A systematic review of health promoting effects of consumption of whey-based fermented products on adults.

Introduction: Fermented whey-based products show significant potential as functional foods, owing to their rich nutritional profile and the generation of bioactive compounds during fermentation. This systematic narrative review evaluates the health effects of fermented-whey consumption based on evidence from human studies in adults.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases including, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for studies published between 1.

Nature's first electrical tool: microbial biofilms using electron transfer networks to perform aerobic respiration in an anaerobic environment.

Heterotrophic biofilms in an anaerobic chamber exhibit characteristics consistent with extracellular electron transfer (EET) networks capable of storing electrons and transporting them to atmospheric oxygen as the ultimate electron acceptor. Considering this charge storage phenomenon of biofilms, it was hypothesized that EET networks in biofilms would behave like resistor-capacitor (RC) circuits. To test this hypothesis, an experimental system equipped with 48 microbial potentiometric sensor (MPS) electrodes and four reduction/oxidation probes (ORP) was briefly disturbed by introducing a pulse of electron donor compound (acetate), and the generated potentials were monitored over several months to validate a theoretical model that was developed and described the behaviors of RC circuits.

Dimethyl Isosorbide: An Innovative Bio-Renewable Solvent for Sustainable Chromatographic Applications.

The increasing environmental concerns and regulatory restrictions on toxic conventional solvents have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. Dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), a bio-renewable solvent, has shown potential as a replacement for short-chain glycol ethers, although its use as solvent in liquid chromatography (LC) is underexplored. This study presents a physicochemical characterization of DMI with a particular focus on its application as an innovative solvent in LC analyses.

Nickel cobalt selenide as a nano-moss electrocatalyst for detection of gaseous hydrogen peroxide.

Nanoparticles composed specifically of transition metals have demonstrated significant potential not only in electrocatalysis but also in electroanalysis. In this context, this work presents a comprehensive investigation into the electrocatalytic properties of NiCoSe nanomaterials, specifically designed for hydrogen peroxide (HO) detection. The unique needle-like nano-moss morphology of NiCoSe, confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) analysis, reveals a highly organized structure with a large surface area, critical for enhanced catalytic performance.

Bias in vital signs? Machine learning models can learn patients' race or ethnicity from the values of vital signs alone.

Objectives: To investigate whether machine learning (ML) algorithms can learn racial or ethnic information from the vital signs alone.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients between 2014 and 2015 from the multicentre eICU-CRD critical care database involving 335 intensive care units in 208 US hospitals, containing 200 859 admissions. We extracted 10 763 critical care admissions of patients aged 18 and over, alive during the first 24 hours after admission, with recorded race or ethnicity as well as at least two measurements of heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and blood pressure.

Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) exhibits varying prevalence globally, markedly influenced by geographical and ethnic distinctions. This study, part of the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) initiative, aimed to assess the prevalence of HS in North Macedonia and contribute to the global epidemiology of this complex dermatological disorder.

Methods: Conducted at City General Hospital "8th September" in Skopje, North Macedonia, from March 23, 2023, to May 30, 2023, this single-center study enrolled 597 healthy adults using a validated screening questionnaire.

Age and sex related differences in clinical manifestations and severity of acute cocaine toxicity presentations to European emergency departments.

The purpose of this work is to investigate if clinical manifestations and severity associated with acute cocaine toxicity differ according to patient age and sex, analyzing presentations in the Euro-DEN Plus dataset from 2013 to 2023 in which cocaine was the only drug involved (except for ethanol). We consider the age as a continuous variable using non-linear restricted cubic spline (RCS) models, and biological sex as a binary variable, and we also analyze another 14 clinical manifestations recorded during emergency department (ED) care. As markers of severity, we recorded hospitalization, critical care (ICU) admission and in-hospital death.

Air pollution data: A dataset gathered through a crowd sensing platform.

This paper introduces an extensive dataset on air pollution monitoring, collected through a crowd sensing IoT platform. The dataset contains real-time measurements of various pollutants, including PM, PM, NO, O, and CO, enriched with meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. Additionally, it includes noise level measurements, offering insights into urban noise pollution.

The Azygos Vein as an Alternative Route for Haemodialysis Catheterisation.

Introduction: Central venous catheterisation (CVC) is essential for haemodialysis in end-stage kidney disease, but superior vena cava (SVC) stenosis or occlusion often complicates long-term access. The azygos vein, a collateral drainage pathway, has been rarely used intentionally for catheterisation.

Case Description: We report on a 68-year-old male on haemodialysis with SVC perforation and stenosis due to prolonged catheter use.

Multinational Attitudes Toward AI in Health Care and Diagnostics Among Hospital Patients.

Importance: The successful implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care depends on its acceptance by key stakeholders, particularly patients, who are the primary beneficiaries of AI-driven outcomes.

Objectives: To survey hospital patients to investigate their trust, concerns, and preferences toward the use of AI in health care and diagnostics and to assess the sociodemographic factors associated with patient attitudes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study developed and implemented an anonymous quantitative survey between February 1 and November 1, 2023, using a nonprobability sample at 74 hospitals in 43 countries.

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Coumarin-Triazole-Isatin Hybrids as Selective Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors.

A series of 21 novel coumarin-triazole-isatin hybrids was synthesized and evaluated for their potential as multitarget agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The compounds featured variations in alkyl linker length that connects coumarin and triazole and substitution at the 5-position of the isatin ring. Several derivatives showed potent butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition with selectivity over acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Understanding the Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation Spectra of Hydrogen-Tagged Protonated Betaine: Vibrational Confinement Counteracts the Hydrogen Bonding Induced OH Stretching Frequency Downshift.

Finite-temperature vibrational spectra of protonated betaine and its noncovalently bonded clusters with molecular hydrogen are modeled using Lagrangian dynamics with the atom-centered density matrix propagation (ADMP) scheme. The focus is put on the OH stretching mode, which serves as a primary indicator of the type and strength of the noncovalent intermolecular interactions. The computed anharmonic OH stretching vibrational frequency shifts in the case of protonated betaine upon tagging with H at the OH group site at 40 K are in quantitative agreement with the experimental infrared multiple photon dissociation data.

Image-guided injections for facet joint pain: evidence-based Delphi conjoined consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and European Society of Neuroradiology.

Objectives: To perform a Delphi-based consensus on published evidence on image-guided injections for facet joint pain (FJP) and provide clinical indications.

Methods: We report the results of an evidence-based Delphi consensus of 38 experts from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and the European Society of Neuroradiology, who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided injections for FJP. Experts drafted a list of statements and graded them according to the Oxford Centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence.

Tumor grade-titude: XGBoost radiomics paves the way for RCC classification.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a non-invasive XGBoost-based machine learning model using radiomic features extracted from pre-treatment CT images to differentiate grade 4 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from lower-grade tumours. A total of 102 RCC patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans were included in the analysis. Radiomic features were extracted, and a two-step feature selection methodology was applied to identify the most relevant features for classification.

Transformational leadership and teamwork as catalysts for motivation and job satisfaction among doctors: the case of Republic of North Macedonia.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the importance of motivation, job satisfaction, leadership and teamwork in health care. This study aims to explore their dynamics among medical doctors in the South-East European country of Republic of North Macedonia. Although prior research highlights the impact of leadership and teamwork on job satisfaction and motivation, comprehensive analyses within this regional medical context remain scarce.

Validation of the Zwolle Risk Score in STEMI Patients Undergoing Primary PCI: Insights from the ISCAS-STEMI COVID-19 Registry.

Background: Several scores have been developed to facilitate risk stratification and early discharge following primary angioplasty, particularly the Zwolle Risk Score (ZRS). However, validation in large-sized studies is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to validate the use of the ZRS in a contemporary global population, including patients who were treated during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and enrolled in a large intercontinental observational study.

Ultraviolet-induced Fluorescence Patterns in Psoriasis: Insights from a Large International Cohort Study.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a common skin disease displaying a broad spectrum of clinical presentations that can sometimes pose diagnostic challenges. UV-induced fluorescence dermatoscopy (UVFD) is a novel dermatoscopy mode useful as a complementary diagnostic method in inflammatory dermatoses. The understanding of red fluorescence in psoriasis, caused by protoporphyrin IX, in regard to clinical-morphological features, site-dependency, geographic variability, and bleaching with sun-exposure remains very limited.

Assessing the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Bryophytes in Relation to Surface Soil Contamination in the Veles Region, North Macedonia.

This study explores the relationship between bryophyte (mosses) diversity and environmental factors in the Veles region, North Macedonia, focusing on the spatial distribution of chemical elements in the moss and surface soil samples collected from the same locations. Eighteen moss samples were analyzed alongside surface soils. Advanced spectrometric techniques were used to identify potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their links to anthropogenic and natural sources.

Methods to assess on-farm biosecurity in Europe and beyond.

The aim of this study was to identify which biosecurity assessment methods (BAMs) are currently used in practice in animal farms. To address this, a structured questionnaire was developed to gather information such as the animal species, main objectives, type of enforcement, output generated and feedback of the result. In the context of the BETTER Cost Action project, country representatives identified in each of their countries which BAMs were used and completed an online survey.

Temporal dynamics of the biofilm-mediated open circuit potentials: Understanding the fundamentals via a combined thermodynamic and kinetic modeling approach.

This study provides in-depth insights into the thermodynamics of electrochemical processes that govern the generation and temporal modulation of open-circuit potentials in biofilms and presents the foundation and applications of open-circuit potential methods to study the bioelectrochemical behaviors of biofilms. This investigation was guided by an overarching hypothesis that models should adequately explain the open-circuit potential patterns generated by biofilms when environmental conditions change; and from this work, a generalized model of electrochemical processes endemic to the biofilm electrode was developed and validated. The proposed model accounts for open system thermodynamics and the kinetics of bioelectrochemical transformations, and the model is simplified to enable applicability to a wide range of processes that are possible within biofilms.

An isofagomine analogue with an amidine group in the 1,6-position.

The synthesis of an isofagomine analogue with an amidine group in the 1,6-position is described. Density functional theory calculations showed that this compound has a remarkably different charge distribution compared with isofagomine. This may explain why the amidine is a poor glycosidase inhibitor (IC > 50 µM against all tested enzymes) compared with isofagomine.

Models of care and associated targeted implementation strategies for cancer survivorship support in Europe: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Cancer and its treatments can lead to a wide range of side-effects that can persist long after treatments have ended. Across Europe, survivorship care is traditionally hospital-based specialist-led follow-up, leading to gaps in supportive care. Improved screening, diagnosis and treatment increase survival rates.