Articles

Lead telluride (PbTe) is considered one of the most promising materials in thermoelectrics due to its unique thermoelectric properties. This semiconductor exhibits a high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) in certain temperature ranges, making it highly effective for converting heat energy into electricity. Additionally, PbTe is characterized by stability and low thermal conductivity, which further enhances the efficiency of thermoelectric devices. Another advantage of using PbTe is its relative affordability and high availability of raw materials. This makes it attractive for manufacturing mass thermoelectric devices such as thermoelectric modules for automobiles, industrial thermoelectric generators, heat recirculation, and others. The paper provides a review of works and an analysis of general approaches to semiconductor thermoelectric materials, including lead telluride.

Endophytic microbes i.e. bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes live inside the plant tissues without causing any harmful effect on them. Recently, research has been conducted on endophytic microbes to enhance agriculture and environmental sustainability. Endophytes stabilize a close association with their host, which leads to major changes in plant physiology. Endophytic microbes and pathogens use the same strategies for entering the host cell. This condition may create competition between the endophytes and the pathogen. Therefore, host plants develop strategies to allow the entry of specific microorganisms. Additionally, endophytic microorganisms may temper their own genetic structure to survive and avoid the host defence machinery. The plant-endophyte symbionts promote direct and indirect defences to host plants. This plays an essential role in modulating plant defences against various stresses, particularly biotic stress. In this minireview, we highlight the interaction of endophytic microbes with their host.  As well as the role of endophytic microbes in the enhancement of plant defence systems.

There are various Extra Blood Purification Therapies (EBPTs) used in the context of critical care, including but not limited to Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). These therapies aim to remove toxins, inflammatory mediators, and excess fluids from the bloodstream. While some blood purification therapies were initially developed for renal support, they have been explored for use in other medical conditions as well, including liver pathologies and sepsis. Here is a brief explanation of some therapies such as MARS (Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System), Prometheus, CPFA (Coupled Plasma Filtration Adsorption), PAP (Plasma Adsorption), and SPAD (Single-Pass Albumin Dialysis). Some of these therapies have entered clinical use, while others have faced challenges, such as negative evidence, poor purifying efficacy, or difficulties in practical use. The field of extracorporeal liver support is dynamic, with ongoing developments aimed at improving the effectiveness and practicality of these therapies. Sorbents mark the latest frontiers in blood purification to remove various toxic molecules, with specific emphasis on the modulation of bilirubin and other substances in critically ill patients suffering from liver failure. In the above-mentioned pathologies, substances may be continuously generated within the body, and Mass Balance is the only valuable tool for distinguishing between generation and removal processes. The effectiveness of sorbents in removing bilirubin and bile acids, as demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies, distinguishes them and shows their superiority over traditional liver cleansing methods, such as CPFA, PAP, SPAD, Prometheus, and MARS.

Introduction: Hypertension is the strongest independent predictor of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) identified by Computed tomography of coronary arteries (CTCA). In this study, CTCA-assessed Coronary Calcium Scoring (CCS) was studied in hypertensive subjects referred for CTCA.Methods: After excluding TAVI and graft assessment patients, the individual electronic health records of 410 consecutive patients who underwent CTCA between July and November 2020, were reviewed with a mean age of 58.7 years. Risk factors were recorded including smoking (38%), hyperlipidaemia (33%), positive family history (22%), systemic hypertension (48%), diabetes mellitus (30%), and male gender (46%). Referral criteria, ethnicity, cardiac, and past medical history were recorded. Patients were stratified into four groups according to CAD severity: absent, mild, moderate, and severe disease, as seen on CTCA. The mean CCS for each CAD category was compared between hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients. Mean CCS were further compared according to the number of coronary arteries affected and the severity of CAD in each artery. Results: Out of all CTCA reports, 200 (48.8%) CCS were interpreted in the very low-risk category, 80 (19.5%) low risk, 58 (14.1%) moderate risk, 23 (5.6%) moderately high risk and 49 (12.0%) high risk. A significant difference in mean CCS and CAD severity was observed between mild, moderate, and severe CAD (p = 0.015 and p < 0.001). Comparison of CCS between hypertensives and non-hypertensives, across the four CAD severity categories, revealed a significant difference in mean CCS in the severe CAD category (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the CCS between hypertensives with chest pain and hypertensives without chest pain. A higher number of affected coronary arteries was associated with a higher mean CCS and a significant difference in CCS was observed between hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects for the number of arteries affected. Similar results were observed when comparing mean CCS in moderate-severely affected coronary arteries.Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with a high CCS were associated with a higher incidence of severe CAD independent of the presence of chest pain. These results suggest that the incorporation of CCS in the investigation of CAD on CT angiography may pose a powerful adjunct in proposing an alternative paradigm for the assessment of patients with hypertension, in the progress of coronary artery disease. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grapples with a critical shortage of nurses, exacerbating disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. This mini-review examines the factors impacting the nursing workforce in the DRC and presents potential solutions to strengthen it. Decades-long regional conflicts have endangered the nursing workforce, resulting in an imbalanced distribution that disproportionately favors urban areas over rural regions. Inadequate healthcare funding, compounded by mismanagement, has led to resource scarcity and inequitable distribution, further hampering nursing efforts. Additionally, stagnant policy reforms and ineffective advocacy have hindered improvements in nurse employment, wages, education, and working conditions. Infrastructure deficiencies and medical supply shortages have also contributed to reduced incentives for nursing professionals. Therefore, we undertook a mini-review aimed at offering a succinct and targeted overview of nursing care in the DRC. This involved analyzing available literature and data concerning the nursing workforce with a particular focus on the DRC. We believe that addressing these interlinked challenges necessitates comprehensive strategies that prioritize establishing regional stability, responsibly allocating and increasing healthcare funding, incentivizing nurse recruitment and retention through policy adjustments, enhancing healthcare infrastructure and nursing education, and fostering both local and global collaboration. Investing in nursing is paramount for transforming healthcare delivery in the DRC, particularly considering nurses' pivotal roles in delivering preventive, therapeutic, and palliative care services. Strengthening nursing capacity and addressing systemic challenges are essential steps toward mitigating healthcare disparities and enhancing population health, aligning with the objectives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by infection, poses a significant healthcare challenge with high mortality rates. The interplay between genetics and the immune response in sepsis, particularly in surgical and trauma patients, is complex and critical. Genetic polymorphisms, particularly in cytokine genes like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8, have been extensively studied for their influence on sepsis susceptibility, severity, and outcomes. Polymorphisms can alter gene expression and cytokine production, leading to variations in immune responses. Studies have also explored polymorphisms concerning sepsis in genes encoding CD86, TLR4, and SIRT6. This review highlights the association between genetic polymorphisms and inflammatory responses, focusing on their impact on sepsis outcomes in surgical and trauma patients. Genetic variations play a significant role in sepsis risk, severity, and prognosis, with potential implications for personalized therapeutic strategies. Biomarkers such as cytokine gene polymorphisms may aid in predicting sepsis risk and guiding treatment decisions. Complementary therapies like acupuncture and novel biomarkers like microvesicles carrying mitochondrial content provide additional avenues for personalized sepsis management. Furthermore, multiomics approaches offer promise in predicting postoperative outcomes in surgical patients. Understanding the genetic basis of sepsis is essential for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes. Combining genomics, bioinformatics, and clinical expertise, precision medicine can revolutionize sepsis management by tailoring interventions to individual genetic profiles, thus enhancing patient care and outcomes.

Background: The age-dependent sporadic form of PD is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the Substantia Nigra (SN), gliosis, and vascular changes. Vascular changes may contribute to the onset of the disease and exacerbate the neurodegenerative process, as some vascular changes occur before the onset of neuronal loss. To demonstrate the anti-neuroinflammatory efficacy of a new compound, a water-soluble form of dihydroquercetin (DHQ-WF), we studied the structural changes of microcirculatory vasculature, astroglial GFAP, and vascular endothelial growth factor –A (VEGF-A) mRNA expression in the SN of young and old rats after unilateral nigral treatment by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and oral administration of DHQ-WF.Materials and methods: The experiments were performed on 18 young (8 weeks - 10 weeks old; 250 g - 320 g) and 18 old (18 months - 19 months old; 390 g - 450 g) male Vistar rats. Young and adult rats from the experimental groups were stereotactically injected with 2 μL LPS solution (LPS from Escherichia coli; 0,01 μL/mL) into one side of the SN. Control young and old rats were similarly injected with 2 μL sterile saline. Half of the animals in both the control and experimental groups (6 animals in each group) received a 2 ml solution containing DHQ-WF at a concentration of 3 mg/ml orally every day. After 8 weeks, brains were harvested and serial cryostat sections were prepared for histochemical (FITC-labeled tomato lectin), immunohistochemical (anti-GFAP Antibody, Cy3 Conjugate) staining, and real-time PCR (mRNA VEGF-A).Results: Eight weeks after LPS injection into the SN, a significant excess of areas occupied by cell bodies and processes of astroglial cells, the density of microcirculatory vessels, and mRNA VEGF-A expression was observed in old animals compared to control old animals and young LPS-treated rats.  Oral administration of DHQ-WF to LPS-treated rats resulted in a significant reduction of these parameters in old animals.Conclusion: Injection of LPS into rat SN induces neuroinflammation and vascular angiogenesis, maximally expressed in old animals.  Administration of DHQ-WF for 8 weeks significantly reduces these LPS-induced changes. DHQ-WF may be an effective treatment for reducing the effects of neuroinflammation in the aging brain.

Over the past 60 years, surgery has undergone a major transformation. Very possibly, this has been superior to those that occurred in all previous centuries. In this period of time, this specialty has reached all its splendor with a more integrated and complex exponential growth. Oncological surgery is a faithful exponent of this.

Cervical cancer is diagnosed annually in thousands of women around the world, and thousands die from it. The main objectives of this systematic review were to understand and characterize cervical cancer and understand what impacts it has on the lives of diagnosed women and survivors. To this end, a systematic review based on the PRISMA principles was carried out. The search was carried out through the Online Knowledge Library (B-on), obtaining 1179 articles, which were verified, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 18 articles and 20 additional references included in this review. The results demonstrated that cervical cancer (1) is preventable and can be treated with good results if identified early; (2) it is caused by Human Papilloma Virus infection; (3) it can be treated using different techniques; and (4) it has significant impacts on women's quality of life.

Neurologic diseases are recognized to have multifactorial origins well beyond mere genetic predisposition. Nutritional burdens have been identified to contribute to neurodegeneration. Healthy diets are becoming increasingly appreciated to potentially play key roles in both the developing and developed world of reducing incidences of neurologic diseases, while unhealthy diets are acknowledged to be contributing to their rise.