Overview Of Available Information Research Articles

Pathophysiological, immunological, and inflammatory features of long COVID.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause severe global disruption, resulting in significant excess mortality, overwhelming healthcare systems, and imposing substantial social and economic burdens on nations. While most of the attention and therapeutic efforts have concentrated on the acute phase of the disease, a notable proportion of survivors experience persistent symptoms post-infection clearance. This diverse set of symptoms, loosely categorized as long COVID, presents a potential additional public health crisis. It is estimated that 1 in 5 COVID-19 survivors exhibit clinical manifestations consistent with long COVID. Despite this prevalence, the mechanisms and pathophysiology of long COVID remain poorly understood. Alarmingly, evidence suggests that a significant proportion of cases within this clinical condition develop debilitating or disabling symptoms. Hence, urgent priority should be given to further studies on this condition to equip global public health systems for its management. This review provides an overview of available information on this emerging clinical condition, focusing on the affected individuals' epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and immunological and inflammatory profiles.

Antibacterial and Antimycotic Activity of Epilobium angustifolium L. Extracts: A Review.

The aim of this work was to provide an overview of available information on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Epilobium angustifolium extracts. A literature search of Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 was undertaken. A total of 23 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Significant variation of antimicrobial activity depending on the tested species and strains, type of extract solvent, or plant organs utilized for the extract preparation was found. E. angustifolium extracts were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and showed antimycotic effects against the fungi of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans and the dermatophytes Arthroderma spp. Greater susceptibility of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria to fireweed extracts was found. A strong antibacterial effect was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii including multi-drug resistant strains. E. angustifolium extract might find practical application as an antimicrobial in wound healing, components of cosmetic products for human and animals, or as food preservatives.

Disrupted Regulation of Host Cell Cycle and Its Clinical Significance in Hepatitis C Virus-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Growing scientific evidence has suggested the disrupted regulation of host cell cycle proteins in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease. Since the regulation of cell cycle proteins is closely associated with the control of the proliferation and survival of hepatocytes, any alteration in the regulation of these proteins would significantly contribute to the progression of the HCV disease and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This mini-review aims to provide an overview of available information on hepatic cell cycle modulations during chronic HCV infection.

Coronavirus disease 2019 information-seeking behavior globally: a systematic review

This systematic review aimed to provide a global picture of information-seeking behavior, source information used, and its associated factors. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses steps. Databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, World Health Organization libraries, and Google Scholar were used to search all published articles. Articles on COVID-19 information-seeking behavior published until November 04, 2021, and the use of the English language was included. Two independent reviewers did the article selection and quality check. For this systematic review, twenty articles were included in the final report. Information-seeking behavior was associated with digital health literacy, online information sources, and socio-demographic factors. The major sources of health information during the COVID-19 pandemic were digital media, television, public health portals like the world health organization, and center for communicable disease and prevention websites. This systematic review provides a valuable overview of available information on information-seeking behavior regarding COVID-19 globally. The studies used a heterogeneous study population, various research techniques, and various research questions. Digital literacy and online information sources play a vital role in information-seeking behavior.

The sharks and rays of Palau: biological diversity, status, and social and cultural dimensions

Anthropogenic pressures have been increasing on shark and ray populations globally, and their conservation and management can be compromised by lack of information on their diversity and status of species. This study presents a desktop review of the sharks and rays of the Republic of Palau, drawing on citizen science, fisheries data and other scientific literature to document their diversity, economic and cultural values, and pressures affecting their populations. This account of Palau’s sharks and rays includes a preliminary assessment of risks based-on existing risk assessments, and their biological productivity. Records were found documenting 56 sharks and rays in Palau: 31 species are considered here as ‘confirmed and verified’, 10 species as ‘requires verification’, and 11 species listed as ‘plausible’. An additional two species are listed as ‘unlikely’, and two species is ‘unknown’ due to the taxonomy being unclear. The biological productivity analysis showed that the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) had the lowest productivity of Palau’s sharks and rays, while the blue shark (Prionace glauca) showed the highest productivity of species examined. Historically, fishing mortality presented the most significant threat to Palau’s sharks and rays, but recent conservation initiatives have the potential to significantly reduce this threat as large areas are closed to fishing following the full implementation of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary in 2020. Palau’s sharks have a wide range of social and cultural values and are important to tourism. This study presents a new synthesis and overview of available information including citizen science, but also highlights the need for further local taxonomic work and research.

Nanoparticles in Targeted Alpha Therapy.

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology application in nuclear medicine offer the promise of better therapeutic options. In recent years, increasing efforts have been made on developing nanoconstructs that can be used as carriers for immobilising alpha (α)-emitters in targeted drug delivery. In this publication, we provide a comprehensive overview of available information on functional nanomaterials for targeted alpha therapy. The first section describes why nanoconstructs are used for the synthesis of α-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Next, we present the synthesis and summarise the recent studies demonstrating therapeutic applications of α-emitting labelled radiobioconjugates in targeted therapy. Finally, future prospects and the emerging possibility of therapeutic application of radiolabelled nanomaterials are discussed.

Distribution, abundance and threats to bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus)

Wombats are large marsupial grazers native to Australia. They are ‘ecosystem engineers’ due to their burrowing, impacting rates of soil turnover, assisting with nutrient cycling and water infiltration, and creating habitat for other species. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of available information on the habitat and distribution, abundance and threats to bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), and to provide a critical review of the current gaps in our knowledge to aid future management of the species. Bare-nosed wombats were previously widespread. Since European settlement their range has reduced. While habitat loss and contraction impact population numbers, bare-nosed wombat populations are also threatened by roadkill, introduced species, legal and illegal human persecution, and disease. Further research is required to understand the historic range of bare-nosed wombats, as well as current population numbers, so that we can determine the threats that most significantly impact this species. Increasing our understanding of habitat requirements, distribution and population numbers, as well as how to mitigate threats, will aid future management and conservation strategies for the species.

Nursing education partnerships between western high-income universities and non-governmental agencies and low-income local agencies: A scoping review of the literature.

Nursing education partnerships between high-income and low-income countries have increased over recent decades, aiming to advance health care across borders. In order to understand the current state of these partnership efforts, we completed a systematic scoping review of nurse education partnerships. From peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, program websites, and web announcements, references describing 28 international nursing education partnerships were identified. Partnerships ranged by geographic location of partners (mainly among the low-resource countries), types of organizations, clinical specialty focus, and types of degree or certification conferred. Additionally, references ranged in the amount of information provided, ranging from comprehensive program evaluations to brief descriptions. This overview of available information on nursing education partnerships provides evidence that efforts across the globe are underway and details the various programs. There is need for more systematic evaluation and refinement of guidelines regarding best practices for established and emerging nursing educational partnerships.

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment.

In recent years, vegetables gain consumer attraction due to their reputation of being healthy in combination with low energy density. However, since fresh produce is often eaten raw, it may also be a source for foodborne illness. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria might pose a particular risk to the consumer. Therefore, this review aims to present the current state of knowledge concerning the exposure of humans to antibiotic-resistant bacteria via food of plant origin for quantitative risk assessment purposes. The review provides a critical overview of available information on hazard identification and characterization, exposure assessment, and risk prevention with special respect to potential sources of contamination and infection chains. Several comprehensive studies are accessible regarding major antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli) and other bacteria (e.g., further Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Gram-positive cocci). These studies revealed vegetables to be a potential—although rare—vector for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, mcr1-positive E. coli, colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linezolid-resistant enterococci and staphylococci, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Even if this provides first clues for assessing the risk related to vegetable-borne antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, the literature research reveals important knowledge gaps affecting almost every part of risk assessment and management. Especially, the need for (comparable) quantitative data as well as data on possible contamination sources other than irrigation water, organic fertilizer, and soil becomes obvious. Most crucially, dose–response studies would be needed to convert a theoretical “risk” (e.g., related to antimicrobial-resistant commensals and opportunistic pathogens) into a quantitative risk estimate.

Home-based specialized palliative care in patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review.

Due to an urgent need for specialized palliative care (SPC) for patients with advanced cancer, an overview of available information on organization and outcomes of home-based SPC would be valuable. Our systematic review aims to give an overview of available information on the organization and outcomes of home-based SPC for patients with advanced cancer. Outcomes related to place of death, survival time, quality of life, performance status, and symptom management are included. A PICO process search strategy consisting of terms related to cancer, palliation, and home care was employed. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane from January 1, 2000, to January 27, 2015. A hand search of the reference lists of the included studies was also performed. A total of 5 articles (out of 2080 abstracts) were selected for analysis. Three additional studies were added by the hand search. Six observational and two interventional studies were evaluated. In all of these studies, the description of the SPC service was limited to the composition of the staff-no other organizational aspects were detailed. From 44 to 90% of the patients receiving home-based SPC died at home. Studies including survival and quality of life had divergent outcomes, and overall performance status did not improve. However, symptom control did improve over time. There is a lack of controlled clinical trials and organizational descriptions regarding home-based SPC for patients with advanced cancer, resulting in poor information and a lack of evidence. Generally, home-based SPC seems to have some positive effect on pain and dyspnea, but more high-quality studies are required.

Characterization of anthropometric assessment studies of Brazilian children attending daycare centers

ObjectiveTo obtain an overview of available information on the anthropometric assessment of Brazilian children attending daycare centers. Data sourceA literature search was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases of studies published from 1990 to 2013 in Portuguese and English languages. The following search strategy was used: (nutritional status OR anthropometrics OR malnutrition OR overweight) AND daycare centers, as well as the equivalent terms in Portuguese. In the case of MEDLINE search, the descriptor Brazil was also used. Data synthesisIt was verified that the 33 studies included in the review were comparable from a methodological point of view. The studies, in general, were characterized by their restrictive nature, geographical concentration and dispersion of results in relation to time. Considering the studies published from 2010 onwards, low prevalence of acute malnutrition and significant rates of stunting and overweight were observed. ConclusionsDespite the limitations, considering the most recent studies that used the WHO growth curves (2006), it is suggested that the anthropometric profile of Brazilian children attending daycare centers is characterized by a nutritional transition process, with significant prevalence of overweight and short stature. We emphasize the need to develop a multicenter survey that will more accurately define the current anthropometric nutritional status of Brazilian children attending daycare centers.

Information on travel of Nemanjic embassies: Content and context

The paper offers an overview of available information on travel of medieval Serbian embassies in the Nemanjic dynasty period. This content is contextualized into the wider picture of regional embassy travel, presented by the far better documented embassies of Dubrovnik, Venice and the Byzantine Empire. The information is sorted by the key determining factors of an embassy?s journey - diplomatic and auxiliary personnel, representational accessories such as gifts and adornments, transport over land and sea, sustenance, lodging, expenses and obstacles presented by nature and men.

Caracterização dos estudos de avaliação antropométrica de crianças brasileiras assistidas em creches

ObjectiveTo obatin an overview of available information on the anthropometric assessment of Brazilian children attending daycare centers. Data sourceA literature search was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases of studies published from 1990 to 2013 in Portuguese and English languages. The following search strategy was used: (nutritional status OR anthropometrics OR malnutrition OR overweight) AND daycare centers, as well as the equivalent terms in Portuguese. In the case of MEDLINE search, the descriptor Brazil was also used. Data synthesisIt was verified that the 33 studies included in the review were comparable from a methodological point of view. The studies, in general, were characterized by their restrictive nature, geographical concentration and dispersion of results in relation to time. Considering the studies published from 2010 onwards, low prevalence of acute malnutrition and significant rates of stunting and overweight were observed. ConclusionsDespite the limitations, considering the most recent studies that used the WHO growth curves (2006), it is suggested that the anthropometric profile of Brazilian children attending daycare centers is characterized by a nutritional transition process, with significant prevalence of overweight and short stature. We emphasize the need to develop a multicenter survey that will more accurately define the current anthropometric nutritional status of Brazilian children attending daycare centers.

Circulating microRNAs: emerging biomarkers of liver disease.

Development of reliable, noninvasive biomarkers that allow for diagnosis, risk stratification, and monitoring of disease changes over time or in response to specific therapies represents a key priority in the field of hepatology. Recent evidence has uncovered the role of microRNAs as potential ideal biomarkers of liver injury in various acute and chronic liver diseases. These small noncoding RNAs are released to the extracellular space in a stress-specific manner and are remarkably stable in most bodily fluids including blood, where they circulate in specific compartments including extracellular vesicles and protein complexes. In this review, the authors provide a concise overview of available information on the emerging role of quantitation of circulating microRNAs in different liver diseases and their use as biomarkers for both diagnosis and prognosis assessment. Additionally, several key issues that still need to be addressed for microRNAs to become useful tools in daily clinical practice are critically reviewed.

Indigenous fish traps and weirs of Queensland

<p>A Queensland state-wide review of coastal and inland fish traps and weirs is undertaken. More than 179 sites are described. For coastal Queensland, it is demonstrated that traps with multiple pens are common in the Torres Strait and at a limited number of locations in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Most traps and weirs south of Torres Strait and the Gulf are isolated structures, with traps in most cases having a single pen. Walls of traps are most often in the shape of an arc and found at points and estuaries and only occasionally on open beaches. Some traps and weirs on the coast were built or used by non-Indigenous people, including South Sea Islanders. Less information could be located on traps and weirs of inland Queensland, which appear to have included many organic traps and weirs. It was found that weirs are common east of the Great Dividing Range, while traps were common to the west. The review draws heavily on unpublished data and reports held by the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. The use of this information along with published sources, theses, explorer's diaries and ethnographic accounts allows a comprehensive overview of available information. Fish traps in particular are often found in coastal zones subject to development pressure and this work provides a baseline resource to generate discussion about research and management of this significant site type in these zones.</p>

Ecology and Traits of Plant Species that Compete with Boreal and Temperate Forest Conifers: An Overview of Available Information and its Use in Forest Management in Canada

In boreal and temperate forests in Canada, at least 71 plant species, including trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, and ferns, have the potential to significantly reduce the growth of conifer regeneration. A thorough understanding of the autecology of these plants—their response to their environment—can help resource managers to improve their approaches to vegetation management, thereby maximizing crop tree growth and survival. In this paper, we highlight key sources of information about the autecology of the major species that compete with forest conifers, including books and field guides, journal series, Web sites, and plant trait databases. We suggest ways that this information can be applied in resource management, recommend approaches for maintaining and updating this information, and underline the needs for developing a single, consolidated, comprehensive source of such information for use by resource managers and researchers. Information gaps are also briefly discussed.

Pharmacogenomics of Osteoporosis

Pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics are emerging interdisciplinary areas recently defined, respectively as “the investigation of variations of DNA and RNA characteristics as related to drug response”, and the study of “the influence of variations in DNA sequence on drug efficacy and toxicity”. A major challenge of future genetic studies in complex disorders such as osteoporosis is the development of specific genetic tests to identify responders from non-responders as well as to identify patients at higher risk to develop adverse reactions. Even though the knowledge of the genetic determinants of bone fragility and fracture risk has consistently increased over the past decade and despite the parallel development of multiple drugs with antiresorptive or anabolic activity in bone, there is still relatively little known about pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics of osteoporosis. This review provides an overview of available information and identifies potential targets for future studies in this field.

A Summary of North American Hardwood Tree Diseases with Bleeding Canker Symptoms

Although the presence of bleeding cankers on deciduous trees may raise fears of the presence of Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death, other pathogens also cause similar symptoms. This review of hardwood tree diseases with bleeding canker symptoms provides an overview of available information of these diseases, providing a diagnosis guide as well as a stimulus for continued research in these areas.

Invited review: cross-bridge regulation by thin filament-associated proteins.

This minireview will cover current concepts on the identity and mechanistic function of smooth muscle actin binding proteins that may regulate actin-myosin interactions. The potential roles of tropomyosin, caldesmon, calponin, and SM22 will be discussed. The review, for purposes of brevity, will be nonexhaustive but will give an overview of available information on the in vitro biochemistry and potential in vivo function of these proteins. Preterm labor is discussed as a possible example of where thin filament regulation may be relevant. Considerable controversy surrounds the putative physiological significance of these proteins, and emphasis will be placed on the need for more experimental work to determine the degree to which tissue- and species-specific effects have clouded the interpretation of functional data.

A tangled web: factors likely to affect the efficacy of screening mammography.

Given the direct and indirect costs of mammographic breast cancer screening in North America (1,2), any evidence leading to the improved efficacy of screening mammography should be welcome. The importance of high technical standards to achieve mammographic accuracy has been recognized (3). Improved accuracy should lead to improved efficacy, namely, further reductions in mortality from breast cancer. The efficacy of breast screening is most contested in women who are 40–49 years old (4), many of whom are premenopausal. In this group, a 16% reduction in breast cancer mortality has been observed 7–10 years after the initiation of screening (5), about half of that observed in women who are 50–69 years old. Although mammographic sensitivity is indisputably lower (less accurate) in younger women, one expert has asserted (6) that “Nothing magical happens at age 50. There is no significant difference in breast tissue as seen by mammography” when women in their 40s are compared with women in their 50s. Tabar et al. (7) attributed the smaller benefit of screening women in their 40s to shorter sojourn times in some women and to the long interval between screening examinations that occurred in the Two-County Trial. This commentary will give an overview of available information about biologic and life style factors that may reduce the accuracy of screening mammography and thereby also reduce screening efficacy. Among the factors diminishing the efficacy of screening (Table 1), false-negative mammograms are of crucial importance. Delay in the detection of breast cancer must reduce the opportunity to reduce mortality. This conviction led to a study of menstruating women that found that the chances of a woman having a false-negative mammographic examination were almost doubled in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle compared to what the chances were in the follicular phase, although only in women who had ever used exogenous hormones (presumably oral contraceptives) (8). Possible biologic mechanisms that could explain this observation are increased mammographic density associated with breast tissue changes in the luteal phase and luteal mastalgia (pain) restricting mammographic compression. More recently, White et al. (9) reported a small but statistically significant increase in mammographic density in the luteal phase. This observation is consistent with the increase in falsenegative mammograms previously reported (8), with the conclusion that early breast cancer detection is more difficult to achieve in younger women (10) and with the generally accepted notion that increased density (variously described as mammographic, parenchymal, and fibroglandular) is associated with decreased mammographic sensitivity (Table 2). To identify other factors that may reduce screening efficacy by reducing mammographic accuracy in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, it may be useful to consider the following issues: