Search Results (7,388)

This study describes the clinicopathological features of seven canine cases showing a diffuse cobblestone-like gastric mucosal pattern on endoscopy. Cases were retrospectively retrieved from endoscopic databases (2017–2025). Clinical data, treatment history, endoscopic findings, and histology were reviewed. Endoscopically, all dogs exhibited thickened, irregular, and poorly distensible gastric folds. Histopathologic examination showed mild-to-moderate foveolar hyperplasia, variable cystic dilation of the fundic glands, mild chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, and interstitial fibrosis. Parietal-cell population was variably increased and predominant (hyperplasia). Because these features can overlap widely among reactive and hyperplastic gastropathies, interpretation required correlation with clinical and endoscopic findings in addition to histopathology. All dogs had a history of prolonged omeprazole administration, and most showed clinical improvement after dose reduction or treatment withdrawal. Follow-up endoscopy in two dogs documented divergent outcomes, with marked improvement in one dog and only minimal changes in the other. These findings suggest that this cobblestone-like pattern represents a benign, reactive, and potentially regressive gastropathy, possibly associated with chronic acid suppression. Recognition of this appearance may assist clinicians in differentiating reactive gastropathy from proliferative or neoplastic conditions and supports prudent use of long-term proton pump inhibitors in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease. Full article

The performance of conventional precipitation-strengthened copper alloys drastically degrades at temperatures exceeding 500 °C, hindering their application under extreme conditions like those in nuclear fusion reactors. Oxide dispersion–strengthened copper (ODS–Cu) alloy surmounts these constraints by incorporating thermally stable, nanoscale oxide dispersoids that simultaneously confer strengthening, microstructural stabilization, and enhanced irradiation tolerance, while preserving high thermal conductivity. This review comprehensively examines the state of the art in ODS–Cu alloy from a “processing–microstructure–property” perspective. We critically assess established and emerging fabrication routes, including internal oxidation, mechanical alloying, wet chemical synthesis, reactive spray deposition, and additive manufacturing, to evaluate their efficacy in achieving uniform dispersions of coherent/semi-coherent nano-oxides at engineering-relevant scales. The underlying strengthening mechanisms and performance trade-offs are quantitatively analyzed. The review also outlines strategies for joining and manufacturing complex components, highlights key gaps in metrology and reproducibility, and proposes a roadmap for research and standardization to accelerate industrial deployment in plasma-facing components. Full article

The relationship between hormonal reactivity to acute stress and memory is well established, but the role of anticipatory cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the psychobiological responses (anxiety, affect, cortisol and DHEA) to an academic examination, subsequent memory performance and associations between anticipatory hormonal response and memory retrieval. Seventy-nine undergraduates (10 males) completed an acquisition session involving picture encoding and immediate free recall. Forty-eight hours later, during the recall session, they sat a written examination followed by delayed free recall and recognition tasks. Results showed higher anticipatory anxiety, negative affect and cortisol levels in the recall session than in the acquisition session. Participants showed poorer delayed recall performance and reduced recognition of neutral pictures. In addition, after correction for multiple comparisons, exploratory hierarchical regression analyses indicated that anticipatory cortisol levels and the cortisol/DHEA ratio assessed prior to the recall session were negatively associated with total delayed free recall performance, with the cortisol/DHEA ratio also being negatively associated with delayed free recall of negative pictures. In the absence of a control group, these findings cannot be used to make causal inferences. However, they are consistent with theoretical accounts of DHEA’s anti-glucocorticoid role and highlight associations between cortisol/DHEA balance and delayed free recall performance, particularly for negative emotional material. Full article

Sosnovsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) is an invasive plant species widely distributed across Eastern Europe and Russia that poses a serious threat to human health due to its pronounced phototoxic properties. Contact with the plant sap followed by exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation frequently results in phytophotodermatitis, which is characterized by erythema, blistering, ulceration, and persistent hyperpigmentation. The development of these photochemical injuries—most notably furanocoumarins—act as potent photosensitizers and induce cellular and DNA damage upon UV activation. This review provides an integrated overview of the geographical spread and invasiveness of H. sosnowskyi, the chemical composition of its biologically active metabolites, and the molecular mechanisms underlying hogweed-induced skin injury. Particular emphasis is placed on the photochemical transformations of furanocoumarins, including psoralens and their photooxidation products, such as 1,2-dioxetanes, which generate reactive oxygen species and DNA crosslinks. In addition, the review examines other compounds derived from hogweed biomass—including furan derivatives, aromatic compounds, fatty acids, sterols, and their oxidative products—that may contribute to phototoxic and cytotoxic effects. Clinical manifestations of hogweed-induced burns, their classification, symptomatology, and current therapeutic approaches are critically discussed, highlighting the absence of standardized treatment guidelines. Rather than serving as a purely clinical or botanical survey, this review frames Sosnovsky’s hogweed injury as a solar-light-activated photochemical hazard, tracing the sequence from environmental sunlight exposure through molecular photochemistry to biological tissue damage. By integrating chemical, biological, and dermatological perspectives, the review aims to clarify injury mechanisms and support the development of more effective preventive and mitigation strategies under real-world exposure conditions. Full article

Polyoxometalates (POMs) exhibit significant potential for application in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapeutics owing to their inherent chemical and physical properties and structural tunability. Through transition metal substitution, functional modification, and the construction of POMs-based nanocomposites, POMs can precisely recognize and effectively modulate various key pathogenic proteins involved in Alzheimer’s disease. They can also intervene in disease progression through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of Aβ aggregation, disaggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ), scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrolytic activity, and modulation of enzyme function. In addition, due to their outstanding physicochemical properties, the application of POMs in phototherapy has emerged as a significant direction in AD treatment research. This review systematically summarizes recent advances from 2011 to 2025 in POMs targeting key pathogenic proteins in AD, comprehensively analyzes their specific mechanisms of action across different therapeutic contexts, highlights their significant advantages and broad potential in AD treatment, and provides new insights for the future structural design, functional optimization, and clinical translation of POMs. Full article

Objectives: This study evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of a novel NS1 rapid diagnostic test in a dengue-endemic setting in Thailand. Methods: The K-Dengue NS1 Ag test (K.Bio Sciences, Pathumthani, Thailand) was developed. Analytical performance included determination of LOD, reproducibility, and evaluation against potentially cross-reactive pathogens and interfering substances. Unlike conventional assays employing 40 nm colloidal gold, this test incorporates 80 nm gold nanospheres to enhance detection sensitivity. The LOD was determined by serial dilution of recombinant NS1 proteins representing all four dengue virus serotypes. Clinical performance was assessed using 185 archived plasma samples collected between January 2024 and February 2025 from two tertiary care hospitals in Thailand, with a commercial NS1 ELISA serving as the reference standard. Results: The K-Dengue NS1 test demonstrated serotype-specific limits of detection (LODs) for recombinant NS1 antigen, 2.9 ng/mL (DENV-1), 0.5 ng/mL (DENV-2), 25.2 ng/mL 27 (DENV-3), and 4.5 ng/mL (DENV-4). Cross-reactivity testing revealed no false positives against closely related arboviruses or common co-infections, and no interference was observed from frequently encountered pathogens or biochemical substances. In clinical evaluation, the assay achieved a sensitivity of 98.08% (51/52), a specificity of 100% (133/133), and an overall accuracy of 99.37%. Importantly, sensitivity was significantly higher in primary infections (100.00%) than in secondary infections (93.3%, p = 0.288). Conclusions: In this clinically oriented evaluation, the K-Dengue NS1 rapid test showed high specificity and good sensitivity, particularly in primary dengue infections. While the assay may be useful as part of early diagnostic workflows in comparable healthcare settings, reduced sensitivity in secondary infections indicates that negative NS1 results should be interpreted with caution and, where appropriate, supplemented with additional diagnostic methods. Full article

The widespread occurrence of pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic environments poses significant risks to ecosystems and public health, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. Herein, a visible-light (VL)–active zinc single-atom catalyst supported on biochar (SAZn@BC) was synthesized via pyrolysis and applied for the degradation of ibuprofen (IBP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), and carbamazepine (CBZ) in water. Structural characterization confirmed the presence of g-C₃N₄ domains, abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, and atomically dispersed Zn sites with a Zn–N₄ coordination environment. Under VL irradiation, SAZn@BC achieved degradation efficiencies of 43.9%, 64.4%, and 61.9% for IBP, SMX, and TMP, respectively, within 30 min, while CBZ exhibited limited removal. Mechanistic investigations combining quenching experiments, electrochemical analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that superoxide and hydroperoxyl radicals were the dominant reactive oxygen species, with hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen contributing to a lesser extent. In addition, a nonradical pathway involving direct interfacial electron transfer between oxygen functional groups on the biochar support and pharmaceutical molecules played a critical role, mediated by single-atom Zn sites and enhanced under VL irradiation. These findings demonstrate that SAZn@BC enables synergistic radical and nonradical pathways for pharmaceutical degradation and represents a promising strategy for water treatment applications. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to design and clinically evaluate a bespoke cosmetic formulation tailored to individual skin characteristics and user preferences, focusing on hydration and barrier recovery in mature, therapy-affected skin. In addition, this study aimed to explore the feasibility and short-term outcomes of a structured, biometry-driven personalization approach applied within a single-subject case study design. Materials and Methods: A personalized dermato-cosmetic formulation incorporating melatonin, astaxanthin, low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, allantoin, yarrow oil (Achillea millefolium), lecithin, cholesterol, and arginine was developed based on objective biophysical assessment of the skin. A clinical case evaluation was conducted in a male subject over 55 years of age (Fitzpatrick phototype III) presenting persistent xerosis and dehydration following completed oncologic therapy. Quantitative skin biometry was performed at baseline and after 28 days of daily application, assessing hydration at six anatomical sites, sebum secretion, pigmentation and erythema indices, elasticity, and stratum corneum turnover and scaling. Results: After 28 days, sebum secretion increased by more than 100%, indicating partial restoration of the lipid barrier. Hyperpigmented areas decreased from 7.2% to 2.3%, while skin elasticity improved from 25% to 44%. A reduction of 8% in the erythema index suggested decreased vascular reactivity. Hydration levels improved consistently across all evaluated sites, and epidermal renewal was enhanced, as evidenced by reduced scaling and smoother skin surface. The melanin index remained stable throughout the study period. Conclusions: This pilot evaluation shows that bespoke cosmetic formulations, customized to individual skin biometry and preferences, can yield measurable improvements in hydration, barrier repair, elasticity, pigmentation uniformity, and epidermal renewal within 28 days, even in skin compromised by previous oncologic therapy. Given the single-subject nature of this pilot evaluation, these findings cannot be generalized to broader populations but rather highlight the importance of personalization and objective skin assessment in guiding individualized dermato-cosmetic formulation strategies. Personalized dermato-cosmetology using objective biophysical assessment may be a promising future strategy for effective, consumer-centered skincare. Full article

The irrational or excessive use of antibiotics causes the emergence of bacterial resistance, making antibiotics less effective or ineffective. As the number of resistant antibiotics increases, it is crucial to develop new strategies and innovative approaches to potentiate the efficacy of existing antibiotics. Prior to this, we discovered that some of the traditional antibiotics produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under specific light exposure. In this paper, we report a multifunctional polymeric nanoparticle (F8IC NPs-PME) that combines targeted and photodynamic–photothermal therapy (PDT-PTT) in one device. The PME on the surface of F8IC enables the selective binding of F8IC NPs-PME to the surface of Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, PME and F8IC can generate ROS and photothermia under near-infrared light excitation, respectively. The results showed that the sterilization efficiency of F8IC NPs-PME at a concentration of 8 μg/mL was as high as 94.7% against kanamycin-resistant E. coli under 808 nm near-infrared light irradiation (0.8 W/cm², 10 min). This antimicrobial strategy can achieve efficient bacteria killing with a low dosage of antibiotics and opens up a new avenue for fighting bacterial resistance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) carries high mortality, and outcomes are particularly poor when prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required. Because these patients are often excluded from research, epidemiological data and prognostic insights are limited. This study aimed to describe characteristics and outcomes of patients with suspected severe TBI who received prehospital CPR. Methods: We performed a sub-analysis of the prospectively collected multicenter BRAIN-PROTECT registry, including all patients with suspected severe TBI who underwent prehospital CPR and were transported to a participating trauma center. Results: A total of 256 patients with suspected severe TBI who received prehospital CPR were included. Early mortality was high, with 22.6% declared dead in the emergency department and an additional 28.9% within 24 h, resulting in 48.5% 24 h survival. Thirty-day mortality was 79.9%. Among survivors, 45.7% achieved moderate disability or good recovery at discharge. Outcomes, 30-day mortality, and neurological status at discharge did not differ between isolated and non-isolated TBI. Characteristics often seen in survivors included shockable initial rhythm, reactive pupils, and lack of anisocoria. All patients without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation died. Conclusions: Although overall 30-day mortality was high, survival among patients for whom resuscitation was attempted and who reached hospital care was not negligible, and a substantial proportion of the survivors achieved moderate to good neurological recovery. Prehospital ROSC and shockable rhythms were associated with better outcomes, suggesting that resuscitation may be valuable and warranted in selected patients with potentially reversible conditions. Further studies are needed to better define prognostic factors and guide management in this highly vulnerable population. Full article

People living with HIV-1 (PLWH) are part of the so-called “fragile” populations to which COVID-19 vaccines were/are strongly recommended. The fact that most widely used COVID-19 vaccines rely on the production of a biologically active SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein expressed by synthetic mRNA poses the relevant question of whether and how this vaccination influences the fate of the HIV-1 reservoir. This report presents a detailed analysis of the literature data on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike and COVID-19 vaccines on HIV-1 latently infected cells. Despite being limited in number, the experimental evidences consistently indicate that vaccine mRNA and/or SARS-CoV-2 Spike can effectively reactivate latent HIV-1. This conclusion has been drawn after “in vitro”, “ex vivo”, and “in vivo” assays, and with virus-associated Spike, soluble Spike, or its intracellular expression, as well as with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. On the other hand, real-world observations on vaccinated PLWH under antiretroviral therapy (ART) provided evidence of HIV-1 reactivation almost exclusively in PLWH with unsuppressed viremia, as measured in terms of size of the HIV-1 reservoir. Although several issues still need to be clarified through urgent additional investigations, these data suggest the possibility that the Spike protein and/or the vaccine mRNA molecules affect the HIV-1 latency in PLWH. Full article

Background/Objectives: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common yet often unrecognized complication in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Considering that ankle–brachial index (ABI) can be difficult to interpret in this population, additional vascular biomarkers are needed. Selenoprotein P (SePP) is a major selenium transport protein with antioxidant and metabolic regulatory functions and may reflect vascular stress relevant to PAD. We investigated the association of circulating SePP levels with ABI-defined PAD in patients on PD. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of 98 patients on PD, ABI was assessed using an automated oscillometric device, and ABI < 0.9 was defined as ABI-defined PAD. Serum SePP levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: ABI-defined PAD was identified in 20 patients (20.4%). Compared with patients with normal ABI, those with ABI-defined PAD were older (p = 0.014) and had significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.033), longer PD vintage (p = 0.036), higher fasting glucose (p = 0.005) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.003) levels, and lower SePP concentrations (p < 0.001). Low SePP level remained independently associated with ABI-defined PAD after multivariate adjustment (odds ratio 0.930, 95% confidence interval 0.771–0.997; p = 0.032) and consistently across reinforced bootstrap resampling. SePP correlated positively with ABI on the left (p = 0.001) and right (p = 0.002) sides. Conclusions: Among patients undergoing PD, a low serum SePP level was independently associated with ABI-defined PAD and positively associated with ABI, suggesting that SePP may serve as an associative biomarker reflecting vascular vulnerability rather than a diagnostic indicator in this population. Full article

Diabetic wounds are often accompanied by severe inflammation, which is unfavorable for vascular growth and wound repair. Therefore, promoting the healing of diabetic wounds is of great significance. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was grafted with 4-formylphenylboronic acid (FPBA) and then crosslinked with oxidized sodium alginate (OAlg) to form a dual-dynamic covalent hydrogel (CPOA) based on borate ester bond and Schiff base bonds. Mesenchymal stem cells’ exosomes (Exos) were incorporated into the CPOA to construct CPOA@Exos for diabetic wound healing. Owing to the dual-dynamic covalent crosslinking network, the CPOA hydrogel showed good injectability and self-healing ability. In addition, the hydrogel displayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive properties, enabling both scavenging of multiple free radicals and on-demand release of Exos in the ROS-rich wound microenvironment. A diabetic wound model was established on C57 mice, and treatment with CPOA@Exos demonstrated that it could promote the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 phenotype, enhance cellular proliferation in the wounded area, and thereby accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds. In conclusion, this study provides a new hydrogel wound dressing that can inhibit inflammation for the management of diabetic wounds. Full article

Fly ash (FA), a major by-product of coal combustion, has long been regarded as a challenging industrial solid waste. Its inherent abundance of alkaline-earth oxides positioned it as a promising candidate for CO₂ sequestration through mineral carbonation. This study systematically investigated the effects of key operational parameters, including time, stirring rate, ultrasonic treatment, and solid-to-liquid ratio, on the leaching efficiency of calcium ions and subsequent CO₂ fixation. Ultrasonic treatment, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:7, a stirring speed of 600 rpm, and 7% monoethanolamine (MEA) collectively enhanced the calcium leaching efficiency (χ_e) to 16.7%, thereby supplying a substantial reservoir of calcium ions for CO₂ fixation. Additionally, the CO₂ injection into fly ash slurry and the slurry spraying into CO₂ gas were investigated to optimize reactor configurations. The latter method demonstrated superior performance, attaining a CO₂ fixation efficiency of 7.23%. This corresponds to a carbonation conversion efficiency (ηc) of approximately 44.5%, indicating that nearly half of the leached calcium ions were successfully converted into stable carbonates. Advanced characterization techniques (SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR) confirmed the formation of stable carbonates and highlighted the role of additives in enhancing reactivity. The environmental benefit of this approach is addressing fly ash wastes and transforming fly ash into a CO₂ fixation material. These findings provided critical insights for calcium leaching and CO₂ fixation of fly ash. Full article

Anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome (AGABS) unifies triad-defined Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE), and the ophthalmoplegic variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS-O) under a post-infectious immune mechanism centered on IgG to disialosyl gangliosides. The spectrum also encompasses triad-minus phenotypes—acute ophthalmoparesis without ataxia, acute vestibular syndrome, optic involvement, and acute sensory-ataxic neuropathy. A molecular-mimicry model with complement-mediated nodal/paranodal dysfunction explains severe early deficits despite bland limb nerve conduction studies (NCSs), the cranial/proprioceptive predilection, and generally favorable treatment responsiveness to immunotherapy. In practice, a serology-first strategy, complemented by targeted electrophysiology—blink and H-reflex testing, and, where feasible, paired SEP–ABR showing a literature-supported dissociation (normal ABR with impaired median-nerve cortical SEPs), which, in our series, was documented in one illustrative BBE case—and by structured neuro-otologic examination, mitigates the “normal-NCS trap” and enables timely treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is first-line; plasma exchange (PLEX) is an alternative in severe or IVIg-ineligible cases; and intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) may be added selectively for central/optic-weighted phenotypes without routine oral taper. We consolidate actionable diagnostic and therapeutic steps and examine them in an institutional series of 16 consecutive seropositive patients (2015–2025): all were anti-GQ1b-positive with frequent GT1a co-reactivity; most reported an antecedent infection—typically upper respiratory, less often gastrointestinal—within the two weeks before onset; limb NCSs were often nondiagnostic whereas reflex/evoked-potential studies were informative; two required intubation in addition to IVIg; outcomes were generally favorable with early immunotherapy. The practical message: order anti-GQ1b at first contact, pair targeted electrophysiology with neuro-otology, and treat early to exploit reversible nodal/paranodal dysfunction. Full article