mild (1–3 mm), or moderate (>3 mm) underhang (TCU) or overhang (TCO). Pre- and postoperative changes in PTPO were analyzed, preoperative PTPO was compared across TCP categories. Correlations with absolute anterior and posterior deviation from anatomical component placements were calculated. Results: PTPO showed high preoperative variability (mean 6.89 ± 3.69 mm) and was significantly reduced after TKA (5.89 ± 3.44 mm; mean change −1.06 ± 3.44 mm; p < 0.001). Higher preoperative PTPO was associated with anterior (p = 0.01) and posterior TCU (p = 0.02). PTPO showed a moderate correlation with anterior (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and a strong correlation with posterior implant deviation (r = 0.68, p < 0.01). Conclusions: PTPO shows high variability among patients undergoing TKA, is significantly altered through surgery and correlates with tibial component malposition, particularly TCU. Surgeons should consider PTPO during preoperative planning to optimize tibial component positioning and reduce the risk of implant-to-bone conflict, especially when using stemmed implants. In patients with a high preoperative PTPO, accuracy-enhancing techniques such as computer navigation or robotic assistance may be considered. Full article

Poliovirus wastewater surveillance (WWS) is an important complementary system to acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and a substitute surveillance for enteroviruses in stool samples of children, within global poliovirus eradication efforts. However, current guidelines provide limited data on sampling schemes for polio-free countries. This study aims to provide a summary of sampling schemes used for poliovirus WWS in studies done in countries of European Union (EU), together with an analysis of their objectives and a comparison with studies done in other countries. The study selection for this literature review was based on three sources: a World Health Organisation literature review, the PubMed database, and a systematic literature review of WWS of communicable disease agents. From 1446 studies, 72 studies published between 1 January 1995 and 5 September 2024 were included in the qualitative analysis. These studies were analysed by country of origin, objective, sampling site, catchment population size, sampling frequency, sampling method and sample volume. The results indicate that most studies from EU countries had conducted poliovirus WWS directly in line with World Health Organisation recommendations, despite these being primarily designed for developing countries. Our review may encourage countries to optimise their poliovirus WWS systems based on their own risks for poliovirus introduction and circulation. Full article

The Casimir interaction in salted water contains a universal contribution of electromagnetic fluctuations that makes it of a longer range than previously thought. The universal contribution dominates non-universal ones at the distances relevant for actin fibers inside the cell. We discuss universal and non-universal contributions with a model mimicking biological matter. We also show that the universal Casimir effect should have crucial implications at the cell scale. Full article

Activated carbons are usually prepared from natural precursors (e.g., fruit stones or nutshells) by carbonization and activation processes carried out at 400–1000 °C. They exhibit well-developed porosity, and chemical activation introduces hydrophilic functional groups on their surface, providing excellent sorption properties. However, the high temperatures required during thermal treatment increase production costs. In this work, cost-reducing methods for preparing carbon sorbents are proposed. Carbonization of H₃PO₄ activated waste pistachio nutshells was performed using classical pyrolysis (500 or 550 °C, 30 min, N₂ atmosphere) and microwave treatment (power 1000 W, 20 min). The properties of the synthesized carbons were characterized using thermogravimetry and spectroscopic techniques including infrared (ATR), Raman, photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Porous structure parameters were determined using nitrogen adsorption experiments. The efficiency of Pb²⁺ removal from spiked ultrapure, tap and river water was evaluated by batch sorption experiments and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The most porous carbons were those prepared at 500 and 550 °C, with specific surface areas of 910 and 256 m²/g, respectively. Surface phosphates increased the Pb²⁺ sorption efficiency to 99% from ultrapure water, at an initial concentration of 300 µg Pb²⁺/L. The material obtained with the microwave method was not fully carbonized and remained nonporous, but it also exhibited 99% Pb²⁺ uptake from ultrapure water due to the presence of oxygen-containing surface groups. The Pb²⁺ removal from spiked tap and river water reached up to 84% and 94%, respectively, at the spiking level of 300 µg Pb²⁺/L. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cognitive impairment is a major concern in aging populations. Early detection through validated neuropsychological tests is essential for dementia risk stratification and preventive interventions. This scoping review (PRISMA-ScR, 2013–2023, registration protocol: 10.17605/OSF.IO/8NHJF) evaluated cognitive testing trends in aging research and identified the most frequently used neuropsychological screening tests in Spanish populations. Methods: Searches in PubMed and Web of Science (March 2024) yielded 730 records; 156 were reviewed in full, and 15 met inclusion criteria for Spanish adults ≥65 years. Results: The Mini-Mental State Examination was the most-used test, followed by verbal fluency and Trail Making Test. No test covered all six DSM-5 cognitive domains, and social cognition was never assessed in any of the studies. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was underused despite its superior sensitivity. Conclusions: Findings support developing a tailored, multidomain battery combining global and domain-specific tests. Social cognition assessments should be included to ensure a complete cognitive domain coverage. Full article

The aim of the study was to assess the microbial composition of bronchial secretions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), focusing on the impact of the exacerbation patterns on the common components of the respiratory flora and their relationship with inflammatory proteins. A total of 72 clinically stable COPD patients provided sputum and blood samples for 16S rRNA gene amplification and peripheral biomarkers. Beta-diversity analyses of the bronchial microbiome showed significant differences between infrequent and frequent (≥2) exacerbators (p = 0.001). Haemophilus was underrepresented in frequent exacerbators (relative abundance [RA] 0.07 [0.003–0.31] vs. 0.24 [0.06–2.36], p = 0.02) while the presence of Pseudomonas was increased (7.70 [0.66–11.68] vs. 1.11 [0.37–2.88], p = 0.01). Eight common taxa, Prevotella, Moryella, Atopobium, Megasphaera, Parvimonas, Veillonella, Bulleidia and Selenomonas, showed significant decreases in their RAs when exacerbations required hospitalization. RAs of Haemophilus and eight common taxa were positively correlated (p < 0.01). Among them, Porphyromonas, Leptotrichia and Selenomonas showed a negative correlation with blood interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p < 0.01) and an equivalent correlation was found for Haemophilus parainfluenzae. Frequent exacerbations cause a decrease in the RA of Haemophilus and have a more extensive impact when hospitalization is required. The RAs of common bronchial bacteria were closely related and some of them were inversely associated with blood IL-8 levels. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has revealed a complex interplay between respiratory and neurological manifestations. This study utilized K18-hACE2 transgenic mice to investigate the morphological, ultrastructural, and transcriptomic changes induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in both lungs and brain tissues. Histopathological analysis at seven days post-infection revealed significant pulmonary damage characterized by interstitial pneumonia, alveolar septal thickening, with a marked inflammatory infiltrate predominantly consisting of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and an abnormal profile of type II pneumocytes. Concurrently, in the brain, we observed vasculitis, gliosis, and edema, indicating an inflammatory response and vascular compromise that can disturb the blood–brain barrier. In addition, gene expression in lung tissue presented increased CCL2, IL10, and GDDA45D in infected mice and the downregulation of proinflammatory genes. However, in brain tissue, the increased expression of CCL2, CASP1, IL6, IFNB1, and GDDA45G inflammatory genes was observed in infected K18-hACE2 mice. Full article

Diet plays a fundamental role in maintaining human health, which has intensified scientific interest in bioactive food constituents and contributed to the development of functional foods. Polyphenols, one of the most important groups of plant secondary metabolites, are valued for their strong antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Species belonging to the Rosaceae family, including Rosa, Crataegus, and Pyracantha, are recognized as promising sources of phenolic compounds, although their chemical profiles and antioxidant potential remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess selected phenolic compounds in extracts obtained from ripe fruits of selected Rosaceae species and cultivars. The extracts were prepared using ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and matrix solid-phase dispersion. The resulting samples were subsequently subjected to comprehensive analyses of their chemical composition and antioxidant capacity. These extraction techniques differ substantially in their operational principles and process parameters; notably, ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and pressurized liquid extraction require more complex and tightly controlled conditions, whereas matrix solid-phase dispersion constitutes a comparatively simpler and less parameter-dependent approach. The results revealed distinct phenolic profiles among the examined species and confirmed the presence of compounds exhibiting strong antioxidant activity. Collectively, these findings broaden current knowledge of the phytochemical diversity present in Rosaceae fruits and underscore their potential as natural sources of bioactive constituents relevant to the development and formulation of functional food products. Full article

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has been accompanied by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), characterized by high energy density and low nutritional quality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in UPF may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation and early metabolic dysfunction in children and adolescents. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and markers of inflammation and metabolic health in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Observational and interventional studies evaluating UPF intake or diet-related inflammatory potential in children and adolescents (≤18 years) were included. Outcomes of interest included inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α) and metabolic parameters (e.g., insulin resistance, lipid profile, glucose metabolism). Results: A limited number of studies have directly assessed UPF consumption using the NOVA classification. Overall, these studies suggest a potential association between increased UPF intake and adverse metabolic outcomes, although findings on inflammatory markers remain inconsistent. A larger body of indirect evidence, including studies assessing dietary inflammatory indices and related dietary patterns, consistently supports a link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in pediatric populations. Conclusions: Although direct evidence on UPF consumption remains limited, the available findings, supported by complementary indirect evidence, suggest a plausible relationship between UPF-rich diets, inflammation, and metabolic health in children and adolescents. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify causality and improve the standardization of dietary assessment methods. Full article

Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (t-EUS) has transformed the management of biliopancreatic diseases by enabling minimally invasive access and intervention through the gastrointestinal wall. This narrative review summarizes current indications and evolving roles of t-EUS in benign and malignant biliary disease, with a focus on the different modalities of transmural drainage, EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE), and EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA). In benign settings, EUS-gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy for high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis, offering internal drainage with fewer tube-related adverse events. In malignant biliary obstruction, transmural drainages are consolidated alternatives of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as first-line or rescue strategies, providing durable internal biliary drainage, avoiding post-ERCP pancreatitis without deteriorating quality of life. In surgically altered anatomy, t-EUS overcomes the limitations of enteroscopy-assisted ERCP by creating direct access routes to the biliary tree or pancreatic duct. EUS-guided pancreatic duct drainage offers a rescue or primary approach in benign strictures, anastomotic stenosis, and disconnected duct syndrome. EUS-GE has rapidly become a preferred modality for palliation of gastric outlet obstruction in pancreatic cancer, while EUS-RFA provides a platform for locoregional therapy in selected cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Collectively, these applications position t-EUS as a central tool in the multidisciplinary management of complex biliopancreatic disease, with ongoing innovations expected to further expand its indications and safety and to refine patient selection and training pathways. Full article

Brazil hosts the world’s greatest stingless bee diversity but remains a leading pesticide consumer. This study evaluated the effects of thiamethoxam on Melipona scutellaris (Apidae) and Scaptotrigona postica (Apidae) larvae using standardized in vitro protocols and patented biomimetic technologies. Larvae were exposed to a field-realistic dose (RD) of 0.02292 ng a.i./larva—calculated using the BeeRex model for citrus crops—and two lower doses: RD/10 and RD/100. Thiamethoxam exposure resulted in significant mortality and developmental alterations, even at 100-fold dilutions. In M. scutellaris, mortality was dose-dependent; RD and RD/10 induced body malformation and reduced food consumption, resulting in >98% mortality. At RD/100, surviving individuals showed significant reductions in body size. In S. postica, all tested doses induced larval darkening and accelerated fungal growth, leading to 100% mortality during the feeding period, including at RD/100. This pattern contrasts with the greater tolerance reported for the adult stage of this species. Overall, the results suggest that larval stages may be more sensitive to thiamethoxam exposure than adults, highlighting the importance of considering different life stages in pesticide risk assessment. These findings also emphasize the need for validated experimental approaches to support environmental risk evaluation for Neotropical pollinators. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale is one of the most widely used instruments to assess perceived parental competence, understood as the degree to which parents feel capable of adequately fulfilling their parental role. Despite its widespread use, studies seeking to determine PSOC normative scores are scarce, especially in specific populations such as mothers with infants younger than 9 months, which limits the interpretation of its scores in applied contexts. This study establishes PSOC normative scores in a nonclinical sample of 522 Spanish mothers with infants aged between 3 and 37 weeks who attended a public early intervention program. Methods: Regression and ANOVA analyses were performed to examine the effect of infant and maternal age, as well as educational level and occupation, on the dimensions of Efficacy, Satisfaction, and Total score of the PSOC. Results: The results show a significant decline in parental competence starting when their infants reach 9 months of age, and lower levels of self-efficacy in mothers over 35 years of age. No significant differences were found according to the educational level or occupation of the mothers. Normative scores are presented by percentiles, offering specific criteria for this stage of child development. Z- and T-scores are included, useful for standardized comparisons between subscale and studies. Conclusions: These findings provide useful information for early detection and psychoeducational interventions within the framework of early intervention. Full article

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition associated with metabolic disturbances, systemic inflammation, and the accumulation of gut-derived uremic toxins. Increasing evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the progression of CKD through the gut–kidney axis. Consequently, microbiome-targeted nutritional strategies, including probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, have emerged as promising complementary approaches to modulate intestinal microbial composition and metabolic functions. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the current clinical evidence regarding the use of these interventions in CKD patients. Clinical studies indicate that supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotic formulations may promote beneficial shifts in the composition of the gut microbiota, enhance saccharolytic fermentation, and increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These changes have been associated with reduced circulating levels of gut-derived uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, as well as with the attenuation of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. However, available trials remain heterogeneous in terms of study design, probiotic strains, prebiotic substrates, dosing regimens, and patient populations, and are frequently limited by small sample sizes and short intervention durations. As a result, evidence for improvements in renal function and long-term clinical outcomes remains inconclusive. While synbiotics may offer theoretical advantages by combining microbial supplementation with targeted substrates that support microbial growth and metabolic activity, current evidence does not consistently demonstrate superior clinical efficacy. Overall, these interventions often improve surrogate biomarkers, but their effects on renal function and hard clinical outcomes remain uncertain. Larger, longer-duration multicenter randomized controlled trials with standardized formulations are needed to establish their clinical utility and to better elucidate microbiota–host interactions in CKD. Advancing this field may support the development of personalized microbiome-based therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the gut–kidney axis and ultimately improving clinical outcomes in CKD patients. Full article