Low Number Research Articles

Correlation of serum vitamin D and IL-8 to stages of periodontitis: a case-control analysis.

The current literature lacks the correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and interleukin-8 (IL-8) to the stages of periodontitis. The present research objectives are to evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8 in periodontitis participants and healthy controls and to measure their correlation with the stages of periodontitis. The current case-control study was conducted on patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. After obtaining a questionnaire from the participants, the following clinical parameters were measured; periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and tooth count. The serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8 were measured using ELISA kits. Then, we measured the correlation of the stages of periodontitis with the serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8. Ninety-eight participants; 52 with periodontitis and 46 healthy controls were included. The patients with periodontitis showed a significantly lower level of vitamin D, higher PPD, CAL, BOP, and lower number of teeth than the controls. In addition, serum vitamin D significantly correlated with the stages of periodontitis. Serum IL-8 showed no significant difference between the study and control groups while it does not significantly correlate with the stages of periodontitis. The current study's findings suggest a potential association between serum level of vitamin D with severity of periodontitis which necessitates screening vitamin D status in patients with periodontitis and investigating the possibility of vitamin D supplementation in decreasing the progression of periodontitis.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS DURING DELTA AND OMICRON WAVES OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN EXPERIENCE FROM RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH INDIA

Objective: In this study, an effort has been made to find out possible clinical parameters that may have played role in differences in the disease outcome in the delta and omicron waves. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted at a rural tertiary care center of North India. We recorded sociodemographic and clinicopathological parameters of the admitted patients during delta and omicron waves in India. The outcome measures were demographic, baseline clinical, disease severity, ICU admissions and hospital mortality. Results: In our study, 1731 patients were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, out of which 16 patients were admitted during the omicron wave and 878 admissions during the delta wave. In delta wave, the ratio of male to female was 1:2 and in omicron wave, it was 1:3. There were 271 deaths in delta wave and 2 deaths in omicron wave. A significantly lower number of admissions were noted during omicron wave (p<0.001). Patients without previous history of COVID-19 and unvaccinated status had significantly higher admission (p<0.001). The admission rate among comorbid patients was also significantly low in the omicron wave (p<0.001). 251 patients had one or more comorbidities and were mostly in severe (13.4%) or critical (88.4%) conditions in delta wave while among 13 comorbid patients in omicron wave, 7.7% were in severe and 15.4% were in critical condition. Conclusion: The hospital admissions were very low in comparison to delta wave. During delta wave, the degree of severity and number of deaths were also very high.

Penile constriction devices: a randomized survey study to compare preferences between two medical-grade devices.

Penile constriction devices offer a noninvasive approach to enhance the sexual experience and as the variety of penile constriction devices increases, it is crucial to assess patient preferences and device effectiveness to provide insights into their clinical utility. We aimed to compare the preferences for and effectiveness of two medical-grade penile constriction devices: Eddie by Giddy and FirmTech. Between May and July of 2023, males were recruited via social media and prospectively enrolled into an Institutional Review Board-approved, randomized, questionnaire-based study. Upon enrollment, the participants completed the Sexual Health Inventory for Men and Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males questionnaires. Participants were randomized to which device they received first. They used the device twice either during masturbation or intercourse in a two-week timeframe. Once utilized, the participants completed a 17-question, Likert scale, device satisfaction questionnaire, in which lower numbers indicated positive responses. The process was repeated with the second device. T-test and Chi-Square Analysis were run for statistical analysis. The primary outcomes of this study were patient-reported device satisfaction and efficacy and the secondary outcome was the device preference for patients with and without erectile dysfunction. Fifty men were enrolled and 49 completed the study. The average age was 40years old. Of the participants, 80% recommend the FirmTech device compared to 53% who recommend the Eddie by Giddy device (P= 0.0026). The FirmTech device was overall easier to put on both flaccid and erect (P= 0.0308 and 0.0002), was more comfortable, had better stretch, and was easier to adjust (P= 0.087, <0.0001, and 0.0119, respectively). The FirmTech device had a better overall impression amongst the participants (P= 0.0249). Eddie by Giddy was felt to improve erectile firmness more in those with ED than in those without (P = 0.0178). This study adds to the current literature on penile constriction devices that better guide providers as they counsel patients on these devices to enhance sexual function. The strength of this study is that this is a prospective randomized crossover study. The limitations of this study are that this is a single center study based on patient reported outcomes. The FirmTech device performed better than the Eddie by Giddy with respect to overall impression of the device, likelihood of using the device in the future, and recommending the device to a friend, while the Eddie by Giddy device performed better at improving erectile firmness. NCT05853822.

Effects of dietary quercetin on retrieved mouse oocytes and in vitro fertilization outcomes.

To investigate the effects of dietary quercetin on the retrieved mouse oocytes and IVF outcomes. Female mice were divided into two groups. Mice were given 0.2 mL water without (control group) or with quercetin 30 mg/kg (quercetin group) orally via gavage, once a day for 21 consecutive days. After that female mice were superovulated for in vitro fertilization. We observed the effect of dietary quercetin on the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte degeneration rate, fertilization rate, blastocyst formation rate, and blastocyst cell numbers. There was no difference in the number of retrieved oocytes per mouse (27.3±6.7 and 27.2±5.8), oocyte fragmentation rate (28.4% and 25.0%), fertilization rate (47.4% and 50.6%) and blastocyst formation rate (34.8% and 34.7%) in the quercetin group compared to the control group. The proportion of hatching and hatched blastocyst was significantly lower in the quercetin group (17.2% and 27.8%, p=0.004) and significantly lower numbers of cells in TE (47.4±15.3 and 57.2±17.7) and total cells (66.2±18.5 and 77.5±20.7) compared to the control group (p=0.001). Dietary quercetin supplementation has a detrimental effect on mouse embryo quality. Moreover, it did not show any beneficial effect on the ovary in both quantity and quality. This finding raises awareness of the general use of dietary quercetin supplements in infertile females.

Transfection of 12/15-lipoxygenase effectively alleviates inflammatory responses during experimental acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis (AP), the initially triggered inflammatory process in the pancreas, can be life-threatening. It has been reported that 15-lipoxygenase may promote the removal of damaged intracellular components, maintain intracellular homeostasis, and promote apoptosis by upregulating the activity of caspases. Despite an increased understanding of the lipoxygenase pathway in inflammation and immune diseases, the role of the Alox15 gene product in modulating the inflammatory changes during AP is not well defined. AIM To investigate the effect of Alox15 expression in cerulein-induced AP in rats. METHODS Model rats were transfected with Alox15 by injecting a recombinant lentivirus vector encoding Alox15 into the left gastric artery before inducing AP. The expression of Alox15 was then assessed at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS Our in vivo results showed that serum amylase activity and pancreatic tissue water content were significantly reduced in Alox15 -transfected rats. Further, the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, as well as the protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B in pancreatic tissue were reduced. Additionally, we observed an upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 that implies an induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cells. The transfection of Alox15 resulted in a lower number of autophagic vacuoles in AP. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate a regulatory role of Alox15 in apoptosis and autophagy, making it a potential therapeutic target for AP.

HPB SO74 - Autologous Islet Transplantation combined with Pancreatic resection in Adults and Children

Abstract Background After extended pancreatic resections there is a risk of developing difficult to manage diabetes. The current NHS commissioning criteria only allows autologous islet isolation and transplantation in adult patients having total pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis. We present our experience of pancreatic resection combined with autologous islet transplantation (AIT) in both adults and children. Method Patients were assessed for AIT electively or as an emergency if an extended resection was required for trauma. Patients with chronic pancreatitis were assessed for Total Pancreatectomy (TP) by a multi-disciplinary team which included gastroenterologists, diabetes physicians, pain specialists, surgeons and psychiatrists. A similar approach was used in children. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively with a MMT to assess any borderline diabetes. Results 22 (20 adults and 2 children, age range 9-64 yrs) patients underwent pancreas resection with AIT. Two patients had islet isolated remotely (Edinburgh and Kings College). Five received AIT for trauma (one total and four subtotal). Other indications included Chronic Pancreatitis (n=17) one of which had Familial Hyocalciuric Hypercalcaemia. Ten had gene mutations PRSS1 (n=6) or SPINK1 (n=4). Mean number of islets transplanted were 1534 IEQ/kg ranging in total from &amp;lt;5000- 443,000 IEQ. Patients with mutations received lower numbers of islets. Five remained insulin independent, overall 78% had measurable C peptide. 4/17 Chronic pancreatitis still have abdominal pain. Conclusion Pancreas resection combined with AIT is a viable treatment for both adults and children, even in those presenting with severe pancreatic trauma. Achieving good islet yields in patients with gene mutation remains a problem and is related to the extent of disease and duration of symptoms. Timing of TPIAT in these patients is critical if good outcomes are to be achieved.

Evaluating the relationship between visual privacy and work-process interactions in open-plan offices: a space syntax approach

PurposePrevious studies on privacy in offices have primarily focused on the characteristics of generic visibility, examining the entire visible space from each workspace in 360 degrees. Nevertheless, employees in their workspaces investigate the visual targets within their binocular vision at 120 degrees. Therefore, by adopting the affordances perspective, this study aims to examine deeply generic and targeted visibility in open-plan offices and their relationship to interactions.Design/methodology/approachThe study consisted of two phases utilizing space syntax techniques. Initially, work-process interactions of the employees were determined through the survey. The survey data underwent spatial analysis to calculate the number of work-process interactions. Subsequently, DepthMapX software was used for visibility analyses. A new Python script for DepthMapX was developed to analyse the targeted visibility ratio. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between the number of work-process interactions with generic and targeted visibility parameters.FindingsThe findings revealed that a higher number of visible employees within the 120-degree and 360-degree fields of vision corresponded to a lower number of work-process interactions in open-plan offices. Furthermore, the study establishes a direct link between visual privacy and interaction, indicating that increased visibility leads to decreased visual privacy.Originality/valueThe current research concluded that the relationship between visual privacy and interaction in open-plan offices differs from the previous studies, as employees with low visual privacy and high visibility tend to engage in fewer interactions. Overall, this study highlights that increased employee visibility is not directly associated with increased interaction in open-plan offices unless adequate visual privacy is provided.

Insights into spatio-temporal dynamics during shock–droplet flame interaction

This study comprehensively investigates the response of a combusting droplet during its interaction with a high-speed transient flow imposed by a coaxially propagating blast wave. The blast wave is generated using a specially designed miniature shock generator that produces blast waves using the wire-explosion technique, facilitating a wide range of Mach numbers (1.03 &lt; Ms &lt; 1.8). The experiments are performed in two configurations: open field and focused blast wave. The charging voltage and the configuration determine the Mach number (Ms) and flow characteristics. The flame is found to exhibit two major response patterns: partial extinction followed by reignition and full extinction. Increasing the Mach number (Ms &gt; 1.1) makes the droplet flame more vulnerable to extinction. Additionally, the flame exhibits stretching and shedding, followed by reignition at lower Mach numbers (Ms &lt; 1.06). In all cases, the flame base lifts off in response to the imposed flow, and the advection of the flame base interacting with the flame tip results in flame extinction. The entire interaction occurs in two stages: (i) interaction with the blast wave and the decaying velocity profile associated with it, and (ii) interaction with the induced flow behind the blast wave as a result of the entrainment (delayed response). Alongside the flame's response, the droplet also interacts with the flow imposed by the blast wave, exhibiting different response modes including pure deformation, Rayleigh–Taylor piercing bag breakup and shear-induced stripping.

Publication output of RANZCR radiation oncologists in 2022-23.

The purpose of this work was to determine the current publication output of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists radiation oncologists (ROs) to serve as a baseline contributing to future assessment of the effectiveness of the College's Research Action Plan 2024-26. An online survey was sent to all ROs in the College's member database in March-April 2024 requesting a list of publications between 2022 and 2023. A PubMed search was performed to cross-check the self-reported publications. Given the low response rate (8%), an additional PubMed search was performed for the non-responders. The primary outcomes were publication proportions and rates, and the secondary outcomes were demographic correlates (gender, country, seniority). There were 536 eligible ROs (56% males; 80% practicing in Australia; median 12.4 years post-Fellowship) with 1,012 unique publications identified. The proportions of ROs with at least one publication in any-, first- and last-author positions averaged 45%, 15% and 17% per year, respectively. On multivariable analysis, there were statistically significant differences in publications by seniority (higher proportions of last-authorships but lower proportions of first-authorships, for those ≥5 years post-Fellowship) and by country (lower any-, and last-authorships for New Zealand [NZ] than Australia or Singapore). The mean numbers of any-, first- and last-authorships were 1.6, 0.18 and 0.29 per RO per year, respectively. On multivariable analysis, there were statistically significant differences by gender (males had more any-, and first-authorships), seniority (senior ROs had more last-authorships but less first-authorships) and country (lower numbers of any-, and last-authorships for New Zealand). This organization-wide study provides comprehensive baseline RO publication data and identifies opportunities for the College to further address correlated disparities.

Health literacy profiles in kidney transplanted patients: A cluster analysis.

Health literacy is important in chronic conditions, such as kidney transplantation. Understanding patients' health literacy profiles can assist tailoring follow-up and educational programmes to the health literacy needs of vulnerable kidney transplant recipients. This approach enabled us to cluster patients according to their profiles of challenges and strengths in different health literacy domains. This study aimed to identify different health literacy profiles within kidney transplant recipients and what characterized the different profiles. Cross-sectional study. One hundred ninety-five kidney transplanted recipients were included. We used the self-reported Health Literacy Questionnaire and analyzed using Ward's method (hierarchical cluster approach). We also collected background characteristics and clinical variables, including psychological distress (Hopkins Symptoms Checklist) and perceived health status (visual analogue scale, EuroQol-5D). The analysis revealed four clusters with substantial differences in health literacy profiles. One cluster's patients had the most challenges in all health literacy domains constituting 24% of the sample. Compared to the other three clusters, this cluster was associated with shorter duration of kidney disease, higher number of patients in dialysis before transplantation, higher percentage of male patients, lower number of kidneys from living donors, higher number of patients not working and higher representation of psychological distress. All four clusters reported the most challenges in the same domain: the ability to critically appraise health information. In kidney transplant recipients, profiling clusters with the Health Literacy Questionnaire and Ward's method aids in identifying health literacy needs in vulnerable groups, enabling transplant professionals to offer tailored health literacy support.

Irradiation damage evolution dependence on misorientaton angle for ∑ 5 grain boundary of Nb: An atomistic simulation-based study

Abstract Niobium as refractory element holds ability to arrest the primary radiation damage in reactor's fissionable conditions and can withstand high temperature applications. We have inclined the investigation of irradiated Nb ∑ 5 symmetric tilt angled-grain boundary (STGB) models at two high-angled grain boundary misorientation: 53.13 ° (∑ 5(2-10)/ (120)) and 36.87 ° (∑ 5(3-10)/ (130)) respectively. A hybrid of Ziegler-Biersack-Littmark (ZBL) and embedded atom method (EAM) potentials were superimposed to simulate radiation damage. Statistical averaging of the displacement cascades were conducted to study dynamic evolution of the point defects and interstitial clusters at varying magnitudes of primary knock-on atom (PKA) energies, irradiation temperatures and PKA directions respectively. The irradiated GB models were compared with a irradiated bulk Nb specimen and the results of the study indicate that the irradiated Nb system with greater misorientation angle i.e., Nb ∑ 5 (θ = 53.13 ° ) survived with lower number Frenkel pair defects as well as the population small-sized interstitial clusters. The cluster analysis indicated the highest population of interstitial clusters survived in Nb STGB models were irradiated along &amp;lt;1 3 5&amp;gt; PKA direction and 100 keV recoil energies respectively.

Integrating Nitrogen, Water, and Other Management Practices to Improve Grain and Ratoon Forage Yields in Perennial Rice

Perennial rice has recently garnered global attention due to its potential to save on seeds and labor costs and its high production efficiency. The “mid-season rice–ratoon forage” mode is a new planting system that has emerged in recent years. However, detailed information is still lacking on the regenerative characteristics, grain and ratoon forage yields, and forage nutrient content of perennial rice under different planting densities, nitrogen (N) rates, stubble heights, and water management practices. Four experiments with perennial rice were conducted in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, from 2017 to 2022. The results show that the rice grain and ratoon forage yields were significantly affected by year, planting density, and N. The grain yield was 28.18% and 60.81% lower in 2018F and 2019F, respectively, than in 2017F; similarly, the ratoon forage yield was 29.01% and 52.74% lower in 2018S and 2019S, respectively, than in 2017S. The low grain yield was mainly associated with lower numbers of spikelets per panicle and panicles per m2, which resulted from a lower regrowth rate, and the low ratoon forage yield was mainly attributed to the lower regrowth rate. The rice grain and ratoon forage yields increased with an increase in the N rate and planting density. The ratoon forage was found to be rich in crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients. Moreover, the content of these nutrients increased significantly with an increase in the N rate. The regrowth rate and maximum tillers showed trends of first increasing and then decreasing with an increase in the stubble height under dry and wet alternation irrigation during the winter season. When the relative soil moisture decreased to below 80% during the winter season, the regrowth rate and seedling development index could reach more than 99% and 84%, respectively. Our results suggest that integrating N, water, and other management practices (including the combination of a 150 kg ha−1 N rate, 18.0 hills per m2, 10–20 cm rice stubble height, and alternating dry and wet irrigation during the winter season) is a feasible approach for achieving high grain and ratoon forage yields in perennial rice systems.

The cellular-differential composition of the intestinal epithelium in various phases of inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND: The steady increase in the number of inflammatory bowel diseases and the absence of reliably significant diagnostic markers require the search for new morphological criteria for differential diagnosis. AIM: This study aimed to determine the cellular-differential composition of the intestinal epithelium in the phases of exacerbation and remission in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue samples of 60 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, n=30; ulcerative colitis, n=30) and with irritable bowel syndrome (control group, n=15) were studied using histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric and statistical methods. RESULTS: Distinct features of the cellular-differential composition of the epithelium in the mucous membrane of the ileum, ascending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum were identified across these conditions, with differences observed during exacerbation and remission in inflammatory bowel diseases. The proportion of goblet cells in the epithelial lining varied by intestinal region and disease type and phase. Goblet cell differentiation: 25.0% more goblet cells of the superficial epithelium between the crypts of the ileum in acute Crohn’s disease compared with remission (p=0.0002); 42.9% more goblet cells in the superficial epithelium of the ascending colon compared with irritable bowel syndrome (p=0.0001); 23.0% more goblet cells crypt in the sigmoid colon compared with ulcerative colitis in the acute stage (p=0.0024). There were no significant differences in the differentiation of Paneth cells. There was a threefold increase in endocrinocytes in the sigmoid colon in acute Crohn’s disease compared with irritable bowel syndrome (p=0.0238). Nonepithelial differon cells: fewer interepithelial lymphocytes in Crohn’s disease in remission compared with Crohn’s disease in the acute stage by 2.4 times in the sigmoid colon, 4.0 times in the rectum (p 0,0001); compared with irritable bowel syndrome by 4.8 times in the ileum, 2.7 times in the ascending intestine, 4.0 times in the sigmoid colon (p 0,05); 8.0 times in the rectum compared with ulcerative colitis in remission (p=0,0004). Additionally, the study found proliferative activity of crypt cells (mainly goblet-shaped) increased by 4.2 times in the sigmoid colon in acute Crohn’s disease compared with acute ulcerative colitis (p=0,0016). CONCLUSIONS: Morphometric parameters of the cellular-differential composition of the intestinal epithelium can serve as potential differential diagnostic criteria. Acute Crohn’s disease is characterized by a higher proliferation index in the sigmoid colon compared with acute ulcerative colitis, while Crohn’s disease in remission shows a lower number of interepithelial lymphocytes in the rectum compared with ulcerative colitis in remission.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses, oncological care and cancer patients in Germany: a report from the “COVID & Cancer” workshop 2023 of the German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi)

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic was associated with severe disruptions in healthcare worldwide. Cancer patients are at particular risk of adverse consequences from delays in diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the available data on the impact of the pandemic on cancer diagnoses, oncological care and patient well-being in Germany, the German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi) in collaboration with the Epidemiological Cancer Registry of Lower Saxony invited to a workshop on “COVID & Cancer” (held on 26–27 October 2023 in Hanover, Germany). This report provides a summary of the scientific presentations, highlights methodological challenges, and recognises essential evidence gaps.MethodsTwelve studies addressing various aspects in relation to cancer diagnoses, oncological care and patient well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and two talks sharing experiences from the UK and the Netherlands were presented at the workshop.Results and conclusionsResults from German cancer registries consistently showed lower number of incident cancer diagnoses among adults during the first months of the pandemic compared to the respective months of the years before the pandemic. Data from the cancer registries of Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony found especially for breast cancer a notable drop (by approximately one third) in the numbers of diagnoses during the first restriction period (April-May 2020), during which the nationwide mammography screening programme in Germany was temporarily suspended. Overall, the extent and ways, in which the pandemic had adversely affected cancer diagnoses, oncological care and created service backlogs, is still not adequately understood. The long-term consequences are yet to be determined.

Comparative study of midterm outcomes between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), diverted one-anastomosis gastric bypass (D-OAGB), and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB)

PurposeDiverted one anastomosis gastric bypass (D-OAGB) is a new procedure that entails performing Roux-en-Y diversion during OAGB to preclude post-OAGB bile reflux. This study aimed to compare the mid-term outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and OAGB versus D-OAGB.MethodsThis is a retrospective study that encompassed the analysis of data from patients undergoing bypass surgeries from 2015 to May 2021. The patients’ data until 2 years of follow-up were compared.ResultsThis study included 140 patients who underwent OAGB (n = 64), RYGB (n = 24), and D-OAGB (n = 52). In the OAGB, RYGB, and D-OAGB groups, complication rates were 3.1%, 8.3%, and 5.8%, respectively. At the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups, the OAGB and D-OAGB groups showed a statistically significant higher percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%). Otherwise, the weight measures and weight loss outcome were comparable among the three groups in the other follow-up visits (p > 0.05). There was a significantly lower number of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remission cases and a higher number of de novo GERD cases in the OAGB group.ConclusionD-OAGB demonstrated favorable outcomes, including lower early adverse events and superior weight loss results in the first 6 months post-surgery when compared to RYGB. The D-OAGB group also showed higher rates of GERD remission and lower de novo GERD occurrence than OAGB. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and expand our understanding of this innovative surgical approach.

Evidence of 2024 Summer as the Warmest During the Last Four Decades in the Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas

The summer of 2024 witnessed record-high sea surface temperatures (SST) across the Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas (AICS), following unprecedented air heatwaves over the sea under a long-term warming trend of 0.46 °C/decade for the mean atmospheric temperature (1982–2024). The respective mean SST trend for the same period is even steeper, increasing by 0.59 °C/decade. With mean summer surface waters surpassing 28 °C, particularly in the Ionian Sea, the southern Cretan, and northern Aegean basins, this summer marked the warmest ocean conditions over the past four decades. Despite a relatively lower number of marine heatwaves (MHWs) compared to previous warm years, the duration and cumulative intensity of these events in 2024 were the highest on record, reaching nearly twice the levels seen in 2018, which was the warmest until now. Intense MHWs were recorded, especially in the northern Aegean, with extensive biological consequences to ecosystems like the Thermaikos Gulf, a recognized MHW hotspot. The strong downward atmospheric heat fluxes in the summer of 2024, following an interannual increasing four-decade trend, contributed to the extreme warming of the water masses together with other met-ocean conditions such as lateral exchanges and vertical processes. The high temperatures were not limited to the surface but extended to depths of 50 m in some regions, indicating a deep and widespread warming of the upper ocean. Mechanisms typically mitigating SST rises, such as the Black Sea water (BSW) inflow and coastal upwelling over the eastern Aegean Sea, were weaker in 2024. Cooler water influx from the BSW decreased, as indicated by satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentrations, while upwelled waters from depths of 40 to 80 m at certain areas showed elevated temperatures, likely limiting their cooling effects on the surface. Prolonged warming of ocean waters in a semi-enclosed basin such as the Mediterranean and its marginal sea sub-basins can have substantial physical, biological, and socioeconomic impacts on the AICS. This research highlights the urgent need for targeted monitoring and mitigation strategies to address the growing impact of MHWs in the region.

Gestational breast cancer: distinctive molecular and clinico-epidemiological features

Gestational breast cancer (GBC), defined as breast cancer (BC) diagnosed during pregnancy or the first-year post-partum, accounts for 6–15% of BC cases in women aged 20–44 years. GBC has worse prognosis than non-GBC, but reasons behind are not clear. The GEICAM/2012–03 Study (Molecular Characterization of Gestational Breast Cancer) is a multicenter prospective/retrospective observational registry of patients diagnosed with GBC. From November 2014 to June 2015 seventy patients diagnosed with GBC were included in the study, 30 diagnosed during pregnancy and 40 after delivery. Our current study was aimed to explore differences in epidemiological, clinico-pathological and gene expression features of GBC tumors, from the GEICAM/2012–03 Study, compared to non-GBC tumors from patients of similar age (< 43 years) from six different GEICAM studies, used as non- GBC control population. As per the main objective, the study found multiple differences showing GBC tumors as a different biological entity. GBC showed a more aggressive biology, with higher Ki67 levels, higher incidence of breast and/or ovarian cancer family history, and germline deleterious BRCA1/2 mutations, and are enriched in basal-like intrinsic subtype. GBC patients showed a lower number of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, while specific genetic signatures highlight differences in GBC´s distinctive transcriptome. Our study shows that GBC is potentially a clinically and molecularly different entity, with specific epidemiological, clinical, and histological features, as well as a distinctive altered immune state and genetic signature. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to better understand the biology of GBC and to identify new targets against which develop new, more effective, targeted therapies.

Prognostic Awareness and Knowledge of Acute Exacerbation in Patients Dying with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Nationwide Survey.

Accurate prognostic awareness (PA) and knowledge of the disease are critical for decision-making regarding treatment options, advance care planning, and end-of-life care. However, they have not been investigated in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). To determine the prevalence of patients with ILD who have accurate PA and/or knowledge of acute exacerbation. In addition, to determine whether accurate PA is associated with end-of-life medical interventions and quality of dying and death. Through a nationwide bereavement survey, we examined the prevalence of accurate PA and knowledge of acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with ILD who died in acute general hospitals between January 2018 and February 2020. Patients' PA and knowledge were assessed from the perspective of the bereaved. We also quantified the quality of dying and death from the perspective of the bereaved using three scales, the Good Death Inventory, the Quality of Dying and Death (QODD) questionnaire, and the single-item QODD overall score, and obtained information on end-of-life interventions from the electronic medical record. We examined the associations of accurate PA with end-of-life interventions and quality of dying and death. A total of 296 patients whose caregivers completed questionnaires were analyzed. One hundred sixty-three patients (55.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 49.2-60.8) who died of ILD had accurate PA and 138 (46.9%, 95% CI = 35.9-47.4) recognized that their disease could have AE. Multivariate regression analysis showed that accurate PA was associated with significantly fewer intensive care unit (ICU) deaths (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.10-0.82, P = 0.02). Patients with accurate PA had better quality of dying and death on all the three scales. Approximately half of the patients who died of ILD did not recognize that their disease could lead to death or AE. The lower number of ICU deaths and better quality of dying and death in patients with accurate PA suggest the potential benefits of obtaining accurate PA in patients with ILD.

A review of the potential use of melatonin in cancer treatment: Data analysis from Clinicaltrials.gov.

Melatonin's antioxidative and immune effects suggest potential in cancer therapy. This review assesses related clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov. All ClinicalTrials.gov trials registered up to January 17, 2024 were examined, focusing on trials that involved use of melatonin in cancer treatment. A 46 trials were summarized by their study status, study phase, study type, funder type and study results in the use of melatonin in cancer treatment. The examination of the research data revealed a collective count of 46 clinical trials enlisted on ClinicalTrials.gov, all focus around the utilization of melatonin in cancer treatment. Among these, 24 trials had reached completion, constituting 91.3% of the entire trials, while 5 trials were presently in the recruitment phase, making up 10.8% of the total. None of these trials had received approval for marketing yet. The majority focus of the analysis encompassed interventional studies, around 42 trials and representing 91.3% of the overall trials, thereby incorporating most enrolled patients. In contrast, observational studies are a smaller fraction, comprising 4 trials (8.6% of the total), with a correspondingly lower number of involved patients. Regarding funding sources, most registered studies secured funding from diverse entities such as individuals, universities, and organizations, constituting 95.6% of all trials. In comparison, a minority of studies received funding from the National Institutes of Health, comprising 5 trials and accounting for 10.8% of the total trials. The analysis of 46 clinical trials on melatonin's use in cancer treatment reveals a significant importance on interventional studies. Overall, these findings contribute to the evolving understanding of melatonin's role in cancer treatment.

Breastfeeding myths - the prevalence among the population of Polish women.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until the child is six months of age. However, there are many myths about breastfeeding. The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of Polish women about breastfeeding. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 1536 Polish women. A self-administered questionnaire was created using Google Forms survey management software and distributed online. The participants were asked about the most common myths in society regarding breastfeeding. The highest number of correct answers in all age groups were given to questions related to the nutritional value of breast milk (80.9-94.9%). The fewest correct answers in each age group were recorded to questions concerning the possibility of getting pregnant during the first 6 months of breastfeeding (16.1-35.3%), the safety of drinking non-alcoholic beer during lactation (24.4-37.1%), the benefits of brushing the breast while breastfeeding (16.0-37.1%), and the effectiveness of compresses made of cabbage leaves or sage infusions in relieving ailments during milk rush (6.8-12.4%). Higher education and being a mother were associated with a higher number of correct answers. Age below 25 years was associated with lower number of correct answers. The results of the survey regarding breastfeeding suggest the existence of various beliefs in the population of Polish women which are not evidence based. This indicates the need for spreading adequate information about breastfeeding, especially among younger women and those who did not obtain higher education.