Search

Background: Nowadays, obesity has become a public health problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach in prevention and therapy. In this context, the research aims to highlight some aspects that can be used in the management of obesity prevention, starting from personal motivation as a determining factor of individuals' behaviors. Material and methods: The objective of this study was to apply, using a pioneering method, the previously existing instrument "Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II" among students within the field of social sciences from Romanian universities (496 respondents). The statistical program used for the analysis of the results was SPSS statistics v26. Results: The results revealed correlations between the Body Mass Index profile of respondents, their motivation, nutritional habits, adoption of a healthy lifestyle, and participation in health courses. Conclusions: The study provided conclusions supported by the results, as well as implications for practice. Statistically, the newly constructed concept of motivation was found to be related to the overall score of healthy lifestyle and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the topic of online psychological counselling, focusing on the perspectives of both clients and professionals. In light of the widespread adoption of computer‐mediated psychological support during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the research analysed how it has taken shape in the collective consciousness, the role of trust, and perceived effectiveness. Method: The sample consisted of 133 professionals (M = 46) and 716 patients (M = 33), recruited through non‐probabilistic snowball sampling. Data, collected through two ad hoc questionnaires, were analysed using the EVOC 2005 software (for social representations) and SPSS (for quantitative data). Results: Overall, regarding the social representation of online psychological support, in the central core of the therapists' representation there seems to be a structured idea of the emotional distance that online therapy inevitably brings with it. In the core of the patients' representation, the idea of online support has been structured as a form of assistance that has shown its full usefulness during the pandemic. Quantitative data reveal a perceived efficacy of online psychological support comparable to in‐person therapy. Efficacy is enhanced by an already‐established trust relationship. The adoption of the online mode seems to have favoured the deployment of new resources by therapists and patients, attesting to an adaptation to this new way of conducting therapy. The online mode, in particular, will continue to be chosen by both, along with face‐to‐face meetings, as a mode of psychological support post‐pandemic. Conclusion: Based on these findings, this study holds strong potential for practical application in the field of remote therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage of rAAV vectors for gene therapy applications is critical for ensuring a constant product quality and defined amount of medication at the time of administration. Therefore, we determined the influence of different storage conditions on the physicochemical and biological properties of rAAV8 and rAAV9 preparations. Particular attention was paid to short-term storage, which plays a crucial role in both the manufacturing process and in clinical applications. Additionally, we addressed the question, of viability of rAAV8 and rAAV9 when subjected to very low-temperature storage conditions (below −65 °C) or lyophilization. To determine the impact on rAAV vectors, various analyses were used, including the quantification of capsid and genome titers, as well as biopotency assessments, which are pivotal determinants in characterizing vector behavior and efficacy. Our data showed that freeze/thaw cycles hardly affected the functionality of rAAV9-aGAL vectors. In contrast, prolonged storage at room temperature for several days, resulted in a discernible decrease in biopotency despite consistent capsid and genome titers. When the storage temperature was further increased, the rAAV8-aGAL decay accelerated. For example, a short-term exposure of + 40 °C and more, led to a reduction in the physical viral titer and to an even faster decline in efficacy determined by biopotency. However, the addition of sucrose and sorbitol to the rAAV9-aGAL and rAAV9-GAA preparations reduced the temperature sensitivity of rAAV and improved its stability. Furthermore, exposure of rAAV9-aGAL to highly acidic conditions (pH 2.5) dramatically reduced its biopotency by 70% or more. Most interestingly, a long-term storage of rAAV9-aGAL and rAAV8-FVIII vectors over 12 and 36 months, respectively, demonstrated exceptional stability at storage temperatures below −65 °C. Also, lyophilization conserved functionality for at least 10 months. Our data showed how to maintain rAAV biopotency levels over the time without substantial loss. Storage at very low temperatures (below −65 °C) preserved its effectiveness over years. Overall, pH and temperature conditions during the manufacturing process, storage and clinical application are worth considering. Consistency in the rAAV capsid titer determination did not necessarily indicate the preservation of biopotency. In conclusion, our approach determined several options for maximizing rAAV stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazards associated with highly dangerous pollutants/contaminants in water, air, and land resources, as well as food, are serious threats to public health and the environment. Thus, it is imperative to detect or decontaminate, as risk-control strategies, the possible harmful substances sensitively and efficiently. In this context, due to their capacity to be specifically designed for various types of hazardous compounds, the synthesis and use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have become widespread. By molecular imprinting, affinity sites with complementary shape, size, and functionality can be created for any template molecule. MIPs' unique functions in response to external factors have attracted researchers to develop a broad range of MIP-based sensors with increased sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity of the recognition element toward target hazardous compounds. Therefore, this paper comprehensively reviews the very recent progress of MIPs and smart polymer applications for sensing or decontamination of hazardous compounds (e.g., drugs, explosives, and biological or chemical agents) in various fields from 2020 to 2024, providing researchers with a rapid tool for investigating the latest research status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance of the balance between production of oxygen free radicals (or some other radical species) and activity of antioxidative system of protection causes the so called oxidative stress Protection of an organism from oxygen free radicals implies activity of enzymatic (catalase, SOD, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase etc.) and nonenzymatic (vitamin E. vitamin C. glutathione, uric acid etc.) systems of protection. An organism can tolerate a mild oxidative stress but a higher disturbance between the production of free radicals and the activity of the antioxidative protection results in lipid protein and DNA as well as numerous diseases. In this article we analyze oxidative stress role as an important cofactor contributing to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, atherosclerosis, glomerulosclerosis, anemia, tubulointerstitial nephritis and ischemia-reperfusion injury to chronic kidney disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we describe a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The highest quality unmasked genome comprises 619 megabases (Mb) of chromosomal DNA, organized into 899 contigs, with a contig N50 score of 89 Mbps. The genome was assessed to be 96 % complete (BUSCO). Reconstruction of a whole-genome phylogeny resolved H. convergens as sister to the Harlequin lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis , and nested within a clade of several known agricultural pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable and sustainable resource, lignocellulosic biomass serves as a crucial raw material for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and various value-added products. This paper aims to develop and optimize a mild alkaline treatment of sawdust assisted by ultrasound, along with enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated material. The alkaline sonochemical pretreatment emerged as the optimal approach to enhance the susceptibility of cellulose to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the yield of reducing sugars. A comparative study was performed using various ultrasonic applicators (horn and bath) and conventional assisted alkaline pretreatment. The ultrasonic-assisted pretreatment revealed a higher delignification of 68% (horn) and 57% (bath) compared with conventional pretreatment. Processes were optimized using a statistical analysis based on a 23 factorial design. The ratios between sawdust and alkaline solution (RSL = 0.5–1.5 g/100 mL), US amplitude (A = 20–60%), and working temperature (t = 30–50 °C) were selected as process factors. The optimal operating conditions to maximize the reducing sugar yield (138.15 mg GE/gsubstrate) were found as follows: a solid/liquid ratio of RSL,opt = 1.25 g/100 mL, US amplitude of Aopt = 60%, and pretreatment temperature of topt = 50 °C. The overall outcomes clearly confirmed the intensification of delignification by ultrasound-assisted alkaline pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global aging population faces significant health challenges, including an increasing vulnerability to disability due to natural aging processes. Wearable lower limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have emerged as a promising solution to enhance physical function in older individuals. This systematic review synthesizes the use of LLEs in alignment with the WHO's healthy aging vision, examining their impact on intrinsic capacities and functional abilities. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in six databases, yielding 36 relevant articles covering older adults (65+) with various health conditions, including sarcopenia, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, osteoarthritis, and more. The interventions, spanning one to forty sessions, utilized a range of LLE technologies such as Ekso®, HAL®, Stride Management Assist®, Honda Walking Assist®, Lokomat®, Walkbot®, Healbot®, Keeogo Rehab®, EX1®, overground wearable exoskeletons, Eksoband®, powered ankle–foot orthoses, HAL® lumbar type, Human Body Posturizer®, Gait Enhancing and Motivation System®, soft robotic suits, and active pelvis orthoses. The findings revealed substantial positive outcomes across diverse health conditions. LLE training led to improvements in key performance indicators, such as the 10 Meter Walk Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test, Timed Up and Go test, and more. Additionally, enhancements were observed in gait quality, joint mobility, muscle strength, and balance. These improvements were accompanied by reductions in sedentary behavior, pain perception, muscle exertion, and metabolic cost while walking. While longer intervention durations can aid in the rehabilitation of intrinsic capacities, even the instantaneous augmentation of functional abilities can be observed in a single session. In summary, this review demonstrates consistent and significant enhancements in critical parameters across a broad spectrum of health conditions following LLE interventions in older adults. These findings underscore the potential of LLE in promoting healthy aging and enhancing the well-being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the essential oil (EO) extraction from thyme by the consecutive use of ultrasound and microwave treatments is presented. The aim of this study was to apply an ultrasound pre-treatment of thyme leaves to enhance the thymol content and the extraction yield of the EO obtained by microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (MWHD). Compared with conventional hydro-distillation (CHD), the consecutive use of ultrasound pre-treatment and microwave extraction resulted in a 72% lower extraction time. When the ultrasound pre-treatment (using the ultrasonic processor with an amplitude of 70%) was applied, the EO content was 23% higher compared to the extraction without pre-treatment (2.67 ± 0.06 g EO/100 g DM for the MWHD with ultrasound pre-treatment compared with 2.18 ± 0.07 g EO/100 g DM for the MWHD without pre-treatment). The EO samples were analyzed by GC/MS. The results showed that the major component, thymol, varied from 43.54% (by CHD) to 65.94% (by the consecutive use of ultrasound and microwave treatments). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal movements represent a major risk for the spread of infectious diseases in the domestic swine population. In this study, we adopted methods from social network analysis to explore pig trades in Austria. We used a dataset of daily records of swine movements covering the period 2015–2021. We analyzed the topology of the network and its structural changes over time, including seasonal and long-term variations in the pig production activities. Finally, we studied the temporal dynamics of the network community structure. Our findings show that the Austrian pig production was dominated by small-sized farms while spatial farm density was heterogeneous. The network exhibited a scale-free topology but was very sparse, suggesting a moderate impact of infectious disease outbreaks. However, two regions (Upper Austria and Styria) may present a higher structural vulnerability. The network also showed very high assortativity between holdings from the same federal state. Dynamic community detection revealed a stable behavior of the clusters. Yet trade communities did not correspond to sub-national administrative divisions and may be an alternative zoning approach to managing infectious diseases. Knowledge about the topology, contact patterns, and temporal dynamics of the pig trade network can support optimized risk-based disease control and surveillance strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Elderly patients receiving antithrombotic treatment have a significantly higher risk of developing an intracranial hemorrhage when suffering traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially contributing to higher mortality rates and worse functional outcomes. It is unclear whether different antithrombotic drugs carry a similar risk. Objective: This study aims to investigate injury patterns and long-term outcomes after TBI in elderly patients treated with antithrombotic drugs. Methods: The clinical records of 2999 patients ≥ 65 years old admitted to the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium) between 1999 and 2019 with a diagnosis of TBI, spanning all injury severities, were manually screened. Results: A total of 1443 patients who had not experienced a cerebrovascular accident prior to TBI nor presented with a chronic subdural hematoma at admission were included in the analysis. Relevant clinical information, including medication use and coagulation lab tests, was manually registered and statistically analyzed using Python and R. In the overall cohort, 418 (29.0%) of the patients were treated with acetylsalicylic acid before TBI, 58 (4.0%) with vitamin K antagonists (VKA), 14 (1.0%) with a different antithrombotic drug, and 953 (66.0%) did not receive any antithrombotic treatment. The median age was 81 years (IQR = 11). The most common cause of TBI was a fall accident (79.4% of the cases), and 35.7% of the cases were classified as mild TBI. Patients treated with vitamin K antagonists had the highest rate of subdural hematomas (44.8%) (p = 0.02), hospitalization (98.3%, p = 0.03), intensive care unit admissions (41.4%, p < 0.01), and mortality within 30 days post-TBI (22.4%, p < 0.01). The number of patients treated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was too low to draw conclusions about the risks associated with these antithrombotic drugs. Conclusion: In a large cohort of elderly patients, treatment with VKA prior to TBI was associated with a higher rate of acute subdural hematoma and a worse outcome, compared with other patients. However, intake of low dose aspirin prior to TBI did not have such effects. Therefore, the choice of antithrombotic treatment in elderly patients is of utmost importance with respect to risks associated with TBI, and patients should be counselled accordingly. Future studies will determine whether the shift towards DOACs is mitigating the poor outcomes associated with VKA after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults is usually affected by the presence of comorbidities, leading to more severe sequelae in this age group than in younger patients. However, there are only few reports that prospectively perform in-depth assessment of outcome following TBI in elderly. Objective: This study aims at documenting structural brain characteristics and functional outcome and quality of life in elderly patients 6 months after TBI and comparing these data with healthy volunteers undergoing the same assessments. Methods: Thirteen TBI patients ≥ 65 years old, admitted to the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium), between 2019 and 2022 due to TBI, including all injury severities, and a group of 13 healthy volunteers with similar demographic characteristics were prospectively included in the study. At admission, demographic, injury, and CT scan data were collected in our database. Six months after the accident, a brain MRI scan and standardized assessments of frailty, sleep quality, cognitive function, motor function, and quality of life were conducted. Results: A total of 13 patients and 13 volunteers were included in the study, with a median age of 74 and 73 years, respectively. Nine out of the 13 patients presented with a mild TBI. The patient group had a significantly higher level of frailty than the control group, presenting a mean Reported Edmonton Frailty Scale score of 5.8 (SD 2.7) vs 0.7 (SD 1.1) (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between patient and control brain volumes, fluid attenuated inversion recovery white matter hyperintensity volumes, number of lesions and blackholes, and fractional anisotropy values. Patients demonstrated a significantly higher median reaction time in the One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (22.3 s vs 17.6, p = 0.03) and Reaction Time (0.5 s vs 0.4 s, p < 0.01) subtests in the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Furthermore, patients had a lower mean score on the first Box and Blocks test with the right hand (46.6 vs 61.7, p < 0.01) and a significantly higher mean score in the Timed-Up & Go test (13.1 s vs 6.2 s, p = 0.02) and Timed Up & Go with cognitive dual task (16.0 s vs 10.2 s, p < 0.01). Substantially lower QOLIBRI total score (60.4 vs 85.4, p < 0.01) and QOLIBRI-OS total score (53.8 vs 88.5, p < 0.01) were also observed in the patients' group. Conclusion: In this prospective study, TBI patients ≥ 65 years old when compared with elder controls showed slightly worse cognitive performance and poorer motor function, higher fall risk, but a substantially reduced QoL at 6 months FU, as well as significantly higher frailty, even when the TBI is classified as mild. No statistically significant differences were found in structural brain characteristics on MRI. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to refine the impact of TBI versus frailty on function and QoL in elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid electroactive ink incorporating molecularly imprinted silica particles. • Custom designed screen-printed electrodes via hybrid 3D inkjet printing. • Specific detection of lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. • Sensitivity, low detection limit and fast response time without redox probe. • Selectivity vs. other lipopolysaccharide species from S. enterica and E. coli. A hybrid electroactive ink based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) hollow microparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and conductive carbon paste (CP) is reported herein for the first time. The MIP/ZnO NPs/CP and corresponding non-imprinted NIP/ZnONPs/CP modified inks were screen-printed on plastic substrates via 3D inkjet technology to cover around 40 working screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) pieces in a single batch. The custom-made electrochemical MIP/ZnONPs/CP@SPCE sensor was designed for the detection of bacterial endotoxins, i.e. , lipopolysaccharides (LPS), derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hollow MIP silica microparticles with specific properties for 3D printing application, in terms of granulation and morphology, were synthesized via sol-gel method using tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane as monomers. Following the structural and morphological characterization of microparticles, the evaluation of template rebinding indicated a clear specificity of MIPs for LPS compared to the NIPs. Hybrid MIP/ZnONPs/CP and NIP/ZnONPs/CP inks were characterized using morphological and structural methods, which confirmed a viscosity of 25.000 mPa.s, a granulation of <20 µm, and a solid powder content of <27 %, as well as a homogenous incorporation of MIP particles and ZnONPs in the conductive CP. Finally, the electrochemical evaluation of the modified MIP/ZnONPs/CP@SPCE sensor revealed a good sensitivity to LPS molecules in PBS at pH 7.4, in the linear working range 1 - 100 µM, where a 0.058 µM limit of detection (LOD) and a response time less than or equal to 1 min were determined. The selectivity of the MIP/ZnONPs/CP@SPCE sensor towards LPS from Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli was also assessed, highlighting a clear difference between these structural resembling species. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitous presence of emerging contaminants in the environment is an issue of great concern. Notably, for some of them, no established regulation exists. Benzophenones are listed as emerging contaminants, which have been identified in the environment as well as in human fluids, such as urine, placenta, and breast milk. Their accumulation and stability in the environment, combined with the revealed adverse effects on ecosystems including endocrine, reproductive, and other disorders, have triggered significant interest for research. Benzophenones should be extracted from environmental samples and determined for environmental-monitoring purposes to assess their presence and possible dangers. Numerous sample preparation methods for benzophenones in environmental matrices and industrial effluents have been proposed and their detection in more complex matrices, such as fish and sludges, has also been reported. These methods range from classical to more state-of-the-art methods, such as solid-phase extraction, dispersive SPE, LLE, SBSE, etc., and the analysis is mostly completed with liquid chromatography, using several detection modes. This review critically outlines sample preparation methods that have been proposed to date, for the extraction of benzophenones from simple and complex environmental matrices and for cleaning up sample extracts to eliminate potential interfering components that coexist therein. Moreover, it provides a brief overview of their occurrence, fate, and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to establish the best ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of saponins from Hedera helix L. leaves and to evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of the extracts richest in saponins. Different parameters, such as extraction time, temperature, ultrasound power, solvent to plant material ratio, and solvent concentration, were investigated. The most efficient extraction conditions were a temperature of 50 °C, an ultrasound amplitude of 40%, an extraction time of 60 min, a plant material to solvent ratio of 1:20 (w:v), and 80% ethanol as solvent. In vitro cytotoxicity of the extracts richest in saponins and their influence on the DNA content of L929 (NCTC) fibroblasts were tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the studied extracts were cytocompatible with L929 fibroblast cell lines at 48 h of treatment. These in vitro cell culture results provide useful information for further applications of Hedera helix extracts in a pharmaceutical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ligand-free nanogels (LFNGs) as potential antivenom mimics were developed with the aim of preventing hypersensitivity and other side effects following massive bee attacks. For this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate was chosen as a main synthetic biocompatible matrix to prepare the experimental LFNGs. The overall concept uses inverse mini-emulsion polymerization as the main route to deliver nanogel caps with complementary cavities for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from bee venom, created artificially with the use of molecular imprinting (MI) technologies. The morphology and the hydrodynamic features of the nanogels were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The following rebinding experiments evidenced the specificity of molecularly imprinted LFNG for PLA2, with rebinding capacities up to 8-fold higher compared to the reference non-imprinted nanogel, while the in vitro binding assays of PLA2 from commercial bee venom indicated that such synthetic nanogels are able to recognize and retain the targeted PLA2 enzyme. The results were finally collaborated with in vitro cell-viability experiments and resulted in a strong belief that such LFNG may actually be used for future therapies against bee envenomation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, hybrid hydrogels based on bacterial cellulose (BC) and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) were synthesized by a radical polymerization reaction using a redox initiator system. The proposed interpenetrating networks (IPNs) were intended for developing a controlled release micro-vesicular system for wound therapy, through micro-colloidal architectures of hydrogels based on bacterial cellulose. Therefore, the hybrid hydrogels were first characterized to determine the influence of the BC concentration on the swelling degree and their mechanical stability. Further on, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were implemented to investigate their structure, composition, thermal stability, and morphology. The controlled release assay of cephalexin (CEX) was performed in buffer solution at pH 7.4 and 37 °C using CEX-loaded hydrogels and the release profiles were deciphered with the aid of UV–Visible spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity tests performed on simple and CEX-loaded samples indicated that the BC-PEGDA hydrogels containing the drug of interest were relatively non-toxic when exposed to murine fibroblasts, representing thus a potential candidate for materials used for wound treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of research: Starting from the scientifically proven fact that hygiene measures are prophylactic factors in transmitting covid-19 infection, we wanted to improve the level of theoretical and practical knowledge of future specialists in social and medical sciences, to prevent pandemics. In this regard, a workshop was organized at the beginning of March 2020, in the context of the International Day of Social Work. The workshop's elements of novelty could be seed in the rapid thematic adoption of education for individual and community health, in the context of Covid-19, as well as in its particular organizational elements, specific to the epidemiological context in which it was carried out. It aimed to raise awareness of the importance of specialists' hygiene, in the process of stopping the pandemic. The research method is empirical, based on a qualitative thematic analysis. Continuous professional education was achieved through research instruments: practical experimental case study, observation and participation in the workshop, under the supervision of a trainer. The research sample consists of a group of over 30 health specialists and students from different social and medical specialities. Research results: The opinion of the specialists from the study group, who participated in the demonstration workshop, shows that practical learning through exemplification and exercises, based on previously known theoretical notions, form and strengthen professional skills. Conclusions: This report was written in the scientific perspective of professional education classes, which improve specialists' awareness of the role of proper personal hygiene in an epidemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) rates in the elderly population are rapidly increasing worldwide. However, there are no clinical guidelines for the treatment of elderly TBI to date. This study aims at describing injury patterns and severity, clinical management, and outcomes in elderly TBI patients, which may contribute to specific prognostic tools and clinical guidelines in the future. Methods: Clinical records of 2999 TBI patients ≥ 65 years old admitted in the University Hospital Leuven (Belgium) between 1999 and 2019 were manually screened and 1480 cases could be included. Records were scrutinized for relevant clinical data. Results: The median age in the cohort was 78.0 years (IQR = 12). Falls represented the main accident mechanism (79.7%). The median Glasgow Coma Score on admission was 15 (range 3–15). Subdural hematomas were the most common lesion (28.4%). 90.1% of all patients were hospitalized and 27.0% were admitted to intensive care. 16.4% underwent a neurosurgical intervention. 11.0% of all patients died within 30 days post-TBI. Among the 521 patients with mild TBI, 28.6% were admitted to ICU and 13.1% had a neurosurgical intervention and 30-day mortality was 6.9%. Conclusion: Over the 20-year study period, an increase of age and comorbidities and a reduction in neurosurgical interventions and ICU admissions were observed, along with a trend to less severe injuries but a higher proportion of treatment withdrawals, while at the same time mortality rates decreased. TBI is a life-changing event, leading to severe consequences in the elderly population, especially at higher ages. Even mild TBI is associated with substantial rates of hospitalization, surgery, and mortality in elderly. The characteristics of the elderly population with TBI are subject to changes over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Depressive states and anxiety are common symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The persons with intellectual disabilities show problems related to the development of basic motor skills, having learning problems compared to normal ones, imbalances between the processes of arousal and inhibition, limited motor ability, difficult understanding of language and motor tasks, difficult concentration, mechanical assimilation etc. Objectives. The study analyzes the effectiveness of structures and motion games, applied in specific activities for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Material and Methods. The research involved an experimental group of 5 children with one of these disabilities or their combination (age 10-11 years), included in a training process at the Ion Teodorescu Special Vocational School in Slobozia / Ialomița / Romania and comparing their results with a control group (6 normal children, with an average age of 10 years), between 20.09.2020-10.03.2021. The assessment of the level of psychomotor and intellectual development was made by the Cutout Test, the Cohs Cube Test (light task configurations) and an Attention Flexibility Test (movement to the corners of the room/field depending on the assigned color, counting successful attempts and mistakes). Results and discussion. The obtained results confirm the working hypothesis, so the use of the structures and games proposed in the program contributes to a significant improvement of the psychomotor and intellectual performances of students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum. Conclusion. espite all these improvements, they cannot approach or equal the reference values of children without problems, falling into the same age category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aesthetic athletes face higher risks of disordered eating, and perfectionism is one of the determinants involved. While research suggests that perfectionism in sport may play a role in physical and psychological well-being, its influence remains to be confirmed. As such, further examination of the influence of perfectionism on health is warranted as it could lead to better interventions. This preregistered research sought to shed new light on these relationships by investigating the mediating role of passion in the perfectionism-disordered eating relationship as well as physical and psychological well-being in aesthetic sports. In Study 1, 229 American recreational and competitive athletes practicing either gymnastics (n = 150) or artistic swimming (n = 79) were recruited on MTurk to complete an online questionnaire. The same recruitment procedure was used for Study 2, with 107 American gymnasts (n = 69) and artistic swimmers (n = 38) completing the questionnaire at two timepoints, one year apart. Results from path analyses showed that socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with obsessive passion, which in turn was associated with disordered eating. Self-oriented perfectionism was associated with both obsessive and harmonious passion, the latter being more adaptative as it was associated with physical and psychological well-being. Thus, the way one engages in aesthetic sports matters, as engaging with obsessive passion may take a toll on one's health and lead to disordered eating. Conversely, fostering harmonious engagement seems to temper the negative associations between perfectionism and health outcomes and promote positive relationships with athlete's well-being, but requires further study. • Perfectionism is an antecedent of passion. • Harmonious passion is associated with physical and psychological well-being. • Obsessive passion represents a potential risk factor for disordered eating. • Self-oriented perfectionism is indirectly linked to adaptive and maladaptive results. • Socially prescribed perfectionism is indirectly linked only to disordered eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV) is a standardization initiative aimed at harmonising the broadcast and broadband delivery of entertainment services to consumers through connected TVs, set-top boxes, and multiscreen devices. A smart home (SH) is a suitable home setup where appliances and devices can be automatically controlled remotely from any Internet-connected device. For the seamless integration of a variety of devices within the SH, HbbTV solutions are gaining a pivotal role, acting as a central hub for audio and video broadcasting services, home automation and other devices, including smartphones, tablets and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices. In this context, a standard, compliant and platform independent, solution is preferred as it can enable dynamic environment where heterogeneous devices contribute to the overall user experience. This paper proposes an architecture for the seamless integration of a SH environment with a HbbTV-enabled television set and consumer’s handled devices, such as smartphones and tablets, using the HbbTV 2.0.1 Companions Screen and Multimedia Synchronization framework. A complete architectural design and its hardware implementation have been developed and deployed as a proof of concept. Subjective tests based on mean opinion score (MOS) have been conducted to assess the benefits of the proposed system in terms of Quality of Experience (QoE). Results are encouraging and show that the accurate design of hybrid services through HbbTV could lead to satisfactory QoE perceived by users in the fruition of unified TV and SH services. Based on the obtained results, a preferred common configuration of notifications in terms of position, duration, and sound was indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridging veins (BVs) drain the blood from the cerebral cortex into dural sinuses. BVs have one end attached to the brain and the other to the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), which is attached to the skull. Relative movement between these two structures can cause BV to rupture producing acute subdural haematoma, a head injury with a mortality rate between 30 and 90%. A clear understanding of the BVs microstructure is required to increase the biofidelity of BV models when simulating head impacts. Twelve fresh BV samples draining in the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) from a single human cadaver were cut open along their length and placed on an inverted multiphoton microscope. To ensure that the BVs were aligned with the axial direction an in-house built, uniaxial tension set-up was used. Two scans were performed per sample. Before the first scan, a minor displacement was applied to align the tissue; then, a second scan was taken applying 50% strain. Each BV was scanned for a length of 5 mm starting from the drainage site into the SSS. Imaging was performed on a Zeiss LSM780 microscope with an 25 × water immersion objective (NA 0.8), coupled to a tunable MaiTai DS (Spectraphysics) pulsed laser with the wavelength set at 850 nm. Second harmonic and fluorescence signals were captured in forward and backward direction on binary GaAsP (BiG) detectors and stored as four colour Z-stacks. Prior to the calculation of the local orientations, acquired Z-stacks were denoised and enhanced to highlight fibrillar structures from the background. Then, for each Z-plane of the stack, the ImageJ plugin OrientationJ was used to extract the local 2D orientations of the fibres based on structure tensors. Two kinds of collagen architectures were seen. The most common (8 / 12 samples) was single layered and had a uniform distribution of collagen. The less common (4 / 12 samples) had 2 layers and 7 to 34 times thicker collagen bundles on the outer layer. Fibre angle analysis showed that collagen was oriented mainly along the axial direction of the vessel. The von Mises fittings showed that in order to describe the fibre distribution 3 components were needed with mean angles μ at - 0.35, 0.21, - 0.02 rad or - 20.2 ∘ , 12.1 ∘ , - 1.2 ∘ relative to the vessel's axial direction which was also the horizontal scan direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treating benign tumors of the pancreatic head by using duodenum-preserving total or subtotal pancreatic head resection (DPPHRt/s) has proven to reduce mortality and morbidity with a positive postoperative outcome, when compared with the standard approach which is represented by pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We present three cases of DPPHRs for benign tumors, in which pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) and pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) were used. The long-term outcome of these patients was favorable; with a single case that presents a rapid onset of an acute pancreatitis, with postoperative pancreatic fistula that necessitate reoperation. The best results on early postoperative outcome were recorded in the case of pancreaticogastrostomy, with rapid onset of digestive tolerance and short period of hospital stay. These cases come in aiding modern surgery by ensuring an alternative to reintegrate the pancreatic remnant into the digestive tract after limited pancreatic head resection, with lower rates of postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quasi-consensus has steadily formed in the scientific literature on the fact that the prevention measures implemented by most countries to curb the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant reductions in pollution levels around the world, especially in urban environments. Fewer studies have looked at how these reductions at the ground level translate into variations in the whole atmosphere. In this study, we examine the columnar values of aerosols at 51 mainland European stations of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). We show that when considered in the context of the long-term trend over the last decade, the columnar aerosol levels for 2020, at the regional level, do not appear exceptional. Both the yearly means and the number of episodes with extreme values for this period are within one standard deviation of the long-term trends. We conclude that the spatially and temporally localized reductions do not add up to statistically significant reductions at the global levels of aerosols. Furthermore, considering that pandemic lockdowns can be thought of as a simulation of a climate change mitigation scenario, we conclude that such lifestyle-based changes present a very low potential as a global climate change mitigation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized five new Mannich bases compounds from vanillic acid and evaluated for their antioxidant activities using a free-radical DPPH and FRAP methods. The compounds' structures were confirmed based on infrared, proton NMR, carbon NMR, and mass spectra. In this study, the compound 5-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)vanillic acid (2e) showed the best free-radical scavenger activity, while compound 2-[(diethylamino)methyl]vanillic acid (2c) showed the best as a ferric reductant. Mannich bases enhanced the free-radical scavenger activity but decreasing the ferric reduction potential of the parent compounds. The compounds were found to be moderate antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is produced in the airway during allergic lung inflammation and both promotes and inhibits features of asthma pathology. These mixed effects relate to 4 E-prostanoid (EP) receptor subtypes (EP1, 2, 3 and 4) expressed at different levels on different resident and infiltrating airway cells. Although studies have asserted both EP2 and EP4 expression in human airway smooth muscle (HASM), a recent study asserted EP4 to be the functionally dominant EP subtype in HASM. Herein, we employ recently-developed subtype-selective ligands to investigate singular or combined EP2 and EP4 receptor activation in regulating HASM signaling and proliferation. The subtype specificity of ONO-AE1-259-01 (EP2 agonist) and ONO-AE1-329 (EP4 agonist) was first demonstrated in human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably expressing different EP receptor subtypes. EP receptor knockdown and subtype-selective antagonists demonstrated EP2 and EP4 receptor responsiveness in HASM cells to the specific ONO compounds, whereas PGE2 appeared to preferentially signal via the EP4 receptor. Both singular EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists inhibited HASM proliferation, and combined EP2 and EP4 receptor agonism exhibited positive cooperativity in both chronic Gs-mediated signaling and inhibiting HASM proliferation. These findings suggest both EP2 and EP4 are functionally important in HASM, and their combined targeting optimally inhibits airway smooth muscle proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports for the first time the use of bio‐based alternatives for PMMA as host matrix for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Notably, two types of renewable polyesters were synthesized in varying molar ratios via a two‐step melt‐polycondensation reaction with dibutyl tin oxide as catalyst. The first is a homopolymer of diethyl 2,3:4,5‐di‐O‐methylene galactarate (GxMe) and isosorbide (IGPn), and the second is a random copolymer of GxMe with 1,3‐propanediol and dimethyl terephthalate (GTPn). The two polyesters were found to be optically transparent, totally amorphous with a Tg higher than 45 °C and temperature resistance comparable to PMMA. Lumogen Red (LR) and an aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorophore, TPETPAFN, were utilized as fluorophores and the derived thin polymer films (25 μm) were found highly homogeneous, especially for those prepared from GTPn, possibly due to the presence of compatibilizing terephthalate units in the matrix composition and the higher molecular weight. The spectroscopic characterization and the optical efficiency determination (ηopt) evidenced LSCs performances similar or superior to those collected from LR/PMMA thin films. Noteworthy, ηopt of 7.7 % and 7.1 % were recorded for the GTPn‐based matrix containing LR and TPETPAFN, respectively, thus definitely supporting the bio‐based polyesters as renewable and highly fluorophore‐compatible matrices for high‐performance LSCs. Sports gear: Polyesters derived from biomass were prepared and utilized as renewable polymer matrices for the fabrication of luminescent solar concentrators with optical efficiencies comparable with those based on PMMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticipating future situations from streaming sensor data is a key perception challenge for mobile robotics and automated vehicles. We address the problem of predicting the path of objects with multiple dynamic modes. The dynamics of such targets can be described by a Switching Linear Dynamical System (SLDS). However, predictions from this probabilistic model cannot anticipate when a change in dynamic mode will occur. We propose to extract various types of cues with computer vision to provide context on the target's behavior, and incorporate these in a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). The DBN extends the SLDS by conditioning the mode transition probabilities on additional context states. We describe efficient online inference in this DBN for probabilistic path prediction, accounting for uncertainty in both measurements and target behavior. Our approach is illustrated on two scenarios in the Intelligent Vehicles domain concerning pedestrians and cyclists, so-called Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs). Here, context cues include the static environment of the VRU, its dynamic environment, and its observed actions. Experiments using stereo vision data from a moving vehicle demonstrate that the proposed approach results in more accurate path prediction than SLDS at the relevant short time horizon (1 s). It slightly outperforms a computationally more demanding state-of-the-art method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the progress that has made so far in the recent years regarding the synthesis of bio-based polymers and in particular polyesters, only few references address the optimisation of these new reactions with respect to conversion and reaction time. Related to this aspect, we here describe the transesterification reaction of two different acetalised galactarate esters with a model aliphatic diol, 1,6-hexanediol. The kinetics of these two apparently similar reactions is compared, with a focus on the conversion while varying the concentration of a di-butyltin oxide catalyst (DBTO), respectively, the used N2 flow-rate. During the first stage of polymerisation, the molecular weight of the end-products is more than doubled when using a 250 mL/min flow as opposed to an almost static N2 pressure. Additionally, the resulted pre-polymers are subjected to further polycondensation and the comparison between the obtained polyesters is extended to their thermal, mechanical and dielectrical characterisation. The influence of the acetal groups on the stability of the polyesters in acidic conditions concludes the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-sized Fe-based (metallic, carbidic and/or oxidic) core@ZnO shell particles have been successfully synthesized in one step by the laser-induced pyrolysis method in an oxygen-deficient environment. The specific precursors were separately introduced through a three concentric nozzles injector: Fe(CO) vapors carried by CH sensitizer (central flow), Zn(CH) vapors carried and diluted with Ar (middle annular coflow) and Ar containing low amount of O (external flow). Keeping constant the ethylene-carried Fe(CO) and O flows, while diminishing the Zn(CH) flow, we observed an increase of the Fe/Zn ratio in the resulted nanopowders. Also, using the same metal precursor flows, a nonlinear correlation between O external flow and nanocomposite atomic oxygen content is evidenced, indicating a possible interference of supplementary oxidation after air exposure. However, the lowest oxygen content along with metallic zinc was found in the sample synthesized in the most oxygen-deficient environment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic analyses were performed for a comprehensive characterization. The aqueous Fe-based@ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) suspensions were prepared using L-Dopa ( l-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine) as stabilizing agent in physiologic media. Also, a biocompatibility in vitro study was performed for PBS (phosphate buffered saline)-dispersed L-Dopa-stabilized Fe-based@ZnO nanoparticles with the best core-shell structural features on both human normal lung fibroblasts and tumoral colorectal cells. Our results proved the ability of these newly synthesized nanostructures to target cancer cells in order to induce cytotoxicity and to exhibit biocompatibility on normal cells for maintaining the proper function of healthy tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is the most important cereal plant cultivated on largest surfaces due to its importance as a human food and also for animal feeding. Wheat has a high content of carbohydrates and proteins and a balanced the ratio between these items. Wheat quality is determined by the qualities of gluten such as: viscosity, elasticity, extensibility, resistance to action of the proteolytic ferments in the fermentation process, etc.. Besides production, which is the quantitative indicator, the protein content of the grains is the most important qualitative factor which gives the value of the utilized output. For this reason, this paper aimed to study the behaviour of six Premium Wheat varieties with early precocity in the soil and climate conditions of Calarasi area,Romania, during 2016. The analysis was focused on some qualitative indicators as follows: the content of protein and gluten, the hectolitre weight and the mass of 1,000 grains. All the determinations proved a high quality of grains and also the production performance of all the six Wheat varieties used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food anticipatory activity (FAA) refers to a daily rhythm of locomotor activity that emerges under conditions of food restriction, whereby animals develop an intense, predictable period of activity in the few hours leading up to a predictable, daily delivery of food. The neural mechanisms by which FAA is regulated are not yet fully understood. Although a number of brain regions appear to be involved in regulating the development and expression of FAA, there is little evidence to date concerning the role of the anterior agranular insular cortex (AICa). The AICa plays a critical role in integrating the perception of visceral states with motivational behaviour such as feeding. We assessed the effect of bilateral electrolytic or ibotenic acid lesions of the AICa on FAA in male Wistar rats receiving food for varying lengths of time (2 h, 3 h, or 5 h) during the middle of the light phase (starting at either ZT4 or ZT6). Contrary to our initial expectations, we found that both electrolytic and ibotenic acid lesions significantly increased, rather than decreased, the amount of FAA expressed in lesioned rats. Despite increased FAA, lesioned rats did not eat significantly more during restricted feeding (RF) periods than control rats. Similar to controls, AlCa-lesioned rats showed negligible anticipatory activity to a restricted treat suggesting that the increased anticipatory activity in lesioned rats is associated with food restriction, rather than the appetitive value of the meal. Monitoring behaviour in an open field indicated that increased FAA in AlCa-lesioned rats was not explained by a general increase in locomotor activity. Together, these findings suggest that the AICa contributes to the network of brain regions involved in FAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the threading dislocations (TDs) density in two high quality GaN epitaxial layers grown on sapphire (Al 2 O 3 ) substrate, with the thickness of 300 and 1000 nm, respectively, is presented in this paper. In the case of GaN 300 sample, taking into account that the finite size effect exerts an increased influence, further advanced methods are necessary to find the correct results besides the standard analysis of the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of the X-ray rocking curves peaks as in the case of the thicker sample, GaN 1000. Thus, we explored the tails of the rocking curves using a universal power law fit and subsequently, we used modified version of the Williamson-Hall plots. Analysis of the XRD profiles allowed us to avoid the overestimation of the threading dislocations density determined by the influence of the correlation between dislocations. Moreover, we successfully separate the contribution of the strain and size broadening based on the analysis of refined Williamson Hall plots and demonstrate the nearly uniform dislocation density depth distribution of the GaN studied films, with no supplementary nucleation or annihilation centers are present inside the epitaxial film using, both grazing incidence and grazing exit configurations of the asymmetric geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to its role in adaptive thermogenesis, brown adipose tissue (BAT) may protect from weight gain, insulin resistance/diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Prior studies have shown contradictory results regarding the influence of thyroid hormone (TH) levels on BAT volume and activity. The aim of this pilot study was to gain further insights regarding the effect of TH treatment on BAT function in adult humans by evaluating the BAT mass and activity prospectively in six patients, first in the hypothyroid and then in the thyrotoxic phase. Methods: The study subjects underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning after cold exposure to measure BAT mass and activity while undergoing treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer, first while hypothyroid following TH withdrawal at the time of the radioactive iodine treatment and then three to six months after starting TH suppressive treatment when they were iatrogenically thyrotoxic. Thermogenic and metabolic parameters were measured in both phases. Results: All study subjects had detectable BAT under cold stimulation in both the hypothyroid and thyrotoxic state. The majority but not all (4/6) subjects showed an increase in detectable BAT volume and activity under cold stimulation between the hypothyroid and thyrotoxic phase (total BAT volume: 72.0±21.0 vs. 87.7±16.5mL, p = 0.25; total BAT activity 158.1±72.8 vs. 189.0±55.5 SUV*g/mL, p = 0.34). Importantly, circulating triiodothyronine was a stronger predictor of energy expenditure changes compared with cold-induced BAT activity. Conclusions: Iatrogenic hypothyroidism lasting two to four weeks does not prevent cold-induced BAT activation, while the use of TH to induce thyrotoxicosis does not consistently increase cold-induced BAT activity. It remains to be determined which physiological factors besides TH play a role in regulating BAT function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoulder arthritis is not an uncommon situation. Many elder patients suffer from this disease. Unlikely the hip arthritis, patients with shoulder arthritis remain undiagnosticated, or, in the best situation are treated conservatively which will produce progressive pain and stiffness. Sometimes nonsurgical methods are not enough to release the pain so an alternative treatment is necessary. One option is arthroscopy of shoulder. This is a miniinvasive intervention used to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside the joint. The purpose is to clean the joint, to release the pain and to improve the motion. Contraindications include active, or recent infection, paralysis of the rotator cuff musculature, chronic osteomyelitis, debilitating medical status and not determinate patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual property (IP) management has posed continuous problems in the digital world, so understanding its associated concepts and the particularities they present is crucial. Within artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) have enabled the intelligent processing and analysis of large volumes of data, making them widely used tools. In order to help fill the research gap that exists due to the novelty of the concepts, a bibliometric analysis is proposed of 404 scientific documents linked to AI, ML, NLP and IP, extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection repository. The results demonstrate a current trend in research on the management of IP, related to digital tools and highlight the issues that arise from the management of IP stemming from their use. This research also identifies how these tools have been used to facilitate the management and identification of IP. In this sense, this study brings originality to the field of intellectual property management by examining previous studies and proposing new avenues for future research, thus broadening the current understanding of the subject. Entrepreneurs and business leaders can benefit from this study as it uncovers the complexities of IP management and thus enhances understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the AI era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections ascertained through healthcare and community testing is generally unknown and expected to vary depending on natural factors and changes in test-seeking behaviour. Here we use population surveillance data and reported daily case numbers in the United Kingdom to estimate the rate of case ascertainment. We mathematically describe the relationship between the ascertainment rate, the daily number of reported cases, population prevalence, and the sensitivity of PCR and Lateral Flow tests as a function time since exposure. Applying this model to the data, we estimate that 20%–40% of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the UK were ascertained with a positive test with results varying by time and region. Cases of the Alpha variant were ascertained at a higher rate than the wild type variants circulating in the early pandemic, and higher again for the Delta variant and Omicron BA.1 sub-lineage, but lower for the BA.2 sub-lineage. Case ascertainment was higher in adults than in children. We further estimate the daily number of infections and compare this to mortality data to estimate that the infection fatality rate increased by a factor of 3 during the period dominated by the Alpha variant, and declined in line with the distribution of vaccines. This manuscript was submitted as part of a theme issue on "Modelling COVID-19 and Preparedness for Future Pandemics". • Analysis of reported SARS-CoV case numbers in the UK and a national infection survey. • We introduce methods to estimate case ascertainment and daily infection numbers. • Around 30% of infections were ascertained; this varies depending on age and variant. • Changes over time reflect changes in attitudes and test availability. • Infection fatality rate peaked in early 2021 and declined as vaccination increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing in vivo evidence supports the concept that airway smooth muscle produces various immunomodulatory factors that could contribute to asthma pathogenesis via the regulation of airway inflammation, airway narrowing and remodelling. Targeting ASM using bronchial thermoplasty has provided undeniable clinical benefits for patients with uncontrolled severe asthma who are refractory to glucocorticoid therapy. The present review will explain why the failure of glucocorticoids to adequately manage patients with severe asthma could derive from their inability to affect the immunomodulatory potential of ASM. We will support the view that ASM sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy can be blunted in severe asthma and will describe some of the factors and mechanisms that could be responsible for glucocorticoid insensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of universalization of legal concepts, the regulations of the New Criminal Code call into question the interferences between national and European, local identity and globalization, tradition and modernity. The changes brought to the Criminal Code that focus on offenses of office keep a part of previous approaches, complete them, extend the semantic sphere, suggesting the prestige of the public office, its integration into a context of moral rules, the inducing of more accountable attitudes in order to generate a stable social climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects of cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) positive Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori or HP) infection on circulating B cells producing specific platelet glycoprotein antibodies and the association between therapeutic outcomes in primary idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. Methods: A total of 76 newly diagnosed primary ITP patients were included in the study which was conducted at the first affiliated hospital of Shantou University Medical college, in Shantou city China, between January 2013 and January 2014. These patients were tested for H. pylori infection by 13C urea breath test and for anti-CagA antibody in H. pylori positive cases by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Anti-GPIb and anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells were measured using an enzymelinked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in all ITP patients and 30 controls. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was also detected in ITP patients. Results: The numbers of anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells in HP+CagA+ patients were higher than in HP+CagA- or HP- patients. However, anti-GPIb antibody-producing B cells were found higher in HPpatients. Analysis of treatment outcomes showed that a therapeutic response was more likely in patients presenting anti-GPIIb/IIIa B cells, but the poor response was found to be associated with anti-GPIb B cells and ANA presences. Conclusion: CagA antigen of H. pylori may induce anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies production by a molecular mimicry mechanism. Anti-GPIIb/IIIa and anti-GPIb antibody producing B Cells detection is useful for predicting treatment effects of primary ITP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]