Hemoglobin Oviedo (c.115A > G; p.T39A): A Cause of Low Oxygen Saturation.

We report a new low-affinity hemoglobinopathy (Hemoglobin Oviedo) in a family with isolated low oxygen saturation (89-92%) caused by a previously undescribed variant (NM_000518.5: c.115A > G;p.Thr39Ala) in the hemoglobin subunit ß encoding gene (HBB gene) located on chromosome 11.

A new type of Class C ß-lactamases defined by PIB-1. A metal-dependent carbapenem-hydrolyzing ß-lactamase, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Structural and functional analysis.

Antibiotic resistance is one of most important health concerns nowadays, and ß-lactamases are the most important resistance determinants. These enzymes, based on their structural and functional characteristics, are grouped in four categories (A, B, C and D). We have solved the structure of PIB-1, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosomally-encoded ß-lactamase, in its apo form and in complex with meropenem and zinc. These crystal structures show that it belongs to the Class C ß-lactamase group, although it shows notable differences, especially in the Ω- and P2-loops, which are important for the enzymatic activity. Functional analysis showed that PIB-1 is able to degrade carbapenems but not cephalosporins, the typical substrate of Class C ß-lactamases, and that its catalytic activity increases in the presence of metal ions, especially zinc. They do not bind to the active-site but they induce the formation of trimers that show an increased capacity for the degradation of the antibiotics, suggesting that this oligomer is more active than the other oligomeric species. While PIB-1 is structurally a Class C ß-lactamase, the low sequence conservation, substrate profile and its metal-dependence, prompts us to position this enzyme as the founder of a new group inside the Class C ß-lactamases. Consequently, its diversity might be wider than expected.

Influence of Fractures and Dislocations in Severity of Rocker-Bottom Deformity in Patients with Charcot Foot.

The objective of this study was to identify bone fractures and joint dislocations that have greater association with the severity of arch collapse in patients with Charcot foot involving the midfoot.A retrospective study in 28 (N = 29 feet) patients who had Charcot foot deformity of the midfoot. The study included stage III of Eichenholtz classification, and Schon classification types I to III. Talar-first metatarsal and calcaneal pitch angles and cuboid height were used to evaluate the severity of the midfoot deformity in a weightbearing lateral radiograph. Two investigators evaluated the bone fracture and joint dislocation involved in weightbearing antero-posterior and lateral radiographs.There were 13 (46%) feet that showed pattern 1, 9 (31%) feet with pattern 2, and 7 (25%) feet with pattern 3 according to the Schon classification. One foot had a combination of patterns 1 and 2. Midfoot ulceration occurred in 64% (n = 19) of feet. In the multivariate analysis, plantarflexion of talar-first metatarsal angle was predicted by navicular-medial cuneiform dislocation (p = .007 [-20.620-3.683]), an increase of the negative calcaneal pitch angle by fragmentation of the cuboid (p = .003 [-15.568-3.626]), and increment of the negative cuboid height by navicular-medial cuneiform and medial cuneiform-first metatarsal dislocations (p = .040 [-12.779-0.317], p = .002 [-13.437-3.267], respectively).Bone fractures and dislocations in the sagittal plane seem to contribute to midfoot collapse, but navicular-medial cuneiform dislocation/non-union and cuboid fragmentation predict severe rocker-bottom deformity in cases of Charcot foot.

Peroxiredoxin 2 regulates DAF-16/FOXO mediated mitochondrial remodelling in response to exercise that is disrupted in ageing.

Ageing is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. Exercise generates endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promotes rapid mitochondrial remodelling. We investigated the role of Peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX-2) in mitochondrial adaptations to exercise and ageing using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. PRDX-2 was required for the mitochondrial remodelling in response to exercise mediated by DAF-16 transcription factor activation and regulation of mitochondrial fusion gene eat-3. Employing an acute exercise and recovery cycle, we demonstrated exercise-induced mitochondrial ER contact sites (MERCS) assembly and mitochondrial remodelling dependent on PRDX-2 and DAF-16 signalling. There was increased mitochondrial fragmentation, elevated ROS and an altered redox state of PRDX-2 concomitant with impaired DAF-16 nuclear localisation during ageing. Similarly, the prdx-2 mutant strain exhibited increased mitochondrial fragmentation and a failure to activate DAF-16 required for mitochondrial fusion. Collectively, our data highlight the critical role of PRDX-2 in orchestrating mitochondrial remodelling in response to a physiological stress by regulating DAF-16 nuclear localisation.

Enhanced Electrocatalysis on Copper Nanostructures: Role of the Oxidation State in Sulfite Oxidation.

The influence of surface morphology and the oxidation state on the electrocatalytic activity of nanostructured electrodes is well recognized, yet disentangling their individual roles in specific reactions remains challenging. Here, we investigated the electrooxidation of sulfite ions in an alkaline environment using cyclic voltammetry on copper oxide nanostructured electrodes with different oxidation states and morphologies but with similar active areas. To this aim, we synthesized nanostructured Cu films made of nanoparticles or nanorods on top of glassy carbon electrodes. Our findings showed an enhanced sensitivity and a lower detection threshold when utilizing Cu(I) over Cu(II). Density functional theory-based thermochemical analysis revealed the underlying oxidation mechanism, indicating that while the energy gain associated with the process is comparable for both oxide surfaces, the desorption energy barrier for the resulting sulfate molecules is three times higher on Cu(II). This becomes the limiting step of the reaction kinetics and diminishes the overall electrooxidation efficiency. Our proposed mechanism relies on the tautomerization of hydroxyl groups confined on the surface of Cu-based electrodes. This mechanism might be applicable to electrochemical reactions involving other sulfur compounds that hold technological significance.

Olaparib plus trastuzumab in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations: The OPHELIA phase 2 study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of olaparib plus trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) and germinal BRCA mutations (gBRCAm). METHODS: OPHELIA (NCT03931551) was a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 clinical trial. Patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with HER2-positive ABC with germinal deleterious mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 who had received at least one prior systemic regimen for advanced disease were enrolled. Patients received olaparib plus trastuzumab until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed clinical benefit rate for at least 24 weeks as per RECIST v.1.1. Key secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and safety profile. RESULTS: A total of 68 pre-treated HER2-positive ABC patients were screened. Due to slow accrual the trial was stopped after enrolling 5 patients instead of the planned sample size of 20. Four patients achieved clinical benefit (80.0 %, 95 % CI; 28.4-99.5, p < 0.001) and the primary endpoint was met. The ORR was 60.0 % (95 % CI; 14.7-94.7), including one complete response. Four (80.0 %) patients experienced at least one treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). Most TEAEs were grade 1 or 2. There were no treatment-related deaths and no new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the combination of olaparib plus trastuzumab may be effective and safe in pre-treated patients with HER2-positive gBRCAm ABC. This ABC patient population should be further studied and not be pre-emptively excluded from clinical trials of targeted therapy for BRCA1/2-driven cancers.

MOFite: A High-Density Lithiophilic and Scalable Metal-Organic Framework Anode for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery.

Developing an anode material that has better performance efficiency than commercial graphite while keeping the features of economic scalability and environmental safety is highly desirable yet challenging. MOFs are a promising addition to the ongoing efforts, however, the relatively poor performance, chemical instability, and large-scale economic production of efficiency-proven pristine MOFs restrict their utility in real-life energy storage applications. Furthermore, hierarchical porosity for lucid mass diffusion, high-density lithiophilic sites are some of the structural parameters for improving the electrode performance. Herein, we have demonstrated the potential of economically scalable salicylaldehydate 3D-conjugated-MOF (Fe-Tp) as a high-performance anode in Li-ion batteries: the anode-specific capacity achieved up to 1447 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and 89% of cyclic stability after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g-1.for pristine MOF. More importantly, incorporating 10% Fe-Tp doping in commercial graphite (MOFite) significantly enhanced lithium storage, doubling capacitance after 400 cycles. It signifies the potential practical utility of Fe-Tp as a performance booster for commercial anode material.

SingleNucleotide Polymorphisms as Biomarkers of Mepolizumab and Benralizumab Treatment Response in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma.

The most promising treatment options for severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA) have emerged in recent years with the development of monoclonal antibodies for blocking selective targets responsible for the underlying inflammation, such as mepolizumab and benralizumab. However, there is variability in treatment response that is not fully controlled. The variability of the response to mepolizumab and benralizumab could be influenced by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and it would be useful to detect these and use them as predictive biomarkers of response. We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of 72 Caucasian patients recruited from a tertiary hospital with severe uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab and benralizumab. Polymorphisms in the IL5 (rs4143832, rs17690122), RAD50 (rs11739623, rs4705959), IL1RL1 (rs1420101, rs17026974, rs1921622), GATA2 (rs4857855), IKZF2 (rs12619285), FCGR2A (rs1801274), FCGR2B (rs3219018, rs1050501), FCGR3A (rs10127939, rs396991), FCER1A (rs2251746, rs2427837), FCER1B (rs1441586, rs573790, rs569108), and ZNF415 (rs1054485) genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Taqman probes. The response was analyzed after 12 months of treatment. In patients under mepolizumab treatment, a treatment response defined as a reduction in exacerbations was associated with ZNF415 rs1054485-T (p = 0.042; OR = 5.33; 95% CI = 1.06-30.02), treatment response defined as a reduction in oral corticosteroids use was associated with the number of exacerbations in the previous year (p = 0.029; OR = 3.89; 95% CI = 1.24-14.92), and treatment response defined as improvement in lung function was associated with the age at the beginning of biological therapy (p = 0.002; OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.04-1.18), FCER1B rs569108-AA (p < 0.001; OR = 171.06; 95% CI = 12.94-6264.11), and FCER1A rs2427837-A (p = 0.021; OR = 8.61; 95% CI = 1.71-76.62). On the other hand, in patients under benralizumab treatment, treatment response, defined as a reduction in exacerbations, was associated with ZNF415 rs1054485-T (p = 0.073; OR = 1.3 × 108; 95% CI = 1.8 × 10-19-NA), FCER1B rs569108-AA (p = 0.050; OR = 11.51; 95% CI = 1.19-269.78), allergies (p = 0.045; OR = 4.02; 95% CI = 1.05-16.74), and sex (p = 0.028; OR = 4.78; 95% CI = 1.22-20.63); and treatment response defined as improvement in lung function was associated with polyposis (p = 0.027; OR = 9.16; 95% CI = 1.58-91.4), IKZF2 rs12619285-AA (p = 0.019; OR = 9.1; 95% CI = 1.7-75.78), IL5 rs4143832-T (p = 0.017; OR = 11.1; 95% CI = 1.9-112.17), and FCER1B rs1441586-C (p = 0.045; OR = 7.81; 95% CI = 1.16-73.45). The results of this study show the potential influence of the studied polymorphisms on the response to mepolizumab and benralizumab and the clinical benefit that could be obtained by defining predictive biomarkers of treatment response.

Early identification of the nosocomial spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and performance comparison with PFGE and WGS.

Early detection of disseminating vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in ICU wards is crucial for outbreak identification and the implementation of prompt infection control measures. Genotypic methods like pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) are costly and time-consuming, hindering rapid response due to batch dependency. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) offers the potential for real-time outbreak detection and reliable strain typing. We utilized FT-IR to identify clonal VREfm dissemination and compared its performance to PFGE and WGS. Between February through October 2023, an unusually high number of VREfm were recovered at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Isolates were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility, carriage of vanA/vanB genes and clonality was also studied using FT-IR, PFGE, and WGS. Routine FT-IR inspections revealed recurring VREfm clustering during the outbreak's initial weeks. In total, 104 isolates were recovered from 75 patients and from multiple wards. However, only one isolate was recovered from an environmental sample, suggesting the absence of environmental reservoirs. An ST80 vancomycin-resistant (vanA) E. faecium strain was the main strain responsible for the outbreak, although a few additional VREfm strains were also identified, all belonging to CC17. PFGE and cgMLST (WGS) yielded identical clustering results to FT-IR, and WGS confirmed vanA/vanB gene carriage in all VREfm isolates. Infection control measures led to a rapid decline in VREfm isolates, with no isolates detected in November. FT-IR spectroscopy offers rapid turnaround times, sensitivity, and reproducibility, comparable to standard typing methods. It proved as an effective tool for monitoring VREfm dissemination and early outbreak detection.

Diagnostic imaging of the diabetic foot: an EANM evidence-based guidance

Consensus on the choice of the most accurate imaging strategy in diabetic foot infective and non-infective complications is still lacking. This document provides evidence-based recommendations, aiming at defining which imaging modality should be preferred in different clinical settings. This working group includes 8 nuclear medicine physicians appointed by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), 3 radiologists and 3 clinicians (one diabetologist, one podiatrist and one infectious diseases specialist) selected for their expertise in diabetic foot. The latter members formulated some clinical questions that are not completely covered by current guidelines. These questions were converted into statements and addressed through a systematic analysis of available literature by using the PICO (Population/Problem­Intervention/Indicator­Comparator­Outcome) strategy. Each consensus statement was scored for level of evidence and for recommendation grade, according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) criteria. Nine clinical questions were formulated by clinicians and used to provide 7 evidence-based recommendations: (1) A patient with a positive probe-to-bone test, positive plain X-rays and elevated ESR should be treated for presumptive osteomyelitis (OM). (2) Advanced imaging with MRI and WBC scintigraphy, or [18F]FDG PET/CT, should be considered when it is needed to better evaluate the location, extent or severity of the infection, in order to plan more tailored treatment. (3) In a patient with suspected OM, positive PTB test but negative plain X-rays, advanced imaging with MRI or WBC scintigraphy + SPECT/CT, or with [18F]FDG PET/CT, is needed to accurately assess the extent of the infection. (4) There are no evidence-based data to definitively prefer one imaging modality over the others for detecting OM or STI in fore- mid- and hind-foot. MRI is generally the first advanced imaging modality to be performed. In case of equivocal results, radiolabelled WBC imaging or [18F]FDG PET/CT should be used to detect OM or STI. (5) MRI is the method of choice for diagnosing or excluding Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy; [18F]FDG PET/CT can be used as an alternative. (6) If assessing whether a patient with a Charcot foot has a superimposed infection, however, WBC scintigraphy may be more accurate than [18F]FDG PET/CT in differentiating OM from Charcot arthropathy. (7) Whenever possible, microbiological or histological assessment should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. (8) Consider appealing to an additional imaging modality in a patient with persisting clinical suspicion of infection, but negative imaging. These practical recommendations highlight, and should assist clinicians in understanding, the role of imaging in the diagnostic workup of diabetic foot complications.

Importancia cultural de la flora empleada por la comunidad nativa Asheninka Sheremashe, Ucayali, Perú / Cultural importance of the flora used by the Asheninka Sheremashe native community, Ucayali, Peru

The cultural significance of the flora used by the native Asheninka Sheremashe community in Ucayali, Peru was determined. To do this, a fieldwork of over 4 months was conducted, involving semi-structured interviews with 106 residents through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The community utilizes 139 plant species in their daily lives, belonging to 120 genera and 52 families, with the most abundant being Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae, and Rutaceae. Furthermore, 25.9% of the species are of significant importance to theinhabitants according to the Cultural Index (CI), such as Manihot esculenta, Theobroma cacao, Bixa orellana, Musa paradisiaca, Ficus insipida, among others. It can be concluded that the flora plays a prominent role in the life of the community, with the categories reporting the highest number of species being: food (29.35%), medicine (28.36%), culture (9.95%), construction (9.45%), lumber (6.97%), commerce (3.48%), craftsmanship (2.49%), toxic (2.49%), and other uses (7.46%)

Se determinó la importancia cultural de la flora empleada por la comunidad nativa Asheninka Sheremashe, en Ucayali, Perú. Para ello, se realizó un trabajo de campo de más de 4 meses, donde se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a 106 habitantes mediante un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. La comunidad emplea 139 especies vegetales en su día a día, pertenecientes a 120 géneros y 52 familias; siendo las más abundantes las Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae y Rutaceae. Además, el 25.9% de las especies tiene gran importancia para los pobladores según el Índice Cultural (IC): Manihot esculenta, Theobroma cacao, Bixa orellana, Musa paradisiaca, Ficus insipida, entre otras. Se concluye que la flora tiene un rol preponderante en la vida de la comunidad, siendo las categorías que presentaron mayor reporte de especies: alimentación (29.35%), medicina (28.36%), cultura (9.95%), construcción (9.45%), aserrío (6.97%), comercio (3.48%), artesanía (2.49%), tóxico (2.49%) y otros usos (7.46%)

Simultaneous analysis of pesticides and mycotoxins in primary processed foods: The case of bee pollen.

Primary Processed Foods are a class of food items that are ready for consumption after minimal processing in the supply chain. These products are ubiquitous in our daily diet, but so far a limited number of studies dealt with the optimization of quality control methods to check their content of contaminants. Among primary processed foods, bee pollen is a nutritionally acclaimed food supplement, whose contamination with pesticides and mycotoxins has been largely proven. For this reason, the present study aimed at optimizing for the first time a comprehensive LC-MS/MS method capable of analyzing 282 pesticides and 8 mycotoxins in bee pollen. To obtain a suitable method, two extraction procedures (QuEChERS and Accelerated Solvent Extraction), as well as different chromatographic gradients and columns, were tested. The optimized methodology, comprehending an extraction based on semi-automated QuEChERS, and an analytical method including inert LC column technology, was validated and applied to a sample set of 34 bee pollens. The analyzed samples collectively showed the presence of 41 pesticides and 1 mycotoxin.

Vitamin D and the Risk of Developing Hypertension in the SUN Project: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a higher risk of multiple diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential association between predicted levels of serum 25(OH)D and the risk of new-onset hypertension in a large Mediterranean cohort. A validated 136-item food frequency questionnaire was used as the dietary assessment tool. 25(OH)D serum levels were predicted using a previously validated equation. We performed Cox regression models to analyze the association between predicted serum 25(OH)D and the risk of hypertension, according to quartiles of forecasted vitamin D at baseline, after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. Over a median follow-up of 12.3 years, 2338 new cases of hypertension were identified. The analyses revealed a significant inverse association between predicted serum levels of 25(OH)D at baseline and the risk of hypertension. Individuals in the highest quartile showed a 30% relatively lower risk of hypertension compared to the lowest quartile (hazard ratio (HR): 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.80, p-trend < 0.001). The outcomes remained significant after performing sensitivity analyses. The findings suggested that higher levels of forecasted vitamin D are inversely and independently associated with the risk of incident hypertension, implying that vitamin D may offer protective benefits against the disease.

[Improving the nutritional care of oncology patients - Validation of a multidisciplinary protocol in the Spanish clinical setting]. / Mejorando la atención nutricional del paciente oncológico: validación de un protocolo multidisciplinar en el entorno clínico español.

INTRODUCTION: malnutrition is a very frequent problem in oncology patients and can have serious repercussions. Adequate nutritional management is cost-effective in terms of health and survival in this population, but it requires multidisciplinary coordination, specific training, and continuous follow-up. OBJECTIVE: to validate the applicability and efficacy of a multidisciplinary nutritional support protocol in oncology patients. METHODS: a multidisciplinary nutritional protocol was developed for oncology patients, with guidelines for screening and assessment of malnutrition, treatment, re-evaluation, and management of side effects, as well as guidance on supplementation and eating patterns. The protocol would be implemented in various clinical centers, collecting data through a structured questionnaire, registering variables before and after implementation. RESULTS: the protocol and its impact were implemented and evaluated in 39 centers. An improvement in nutritional care was observed, evidenced by an earlier initiation of nutritional assessment and an increase in the number of patients receiving adequate care following the protocol implementation. Problems related to inadequate malnutrition coding in the centers, limited resources, and the need for greater interdepartmental collaboration were identified. CONCLUSIONS: the conduct of this study provides insights into how the implementation of a multidisciplinary nutritional support protocol can improve the nutritional care received by patients and informs about the main obstacles to adequate implementation.

Preserving the efficacy of antibiotics to tackle antibiotic resistance.

Different international agencies recognize that antibiotic resistance is one of the most severe human health problems that humankind is facing. Traditionally, the introduction of new antibiotics solved this problem but various scientific and economic reasons have led to a shortage of novel antibiotics at the pipeline. This situation makes mandatory the implementation of approaches to preserve the efficacy of current antibiotics. The concept is not novel, but the only action taken for such preservation had been the 'prudent' use of antibiotics, trying to reduce the selection pressure by reducing the amount of antibiotics. However, even if antibiotics are used only when needed, this will be insufficient because resistance is the inescapable outcome of antibiotics' use. A deeper understanding of the alterations in the bacterial physiology upon acquisition of resistance and during infection will help to design improved strategies to treat bacterial infections. In this article, we discuss the interconnection between antibiotic resistance (and antibiotic activity) and bacterial metabolism, particularly in vivo, when bacteria are causing infection. We discuss as well how understanding evolutionary trade-offs, as collateral sensitivity, associated with the acquisition of resistance may help to define evolution-based therapeutic strategies to fight antibiotic resistance and to preserve currently used antibiotics.

Green synthesis of MIL53(Al)-modified paper-based analytical device for efficient extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides from environmental water samples.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to develop low-cost, reliable and portable devices to enhance the efficiency of microextraction techniques in complex samples. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be promising sorbents due to their well-documented properties. However, their green preparation and combination with paper-based substrates have not been satisfactorily explored to fabricate sustainable sorptive phases. RESULTS: In this work, the hybridization of a paper substrate (as a sustainable support) with MOFs (as a sorptive phase) was carried out by one-pot approach. Concretely, the selected MOF, MIL-53(Al), was in-situ growth onto the paper surface in aqueous solution without the need for high temperature or pressure, thereby aligning with the Green Analytical Chemistry principles. The optimized composite (MIL-53(Al)@cellulose paper) was characterized and evaluated as extraction sorbent for five neonicotinoids (NEOs) (thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid). Furthermore, its feasibility was demonstrated by isolating these pollutants from environmental water samples, followed their determination by HPLC coupled to diode array detection. The whole method showed satisfactory analytical performance with recoveries between 86 and 114 %, suitable precision (with RSD lower than 14 %), and limits of detection ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 µg L-1. Besides, the greenness of the method was assessed by application of different existing metrics. The developed extraction device was affordable (<0.08 €/device) and mechanical and chemically stable, being possible its reuse more than 11 cycles, thus demonstrating its suitability for rapid screening of pesticides in environmental samples. SIGNIFICANCE: This report presents, for the first time, the green synthesis of MIL-53(Al)cellulose paper composite and its application as a sorptive phase for the extraction of NEOs from environmental water samples. We believe that the proposed strategy for fabricating these sustainable paper-based sorptive phases paves the way for further hybridizations with other MOFs or materials. Additionally, it opens up large possibilities for their application in extraction of pollutants or other hazardous compounds in aquatic environments.

New experimental model to evaluate the effect of negative pressure wound therapy and viscosity exudates in foam dressings using confocal microscopy.

Negative pressure wound therapy is currently one of the most popular treatment approaches that provide a series of benefits to facilitate healing, including increased local blood perfusion with reduced localized oedema and control of wound exudate. The porous foam dressing is a critical element in the application of this therapy and its choice is based on its ability to manage exudate. Industry standards often employ aqueous solutions devoid of proteins to assess dressing performance. However, such standardized tests fail to capture the intricate dynamics of real wounds, oversimplifying the evaluation process. This study aims to evaluate the technical characteristics of two different commercial polyurethane foam dressings during negative pressure wound therapy. We introduce an innovative experimental model designed to evaluate the effects of this therapy on foam dressings in the presence of viscous exudates. Our findings reveal a proportional increase in dressing fibre occupancy as pressure intensifies, leading to a reduction in dressing pore size. The tests underscore the pressure system's diminished efficacy in fluid extraction with increasing fluid viscosity. Our discussion points to the need of establishing standardized guidelines for foam dressing selection based on pore size and the necessity of incorporating real biological exudates into industrial standards.

Synthesis, Structural Analysis, and Peroxidase-Mimicking Activity of AuPt Branched Nanoparticles.

Bimetallic nanomaterials have generated significant interest across diverse scientific disciplines, due to their unique and tunable properties arising from the synergistic combination of two distinct metallic elements. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing branched gold-platinum nanoparticles by utilizing poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)-stabilized branched gold nanoparticles, with a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) response of around 1000 nm, as a template for platinum deposition. This approach allows precise control over nanoparticle size, the LSPR band, and the branching degree at an ambient temperature, without the need for high temperatures or organic solvents. The resulting AuPt branched nanoparticles not only demonstrate optical activity but also enhanced catalytic properties. To evaluate their catalytic potential, we compared the enzymatic capabilities of gold and gold-platinum nanoparticles by examining their peroxidase-like activity in the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Our findings revealed that the incorporation of platinum onto the gold surface substantially enhanced the catalytic efficiency, highlighting the potential of these bimetallic nanoparticles in catalytic applications.

Global trend and epidemiological profiles of climate-related disasters from 2000 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyse the epidemiological profile of global climate-related disasters in terms of morbidity and mortality, as well as to examine their temporal trends. METHOD: This cross-sectional study analysed climate-related global disasters from 2000 to 2021, utilising definitions and criteria from the United Nations Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Data were sourced from the EM-DAT database. The study assessed trends over the entire period and compared them with previous years (1978-2000). RESULTS: A total of 7398 climate-related disasters were recorded, with hydrological disasters being the most frequent, followed by meteorological and climatological disasters. Statistically significant differences were noted in the average rates of affected individuals and injuries per million inhabitants. No significant trends were found in mortality rates, but the frequency trends for the entire period (1978-2021) and the subperiod (1978-2000) were increasing and statistically significant. However, the trend from 2000 onwards showed a non-significant decrease, potentially reflecting better disaster preparedness and response strategies under the Hyogo and Sendai Framework. CONCLUSION: The study highlights hydrological disasters as the most frequent and deadliest climate-related events, with climatological disasters affecting and injuring the most people. The lack of standardised criteria for disaster inclusion in databases presents a significant challenge in comparing results and analysing trends. Establishing uniform inclusion criteria is crucial for effective data analysis and disaster management.