Search Results (5,948)

Singleton pregnancies complicated by a short cervical length (≤25 mm) are at significantly increased risk for spontaneous preterm birth. Several treatment strategies aimed at reducing this risk and improving perinatal outcomes have been evaluated, including vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage, and cervical pessary. This review summarizes the latest evidence regarding the efficacy of these interventions. Vaginal progesterone and/or cervical cerclage have been identified as proven evidence-based practices for preterm birth prevention and improve neonatal outcomes. Vaginal progesterone reduces the risk of preterm birth < 35 weeks by 27% (relative risk 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.90). Cervical cerclage has been shown to reduce the risk of preterm birth < 35 weeks by 30% (relative risk 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.89) in patients with a short cervical length and prior preterm birth. In contrast, recent data suggest that cervical pessary should no longer be considered a management option for these patients. A continued focus on individualized, evidence-based approaches remains essential to optimizing outcomes in this high-risk population. Full article

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food crop. The intensive crop farming, monoculture cultivation, and impact of climate change affect the susceptibility of wheat cultivars to biotic stresses, mainly caused by soil fungal pathogens, especially those belonging to the genus Fusarium. This situation threatens yield and grain quality through root and crown rot. While conventional chemical fungicides face resistance issues and environmental concerns, biological alternatives like seed priming with natural metabolites are gaining attention. Polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are attractive priming agents influencing plant development and abiotic stress responses. Spermine in particular shows potential for in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium. Optimising spermine concentration for seed priming is crucial to maximising protection against Fusarium infection while ensuring robust plant growth. In this research, we explored the potential of the polyamine spermine as a seed treatment to enhance wheat resilience, aiming to identify a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides. Our findings revealed that a six-hour seed soak in spermine solutions ranging from 0.5 to 5 mM did not delay germination or seedling growth. In fact, the 5 mM concentration significantly stimulated root weight and length. In complementary in vitro assays, we evaluated the antifungal activity of spermine (0.5–5 mM) against three Fusarium species. The results demonstrated complete inhibition of Fusarium culmorum growth at 5 mM spermine. A less significant effect on Fusarium graminearum and little to no impact on Fusarium oxysporum were found. The performed analysis revealed that the spermine had a fungistatic effect against the pathogen, retarding the mycelium growth of F. culmorum inoculated on the seed surface. A pot experiment with Bulgarian soft wheat cv. Sadovo-1 was carried out to estimate the effect of seed priming with spermine against infection with isolates of pathogenic fungus F. culmorum on plant growth and disease severity. Our results demonstrated that spermine resulted in a reduced distribution of F. culmorum and improved plant performance, as evidenced by the higher fresh weight and height of plants pre-treated with spermine. This research describes the efficacy of spermine seed priming as a novel strategy for managing Fusarium root and crown rot in wheat. Full article

Fasciola hepatica remains a global health and economic concern, and treatment still relies heavily on triclabendazole. At the parasite–host interface, F. hepatica calcium-binding proteins (FhCaBPs) have a unique EF-hand/DLC-like domain fusion found only in trematodes. This makes it a parasite-specific target for small compounds and vaccinations. To enable novel therapeutic strategies, we report the first elevated-resolution structure of a full-length FhCaBP4. The apo structure was determined at 1.93 Å resolution, revealing a homodimer architecture that integrates an N-terminal, calmodulin-like, EF-hand pair with a C-terminal dynein light chain (DLC)-like domain. Structure-guided in silico mutagenesis identified a flexible, 16-residue β4–β5 loop (LTGSYWMKFSHEPFMS) with an FSHEPF core that demonstrates greater energetic variability than its FhCaBP2 counterpart, likely explaining the distinct ligand-binding profiles of these paralogs. Molecular dynamics simulations and AlphaFold3 modeling suggest that EF-hand 2 acts as the primary calcium-binding site, with calcium coordination inducing partial rigidification and modest expansion of the protein structure. Microscale thermophoresis confirmed calcium as the major ligand, while calmodulin antagonists bound with lower affinity and praziquantel demonstrated no interaction. Thermal shift assays revealed calcium-dependent stabilization and a merger of biphasic unfolding transitions. These results suggest that FhCaBP4 functions as a calcium-responsive signaling hub, with an allosterically coupled EF-hand–DLC interface that could serve as a structurally tractable platform for drug targeting in trematodes. Full article

The Mapleton Falls National Park transmission line corridor in Queensland, Australia, has received a number of vegetation management treatments over the last decade to maintain and protect the infrastructure and to ensure continuous electricity supply. Recent treatments have included ‘mega-mulching’ (mechanical mastication of vegetation to a mulch layer) in 2020 and targeted herbicide treatment of woody vegetation, with the aim of reducing vegetation height by encouraging a native herbaceous groundcover beneath the transmission lines. We measured vegetation structure (cover and height) and composition (species presence in 15 × 2 m plots), at 12 transects, 90 m in length on the transmission line corridor, to determine if management goals were being achieved and to determine how the vegetation and fire hazard (based on the overall fuel hazard assessment method) varied among the treated corridor, the forest edge environment, and the natural forest. The results showed that vegetation structure and composition in the treated zones had been modified to a state where herbaceous plant species were dominant; there was a significantly (p < 0.05) higher native grass cover and cover of herbs, sedges, and ferns in the treated zones, and a lower cover of trees and tall woody plants (>1 m in height) in these areas. For example, mean native grass cover and the cover of herbs and sedges in the treated areas was 10.2 and 2.8 times higher, respectively, than in the natural forest. The changes in the vegetation structure (particularly removal of tall woody vegetation) resulted in a lower overall fuel hazard in the treated zones, relative to the edge zones and natural forest. The overall fuel hazard was classified as ‘high’ in 83% of the transects in the treated areas, but it was classified as ‘extreme’ in 75% of the transects in the adjacent forest zone. Importantly, there were few introduced species recorded. The results suggest that fuel management has been successful in reducing wildfire risk in the transmission corridor. Temporal monitoring is recommended to determine the frequency of ongoing fuel management. Full article

Introduction: Septic-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is a life-threatening condition in patients with septic shock. Persistent hypoperfusion despite adequate volume status and vasopressor use is associated with poor outcomes and is currently managed with inotropes. However, the superiority of available inotropic agents remains unclear. This meta-analysis aims to determine which inotropic agent may be more effective in this clinical scenario. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, including data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing levosimendan and dobutamine in patients with septic shock and persistent hypoperfusion. Summary effect estimates, including odds ratios (ORs), standardized mean differences (SMDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated using a random-effects model. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was also performed. Results: Of 244 studies screened, 11 RCTs were included. Levosimendan was associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality (OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.47; 0.88) and ICU length of stay (SMD 5.87; 95% CI: –8.37; 20.11) compared with dobutamine. Treatment with levosimendan also resulted in significant reductions in BNP (SMD –1.87; 95% CI: –2.45; −1.2) and serum lactate levels (SMD –1.63; 95% CI: –3.13; −0.12). However, TSA indicated that the current evidence is insufficient to definitively confirm or exclude effects on in-hospital and 28-day mortality. Conclusions: Levosimendan may improve hemodynamics, tissue perfusion, and biomarkers, and may reduce in-hospital mortality and ICU length of stay in patients with SICM compared with dobutamine. However, TSA highlights the need for further studies to inform clinical practice and optimize inotrope selection. Full article

Soil salinization severely restricts crop growth and presents a major challenge to global agriculture. In this study, a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) was isolated and identified as Proteus sp. through 16S rDNA analysis and was subsequently named Proteus sp. JHY1. Under salt stress, exogenous dopamine (DA) significantly enhanced the production of indole-3-acetic acid and ammonia by strain JHY1. Pot experiments revealed that both DA and JHY1 treatments effectively alleviated the adverse effects of 225 mM NaCl on rice, promoting biomass, plant height, and root length. More importantly, the combined application of DA-JHY1 showed a significant synergistic effect in mitigating salt stress. The treatment increased the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, osmotic regulators (proline, soluble sugars, and protein), and reduced lipid peroxidation. The treatment also increased soil nutrients (ammoniacal nitrogen and available phosphorus), enhanced soil enzyme activities (sucrase and alkaline phosphatase), stabilized the ion balance (K⁺/Na⁺), and modulated the soil rhizosphere microbial community by increasing beneficial bacteria, such as Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. This study provides the first evidence that the synergistic effect of DA and PGPR contributes to enhanced salt tolerance in rice, offering a novel strategy for alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress on plant growth. Full article

Background: Primary patellar dislocation is a relatively uncommon knee injury but carries a high risk of recurrence, particularly in young and physically active adolescent individuals. Anatomical features of the patellofemoral joint have been implicated as key contributors to instability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate anatomical risk factors associated with recurrent patellar dislocation following a primary traumatic event, using MRI-based parameters. Methods: Fifty-four patients who sustained a first-time lateral patellar dislocation were included. MRI was used to measure tibial tuberosity–trochlear groove (TT–TG) distance, tibial tuberosity–posterior cruciate ligament (TT–PCL) distance, Insall–Salvati ratio (IS), sulcus angle (SA), patellar tilt angle (PTA), patella length, and patellar tendon length. Trochlear dysplasia was assessed according to the Dejour classification. Recurrence was defined as a subsequent dislocation occurring within three years of the primary injury. Results: Significant differences were observed in TT–TG distance and patellar tendon length (p < 0.05). Patients with recurrent dislocation had lower TT–TG values and shorter patellar tendon lengths. Other parameters, including PTA, IS, and patella height, did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Anatomical factors may contribute to the risk of recurrent patellar dislocation. Identifying these variables using imaging may support clinical decision making and guide individualized treatment plans following primary injury. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is composed of various lipid species, some of which exert pro-inflammatory and others anti-inflammatory activities. However, most of the LPC species analyzed to date are reduced in the serum of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, the correlation between serum LPC species levels and measures of inflammation, as well as their potential as markers for monitoring IBD activity, has not yet been investigated. Methods: Thirteen LPC species, varying in acyl chain length and number of double bonds, were measured in the serum of 16 controls and the serum of 57 patients with IBD. Associations with C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin levels as markers of IBD severity were assessed. Results: Serum levels of LPC species did not differ between the healthy controls and the entire patient cohort. In patients with IBD, serum levels of LPC 16:1, 18:0, 18:3, 20:3, and 20:5, as well as total LPC concentrations, showed inverse correlations with both CRP and fecal calprotectin levels, indicating an association with inflammatory activity. Nine LPC species were significantly reduced in patients with high fecal calprotectin compared to those with low values. LPC species with 22 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 double bonds were not related to disease activity. Stool consistency and gastrointestinal symptoms did not influence serum LPC profiles. Corticosteroid treatment was associated with lower serum LPC 20:3 and 22:5 levels, while mesalazine, anti-TNF, and anti-IL-12/23 therapies had no significant impact on LPC concentrations. There was a strong positive correlation between LPC species containing 15 to 18 carbon atoms and serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and phosphatidylcholine levels. However, there was no correlation with markers of liver disease. Conclusions: Shorter-chain LPC species are reduced in patients with active IBD and reflect underlying hypolipidemia. While these lipid alterations provide insight into IBD-associated metabolic changes, they appear unsuitable as diagnostic or disease monitoring biomarkers. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate and optimize the effects of three auxin types—indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)—applied at four concentrations (1000, 3000, 5000, and 8000 ppm) on the rooting performance of Photinia × fraseri Dress. stem cuttings. The experiment was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions using a sterile perlite medium. Rooting trays were placed on bottom-heated propagation benches maintained at a set temperature of 25 ± 2 °C to stimulate root formation. However, the actual rooting medium temperature—measured manually every four days from the perlite zone using a calibrated thermometer—ranged between 18 °C and 22 °C, with an overall average of approximately 20 ± 2 °C. The average values of these root-zone temperatures were used in the statistical analyses. Rooting percentage, root number, root length, callus formation, and mortality rate were recorded after 120 days. In addition to classical one-way ANOVA, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to model and optimize the interactions between auxin type, concentration, and temperature. The results revealed that 5000 ppm IBA significantly enhanced rooting performance, yielding the highest rooting percentage (85%), average root number (5.80), and root length (6.30 cm). RSM-based regression models demonstrated strong predictive power, with the model for rooting percentage explaining up to 92.79% of the total variance. Temperature and auxin concentration were identified as the most influential linear factors, while second-order and interaction terms—particularly T·ppm—contributed substantially to root length variation. These findings validate IBA as the most effective exogenous auxin for the vegetative propagation of Photinia × fraseri Dress. and provide practical recommendations for optimizing hormone treatments. Moreover, the study offers a robust statistical modeling framework that can be applied to similar propagation systems in woody ornamental plants. Full article

In the present work, six biochars were produced from the pyrolysis of poultry manure at 400 °C and 600 °C (PM-B-400 and PM-B-600), and their post-modification with, respectively, iron chloride (PM-B-400-Fe and PM-B-600-Fe) and potassium permanganate (PM-B-400-Mn and PM-B-600-Mn). First, these biochars were deeply characterized through the assessment of their particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity, pH at point-zero charge, mineral composition, morphological structure, and surface functionality and crystallinity, and then valorized as biofertilizer to grow spring barley at pot-scale for 40 days. Characterization results showed that Fe- and Mn-based nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto the surface of the post-modified biochars, which significantly enhanced their structural and surface chemical properties. Moreover, compared to the control treatment, both raw and post-modified biochars significantly improved the growth parameters of spring barley plants (shoot and root length, biomass weight, and nutrient content). The highest biomass production was obtained for the treatment with PM-B-400-Fe, owing to its enhanced physico-chemical properties and its higher ability in releasing nutrients and immobilizing heavy metals. These results highlight the potential use of Fe-modified poultry manure-derived biochar produced at low temperatures as a sustainable biofertilizer for soil enhancement and crop yield improvement, while addressing manure management issues. Full article

Vaccinium oldhamii, a blueberry species native to Korea, is a deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae family. Its fruit possesses various pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory effects and potential for treating osteoporosis. This study evaluated the effects of five fertilization concentration levels using Multifeed 20 (N:P:K = 20:20:20) on the growth and physiological characteristics of one-year-old V. oldhamii container seedlings. Treatments included 0 g·L⁻¹ (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g·L⁻¹. Increases in stem thickness, root length, and total dry weight were observed in the control, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g·L⁻¹ treatments, whereas growth declined at 2.0 g·L⁻¹. Mortality rates exceeded 15% at concentrations above 1.0 g·L⁻¹. Photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll content increased with fertilization. However, while growth improved with increasing fertilizer up to a certain level, it declined at the highest concentration. A fertilization rate of 0.5 g·L⁻¹ proved to be the most economically and environmentally efficient for producing healthy seedlings. This study provides the first fertilization threshold for V. oldhamii, offering practical guidance for nursery production and forming a foundation for future domestication strategies. Full article

Background: Studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between high body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), independent of antibiotic usage or healthcare exposures. Aim: To compare the outcomes of obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) and non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m²) hospitalized patients with CDI. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with CDI hospitalized in Beilinson hospital between January 2013 and January 2020. The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, colectomy, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and length of hospital stay (LOS). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors independently associated with 90-day mortality. Results: The study included 889 patients: 131 (15%) obese and 758 (85%) non-obese. The obese group was younger (median age 65 years vs. 73 years (p < 0.01)) and with a higher rate of diabetes mellitus (57/131 (44%) vs. 180/758 (24%) (p < 0.01)). The 90-day mortality was lower in the obese group: 19/131 (15%) vs. 170/752 (23%) (p = 0.04). The 30-day mortality was 8/131 (6%) vs. 96/757 (13%) (p = 0.03). ICU admission was 9/131 (7%) vs. 23/758 (3%) (p = 0.03), and median LOS was 19 vs. 12 days (p < 0.01) in obese and non-obese groups, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, after adjustment for age, Charlson’s comorbidity index ≥3, assistance in activities of daily living, treatment with proton pump inhibitors and severity of illness, obesity was not a significant risk factor for 90-day mortality (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.38–1.01; p = 0.1). Conclusions: In this study, obesity was not significantly associated with 90-day mortality after adjustment for other risk factors; however, ICU admission was higher and LOS longer in this group. Full article

The development of non-toxic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for medical and other diverse applications is steadily increasing. However, this study specifically aims to determine the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs synthesized via a green chemistry approach using aqueous-ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Artemisia terrae-albae. The photophysical, morphological, and size distribution characteristics of the synthesized AgNPs are analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A modified Allium cepa assay is employed to evaluate biological responses, including root growth, root number, and mitotic index. In this assay, the cell cycles of onion bulbs are synchronized and pre-incubated at 4 °C for 72 h prior to treatment. This study reveals that the AgNPs synthesized from the ethanol extract exhibit notable stability and higher cytotoxicity activity, with a root length of 0.6 ± 0.13 cm, root number of 16 ± 6.88, and mitotic index of 25.0 ± 2.6. These values are significantly more cytogenotoxic than those observed for the ethyl-acetate-derived nanoparticles, which show a root length of 0.8 ± 0.17 cm, root number of 18 ± 6.27, and mitotic index of 36 ± 3.6. These findings highlight the potential of green-synthesized AgNPs as effective cytotoxic agents, especially those obtained from ethanol extract, possibly due to a greater influence of the quantity of diverse phenolic compounds present in the complex mixtures than in the ethyl acetate extract, which otherwise enhanced their morphology, shape, and size. These, overall, contributed to the biological activity. Full article

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is commonly employed as mulch in agriculture to boost crop yields. However, its toxicity is often overlooked. Due to its chemical stability, resistance to degradation, and the inadequacy of the recycling system, PVC tends to persist in farm environments, where it can decompose into microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). The radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was chosen as the model plant for this study to evaluate the underlying toxic mechanisms of PVC NPs on seedling growth through the integration of multi-omics approaches with oxidative stress evaluations. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, the shoot lengths in the 5 mg/L and 150 mg/L treatment groups decreased by 33.7% and 18.0%, respectively, and the root lengths decreased by 28.3% and 11.3%, respectively. However, there was no observable effect on seed germination rates. Except for the peroxidase (POD) activity in the 150 mg/L group, all antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were higher in the treated root tips than in the control group. Both transcriptome and metabolomic analysis profiles showed 2075 and 4635 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the high- and low-concentration groups, respectively, and 1961 metabolites under each treatment. PVC NPs predominantly influenced seedling growth by interfering with plant hormone signaling pathways and phenylpropanoid production. Notably, the reported toxicity was more evident at lower concentrations. This can be accounted for by the plant’s “growth-defense trade-off” strategy and the manner in which nanoparticles aggregate. By clarifying how PVC NPs coordinately regulate plant stress responses via hormone signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, this research offers a scientific basis for assessing environmental concerns related to nanoplastics in agricultural systems. Full article

Heat stress transcription factor (Hsf) families play important roles in abiotic stress responses. However, previous studies reported that HsfBs genes may play diverse roles in response to heat stress. Here, we conducted functional analysis on a woodland strawberry Class B Hsf gene, FvHsfB1a, to improve thermotolerance. The structure of FvHsfB1a contains a typical Hsf domain for DNA binding at the N-terminus, and FvHsfB1a belongs to the B1 family of Hsfs. The FvHsfB1a protein was localized in the nucleus. The FvHsfB1a gene was expressed in various strawberry tissues and highly induced by heat treatment. Under heat stress conditions, ectopic expression of FvHsfB1a in Arabidopsis improves thermotolerance, with higher germination and survival rates, a longer primary root length, higher proline and chlorophyll contents, lower malonaldehyde (MDA) and O²⁻ contents, better enzyme activities, and greater expression of heat-responsive and stress-related genes compared to WT. FvWRKY75 activates the promoter of the FvHsfB1a gene through recognizing the W-box element. Similarly, FvWRKY75-OE lines also displayed a heat-tolerant phenotype, exhibiting more proline and chlorophyll contents, lower MDA and O²⁻ contents, and higher enzyme activities under heat stress. Taken together, our study indicates that FvHsfB1a is a positive regulator of heat stress. Full article