De novo steroidogenesis in tumor cells drives bone metastasis and osteoclastogenesis.

Osteoclasts play a central role in cancer-cell-induced osteolysis, but the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast activation during bone metastasis formation are incompletely understood. By performing RNA sequencing on a mouse breast carcinoma cell line with higher bone-metastatic potential, here we identify the enzyme CYP11A1 strongly upregulated in osteotropic tumor cells. Genetic deletion of Cyp11a1 in tumor cells leads to a decreased number of bone metastases but does not alter primary tumor growth and lung metastasis formation in mice. The product of CYP11A1 activity, pregnenolone, increases the number and function of mouse and human osteoclasts in vitro but does not alter osteoclast-specific gene expression. Instead, tumor-derived pregnenolone strongly enhances the fusion of pre-osteoclasts via prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit beta (P4HB), identified as a potential interaction partner of pregnenolone. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Cyp11a1-expressing tumor cells produce pregnenolone, which is capable of promoting bone metastasis formation and osteoclast development via P4HB.

Are Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Three-Dimensional Histological Reconstructions Reliable for the Assessment of Trabecular Microarchitecture?

Objectives: This study aimed to create a three-dimensional histological reconstruction through the AI-assisted classification of tissues and the alignment of serial sections. The secondary aim was to evaluate if the novel technique for histological reconstruction accurately replicated the trabecular microarchitecture of bone. This was performed by conducting micromorphometric measurements on the reconstruction and comparing the results obtained with those of microCT reconstructions. Methods: A bone biopsy sample was harvested upon re-entry following sinus floor augmentation. Following microCT scanning and histological processing, a modified version of the U-Net architecture was trained to categorize tissues on the sections. Detector-free local feature matching with transformers was used to create the histological reconstruction. The micromorphometric parameters were calculated using Bruker's CTAn software (version 1.18.8.0, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) for both histological and microCT datasets. Results: Correlation coefficients calculated between the micromorphometric parameters measured on the microCT and histological reconstruction suggest a strong linear relationship between the two with p-values of 0.777, 0.717, 0.705, 0.666, and 0.687 for BV/TV, BS/TV, Tb.Pf Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp, respectively. Bland-Altman and mountain plots suggest good agreement between BV/TV measurements on the two reconstruction methods. Conclusions: This novel method for three-dimensional histological reconstruction provides researchers with a tool that enables the assessment of accurate trabecular microarchitecture and histological information simultaneously.

Exploring the Therapeutic Efficacy of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) as a Functional Food: Implications in Immunological Tolerability, Reduction of Muscle Cramps, and Treatment of Dermatitis.

The status of parsley as a well-known folk medicine noted for its nutritional and medicinal properties prompted the exploration of its potential as a functional food and natural remedy. The paper aims to investigate the potential of parsley to enhance muscle function and alleviate psoriasiform dermatitis, eventually establishing it as a natural, well-tolerated alternative with specific benefits for both muscles and skin. This study examines the tolerability of parsley in a cohort of 937 participants by assessing immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactions. The findings reveal high tolerability, as 96.26% of participants experienced no adverse effects. Among the 902 individuals lacking hypersensitivity, 37.02% reported muscle cramps, with a notable 15.02% reduction observed in the subgroup consuming parsley juice. In the subset of 32 subjects with dermatitis, the application of parsley extract ointment led to a significant decrease in dermatological parameters (redness, thickness, scaling). While the control group exhibited improvements, statistical significance was not observed. Notably, four categories of affected area reduction were identified, with scaling demonstrating the most pronounced impact. The results propose that parsley holds promise for favorable tolerability, contributing to the alleviation of muscle cramps and presenting an effective alternative in dermatitis treatment. Nonetheless, sustained validation through long-term studies is imperative to substantiate these preliminary findings.

Treatment of In-stent Restenosis of the Internal Carotid Artery Using Drug-eluting Balloons.

PURPOSE: In-stent restenosis (ISR) following internal carotid artery (ICA) stenting is relatively common with an estimated incidence of 5%. Treatment options include repeat angioplasty with conventional or drug-eluting balloons (DEB), repeat stent angioplasty and surgical intervention. Application of DEB in ISR of the coronary and peripheral arteries is an established method; however, data on DEB treatment of ICA ISR are sparse. In this work, results from a retrospective cohort of 45 patients harboring 46 ICA ISR lesions treated with DEB angioplasty are presented. METHODS: Clinical, procedural and imaging data from DEB angioplasty treatment of 46 high-grade ICA ISR lesions in 45 patients, performed between 2013 and 2021 were collected. A single type of DEB (Elutax, Aachen Resonance, Aachen, Germany) was used in all procedures. Imaging follow-up was performed by regular Doppler ultrasound (DUS), verified by computed tomography angiography (CTA) in cases suspicious for a recurrent ISR. RESULTS: Technical success was 100%. Intraprocedural and postprocedural complications were not encountered. Clinical follow-up was obtained in all patients. Recurrent stroke in the affected territory was not encountered. A recurrent ISR following DEB treatment was confirmed by DUS and CTA in 4/46 (8.7%) of the lesions and were retreated with DEB. A third recurrent ISR occurred in a single case (2%) and following a second DEB retreatment there were no signs of a fourth recurrence after 36 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: The use of DEB angioplasty is a safe and effective treatment of ICA ISR lesions, yielding significantly better results compared to other modalities. Randomized multicenter studies are warranted.

[An overview of treatment options for a rare disease, aneurysm of the popliteal vein, in connection with a case]. / Egy ritka kórkép, a vena poplitea aneurysma kezelési lehetoségeinek áttekintése egy eset kapcsán.

INTRODUCTION: Popliteal vein aneurysm is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. It is often asymptomatic, but symptoms may include pain, post-thrombotic syndrome or chronic venous insufficiency. An experienced physician may be able to detect a palpable mass in the popliteal fossa. Duplex ultrasound is the first line of diagnosis. CT or MR venography play a role in the diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To review the international literature, explain the possible treatment options, and present our case. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old female patient had a recurrent pulmonary embolism while on direct-acting oral anticoagulant therapy. Duplex ultrasound and MR angiography were performed and confirmed a partially thrombosed aneurysm of the right popliteal vein. Aneurysm resection and venorrhaphy were performed as treatment. At follow-up, ultrasound showed adequate flow in the deep venous system. 6 months later, the control MR angiography showed good flow without stenosis. There were no postoperative complications. Discussion and literature review: The pathomechanism of the disease remains unclear. Treatment options are conservative therapy and/or surgical intervention, but there is no consensus regarding the therapy of symptomatic or asymptomatic cases. There is no clear statement regarding the method and duration of postoperative anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: In the case of recurrent pulmonary embolism, the possibility of a popliteal vein aneurysm should be considered. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, widely available initial diagnostic tool. In addition to conservative treatment, the possibility of surgical intervention can be considered. The surgical procedure described in our case was successful. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(39): 1544-1549.

Management of Odontogenic Sinusitis: Results with Single-Step FESS and Dentoalveolar Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Odontogenic sinusitis (OS) is a well-known and important border of specialties in otorhinolaryngology and dentoalveolar surgery. Odontogenic sinusitis can develop due to iatrogenic harm or odontogenic infection. The gold standard diagnostic method is clinical and radiological-CBCT (cone beam computed tomography)-examination. The treatment of this condition requires collaboration between ENT and dentoalveolar surgery specialists and can be non-surgical or surgical based on staging. This paper aims to share the results of our clinical study whereby complex therapy was administered by a dentoalveolar surgeon and an otorhinolaryngologist in cooperation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study comprising 111 OS patients who underwent complex therapy between 2016 and 2023 at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. All patients were treated with concurrent FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) and dentoalveolar surgery. Follow-up was based on symptoms, clinical examination and CBCT imaging. RESULTS: Of the 111 patients, 107 were successfully treated with concurrent FESS and dentoalveolar surgery, and only 4 had further symptoms following the complex therapy and needed retreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The complex, single-session therapy involving FESS and oral surgery is an effective treatment method, which is less invasive and associated with fewer complications compared to previous interventions, such as the Luc-Caldwell procedure.

MRI compatibility of orthodontic brackets and wires: systematic review article.

BACKGROUND: Before the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination fixed orthodontic devices, such as brackets and wires, cause challenges not only for the orthodontist but also for the radiologist. Essentially, the MRI-safe scan of the fixed orthodontic tools requires a proper guideline in clinical practice. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to examine all aspects of MRI-safe scan, including artifact, thermal, and debonding effects, to identify any existing gaps in knowledge in this regard and develop an evidence-based protocol. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement was used in this study. The clinical question in "PIO" format was: "Does MRI examination influence the temperature of the orthodontic devices, the size of artifacts, and the debonding force in patients who have fixed orthodontic bracket and/or wire?" The search process was carried out in PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The search resulted in 1310 articles. After selection according to the eligibility criteria, 18 studies were analyzed by two reviewers. The risk of bias was determined using the Quality In Prognosis Studies tool. RESULTS: Out of the eligible 18 studies, 10 articles examined the heating effect, 6 were about the debonding effect, and 11 measured the size of artifact regarding brackets and wires. Considering the quality assessment, the overall levels of evidence were high and medium. The published studies showed that heating and debonding effects during MRI exposure were not hazardous for patients. As some wires revealed higher temperature changes, it is suggested to remove the wire or insert a spacer between the appliances and the oral mucosa. Based on the material, ceramic and plastic brackets caused no relevant artifact and were MRI-safe. Stainless steel brackets and wires resulted in susceptibility artifacts in the orofacial region and could cause distortion in the frontal lobe, orbits, and pituitary gland. The retainer wires showed no relevant artifact. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the thermal and debonding effects of the fixed orthodontic brackets and wires were irrelevant or resoluble; however, the size of the artifacts was clinically relevant and determined most significantly the feasibility of fixed brackets and wires in MRI examination.

Targeted histological evaluation shows high incidence of actinomyces infection in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) is a difficult-to-treat complication of the therapy of osteoporosis and some malignancies cured with bisphosphonates and antiresorptive drugs. The pathomechanism is unclear, but there is increasing observation that Actinomyces infection may play a role in its development and progression. The aim of our study was to demonstrate that histological examination using a validated triple staining procedure for Actinomyces bacteria strains can detect a high rate of Actinomyces infection in patient's samples with MRONJ. 112 previously hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained samples submitted with the clinical diagnosis of MRONJ were re-evaluated histologically using an appropriate triple special staining validated for the identification of Actinomyces infection. During the first evaluation, when pathologists did not specifically look for Actinomyces, only 8.93% of the samples were reported as positive. In contrast, re-evaluation with triple staining provided a yield of 93.7% positive samples, therefore, we suggest the triple special staining to be standard in MRONJ histology evaluation. These results show that if the clinician suspects Actinomyces infection and brings this to the attention of the pathologist, it could significantly increase the number of correct diagnoses. It serves as an aid for clinicians in therapeutic success of MRONJ by selecting a long-term adequate antibiotic medication which is suitable for the elimination of actinomyces infection.

Quick remedy commits and their impact on mining software repositories.

Most changes during software maintenance and evolution are not atomic changes, but rather the result of several related changes affecting different parts of the code. It may happen that developers omit needed changes, thus leaving a task partially unfinished, introducing technical debt or injecting bugs. We present a study investigating "quick remedy commits" performed by developers to implement changes omitted in previous commits. With quick remedy commits we refer to commits that (i) quickly follow a commit performed by the same developer, and (ii) aim at remedying issues introduced as the result of code changes omitted in the previous commit (e.g., fix references to code components that have been broken as a consequence of a rename refactoring) or simply improve the previously committed change (e.g., improve the name of a newly introduced variable). Through a manual analysis of 500 quick remedy commits, we define a taxonomy categorizing the types of changes that developers tend to omit. The taxonomy can (i) guide the development of tools aimed at detecting omitted changes and (ii) help researchers in identifying corner cases that must be properly handled. For example, one of the categories in our taxonomy groups the reverted commits, meaning changes that are undone in a subsequent commit. We show that not accounting for such commits when mining software repositories can undermine one's findings. In particular, our results show that considering completely reverted commits when mining software repositories accounts, on average, for 0.07 and 0.27 noisy data points when dealing with two typical MSR data collection tasks (i.e., bug-fixing commits identification and refactoring operations mining, respectively).

Endovascular Recanalization of Tandem Internal Carotid Occlusions Using the Balloon-assisted Tracking Technique.

PURPOSE: Tandem occlusive lesions are responsible for up to 20% of acute ischemic stroke cases and are associated with poor prognosis if complete recanalization cannot be achieved. Endovascular recanalization might be challenging due to difficulties in the safe passage of the occluded plaque at the origin of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The balloon-assisted tracking technique (BAT), where a partially deflated balloon is exposed out of the catheter tip to facilitate its passage through stenosed or spastic arterial segments was introduced by interventional cardiologists and the applicability of the technique has been recently proposed in the field of neurointervention as well. Here we describe our experience using the BAT technique in the endovascular recanalization of tandem occlusive lesions. METHODS: Procedures were performed from June 2013 to December 2020 in a single center. Baseline clinical and imaging data, procedural and follow-up details and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: In this study 107 patients, median age 66 years, median admission NIHSS 14 and median ASPECTS 8 were included. Successful recanalization of the ICA using the BAT technique was achieved in 100 (93%) and successful intracranial revascularization in 88 (82%) patients. There were no complications attributable to the BAT technique. Intraprocedural complications occurred in 9 (8%) patients. Emergent stenting was performed in 40 (37%) at the end of the procedure. Postprocedural adverse events (intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH], malignant infarction) occurred in 6 (5%) patients. Good clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin scale [mRS] 0-2) was 54 (50%) and mortality 26 (24%). Delayed stent placement during follow-up occurred in 21 cases. CONCLUSION: Application of BAT technique in tandem occlusions appears feasible, safe, and efficient. Further evaluation of this technique is awaited.

Organic Control Strategies for Use in IPM of Invertebrate Pests in Apple and Pear Orchards.

Growers of organic tree fruit face challenges in controlling some pests more easily suppressed by broad-spectrum insecticides in conventionally managed orchards. In recent decades, there has been a move towards organically growing varieties normally reliant on synthetic chemical pesticides (e.g., Gala), often to meet retailer/consumer demands. This inevitably makes crop protection in organic orchards more challenging, as modern varieties can be less tolerant to pests. In addition, there have been substantial reductions in plant protection product (PPP) approvals, resulting in fewer chemical options available for integrated pest management (IPM)-maintained orchards. Conversely, the organic management of fruit tree pests involves many practices that could be successfully implemented in conventionally grown crops, but which are currently not. These practices could also be more widely used in IPM-maintained orchards, alleviating the reliance on broad-spectrum PPP. In this review, we evaluate organic practices, with a focus on those that could be incorporated into conventional apple and pear production. The topics cover cultural control, biological control, physical and pest modifications. While the pests discussed mainly affect European species, many of the methods could be used to target other global pests for more environmentally sustainable practices.

Evaluation of the effect of vitamin D3 on mandibular condyles in an ovariectomized mouse model: a micro-CT study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect of ovariectomy and vitamin D3 on bone microstructure; this effect was examined in three regions of interest at one femoral and two mandibular sampling sites bone in an ovariectomized mouse model. METHODS: Thirty-six week-old female mice were randomly divided into three groups: 10 subjects were given oral cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) daily for 6 weeks after undergoing bilateral ovariectomy (D3 group), while 10 ovariectomized subjects (OVX) and 10 subjects who underwent a sham operation (SHAM) received peanut oil daily during the investigation. After extermination, the left hemimandible and femur were removed and scanned by micro-CT. The bone micromorphology parameters were analyzed and the BMD was calculated. RESULTS: The bone volume fraction (BV/TV) was significantly lower in the trabecular bone of the mandibular condyle in the OVX group than in the SHAM and D3 groups. Also there was a significant difference between the SHAM and D3 groups. The specific bone surface (BS/BV) was significantly higher in the OVX and D3 groups than in the SHAM group. Trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) was significantly higher in the SHAM group, and the trabecular bone pattern factor (Tb.Pf) was significantly higher in the OVX group than in the other two groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur and the mandible was significantly lower in the OVX group than in the SHAM and D3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that ovariectomy causes a significantly weaker bone microstructure in the mandibular condyle, where the protective effect of vitamin D3 resulted in a partial resorption.

Robust, site-specifically immobilized phenylalanine ammonia-lyases for the enantioselective ammonia addition of cinnamic acids.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyases (PALs) catalyse the non-oxidative deamination of l-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, while in the presence of high ammonia concentration, the synthetically attractive reverse reaction occurs. Although they have been intensively studied, the wider application of PALs for the large scale synthesis of non-natural amino acids is still rather limited, mainly due to the decreased operational stability of PALs under the high ammonia concentration conditions of ammonia addition. Herein, we describe the development of a highly stable and active immobilized PAL-biocatalyst obtained through site-specific covalent immobilization onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), employing maleimide/thiol coupling of engineered enzymes containing surficial Cys residues. The immobilization method afforded robust biocatalysts (by strong covalent attachment to the support) and allowed modulation of enzymatic activity (by proper selection of binding site, controlling the orientation of the enzyme attached to the support). The novel biocatalysts were investigated in PAL-catalyzed reactions, focusing on the synthetically challenging ammonia addition reaction. The optimization of the immobilization (enzyme load) and reaction conditions (substrate : biocatalyst ratio, ammonia source, reaction temperature) involving the best performing biocatalyst SWCNTNH2 -SS-PcPAL was performed. The biocatalyst, under the optimal reaction conditions, showed high catalytic efficiency, providing excellent conversion (c ∼90% in 10 h) of cinnamic acid into l-Phe, and more importantly, possesses high operational stability, maintaining its high efficiency over >7 reaction cycles. Moreover, the site-specifically immobilized PcPAL L134A/S614C and PcPAL I460V/S614C variants were successfully applied in the synthesis of several l-phenylalanine analogues of high synthetic value, providing perspectives for the efficient replacement of classical synthetic methods for l-phenylalanines with a mild, selective and eco-friendly enzymatic alternative.

Comparison of alternative integration sites in the chromosome and the native plasmids of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in respect to expression efficiency and copy number.

BACKGROUND: Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 provides a well-established reference point to cyanobacterial metabolic engineering as part of basic photosynthesis research, as well as in the development of next-generation biotechnological production systems. This study focused on expanding the current knowledge on genomic integration of expression constructs in Synechocystis, targeting a range of novel sites in the chromosome and in the native plasmids, together with established loci used in literature. The key objective was to obtain quantitative information on site-specific expression in reference to replicon copy numbers, which has been speculated but never compared side by side in this host. RESULTS: An optimized sYFP2 expression cassette was successfully integrated in two novel sites in Synechocystis chromosome (slr0944; sll0058) and in all four endogenous megaplasmids (pSYSM/slr5037-slr5038; pSYSX/slr6037; pSYSA/slr7023; pSYSG/slr8030) that have not been previously evaluated for the purpose. Fluorescent analysis of the segregated strains revealed that the expression levels between the megaplasmids and chromosomal constructs were very similar, and reinforced the view that highest expression in Synechocystis can be obtained using RSF1010-derived replicative vectors or the native small plasmid pCA2.4 evaluated in comparison. Parallel replicon copy number analysis by RT-qPCR showed that the expression from the alternative loci is largely determined by the gene dosage in Synechocystis, thereby confirming the dependence formerly proposed based on literature. CONCLUSIONS: This study brings together nine different integrative loci in the genome of Synechocystis to demonstrate quantitative differences between target sites in the chromosome, the native plasmids, and a RSF1010-based replicative expression vector. To date, this is the most comprehensive comparison of alternative integrative sites in Synechocystis, and provides the first direct reference between expression efficiency and replicon gene dosage in the context. In the light of existing literature, the findings support the view that the small native plasmids can be notably more difficult to target than the chromosome or the megaplasmids, and that the RSF1010-derived vectors may be surprisingly well maintained under non-selective culture conditions in this cyanobacterial host. Altogether, the work broadens our views on genomic integration and the rational use of different integrative loci versus replicative plasmids, when aiming at expressing heterologous genes in Synechocystis.

Comparing Endovascular Treatment Methods in Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Tandem Occlusion Focusing on Clinical Aspects.

INTRODUCTION: Acute ischemic strokes (AIS) due to tandem occlusion (TO) of intracranial anterior large vessel and concomitant extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) are represent in 15-20% of all ischemic strokes. The endovascular treatment (EVT) strategy for those patients is still unclear. Although the intracranial mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is considered as a standard treatment approach, the EICA lesion stent necessity remains a matter of debate. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of EVT in tandem lesions, particularly the EICA stenting management. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with anterior circulation stroke associated with EICA lesion and receiving EVT in the three participated stroke centers between November 2017 and December 2020. Patients' data were collected from our prospective stroke registry (STAY ALIVE). Patients enrolled in our study were divided into two groups depending on whether acute carotid stenting (ACS) or balloon angioplasty only (BAO) technique was used. Our primary outcome was the 90-day functional outcome assessed by modified Rankin scale (mRS). Mortality at 90 days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) were considered as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (age: 67 ± 10 years, 38.6% female) were enrolled in our study, including 29 (28.3%) BAO cases, and 72 (71.3%) patients treated with ACS. Patients in the BAO group were slightly older (70 ± 9 years vs. 66 ± 10 years, p = 0.054), and had higher prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension (100.0% vs. 59.4%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in favorable outcomes (51.7% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.808) between the groups. However, we observed a trend towards higher rates of sICH (8.3% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.382) and 90-day mortality (23.5% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.278) with significantly higher frequency of distal embolization (39.1% vs. 17.9%, p = 0.043) in patients with ACS. In the overall population age (p = 0.013), atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.008), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) baseline (p = 0.029), and successful recanalization (p = 0.023) were associated with favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Endovascular approach of EICA in addition to MT was safe and effective in tandem occlusion of anterior circulation. Furthermore, our results suggest that balloon angioplasty technique without acute stenting shows a comparable favorable outcome rate to ACS with moderately less hemorrhagic events and mortality rates.

Evaluation of the Histomorphometric and Micromorphometric Performance of a Serum Albumin-Coated Bone Allograft Combined with A-PRF for Early and Conventional Healing Protocols after Maxillary Sinus Augmentation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the microarchitecture of augmented bone following maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) after healing periods of 3 (test) and 6 (control) months using the combination of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) and a serum albumin-coated bone allograft (SACBA). Twenty-six patients with 30 surgical sites who required two-stage MSA were enrolled and grafted with the combination of A-PRF and SACBAs. The surgical sites were randomly allocated to the test or control group. During implant site preparation, 17 bone core biopsy samples were collected from each study group for histological, histomorphometric and micromorphometric analysis. Resonance frequency analysis was performed at the time of implant placement and 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The percentage of newly formed bone was 44.89 ± 9.49% in the test group and 39.75 ± 8.15% in the control group (p = 0.100). The results of the µCT analysis showed no significant differences in morphometric parameters between the study groups. The implant stability quotient was not significantly different between the two groups at 10 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Based on these findings, the total treatment time may be reduced by 3 months with the use of A-PRF and SACBAs for two-stage MSA.

Computational Study of Tetrahedral Fullerenes Containing Fused Pentagon-Triples.

Fullerenes that violate the isolated pentagon rule are too reactive and were obtained only as endoor exohedral derivatives. Density functional theory using the B3LYP hybrid density functional was applied to investigate the electronic and structural properties of the ten smallest tetrahedral (Td or T point group) fullerenes containing four directly fused pentagon-triples. The influence of nitrogen doping and exohedral hydrogenation of the four reactive sites was also analyzed. Nucleus independent chemical shifts values computed using B3LYP/6-31G(d) are used as global and local aromaticity probe. The global strain energy is evaluated in terms of the pyramidalization (POAV) angle. The results show that the stability increases with the elimination of the energetically unfavorable strain.

Increased level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 is associated with survival in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple cytokines have been implicated in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (LIGHT/TNFSF14) and oncostatin-M (OSM) have not been previously explored. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between TNFSF14 and OSM levels and survival. Our secondary goal was to investigate a potential association between these markers and the incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). MATERIALS & METHODS: We consecutively recruited 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of aSAH. LIGHT/TNFSF14 and OSM serum concentrations were determined by ELISA. The primary endpoint was survival at Day 30, while development of DCI was assessed as secondary outcome. RESULTS: Patients had significantly higher levels of both markers than the control group (median of LIGHT: 18.1 pg/ml vs. 7 pg/ml; p = 0.01; median of OSM: 10.3 pg/ml vs. 2.8 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Significantly lower serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found in nonsurviving patients (n = 9) compared with survivors (n = 51; p = 0.011). Based on ROC analysis, serum LIGHT/TNFSF14 with a cutoff value of >7.95 pg/ml predicted 30-day survival with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 78% (Area: 0.763; 95% CI: 0.604-0.921, p = 0.013). In addition, it was also a predictor of DCI with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 62.5% (AUC: 0.702; 95% CI: 0.555-0.849, p = 0.018). Based on binary logistic regression analysis, LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found to be independently associated with 30-day mortality, but not with DCI. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, a higher serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was associated with increased survival of patients with aSAH.

Successful management of zinc phosphide poisoning-a Hungarian case.

BACKGROUND: Zinc phosphide (ZnP) is the basic component of several insecticides easily accessible worldwide. Intentional or accidental intoxication may lead to severe complications and multiple organ failure, resulting in high mortality. No known antidote is currently available. The iron-chelation and the antioxidative effects are well-known features of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), although its use in the treatment of ZnP poisoning has not been documented previously. We describe the case of a patient with serious ZnP poisoning with multiple organ failure, where ALA was also included in the patient's supportive therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old man ingested 125 g of Arvalin® (containing 5 g ZnP) and presented to the Emergency Department, with respiratory insufficiency and decreased consciousness. He developed hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, low white blood cell count, elevated C-reactive protein level, mixed acidosis, hepatic and kidney damage, thickening of the jejunal wall, and lung atelectasis, which served as a basis for the ensuing bacterial pneumonia. Antibiotics and adequate supportive therapy were provided. Laboratory tests indicated liver damage (slightly increased liver enzymes, low pseudocholinesterase levels; 706 U/L on day 2), possibly caused by the patient's chronic alcoholism or the ZnP poison itself, therefore, hepatoprotective agents, ALA (Thiogamma Turbo-Set®) with N-acetylcysteine were administered for six consecutive days. Pseudocholinesterase values increased sixfold until the end of the second week of care. Fifteen days after admission, the patient was relocated to the department of psychiatry with stable vital functions, clear consciousness, declining inflammatory markers, and improved liver function. He was discharged 1 month later, fully recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Our case is the first documented voluntary and severe ZnP poisoning in Hungary. Our patient developed multiple organ failure and atelectasis, possibly resulting in the observed respiratory infection. The development of bacterial pneumonia highlighted the dangers of phosphine-induced atelectasis. The use of ALA in our patient's case, as an antioxidant and agent for metal chelation, suggested that this agent could be a promising tool in the prevention and treatment of ZnP-induced hepatic damage.

Beyond polyphagy and opportunism: natural prey of hunting spiders in the canopy of apple trees.

Spiders (Araneae) form abundant and diverse assemblages in agroecosystems such as fruit orchards, and thus might have an important role as natural enemies of orchard pests. Although spiders are polyphagous and opportunistic predators in general, limited information exists on their natural prey at both species and community levels. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the natural prey (realized trophic niche) of arboreal hunting spiders, their role in trophic webs and their biological control potential with direct observation of predation events in apple orchards. Hunting spiders with prey in their chelicerae were collected in the canopy of apple trees in organic apple orchards in Hungary during the growing seasons between 2013 and 2019 and both spiders and their prey were identified and measured. Among others, the composition of the actual (captured by spiders) and the potential (available in the canopy) prey was compared, trophic niche and food web metrics were calculated, and some morphological, dimensional data of the spider-prey pairs were analyzed. Species-specific differences in prey composition or pest control ability were also discussed. By analyzing a total of 878 prey items captured by spiders, we concluded that arboreal hunting spiders forage selectively and consume a large number of apple pests; however, spiders' beneficial effects are greatly reduced by their high levels of intraguild predation and by a propensity to switch from pests to alternative prey. In this study, arboreal hunting spiders showed negative selectivity for pests, no selectivity for natural enemies and positive selectivity for neutral species. In the trophic web, the dominant hunting spider taxa/groups (Carrhotus xanthogramma, Philodromus cespitum, Clubiona spp., Ebrechtella tricuspidata, Xysticus spp. and 'Other salticids') exhibit different levels of predation on different prey groups and the trophic web's structure changes depending on the time of year. Hunting spiders show a high functional redundancy in their predation, but contrary to their polyphagous nature, the examined spider taxa showed differences in their natural diet, exhibited a certain degree of prey specialization and selected prey by size and taxonomic identity. Guilds (such as stalkers, ambushers and foliage runners) did not consistently predict either prey composition or predation selectivity of arboreal hunting spider species. From the economic standpoint, Ph. cespitum and Clubiona spp. were found to be the most effective natural enemies of apple pests, especially of aphids. Finally, the trophic niche width of C. xanthogramma and Ph. cespitum increased during ontogeny, resulting in a shift in their predation. These results demonstrate how specific generalist predators can differ from each other in aspects of their predation ecology even within a relatively narrow taxonomic group.