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Abstract Background Weight bias, whether explicit or implicit, has a detrimental effect on the physiological and psychological well-being of individuals, thereby complicating obesity management, particularly in healthcare settings. The objective of this study was to examine weight bias among Turkish dietitians. A further aim was to investigate the effect of the patient’s weight status on the dietitian’s assessment and dietetic practice. Methods This cross-sectional web-based study analyzed data from 411 Turkish dietitians. The participants completed a series of sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, and scales, including the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) and Attitudes Toward Obese Persons Scale (ATOP). After completing the scales, the dietitians were randomly assigned to a case study on lactose intolerance via an online survey platform. All patient information was identical, except for the patient's weight and photography. The objective of the case study was to evaluate how the body weight of a patient who consulted a dietitian for a reason unrelated to the body weight affected professional practices. Results A total of 66.9% of dietitians exhibited fat phobia. While men had higher FPS scores than women (p = 0.022), dietitians with a family history of obesity (p = 0.032) had lower FPS scores. BMI was negatively associated with FPS scores (β = -0.036, p = 0.026). However, dietitians with a history of feeling overweight had higher FPS scores (p = 0.024). Dietitians' assessments of cases differed according to the patient’s body weight status. Although, there were no statistically significant differences in FPS and ATOP scores between dietitians assigned to cases with higher or lower body weight (p > 0.05 for each), those assessing the case with higher body weight rated patients’ nutritional (p = 0.025) and biochemical status (p

In the field of clinical testing, the traditional focus has been on the development of large-scale analysis equipment designed to process high volumes of samples with fully automatic and high-sensitivity measurements. However, there has been a growing demand in recent years for the development of analytical reagents tailored to point-of-care testing (POCT), which does not necessitate a specific location or specialized operator. This trend is epitomized using the lateral flow assay (LFA), which became a cornerstone during the 2019 pandemic due to its simplicity, speed of delivering results—within about 10 min from minimal sample concentrations—and user-friendly design. LFAs, with their paper-based construction, combine cost-effectiveness with ease of disposal, addressing both budgetary and environmental concerns comprehensively. Despite their compact size, LFAs encapsulate a wealth of technological ingenuity, embodying years of research and development. Current research is dedicated to further evolving LFA technology, paving the way for the next generation of diagnostic devices. These advancements aim to redefine accessibility, empower individuals, and enhance responsiveness to public health challenges. The future of LFAs, now unfolding, promises even greater integration into routine health management and emergency responses, underscoring their critical role in the evolution of decentralized and patient-centric healthcare solutions. In this review, the historical development of LFA and several of the latest LFA technologies using catalytic amplification, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, heat detection, electron chemical detections, magnetoresistance, and detection of reflected electrons detection are introduced to inspire readers for future research and development.

Abstract Background In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), autoreactive B cells are thought to develop by-passing immune checkpoints and contribute to its pathogenesis. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 9 signaling have been implicated in their development and differentiation. Although some B cell subpopulations such as T-bet + double negative 2 (DN2) cells have been identified as autoreactive in the past few years, because the upregulated surface markers of those cells are not exclusive to them, it is still challenging to specifically target autoreactive B cells in SLE patients. Methods Our preliminary expression analysis revealed that phospholipase D4 (PLD4) is exclusively expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples. Monoclonal antibodies against human PLD4 were generated, and flow cytometry analyses were conducted for PBMCs from 23 healthy donors (HDs) and 40 patients with SLE. In vitro cell culture was also performed to study the conditions that induce PLD4 in B cells from HDs. Finally, recombinant antibodies were synthesized from subpopulations of PLD4 + B cells from a patient with SLE, and their antinuclear activity was measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results pDCs from both groups showed comparable frequency of surface PLD4 expression. PLD4 + B cells accounted for only a few percent of HD B cells, whereas they were significantly expanded in patients with SLE (2.1% ± 0.4% vs. 10.8% ± 1.2%, P

We designed, fabricated, and evaluated a monopole water antenna (WA) filled with pure water. A 2.4 GHz patch antenna (PA) was used for measurement comparison, and the current density distribution and 3D field strength radiation distribution and reflection coefficient of the PA had a fundamental mode and a higher-order mode at 3.5 GHz, whose polarization was 90 degrees different. The 2.4 GHz monopole WA could receive only the fundamental mode of the PA. The 3.5 GHz WA could receive the higher-order mode of the PA by rotating the WA by 90 degrees. The transmission coefficient of the 2.4 GHz WA decreased with the square of the spacing, similar to the spatial propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves. Almost the same results could be expected if planar or three-dimensional antennas were used instead of monopole electrodes.

Objectives: This study was aimed at identifying the nurse's level of stress and the coping mechanism adopted by them. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was done to assess the level of stress and the coping strategies adopted by the nurses in a secondary hospital in North East India, Nagaland. A total enumerative sampling technique was used to select 94 samples for the study. The Nursing stress scale (NSS) by Gray-Toft and Anderson 1981 was used to assess stress, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire was used. Results: Of 94 samples, 68 (72.34%) had a mild level of stress, 25 (26.59%) had a moderate level of stress, and only 1 (0.06%) had a severe level of stress. Thirty-one (32.97%) used minimal coping strategies, and 63 (67.02%) used moderate coping strategies. There was no significant association between the stress level and selected demographic variables such as age, marital status, and years of experience (all P > 0.05). A significant association was found between the stresses of nurses and qualification of nurses (χ2 = 4.10, P = 0.04). Conclusion: The study reveals that most nurses had mild levels of stress. Most nurses use moderate coping strategies to relieve their stressors at work. Thus, there is a need to emphasize the importance of using effective coping strategies for nurses to alleviate their stresses and anxiety in their workplace and even in their personal lives.

Marrubium (Lamiaceae) species are traditionally used for their expectorant and antipyretic effects. However, limited research has been conducted on the phytochemical and bioactivity of most species, except M. vulgare L. utilized in both pharmaceutical and food industries. In the present study, the phenolic profiles and marrubiin contents of eight Marrubium taxa, four of which are endemic to Türkiye, were investigated. Methanolic extracts were prepared using an ultrasonic bath, while acidic extractions were performed following the instructions outlined in the European Pharmacopoeia. The samples were also evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities. The results indicated that all Marrubium taxa contained different amounts of forsythoside B (30–183 mg/100 g dw) and verbascoside (124–287 mg/100 g dw). Elevated levels of tiliroside were detected, particularly within endemic taxa. However, some species did not contain marrubiin, the marker compound of the genus. The highest AChE and BChE inhibitory activities were observed in M. peregrinum. Verbascoside and forsythoside B are candidate molecules as marker compounds for the genus Marrubium. This study provides a detailed chemical composition of one-fifth of the world's Marrubium taxa for the first time. M. anisodon and endemic taxa show potential for the pharmaceutical industry. All Marrubium taxa had forsythoside B and verbascoside in different ranges. Tiliroside was detected in high amounts in endemic taxa. However, marrubiin, the chemotaxonomic marker of the genus wasn't found in some species. The highest AChE and BChE inhibitory activities were observed in M. peregrinum. M. anisodon and endemic taxa M. bourgaei subsp. caricum and M. rotundifolium have potential for pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the context of climate change, heatstroke is expected to become an increasingly relevant public health concern. Here, the authors develop and validate prediction models for the number of all heatstroke cases in different cities in Japan.

To prevent infection in dental implants using photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation, the fabrication of Au-added TiO2 layers on Ti substrates and their antibacterial properties were studied. Pure Au and Ti-(60, 40) mol%Au alloy films with thicknesses of 10-47 nm were sputtered onto Ti, followed by thermal oxidation in air at 873K for 1.8 ks to form TiO2 layers. The antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli, cytotoxicity, and bonding strength to Ti substrates were evaluated. The highest antibacterial activity under visible-light irradiation was obtained when the sputtered film was pure Au and its thickness was 38 nm. Compared with as-polished commercially pure Ti, the number of viable mouse osteoblast-like cells and human gingival fibroblasts on Au-added TiO2 layers increased after placement in the dark but decreased after visible-light irradiation. The best antibacterial property-bonding strength balance was achieved when the Ti-40 mol%Au sputtered film with a thickness of 42 nm was formed on Ti. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the formation of TiO2 layers with antibacterial activity under visible-light irradiation by combining Au-sputtering and thermal oxidation of Ti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study set out to determine the tensile bond strength between denture bases (produced by 3D printing technology, conventional technique, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing [CAD/CAM] milled) and silicone-based soft lining material. The consequence of thermocycling on the bonding strength was also investigated. Materials and Methods: The bonding between denture foundation materials produced through three distinct techniques (conventional, CAD/CAM milled, and 3D printed) and silicone-based soft lining material was examined. Before tensile testing, half of the samples underwent thermocycling (5–55°C, 5,000 cycles) in 37°C distilled water for 48 hours. A universal testing apparatus employed a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. The failure type was identified visually, and the maximum tensile strength was noted. The Shapiro-Wilk test and analysis of variances (P =.05) were used to assess the statistics. Results: CAD/CAM milled denture base material (1.56 ± 0.62/1.36 ± 0.16 MPa) showed higher bond strength values than the other denture bases in the tensile test conducted before and after thermocycling (P <.001). The denture base material made conventionally had the lowest bond strength (1.02 ± 0.24/0.77 ± 0.1 MPa) (P <.001). The tensile bond strength values of the conventional and 3D printing groups showed a statistically significant drop before and after thermocycling (P =.001). Regardless of thermocycling, adhesive failure was primarily seen in all groups (76.6%). Conclusion: Compared to conventionally produced denture bases, the bond strength of soft relining materials to CAD/CAM milled and 3D printed denture base is different. In denture base materials that are conventionally, CAD/CAM and 3D printed, the thermocycling method reduced bonding strength values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of clinical testing, the traditional focus has been on the development of large-scale analysis equipment designed to process high volumes of samples with fully automatic and high-sensitivity measurements. However, there has been a growing demand in recent years for the development of analytical reagents tailored to point-of-care testing (POCT), which does not necessitate a specific location or specialized operator. This trend is epitomized using the lateral flow assay (LFA), which became a cornerstone during the 2019 pandemic due to its simplicity, speed of delivering results—within about 10 min from minimal sample concentrations—and user-friendly design. LFAs, with their paper-based construction, combine cost-effectiveness with ease of disposal, addressing both budgetary and environmental concerns comprehensively. Despite their compact size, LFAs encapsulate a wealth of technological ingenuity, embodying years of research and development. Current research is dedicated to further evolving LFA technology, paving the way for the next generation of diagnostic devices. These advancements aim to redefine accessibility, empower individuals, and enhance responsiveness to public health challenges. The future of LFAs, now unfolding, promises even greater integration into routine health management and emergency responses, underscoring their critical role in the evolution of decentralized and patient-centric healthcare solutions. In this review, the historical development of LFA and several of the latest LFA technologies using catalytic amplification, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, heat detection, electron chemical detections, magnetoresistance, and detection of reflected electrons detection are introduced to inspire readers for future research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interleukin (IL)-17A possesses biological activities to promote vascular endothelial cell migration and microvessel development. Objective: To clarify which angiogenic factors are involved in IL-17A-modified angiogenesis-related functions of vascular endothelial cell migration and microtube development or not. Methods: The potential contribution of various angiogenic stimulators to in vitro angiogenic activities of IL-17A was assessed with both modified Boyden Chemotaxicell chamber assay and in vitro angiogenesis assay. Results: The addition of a neutralizing antibody (Ab) for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A to the upper and lower compartments in a modified Boyden Chemotaxicell chamber significantly attenuated human dermal microvascular endothelial cell (HMVEC) migration elicited by IL-17A. Moreover, IL-17A-induced capillary-like microvessel development in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) co-culture system was significantly impaired by a neutralizing Ab against HGF, bFGF, VEGF-A, cysteine-x-cysteine ligand 8 (CXCL8)/IL-8 or cysteine-x-cysteine (CXC) chemokine receptor (CXCR)-2. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the involvement of HGF, bFGF, VEGF-A and/or CXCL8/IL-8, to various degrees, in migration and microvessel development of vascular endothelial cells mediated by IL-17A.