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Abstract Introduction Limited real-world evidence exists about the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD) in patients receiving systemic or non-systemic therapies in clinical practices. ESSENTIAL AD was an observational study that aimed to fill this information gap. Methods ESSENTIAL AD enrolled (September 2021–June 2022) adult patients with physician-confirmed AD that was routinely managed with systemic and non-systemic treatment in a real-world setting from 15 countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Primary outcome variables were Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) assessed during one office visit. Results A total of 799 enrolled patients fulfilled selection criteria and were included in the study. Patients mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 36.3 (14.4) years, 457 (57.2%) were female, and the majority of patients were white (647 [81.0%]). Mean (SD) time since AD diagnosis was 17.6 (15.2) years (median 16.5; interquartile range [IQR] 3.3–26.8). The mean (SD) EASI, SCORAD, and DLQI total scores were 11.3 (11.3 [median 8.1; IQR 3.6–15.8]), 37.8 (17.9 [median 35.5; IQR 24.2–49.0]), and 10.6 (7.2 [median 10.0; IQR 5.0–15.0]), respectively. Patients receiving systemic treatment had significantly higher disease burden (mean [SD] EASI 13.3 [13.0]; median [IQR] 9.6 [3.9–17.9]) versus non-systemic treatment (mean [SD] 9.3 [8.7]; median [IQR] 6.8 [3.0–13.2]; P

This study investigated the contamination status of 21 emerging flame retardants (FRs) in soils (n = 32) and river sediments (n = 8) from an e-waste recycling (EWR) site in the northern part of Vietnam. Among analyzed FRs, higher levels of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (ND–4200 ng/g dw), 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) (ND–350 ng/g dw) and Dechlorane Plus isomers (DPs) (ND–65 ng/g dw) were found in soils near EWR workshops and open burning places. The highest concentrations of DBDPE (20 ng/g dw), BTBPE (5.7 ng/g dw) and DPs (6.7 ng/g dw) were also detected in sediments collected from the middle of the EWR site. The levels decreased concomitantly with increasing distance from the EWR site. These results indicate that these FRs were released to the surrounding environment from improper recycling activities, such as manual dismantling of devices and open burning of e-wastes. Moreover, the estimated daily intakes of those FRs via soil ingestion were approximately ten times higher for children than adults. To our knowledge, this is a first comprehensive study on characterization of soil and sediment contamination by a series of emerging FRs at an EWR site in Vietnam.

Human exposure to chemicals commonly encountered in our environment, like phthalates, is routinely assessed through urinary measurement of their metabolites. A particular attention is given to the specific population groups, such as obese, for which the dietary intake of environmental chemicals is higher. To evaluate the exposure to phthalates, nine phthalate metabolites (PMs) were analyzed in urine collected from obese individuals and a control population. Obese individuals lost weight through either bariatric surgery or a conservative weight loss program with dietary and lifestyle counseling. Urine samples were also collected from the obese individuals after 3, 6 and 12 months of weight loss. Individual daily intakes of the corresponding phthalate diesters were estimated based on the urinary PM concentrations. A high variability was recorded for the levels of each PM in both obese and control urine samples showing the exposure to high levels of PMs in specific subgroups. The most important PM metabolite as percentage contribution to the total PM levels was mono-ethyl phthalate followed by the metabolites of di-butyl phthalate and di 2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP). No differences in the PM levels and profiles between obese entering the program and controls were observed. Although paralleled by a significant decrease of their weight, an increase in the urinary PM levels after 3 to 6 months loss was seen. Constant figures for the estimated phthalates daily intake were observed over the studied period, suggesting that besides food consumption, other human exposure sources to phthalates (e.g. air, dust) might be also important. The weight loss treatment method followed by obese individuals influenced the correlations between PM levels, suggesting a change of the intake sources with time. Except for few gender differences recorded between the urinary DEHP metabolites correlations, no other differences were observed for the urinary PM levels as a function of age, body mass index or waist circumference. Linear regression analysis showed almost no significance of the relationship between measured urinary PMs and serum free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) for all obese individuals participating to the study, while for the control samples, several PMs were significantly associated with the serum TSH levels. Keywords: Intake estimation, Phthalates, Phthalate metabolites, Obesity, Urine, Weight loss

Time deformations monitoring of Drăgandam is done by physically methods (i.e. inversependulum) and topographically methods (i.e.optoelectronic). The two deformations measuringsystems, built up by these two methods, are different.The existence of different conclusions drawn fromthese deformations reveals the correlationimportance of the two deformation systems. If thereis a correlation then the deformations valuesdifferences will be provided by measuring errors; ifthe correlation is not present then the deformationsvalues differences will be provided by coarse errors.This paper is intended to identify theproblems from the presented systems, that provideswrong deformations and to exclude them.Fourier analysis [1-3] is used to generatethe correlations of deformations measured by thesetwo different methods. There are presented both timecorrelations for 1D deformations of singlemeasuring point, named (1D along H) correlation,and time correlations for vertical blocs of measuringpoints (i.e. plots) of the dam, named (2D+t)correlation.

Former works prove that phaseinput joint transform correlators have betterdetection efficiency than the amplitude ones. Thepreprocessed phase input joint transform correlatorhas the best detection efficiency. This correlatorneeds as parameters: the amplitude premodulationdomain, dfPRE , and the phase modulationdomain, dfPSLM . Computer simulations were doneon some combinations of amplitude premodulationdomains and phase modulation domains for fourkinds of input images. Two kinds of images haveblack (null) background and grey background andtwo kinds of images have two types of embeddingnoise. These simulations were done to find thecombination of the amplitude premodulation domainand phase modulation domain that has the bestdetection efficiency for all images.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) accumulate in adipose tissue and some are described to possess endocrine disrupting capacities. Therefore, it is important to evaluate their effects on key endocrine pathways in adipose tissue (AT), to further evaluate their potential role in metabolic pathologies such as obesity.THE AIM IS TWOFOLD: (i) evaluate gene expression levels of obesity marker genes, i.e. the adipokines leptin (LEP), adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) and the nuclear receptor, Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) in paired subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) AT of obese subjects (n = 50) and to relate these values to serum concentrations of LEP and ADIPOQ (ii) evaluate the association of expression levels of marker genes in AT and serum with POP concentrations in AT.Leptin and adiponectin levels in serum were positively correlated to respectively expression levels of leptin in SAT and adiponectin in VAT. Our study shows more significant correlations between gene expression of obesity marker genes and POP concentrations in VAT compared to SAT. Since VAT is more important than SAT in pathologies associated with obesity, this suggests that POPs are able to influence the association between obesity and the development of associated pathologies. Moreover, this finding reveals the importance of VAT when investigating the obesogen hypothesis. Concerning PPARγ expression in VAT, negative correlations with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations were found in non T2D patients. LEP serum concentrations correlated with several PCBs in women whereas in men no correlations were found. This strengthens the potential importance of gender differences in obesity and within the obesogen hypothesis.

As top predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean, northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Our study examined a suite of POPs in blubber (inner and outer) and blood (serum) of free-ranging northern elephant seals. For adult females (N=24), we satellite tracked and sampled the same seals before and after their approximately seven month long foraging trip. For males, we sampled different adults and sub-adults before (N=14) and after (N=15) the same foraging trip. For females, we calculated blubber burdens for all compounds. The highest POP concentrations in males and females were found for ∑DDTs and ∑PCBs. In blubber and serum, males had significantly greater concentrations than females for almost all compounds. For males and females, ∑DDT and ∑PBDEs were highly correlated in blubber and serum. While ∑PCBs were highly correlated with ∑DDTs and ∑PBDEs in blubber and serum for males, ∑PCBs showed weaker correlations with both compounds in females. As females gained mass while foraging, concentrations of nearly all POPs in inner and outer blubber significantly decreased; however, the absolute burden in blubber significantly increased, indicating ingestion of contaminants while foraging. Additionally, we identified three clusters of seal foraging behavior, based on geography, diving behavior, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, which corresponded with differences in ∑DDTs, ∑PBDEs, MeO-BDE 47, as well as the ratio of ∑DDTs to ∑PCBs, indicating the potential for behavior to heighten or mitigate contaminant exposure. The greatest concentrations of ∑DDTs and ∑PBDEs were observed in the cluster that foraged closer to the coast and had blood samples more enriched in (13)C. Bioaccumulation of POPs by elephant seals supports mesopelagic food webs as a sink for POPs and highlights elephant seals as a potential sentinel of contamination in deep ocean food webs.

Abstract This study aimed to isolate Streptomyces sp. from Moroccan terrestrial ecosystems and identify bioactive compounds through GC–MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against various pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 60193, and multi-drug resistant strains comprising Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae 19K 929, Proteus sp. 19K1313, Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572, Proteus vulgaris 16C1737, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572. Based on the results of the gene sequencing of gene 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis, the E2 isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces with the highest degree of resemblance (97.51%) to the Streptomyces africanus strain NBRC 101005 (NR_112600.1). The isolate exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with maximum efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572 indicated by an inhibition zone diameter of 22.5 ± 0.71mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.0625 mg/mL. The in vitro antioxidant potential of E2 strain was determined through screening of its ethyl acetate extract against sets of antioxidant assays. The results were indicative of E2 strain displaying strong antioxidant activity against ABTS, DPPH free radicals, and FRAP. Furthermore, there was a high significant correlation (p

This is an article in the field of mining engineering. The development of aluminum industry is subject to decisive factors such as bauxite resources. As a large aluminum industry country in the world, after nearly two decades of rapid development, domestic bauxite resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and the contradiction between ore supply is becoming increasingly prominent. How to ensure the sustainable supply of China's bauxite resource demand and ensure the sustainable and high-quality development of China's aluminum industry is an urgent problem to be solved. The author believes that in the environment of establishing and improving the economic system of green and low-carbon circular development and promoting high-quality development, in addition to continuously increasing the development and utilization of foreign bauxite resources, we can also strengthen the comprehensive utilization of domestic low-grade bauxite resources, restrict the export of primary aluminum products measures such as transnational transfer of aluminum production capacity and promoting small equity and multi-point investment in overseas aluminum industry, and improve the guarantee ability of sustainable supply of bauxite resources in China.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the antioxidant potential of the ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces coeruleofuscus SCJ strain, along with its inhibitory effects on the triple-negative human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-468). The ethyl acetate extract’s total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified, and its antioxidant activity was investigated using DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the organic extract from Streptomyces coeruleofuscus SCJ on MDA-MB-468 cancer cells was assessed via the crystal violet assay. In tandem, a thorough computational investigation was conducted to explore the pharmacokinetic properties of the identified components of the extract, utilizing the SwissADME and pKCSM web servers. Additionally, the molecular interactions between these components and Estrogen Receptor Beta, identified as a potential target, were probed through molecular docking studies. The results revealed that ethyl acetate extract of SCJ strain exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, with 39.899 ± 1.56% and 35.798 ± 0.082% scavenging activities against DPPH and ABTS, respectively, at 1 mg/mL. The extract also displayed significant ferric reducing power, with a concentration of 1.087 ± 0.026 mg ascorbic acid equivalents per mg of dry extract. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation (p

Background Patients with chronic neuropathic pain often report symptoms of depression. The aim of this work is to determine the intensity of chronic neuropathic pain and to identify the efficacy of spinal neurostimulation in a group of patients with spinal surgery and depression. Materials and Methods: The study includes 60 patients with chronic neuropathic pain after spinal surgery, who received spinal cord neurostimulation implant between October 2017 and January 2024, at the Professor Nicolae Oblu Emergency Clinical Hospital, Iasi. Prior to the spinal implant, the patient was evaluated neurologically, psychologically, imaging, electromyography and underwent appropriate treatment for chronic neuropathic pain for about 3 months. The patient self-assessed himself by completing the VAS pain scale, as well as the Roland Morris scale. Results: Analysis of the data indicated that 37 women (61.7 %) and 23 men (38.3 %) were included, with an average age of 53.87 ± 12.033 years, the majority (35 patients, 58.3 %) being from urban areas. 39 cases (65 %), mainly women (29 patients, 78.4 %) presented depressive syndrome. In 26 cases (43.3%) chronic neuropathic pain started one year after surgery. Neurosurgical interventions prior to chronic neuropathic pain were mainly herniated disc (53 cases, 88.33%). The pain onset was generally quite violent, with 55 patients (91.7%) experiencing pain intensity between 7 and 10 on the VAS scale. The situation improved statistically significantly after implantation, with patients’ VAS pain, this time, ranging from 1 to 8. Only in patients with depressive syndrome was there a statistically significant (p = 0.041*) decrease (3.21 ±2.002 versus 4.05 ± 2.012) in the average VAS pain score after implant compared to patients without depressive syndrome. Conclusion: Neurostimulation is effective long-term as an adjuvant treatment for chronic neuropathic pain in patients with depressive syndrome.

Abstract The standard method for identifying active Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) is [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG) PET/CT imaging, which is costly and exposes patients to radiation, making it impractical for population studies. These issues can be addressed with computational methods that predict [18F]-FDG uptake by BAT from CT; earlier population studies pave the way for developing such methods by showing some correlation between the Hounsfield Unit (HU) of BAT in CT and the corresponding [18F]-FDG uptake in PET. In this study, we propose training convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to predict [18F]-FDG uptake by BAT from unenhanced CT scans in the restricted regions that are likely to contain BAT. Using the Attention U-Net architecture, we perform experiments on datasets from four different cohorts, the largest study to date. We segment BAT regions using predicted [18F]-FDG uptake values, achieving 23% to 40% better accuracy than conventional CT thresholding. Additionally, BAT volumes computed from the segmentations distinguish the subjects with and without active BAT with an AUC of 0.8, compared to 0.6 for CT thresholding. These findings suggest CNNs can facilitate large-scale imaging studies more efficiently and cost-effectively using only CT.

Buckwheat flour is considered an important nutritious source of protein (high lysine content), polyphenols compounds with high antioxidant activity, dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals. Buckwheat flour in combination with other flours and used in bakery provide multiple health benefits (constipation, reducing cholesterol, obesity, reducing hypertension, cancer prevention, maintaining the optimal level of glycemic index). In the present paper, the effects of replacement of wheat white flour with whole buckwheat flour (0 to 12.5 %) on the sensory and physico-chemical properties of bread samples were investigated. The buckwheat flour had influenced positively the quality of white bread, the proportion of 10 % buckwheat flour showing better properties.

IntroductionPhenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, poses a significant threat to a range of crops worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi (Alternaria murispora and Alternaria destruens) and bacteria (Streptomyces bellus-E23-2) against adult females of P. solenopsis under laboratory (26 ± 2°C) and greenhouse conditions.MethodsLaboratory trials tested A. murispora, A. destruens (104–1010 conidia mL−1), and S. bellus E23-2 (104–1010 cfu mL−1), alone and in combination, recording mortality rates and LC50 values. Greenhouse trials tested the best lab treatments on infested potato plants, monitoring pest density and plant quality.Results and discussionIn laboratory trials, A. murispora at 1010 conidia mL−1 was the most effective, achieved 79.7% mortality (LC50 = 1.338 × 108 conidia mL−1 after 14 days). Combination treatments significantly enhanced efficacy, with A. murispora + S. bellus E23-2 (1010 conidia mL−1 + 1010 cfu mL−1) reaching 85.3% mortality. In greenhouse trials, the combination treatments notably reduced P. solenopsis densities and increased the number of infected mealybugs, with A. murispora + S. bellus E23-2 being the most effective. These treatments did not harm plant quality, unlike imidacloprid, which reduced visual quality despite its high efficacy. Alternaria murispora and S. bellus E23-2 effectively control P. solenopsis, providing a sustainable, plant-safe alternative to chemical insecticides.

Antibiotics play a crucial role in preserving and improving public health, saving millions of lives every year. However, their effectiveness is currently under threat due to the ability of bacteria to adapt and develop resistance to these treatments. Therefore, this study was carried out on two soil samples collected in two areas of Arba Aounate, Sidi Bennour province, Morocco, to identify natural antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria capable of combating multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. A primary screening revealed that of the 50 isolates, 16 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27,853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25,922, and Candida albicans ATTC 60193. A secondary screening showed that of the 16 isolates, only EIZ1 and EIZ2 isolates displayed outstanding antimicrobial and antifungal activity against 6 MDR bacteria, including Escherichia coli 19L2418, Listeria monocytogenes, Proteus sp. 19K1313, Klebsiella pneumoniae 19K 929, Proteus vulgaris 16C1737, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572. These two isolates were also characterized culturally, morphologically, physiologically, and biochemically. Afterward, the amplification of 16S rRNA revealed that isolate EIZ2 was 99.06% strongly related to the genus Streptomyces. Furthermore, this extract exhibits strong antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals and elevated ferric-reducing antioxidant power. A significant (p < 0.0001) positive correlation was observed between antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. A GC–MS analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of 10 compounds, mainly diethyl phthalate (97%) and benzeneacetic acid (94%). This research demonstrates that Streptomyces sp. strain EIZ2 represents a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. These compounds could offer considerable potential as therapeutic agents, paving the way for future developments in medical applications.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease, with various triggering factors, genetic predisposition, and an altered immune response concurring in the development of this disease. The eosinophil is a cell with an important role in various kinds of inflammatory processes. Scarce data are available regarding the role of the eosinophil in psoriasis. This study aims to address the overall relationship between eosinophil-count-derived inflammatory markers and psoriasis severity. There were 366 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria included in this retrospective study and they were divided based on the body surface area (BSA) scale in mild and moderate-to-severe psoriasis. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil count, along with eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR) and eosinophil-to-neutrophil ratio (ENR) differed significantly between the two study groups. Eosinophil count, EMR, and ENR negatively correlated with disease severity. ENR is the most reliable eosinophil-count-derived marker in assessing psoriasis severity with an AUC of 0.627 and a cut-off value of 0.03. Eosinophil-count-derived inflammatory markers’ usefulness in appreciating disease severity was assessed for the first time in the literature in this study and proved to be reliable for the eosinophil count, EMR, and ENR.

Infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has emerged as a global pandemic, with a high toll on casualties, economic impact, and human lifestyle. Despite the recent approval of various vaccines against the virus, challenges remain, including the limited availability of these vaccines, the prevalent rejection of vaccination by a large proportion of the population, and the recurrent appearance of new variants of the virus due to mutations. This context raises the alarm for scientists and clinicians to seek alternative and complementary therapies. In this context, natural products and their derivatives serve as reservoirs for potential therapeutic compounds that can be exploited in the research and production of antiviral drugs against COVID-19. Among these substances, lectin and polysaccharides isolated from fauna and flora emerge as complementary strategies for treating coronavirus infection. The review objective is to cover and analyze the specific role of polysaccharides and lectins and their synergy in the fight against this deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this purpose, a primary literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Sciences using relevant keywords like “SARS-CoV-2 Variants”; “Antiviral Strategies”; “Antiviral Polysaccharides”; “Antiviral Lectins”; and “Synergistic effect”. The results demonstrate that lectins and polysaccharides exhibit antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 via mechanisms related to binding and steric blocking, the binding of glycan-based decoys, chemical reactions, virus particle disruption strategies, and steric blocking for competitive inhibition to block SARS-CoV-2 and its variants’ entry. In addition, this review analyzes the rationale behind combining polysaccharides and lectins, emphasizing complementary mechanisms of action. By simultaneously targeting multiple stages of the viral life cycle, this dual strategy aims to comprehensively inhibit viral propagation and enhance the durability of antiviral strategies over time.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stands as a prominent non-communicable ailment, significantly impacting life expectancy. Physiopathology stands mainly upon the triangle represented by parathormone–Vitamin D–Fibroblast Growth Factor-23. Parathormone (PTH), the key hormone in mineral homeostasis, is one of the less easily modifiable parameters in CKD; however, it stands as a significant marker for assessing the risk of complications. The updated “trade-off hypothesis” reveals that levels of PTH spike out of the normal range as early as stage G2 CKD, advancing it as a possible determinant of systemic damage. The present review aims to review the effects exhibited by PTH on several organs while linking the molecular mechanisms to the observed actions in the context of CKD. From a diagnostic perspective, PTH is the most reliable and accessible biochemical marker in CKD, but its trend bears a higher significance on a patient’s prognosis rather than the absolute value. Classically, PTH acts in a dichotomous manner on bone tissue, maintaining a balance between formation and resorption. Under the uremic conditions of advanced CKD, the altered intestinal microbiota majorly tips the balance towards bone lysis. Probiotic treatment has proven reliable in animal models, but in humans, data are limited. Regarding bone status, persistently high levels of PTH determine a reduction in mineral density and a concurrent increase in fracture risk. Pharmacological manipulation of serum PTH requires appropriate patient selection and monitoring since dangerously low levels of PTH may completely inhibit bone turnover. Moreover, the altered mineral balance extends to the cardiovascular system, promoting vascular calcifications. Lastly, the involvement of PTH in the Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone axis highlights the importance of opting for the appropriate pharmacological agent should hypertension develop.