Search Results (17,446)

Background/Objectives: Urine samples are the most frequently analyzed specimens in clinical microbiology laboratories. Although urine culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing urinary tract infections, it is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, reliable screening methods capable of predicting urine culture positivity are needed to optimize laboratory workflow. Automated urine analysis based on flow cytometry enables efficient screening and identification of samples with a low probability of bacterial infection, thereby rationalizing microbiological testing. This study evaluated the usefulness of a multivariable approach to support interpretation of flow cytometry results following the implementation of the Sysmex UF-4000 urine flow cytometer. Methods: Routinely collected urine samples from outpatients and hospitalized patients were analyzed using the UF-4000 flow cytometer, with a positivity threshold of ≥100 leukocytes/µL. Urinary parameters were compared between samples with positive and negative cultures. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify independent predictors of a positive urine culture. Urinary sediment parameters, including leukocyte, bacterial, fungal, and squamous epithelial cell counts, were assessed as covariates. Results: Urine samples with positive cultures showed significantly higher leukocyte counts (median 355.0, IQR 146.5–1429.4) and bacterial counts (median 9805.2, IQR 1134.3–45,011.5). Fungal and squamous epithelial cell counts differed only slightly between groups, although the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Leukocyte counts were higher in urine samples from which Gram-negative bacteria were isolated compared with samples containing Gram-positive bacterial isolates (p < 0.001). The multivariable model demonstrated the most favorable overall performance, combining high sensitivity with improved specificity and the highest negative predictive value (AUC = 0.927). Optimal cut-off values were 70 leukocytes/µL and 105 bacteria/µL. Conclusions: Leukocyte and bacterial counts were the strongest predictors of positive urine culture results. A multivariable model including only these two parameters demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and may serve as a practical screening tool to identify urine samples with a low probability of bacterial infection. The implementation of this approach could support more efficient use of urine cultures and help optimize laboratory workflow. Full article

Background: Auricular keloids and ear helix deformities are undesirable and aesthetically unpleasing deformities that can cause significant patient psychologic and self-esteem problems. Pressure therapy for keloids is well documented to be an effective non-invasive treatment modality. However, current devices lack comfort and aesthetic appeal to deliver the pressure forces required effectively and uniformly. This work aims to highlight some different pressure therapy approaches for the management of keloids and irregularities in the ear helix morphology. Methods: A case series of four patients presenting with auricle keloids of various sizes and at different locations secondary to ear piercing and one case of congenital helix deformity were treated successfully with pressure therapy devices. The device designs varied based on the keloids’ characteristics and patients’ preferences and involved wire-based spring-activated appliances resembling ear rings for moderate keloid lesions, modified double-spring systems for large or elongated lesions, and magnet-based devices. A pair of inert magnetic discs of different diameters was positioned on the anterior and posterior aspects of the keloid lesion. The magnets were then encapsulated in acrylic resin to improve retention and adaptation, and the external surface was masked with gold glitter to enhance aesthetics and patient acceptance. The helix-deformity case was treated following a complete digital workflow integration where the sound contralateral ear was digitally scanned, mirror-imaged and then 3D-printed in resin to produce an ear model based on which an anatomically symmetrical pressure device was constructed. Results: All devices were successfully fitted and well tolerated, with no reported discomfort or adverse reactions. The wire spring devices were effective in reducing a large keloids volume; however, frequent reactivation every two weeks was required to ensure continuous pressure application. Incorporating magnets in the customised design allowed controlled and uniform pressure application to small keloid-lesion morphology, with enhanced aesthetics and improved patient acceptance and compliance. The digitally assisted case achieved near-perfect anatomical symmetry with the contralateral ear, reducing operator dependency and fabrication guesswork. Conclusions: Customised pressure therapy devices, of magnetic and spring-based systems, alongside utilising digital technologies, offer effective, non-invasive management for auricular keloids and irregular ear helices as long as the patient is committed to wearing the device. Full article

The access and benefit sharing (ABS) concept was originally intended to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biological resources and traditional knowledge for research and development (R and D). Many anecdotal studies suggest that global regulatory models are failing to deliver expected outcomes, with increasing calls to rethink ABS governance. Through the first nationwide survey of Australian scientists, this article aims to fill a significant gap in empirical research about biological resource user perspectives on the effectiveness of ABS regulation. The survey results include insights into: (a) the nature and diversity of bioscience activities; (b) bioscience researcher engagement with benefit sharing and ABS procedures; (c) perspectives of effectiveness (impacts and efficiency); and (d) ideas for regulatory reform. The study finds that participants support benefit sharing goals but generally perceive current approaches to ABS to be ineffective. Highlighting a thriving benefit sharing culture in R and D but low levels of engagement with ABS processes, the study reveals insights into motivations for benefit sharing and indicators of effectiveness for regulatory regimes. The findings offer lessons for countries that are developing ABS measures to achieve conservation, sustainable use, and equity outcomes. Full article

This review examines the current state of development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for monitoring nutrition and physical activity in individuals with obesity, with a focus on the physiological complexity of energy balance and the role of chrono-nutrition. Energy intake and expenditure are dynamically coupled and circadian-regulated: meal timing and movement patterns influence insulin sensitivity, thermogenesis, and Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis within the same day. Traditional monitoring methods suffer from recall bias and low granularity, while isolated sensors operate in data silos, limiting accuracy. Effective solutions require multimodal, continuous, and temporally aligned data streams. Current AI models exhibit critical limitations in obesity-specific contexts: inaccurate gait and energy expenditure estimates due to biomechanical differences, dietary models underestimating glycemic variability, poor performance on mixed dishes, sauces, and culturally diverse foods, and a lack of validation against gold standards such as doubly labelled water (DLW) and weighed food records. This review proposes a paradigm shift toward obesity-specific AI design, including enriched datasets and multimodal integration. Physical activity monitoring faces similar challenges: systematic measurement bias in wearables, sensor placement issues, and algorithms trained on normal-weight cohorts. In the GLP-1/GIP era, if transparency, ethical safeguards, and equitable access are ensured, AI will act as a catalyst for personalized care, remote monitoring, trial optimization, and next-generation drug discovery. In conclusion, the integration of AI with rigorous validation procedures and inclusive sampling strategies is essential to achieve reliable, fair, and clinically relevant monitoring approaches for obesity management. Full article

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and early diagnosis is crucial to minimize neurological damage and loss of quality of life. Here, we report an electrochemical biosensor for detecting miRNAs 29a and 34a, potential non-invasive biomarkers associated with AD. The biosensor consisted of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a novel nanohybrid of gold nanoparticles stabilized by 3-n-propyl(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) silsesquioxane chloride (AuNPs–Si4DMAP⁺Cl⁻). Thiolated anti-miRNA probes were immobilized separately on the GCE/AuNPs-Si4DMAP⁺Cl⁻, followed by BSA blocking. Target miRNAs were detected via hybridization with complementary probes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanohybrid, characterized by spectroscopic and morphological techniques, significantly enhanced the electrochemical response and was effective detecting both miRNAs, showing suspension stability over 600 days. LOD and LOQ were 1.79 pM and 5.87 pM for miRNA-29a, and 2.21 pM and 11.01 pM for miRNA-34a. These results highlight the platform’s potential for electrochemical detection of these miRNAs in blood, supporting earlier detection of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

A novel cyanide-free gold electroplating bath was developed with 2-hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid (HPAA) as the core complexing agent in this work. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations demonstrate that the obtained gold electrodeposits possess a smooth and compact surface morphology. The crystal structure of the gold electrodeposits was characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the coating–substrate adhesion was systematically evaluated through scratch tests. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the adsorption interaction between HPAA and metal (Au/Ni) surfaces. The MD simulation results show that all the studied phosphonate-containing derivatives can strongly adsorb on the gold surface and exert a significant inhibitory effect on the electroreduction of gold ions during electrodeposition. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and other electrochemical tests reveal that the cathodic reduction peak potential of gold shifts significantly negatively after the addition of phosphonate-based organic additives, which effectively enhances the cathodic polarization of gold deposition, delays the gold nucleation rate, and refines the grain size of electrodeposits, ultimately yielding gold electrodeposits with a denser and smoother surface. Owing to its environmental benignity, excellent process stability and superior coating performance, this cyanide-free gold electroplating system exhibits broad application prospects in the field of modern green surface engineering. Full article

Background: Diet quality and food processing patterns are increasingly recognized as important determinants of Crohn’s disease (CD) risk and disease outcomes; however, direct comparisons with healthy populations using integrated nutrient- and processing-based frameworks remain limited. Therefore, we aim to quantify ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption using the NOVA classification, compare UPF intake between CD patients and healthy controls, and assess its association with diet quality indices. Methods: Baseline dietary intake data were analyzed from two randomized controlled trial cohorts: adults with mild to moderately active CD enrolled in the Crohn’s Disease Therapeutic Dietary Intervention (CD-TDI) trial (n = 64; NCT04596566), and healthy adults participating in the MAPMed study (n = 33, NCT06765369). Dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24 h recalls collected with the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24^®). Energy-normalized macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were compared with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Overall diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2015), Alternate Mediterranean Diet score (aMED), and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Foods were classified according to the NOVA food processing system to estimate total and proportional energy intake from UPFs (NOVA group 4). Results: Both the CD cohort and healthy cohort exhibited suboptimal dietary patterns, with HEI scores indicating a need for improvement, low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (aMED), and neutral-to-pro-inflammatory DII scores, with no significant between-group differences (all p > 0.05). Although total energy intake differed between groups (p = 0.04), the proportion of energy derived from UPFs (NOVA group 4) accounted for half of the total intake in both cohorts (51.3–51.8%; p = 0.55). Higher UPF intake was associated with lower HEI and aMED scores and higher DII scores. Conclusions: In this study, there were no significant differences in the dietary patterns in those with CD compared to healthy controls. The high contribution of UPFs observed in both cohorts underscores widespread suboptimal dietary quality and highlights the utility of NOVA-based food processing measures as complementary to nutrient-based assessments for understanding diet-related inflammatory burden in CD. Full article

This study investigates the properties of ZnO nanorod-based sensors and ZnO nanorods modified with tin dioxide (ZnO/SnO₂) and gold (ZnO/Au) nanoclusters and their response to low concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). It was demonstrated that the ZnO/SnO₂(3) nanorod-based sensor exhibited the highest sensitivity (S = 1.64) to 10 ppm CO, while the ZnO/Au(3) sensor displayed the shortest response (69–207 s) and recovery (203–233 s) times. This behavior can be explained by ZnO/Au and ZnO/SnO₂ nanostructures having low activation energies (0.23–0.25 eV) and high potential barrier values (0.37–0.43 eV). Sensors based on ZnO/Au and ZnO/SnO₂ nanorods demonstrate sensitivity to 10 ppm CO at 250 °C and at 200 °C. In contrast, ZnO nanorod-based sensors are sensitive to 2 ppm CO at 250 °C. Full article

Telemedicine, driven by the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless connectivity, is essential for managing cardiovascular diseases, where hypertension remains the primary risk factor. In preclinical research, rabbits are superior biological models compared to rodents due to their human-like lipid metabolism. However, continuous blood pressure monitoring in this species remains challenging. The gold-standard technique (direct carotid catheterization) requires terminal procedures, and indirect methods (Doppler, oscillometric) show limited agreement with direct measurements. Furthermore, commercially available implantable telemetry platforms, while enabling real-time monitoring in freely moving animals, require costly surgical implantation, specialized proprietary hardware, and post-operative recovery periods that may confound early hemodynamic data. To address these limitations, this study presents a low-cost, customizable, and minimally invasive monitoring system utilizing a pressure transducer in the central auricular artery. The device integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with IoT technology for digital signal processing and seamless wireless data transmission to the ThingSpeak cloud platform. Unlike implantable telemetry, the proposed approach avoids surgical implantation and its associated costs and recovery time, while still enabling continuous, real-time hemodynamic tracking throughout the experimental period. A pilot evaluation against the BIOPAC MP100 reference (carotid artery) demonstrated relative errors of 1.60% for mean arterial pressure, 8.58% for systolic blood pressure, and 2.43% for diastolic blood pressure. By reducing invasiveness and enhancing remote data accessibility, this system provides a promising framework for the preclinical evaluation of antihypertensive agents and cardiovascular mechanisms, bridging the gap between edge computing and remote clinical diagnostics. Full article

The short career of the Philadelphia-built transatlantic steamship S.S. Lewis (1851–1853) offers an instructive look at speculation, financing, and operating a steamer in the mid-19th century United States. S.S. Lewis was built as an American entry into the highly competitive arena of the transatlantic steam packet service. An early propeller steamer, it was heralded as an exemplar of American technology and shipbuilding prowess. It was also cleverly marketed, and named for Samuel Shaw (S.S.) Lewis, the Boston-based agent for Cunard. Following the failure of the transatlantic partnership that operated S.S. Lewis, the vessel entered the isthmian service from Nicaragua to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. It wrecked, without loss of life, in April 1853 north of the Golden Gate. The wreck site, known to pioneering wreck divers for decades, is now archaeologically described and assessed for the first time. The post-wreck saga of the site is an important part of the story of the evolution of maritime archaeology in California. Full article

The Jiaodong Peninsula constitutes a world-class gold province in eastern China, containing more than 5000 t of identified gold resources. The Jiaojia gold deposit is one of the largest deposits within this gold province, and mineralization is primarily distributed along the northern segment of the Jiaojia Fault. The structural characteristics and mineralization processes of the northern segment have been extensively documented. In contrast, the ore-forming mechanisms of the southern Jiaojia Fault remain poorly constrained, hindering further exploration targeting. We chose several gold deposits and one drill core along the Jiaojia Fault, then present whole-rock major and trace elements data to evaluate magmatic affinities and their ore-forming potential. The results show that the lithological differences in plutonic and stratigraphic units suggest that variations in petrogenesis may have exerted a fundamental control on mineralization styles. Almost all samples are characterized by enrichment in light rare earth elements, relative enrichment in Europium, and pronounced depletion in heavy rare earth elements. Alteration characteristics indicate the northern segment is dominated by advanced argillic alteration, whereas phyllic alteration is more prevalent in the southern segment. The rare earth elements discrimination plot clearly suggests differentiation from the northern and southern fault segments. Consequently, we propose that the northern segment records synorogenic arc magmatism, while the southern segment experienced both synorogenic and a subsequent intraplate extensional transitional stage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Psilocybin has re-emerged as a promising intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety associated with life-threatening illness, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders. However, conventional randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—the current gold standard in evidence-based medicine—may not adequately capture the therapeutic complexity of psilocybin, which depends not only on pharmacological action but also on contextual, psychological, and interpersonal factors. This critical narrative review aimed to evaluate the adequacy of existing clinical research frameworks for assessing psilocybin’s therapeutic potential and to explore alternative methodologies that may better reflect real-world clinical conditions. Methods: Using the Web of Science Core Collection database, we identified and analysed the ten most cited clinical studies on psilocybin published between 2015 and 2025 inclusive. Additional literature was included through reference cross-checking, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and interdisciplinary sources covering neurobiology, history, and real-world evidence (RWE). The review synthesizes clinical outcomes, methodological constraints, and epistemic considerations relevant to psychedelic-assisted therapy. Results: Evidence from highly cited trials demonstrates rapid and sustained antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of psilocybin, with notable benefits also observed in addiction treatment. However, significant methodological limitations were identified, including selection bias, challenges in placebo design and blinding, small sample sizes, and the underrepresentation of diverse populations. Psilocybin outcomes were strongly influenced by subjective experience and contextual factors such as set and setting. Emerging RWE studies revealed heterogeneous patterns of response and provided insights unattainable through RCTs alone. Conclusions: Psilocybin shows considerable therapeutic promise, but current RCT methodologies capture only part of its clinical effects. Comprehensive evaluation will require larger and more diverse clinical trials, long-term follow-up, standardized psychotherapeutic protocols, and the integration of RWE to reflect real-world practice. Psychedelic-assisted therapy should be conceptualized as a complex intervention that combines pharmacological and psychotherapeutic components. Full article

The geochronological framework of the Late Mesozoic volcanic succession in the Great Xing’an Range is crucial for understanding the tectonic regime transition in Northeast Asia. However, the ages and stratigraphic relationships of key volcanic units remain poorly constrained. This study presents zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronological data from volcanic rocks above and below the basal unconformity of the Longjiang Formation in the Zhalantun–Jalaid Banner area, central Great Xing’an Range, aiming to determine the timing of volcanic activity, constrain the formation age of the unconformity, and explore its regional tectonic implications. The volcanic–stratigraphic succession in the study area, from base to top, comprises the Baiyingaolao Formation, the basal andesitic conglomerate of the Longjiang Formation, and the Longjiang Formation andesites. Geochronological results indicate that the underlying rhyolitic tuff of the Baiyingaolao Formation yields an age of 130.0 ± 0.1 Ma. Within the andesitic conglomerate overlying the unconformity, andesitic clasts yield an age of 135.8 ± 1.1 Ma, whereas the matrix provides a youngest detrital zircon population age of 130.7 ± 1.0 Ma, constraining the maximum depositional age of the conglomerate. The overlying andesite of the Longjiang Formation gives an eruption age of 125.6 ± 0.8 Ma. These data indicate that the main phase of Longjiang Formation volcanism occurred at ~125.6 Ma, and the basal conglomerate was deposited after ~130.7 Ma. Combined with the ~130 Ma age of the underlying Baiyingaolao Formation and the presence of weathering crusts and erosional surfaces between the two formations, the sedimentary hiatus and exhumation event represented by this unconformity are precisely constrained to have occurred between ~130 Ma and 125.6 Ma. The timing of this unconformity closely coincides with the regional transition in magmatic assemblages from bimodal to andesitic compositions, suggesting that it records a significant tectonic adjustment event in the Great Xing’an Range during the middle to late Early Cretaceous. This finding provides key chronological evidence for understanding the episodic tectonic evolution of Northeast Asia during the Late Mesozoic. Full article

Background/Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT) extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC) occurs in 4–10% of patients and represents one of the most technically demanding scenarios in urologic surgery. Open radical nephrectomy with en bloc thrombectomy remains the gold standard for infradiaphragmatic disease (Mayo Levels 0–III), offering the only realistic prospect for long-term cure. This narrative review provides a technically oriented, evidence-based guide for surgical urologists managing these complex cases. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched (1970–March 2025) using terms related to RCC, venous tumor thrombus, IVC thrombectomy, and perioperative management. Priority was given to prospective studies, systematic reviews, large retrospective cohorts, and current guidelines (EAU 2025, NCCN v2.2024). Original intraoperative photographs supplement procedural descriptions. Results: We detail the complete perioperative pathway: VTT classification (Mayo/AJCC), multimodal imaging, patient optimization, and level-specific open surgical techniques—ranging from Satinsky clamping for Level 0–I thrombi to full piggyback liver mobilization with hepatic vascular exclusion for Level III disease. Contemporary perioperative mortality is <2% at high-volume centers (reported in single and multicenter retrospective series from high-volume institutions), with 5-year cancer-specific survival of approximately 50–60% in non-metastatic cases. Adjuvant pembrolizumab is now a standard of care following the KEYNOTE-564 trial. Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor combinations show promising VTT downstaging rates (44–100%), though their role remains investigational. Robotic-assisted thrombectomy demonstrates favorable perioperative outcomes for Level I–II thrombi at experienced centers. Conclusions: Open surgery remains the cornerstone of curative treatment for RCC with infradiaphragmatic VTT, requiring meticulous preoperative planning and multidisciplinary collaboration at high-volume centers. Integration of perioperative systemic therapies and robotic-assisted approaches holds promise for further improving outcomes in this challenging patient population. Full article

Effective Parkinson’s disease (PD) management is hindered by the intermittent nature of clinical snapshots and the discomfort of rigid monitoring hardware. This review critically evaluates the synergy between flexible bioelectronics and artificial intelligence (AI) for continuous remote monitoring. Our analysis reveals that while material innovations have achieved milligram-level sensitivity, a significant ‘translational gap’ persists due to limited validation in real-world environments and small cohort sizes. We conclude that multimodal fusion architectures are essential for accurately mapping digital biomarkers to clinical gold standards such as MDS-UPDRS. By leveraging edge AI for privacy and closed-loop feedback for intervention, this integration facilitates the transition from reactive clinical visits to proactive, personalized digital home-care ecosystems. Full article