Search Results (235)

Background/Objectives: Septic arthritis of native joints is an orthopedic emergency in which rapid discrimination from non-infectious arthritis is crucial. Because cartilage damage can occur within hours, urgent irrigation and debridement are often pursued on an emergency basis (ideally within the first 6–8 h) of presentation, underscoring the need for rapidly available biomarkers. The delta neutrophil index (DNI) quantifies circulating immature granulocytes and may complement conventional inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), and procalcitonin (PCT). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of DNI for native-joint septic arthritis against both microbiologic and clinical reference standards. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 85 adults who underwent surgical irrigation and debridement for suspected native joint septic arthritis at a tertiary center. Serum CRP, ESR, WBC, DNI, and PCT (available in 67 patients) were recorded together with synovial leukocyte counts. Infection status was defined using either positive synovial culture (microbiologic reference) or clinical adjudication according to the Guideline for management of septic arthritis in native joints (SANJO). Diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curve (AUC); exploratory cut-offs were identified by the Youden index, and pairwise AUCs were compared using DeLong’s test. Results: Synovial leukocyte analysis was highly sensitive but poorly specific (sensitivity 92.9%, specificity 10.3%). Against culture, DNI showed the highest discrimination (AUC = 0.914), exceeding CRP (0.687), ESR (0.643), WBC (0.648), and PCT (0.697); DeLong ΔAUC vs. CRP 0.227 (p < 0.001), ESR 0.270 (p < 0.001), WBC 0.266 (p < 0.001), PCT 0.227 (p = 0.001). At pre-specified cut-offs, DNI showed the most balanced sensitivity/specificity (94.3%/84.0%), corresponding to a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.5% (42/44) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 80.5% (33/41) against culture in this cohort. Against clinical infection, DNI outperformed others (AUC:0.921; ΔAUC vs. CRP = 0.204, ESR = 0.343, WBC = 0.244, PCT = 0.295; all p < 0.001). As a rule-in threshold, DNI ≥ 0.6 yielded a specificity of 100% with a sensitivity of 73.2%. In culture-negative patients (infected n = 21, uninfected n = 29), DNI remained discriminatory (AUC 0.80, p < 0.001), whereas other biomarkers were not. Conclusions: DNI demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy compared with conventional inflammatory biomarkers. As a rapid parameter available with the initial complete blood count, DNI may support early risk stratification and rule-in decisions within the first hours of presentation; however, it should be used as a supplementary indicator alongside synovial fluid analysis and clinical assessment rather than as a stand-alone diagnostic tool. Full article

To address the problem of serious gas channeling during CO₂ flooding in low-permeability reservoirs, which leads to poor oil recovery, this study developed a CO₂-resistant gel using a novel CO₂-responsive polymer (ADA) for gas channel control. The ADA polymer was synthesized via free-radical copolymerization of acrylamide (AM), dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA), and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), which introduced protonatable tertiary-amine groups and sulfonate moieties into the polymer backbone. Comprehensive characterizations confirmed the designed structure and adequate thermal stability of the ADA polymer. Rheological tests demonstrated that the ADA polymer solution exhibits significant CO₂-triggered viscosity enhancement and excellent shear resistance. When crosslinked with phenolic resin, the resulting ADA gel showed outstanding CO₂ tolerance under simulated reservoir conditions (110 °C, 10 MPa). After 600 s of CO₂ exposure, the ADA gel retained over 99% of its initial viscosity, whereas a conventional HPAM-based industrial gel degraded to 61% of its original viscosity. The CO₂-resistance mechanism involves protonation of tertiary amines to form quaternary ammonium salts, which electrostatically interact with sulfonate groups, creating a reinforced dual-crosslinked network that effectively protects the gel from H⁺ ion attack. Core flooding experiments confirmed its ability to enhance oil recovery by plugging high-permeability channels and diverting flow, achieving a final recovery of up to 48.5% in heterogeneous cores. This work provides a novel gel system for improving sweep efficiency and storage security during CO₂ flooding in low-permeability reservoirs. Full article

Tröger’s base (TB) polymers have received increasing attention as a novel class of polymers with intrinsic microporosity, particularly for applications in gas separation. In this study, TB was quaternized with hydrophobic long chains to create a microphase-separated structure to enhance gas separation performance. On one hand, the tertiary amine structure of TB enabled facile grafting modification through the Menshutkin reaction. On the other hand, microphase-separated channels were created in the quaternized Tröger’s base (QTB) membrane due to the polarity differences between the hydrophilicity of the quaternary ammonium groups and hydrophobicity of iodoalkanes, providing channels for gas transport within the membrane and thereby improving permeability selectivity. The successful synthesis of QTB membranes was confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, while AFM and SAXS analyses validated the microphase-separated morphology. To investigate the impact of microphase separation on oxygen permeability and selectivity, different iodoalkanes and various concentrations of iodobutane were grafted onto the TB backbone. Among the prepared membranes, QTB-C₄-70% membrane exhibited the highest in O₂ permeability. Gas separation performance under different O₂ pressures and temperatures revealed that O₂ permeability decreased slightly with increasing pressure, indicating good pressure stability of the membrane. With increasing temperature, the permeability increased while the selectivity decreased. These findings demonstrated that microphase-separated QTB membranes offer a viable strategy for creating effective materials for gas separation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children receiving chemotherapy are highly susceptible to infection, and bloodstream infection (BSI) is a major cause of morbidity in febrile neutropenia. Post-transfusion fever represents a specific diagnostic dilemma, where febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions may be clinically indistinguishable from early BSI. We aimed to develop and internally validate a simple bedside score to predict BSI in children presenting to the ED with post-transfusion fever. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single-center diagnostic prediction study of consecutive ED encounters between 2015 and 2024 in a tertiary children’s hospital. Eligible encounters involved patients ≤ 18 years with an underlying malignancy receiving systemic chemotherapy who presented with fever within 24 h of red blood cell or platelet transfusion, had neutropenia, and with at least one blood culture obtained. BSI was defined as growth of a clinically significant pathogen within 48 h; episodes with only contaminants or colonizing flora were classified as non-BSI. Multivariable logistic regression with four prespecified predictors—transfusion-to-ED arrival interval, body temperature, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and C-reactive protein (CRP)—was used to develop the model and derive a 0–5 point bedside score. Performance was assessed using AUC, diagnostic indices at prespecified cut-offs, calibration, and bootstrap internal validation. Results: Of 507 screened encounters, 287 met inclusion criteria; 39 (13.6%) were adjudicated as BSI. The full model showed good discrimination (AUC 0.82). The derived score (2 points for ANC = 0/µL; 1 point each for temperature ≥ 38.5 °C, CRP ≥ 2.5 mg/dL, and transfusion-to-ED interval ≥ 7 h) achieved an AUC of 0.84. At a cut-off ≥2, sensitivity was 97.4% and negative predictive value 98.8%, misclassifying 1 of 39 BSIs as low risk; at ≥3, specificity was 59.7% with sensitivity 89.7%. Bootstrap-corrected AUC was 0.83. Conclusions: In children receiving chemotherapy who present with post-transfusion fever, a simple 0–5 point bedside score based on temperature, ANC, CRP, and transfusion-to-ED interval provided useful early stratification of BSI risk in this single-center cohort. Prospective multicenter validation is needed before clinical implementation. Full article

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision-related disability worldwide. Evidence on how clinical and sociodemographic factors jointly shape vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in Eastern European settings remains limited. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 151 adults with ophthalmologically confirmed DR attending a tertiary ophthalmology clinic in Northeastern Bulgaria (June 2023–February 2025). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; decimal, better-seeing eye), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; ordinal categories), duration of diabetes, age, sex, DR subtype, and education were recorded. VRQoL was assessed using the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire. Non-parametric tests were applied as appropriate; multiple linear regression identified independent predictors of NEI VFQ-25 composite scores. Results: Median age was 62 years (IQR 12.5); 53.0% were female. NEI VFQ-25 median was 77.2 (IQR 37.8). BCVA correlated positively with VRQoL (Spearman’s ρ = 0.455, p < 0.001). VRQoL differed by educational level (Kruskal–Wallis χ² = 37.3, p < 0.001, ε² = 0.249), but not by sex (Mann–Whitney U = 2740, p = 0.711); a trend was observed across DR subtypes (H = 5.386, p = 0.067). The multivariable model was significant (F(7, 132) = 10.64, p < 0.001; adjusted R² = 0.336). Higher VRQoL was independently associated with better BCVA (B = 35.38, 95% CI 25.81–44.95, p < 0.001), higher educational attainment (B = −10.15, 95% CI from −13.92 to −6.38, p < 0.001; coded such that lower education predicts lower scores), and DR subtype (B = 6.63, 95% CI 1.91–11.36, p = 0.007). Age, sex, HbA1c, and diabetes duration were not significant. Conclusions: In this Bulgarian cohort, functional vision (BCVA), education, and DR subtype are the principal determinants of VRQoL, highlighting the need for patient-centered strategies that integrate clinical and social factors. Full article

Background and Objectives: Ward-level risk in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is often estimated from static admission data. This study evaluated a pragmatic composite—TRIAD-TB—integrating physiology (SpO₂, respiratory rate), inflammation (systemic immune-inflammation index [SII], C-reactive protein [CRP]), and nutrition (BMI, albumin), augmented by 72 h changes in CRP and albumin, to predict 30-day mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods: A pooled prospective cohort of 126 HIV-negative adults without chronic systemic immunosuppression hospitalized with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB at two Romanian tertiary centers was analyzed. TRIAD-TB combined z-scored admission markers and 72 h deltas. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included LOS. Associations were estimated using Firth logistic regression (mortality) and quasi-Poisson regression (LOS). Discrimination and overall performance were summarized by AUC and Brier score; internal performance used bootstrap optimism-correction. Results: Across TRIAD-TB tertiles, 30-day mortality increased from 2.4% to 16.7%, and mean LOS rose from 24.7 ± 5.8 to 32.1 ± 7.3 days. Each SD increase in TRIAD-TB was associated with higher odds of death (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.8; p = 0.006) and longer hospitalization (adjusted IRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.30; p < 0.001). The full model discriminated mortality well (AUC 0.84; Brier 0.067) and explained 21.8% of LOS deviance. Early dynamics were informative: higher CRP ratio (72 h/0 h) and albumin decline tracked with adverse outcomes. An admission-only “mini-TRIAD” retained strong discrimination (AUC 0.79). Conclusions: A dynamic composite leveraging routine vitals and laboratory tests—plus 72 h trajectories—accurately stratified short-term risk in hospitalized pulmonary TB, while an admission-only “mini-TRIAD” retained strong discrimination. Together, these tools may support early escalation, targeted monitoring, and capacity planning. TRIAD-TB may support early escalation, targeted monitoring, and capacity planning; however, because it was derived in HIV-negative, non-immunosuppressed adults in an Eastern European setting, TRIAD-TB and the admission-only “mini-TRIAD” require external validation, including in cohorts with substantial HIV co-infection and different comorbidity profiles, before any broader implementation. Full article

Background and Objectives: Early bedside tools that flag non-response in hospitalized adults with lower urinary tract infection (UTI) could align clinical care with antimicrobial stewardship. We evaluated REACT-UTI, a 72 h composite combining C-reactive protein (CRP) clearance ≥35%, defervescence (temperature < 37.5 °C), and ≥2-point symptom improvement, to predict early non-response and hospital length of stay (LOS), and we assessed modifiable processes of care. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of adults with culture-confirmed lower UTI (n = 126) admitted to a tertiary hospital in Timișoara (December 2023–August 2025). The primary outcome was 72 h early clinical response (ECR) defined by REACT-UTI. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations of catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI), time-to-effective therapy, baseline CRP, diabetes, early catheter removal/exchange (≤48 h), and early intravenous-to-oral switch (≤72 h) with non-response. Results: Overall, 76/126 patients (60.3%) achieved ECR. Non-responders more often had CAUTI, higher baseline CRP, longer time-to-effective therapy, ESBL or fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacterales, and longer LOS (14.1 vs. 9.8 days; p < 0.001). Adjusted models showed that CAUTI, delayed active therapy, higher baseline CRP, and diabetes increased the odds of non-response, whereas early catheter removal (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3–0.9) and early IV-to-oral switch (aOR 0.4, 0.2–0.8) were protective. Greater CRP clearance correlated with shorter LOS (ρ = −0.52; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this single-center setting with a high burden of antimicrobial resistance, REACT-UTI at 72 h identified patients at risk of early non-response and prolonged hospitalization and highlighted actionable levers—timely active therapy, catheter management, and early oral step-down. External validation in diverse settings is needed before broader implementation. Full article

Adamantane is a unique tricyclic hydrocarbon with a rigid, diamond-like structure. It is widely distributed in natural hydrocarbons and has significant potential applications in medicine, materials science, and pharmaceuticals. Despite its high chemical stability, biocatalytic methods using cytochrome P450 enzymes and microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas strains and actinobacteria, demonstrate high regional specificity in the hydroxylation and modification of adamantane, primarily at tertiary C–H bonds. This review summarises the latest data on the mechanisms and pathways of the microbial transformation of adamantane and its derivatives, including the key metabolites and enzymatic systems involved. The advantages of biocatalysis—namely, high selectivity, environmental friendliness and mild reaction conditions—are highlighted as a promising approach to the synthesis of functional adamantane derivatives for use in the development of innovative drugs and materials. The limitations of current methods and prospects for development are also discussed, including searching for new microorganisms and regulating enzymatic activity to increase the efficiency of biotransformation. Full article

Introduction: Direct pulp capping (DPC) aims to preserve the vitality of the dental pulp by placing a protective biocompatible material over the exposed pulp tissue to facilitate healing. There are several calcium-silicate materials that have been designed to promote mineralization and the regulation of inflammation. These have strong potential for the repair and regeneration of dental pulp. Among them, Biodentine (BD) and EndoSequence RRM Putty (ES) have been found to promote in vitro and in vivo mineralization while minimizing some of the limitations of the first-generation calcium-silicate-based materials. Theracal-LC (TLC), a light-cured, resin-modified calcium-silicate material, is a newer product with potential to improve the clinical outcomes of DPC, but existing studies have reported conflicting findings regarding its biocompatibility and ability to support pulpal healing in direct contact with the pulp. A comprehensive assessment of the biocompatibility and pulpal protection provided by these three capping materials has not yet been performed. Aim: We aimed to quantify the inflammatory response, dentin bridge formation, and material adaptation following DPC using three calcium-silicate materials: ES, BD, and TLC. Materials and Methods: DPC was performed on the maxillary first molar of C57BL/6 female mice. Maxilla were collected and processed at 1 and 21 days post-DPC. The early inflammatory response was measured 24 h post-procedure using confocal imaging of anti-Lys6G6C, which indicates the extent of neutrophil and monocyte infiltration. Reparative mineralized bridge formation was assessed at 21 days post-procedure using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histology. Lastly, the homogeneity of the capping materials was evaluated by quantifying voids in calcium-silicate restorations using micro-CT. Results: DPC using TLC induced less infiltration of Lys6G6C⁺ cells at 24 h than BD or ES. BD promoted higher volumes of tertiary dentin than TLC, but TLC and ES showed no significant differences in volume. No differences were observed in material adaptation and void spaces among the three capping materials. Conclusions: All three materials under investigation supported pulp healing and maintained marginal integrity. However, TLC induced a lower inflammatory response on day 1 and induced similar levels of tertiary dentin to ES. These observations challenge the common perception that resin-based capping materials are not suitable for direct pulp capping. Our findings underscore the need to balance biological responses with physical properties when selecting pulp capping materials to improve long-term clinical success. Full article

Chalcone Synthase (CHS) plays a vital role in flavonoid synthesis, influencing plant growth, development, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, 11 CHS genes were identified in Poncirus trifoliata using bioinformatics methods, with their distribution across five chromosomes and unassigned contigs. Each gene contains 2–3 exons and 3–8 conserved motifs. In silico prediction suggested that the PtrCHS proteins are localized in the cytoplasm. PtrCHS9 and PtrCHS11 share identical protein tertiary structures. Phylogenetic analysis classified the CHS family members into four subgroups. Synteny analysis revealed one set of collinear gene pairs within Poncirus trifoliata. Between Poncirus trifoliata and Arabidopsis thaliana, two sets of collinear gene pairs were identified, while one such set was found between Poncirus trifoliata and Oryza sativa. Promoter element analysis showed the presence of various hormone response and stress response elements within PtrCHS promoters. RNA-Seq data demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns of PtrCHSs. RT-qPCR results indicated that all CHS genes, except PtrCHS11, respond to salt stress with dynamic, member-specific patterns. Additionally, four PtrCHSs (PtrCHS3, PtrCHS5, PtrCHS7, and PtrCHS10) were significantly upregulated in response to cold treatment. Notably, PtrCHS7 and PtrCHS10 maintained high expression levels at both 6 and 12 h, implying they may be key players in cold stress response in Poncirus trifoliata. Clones of PtrCHS7 and PtrCHS10 were obtained, and overexpression vectors were constructed in preparation for gene transformation. Overall, this study provides a solid foundation for future research into the functions of the PtrCHSs. Full article

To express and purify staphylococcal enterotoxin M (SEM) using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), a signal peptide-truncated (ΔNsp) wild-type SEM (SEM_WT) was N-terminally fused in pET-28a(+) to a polyhistidine tag (His_6×-) and thrombin cleavage site (TCS; LVPR↓GS), generating His_6×-TCS-ΔNspSEM_WT. Unexpectedly, 4 °C desalting reduced the fusion protein’s molecular weight by ~2.0 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry identified cleavage specifically at the arginine (R) and glycine (G) peptide bond (R–G bond) within the TCS motif. AlphaFold 3 revealed an exposed serine protease catalytic triad: histidine 172, serine 178, and aspartic acid 212 (H₁₇₂/S₁₇₈/D₂₁₂) in the β-grasp domain, suggesting intrinsic thrombin-like activity (TLA). Sequential IMAC and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) purification eliminated contaminant concerns, while chromogenic substrate S-2238 (S-2238) assays demonstrated increasing specific activity and purification fold, supporting intrinsic TLA. Critically, the mutation of serine at position 178 to alanine (His_6×-TCS-ΔNspSEM_S178A) abolished TLA but preserved the secondary/tertiary structure, confirming the activity’s origin within the wild-type construct. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations probed the atomistic mechanism for specific R–G bond cleavage. This work establishes a foundation for understanding ΔNspSEM_WT’s TLA. Full article

Background: Post-procedural infection worsens outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) reflects myocardial injury, but its utility for infection risk prediction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether high-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTn) levels are associated with the risk of infection and systemic inflammation. Methods: We performed an exploratory pilot study of consecutive ACS patients undergoing PCI (n = 181) at a tertiary interventional cardiology unit in Romania. Herein, hs-cTn was measured at 24- and 48-h post-PCI. The primary outcome was in-hospital infection (clinical and/or microbiological documentation), with the acknowledgment that nearly half were clinically diagnosed without microbiological confirmation. We assessed discrimination for hs-cTn48h using ROC analysis and explored associations with systemic markers (CRP, ESR, and leukocytes) and NT-proBNP using Spearman correlations. Results: Infections occurred in 9/181 patients (5.0%; 95% CI, 2.6–9.2). Notably, hs-cTn48h showed AUC = 0.49 (approx. 95% CI, 0.30–0.68) for infection discrimination. Correlations between hs-cTn48h and inflammatory markers were weak and non-significant (CRP ρ = 0.126, p = 0.091; ESR ρ = 0.119, p = 0.111; fibrinogen ρ = 0.134, p = 0.073), whereas hs-cTn48h correlated modestly with NT-proBNP (ρ = 0.232, p = 0.002). Conclusions: In this cohort, hs-cTn48h did not predict in-hospital infection after PCI in ACS. These negative findings highlight that troponin should be interpreted primarily as a marker of myocardial necrosis, not infectious risk. Larger multicenter studies with microbiological adjudication and broader biomarker panels are warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Personality traits in patients with cluster headache (CH) remain understudied compared to migraine patients. This could help improve diagnosis, identify comorbidities, and provide more personalized management of CH. This study aimed to characterize the personality profiles of patients with CH and compare them with those of patients with migraine. Methods: This cross-sectional, case–control observational study was conducted at a tertiary hospital’s headache unit (May–August 2024). Patients with CH were compared with migraine patients and healthy controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) was administered. Results: The study included 28 CH patients (17 with episodic and 11 with chronic CH), 55 migraine patients (34 with episodic migraine and 21 with chronic migraine), and 54 healthy controls. Both patient groups reported significantly more somatic and cognitive complaints than controls (p < 0.05). Compared to controls, the migraine group exhibited greater emotional dysfunction, social avoidance, demoralization, introversion, and social anxiety (p < 0.05), while the CH group showed greater impulsivity (p < 0.05). Directly comparing patient groups, migraine patients displayed greater social avoidance, emotional dysfunction, demoralization, and introversion than the CH group (p < 0.05). CH patients also showed a non-significant trend towards behavioral disinhibition, hypomania, a favorable self-image, juvenile conduct problems, substance abuse, and aggressiveness. Patients with CH did not present a higher risk of suicide compared to migraine patients. Conclusions: This study identified distinct personality profiles: Migraine patients exhibited greater emotional and interpersonal dysfunction (internal distress and withdrawal), while CH patients exhibited greater externalizing behavioral dysfunction, predominantly involving impulsivity. Full article

The wastewater treatment (WWT) industry is currently facing challenges imposed by the revised urban WWT directive, particularly in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal. This implies the need for mandatory tertiary treatment, for which microalgae cultivation shows great sustainability promise. This study investigated the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on nutrient removal in open-air microalgae cultivation for tertiary WWT under winter conditions. Two pilot-scale semi-continuous raceway systems were operated with indigenous microalgae, natural sunlight, and no pH control. HRT values of 4, 5.5, and 7 days were tested, and N, P, and carbon (C) removal and recovery were measured. All conditions allowed nitrogen removal, complying with the revised urban WWT directive. Regarding P, only the 7-day HRT condition consistently complied with the directive’s lowest limit (<0.5 mg P·L⁻¹) in the treated water, while 5.5 and 4 days left up to 0.7 and 1.0 mg P·L⁻¹, respectively, in up to 25% of the samples. A stable microalgae consortium was established under variable light, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions, albeit with variable biomass productivity. Elemental mass balances revealed that nutrients were mostly recovered in the produced biomass, particularly at high HRT, including effective CO₂ capture from the atmosphere. Full article

Commercially relevant processing conditions, including protein concentration, pH and shearing and their impact on the solubility, heat stability, and secondary structure of faba bean proteins (FBPIs), were studied. Most of the examined properties, including protein solubility and heat stability, were due to the simultaneous effects of pH and concentration. The shearing rate played a crucial role in determining the heat stability of FBPI during thermal processing through protein molecular activities, such as inter- and/or intramolecular force interactions. Under the heat treatment conditions (temperature of 95 °C and time of 30 min), the shearing rate of 1000 s⁻¹ enhanced the heat stability, compared to 100 s⁻¹. Meanwhile, concentration and pH shift contributed to the conformation of various protein structures of faba bean protein isolates. This study revealed that these structural changes involve the unfolding of the protein’s native tertiary structure, which likely exposes hydrophobic and sulfhydryl (–SH) groups, ultimately leading to protein aggregation. It also provided a comprehensive understanding of faba bean protein functionality by studying various interactions of FBPI proteins under thermal processing systems. Full article