Improved Method for Electron Powder Diffraction-Based Rietveld Analysis of Nanomaterials.

Multiphase nanomaterials are of increasing importance in material science. Providing reliable and statistically meaningful information on their average nanostructure is essential for synthesis control and applications. In this paper, we propose a novel procedure that simplifies and makes more effective the electron powder diffraction-based Rietveld analysis of nanomaterials. Our single step in-TEM method allows to obtain the instrumental broadening function of the TEM directly from a single measurement without the need for an additional X-ray diffraction measurement. Using a multilayer graphene calibration standard and applying properly controlled acquisition conditions on a spherical aberration-corrected microscope, we achieved the instrumental broadening of ±0.01 Å in terms of interplanar spacing. The shape of the diffraction peaks is modeled as a function of the scattering angle using the Caglioti relation, and the obtained parameters for instrumental broadening can be directly applied in the Rietveld analysis of electron diffraction data of the analyzed specimen. During peak shape analysis, the instrumental broadening parameters of the TEM are controlled separately from nanostructure-related peak broadening effects, which contribute to the higher reliability of nanostructure information extracted from electron diffraction patterns. The potential of the proposed procedure is demonstrated through the Rietveld analysis of hematite nanopowder and two-component Cu-Ni nanocrystalline thin film specimens.

A novel image processing procedure for the quantitative evaluation of dental enamel prism arrangement.

Enamel prism is the main microstructural unit of mammalian enamel which composed of hundreds of bioapatite nanocrystals. Prism structure plays a key role in the excellent mechanical performance of dental enamel during millions of chewing cycles without significant remodeling. Thus, quantitative understanding of prism architecture is of utmost importance for biomechanical materials design. To characterize enamel prism orientation quantitatively, a novel image processing method has been developed. Our method is based on scanning electron microscopy images of etched enamel surface and consists of an ellipse fitting procedure, which provides a numerical approximation of prism shape and orientation in the studied cross section. The obtained analytical data allow to construct color coded orientation maps, which provide quick and useful insight into the microstructure of enamel. Besides striking visualization, orientation maps allow to extract and plot the rich information on the azimuthal and inclination angles of the prisms as function of location. Numerical data on prism arrangement can be analyzed using statistical tools over large areas, which paves the way towards quantifying comparative investigation of prism arrangement either in dentistry research or evolution biology. The application of the method is demonstrated for a distal-mesial cross-section of sound human tooth enamel. HIGHLIGHTS: Scanning electron microscopy images of etched enamel surface are analyzed using ellipse fitting. Geometrical parameters of the fitted ellipses provide numerical data of thousands of prisms. Prism arrangement is visualized on color coded orientation maps and analyzed using statistical tools.

Effects of Machining Parameters and Tool Reconditioning on Cutting Force, Tool Wear, Surface Roughness and Burr Formation in Nickel-Based Alloy Milling.

Nickel-based superalloys are among the most difficult materials to machine because they have high thermal strength, they are prone to hardening, carbides severely abrade the tool, and they have very poor thermal conductivity. Slot milling is a specific issue as it is characterized by rapid tool wear and frequent tool breakages. This is why reconditioned tools are frequently employed in industrial environments, as they can considerably decrease the expenses associated with tools. The chosen machining strategy also plays a crucial role in the tool's lifespan and the quality of the machined surface, making it essential to select the appropriate strategy. Hence, the authors have opted for two conventional trochoidal strategies, namely the circular and swinging toolpath, along with a contemporary toolpath known as the Autodesk Inventor HSM Adaptive strategy. The authors investigated the effects of technological parameters and toolpaths on cutting forces, tool wear, surface roughness and burr formation on machined edges. The results show that lower cutting parameters and adaptive strategies lead to the smallest tool loads, tool wear, the best quality of surface roughness and burr formation on machined edges.

Assessing the Level of Knowledge and Experience Regarding Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening among Roma Women in Romania.

Background and Objectives: Romania ranks among the countries with a particularly high rate of mortality that can be prevented through prevention programs, screening, early detection, and prompt care. Cervical cancer (CC) is a major cause of these preventable deaths, affecting individuals from marginalized and rural regions, as well as the Roma population. The purpose of this article was to identify accurate and consistent information about the Roma population on the risk of CC, as well as the importance of understanding the causes of the disease and awareness of the available prevention methods. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire applied only to Roma women in Romania. Results: We enrolled 759 patients in this study. These were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 289 (38.1%) women who had been tested for HPV infection, while Group 2 included 470 (61.9%) women who had never been tested for HPV infection. Characterization of women in Group 1: mostly aged between 25 and 54 years, with high school education, married, who started sexual activity under the age of 18 years, with only one sexual partner, and had over five pregnancies. Regarding contraceptive methods, 35.7% of women do not know or use any contraceptive method, and 32.2% use hormonal contraceptives. Two thirds of the women tested had heard of HPV, and 19.7% were vaccinated against HPV with at least 2-3 doses. A percentage of 8.7 had a diagnosis of CC, compared to those who were not tested (p-0.0001), whereas 63% of the tested women did not know much about CC, as opposed to 85.7% of the group of untested women. Conclusions: Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be a public health concern in Romania, particularly among vulnerable groups. Promoting campaigns to raise awareness for HPV vaccination and CC screening are necessary to reduce the associated mortality and morbidity.

Dose-Dependent Beneficial Effect of Ketone Supplement-Evoked Ketosis on Anxiety Level in Female WAG/Rij Rats: Sometimes Less Is More.

While one-third of the population can be affected by anxiety disorders during their lifetime, our knowledge of the pathophysiology of these disorders is far from complete. Previously, it has been demonstrated in male animals that exogenous ketone supplement-evoked ketosis can decrease anxiety levels in preclinical rodent models, such as Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether intragastric gavage of the exogenous ketone supplement KEMCT (mix of 1,3-butanediol-acetoacetate diester/ketone ester/KE and medium-chain triglyceride/MCT oil in 1:1 ratio) for 7 days can alter the anxiety levels of female WAG/Rij rats using the light-dark box (LDB) test. We demonstrated that a lower dose of KEMCT (3 g/kg/day) increased blood R-ßHB (R-ß-hydroxybutyrate) levels and significantly decreased anxiety levels (e.g., increased the time spent in the light compartment) in female WAG/Rij rats on the seventh day of administration. Although the higher KEMCT dose (5 g/kg/day) increased blood R-ßHB levels more effectively, compared with the lower KEMCT dose, anxiety levels did not improve significantly. We conclude that ketone supplementation might be an effective strategy to induce anxiolytic effects not only in male but also in female WAG/Rij rats. However, these results suggest that the optimal level may be moderately, not highly, elevated blood R-ßHB levels when the goal is to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. More studies are needed to understand the exact mechanism of action of ketone supplementation on anxiety levels and to investigate their use in other animal models and humans for the treatment of anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions.

HPV disrupt the cytoskeleton in oral squamous cell carcinomas from non-oropharyngeal sites via the E-cadherin/Mena/SMA pathway.

In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the mechanism of actin cytoskeleton disruption, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A total of 43 patients with surgically resected OSCCs located in non-oropharyngeal regions were randomly selected. The expression of E-cadherin, ß-catenin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), Mena, maspin, V-set and immunoglobulin domain containing 1 (VSIG1), ß human chorionic gonadotropin (ßhCG), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was assessed via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and evaluated in association with the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Mena positivity (n = 30; 69.77%) was more frequent in poorly differentiated OSCC of the tongue and lips with high-risk HPV viral DNA and a lymph node ratio (LNR) ≤ 2.5. Loss of E-cadherin was more prevalent among poorly differentiated stage pT4N1 tumors with an LNR ≤ 2.5 and perineural invasion. These cases were classified as SMA-high tumors. Independent negative prognostic factors included high Mena expression, loss of E-cadherin, high SMA expression, and the presence of high-risk HPV. No VSIG1 positivity was observed. In conclusion, in non-oropharyngeal OSCC, cytoskeleton activity might be driven by the Mena/E-cadherin/SMA axis, reflecting active epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. High Mena intensity is an indicator of poorly differentiated carcinomas with high-risk HPV and unfavorable prognosis.

Signet-Ring Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Biphenotypic Neoplasm of the Gastro-Esophageal Junction with Uncertain Biological Potential: Case Report and Literature Review.

The signet-ring cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an extremely rare histological subtype, with only 24 cases (including the present case) reported in the Medline database: 15 affecting the external surface of the body, 3 in the lung, 2 affecting the uterine cervix, 1 involving the gingiva, another one affecting the esophagus and the present case that is the first reported at the gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ). In one case, the location of the lesion was not mentioned. A 59-year-old male patient underwent segmental eso-gastrectomy for carcinoma of the GEJ. The microscopic examination showed a pT3N1-staged SCC composed of solid nests admixed in over 30% of the tumor, with cells having eccentrically located nuclei and clear vacuolated cytoplasm. The signet-ring cells did not show mucinous secretion and were positive for keratin 5/6 and vimentin, with nuclear expression of ß-catenin and Sox2 and focal membrane positivity for E-cadherin. Based on these features, the case was considered a signet-ring SCC with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thirty-one months after surgery, the patient was disease-free, with no local recurrence and no known distant metastases. In SCC, a signet-ring cell component might be an indicator of the dedifferentiation of tumor cells towards a mesenchymal molecular subtype.

TP53 mutations in Romanian patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been ranked as the second most deadly cancer and the third most diagnosed cancer cases for the year 2020. Specifically for Romania, the number of CRC-related deaths in 2019 was estimated at 6307 people, with a standardized mortality rate of 33.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. Although the tumor protein 53 (TP53) gene is intensively studied, there are few data on TP53 mutations in Romanian CRC. Furthermore, since genetic alterations may show geographical differences, our study aimed to analyze the clinical status and TP53 somatic variation in Romanian CRC patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: DNA from 40 randomly selected cases of CRC was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues and sequenced using direct Sanger sequencing techniques, and variants were annotated according to the recommendations of the Human Genome Variation Society. Novel variants were analyzed using MutationTaster2021 to predict their effects. RESULTS: The mean age was 63.6 years (range 33-85 years) with a male to female ratio of 2.3. More than 45% (18/40) had an advanced cancer stage (≥ stage III). Mutations were found in 21/40 cases (52.5%), with one case having two mutations, giving a total of twenty-two mutations in the TP53 coding DNA. These mutations include 3 (13.6%) insertion-deletion mutations, two of which are novel frameshift mutations: c.165delT (in exon 4) and c.928_935dup (in exon 9), both of which are predicted to lead to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and are classified as deleterious. The remaining 19 (86.36%) were substitution mutations: 1 nonsense and 18 (81.8%) missense mutations, with G > A (n = 7/19; 36.8%) and C > T (n = 6/19; 31.5%) transitions being the most common. The G > T transversion was found in 21.05% (4/19) of the substitution mutations. CONCLUSION: We have described two novel frameshift mutations in TP53. The discovery of novel mutations following the efforts of The Cancer Genome Atlas and other large-scale cancer genome sequencing projects may be further evidence of the heterogeneous nature of mutations in cancer and may indicate that the identification of carcinogenic mutations is not yet saturated. Further sequencing is therefore needed, especially in less studied populations. Importantly, consideration of their geographical environment will shed light on population-specific carcinogenesis.

The Hybrid Capture 2 Results in Correlation with the Pap Test, Sexual Behavior, and Characteristics of Romanian Women.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major cause of cervical cancer (CC); hence, it is critical to understand the processes by which HPV infection causes squamous intraepithelial lesions, as well as the proper diagnostic tools. The objective of this study was to establish the correlations between Pap test results and Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) tests findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 169 women between the ages of 30 and 64, who presented for consultation in gynecological clinics in both the public and the private sectors. These women reported symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal discharge and genital irritation, as well as early onset of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, history of other sexually transmitted infections or high-risk sexual partners, immunosuppression, or tobacco smoking. Pap tests and HPV testing, using the HC2 method, were performed for the women enrolled in the study, including data gathered after patients completed questionnaires concerning their sexual behavior. RESULTS: The HC2 method revealed that 66 patients (39.1%) tested positive for high-risk HPV types. Of the patients with positive results, 14 (21.2%) presented Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASC-US) compared to 10 (9.7%) patients in the negative group (p = 0.042). Atypical Squamous Cells for which a high-grade lesion cannot be excluded (ASC-H) were identified primarily in women with positive HC2 (6.1%). HR-HPV positivity was substantially more associated with low-grade ASC-US or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and high-grade ASC-H cytology (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.10-5.80, respectively, OR = 14.9; 95%CI: 1.006-34.59). Unmarried women (31.8%; p = 0.004) and women with multiple partners (over four partners, 10.6%; p = 0.03) were more likely to have an HPV infection when compared to married women and those with fewer sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the epidemiology of HPV genital infections is essential for developing preventive measures against this infection and CC. Identifying the most prevalent HPV types, and determining the incidence of HPV oncogenic infections, in conjunction with Pap test results and sexual behavior information, can constitute part of an algorithm for the efficient management of cervical intraepithelial lesions.

Ketone supplementation abolished isoflurane anesthesia-induced elevation in blood glucose level and increased recovery time from anesthesia in Wistar Albino Glaxo Rijswijk rats.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that administration of exogenous ketone supplements (EKSs) not only increases blood ketone body levels but also decreases blood glucose level and modulates isoflurane-induced anesthesia in different rodents, such as Wistar Albino Glaxo Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats. Thus, we investigated whether administration of EKSs can modulate the isoflurane anesthesia-generated increase in blood glucose level and the time required to recover from isoflurane-induced anesthesia. METHODS: To investigate the effect of EKSs on isoflurane anesthesia-induced changes in blood glucose and R-ß-hydroxybutyrate (R-ßHB) level as well as recovery time from anesthesia, we used KEMCT (mix of ketone ester/KE and medium chain triglyceride/MCT oil in a 1:1 ratio) in WAG/Rij rats. First, to accustom the animals to the method, water gavage was carried out for 5 days (adaptation period). After adaptation period, rats of first group (group 1) were gavaged by water (3 g/kg), whereas, in the case of second group (group 2), the diet of animals was supplemented by KEMCT (3 g/kg, gavage) once per day for 7 days. One hour after the last gavage, isoflurane (3%) anesthesia was induced for 20 min (group 1 and group 2) and the time required for recovery from anesthesia was measured by using righting reflex. Subsequently, blood levels of both R-ßHB and glucose were also evaluated. Changes in blood glucose and R-ßHB levels were compared to control, which control glucose and R-ßHB levels were measured on the last day of the adaptation period (group 1 and group 2). Time required for recovery from isoflurane anesthesia, which was detected after 7th KEMCT gavage (group 2), was compared to recovery time measured after 7th water gavage (group 1). RESULTS: The KEMCT maintained the normal glucose level under isoflurane anesthesia-evoked circumstances preventing the glucose level elevating effect of isoflurane. Thus, we demonstrated that administration of KEMCT not only increased blood level of R-ßHB but also abolished the isoflurane anesthesia-generated increase in blood glucose level. Moreover, the time required for recovery from isoflurane-evoked anesthesia increased significantly in KEMCT treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Putative influence of elevated blood ketone body level on isoflurane-evoked effects, such as modulation of blood glucose level and recovery time from anesthesia, should be considered by anesthesiologists.

Sub-ps Laser Deposited Copper Films for Application in RF Guns.

Copper thin films are intended to serve as a cover layer of photocathodes that are deposited by ablating copper targets in a high vacuum by temporally clean 600 fs laser pulses at 248 nm. The extremely forward-peaked plume produced by the ultrashort UV pulses of high-energy contrast ensures fast film growth. The deposition rate, defined as peak thickness per number of pulses, rises from 0.03 to 0.11 nm/pulse with an increasing ablated area while keeping the pulse energy constant. The material distribution over the surface-to-be-coated can also effectively be controlled by tuning the dimensions of the ablated area: surface patterning from airbrush-like to broad strokes is available. The well-adhering films of uniform surface morphology consist of densely packed lentil-like particles of several hundred nm in diameter and several ten nm in height. Task-optimized ultrashort UV laser deposition is thereby an effective approach for the production of thin film patterns of predetermined geometry, serving e.g., as critical parts of photocathodes.

The Role of p16/Ki-67 Immunostaining, hTERC Amplification and Fibronectin in Predicting Cervical Cancer Progression: A Systematic Review.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are common sexually transmitted infectious agents responsible for several anogenital and head and neck cancers. Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cause of death in women with cancer. The progression of a persistent HPV infection to cancer takes 15-20 years and can be preventable through screening. Cervical cytology (Pap smear) is the standard screening test for CC and precancerous lesions. For ASC-US and ASC-H lesions, a combination of Pap smear and HR-HPV analysis is recommended as a triage step before colposcopy. However, these tests cannot predict progression to CC. For this purpose, we summarized current scientific data on the role of p16/Ki-67 immunohistostaining, telomerase and fibronectin in predicting progression to CC. p16 and p16/Ki-67 dual staining (DS) were more specific than HR-HPV DNA testing for the detection of CIN2+/CIN3+ in women with ASC-US and LSIL. Similarly, hTERC FISH analysis significantly improved the specificity and positive predictive value of HPV DNA testing in differentiating CIN2+ from CIN2 cytological samples. In conclusion, p16 IHC, p16/Ki-67 DS and hTERC FISH amplification are all valid adjunctive biomarkers which significantly increase the sensitivity and specificity of cervical dysplasia diagnosis, especially when combined with HPV DNA testing. However, considering the global socioeconomic background, we can postulate that p16 and p16/ Ki-67 IHC can be used as a next step after positive cytology for ASC-US or LSIL specimens in low-income countries, instead of HPV DNA testing. Alternatively, if HPV DNA testing is covered by insurance, p16 or p16/Ki-67 DS and HPV DNA co-testing can be performed. In middle- and high-income countries, hTERC amplification can be performed as an adjunctive test to HPV DNA testing in women with ASC-US and LSIL.

V-set and immunoglobulin domain containing 1 (VSIG1) as an emerging target for epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer.

V-set and Immunoglobulin domain containing 1 (VSIG1) is a cell-cell adhesion molecule which role in the genesis and evolution of gastric cancer (GC) is not understood. Only three Medline-indexed papers have focused on the role of VSIG1 in GC. The clinicopathological features of 94 GCs were examined in association with immunohistochemical (IHC) patterns of VSIG1, E-cadherin, and ß-catenin which were assessed in the tumor core (central) vs. invasive edge. Cases were classified depending on the VSIG1 expression: membrane/membrane in both core and invasive front; null/negative staining in both core and invasive front; and cases with translocational patterns: membrane core/cytoplasmic buds and cytoplasmic core/null buds. Most of the tumors showed null pattern (n = 54). Cases with translocational patterns (n = 20) were GCs with a high lymph node ratio value (≥ 0.26) and advanced Dukes-MAC-like stage. Of the 20 total cases, 9 showed membrane-to-nuclear translocation of ß-catenin and loss of E-cadherin, as indicators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. All cases with membrane/membrane pattern (n = 20) involved the distal stomach. The poorest overall survival was registered in patients with subcellular translocation of VSIG1, compared to those with either membrane/membrane or null patterns (p = 0.002). In GC, VSIG1 acts as an adhesion membrane protein but its membrane-cytoplasmic translocation can be an indicator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition due to cytoplasmic VSIG1-mediated activation of canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Controlled Drug Release from Laser Treated Polymeric Carrier.

In this study, we present the effect of laser treatment on polymeric poly(lactic acid) drug carrier films. Our goal was to demonstrate the control of the drug-release kinetics of a polymeric carrier as a function of total absorbed laser energy. The controlled drug release kinetic was achieved by modifying the amorphous polymeric carrier's molecular weight via low energy density laser-exposure. According to gel permeation chromatography results, the decrease of molecular weight correlates with an increasing laser-shot number and shows a distinct saturation-like behavior. The dissolution test also suggests the presence of such dependency, as the rate and amount of caffeine released from the sample shows an increasing tendency up to 2000 laser shots. This fact proves that the laser treatment modifies the drug release. The approach presented here may complement other methods used for controlled drug release in various medical and pharmacological applications.

Putrescine Intensifies Glu/GABA Exchange Mechanism and Promotes Early Termination of Seizures.

Endogenous anticonvulsant mechanisms represent a reliable and currently underdeveloped strategy against recurrent seizures and may recall novel original therapeutics. Here, we investigated whether the intensification of the astroglial Glu-GABA exchange mechanism by application of the GABA precursor putrescine (PUT) may be effective against convulsive and non-convulsive seizures. We explored the potential of PUT to inhibit spontaneous spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) in WAG/Rij rats, a genetic model of absence epilepsy. Significant shortening of SWDs in response to intraperitoneally applied PUT has been observed, which could be antagonized by blocking GAT-2/3-mediated astrocytic GABA release with the specific inhibitor SNAP-5114. Direct application of exogenous GABA also reduced SWD duration, suggesting that PUT-triggered astroglial GABA release through GAT-2/3 may be a critical step in limiting seizure duration. PUT application also dose-dependently shortened seizure-like events (SLEs) in the low-[Mg2+] in vitro model of temporal lobe epilepsy. SNAP-5114 reversed the antiepileptic effect of PUT in the in vitro model as well, further confirming that PUT reduces seizure duration by triggering glial GABA release. In accordance, we observed that PUT specifically reduces the frequency of excitatory synaptic potentials, suggesting that it specifically acts at excitatory synapses. We also identified that PUT specifically eliminated the tonic depolarization-induced desynchronization of SLEs. Since PUT is an important source of glial GABA and we previously showed significant GABA release, it is suggested that the astroglial Glu-GABA exchange mechanism plays a key role in limiting ictal discharges, potentially opening up novel pathways to control seizure propagation and generalization.

Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania.

(1) Background: The infection with Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and it has been associated with cervical cancer (CC) in 99.7% of the cases. In Romania, CC is the second most common, with incidence (22.6%000) and mortality rates (9.6%000) three times higher than any other European country. Our aim was to assess the level of knowledge regarding HPV infection among parents, highschool students, medical students and doctors, with an emphasis on their main source of information-the Internet. (2) Methods: We applied five questionnaires to six categories of respondents: parents of pupils in the 6th-8th grades, medical students, doctors, boys in the 11th-12th grades, girls in the 11th-12th grades and their mothers. (3) Results: We included a total of 3108 respondents. 83.83% of all respondents had known about HPV infection. The level of information about HPV infection and vaccination was either satisfactory, poor or very poor. Their main source of information varied depending on the respondent profile and professional activity. Medical students were informed by doctors and healthcare professionals (53.0%), doctors gathered their information from books, journals and specialized brochures (61.6%). For the other categories of respondents, the Internet was the main source of information. Most respondents answered that doctors and healthcare professionals should provide information on HPV infection and vaccination, but very few of them actually seeked information from their general practitioner. (4) Conclusions: Population adherence to the appropriate preventative programs, as well as relevant information disseminated by the medical staff are key elements towards reducing the risk of HPV-associated cancers. An important role could also be played by schools, where teachers and school doctors could provide relevant information on the general aspects of HPV infection. Additionally, sex education classes and parent-teacher meetings should cover the main characteristics of HPV infection and what preventative measures can be employed against it.

The value proposition of integrative diagnostics for (early) detection of cancer. On behalf of the EFLM interdisciplinary Task and Finish Group "CNAPS/CTC for early detection of cancer".

Disruptive imaging and laboratory technologies can improve clinical decision processes and outcomes in oncology. However, certain obstacles must be overcome before these technologies can be fully implemented as part of the standard for care. An integrative diagnostic approach represents a unique opportunity to unleash the full diagnostic potential and paves the way towards personalized cancer diagnostics. To meet this demand, an interdisciplinary Task Force of the EFLM was initiated as a consequence of an EFLM/ESR during the CELME 2019 meeting in order to evaluate the clinical value of CNAPS/CTC (circulating nucleic acids in plasma and serum/circulating tumor cells) in early detection of cancer. Here, an overview of current disruptive techniques, their clinical implications and potential value of an integrative diagnostic approach is provided. Furthermore, requirements such as the establishment of diagnostic tumor boards, development of adequate software solutions and a change of mindset towards a new generation of diagnosticians providing actionable health information are presented. This development has the potential to elevate the position and clinical recognition of diagnosticians.

The ornithological collection of the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Part 1: the catalogue of bird skin specimens.

This paper reviews the bird skin collection housed in the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The collection includes 925 specimens, belonging to 193 species from 53 families and 20 orders, collected between 1859 and 2021. Due to its historical background and the presence of rare species, it is considered to be one of most important ornithological collections in Eastern Europe. Such a collection can serve as a basis for valuable ornithological studies. Furthermore, a map representation with new distribution data for bird species is provided, which represents a source of information for the status of the avifauna of the Carpathian basin in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Reliability of Commercial Voice Assistants' Responses to Health-Related Questions in Noncommunicable Disease Management: Factorial Experiment Assessing Response Rate and Source of Information.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a burden on public health. These are best controlled through self-management practices, such as self-information. Fostering patients' access to health-related information through efficient and accessible channels, such as commercial voice assistants (VAs), may support the patients' ability to make health-related decisions and manage their chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the most common VAs (ie, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant) in responding to questions about management of the main NCD. METHODS: We generated health-related questions based on frequently asked questions from health organization, government, medical nonprofit, and other recognized health-related websites about conditions associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), lung cancer (LCA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). We then validated them with practicing medical specialists, selecting the 10 most frequent ones. Given the low average frequency of the AD-related questions, we excluded such questions. This resulted in a pool of 60 questions. We submitted the selected questions to VAs in a 3×3×6 fractional factorial design experiment with 3 developers (ie, Amazon, Apple, and Google), 3 modalities (ie, voice only, voice and display, display only), and 6 diseases. We assessed the rate of error-free voice responses and classified the web sources based on previous research (ie, expert, commercial, crowdsourced, or not stated). RESULTS: Google showed the highest total response rate, followed by Amazon and Apple. Moreover, although Amazon and Apple showed a comparable response rate in both voice-and-display and voice-only modalities, Google showed a slightly higher response rate in voice only. The same pattern was observed for the rate of expert sources. When considering the response and expert source rate across diseases, we observed that although Google remained comparable, with a slight advantage for LCA and CKD, both Amazon and Apple showed the highest response rate for LCA. However, both Google and Apple showed most often expert sources for CVA, while Amazon did so for DM. CONCLUSIONS: Google showed the highest response rate and the highest rate of expert sources, leading to the conclusion that Google Assistant would be the most reliable tool in responding to questions about NCD management. However, the rate of expert sources differed across diseases. We urge health organizations to collaborate with Google, Amazon, and Apple to allow their VAs to consistently provide reliable answers to health-related questions on NCD management across the different diseases.

Adenosine Receptors Modulate the Exogenous Ketogenic Supplement-Evoked Alleviating Effect on Lipopolysaccharide-Generated Increase in Absence Epileptic Activity in WAG/Rij Rats.

It has been previously demonstrated that KEKS food containing exogenous ketogenic supplement ketone salt (KS) and ketone ester (KE) decreased the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-generated increase in SWD (spike-wave discharge) number in Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, likely through ketosis. KEKS-supplemented food-generated ketosis may increase adenosine levels, and may thus modulate both neuroinflammatory processes and epileptic activity through adenosine receptors (such as A1Rs and A2ARs). To determine whether these adenosine receptors are able to modify the KEKS food-generated alleviating effect on LPS-evoked increases in SWD number, an antagonist of A1R DPCPX (1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine; 0.2 mg/kg) with LPS (50 µg/kg) and an antagonist of A2AR SCH58261 (7-(2-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine; 0.5 mg/kg) with LPS were co-injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the ninth day of KEKS food administration, and their influence not only on the SWD number, but also on blood glucose, R-beta-hydroxybutyrate (R-ßHB) levels, and body weight were measured. We showed that inhibition of A1Rs abolished the alleviating effect of KEKS food on LPS-generated increases in the SWD number, whereas blocking A2ARs did not significantly modify the KEKS food-generated beneficial effect. Our results suggest that the neuromodulatory benefits of KEKS-supplemented food on absence epileptic activity are mediated primarily through A1R, not A2AR.