Long-term Damage Research Articles

Effect of incision location and type of fistula on postoperative urinary retention after radical surgery for anal fistula: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundPostoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication characterized by fullness of the bladder without the ability to urinate. Its etiology in proctology surgery is multifactorial. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for POUR after radical surgery for anal fistula.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 511 patients who underwent radical surgery for anal fistula at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2022 to December 2023. Risk factors for POUR were analyzed by means of binary logistic regression analyses.ResultsPOUR occurred in 57 patients (11.2%) within 48 h post-surgery, and males were predominantly affected (84.4%). Independent risk factors included a history of urological disease (OR = 6.048; p < 0.001), incisions at position 1 (OR = 2.228; p = 0.046), high anal fistula (OR = 4.768; p < 0.001), VAS score ≥ 7 (OR = 2.805; p = 0.010), and GAD-7 score ≥ 5 (OR = 2.405; P = 0.024).ConclusionPOUR is a significant complication post-radical surgery for anal fistula, particularly among patients with urological disease, high anal fistula, and incisions at position 1. Surgeons should pay more attention to surgical methods for high anal fistulas and fistulas in the anterior rectum, and monitor postoperative bladder volume in high-risk patients. Enhanced postoperative pain and anxiety management can reduce the incidence of POUR and prevent long-term bladder damage.

Variational Analysis of a Dynamic Contact Problem with Wear and Damage Involving Viscoelastic Materials with Long-Term Memory

We investigate a mathematical problem involving dynamic interaction between a viscoelastic body with long-term memory loss and an obstruction. The contact is frictional and bilateral, with a moving rigid base, resulting in wear of the contacting surface. The problem is expressed as a coupled system, with a hyperbolic quasi-variational inequality for displacement and a parabolic variational inequality for damage. We define a variational formulation for the model and demonstrate the existence of a single weak solution to the problem. The material behaviour is explained using a viscoelastic constitutive law that includes long-term memory and damage. Elastic deformations induce material deterioration, which is depicted by a parabolic inclusion. The proof is based on classical existence.

Influence of Environmental Conditions on Bacterial Remediation of Oil-Contaminated Soil: A Case Study at Baiji Refinery

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) are a major environmental pollutant, posing serious risks to soil health and ecosystems. TPH contamination, often resulting from crude oil spills and industrial activities, significantly disrupts soil structure, reduces fertility, and hinders the growth of plants and soil-dwelling organisms. In the environment, TPH compounds persist due to their hydrophobic nature, leading to long-term ecological damage. They can infiltrate groundwater, compromising its purity and presenting health hazards to humans and wildlife. The existence of TPH in soil modifies the population of bacteria, reduces biodiversity, and impedes natural processes such as nutrient cycling. Effective bioremediation techniques, such as microbial degradation, are essential for mitigating the harmful impacts of TPH on soil and the broader environment. This study emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable remediation strategies to restore contaminated soils and protect ecological and human health. This study investigates the influence of environmental circumstances on bacteria employed for the remediation of soil polluted with crude oil, focusing on bacterial strains sourced from the Baiji refinery in Iraq. Microbial rehabilitation is an economical and environmentally sustainable method for decomposing hydrocarbons into simpler molecules, making it an effective method for soil bioremediation. The study monitored biodegradation over seven months, assessing the degradation efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Environmental factors, including temperature, moisture levels, and nutrient availability, were closely monitored to assess their impact on bacterial activity. Ideal moisture range for bacterial growth and hydrocarbon degradation is often cited as 40% to 60% of the soil's WHC. Too much water can reduce oxygen availability in the soil, inhibiting aerobic bacterial growth, while too little water can limit microbial metabolism. Temperature affects bacterial metabolism and the rate of hydrocarbon degradation. Most hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria thrive in mesophilic conditions. The ideal temperature range for TPH degradation by bacteria is generally between 25°C and 35°C. At temperatures below 15°C, microbial activity and degradation rates slow significantly, while temperatures above 40°C can inhibit bacterial growth or even kill the microbes. The results revealed that the moisture: 40%–60% of soil's water-holding capacity and temperature 25°C–35°C maintaining these conditions promotes the optimal breakdown of hydrocarbons in bioremediation efforts. The results revealed significant degradation of crude oil, with a reduction of 40 initial compounds in untreated samples to 25-35 compounds in treated samples. The biodegradation rates increased steadily over time, with a removal efficiency reaching 72.38% by the end of the experiment. Additionally, the study demonstrated that environmental conditions, particularly temperature and moisture, play a pivotal role in optimizing bacterial degradation activity. These findings underscore the potential of bacteria in bioremediation efforts and the necessity of optimal environmental conditions, such as controlled temperature, moisture content, and nutrient levels, are essential for maximizing the efficiency of crude oil degradation in contaminated soils.

POLLUTION AND ITS ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES: STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Pollution, a pervasive environmental issue, poses significant threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the various types of pollution, including air, water, soil, and chemical pollutants, and their detrimental effects on ecological systems. The study examines the pathways through which pollutants enter and accumulate in the environment, leading to disruptions in ecological balance, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of natural habitats. The article also explores the intricate connections between pollution and climate change, emphasizing how pollutants such as greenhouse gases exacerbate global warming and contribute to long-term ecological damage. In response to these challenges, the article outlines a range of strategies for mitigating environmental damage caused by pollution. These strategies include advancements in pollution control technologies, such as catalytic converters and air purification systems, as well as policy interventions aimed at reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices. The role of ecological restoration techniques, such as bioremediation and reforestation, in reversing pollution-induced damage is also discussed. Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of international cooperation and regulatory frameworks in addressing transboundary pollution issues and ensuring the effective implementation of mitigation strategies. By integrating scientific research with practical solutions, this article provides a valuable resource for environmental scientists, policymakers, and conservationists seeking to understand and mitigate the ecological consequences of pollution. The study underscores the urgency of adopting comprehensive and coordinated approaches to pollution management to protect and restore the health of our planet's ecosystems.

Comparison of hybrid deep learning models for estimation of the time-dependent scour depth downstream of river training structures

Submerged weirs, mainly positioned downstream of bridges, play a key role in safeguarding against floods and long-term scour damage. However, the structural stability of these structures could be threatened by local scour holes. This study evaluates five deep learning algorithms—Deep Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Convolutional Extreme Gradient Boosting (CXGB), convolutional extremely randomized trees regression, and Self-Attention-based Convolutional Neural Network (SA-CNN) in predicting the evolution of scour depth. Using Hyperband and Bayesian optimization, the models were fine-tuned for maximum accuracy. Additionally, this study investigates the impact of two data splitting methods, including random pointwise sampling and case-wise sampling on model performance. Results indicate that the hybrid CXGB and the SA-CNN models outperform other models in terms of accuracy of the estimation of the time-dependent scour depth with R2 = 0.997 in pointwise and R2 = 0.878 in case-wise split strategies, respectively. This not only demonstrates the effectiveness of these sophisticated algorithms in time-dependent scour estimation but also clarifies the effects of various data sampling techniques on model performance. Finally, the contribution of features in provided estimations is discussed utilizing SHapley Additive exPlanations values. Results indicated that the time (T) and the ratio of the flow velocity to critical velocity U0/Uc had the greatest effect on the model outputs, while side slopes indicated a negligible effect on model output compatible with the physics of the problem.

Transfusional hemosiderosis in childhood cancer patients and survivors.

Children treated for cancer are at risk for adverse effects of iron due to transfusions administered during prolonged marrow suppression, which may increase exposure to toxic forms of iron, extrahepatic iron accumulation, and long-term organ damage. This study aimed to characterize the severity and organ distribution of clinically significant, multisystem iron overload (IO) in an at-risk cohort of pediatric cancer patients. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of childhood cancer patients who underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to clinical concern for IO. Data regarding cancer type and treatment, transfusion history, MRI and laboratory results, and treatment for IO were collected. Severity of IO was analyzed by non-parametric tests with respect to clinical characteristics. Of the 103 patients, 98% of whom had a Cancer Intensity Treatment Rating (ITR-3) of 3 or higher, 53% (54/102) had moderate or greater hepatic siderosis, 80% (77/96) had pancreatic siderosis, 4% (3/80) had cardiac siderosis, and 45% (13/29) had pituitary siderosis and/or volume loss. Pancreatic iron was associated with both cardiac (p=.0043) and pituitary iron (p=.0101). In the 73 off-therapy patients, ferritin levels were lower (p=.0008) with higher correlation with liver iron concentration (LIC) (p=.0016) than on-therapy patients. Fifty-eight subjects were treated for IO. In this heavily treated cohort of pediatric cancer patients, more than 80% had extrahepatic iron loading, which occurs with significant exposure to toxic forms of iron related to decreased marrow activity in setting of transfusions. Further studies should examine the effects of exposure to reactive iron on long-term outcomes and potential strategies for management.

Cytoprotective Effects of Phloretin on Long-Term Post-Prandial Hyperglycemia-induced Esophageal Damage in Rats .

Esophageal damage arises from gastroesophageal reflux disease, where the contents of the stomach and duodenum flow back into the esophagus, causing an inflammatory lesion. Phloretin, a phytoconstituent classified as a flavonoid possessing both nutritional and medicinal properties, was the focus of this study. The experiment aimed to investigate the impact of phloretin on experimental esophagitis in albino rats. Rats in various groups underwent the induction of esophagitis through the administration of a Fructose solution (10%) and indomethacin (5mg/Kg). The resulting hyperglycemia from regular Fructose solution intake over 28 days was assessed. After sacrifice, the rats were evaluated for the esophagitis index. Additionally, esophageal tissues underwent further analysis for oxidative stress parameters, including TBARS, SOD, Catalase and GSH. Treatment with phloretin demonstrated a significant inhibition of the esophagitis index. Furthermore, phloretin contributed to the restoration of altered levels of oxidative stress parameters back to normal.

Emicizumab revolution in treating Hemophilia

HemophiliaA (H.A.) has beenanuncommon hereditary X-linked bleeding disorder indicated by clotting factorVIII (FVIII)deficiency, leading to impaired hemostasis. H.A. affects approximately one in 5,000male births in the U.S., often resulting in spontaneous joint bleeding, chronic pain, and an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Prophylactic treatment with FVIII replacement or the bispecific antibody emicizumab has become a crucial strategy to prevent bleeding episodes and long-term tissue damage. Emicizumab, approved by the FDA &amp; EMA in2018, mimics FVIII activity by binding to activated factorIX (FIXa) &amp; factorX (F.X.), facilitating blood clotting regardless of FVIII inhibitors. The development of emicizumab involved extensive bioengineering to optimize its safety, stability, and efficacy, leading to its successful application in clinical trials. These trials demonstrated that emicizumab significantly decreases the annualized bleeding rate in studied cases with or without inhibitors, including severe H.A. cases, with a favorable safety profile and minimal adverse events. Emicizumab's subcutaneous administration, high bioavailability, and predictable pharmacokinetics make it a practical option for H.A. prophylaxis. Despite its benefits, emicizumab can interfere with specific coagulation assays and may develop anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) in rare cases, potentially reducing its efficacy. Ongoing research and post-marketing surveillance continue to assess its long-term safety and effectiveness, making emicizumab a transformative treatment in managing hemophilia A.

Low-dose deoxynivalenol exposure triggers hepatic excessive ferritinophagy and mitophagy mitigated by hesperidin modulated O-GlcNAcylation

The level and breadth of deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in foods made with cereals have increased due to global warming. Consumption of DON-contaminated food and feed poses significant risks to human health and animal production. However, the mechanism by which prolonged exposure to low-dose DON leads to liver damage in animals and effective treatments remain unclear. Our investigation focused on the impact of varying DON exposure times on AML12 cells as well as the long-term liver damage caused by low-dose DON exposure in mice. In addition, this article investigated the unique role of hesperidin in mitigating hepatic ferroptosis induced by low-dose DON exposure. Our results imply that DON's suppression of O-GlcNAcylation exacerbated mitophagy by encouraging ferritinophagy and causing labile iron to aggregate within mitochondria. Furthermore, DON could increase NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy by De-O-GlcNAcylation FTH to trigger ferroptosis-associated liver injury in mice. Notably, hesperidin alleviated the susceptibility to ferroptosis by increasing O-GlcNAcylation levels and effectively attenuated the liver injury induced by low-dose DON exposure. This finding provides a new strategy for dealing with liver injury caused by low-dose DON exposure.

Reviewing and reconceptualising cyberbullying through a social and sustainable lens

ABSTRACT The turn of the century saw a rapid increase in the rate of cyberbullying and with it, the long-term damage it causes young people, their families, and communities. Cyberbullying is now considered a high priority policy around the world. With COVID-19 revealing and reinforcing the increasingly technosocial nature of contemporary society, there are calls of concern around the unintended consequences of the pandemic. For example, school closures or lockdowns have resulted in adolescents spending an increased amount of time online. This increase has exacerbated the problem, compounded negative outcomes, and put the safety, health and wellbeing of youth in the virtual space at further risk. Given the far-reaching mental and physical health impacts, this hidden epidemic needs our full attention. Yet, cyberbullying as a field is characterised by definitional inconsistencies and lack of theoretical foundations. Research to date has largely individualised and decontextualised cyberbullying from its social, cultural and political contexts. Therefore, this paper aims to review and reconceptualise cyberbullying using critical social theories and a sustainable development lens to demonstrate the wider and macrosocial drivers and impacts of this form of cyber-harm. This paper will present how discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, known as othering processes, are mediated through technology, alongside highlighting some broader implications of cyberbullying at a holistic and systemic level beyond individuals.

Epistemic Shortcuts and Unjust Diagnostic Practices

ABSTRACT When diagnosing psychological disorders, doctors are expected to take the mental anguish of patients and offer fast and accurate explanations. The pressure that comes with this often leaves doctors in need of epistemic shortcuts for faster diagnoses. One such epistemic shortcut is to lean on statistical data when offering a diagnosis. When used justly, doctors consider a patient’s testimony, exhibited symptoms and statistical data relating to the general features of the patient such as age, weight and sex to determine if a patient has a given disorder or illness. Practices such as this have the capacity to yield good results at a quick pace, however, such practices may also be abused. With a focus on gender statistics and psychological diagnoses, I argue that systematic practices of epistemic injustice may occur when the statistical data becomes over-valued and the epistemic privilege of patients to be able to assert their own bodily and mental experiences is ignored. This places patients at risk of misdiagnosis, long-term damage and pain, or even death. It also produces patient mistrust both of themselves and of the medical community, which can carry further repercussions for public health.

Ultrasound-assisted minimally invasive technique for tissue collection from bovine mammary glands.

The objective of this case report was to describe an ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive method for longitudinal mammary gland tissue collection from the bovine species. Biopsies were performed on 14 8-week-old calves and 113 10-week-old calves. A subset of 36 animals had repeated mammary gland biopsies through the first lactation. Mammary gland biopsies were performed using a disposable biopsy punch. The technique was also performed on multiparous cows on other independent research trials. One-hundred and thirteen animals healed from the 10-week biopsies with no complications. Of the 36 animals that received repeated biopsies, one developed mastitis due to premature suture removal and one had recurring mastitis in all quarters. Thirty-three animals underwent all biopsies during gestation. Thirty of the original 36 are currently in lactation and still undergoing repeated biopsies. The method has also been successfully replicated on multiparous cows in separate studies. The described technique is a safe, reliable method for cattle mammary gland biopsies beginning at eight weeks of age and can be utilized to obtain repeated tissue collection from individual animals. The technique is also straightforward to perform and utilizes simple tools while providing acceptable amounts of tissue for most applications, with low risk for infection and long-term tissue damage.

Expanding Prospects for Dermal Health with Bioactive Phytochemicals

The largest and most defensive organ in the human body is the skin. Skin health significantly affects the quality of life due to its crucial function in aesthetic appearance. The onset of numerous skin illnesses is frequently accompanied by chronic skin inflammation. Immune-mediated reactions defend the body against external harm and need to be quickly controlled. If unregulated, they can result in long-term cellular damage and a variety of skin diseases. Dermatological illnesses encompass a wide range of skin conditions, including but not limited to acne, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, dermatitis, skin cancer, and fungal infections. Phytochemicals are produced by plants as a defense mechanism against pathogens that have various biological activities and can be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. Through the quenching of free radicals and the suppression of nuclear factor-κB, phytochemicals shield the skin from damage. Phytochemicals also offer a safe topical delivery system for improving the skin and regenerative treatment. Some phytochemicals' direct molecular targets have been identified, and their underlying mechanisms of action are being researched. In this review, we summarise current studies on phytochemicals' impacts on dermal illnesses and their underlying mechanisms of action.

Sub-Concussive Impact Analysis in Collegiate Football Athletes

Contact athletes are at a significantly elevated risk of experiencing sub-concussive impacts—those that do not reach the threshold to cause typical concussion symptoms but may still contribute to long-term neurological damage (Johnson et al., 2014). Current literature suggests that repeated exposure to these impacts may be linked to neurodegeneration, potentially resulting in long-term cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative disorders in this group (Stern et al., 2011). Previous research has relied on helmet accelerometers to detect and quantify the magnitude of these impacts by measuring peak linear acceleration and peak rotational velocity(Champagne et al., 2019). However, numerous studies have revealed that helmet-mounted accelerometers often overestimate both the acceleration and the severity of impacts, leading to inaccuracies in data collection (Camarillo et al., 2013, Greybe et al., 2020, O’Connor et al., 2017). To overcome this limitation, we hypothesize that acceleration measurements obtained from mouthguard accelerometers will show significantly lower peak linear and rotational accelerations compared to helmet-mounted accelerometers when measuring impacts over the same duration in Queen's University Football players. Each participating player will be fitted with a custom boil-and-bite mouthguard accelerometer engineered by Prevent Biometrics, ensuring a closer coupling to the skull for enhanced measurement accuracy. The players will wear these mouthguards throughout training camp and the season, with each impact exceeding a 15-g threshold validated through video analysis. We expect that the study’s findings will include lower recorded peak linear velocity, peak rotational velocity and more frequent sub-concussive exposure due to the increased sensitivity of the device. These findings will support the current literature that mouthguard accelerometers offer an accurate representation of the forces experienced by athletes. These findings will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on sub-concussive exposure in football players. The research has the potential to identify high-risk hitting patterns and influence new protocols for concussion management. Ultimately, this could increase player safety and promote healthier athletic development across all levels of competition.

Interlayer engineered bilayered V₂O₅ NPs as saturable absorbers for infrared ultrashort pulse generation

Interlayer engineering offers a promising approach to modifying the structure of layered vanadium-based oxides, enhancing their saturable absorption effect and making them a desirable choice for developing infrared wavelength-range photonics devices. This experimental work synthesizes interlayer vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) using hydrothermal techniques to produce an excellent saturable absorber (SA). The interlayer engineering strategy enhances strong saturable absorption and self-defocusing effects in V2O5-based SA, enabling the generation of ultrashort pulses in the infrared region. Their superior nonlinear optical characteristics are demonstrated by a modulation depth of 13.9 % and saturation intensity of 0.42 GW cm−1, respectively. By utilizing a transmission coupling fiber-based V2O5-SA inside an Er-doped fiber laser cavity, a passively Q-switched (PQS) laser with a narrow pulse width of 2.78 μs and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ∼50 dB is realized for the first time. Furthermore, we explore a V2O5 NPs-SA long-term stability and high damage threshold. The results not only offer additional proof of the capable potential of interlayer V2O5 as a photo-bleaching absorber for realizing pulsed lasers in the NIR band but also cover the method for advancing their probable applications in optoelectronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF DIABETES, RISK FACTORS, ADVANCEMENTS IN DIABETES TREATMENT, AND THE EFFECT OF DIET ON QUALITY OF LIFE

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia due to abnormalities in insulin production, activity, or both. This condition leads to long-term complications, including dysfunction and damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels. Insulin resistance, particularly in skeletal muscles, adipose tissue, and the liver, plays a key role in the metabolic defects associated with diabetes. A prospective study was conducted at KIMS Hospital's General Medicine Department to assess the development of diabetic medications. Sixty patients were included, and the study summarized the development of insulin, oral drugs, and injectable non-insulin drugs for treating hypoglycemia. The pharmacological properties and side effects were briefly reviewed SGLT2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, and GPR40 agonists are promising treatments. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms of diabetes, preventative measures, early diagnosis, and developing new drugs with fewer side effects.

Problematic issues of qualification of cases of destruction or damage to forests and other objects of flora committed by the russian military in Ukraine

The article examines the peculiarities of qualifying cases of destruction or damage to forests and other flora committed by the russian military in Ukraine as war crimes, taking into account the norms of national and international law. Based on the analysis of the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1976, and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) of 8 June 1977, it was concluded that such facts are subject to qualification under Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (hereinafter – the CC) only if it is proved that they were committed in the context of and in connection with hostilities, and caused widespread, long-term and serious damage to the environment. It is stated that these features are evaluative, and therefore there is a need to initiate at the international level the development and regulatory consolidation of clear criteria for minimal damage to the environment, which will give grounds to qualify the infliction of such damage as a war crime under international humanitarian law. It is proved that if there is no connection with the conduct of hostilities, then mass destruction of flora is subject to qualification as ecocide under Article 441 of the Criminal Code, and if there is no mass destruction of such objects, then these acts may be qualified under Article 245 or Article 246 of the Criminal Code, but also only in cases where there is no connection with the conduct of hostilities. And if an individual or a group of russian military destroy or damage a plant life object, but this does not cause widespread, long-term and serious damage, but there is a contextual connection with the conduct of hostilities, such acts should also be qualified, depending on the subject and/or method of impact on plant life objects, under Article 245 of the CC or Article 246 of the CC.

Abstract P119: The Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Induced By High-Fat Diet and L-NAME in Mice Does not Induce a Renal Damage

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome, without effective therapy, characterized by diastolic dysfunction, a chronic low-grade inflammation and comorbidities such as hypertension. At the present time, few experimental models of HFpEF represent the hallmarks of patients. Recently, it has been described that the administration of a high-fat diet (HFD) in conjunction with an endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) can adequately reproduce the pathophysiological features of HFpEF. However, the effects on at renal level in HFpEF models have not been fully described. Our goal was to evaluate the kidney damage in a HFpEF model induced by HFD+L-NAME. Male C57BL/6N mice (12 weeks old, n=4-6) were treated with control diet or HFD (60% in fat calories) plus L-NAME (0.65 g/L in drinking water) for 15 weeks. We evaluated cardiac function (echocardiographic analysis), systolic blood pressure (SBP, plethysmography), cardiac and renal hypertrophy (morphometry and histology), plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL), proteinuria, and kidney immune cells infiltration (flow cytometry). All data are presented by mean±standard deviation. After 15 weeks of HFD+L-NAME we observed diastolic dysfunction (p&lt;0.001), an increased SBP (control=128.0±15.3 vs. HFD+L-NAME=155.7±9.8 mmHg; p&lt;0.01), without changes in ejection fraction and shortening fraction. In addition, we did not observe cardiac or renal hypertrophy, nor apparent histological changes in the renal structure between both groups of animals. No differences were found between groups regarding plasma creatinine, pNGAL or BUN, however, we observed that HFD+L-NAME induced proteinuria in compared to control mice (p&lt;0.05). Finally, when we evaluated the immune cells population in kidney of both groups, we observed no differences in dendritic cells, macrophages, or neutrophils. Nevertheless, the HFD+L-NAME treatment was associated to a significant rising of Ly6G + CD11b - cells population (CD45 + MHC-II - CD11c +/- F4/80 - ) compared to control mice (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, our results indicate that there is no renal inflammatory damage after 15 weeks of in HFpEF experimental model. However, to our knowledge, an uncharacterized population of Ly6G cells could be participating at this stage which could trigger a long-term renal damage . FONDECYT 1221585 (MPO), 1231604 (JJ), 1231909 (CAA), 11241074 (PA) and FONDAP 15130011(MPO, LG).

Long-term effect of corticosteroid treatment during acute COVID-19 infection on pulmonary function test results.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus 19 has led to unprecedented clinical challenges globally. Various therapeutic and pharmacologic interventions have been proposed, yet evidence of their long-term efficacy remains limited. Corticosteroids (CS) have shown efficacy in the sub-acute phase of the pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the long-term effects on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients treated with CS during acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. A retrospective study was conducted from February 2020 to March 2021. Clinical and demographic data were extracted from electronic medical records of patients attending the post-COVID outpatient clinic at the Pulmonary Institute of Soroka University Medical Center. A multivariate linear mixed effects model was employed to obtain adjusted estimates for the impact over time. The study included 405 patients, of whom 155 (38.3%) received CS treatment. Approximately 60% completed two or more follow-up visits. PFTs [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC)] returned to baseline more rapidly (0.9% and 0.85% per month, respectively) in patients treated with CS. This accelerated recovery was observed across all patients, including those with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m2 and those with known chronic lung disease. Systemic CS treatment during acute COVID-19 infection was associated with a faster recovery of PFTs during long-term follow-up, even among subgroups at higher risk of long-term pulmonary damage.

Long-term deterioration behavior of round-end hollow piers during cyclic solar radiation

Reinforced concrete (RC) hollow piers are inevitably impacted by solar radiation during their service life. However, normal investigation approaches are inadequate for characterizing the long-term degeneration of RC structures under cyclic solar radiation. In this article, a novel elastoplastic-thermodynamic numerical approach has been suggested for evaluating the long-term deterioration behavior of hollow piers during cyclic solar radiation and ambient temperature fluctuations. The findings suggest thermal effect caused by solar radiation and ambient temperature fluctuations might cause the pier surface concrete to crack. The maximum first principal strain of pier surface concrete in July is approximately 1.21 times greater than the concrete peak tensile strain. Tensile damage of pier concrete rises with cyclic times of solar radiation. Tensile damage of surface concrete rose from 0.495 to 0.566 and 0.610, as exposure time increased from 1 to 10 and 100 years. Reducing the surface short wave absorption rate, increasing concrete specific heat, and decreasing pier wall thickness is beneficial to minimizing long-term tensile damage of pier concrete.