Key factors underpinning neuroimmune-metabolic-oxidative (NIMETOX) major depression in outpatients: paraoxonase 1 activity, reverse cholesterol transport, increased atherogenicity, protein oxidation, and differently expressed cytokine networks.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with neuro-immune - metabolic - oxidative (NIMETOX) pathways.

Aims: To examine the connections among NIMETOX pathways in outpatient MDD (OMDD) with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS); and to determine the prevalence of NIMETOX aberrations in a cohort of OMDD patients.

Methods: We included 67 healthy controls and 66 OMDD patients and we assessed various NIMETOX pathways.

Evidence for Similar Collectivity of High Transverse-Momentum Particles in p-Pb and Pb-Pb Collisions.

Charged hadron elliptic anisotropies (v_{2}) are presented over a wide transverse momentum (p_{T}) range for proton-lead (pPb) and lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of 8.16 and 5.02 TeV, respectively.

Thermal microclimate assessment in dairy cow milking parlors: Seasonal variations in temperature-humidity index and implications for heat stress.

Background And Aim: Rising global temperatures and increasing humidity levels are intensifying the risk of heat stress (HS) in high-yielding dairy cattle. The temperature-humidity index (THI) is a standard metric for evaluating thermal stress in livestock. This study aimed to assess seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature, relative humidity, and THI within a milking parlor and determine their compliance with established thermal comfort thresholds for dairy cows.

Unveiling the Balkans' advances: biotechnology of woody plants in the early 21 century.

The Balkan Peninsula is a European biodiversity hotspot, home to 6,500 native vascular plant species, many of which are endemic. The region has diverse range of climates and complex topography, creating conditions that suit many woody ornamental, fruit, and forest species. Nevertheless, climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, plant diseases, and agricultural practices threaten natural ecosystems and cultivated species.

Visible Light Switching of -Functionalized Azo Phthalimides with Tunable -Isomer Stability.

Herein, a novel class of azo photoswitches based on a phthalimide with an azo bond to the imide ring is presented, exhibiting reversible isomerization under a broad range of visible light irradiation from 405 to 530 nm. Structural variations with heteroaryl or aryl segments attached to the 3-phthalylazo unit exhibit distinct spectral features, such as red-shifted absorption, well-separated absorption bands, and tunable stability of the metastable isomer, ranging from seconds to days. They differ drastically in the half-life of -isomer stability, ranging from several seconds (-methylpyrrole) to days (-methylimidazole).

Cost-benefit analysis of screening programme for diabetic retinopathy in Bulgaria.

Aims: Late-diagnosed diabetic retinopathy (DR) is difficult and expensive to treat. Screening programmes can identify the disease early and reduce the costs of its future treatment. This study aims to analyse the cost-benefit of screening programmes for DR.

The effect of clinical ERCP experience using a virtual reality simulator and salivary biochemical stress markers.

Background And Aims: Whereas the value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) training in clinical practice is well known, the impact on stress markers and performance in a virtual reality (VR) simulator is not. The primary aim of the study was to see how the number of clinical ERCPs performed during a 1-year period influenced VR-ERCP performance. A secondary aim was to compare differences in salivary stress marker levels, between the first and final simulator attempts.

The Risk of Intra-Familial Stigmatisation in Family-Based Treatment of Childhood Obesity. A Position Statement of the European Childhood Obesity Group.

Intra-familial weight stigma is a subtle yet impactful dynamic that may influence the outcomes of family-based interventions aimed at treating childhood obesity. While much attention has been paid to societal and peer-related weight stigma, less focus has been placed on how stigma manifests within families. This position statement highlights the importance of recognising that such stigma can unintentionally arise in the home.

Enhancing healthspan with Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): a comprehensive review of its multifaceted geroprotective benefits.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine, has gained significant scientific recognition for its potential to promote healthy aging. Traditionally used as a Rasayana or rejuvenator, this potent adaptogen helps the body manage stress and enhance vitality. This review synthesises extensive evidence for its multifaceted anti-aging capabilities, which target key hallmarks of the aging process.

RETRACTED: Toncheva et al. Pathogenic Variants Associated with Rare Monogenic Diseases Established in Ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan Genome-Wide Data. 2023, , 727.

The journal retracts the article "Pathogenic Variants Associated with Rare Monogenic Diseases Established in Ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan Genome-Wide Data" [...

The CONDUCT-AF trial: Rationale and design of a prospective, randomized, multicentre study comparing conduction system and biventricular pacing in patients undergoing atrioventricular node ablation for heart failure with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: There is a lack of data from randomized clinical trials comparing treatment outcomes between conduction system pacing (CSP) modalities and biventricular pacing (BVP) in symptomatic patients with refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) scheduled for atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA). The CONDUCT-AF investigates whether CSP is non-inferior to BVP in improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with symptomatic AF undergoing AVNA.

Methods: This study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, multicentre clinical trial conducted across 10 European centres, enrolling 82 patients with symptomatic AF, HF with reduced LVEF, and narrow QRS.

European Bioanalysis Forum recommendation on embracing a context-of-use-driven scientific validation for chromatographic assays in the light of ICH M10.

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use M10 guideline provides a global framework for bioanalytical method validation in studies intended for regulatory submission. While its structure ensures consistency and data reliability, the guideline also acknowledges that not all studies require the same level of validation. This paper examines where full compliance is essential and where scientific judgment allows for leaner, context-driven validation, such as in early-stage development, for additional matrices, metabolites, nonstandard biological matrices or studies intended for internal decision-making.

Validation of Coronary Wire for the Acquisition of Intracoronary Electrocardiogram in Swine.

Background: We report the first in-literature animal experiment to validate the intracoronary ECG signal acquired from a coronary wire compared with the direct signal from an epicardial electrode.

Methods: An animal model study was performed in a 40 kg pig. Acute myocardial ischemia was induced by intracoronary balloon inflation for 60 s.

European survey on metabolic and cardiovascular risk in Cushing syndrome.

Background: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with increased metabolic and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and morbidities. Evidence-based guidelines for the management of these issues in active or remitted CS are not available, so best practice is derived from guidelines developed for the general population. We aimed to evaluate the awareness and practice variation for CV comorbidities of CS across Reference Centres (RCs) of the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN).

Conformational and rheological behavior of kappa carrageenan in glycerol: Effects of sodium salts and preparation temperature.

Kappa carrageenan (KC), a sulfated polysaccharide derived from red seaweed, exhibits distinct gelation properties that are influenced by ionic strength and thermal conditions. While its behavior in aqueous media is well-established, understanding KC's gelation mechanisms in non-aqueous solvents (like glycerol) remains limited. This study investigates the conformational and rheological properties of kappa carrageenan in glycerol, focusing on the effects of sodium salts (NaCl, NaHPO, NaPO) at varying concentrations and preparation temperatures (60 °C and 80 °C).

Lateralized brain connectivity in auditory verbal hallucinations: fMRI insights into the superior and middle temporal gyri.

Introduction: Auditory verbal hallucinations are one of the most prevalent positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia. The superior and middle temporal gyri have been demonstrated to play a role in auditory and language perception. Dysfunction in the temporal cortex has been associated with the development of psychosis.

A Randomized, Observer-Blinded, Active-Controlled, Phase IIIb Study to Compare IV/Oral Delafloxacin Fixed-Dose Monotherapy With Best Available Treatments in a Microbiologically Enriched Population With Surgical Site Infections: The DRESS Study.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common skin and skin structure infections and are mostly polymicrobial, requiring hospitalization and broad-spectrum antibiotics. This clinical trial evaluated the noninferiority of delafloxacin vs best available therapy (BAT) for the treatment of superficial or deep incisional SSI following a cardiothoracic/related leg or abdominal surgical procedure.

Methods: In this randomized, observer-blinded, active-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, phase IIIb study, patients with SSI were randomized 1:1 to receive delafloxacin 300 mg intravenous (IV)/450 mg oral (OS) or BAT IV/OS (vancomycin or linezolid for cardiothoracic SSI, piperacillin/tazobactam or tigecycline for abdominal SSI).

Structural Flexibility of Hydrated RHO Nanosized Zeolite Synthesized via Green Synthesis Approach at Subfreezing Conditions.

Understanding the structural flexibility of zeolites under cryogenic conditions is essential for optimizing gas separation and storage performance. This study investigates nanosized RHO zeolite synthesized via green synthesis (without organic structural directing agent) upon hydration and cooling to low temperatures (<273 K) using in situ XRPD, in situ FTIR spectroscopy, and DFT simulations. Template-free synthesis is performed at low temperature (363 K), avoiding calcination or postsynthetic activation, yielding highly crystalline nanosized zeolite with minimal energy consumption and no toxic by-products.

Balloon-Expandable Myval Octacor Versus Self-Expanding Evolut PRO/PRO+ and Acurate Neo2: Short-Term Outcomes From Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Background: With transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) now extending to lower-risk and younger patients, optimizing procedural and hemodynamic outcomes is critical. The Myval Octacor, a new balloon-expandable valve (BEV), was developed to improve outcomes by reducing paravalvular regurgitation (PVL), minimizing pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates, and enhancing hemodynamic performance. However, limited data are available comparing Myval Octacor to contemporary self-expanding supra-annular valves (SEVs) Evolut PRO/PRO+ and Acurate Neo2.

Current Situation of Solid Organ Transplantation from HIV-Positive Donors to HIV-Positive Recipients in Europe. The Spanish Perspective.

Objectives: There is limited information on the use of organs from HIV-positive donors (HIV D+) for HIV-positive recipients (HIV R+) in Europe. In some countries the use of HIV D+ organs is prohibited by law. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Spanish kidney and liver transplant (KT/LT) teams towards HIV D+/R+ KT/LT through a nationwide survey, and to evaluate the current situation across Europe regarding legislation and reported cases.

Heavy metals toxicity in plants: understanding mechanisms and developing coping strategies for remediation: a review.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination is an increasing environmental and agricultural concern due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative nature of metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). These pollutants are primarily introduced through industrial effluents, mining, and agrochemicals, negatively impacting soil health, crop productivity, and food safety, ultimately posing serious risks to both ecosystems and human health. Conventional remediation methods can be costly, labor-intensive, and environmentally disruptive.