Unveiling the impact of enhanced hydrophobicity of ZIF-71 on butanol purification: insights from experimental and molecular simulations.

Biofuels offer significant potential for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy sustainability, but their efficient purification remains a significant challenge. In this study, the performance of a hydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-71(ClBr)-SE, in the adsorptive separation of butanol from single- and ternary-component systems (acetone, butanol, and ethanol) was investigated and compared with ZIF-8 and ZIF-71. Physicochemical characterization techniques, including XRD, SEM, BET, TGA, and DVS, confirmed that the modified ZIF-71 is hydrophobic, isostructural with ZIF-71, and has a higher surface area. Adsorption tests in aqueous solutions revealed that ZIF-71(ClBr)-SE unexpectedly showed a higher affinity for acetone over butanol. DFT molecular simulations provided insights into solute-ZIF interactions, highlighting preferential sites for ZIF interaction.

Improvement of quality of life on breast cancer-related lymphedema patients through a postmastectomy care program in Mexico: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improved through a postmastectomy care program focused on breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) protection/awareness. METHODS: Postoperative breast cancer patients were enrolled prospectively (February-2018 to September-2019) at Nursing and Obstetrics Faculty, Durango, Mexico. Sociodemographic/clinical characteristics, arm measurements, and HRQOL evaluation with Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer were collected at baseline and after six follow-up assessments between six-to-twelve-month postmastectomy. Lymphedema was verified through circometry. Descriptive analysis and McNemar-Bowker test were used to evaluate paired differences in HRQOL. Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of BCRL using Pearson's chi-squared or Fisher exact test along with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). All tests were two-sided with P-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: One-hundred-two patients developed BCRL (incidence 66.2%, n = 154). All dimensions of HRQOL improved after the postmastectomy care program (P < 0.05). The subgroup analysis indicated that elementary academic degree (OR = 2.40, 95%CI: 1.01-5.69), laborer (OR = 9.85, 95%CI: 3.30-29.3), and total mastectomy (OR = 4.23, 95%CI: 1.20-14.9) were more associated with BCRL (P < 0.05). Conversely, high school academic degree (OR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.22-0.94), married status (OR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.21-0.86), housewife (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.12-0.61), professional occupation (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.01-0.64), and having no comorbidities (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.15-0.63) were less associated with BCRL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although HRQOL improved through the postmastectomy care program, our findings suggest that lower education, working as a laborer, and total mastectomy may be more associated with BCRL. Continuing research may uncover liabilities among BCRL patients within limited-resources settings.

Risk for Suicide Attempts Assessed Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Modified for Teens.

Importance: Suicide is a leading cause of death in US youths. Objective: To assess whether screening with supplemental items 10 to 13 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 modified for teens (PHQ-9M) improves prediction of youth suicide attempts beyond the information provided by the first 9 items alone (the PHQ-9). Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used a retrospective cohort of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who were screened for depression in outpatient facilities within a pediatric health care system between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, with up to 1 year of follow-up to assess the occurrence of suicidal behavior. Follow-up was completed on December 31, 2023. Exposure: Screening with the PHQ-9M. Main Outcomes and Measures: This study developed and compared prediction using 3 Cox proportional hazards regression models (CR-9, CR-13, and CR-3) of subsequent suicide attempts, determined by the hospital's electronic health records up to 1 year following the last PHQ-9M screening. The CR-9 model used the PHQ-9 and the CR-13 model used all 13 items of PHQ-9M. The CR-3 model used the 3 most impactful variables selected from the 13 PHQ-9M items and PHQ-9 total score. All models were evaluated across 4 prediction horizons (30, 90, 180, and 365 days) following PHQ-9M screenings. Evaluation metrics were the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the area under the precision recall curve (AUPRC). Results: Of 130 028 outpatients (65 520 [50.4%] male) with 272 402 PHQ-9M screenings, 549 (0.4%) had subsequent suicide attempts within 1 year following the PHQ-9M screening. The AUROC of the CR-9 model in the 365-day horizon was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.75-0.79); of the CR-13 model, 0.80 (95% CI, 0.78-0.82); and of the CR-3 model, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76-0.81); the AUPRC of the CR-9 model was 0.02 (95% CI, 0.02-0.03); of the CR-13 model, 0.03 (95% CI, 0.02-0.03); and of the CR-3 model, 0.02 (95% CI, 0.02-0.03). The 3 most impactful items using adjusted hazard ratios were supplemental item 13 (lifetime suicide attempts; 3.06 [95% CI, 2.47-3.80]), supplemental item 10 (depressed mood severity in the past year; 2.99 [95% CI, 2.32-3.86]), and supplemental item 12 (serious suicidal ideation in the past month; 1.63 [95% CI, 1.25-2.12]). All of the models achieved higher AUROCs as prediction horizons shortened. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of adolescent PHQ-9M screenings, the supplemental items on PHQ-9M screening improved prediction of youth suicide attempts compared with screening using the PHQ-9 across all prediction horizons, suggesting that PHQ-9M screening should be considered during outpatient visits to improve prediction of suicide attempts.

A new day has come: Sotatercept for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Despite increasing therapeutic options and evolving treatment strategies, including targeting three therapeutic pathways, in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), morbidity and mortality have remained unacceptably high. Sotatercept is a first-in-class, novel activin signaling inhibitor approved for treating PAH based on evolving efficacy and safety evidence. This state-of-the-art review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanism of action, the impact on outcomes that improve how patients feel, function, and survive, and the safety and adverse event profile to inform readers of this breakthrough novel therapy.

Role of the Compression Ratio in Dual-Fuel Compression Ignition Combustion with Hydrogen and Methanol.

Renewable hydrogen and e-fuels, synthesized from captured CO2 and renewable H2, are feasible ways to achieve transport decarbonization, particularly in medium/heavy-duty applications and the maritime sector, where compression ignition engines predominate. Hydrogen and methanol are low carbon-intensive fuels, which can be used in these engines by carrying out dual-fuel combustion with a diesel-like fuel. Under low load engine conditions, reaching very high substitutions of the fossil diesel fuel can be a major challenge as the presence of these fuels affects negatively the autoignition process. Therefore, this work explores the substitution limits in dual-fuel mode with hydrogen and methanol under low load conditions (5.2 bar IMEP) for two different compression ratios (15.84:1 and 18.04:1) using a 1.13 L single-cylinder engine. Increasing the compression ratio allowed improvement of the maximum diesel substitution from 55 to 82% (also achieving a significant improvement of the thermal efficiency) with methanol and from 91 to 93% with H2 (but decreasing the thermal efficiency due to higher heat transfer losses).

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety questionnaire for a Chilean hospital.

BACKGROUND: Hospital Survey on Patient Safety version 2.0 (HSOSPS 2.0) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality enables hospitals to gather the information needed to evaluate the patient safety culture within their institution. However, version 2.0 has not been widely implemented in Chile. This study aims to customize and validate the original HSOSPS 2.0 for a Chilean hospital. METHODS: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation, content validity through a group of experts, and a pilot test with cognitive pretest were applied to 259 participants from the nursing team in 11 hospital services to study construct validity and reliability. RESULTS: In the current study, a version of the questionnaire adapted to the Chilean cultural context showed excellent content validity with an index of 0.982 (S-CVI). After conducting exploratory factor analysis, a new model with 7 dimensions and 23 questions was proposed, down from the original 10 dimensions and 32 questions. This new model explains 71% of the variability. The model's goodness of fit indicators were CFI=0.995, TLI=0.994, and RMSEA=0.048. The results of McDonald's Omega showed high overall reliability with 0.9325. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a validated measurement instrument that contributes to improving patient safety conditions at the level of the hospital nursing team in highly complex establishments in Chile. However, the dimensions, such as the number of items, were reduced This questionnaire can be used in future nursing research by expanding the sample among health professionals in Chile. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Applying this version of the questionnaire will be highly beneficial for clinical administrators and nursing staff. It will improve their care practices and promote patient safety in public hospitals in Chile, as well as assist in enhancing nursing policies.

Cationic Carbosilane Dendrimers for Apmnkq2 Aptamer Transfection in Breast Cancer: An Alternative to Traditional Transfectants.

Transfection efficiency is a critical parameter in gene therapy and molecular biology, representing the success rate at which nucleic acids are introduced and expressed in target cells. The combination of aptamers with nanotechnology-based delivery systems has demonstrated remarkable improvements in the transfection efficiency of therapeutic agents and holds significant potential for advancing gene therapy and the development of targeted treatments for various diseases, including cancer. In this work, cationic carbosilane dendritic systems are presented as an alternative to commercial transfection agents, demonstrating an increase in transfection efficiency when used for the internalization of apMNKQ2, an aptamer selected against a target in cancer. Their potential therapeutic use has been evaluated in breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231, studying the cytotoxicity of the nanoconjugate, the internalization process, and its effect on cellular migration processes.

Finite element analysis evaluation of hypothetical alternative treatment scenarios for neglected developmental dysplasia of the hip.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate three different degrees of correction in the surgical treatment of neglected developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using finite element models based on computed tomography. METHOD: Three tridimensional FEA models of hypothetical post-operative (PO) outcomes were developed, based on three tridimensional CT of a pediatric patient diagnosed with luxated neglected DDH: One with the acetabular index of the contralateral hip (CLAT); another based on a theoretical Bombelli biomechanical model (BMB); and another recreating the patient's actual PO. RESULTS: The stresses in the affected hip were greater than those in the unaffected hip. CLAT showed the greatest stress and the smallest loading zone (LZ). In contrast, BMB showed the smallest stress and the biggest LZs. CONCLUSIONS: The approach based on the BMB gave the best results in terms of the distribution of the stresses over the hip, whereas the worst was CLAT. Qualitatively, estimating the stability and range of movement of the hip, the PO case was considered the best.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar tres diferentes grados de corrección en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la displasia del desarrollo de la cadera (DDH) inveterada mediante modelos de elementos finitos basados en tomografía computarizada. MÉTODO: Se desarrollaron tres modelos tridimensionales de elementos finitos de resultados posoperatorios hipotéticos, basados en tres tomografías computarizadas tridimensionales de un paciente pediátrico diagnosticado de displasia del desarrollo de la cadera luxada inveterada: uno con el índice acetabular de la cadera contralateral (CLAT), otro basado en un modelo biomecánico teórico de Bombelli (BMB) y otro recreando el posoperatorio real (PO) del paciente. RESULTADOS: Los esfuerzos en la cadera afectada fueron mayores que en la cadera no afectada. El CLAT mostró el mayor esfuerzo y la menor zona de carga. Por el contrario, el BMB mostró el menor esfuerzo y las mayores zonas de carga. CONCLUSIONES: La propuesta basada en el BMB dio los mejores resultados en cuanto a la distribución de los esfuerzos sobre la cadera, mientras que la peor fue el CLAT. Cualitativamente, estimando la estabilidad y la amplitud de movimiento de la cadera, el caso PO se consideró el mejor.

Gingival inflammation and leukocyte-endothelium cell interactions in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Given the link between chronic inflammation and periodontal pathologies and increased cardiovascular risk, this study aims to investigate if gingivitis exacerbates the inflammatory response and subclinical atherosclerotic markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: For this case-control study, women were assigned to three groups: two PCOS groups (with and without gingivitis) and a control group. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were determined, along with periodontal parameters (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment level [CAL], bleeding on probing [BOP], plaque index, calculus index, and tooth loss), systemic and neutrophil inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα], C-reactive protein [CRP], and c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]), systemic oxidative stress mediators (myeloperoxidase [MPO] and glutathione), soluble cellular adhesion molecules, and neutrophil-endothelium cell interactions (rolling flux, velocity, and adhesion). RESULTS: Of 104 women recruited, 68 had PCOS, 24 of whom presented gingivitis, and 36 were controls. PCOS patients presented altered sexual hormone, lipid, and carbohydrate profiles. Levels of systemic inflammatory markers, MPO, and soluble platelet selectin (sP-selectin) were higher, and glutathione levels were lower in PCOS patients. BOP, plaque, and calculus index values were higher in PCOS patients with gingivitis. Neutrophils from PCOS patients showed increased JNK and decreased adhesion under flow conditions, with reduced rolling velocity and increased rolling flux and cellular adhesion, all of which were more pronounced in those with gingivitis. BOP was independently associated with rolling velocity, rolling flux, and cellular adhesion. CONCLUSION: Neutrophils of PCOS patients with gingivitis exhibit hyperactivity, promoting interaction with the endothelium and potentially contributing to atherosclerotic disease. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Currently, there is a high prevalence of diseases that affect tooth-supporting tissues (periodontal diseases) and negatively influence the oral health and quality of life of the adult population. These pathologies lead to movement of the teeth and impairment of chewing function, eventually resulting in the loss of teeth. In recent years, the concept of periodontal medicine has arisen and consists of studying how periodontal diseases can influence our general inflammatory system and how systemic inflammatory pathologies can affect our oral health. In the present study, we evaluate a group of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by alterations of sex hormones and lipid profile and weight gain (body mass index). Our results show a high prevalence of gum inflammation among women with PCOS, which affects the interaction of their leukocytes and endothelial cells. The leukocytes of these women are hyper-responsive, presenting greater endothelial adhesion, lower flow velocity and enhanced rolling compared to those in a PCOS group without gum inflammation or controls. This study has generated a new line of research to analyze how neutrophils from patients with gingivitis exhibit hyperactivity, which promotes their interaction with the endothelium, thus contributing to the development of atherosclerotic disease.

Cannabis use disorder: from neurobiology to treatment.

Cannabis has been legalized for medical and recreational purposes in multiple countries. A large number of people are using cannabis and some will develop cannabis use disorder (CUD). There is a growing recognition that CUD requires specific interventions. This Review will cover this topic from a variety of perspectives, with a particular emphasis on neurobiological findings and innovative treatment approaches that are being pursued. We will first describe the epidemiology and burden of disease of CUD, including risk factors associated with CUD (both in terms of general risk and genetic risk variants). Neurobiological alterations identified in brain imaging studies will be presented. Several psychosocial interventions that are useful for the management of CUD, including motivational enhancement therapy, behavioral and cognitive therapy, and contingency management, will be covered. Although no pharmacological interventions are yet approved for CUD, we present the most promising pharmacological interventions being tested.

Agreement between the EWGSOP2 and SDOC consensuses for sarcopenia in patients receiving hemodialysis: Findings of a cross sectional analysis from the SARC-HD study.

BACKGROUND: Differences in definitions and operational diagnoses for sarcopenia create difficulties in understanding the epidemiology of the disease. We examined the prevalences of sarcopenia using the revised European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) consensuses and analyzed their level of agreement in patients receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: Data from the SARCopenia trajectories and associations with clinical outcomes in patients receiving hemodialysis (SARC-HD) multicenter study in Brazil were analyzed. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip strength, muscle mass by calf circumference, and physical performance by the 4-m gait speed test. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to both the EWGSOP2 (low muscle strength plus low muscle mass) and the SDOC (low muscle strength plus low physical performance). The Cohen kappa statistic was used to determine the level of agreement between the consensuses. RESULTS: 838 patients (57.8 ± 15.0 years; 61% men) from 19 dialysis units were included. We found similar prevalences of sarcopenia between the consensuses (EWGSOP2, n = 128, 15.3%; SDOC, n = 105, 12.5%) but with weak agreement (50 of 233 patients, 21.5%; κ = 0.34, 95% CI 0.25-0.43). Agreement was also weak within age categories (≥60 years, κ = 0.34; <60 years, κ = 0.15; both P < 0.001). Of the 51 patients diagnosed by the EWGSOP2 criterion as having severe sarcopenia, all but 1 (98.0%) met the SDOC criterion for sarcopenia (κ = 0.61, 95% CI 0.52-0.70). Low muscle strength was more frequently diagnosed using the SDOC than with the EWGSOP2 (52.3% vs 25.9%). CONCLUSION: We found a weak agreement between the EWGSOP2 and SDOC consensuses for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients receiving hemodialysis. Although still weak, agreement was marginally better for older patients. These findings highlight the importance of a global and standardized conceptual diagnosis of sarcopenia.

An array of Zymoseptoria tritici effectors suppress plant immune responses.

Zymoseptoria tritici is the most economically significant fungal pathogen of wheat in Europe. However, despite the importance of this pathogen, the molecular interactions between pathogen and host during infection are not well understood. Herein, we describe the use of two libraries of cloned Z. tritici effectors that were screened to identify effector candidates with putative pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI)-suppressing activity. The effectors from each library were transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana, and expressing leaves were treated with bacterial or fungal PAMPs to assess the effectors' ability to suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. From these screens, numerous effectors were identified with PTI-suppressing activity. In addition, some effectors were able to suppress cell death responses induced by other Z. tritici secreted proteins. We used structural prediction tools to predict the putative structures of all of the Z. tritici effectors and used these predictions to examine whether there was enrichment of specific structural signatures among the PTI-suppressing effectors. From among the libraries, multiple members of the killer protein-like 4 (KP4) and killer protein-like 6 (KP6) effector families were identified as PTI suppressors. This observation is intriguing, as these protein families were previously associated with antimicrobial activity rather than virulence or host manipulation. This data provides mechanistic insight into immune suppression by Z. tritici during infection and suggests that, similar to biotrophic pathogens, this fungus relies on a battery of secreted effectors to suppress host immunity during early phases of colonization.

Homelessness and Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study of Facilitators and Barriers to Self-Management and Medication Adherence.

PURPOSE: In this study, we explore the barriers and facilitators to diabetes medication adherence and self-management for people with type 2 diabetes who have experienced homelessness. METHODS: We conducted five focus groups and two interviews with 26 participants. Our multi-disciplinary analysis team utilized principles of grounded theory and conducted thematic analysis with an inductive, iterative process to identify central themes. RESULTS: The majority of participants identified as Black/African American and over half stayed in shelters or had no steady place to stay at enrollment. Three key themes emerged regarding medication adherence and diabetes self-management for people who have experienced homelessness: personal autonomy and security, predictability and stability, and supportive, knowledgeable relationships (both social and medical). We define personal autonomy and security as individual agency and choice when making decisions related to one's health and well-being as well as protection from risk or harm to one's physical or psychological well-being, belongings, or means of income. Predictability and stability take place through the development of a system of connections and routines built over time where individuals can reliably adopt and maintain diabetes self-management activities. Supportive, knowledgeable relationships include medical and social relationships that offer encouragement, information, and hands-on care promoting diabetes self-management and connection to clinical care and resources. Participants also highlighted a "domino effect" where a cascade of events negatively and consequently impacted their health and well-being. We describe the interactions of these themes, the intersection of structural vulnerability and individual social risks, and resulting impacts on medication adherence and diabetes self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the structural vulnerabilities impacting people experiencing homelessness and identify inflection points of opportunity at structural and individual levels to strengthen diabetes medication adherence and self-management. This understanding can inform policy change and future tailored diabetes interventions.

Multimodal neuroimaging in Long-COVID and its correlates with cognition 1.8 years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional study of the Aliança ProHEpiC-19 Cognitiu.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in the effect of Long-COVID (LC) on cognition, and neuroimaging allows us to gain insight into the structural and functional changes underlying cognitive impairment in LC. We used multimodal neuroimaging data in combination with neuropsychological evaluations to study cognitive complaints in a cohort of LC patients with mild to moderate severity symptoms. Methods: We conducted a 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI) sequences on 53 LC patients 1.8 years after acute COVID-19 onset. We administered neuropsychological tests to evaluate cognitive domains and examined correlations with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and resting state. Results: We included 53 participants with LC (mean age, 48.23 years; 88.7% females). According to the Frascati criteria, more than half of the participants had deficits in the executive (59%) and attentional (55%) domains, while 40% had impairments in the memory domain. Only one participant (1.89%) showed problems in the visuospatial and visuoconstructive domain. We observed that increased radial diffusivity in different white matter tracts was negatively correlated with the memory domain. Our results showed that higher resting state activity in the fronto-parietal network was associated with lower memory performance. Moreover, we detected increased functional connectivity among the bilateral hippocampus, the right hippocampus and the left amygdala, and the right hippocampus and the left middle temporal gyrus. These connectivity patterns were inversely related to memory and did not survive false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Discussion: People with LC exhibit cognitive impairments linked to long-lasting changes in brain structure and function, which justify the cognitive alterations detected.

Vaccine Confidence and Coverage among Medical Students at a Federal University in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Declining vaccination coverage (VC) and vaccine hesitancy among medical students are global challenges. These challenges reflect individual and logistical barriers to a sufficient adherence toward essential vaccines for healthcare professionals, as well as presenting a need for educational strategies during undergraduate training. METHODS: This is a prospective study for evaluating VC rates, sociodemographic associations, and the vaccine confidence among medical students at a federal university in Brazil. The data collection included questionnaires and individual analyses of the participants' vaccination records. RESULTS: A total of 237 medical students from all six years of an undergraduate program participated, of whom 124 (52.3%) had a vaccination record. Although the majority considered the vaccines to be "Completely Safe" (86.9%), the VC rates for complete vaccination schedules were relatively low, ranging from 87.9% (hepatitis B vaccine) to 3.2% (meningococcal B vaccine), including the vaccines from the National Immunization Program (NIP) and the private sector. Higher VC rates were found to occur among students in the final years of their undergraduate studies, in those from families with higher monthly incomes, and those from private secondary schools. CONCLUSIONS: Given the low VC rates among medical students, other factors in addition to vaccine confidence may be determinants, thus highlighting the importance of reviewing policies for the inclusion of priority groups in the NIP and in implementing educational interventions during undergraduate training.

Enhancing the cultivation of Salicornia fruticosa with agroindustrial compost leachates in a cascade cropping system: evaluating the impact of melatonin application.

Cascade cropping systems (CCS) utilize leachate from a primary crop to grow secondary crops and enhance the efficient use of water and fertilizers in areas with scarce water resources. A preliminary study investigated the effect of melatonin in a cascade cropping system to potentially improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. This study aimed to cultivate Salicornia fruticosa in this cropping system to reduce nutrient discharge and assess the impact of exogenous melatonin on Salicornia growth and quality. The CCS included a primary crop of Salicornia grown in an agro-industrial compost or peat. Leachates from these media were used to cultivate the same plant once again in a floating system under four treatments: compost leachate (T1), peat leachate (T2), 100% nutrient solution (NS) (T3), 50% NS (T4) strength. Four concentrations of exogenous melatonin were applied in foliar spray: 0, 100, 200, and 400 µM. Melatonin application increased yield, with the highest values observed when plants were grown in T1. Water use efficiency was also maximized in T1 and with both 200 and 400 µM melatonin applications. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was achieved in plants grown in peat leachate. The lipid membrane damage was assessed revealing that plants grown in compost leachate exhibited the lowest MDA values regardless of melatonin concentrations. The accumulation of some antinutritional compounds (nitrate, oxalate, and sodium) were the highest in those plants grown in compost leachate. Overall, shoots grown in peat leachate exhibited the best phytochemical profile (total phenol content, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity), with peak values in plants treated with 200 µM melatonin. These findings suggest that S. fruticosa can be effectively cultivated using leachate from a previous crop in a floating system and that exogenous melatonin application enhances the yield and nutritional quality of Salicornia shoots.

Casamassima-Morton-Nance Syndrome and Limb-Body Wall Defect: Presentation of the Second Case and Phenotypic Assessment.

Casamassima-Morton-Nance syndrome (CMNS) is a rare disorder characterized by spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD), anal atresia, and urogenital anomalies. We describe a fetus with CMNS associated with a limb-body wall defect (LBWD), the second such case in the literature. We compare the phenotypic differences with previously reported cases, including those with segmentation anomalies of the axial skeleton, body wall defects, or absent/abnormal genitalia, revealing the consistent presence of SCD in CMNS. However, as expected, a wide phenotypic spectrum emerges, providing useful observations for fetal/neonatal screening relevant to differential diagnoses. Advanced diagnostic methods using imaging and next-generation skeletal dysplasia multi-gene panels are advisable, as they enable timely, actionable, well-informed decisions for parental counseling, potential elective termination of pregnancy, and prenatal and/or postnatal care. Most reported cases do not mention the recurrence of these usually lethal anomalies.