Search Results (43)

Knee osteoarthritis significantly reduces quality of life due to difficulties with locomotion. The objective assessment of gait parameters can provide guidance for developing therapeutic programs, and wearable sensors are becoming increasingly common for this purpose. The Movement Kinematics Analysis System (MoKA) utilizes the Inertial Measurement Unit, which enables gait analysis in non-laboratory settings. The aim of the study was to determine gait parameters in women scheduled for knee replacement immediately before surgery, along with determining the measurement reliability. Seventy-six women were enrolled in the study (research group n = 25; control group n = 51). The participants completed the 6MWT with gait monitoring via the MoKA system. A comparison of pain intensity before and after the 6MWT revealed differences in p < 0.001. A comparison between the groups revealed differences in distance and step count. Pain intensity was negatively correlated with distance (R = −0.44) and the number of steps (R = −0.44), but did not affect the average length of steps (R = 0.05). The overall consistency assessment (AC) demonstrated good internal consistency. The qualitative ICC assessment indicated moderate reliability for three measurements, good for one, and excellent for the remaining measurements. It can be assumed that the assessment of biomechanical gait parameters using a system equipped with an IMU meets the criteria for measurement reliability. The gait of women with KOA scheduled for total knee replacement surgery is flattened and slowed, which may provide guidance for the use of appropriate postoperative exercises to achieve appropriate gait biomechanics. Full article

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face ongoing challenges in balancing agricultural sustainability with economic growth due to limited land resources, rapid urbanisation, climate change, and reliance on food imports. This study explores the evolution of land use and the future of agriculture in Mauritius from 2002 to 2022, using satellite imagery, policy reviews, and stakeholder interviews. Findings show a 9% decrease in agricultural and non-agricultural vegetation cover, alongside a doubling of built-up areas from 10% to 20%, indicating continued land conversion pressures. The analysis highlights major barriers to agricultural sustainability, including declining food self-sufficiency, an ageing farming population, and slow movements towards sustainable practices caused by low profitability and weak institutional support. Diverging priorities among government agencies, sugar companies, smallholder farmers, and NGOs further hinder coordinated policy efforts. To address these challenges, the study identifies strategies for aligning economic and environmental goals through integrated land-use planning, boosting productivity, and providing targeted support for sustainable ecological farming systems. Policy recommendations include protecting agricultural land, encouraging agroecological practices, alleviating labour shortages, and promoting multi-stakeholder engagement within policy development. Overall, this research enhances understanding of land-use dynamics and agricultural resilience in SIDS, offering practical insights for policymakers and practitioners working towards sustainable food systems amid spatial and climatic constraints. Full article

Introduction: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy caused by a mutation in the beta-globin gene, resulting in the production of hemoglobin S. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe complication for patients with SCA, but there is a paucity of literature on its epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to evaluate the epidemiology, prevalence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of ICH in adults with SCA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the NIS database from 2016 to 2020 to identify hospitalizations with SCA, using the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) codes. Subsequently, we derived the prevalence and predictors of ICH in SCA adults. Results: Out of 468,070 admissions of adult hospitalizations (Aged ≥ 18 years) with SCA between 2016 and 2020 in the United States, 825 (0.17%) had ICH (nontraumatic intraparenchymal and/or subarachnoid bleeding). 410 (49.7%) were males, and 380 (46.0%) belonged to the age group of more than 45 years. The mean length of stay was 14.9 days, and 210 deaths occurred during the index hospitalization, resulting in a 25.4% inpatient mortality rate as compared to 0.6% in SCA-non-ICH patients (p < 0.001). Across all adult SCA hospitalizations during 2016–2020 (n = 468,070), ICH accounted for 210 of 2940 inpatient SCA deaths (7.1%). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension (OR:2.08, 95% CI: 1.2–3.3), prior history of ischemic stroke (OR: 17.06, 95% CI: 7.5–38.5), and a Charlson comorbidity index of more than one (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.4–3.5) are significant predictors of ICH in adults with SCA. Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of ICH in addition to the well-known thrombotic phenomenon among SCA patients. Stroke prevention and hypertension control are of paramount importance for the prevention of this catastrophic event in patients with SCA. Full article

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a biologically diverse malignancy with a rising global incidence and a high propensity for metastasis, particularly in its clear cell subtype. While traditional treatments have centered on surgery and targeted therapies, immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative approach in the management of advanced RCC. This review explores the evolution of immunotherapy in RCC, from early cytokine-based treatments to the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and their integration with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We detail the immunologic mechanisms underpinning these therapies, the rationale from preclinical models, and the pivotal clinical trials that redefined standard of care. Challenges such as immune resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and immune escape mechanisms are critically analyzed, highlighting tumor-intrinsic and microenvironmental factors. Lastly, we examine ongoing innovations including novel immune checkpoints, cytokine modulators, CAR-T therapies, and neoantigen-based vaccines, offering a forward-looking perspective on enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy and personalization in RCC management. Full article

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 152,000 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) were diagnosed in 2024, with more than 105,000 cases affecting the colon and 46,000 involving the rectum. CRC remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with an estimated 53,010 deaths in 2024. In the era of precision medicine, which incorporates molecular and environmental information into clinical decision-making, identifying patients harboring a deficiency in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair allowed for targeted immunotherapies and significantly reduced CRC-related mortality. A significant advancement in this domain is the application of liquid biopsy, which has emerged as a promising tool for prognostication, guiding therapy, and monitoring treatment response in CRC. This review aims to comprehensively explore the role of liquid biopsy in colorectal malignancies, describing its practical applications, prognostic significance, and potential to revolutionize CRC management in the future. At the end, we also aim to show a schematic representation of showing integration of Circulating Tumor (Ct) DNA in routine clinical management of CRC. The highlight of this article is the structured and evidence-based schematic framework and its integration into future practice. The schematic pathway is designed to optimize ctDNA utilization across various stages of colorectal cancer management. Full article

To ensure the year-round efficient production of high-quality cherry tomatoes, this study evaluated how four cherry tomato cultivars can enhance yield and quality through optimized nutrient solution and supplementary lighting. Nutrient solutions (N1 and N2) were adjusted, with EC at 1.6 dS/m (N1: nitrogen 10.7 me/L, phosphorus 2.7 me/L, potassium 5.3 me/L) during flowering stage, and 2.4 dS/m (N1: nitrogen 16 me/L, phosphorus 4 me/L, potassium 8 me/L; N2: nitrogen 10.7 me/L, phosphorus 5.4 me/L, potassium 10.8 me/L) from fruit setting to harvest. N1 used standard adjustments, while N2 was optimized by adding solely with KCl and KH₂PO₄. Lighting treatments included L1 (natural light) and L2 (supplemental red/blue light). The application of N2 effectively decreased nitrate levels while it significantly enhanced the content of soluble sugars, flavor, and overall palatability, especially fruit coloring in cherry tomatoes, irrespective of supplementary lighting conditions. However, such optimization also increased sourness or altered the sugar–acid ratio. Supplementary lighting generally promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars, sweetness, and tomato flavor, although its effects varied markedly among different fruit clusters. The combination of optimized nutrient solutions and supplementary lighting exhibited synergistic effects, improving the content of soluble sugars, vitamin C, proteins, and flavor. N1 combined with L2 achieved the highest plant yield. Among the cultivars, ‘Linglong’ showed the greatest overall quality improvement, followed by ‘Baiyu’, ‘Miying’, and ‘Moka’. In conclusion, supplementary lighting can enhance the effect of nitrogen on yield and amplify the influence of phosphorus and potassium on fruit quality improvement in cherry tomatoes. The findings of this study may serve as a theoretical basis for the development of year-round production techniques for high-quality cherry tomatoes. Full article

Immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative approach in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, addressing historically poor survival rates in advanced-stage disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis demonstrate remarkable efficacy in colorectal cancer with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H), exemplified by trials like NICHE-2 achieving exceptional pathological response rates. However, significant limitations persist, including resistance in some dMMR/MSI-H tumors, minimal efficacy in proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) tumors, and low overall response rates across most GI malignancies due to tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion mechanisms. Predictive biomarkers such as tumor mutational burden (TMB) and PD-L1 expression are crucial for optimizing patient selection, while hypermutated pMMR tumors with POLE mutations represent emerging therapeutic opportunities. In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, where survival remains dismal, combination strategies with chemotherapy and novel approaches like cancer vaccines show promise but lack transformative breakthroughs. Esophagogastric cancers benefit from ICIs combined with chemotherapy, particularly in MSI-H and HER2-positive tumors, while hepatocellular carcinoma has achieved significant progress with combinations like atezolizumab–bevacizumab and durvalumab–tremelimumab surpassing traditional therapies. Biliary tract cancers show modest improvements with durvalumab–chemotherapy combinations. Despite these advances, immunotherapy faces substantial challenges including immune-related adverse events, acquired resistance through cancer immunoediting, and the need for biomarker-driven approaches to overcome tumor microenvironment barriers. This review discusses key clinical trials, therapeutic progress, and emerging modalities including CAR T-cell therapies and combination strategies, emphasizing the critical need to address resistance mechanisms and refine precision medicine approaches to fully realize immunotherapy’s potential in GI malignancies. Full article

The effectiveness of immunotherapy and targeted therapy has been well established in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). These therapies demonstrated higher overall response rates and led to prolonged survival. In contrast, in localized RCC, conventional treatment is either partial or complete nephrectomy. While surgery is a curative option in early stages, high recurrence rates remain a concern, with survival rates ranging from 53% to 85%, depending on the initial stage at the time of diagnosis. Given favorable outcomes with systemic therapies in the metastatic setting, there has also been an increased interest in utilizing these therapies for the localized stage with the rationale to eradicate the micro-metastatic clone, thereby reducing the recurrence rates. Despite these encouraging developments, challenges regarding the optimal timing, duration, and combination of systemic therapies are still under investigation. Adding to that, balancing the benefits of systemic therapies with potential toxicities is also crucial, especially in patients who might otherwise benefit from surgery alone. This review describes the current landscape, ongoing clinical trials, and future directions of systemic therapy in the management of localized RCC. Full article

Background: The attitudes and beliefs of patients with chronic pain significantly affect their response to treatment. The Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA) scale was developed to identify pain-related beliefs. The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate the short version (30 items) of the Survey of Pain Attitudes in 200 Greek patients living with chronic pain, mainly due to rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Method: In addition to the SOPA-Brief scale (30 items), the participants completed the Pain Beliefs, Perceptions and Attitudes Inventory (PBAPI) and also the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI). Results: Data analysis revealed that the internal reliability coefficient of the scale in the Greek language was Cronbach’s a = 0.773 for the individual items, and for the subscales, it ranged from Cronbach’s a = 0.56 (for the SOPAMedication scale) to Cronbach’s a = 0.78 (for the SOPASolicitude scale). Similarly, the SOPA-Brief subscales in Greek showed positive correlations with subscales of both the PBAPI and the CPCI. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis was performed on the dataset and confirmed the structure of the original scale (Eigenvalues > 1), with 71.54% of variance explained. Conclusions: Overall, the psychometric properties of the short version of the Attitudes Towards Pain Scale (30 items) in Greek show acceptable internal reliability and validity for the scale to be used in daily clinical and research practice. Full article

Monacolin K (MK), a secondary metabolite produced by Monascus spp. with the ability to inhibit cholesterol production, is structurally identical to lovastatin produced by Aspergillus terreus. In the lovastatin biosynthetic pathway, the polyketide synthase (PKS) encoded by lovB must work together with the enoyl reductase encoded by lovC to ensure lovastatin production. However, it is unclear whether mokA and mokE in the MK gene cluster of Monascus spp., both of which are highly homologous to lovB and lovC, respectively, also have the same functions for MK biosynthesis. In the current study, the high-yielding MK M. pilosus MS-1 was used as the research object, and it was found that the enoyl reductase domain of MokA may be non-functional due to the lack of amino acids at active sites, a function that may be compensated for by MokE in the MK synthesis pathway. Then, the mokE-deleted (ΔmokE), -complemented (ΔmokE::mokE), and -overexpressed (PgpdA-mokE) strains were constructed, and the results showed that ΔmokE did not produce MK, and ΔmokE::mokE restored MK synthesis, while the ability of PgpdA-mokE to produce MK was increased by 32.1% compared with the original strain MS-1. These results suggest that the MokA synthesized by Monascus spp. must be assisted by MokE to produce MK, just as lovastatin produced by A. terreus, which provides clues for further genetic engineering to improve the yield of MK in Monascus spp. Full article

Kreol Morisien is a vibrant and expressive language that reflects the multicultural heritage of Mauritius. There are different versions of Kreol languages. While Kreol Morisien is spoken in Mauritius, Kreol Rodrige is spoken only in Rodrigues, and they are distinct languages. Being spoken by only about 1.5 million speakers in the world, Kreol Morisien falls in the category of under-resourced languages. Initially, Kreol Morisien lacked a formalised writing system, with many people using different spellings for the same words. The first step towards standardisation of writing Kreol Morisien was after the publication of the Kreol Morisien orthography in 2011 and Kreol Morisien grammar in 2012 by the Kreol Morisien Academy. Kreol Morisien obtained a national position in the year 2012 when it was introduced in educational organisations. This was a major breakthrough for Kreol Morisien to be recognised as a national language on the same level as English, French, and other oriental languages. By providing a means for Kreol Morisien speakers to connect with others, a translation system will help to preserve and strengthen the identity of the language and its speakers in an increasingly globalized world. The aim of this paper is to develop a translation system for Kreol Morisien and English. Thus, a dataset consisting of 50,000 parallel Kreol Morisien and English sentences was created, where 48,000 sentence pairs were used to train the models, while 1000 sentences were used for evaluation and another 1000 sentences were used for testing. Several machine translation systems such as statistical machine translation, open-source neural machine translation, a Transformer model with attention mechanism, and Marian machine translation are trained and evaluated. Our best model, using MarianMT, achieved a BLEU score of 0.62 for the translation of English to Kreol Morisien and a BLEU score of 0.58 for the translation of Kreol Morisien into English. To our knowledge, these are the highest BLEU scores that are available in the literature for this language pair. A high-quality translation tool for Kreol Morisien will facilitate its integration into digital platforms. This will make previously inaccessible knowledge more accessible, as the information can now be translated into the mother tongue of most Mauritians with reasonable accuracy. Full article

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world due to its sensory and health benefits. The caffeine content, a bioactive compound of coffee, depends on many factors, including the brewing method, which is the subject of ongoing scientific research. In addition, various methods are used in studies to determine the caffeine content. However, it is worth noting that there is considerable variation in the individual analytical parameters within these methods. The aim of this study was to update the data on the effects of different brewing methods on the caffeine content of the brew and to present the current state of knowledge on techniques for the determination of this compound. A literature review was conducted, taking into account the latest studies in this field. The results showed that the caffeine content (mg/100 mL) of the brew prepared with the Cold Brew method was 48.50–179.95, Espresso—50.40–965.60, French Press—52.00–123.90, AeroPress—56.35–120.92, and Moka—128.00–539.90. These methods were characterized by different brewing parameters (time, water temperature and pressure, ratio of coffee to water), which differentiated the caffeine content. In addition, some methods were characterized by a wide range of caffeine content, suggesting that even minor variations in brewing method parameters may affect the content of this ingredient. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was the predominant method used. The detector wavelengths, along with other parameters of the HPLC method, such as gradient profiles and column temperatures, can affect the precision and accuracy of the analysis, and these differences can modify analyte retention and detection, leading to discrepancies in results. These results point to the need for studies that consider various brewing methods and a wide range of coffee types, including roast and origin, to accurately determine the effects of these factors on caffeine content determined by one precise method. Full article

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a global problem. There are few reports in the literature regarding the temporal and spatial parameters of gait in people with OA. The aim of this study was to determine spatiotemporal parameters for the pelvis and lower limbs during walking in women with OA and to compare these parameters with healthy people. For this purpose, a 6 min walking test (6MWT) was carried out. OA subjects had worse outcomes compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Data were collected using IMU sensors integrated into the MoKA system and mounted on indicator points on the body. Limited mobility of the pelvis in the frontal plane was observed in the study group, which influenced walking strategy. For the comparison with the control group at each minute, p < 0.05. IMU sensors attached to the body and integrated in one application provide extensive research and diagnostic capabilities. Full article

In rice, symbiotic N₂ fixation via nodule bacteroids does not take place naturally. Although N₂ fixation by endophytic and associative diazotrophs has been reported in rice, the main organs and seasonal regulation for the N₂ fixation have not been elucidated. In this study, seasonal changes in nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity and carbohydrate contents in elongated culm (EC), unelongated stem (US), and crown root (CR) were investigated in manure compost (MC)- and chemical fertilizer (CF)-applied rice. Nitrogenase activity increased after rooting (June) and reached the highest activity in US of MC-applied rice at panicle initiation (August). The sucrose content in EC continued to increase after rooting regardless of the applied materials, whereas the glucose content in US increased after rooting only in CF-applied rice, suggesting higher consumption of glucose in US of MC-applied rice. There were significant differences among bacterial microbiota in EC, US, and CR at panicle initiation. In addition, Clostridia class anaerobes were more abundant in US of MC-applied rice than in EC and CR of MC-applied rice. Such difference was not observed in US of CF-applied rice. These results suggest the suitability of US of MC-applied rice at panicle initiation as a site of N₂ fixation under anaerobic conditions. Full article