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Sergiu Chirila,1,* Tony Hangan,2,* Leonard Gurgas,1,* Monica Georgiana Costache,2,* Marinela Anisoara Vlad,3,* Bogdan-Florentin Nitu,3,* Sara Melek Bittar,4,* Aurora Craciun,5,* Laura Condur,6,* Geir Bjørklund7,* 1Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 2Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 3Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 4Department of Dermatology, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 6Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 7Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tony Hangan, University Alee nr. 1, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Campus B, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, 900470, Romania, Email tony@medcon.roBackground: This study explores patient acceptance of influenza vaccination administered by pharmacists in Romania during the 2023 season, considering it a novel strategy to address gaps in knowledge. Pharmacy-based vaccination deviates from traditional methods, providing high-risk patients with full reimbursement and others with 50% reimbursement, allowing a choice between family doctors and pharmacies for vaccine administration.Material and Method: The survey includes 15 questions covering socio-demographic data, health information, vaccination preferences, and perceptions of pharmacy-based vaccinations.Results: Respondents showed a positive inclination toward pharmacy-based vaccination, with 68% expressing favorable sentiments, but an awareness gap exists, as only 36% were aware of pharmacy-based vaccination availability.Conclusion: Challenges include a lack of patient awareness and understanding of benefits, emphasizing the need for structured pharmacist-patient dialogues. Legal changes, a defined funding mechanism, and collaboration are crucial for successful implementation. The study provides valuable insights into patient perceptions, contributing to discussions on optimizing influenza vaccination coverage in Romania and beyond and recognizing pharmacies’ potential in achieving broader vaccination goals.Keywords: pharmacy, vaccine, influenza, vaccination

Freshwater is a fundamental resource, used in all sectors of society and by the environment. Surface and groundwater are used for agriculture, in industry, in households and even to dilute [...]

Deals with a study which provided a comprehensive description of in situ measurements of corona-poling-induced optical second-harmonic generation in an amorphous polymer designed and prepared specifically for second-order nonlinear optical applications. Experimental details; Results and discussion.

In this study, the levels of concentration of carboxylic acids (benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and hippuric acid) in the urine of autistic children were investigated and compared. The increased excretion of carboxylic acids is related to excessive bacterial activity in the gut, called bacterial overgrowth, which has been related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as an impairment in the gut-brain axis. The investigation was based on the analysis of urine samples obtained from 120 ASD children. To identify and quantify urinary carboxylic acids (UCAs), we applied gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, we checked the influence of probiotic supplementation, gender, body mass index (BMI) value and age of children on the level of different selected compounds. Most of the obtained results were found within reference ranges. In some cases, the levels of benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid were particularly elevated. Statistically significant differences were observed in supplementation with probiotics and the level of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (p=0.036). The obtained results may indicate disturbances in the intestinal flora in some autistic patients and suggest that supplements may have an influence on the levels of carboxylic acids in urine. Due to the small population of children taking the supplement, further study are needed.

Obesity and the brain are linked since the brain can control the weight of the body through its neurotransmitters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity on brain functioning through the measurement of brain glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin metabolic pools. In the present study, two groups of rats served as subjects. Group 1 was fed a normal diet and named as the lean group. Group 2 was fed an HFD for 4 weeks and named as the obese group. Markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase, and vitamin C), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-12), and leptin along with a lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels) were measured in the serum. Neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate were measured in brain tissue. Fecal samples were collected for observing changes in gut flora. In brain tissue, significantly high levels of dopamine and glutamate as well as significantly low levels of serotonin were found in the obese group compared to those in the lean group (P > 0.001) and were discussed in relation to the biochemical profile in the serum. It was also noted that the HFD affected bacterial gut composition in comparison to the control group with gram-positive cocci dominance in the control group compared to obese. The results of the present study confirm that obesity is linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, dyslipidemic processes, and altered brain neurotransmitter levels that can cause obesity-related neuropsychiatric complications.

Bozena Hosnedlova,1 Marta Kepinska,2 Sylvie Skalickova,3 Carlos Fernandez,4 Branislav Ruttkay-Nedecky,3 Qiuming Peng,5 Mojmir Baron,1 Magdalena Melcova,6 Radka Opatrilova,3 Jarmila Zidkova,6 Geir Bjørklund,7 Jiri Sochor,1 Rene Kizek2,3 1Department of Viticulture and Enology, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic; 2Department of Biomedical and Environmental Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3Central Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; 4School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK; 5State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic; 7Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Rana, Norway Abstract: Traditional supplements of selenium generally have a low degree of absorption and increased toxicity. Therefore, it is imperative to develop innovative systems as transporters of selenium compounds, which would raise the bioavailability of this element and allow its controlled release in the organism. Nanoscale selenium has attracted a great interest as a food additive especially in individuals with selenium deficiency, but also as a therapeutic agent without significant side effects in medicine. This review is focused on the incorporation of nanotechnological applications, in particular exploring the possibilities of a more effective way of administration, especially in selenium-deficient organisms. In addition, this review summarizes the survey of knowledge on selenium nanoparticles, their biological effects in the organism, advantages, absorption mechanisms, and nanotechnological applications for peroral administration. Keywords: nanoparticles, biomedicine, drug delivery, oxidative stress, anticancer effect, antimicrobial activity, protective effect

The effects of doping and radiation-damage processes on the persistent spectral hole burning properties of R′ color centers in LiF were studied using current tuned GaAlAs diode-laser derivative spectroscopy. Dopants used were Mg, Ni and Co and irradiation was done by x-rays and neutrons. The holes were alwys burned near the center of the zerophonon line. In most cases the experimentally determined hole lineshapes including side holes could be satisfactorily fit by a phenomenological lineshape model with three adjustable parameters. The amplitudes of the side holes relative to the main hole were found to increase with increasing radiation damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical third-harmonic generation was used to measure third-order nonlinear susceptibilities χ(3) for thin films of planar zigzag polysilanes and polygermanes. A χ(3) of 11.3×10-12 esu was measured, the largest value ever reported for a polymer with transparency throughout the visible. The value of χ(3) was found to vary substantially with thermally induced reversible changes in polymer backbone conformation and also with film thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4,KTP) has been used to generate blue 459-nm radiation by intracavity sum frequency mixing of the circulating 1064-nm laser radiation of a miniature neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser and the 809-nm radiation used as the pump source. A blue output power of approximately 1 mW cw was obtained using 275 mW of pump power from an infrared dye laser. Gain-switched operation leading to high 459-nm peak powers was demonstrated. Direct rapid modulation of the blue radiation was achieved by modulating the pump. In preliminary experiments a high-power laser diode was used as the pump source for the generation of blue radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wavelength, angle, and temperature tolerances of a new room-temperature noncritically phase-matched frequency mixing process involving type II frequency mixing of 1064 and 809 nm radiation in potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4) are measured. The angular and temperature bandwidths are found to be unusually wide. Device applications for upconversion of diode pumped neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser sources to the blue spectral region are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linear and nonlinear optical properties have been determined for a new organic nonlinear material 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-acetamidonitrobenzene. Room-temperature angularly tuned type I phase matching for doubling of 1.064 μm radiation was achieved with a deff =27 pm/V. Favorable crystal growth habits were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactive species SiH2 has been directly observed in dc glow discharges using the technique of frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy. The spatial distribution of SiH2 in the discharge and the relative amounts of SiH2 in silane and disilane discharges have been measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated intracavity second-harmonic generation of green 532 nm light in a quasi-cw 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser using organic nonlinear optical crystals of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-acetamidonitrobenzene (DAN) immersed in index matching fluid contained in an antireflection-coated cuvette. This technique permits crystals to be used directly from solution growth without polishing or antireflection coating them. Up to 0.56 mW peak power of 532 nm light was generated from 2.3 W of intracavity 1064 nm peak power in 100 μs pulses. We also report preliminary results on true cw intracavity harmonic generation with antireflection-coated DAN crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their life cycle, viruses can disrupt the metabolism of their hosts, causing diseases. If we want to disrupt their life cycle, it is necessary to identify their presence. For this purpose, it is possible to use several molecular-biological and bioanalytical methods. The reference selection was performed based on electronic databases (2020-2023). This review focused on electrochemical methods with high sensitivity and selectivity (53% voltammetry/amperometry, 33% impedance, and 12% other methods) which showed their great potential for detecting various viruses. Moreover, the aforementioned electrochemical methods have considerable potential to be applicable for care-point use as they are portable due to their miniaturizability and fast speed analysis (minutes to hours), and are relatively easy to interpret. A total of 2011 articles were found, of which 86 original papers were subsequently evaluated (the majority of which are focused on human pathogens, whereas articles dealing with plant pathogens are in the minority). Thirty-two species of viruses were included in the evaluation. It was found that most of the examined research studies (77%) used nanotechnological modifications. Other ones performed immunological (52%) or genetic analyses (43%) for virus detection. 5% of the reports used peptides to increase the method's sensitivity. When evaluable, 65% of the research studies had LOD values in the order of ng or nM. The vast majority (79%) of the studies represent proof of concept and possibilities with low application potential and a high need of further research experimental work.