Search Results (1,017)

Antimicrobial blue light (aBL) within the visible violet–blue spectrum has emerged as a promising non-chemical strategy for microbial control, yet its performance across environmentally realistic matrices and surfaces remains insufficiently characterised. Here, we evaluate a continuous-exposure aBL LED system operating within the visible 407–421 nm range for its antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 and Bacillus cereus NCTC 11143 across liquid cultures, agar surfaces, and representative built-environment materials (glass and steel bar). Bacterial inactivation was quantified using culture-based enumeration and flow cytometric viability profiling. The system delivered a controlled irradiance of 0.72 mW/cm² at 58 cm, corresponding to cumulative doses of 2.59–62.23 J cm⁻² over 1–24 h of exposure. Significant, time-dependent reductions in viability were observed across all matrices relative to fluorescent-light controls, with near-complete or complete loss of recoverable cells on solid surfaces following prolonged exposure. Flow cytometric analyses revealed progressive transitions from viable to injured and dead cell populations, consistent with photodynamic inactivation mediated by endogenous photosensitiser activation and reactive oxygen species generation. These findings demonstrate that continuous visible-light aBL illumination can achieve effective multisurface microbial inactivation under moderate irradiance conditions compatible with occupied environments, supporting its translational potential as a sustainable, non-chemical decontamination strategy for healthcare, food-processing, and built environments. Full article

Metal(loid) contamination is a persistent environmental stressor in terrestrial ecosystems, yet field-based evidence linking cumulative soil contamination to physiological responses in social insects remains limited. In this study, we investigated an industrial pollution gradient by measuring soil concentrations of potentially toxic elements across multiple sites and integrating multi-element exposure into a cumulative pollution index. Two ant taxa, Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tetramorium cf. caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758), were sampled using a standardized field design, and biochemical endpoints were assessed to characterize antioxidant defense, thiol-based redox status, oxidative damage, and neuroenzymatic responses. Ant homogenates were analyzed spectrophotometrically for antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and acetylcholinesterase activity compared with the local low-contamination reference site. In addition, PLI showed positive site-level associations with multiple biomarkers, suggesting coordinated covariation between cumulative soil contamination and biochemical responses. Because these analyses were based on site-level mean values and direct tissue metal burdens were not measured, the findings should be interpreted as field-based associations rather than evidence of direct internal dose–response or metal-specific causality. These findings suggest that cumulative soil metal(loid) contamination is linked to integrated oxidative and neuroenzymatic stress responses in ants and support the use of ant-based biomarkers as informative tools for ecological biomonitoring under field conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Traditional radiotherapy treatments assume that patient anatomy remains unchanged over the course of treatment. Image guidance is used to reproduce the patient setup as closely as possible, and planning margins are used to account for setup errors. With the development of MR-guided Adaptive Radiotherapy (MRgART), daily plan adaptations are now feasible, allowing clinicians to edit the plan according to daily anatomical fluctuations. However, MRgART is currently restricted to step-and-shoot IMRT delivery, which can have reduced dose conformality compared to VMAT. In this study, we compare the accumulated dose over all fractions in prostate SBRT treatments for non-adaptive and adaptive external beam workflows. Methods: The simulation and daily images of twenty previously treated MRgART prostate SBRT patients were anonymized. On each simulation image, whole prostate VMAT and MRgART SBRT plans were generated. To simulate non-adaptive treatment dose, the daily images were rigidly registered to the planning images, and the doses were recalculated on the daily images. The MRgART plans were adapted to the daily anatomy and reoptimized. All fractional doses were accumulated, using deformable image registration, and compared to their respective planned doses. Results: All MRgART dose accumulations were within clinical tolerance. Four VMAT dose accumulations had a dose constraint that fell outside of clinical tolerance. The VMAT dose accumulations had statistically lower doses to the target compared to their planned doses. Conclusions: While high-quality plans can be delivered in a non-adaptive VMAT workflow despite interfractional motion, this study suggests that MRgART produces cumulative dose distributions that more closely resemble the initial treatment plan. Full article

Introduction: Late functional outcomes remain major determinants of quality of life after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Although several baseline and perioperative factors have been linked to postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and erectile dysfunction (ED), their cumulative effect remains incompletely characterized in large real-world cohorts. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 862 consecutive patients undergoing RARP for localized prostate cancer. All endpoints were assessed at a fixed 12-month follow-up visit; therefore, a median follow-up beyond this predefined time point was not applicable. Outcomes were derived from patient-reported information documented during routine follow-up and comprised pad use, ED, and urethral anastomotic stricture. Age, body mass index (BMI), console time, estimated blood loss, and prostate weight were selected a priori based on clinical relevance and uniform availability and were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. A simple exploratory composite risk score (0–5 points) was constructed by assigning one point for each predefined adverse factor. Results: At 12 months, 50.0% of patients were pad-free, 85.6% achieved social continence (0–1 pad/day), 14.5% had clinically significant incontinence (>1 pad/day), 71.5% had chart-documented ED, and 1.0% developed urethral anastomotic stricture. In multivariable analysis, age (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.018–1.059) and prostate weight (OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.004–1.018) independently predicted SUI, while age was the only independent predictor of ED (OR 1.029, 95% CI 1.007–1.050). No predictor of stricture was identified. The composite score showed an exploratory dose–response association with SUI (OR 1.364 per point, 95% CI 1.208–1.541; AUC 0.597) and a weaker association with ED (OR 1.149, 95% CI 1.007–1.313; AUC 0.540). Conclusions: A simple composite score may provide pragmatic exploratory grouping of SUI risk after RARP, but discrimination is modest and interpretation is limited by non-validated outcome assessment and the absence of major confounders, including nerve-sparing status and baseline functional measures. Full article

Objectives: Management of unstable pelvic fractures during pregnancy presents a major therapeutic challenge, requiring careful multidisciplinary evaluation to balance maternal benefits and fetal radiation risks. Methods: We report the case of a 32-year-old patient who presented with a pelvic fracture due to a road traffic accident at three months of pregnancy. A left sacroiliac osteosynthesis was performed to treat a left sacroiliac diastasis with pelvic osteosynthesis using a trans-iliosacral approach under cone-beam CT (CBCT) guidance using a very-low-dose protocol. Radiation parameters and fetal dose estimates were calculated in advance in collaboration with a medical physicist. Tight beam collimation, a reduced field of view, and minimization of fluoroscopic checks were applied to keep fetal exposure as low as reasonably achievable. This article aims to demonstrate the feasibility of managing a complex pelvic fracture using interventional radiology and to review the literature on management options and gestational age-dependent fetal risks. Results: The estimated cumulative fetal dose from initial imaging, open surgery, and CBCT-guided osteosynthesis remained below 70 mGy using a pregnant phantom (Duke Organ Dose–Dosewatch–General Electric system), which is below thresholds associated with deterministic effects. The procedure achieved optimal screw positioning with less than 40 s of fluoroscopy. Maternal postoperative recovery was favorable, and follow-up revealed normal fetal development. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that CBCT-guided percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation can be safely performed during pregnancy with meticulous planning, dose-reduction strategies, and multidisciplinary collaboration, maintaining fetal radiation exposure below accepted safety thresholds. Full article

Modern agriculture faces major challenges due to rapid population growth, climate change, and environmental constraints. Advanced polymeric systems for controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) are essential to address these challenges. Urea is one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers; however, its agronomic efficiency is limited by volatilization and losses. In this study, we report a sustainable strategy to encapsulate urea using a matrix derived from industrial sulfur waste and vegetable oil, improving agronomic efficiency while valorizing industrial residues and renewable resources. Through inverse vulcanization, a sponge-like polymer (Bp-SF) was synthesized. Two urea-loaded bio-composites (Bp-SF25U and Bp-SF32U) were also prepared. FT-IR analysis confirmed urea encapsulation and the formation of polymeric structures from sunflower oil. SEM revealed a porous morphology, while contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophobic nature of the polymer matrix. Release kinetics showed sustained nitrogen release for more than 77 days, reaching approximately 60% cumulative release, governed by diffusion, with a fraction of urea retained within the matrix, potentially enabling prolonged nutrient availability. Pot experiments with maize showed that a lower dose of encapsulated urea (79 mg) produced similar plant growth responses to a higher dose of free urea (92 mg), indicating improved nitrogen use efficiency. These sulfur cross-linked biopolymers represent a promising strategy to enhance urea efficiency while supporting greener fertilization strategies aligned with circular economy principles. Full article

In June 2023, a larva of grassland caterpillar Gynaephora qinghaiensis naturally infected by an entomopathogenic fungus was collected from an alpine rangeland in Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. After laboratory isolation and cultivation, the pathogen was identified as Beauveria bassiana (designated as GC23620) based on morphological characteristics and ITS-rDNA sequence similarity analysis. The larvicidal efficacy of B. bassiana GC23620 against fourth-instar larvae of G. qinghaiensis were assessed using two inoculation methods in laboratory conditions. The infection process and pathogenicity were analyzed by simulation and parameter estimation using the Time–Dose–Mortality (TDM) model. The estimated parameters for the concentration effect of strain GC23620 (β) were 0.56 (leaf dipping method) and 0.30 (insect immersion method), respectively. After treatment with conidial suspensions (1.05 × 10⁵ to 1.05 × 10⁹ conidia/mL), the cumulative corrected mortalities were 72.73–100.00% (leaf dipping method) and 42.42–90.91% (insect immersion method) at 8 days after inoculation (DAI), and the median lethal doses (LD₅₀) decreased to 1.74 × 10³ conidia/mL (leaf dipping method) and 1.85 × 10⁴ conidia/mL (insect immersion method), respectively, during the same post-inoculation period. After inoculation with conidial suspension under a concentration of 1.05 × 10⁶ conidia/mL, the median lethal times (LT₅₀) were 2.40 (leaf dipping method) and 4.51 days (insect immersion method). A control efficacy of 84.27% was obtained for G. qinghaiensis larvae on grassland at 21 days post-treatment after spraying the fermentation solution with a low dose of 1.05 × 10⁵ conidia/mL. In conclusion, B. bassiana strain GC23620 exhibited high pathogenic activity against G. qinghaiensis larvae and has strong potential for the green control of grassland pests. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children with congenital heart disease are exposed to ionizing radiation, which may induce cancer. This study aimed to reassess cancer risk after cardiac catheterization (CC) between 1999 and 2013, with follow-up until 15 years of age, cancer diagnosis, or death. Methods: We studied 2762 children who underwent at least one CC before eight years of age between 1999 and 2013. Cancer diagnoses were obtained from the German Childhood Cancer Registry. For patients with tumors and 60 randomly selected control patients, cumulative effective radiation doses (Deff) were calculated. Results: During 344,80 person-years of follow-up, ten patients developed cancer, whereas 5.3 cases were expected (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 1.88; 95% CI 0.90–3.46; p = 0.0449). Eight tumors occurred in patients who underwent CC during the first year of life, compared with 3.5 expected (SIR 2.26; 95% CI 0.98–4.46; p = 0.0282). Patients with cancer had a median of 2.0 (1–11) CCs and a median D_eff of 14.6 mSv (2.4–94.3) compared with 1.0 (1–10) CCs and 9.7 mSv (0.7–171.5) in controls. Neither parameter differed significantly. No specific malignancy was predominant. Conclusion: Cardiac catheterization early in life remains associated with an increased cancer risk; however, compared with our previously published 1980–1998 cohort, a reduction in risk was observed. Full article

Background: Ponatinib (PON), an effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor for leukemias harboring the T315I mutation, is limited by severe cardiotoxicity, including myocardial infarction and heart failure. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7), an anti-inflammatory growth factor, in a murine model of PON-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were distributed into experimental groups receiving PON (25 mg/kg cumulative dose) either alone or with BMP-7 (600 μg/kg cumulative dose), along with a corresponding control group. Cardiac analyses included molecular and histological assessments. Results: PON administration induced a marked increase in monocyte infiltration and M1 macrophage polarization. These inflammatory events led to the upregulation of the pyroptotic cascade, leading to activation of the TGF-β1/SMAD2/3 signaling axis. In contrast, BMP-7 significantly attenuated these pathological responses by suppressing inflammation-induced pyroptosis and the TGF-β1/SMAD2/3 signaling axis. Conclusions: These findings identify inflammation-induced pyroptosis as a central driver of the pathological changes in PON-induced cardiotoxicity. Notably, our work highlights BMP-7’s capacity to inhibit these disease-related alterations. Collectively, these results expand on the current knowledge of the mechanistic framework of PON-induced cardiotoxicity, while also emphasizing BMP-7 as a promising therapeutic candidate with potential translational relevance. Full article

Venom-mediated systemic toxicity is not fully understood. This study explored the dose-dependent effects of Vespa mandarinia venom (VMV) on mice via integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Subcutaneous VMV injection induced dose-dependent hypothermia: 80 μg caused severe transient hypothermia and partial mortality, while 40/60 μg led to reversible hypothermia within 24 h. Whole-blood sequencing identified 2400–3281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) per group, including 1764 shared DEGs. Immune-related pathways were significantly activated, with hub genes validated by qRT-PCR. Serum metabolomics revealed alterations in organic acids, alkaloids, and other metabolites. Integrative transcriptome–metabolome analysis predicted the potential involvement of various pathways in VMV-induced toxicity, including ferroptosis (shared in low-dose VMV groups) and apoptosis. Cumulatively, this study confirms that VMV induces immunometabolic reprogramming, providing a molecular framework for understanding venom-induced systemic toxicity. Full article

Background: Repeated brain computed tomography (CT) scans in children may result in substantial cumulative radiation exposure, particularly in young children, who are more sensitive to ionizing radiation. The purpose of the study was to assess the dose levels of radiation in patients who receive repeated brain CT during childhood and adherence rates to pediatric imaging protocols. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 177 patients aged ≤5 years who underwent two or more brain CT examinations with a total of 514 CT examinations. The information was gathered through the hospital Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), which included patient demographics, scan parameters, and scanner-reported dose indicators such as volume-averaged computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP). The effective dose (ED) was calculated and compared with estimated doses based on a nominal pediatric CT protocol. Results: The findings indicated a great variation in scan parameters, with CTDIvol values of 8.9 to 51.7 mGy and DLP values of 177 to 1310 mGy.cm. The number of repeated scans showed a great increase in the cumulative ED (p < 0.001). The median doses in patients below the age of one year were greater than those in older children. There was also a closer relation of scanner-reported doses to adult protocols, which suggests a lack of an optimized pediatric setting. Conclusions: Children under 5 who undergo repeated brain CT scans may face excessive radiation exposure. The matter is aggravated by the fact that scans are performed repeatedly without optimization of the dose, which leads to significant cumulative ED. Full article

Gastric cancer remains a highly heterogeneous malignancy in which chemotherapy response is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance, cumulative toxicity, and the restricted predictive value of conventional preclinical models. This review critically synthesizes evidence on selected medicinal plants and their bioactive phytocompounds as adjuncts to standard chemotherapy for gastric cancer, with an emphasis on mechanistic plausibility, preclinical synergy, and translational barriers. Across the reviewed literature, phytocompounds from Curcuma longa, Scutellaria baicalensis, Camellia sinensis, Syzygium aromaticum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Allium sativum, Marsdenia tenacissima, and Rhus verniciflua showed anticancer or chemopreventive activity through multitarget effects on apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, inflammation, oxidative stress, and resistance-associated signaling. The most convincing chemosensitizing evidence involved curcumin, wogonin, baicalein, EGCG, which enhanced the activity of fluoropyrimidines, platinum agents, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, or related antitumor regimens in selected gastric cancer models. However, the evidence base remains heterogeneous and is constrained by variable extract standardization, incomplete dose reporting, poor bioavailability, insufficient pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic integration, and underuse of clinically relevant model systems. Overall, medicinal plant bioactives remain promising adjunct candidates in gastric cancer. Still, meaningful translation will require chemically defined interventions, rigorous synergy analysis, interaction-aware study design, and validation in advanced preclinical and clinical settings. Full article

This study evaluated the potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice byproducts (PJB) as a functional dietary additive for juvenile red seabream (Pagrus major). Four experimental diets were formulated to contain various levels of PJB (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/kg) and fed to fish with an initial body weight of 7.0 ± 0.01 g for 8 weeks. Growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity, whole-body composition, plasma biochemical parameters, antioxidant responses, immune parameters, and resistance to Edwardsiella tarda infection were evaluated. Fish fed the diet containing 2.5 g/kg PJB exhibited significantly higher final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate compared with the control group and those with higher PJB doses, whereas feed intake, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Intestinal trypsin and lipase activities were significantly elevated in the PJB2.5 group, whereas amylase activity remained unchanged. Whole-body proximate composition and plasma biochemical parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, glucose, and total protein, were not significantly influenced by dietary PJB supplementation. Dietary inclusion of PJB at 2.5 g/kg also significantly enhanced plasma antioxidant enzyme activities, as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels, while catalase activity was elevated in fish fed the PJB2.5 and PJB5 diets. Innate immune responses were also stimulated, with significantly higher serum lysozyme activity and interleukin-1 levels observed in fish fed the PJB2.5 diet. Following experimental challenge with E. tarda, fish fed diets containing 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg PJB exhibited significantly higher cumulative survival than the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PJB at 2.5 g/kg improved growth performance, digestive capacity, antioxidant status, innate immune responses, and disease resistance in juvenile P. major without adverse physiological effects. Full article

Introduction: Antipsychotic (AP) medications are widely prescribed beyond psychotic disorders, yet their long-term safety profile regarding breast cancer (BC) risk remains uncertain. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies evaluating the association between AP exposure and incident BC. Eligible studies reported adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals for any AP, prolactin-increasing antipsychotics (PIAPs), or prolactin-sparing antipsychotics (PSAPs). Study quality was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (mNOS), and certainty of evidence was graded with the GRADE framework. Random-effect models were used to pool effect estimates by exposure category, duration, and cumulative Defined Daily Dose (DDD). Results: Nine high-quality observational studies encompassing 108 effect estimates were included. Most studies achieved mNOS scores of 9, yet GRADE certainty ranged from very low to moderate, with the overall body of evidence graded as low certainty due primarily to residual confounding. Any AP exposure was associated with a modestly increased BC risk, particularly with long-term use: use for >5 years yielded pooled ORs around 1.5–1.6, while short-to-medium duration (1–5 years) showed smaller increases (pooled ORs in the range 1.2–1.3). For PIAPs, both longer duration (>5 years) and higher cumulative exposure (>1000–2000 DDDs) were consistently associated with ORs/HRs in the 1.3–1.6 range, suggesting a possible dose–response pattern. Histological analyses indicated stronger associations for ductal than lobular BC, and elevated risks were observed across age strata, including women aged <55 and ≥70 years. Discussion: This meta-analysis suggests that chronic exposure to prolactin-increasing antipsychotics is associated with a potentially clinically relevant increase in BC risk, whereas prolactin-sparing agents do not show a clear signal of harm. However, the certainty of this association is limited by inconsistently measured confounders and by the observational nature of the data. These findings support a cautious, individualized approach in which clinicians preferentially consider PSAPs when appropriate, discuss BC risk as part of shared decision-making, and integrate tailored screening strategies for women requiring long-term PIAP therapy. Further high-quality pharmacoepidemiologic studies with better confounder control and mechanistic integration are needed to refine risk estimates and inform preventive neuropsychopharmacology. Full article

Background/Objectives: The growing prevalence of obesity necessitates innovative gut-targeted material strategies to modulate diet-associated metabolic dysfunction. This study investigates a spray-dried konjac glucomannan–montmorillonite (KGM-MMT) hybrid designed to integrate fermentable polysaccharide properties with luminal lipid-adsorptive clay functions within a single micro-engineered formulation. Methods: In HFD-fed mice treated for 42 days with 2% w/w KGM-MMT, cumulative body weight gain was attenuated by 7.6%, with an AUC of 5094 ± 52.95, compared to 5513 ± 81.35 in HFD controls (p < 0.0001). Results: Serum IL-6 concentrations were reduced by 97% (p = 0.0002), while blood glucose decreased by 46% (p < 0.0001); these effects were greater than those observed with MMT (24%, p = 0.0271) and KGM (16%, ns). Gut microbiota profiling demonstrated a significant 6.2-log₂-fold increase in Lactobacillaceae (p = 0.023) and a 2.4-log₂-fold increase in Enterococcaceae (p = 0.015) following KGM-MMT treatment. Functional shifts inferred from 16S rRNA gene-based prediction indicated a 1.9-fold increase in short-chain fatty acid-related pathways and a 5.4-fold increase in bile acid deconjugation pathways. Conclusions: Although the KGM-MMT hybrid did not consistently outperform its individual components across all endpoints, it consolidated complementary KGM- and MMT-associated effects within a single dosage form. These findings support spray-dried KGM-MMT as a gut-targeted biomaterial strategy that integrates multiple luminal and microbiota-associated functions within a single formulation. Future studies should define dose–response relationships, validate microbiota-derived functional predictions using higher-resolution approaches, and assess durability and safety under longer-term exposure. Full article