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Gut microbial flora is the largest micro-ecosystem in the human body, it is symbiotically associated with the host; and maintains normal physiological processes in a dynamic equilibrium state. A plethora of evidence supports that gut microbial flora influences the neurotransmitters of the central nervous system. This gut flora influences cognitive function, anxiety, depression; and mood disorders as they are capable of synthesizing neurotransmitters in the nervous system. Therefore intake of probiotics influences gut microbiome; and depression. The versatility and number of gut microbial flora varies individually, so the content of common gut microbes may affect the neurotransmitters, manipulating the gut microbiota with probiotics offers a novel approach to treat brain disorders such as depression via GUT-BRAIN AXIS. The present review outlines the aspect of such alterations and how modulation of gut microbiota influences depression.

After kidney transplantation, BK polyomavirus reactivation can manifest as nephropathy in 1% to 10% of patients. PCR testing of urine and blood is commonly used to screen for BK polyomavirus nephropathy. The study aims to detect BK virus infection in kidney transplant patients to prevent tubulointerstitial nephropathy and graft loss. This retrospective study includes 26 patients who underwent kidney transplants between January 2019 and December 2023. We diagnosed BK virus infection by performing real-time PCR on blood and urine samples. BKV DNA was detected in 3 patients. Reducing immunosuppressive therapy led to negative PCR results and favorable clinical and biological outcomes in these 3 patients.

This research centered on the transition from sustainability to the post-COVID-19 era, significantly altered and transformed cities, city plans, and housing models holistically approach. Although the academic world concentrating on sustainable urban and housing design since the 1990s, the pandemic has emerged as a critical paradigm shift in context since 2019. During the COVID-19 period the Paris city 15 minutes concept, first introduced by Paris Mayor A. Hidalgo initially sparked controversy as temporary now considered permanent in Paris recently, Oxford. In the post-pandemic era, sustainability has become significant on the global agenda, shaping cities, city models, and residences through profound and radical changes. Some efforts are supported by Climate-change conferences in the world and subsequently some determinations like the Paris Agreement and UN declarations that guide more livable environments and houses. Due to COVID-19 the newly emerged conditions and compulsory changes that have taken place in the cities the social isolation, distance living, and remote working led to radical changes in the living style, environment, city plans, housing models, and typologies holistically. Although many publications have been published in the last few years about the pandemic and the Paris City 15 minutes concept, they only address the city and urban scale solutions. There is no research with a holistic approach that relates the subject from the urban scale to the architectural scale, housing, and blocks. Within the 15-minute concept, searched, developed, innovative, and sustainable urban and housing-oriented suggestions for cities in the future are presented at the end of the research. In conclusion, it is revealed that the issue of sustainability has gained importance with an increasing momentum in the world agenda, witnessed the radical changes in cities and residences, in the post-COVID-19 period in the last 2-3 years.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation may be an alternative to liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver disease. A 24-year-old patient with Hepatic Encephalopathy due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis underwent UCMSC transplantation because there were no donors available for liver transplants involving adult deceased and living individuals. The patient was given allogeneic Umbilical cord-derived MSCs, which were then cultured following accepted practices. Subsequently, the UCMSCs were infused through the intravenous route 3 times at the interval of 30 days. Serum bilirubin, globulin, and ammonia levels were improved after the infusion and the morphology of the liver and spleen had also improved.

In sports medicine, the recovery process for injuries to the musculoskeletal system has been well established, including the recovery time until the athlete can compete again to prevent relapses. These decisions support the sports physician in acting with greater confidence. However, there are no clear criteria and protocols for other systemic diseases. In the following study, we report our experience and suggest an action protocol for a professional basketball team.

Background: Sinonasal myxomas are exceptionally rare benign tumors in pediatric patients. This report presents the case of a 4-year-old boy diagnosed with a sinonasal myxoma extending into the right orbit.Case presentation: The patient’s clinical presentation included moderate-angle esotropia and ocular torticollis. Advanced imaging revealed an expansile lesion in the right posterior ethmoid cavity with orbital involvement. The differential diagnosis considered included malignancies such as rhabdomyosarcoma and lymphoma, as well as benign neoplasms and inflammatory changes. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of sinonasal myxoma. The patient underwent a wide local resection performed by a multidisciplinary team, leading to a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of sinonasal myxoma.Conclusion: This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and the importance of thorough clinical and radiologic evaluation in pediatric patients with unusual ocular symptoms. The report underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach in managing rare neoplasms such as sinonasal myxomas.

Introduction: Childhood obesity is one of the current themes of medical research, being considered not so much a multidimensional condition but primarily a real problem of worldwide interest.The aim of our randomized study was to evaluate and compare the effects of physical exercise associated with an educational program on clinical-functional status in overweight and obese children.Material and method: Participants were children hospitalized, through the emergency service, in the Pediatric Department, Craiova Municipal Clinical Hospital, between June and November 2023. 93 overweight and obese children, aged between 2 and 16 years, were evaluated (clinical, paraclinical and functional) by a multidisciplinary team and randomized into the control group (group C – 63 children) and the study group (group S – 30 children). After the resolution of the acute digestive or respiratory disease, the children in group S underwent a program to restore their functional status, based on educational measures (following the 5-2-1-0 rule) and physical exercises, for 12 weeks. Anthropometric data were measured (height, weight, body mass index); physical performance wasevaluated by gait analysis (we used the BTS G – WALK / BTS G – SENSOR 2 system, BTS Bioengineering Corp, Italy) with the determination of four parameters – the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test, the symmetry index, the walking test six minutes (6 MWT) and walking cadence or average cadence (steps/min) in both groups of children.The results were obtained by analyzing the differences in values obtained in the two moments T1 (initial) and T2 (after three months). The proportion of girls and boys was approximately equal within obesity class in each study group. Although we did not obtain statistically significant differences between the monitored parameters, between the two groups, for the two evaluation moments, the children in Group S had a clearly favorable evolution for physical performance parameters, whose average value was improved in T2. Anthropometric data did not change.Conclusion: The present study confirms the effectiveness of the multimodal (educational-kinetic) program for the physical performance of overweight/obese children. The sustained running of the program at home, with the involvement of the family and the school environment, is essential for the well-being of these children, with a favorable impact on the quality of life later.

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect 58 million people worldwide and around 700,000 individuals in Brazil. Various non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, such as transient hepatic elastography (THE) using FibroScan®. However, the reliability of the performance, by operators in the training phase is undetermined, which hinders its applicability in clinical practice. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of training an inexperienced operator to perform the examinations using FibroScan® in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Specifically, the frequency of unreliable results throughout the training was assessed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection including compensated chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent the examinations using FibroScan® between March 2014 and December 2016, performed by two researchers. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the operator's experience in the examination: the Experienced Examiner (EE) group and the Examiner in Training (ET) group, with the latter divided into two phases: phase 1, consisting of the first 100 examinations, and phase 2, comprising subsequent examinations. For the reliability analysis, parameters such as success rate (SR), interquartile range (IQR) to median (Md) ratio (IQR/Md), and reliability criteria of Castéra, et al. and Boursier, et al. were used. Results: Between March 2014 and December 2016, 771 adult HCV-infected individuals were evaluated and divided into EE group (n = 161), ET phase 1 (n = 100), and ET phase 2 (n = 158), showing similar demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. SR and IQR/Md ratios were similar among EE, ET phase 1, and ET phase 2 groups. The proportion of reliable results was comparable in all three groups, using Castéra, et al. reliability criteria (92.5%, 92.0%, and 97.5%, respectively) and Boursier, et al. criteria (96.9%, 95.0%, and 98.1%, respectively). Conclusion: A short training period (up to 100 examinations) seems to be sufficient for them to have good clinical applicability in the hands of an operator with initial experience in the method

This study assesses air pollution in Sichuan Province, China, from January 2019 to December 2023 using Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite data. The analysis reveals distinct seasonal variations in levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), and Ozone (O₃), with urban areas experiencing higher concentrations due to industrial and vehicular emissions. CO and O₃ frequently exceeded WHO guidelines, particularly in winter and summer, indicating significant health risks. While most pollutant levels remained within safety limits, the findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies to improve air quality and safeguard public health, especially in urban environments.

Just as an individual is expected to control his/her debt-to-asset ratio, so is a government expected to control its national debt as a function of the country’s wealth, measured e.g. by its gross domestic product/GDP [1]. 

Evening and weekend imaging services at outpatient radiology centers offer extended access to diagnostic imaging, potentially increasing patient satisfaction and accessibility, especially for underserved populations. This review explores the benefits and challenges associated with these after-hours operations, focusing on health equity, patient satisfaction, economic considerations, energy and cost savings, and the impact on healthcare professionals. Findings indicate that while after-hours operations can enhance patient satisfaction and access, they also pose challenges such as increased operational costs and staff fatigue. Strategies for improvement include optimizing shift schedules, leveraging technology for better scheduling and communication, and enhancing patient-centered care. Collaborative efforts among imaging centers can further improve service delivery and efficiency.

The study is based on the characterization of different AI models applied in the public furniture design analyzing the conditions of risk, materiality, and integration of variables in two AI generative modeling algorithms. As risky since they contain flood-prone areas, low vegetation coverage, and underdevelopment of infrastructure; therefore, these characterizations are tested through artificial simulation. The experimental method is applied through laboratory tests of various material components and their structuring in 3D simulators to check their resistance and risk scenarios. The case study of one of the most risky and populated areas of the informal settlement area of the Northwest of Guayaquil, such as the Coop, is analyzed. Sergio Toral is the focal point for on-site testing. It is concluded that the generation of a planned scheme of ecological furniture with different materials responds more effectively to the territory and that through artificial simulation an advantage can be obtained in terms of execution time and results, thus demonstrating that artificial intelligence is an ideal tool. To generate furniture design proposals that are more diverse, innovative, and functional with the environment, but it generates a minimum level of error for specific designs in the experimental model_01 of 0.1% to 3% and a high level in the experimental model_02 with an increasing error from 20% to 70%. As a future line of research, it is proposed to generate a simulated system of all the new informal settlements in Guayaquil and establish focal points for the implementation of new ecological furniture.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of colchicine treatment on the reproductive traits and grain yield of two species of Acha, Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua. Colchicine, a mitotic inhibitor, is known for inducing polyploidy and altering plant characteristics. The study focused on evaluating number of spikes, spike length, number of seeds per spike, and grain yield per hectare. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment groups included colchicine-treated plants at varying concentrations (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 g/dL) and control plants (untreated). The colchicine treatment involved the soaking of both Acha species in the colchicine solution for a period of 24 hours. While the control groups were soaked in distilled water. The results showed that colchicine treatment significantly affected the agronomic traits and grain yield of both Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua. Colchicine treatment led to an increase in the number of spikes (5.80 and 9.90 for D. exilis and D. iburua respectively), spike length (13.60 cm and 19.50 cm for D. exilis and D. iburua respectively), and number of seeds per spike (168.30 and 253.30 for D. exilis and D. iburua respectively), compared to the control group. Additionally, the grain yield per hectare was significantly higher (427.80gha-1 and 2126.70gha-1 for D. exilis and D. iburua respectively) in the colchicine-treated group. These findings suggest that colchicine treatment can effectively enhance the agronomic traits and grain yield of both Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua. The induced polyploidy through colchicine treatment likely contributed to the observed improvements in plant productivity. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms and to optimize the colchicine treatment protocol for Acha cultivation and improvement.

The incidence of obstetric acute renal failure remains significant in developing countries. The aim of our study is to define the risk factors involved in the occurrence of ARF during pregnancy or during the immediate postpartum period and to evaluate its evolutionary profile in terms of epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, and therapeutic management over the years in Morocco. This is a retrospective study conducted in the maternal-infant resuscitation service of the Ibn Rochd University Hospital of Casablanca, over the period from January 2020 to August 2023, including 95 patients. The current incidence in our series over this period was 22.2%. The mean age of our population was 33 ± 7.74 years [18-43 years], 67.3% of patients were in the gestational period, compared to 33.7% in the immediate postpartum period. Fourteen patients were primiparous (8.6%), 27.4% had a history of miscarriage, and 10.7% had a history of pre-eclampsia. Oligo-anuria was initially identified in 24 patients. The most frequent etiology was pre-eclampsia (56.7%), followed by hemorrhage (27%) and sepsis (19.3%). The evolution was marked by recourse to hemodialysis in 62% of cases, with a maternal mortality of 26%. The existence of heart disease, the context of pre-eclampsia, and the use of diuretics and vasoactive drugs were significantly correlated with maternal survival. No factor was correlated with secondary recovery from ARF. The development of health structures and the optimization of screening strategies are the keywords for prevention.

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) performed after induction therapy is the standard of care for newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients who qualify. Our institution has performed AHSCT for MM since 1991, and in this study, we sought to retrospectively examine the outcomes of 303 MM patients who underwent AHSCT from 1991-2021. We focused on Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in patients in addition to Landmark survival (1-year post-transplantation). We found that in elderly patients > 70 years of age there was no significant difference in OS at 12 years, with 51% for patients < 70 years of age and 50% > 70; these were the same numbers for PFS at 12 years as well. We also found that median overall survival is improving overall with each decade in our transplanted MM patients with patient survival improved to over > 80% regardless of age at 7 years, when the previous median overall survival was 6 - 6.6 years before 2001. Given our findings, supported by others, we show that survival is continually improving over time in MM AHSCT patients and that AHSCT can be performed safely with equivalent landmark and long-term PFS and OS in patients of advanced age.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) represents a significant cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patient populations with low-risk cardiovascular profiles and, therefore can be sometimes underdiagnosed. On the other hand, it often preserves the typical clinical presentation of ACS which makes coronary artery angiography (CAG) execution mandatory. A 62-year-old woman with a history of recurrent SCAD presented to the emergency department for a new episode of acute chest pain with troponin elevation. CAG revealed an ambiguous angiography image suggesting a sub-occlusive type 2 SCAD involving the distal segment of the left circumflex artery. The patient was managed conservatively due to the absence of ongoing ischemia or hemodynamic instability. At the seven-day follow-up, a computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) was performed to better assess SCAD and detect concomitant associated arteriopathies. Optimized medical therapy was prescribed at the discharge and at one-month follow-up, no recurrence of symptoms was referred.

It is quite alarming the increasing rate of antibacterial resistance all over the world considering the public health threat and the re-emergence of multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The aim of this study is Antibacterial resistance and phenotypic detection of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human and animal fecal samples in selected local government areas of Nasarawa state, Nigeria was carried out in the study. Hundred (100) samples comprising human and animal (goats, cattle, and chicken) were collected and 55 samples were multidrug resistant. A commercial biochemical kit (Eneterosystem 18R) was used for the isolation and identification of Enterobacteriaceae. Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion Method was used for antibacterial susceptibility testing of Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) method was also used for the phenotypic confirmation test of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL). The occurrence of multidrug-resistant isolates shows that Escherichia coli (100.00%) which is the highest, Proteus mirabilis (14.54%), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica (10.90%), while the occurrence of Shigella flexneri (9.09%) was the lowest. The Enterobacteriaceae isolates were more resistant to Cefuroxime, Cefexime, Amoxicillin Clavulanate, and Imipenem/Cilastatin with percentage resistance ranges from 66.6% - 100%. The occurrence of ESBL producers shows that Escherichia coli (60.00%) and Proteus mirabilis (62.5%) were high while Shigella flexneri (20.0%) had a low occurrence of ESBL. The sale and in-discriminate use of antibiotics without a prescription is an important regulatory issue in the abuse of antibiotics for both humans and animals. The Beta-Lactam and gentamycin antibiotics were not effective against the Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) isolates and most of the isolates were ESBL producers.

Many reports are showing no differences in prognosis between patients with Heart Failure (HF) with preserved and reduced ejection fraction. All-in-one analysis with a multivariable model, including clinical characteristics, blood test, comorbidity, and echocardiographic indices, on clinical outcomes in patients with HF has not been performed rarely in previous studies. We have to accept the need to be more comprehensive in the outcome analysis of patients with HF and consider the intricate interplay of multiple variables in patient outcomes.

Single coronary artery and coronary arteriovenous communication are rare congenital cardiac anomalies with potentially harmful effects, making the diagnosis essential for the appropriate management. The coexistence of these two anomalies is exceptional. We present a case illustrating the diagnostic power of Coronary CTA in depicting this unusual combination.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) is a crucial forensic technique in crime scene investigation, employing the interpretation of blood spatter patterns to reconstruct event sequences and determine spatial relationships between victims and surfaces. This study explores BPA’s application in forensic science, emphasizing its role in establishing links between crimes and culprits, as posited by Edmond Locard’s exchange principle. The research examines how bloodstain shape, size, and distribution reveal critical information about impact angles, areas of convergence, and points of origin, while also providing insights into blood flow direction, force applied, suspect positioning, and weapons used. The investigation delves into various bloodstain types, including void patterns, spikes, and satellite stains, and their formation on different surfaces. To enhance understanding of blood behaviour from various sources, the study compares blood samples from three species: human (Homo sapiens), obtained from a professional doctor from discarded piles with precaution from a government hospital in Laxmangarh, Rajasthan and goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), and chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), obtained from butcher shops in Laxmangarh, Rajasthan. The experimental setup involves dropping blood from a height of 50 centimetre’s and measuring the resulting stain dimensions. This comprehensive approach to BPA research aims to refine crime scene analysis techniques, ultimately contributing to more accurate event reconstructions and enhanced forensic investigations. The study underscores the importance of BPA in modern forensic science while acknowledging the need for its integration with other investigative methods to ensure robust and reliable crime scene interpretations.