Search Results (164)

Background: Several studies have established correlations between low serum levels of vitamin D and various pathologies, such as diabetes mellitus and its complications. However, few studies analyze its levels in matrices other than blood plasma, such as tears and saliva. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of using tears and saliva as alternative biological matrices for laboratory assessment of vitamin D and glucose concentration in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus and healthy individuals, using the electrochemiluminescence method. Methods: This study included volunteers with type II diabetes and healthy controls, excluding those with certain comorbidities or a BMI ≥ 40. Blood, tear, and saliva samples were taken after 3 h of fasting for biochemical analysis of fasting glucose and vitamin D. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism^® 8.0—with Pearson and other tests to evaluate correlations—at a significance level of 5% and test power > 95%. Results: A negative correlation between serum vitamin D values and those found in saliva (p = 0.041) was found, as well as a positive correlation between serum glucose values and those found in tears (p = 0.0254). Conclusions: Tears and saliva samples can be used as proxies for venous blood samples in specific situations, such as studying blood glucose levels and vitamin D levels. However, expanding the sample size is essential to confirm the correlation and develop an accurate equation for estimating serum levels of these markers using these alternative matrices. Full article

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) represents significant risks to both textile durability and human health. Natural dyes are gaining attention as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic UV-blocking agents, offering aesthetic and functional benefits. This study explores the UV-protective properties of 100% cotton knit fabrics dyed with natural dyes—indigo, weld, and madder—using different mordanting processes, including materials with mordant abilities such as alum, pomegranate peel, and tannin extracted from quebracho. Twenty samples were evaluated, including undyed, individually treated, and combined dye-mordant formulations. UV protection was assessed through spectral transmittance and Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) measurements before and after washing. The results showed that natural dyes significantly improved the UV resistance of cotton fabrics, particularly when combined with products like pomegranate and the tannin–alum mixture. Notably, some samples demonstrated improved UPF and became darker after washing, such as mordant combinations like tannin with alum. These findings suggest that natural dye, when combined with appropriate mordants, offers a sustainable and effective approach to producing UV-protective textiles. This is particularly valuable in children’s clothing, where chemical safety and sun protection are crucial. Future research should investigate the influence of pH on dye stability and UV-blocking performance to optimise formulations for industrial use and long-term functionality. Full article

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the key steps in cutaneous carcinogenesis. At the molecular level, this cellular dedifferentiation is modulated by the interaction of signalling pathways that favour basement membrane degradation under the influence of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Given the intricate role of these endopeptidases in modulating extracellular matrix turnover, the present study aimed primarily to identify the MMP-2 expression profile during the early stages of cutaneous malignant transformation. Forty-eight lesions with malignant transformation potential were excised in healthy tissue. Following the histopathological diagnosis of keratoacanthoma, Bowen’s disease and actinic keratosis, the biological preparations were deparaffinised and homogenised in order to perform the FRET technique using the “MMP-2 Assay Kit Fluorometric”. The results of the previous part of this research indicate that MMP-2 expression is more intense in lesions of actinic keratosis compared to normal tissues and to keratoacanthoma or Bowen’s disease lesions, inversely proportional to the histopathological degree of dysplasia. Monitoring metalloproteinase activity in dysplastic epithelium may improve the detection of malignant transformation and guide treatment decisions. Full article

Thyroid tumors are common in humans and cats, occurring most commonly as benign lesions, whereas thyroid carcinoma is barely detected in both species. Determining the mutational status of MAPK-related genes (BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, and KRAS) and the activation status of MAPK and mTOR pathways is crucial for establishing the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of human patients. So far, the role of such players in feline thyroid tumorigenesis remains underexplored. This study aims to elucidate the presence and implications of potential shared molecular mechanisms between human and feline thyroid tumors. Fifteen formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded feline thyroid epithelial tumors (four tumors with atypia and 11 with no atypia) were collected to perform mutational and immunohistochemical analyses. Sanger sequencing targeting human homologous hotspots revealed no mutations in BRAF (human codon 600) or RAS (human codon 61) regions. A KRAS missense mutation (p.Gln232His) was identified in two tumors with no atypia of follicular pattern (2/15, 13%). Regardless of the mutational status, pERK (Thr202/Ty204) was immuno-expressed in 10/11 (91%), pS6 (Ser235/236) in 100%, and pAKT (Ser473) in 8/11 (73%) of the tumors with no atypia. The expression patterns of pERK, pS6, and pAKT and their associations with clinical-pathological features seem to mirror the progression dynamics observed in human thyroid tumorigenesis. pAKT expression was associated with the presence of multiple tumor foci within the same thyroid lobe, suggesting its potential as a marker of aggressiveness in feline thyroid tumors. This study introduces cats as potential animal models for human thyroid tumorigenesis, with further research required to confirm such potential. Full article

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea, presents with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild diarrhea to severe, life-threatening conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. In recent years, both the incidence and severity of CDI have increased, leading to a significant burden in terms of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study for 30 months at “Sf. Parascheva” Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital Iași, in North Eastern Romania, aiming to assess the clinical and laboratory characteristics of CDI, as well as treatment approaches and their association with patient outcomes. A total of 534 patients were included during the study period, of whom 484 had favorable outcomes, while 50 have died of the disease. Fever (p = 0.007) and age over 65 (p = 0.001) were associated with prolonged hospitalization. Patients positive for both A and B toxins and GDH had the highest risk of recurrence (p = 0.020). Among comorbidities, obesity was the only condition significantly linked to recurrence (p = 0.001). In female patients over 65 years old, the probability of survival drops below 60% after 21 days of hospitalization, highlighting a critical risk factor in this population. These results underscore the importance of comprehensive risk assessment in CDI, particularly focusing on advanced age and comorbidities, to guide early therapeutic interventions, optimize patient management, and improve clinical outcomes among high-risk populations. Full article

Canine lymphoma (CL) is a heterogeneous neoplasm with varying prognoses, and Ki67 expression is a key marker for assessing tumor proliferation. This study aimed to compare Ki67 immunostaining in cytology smears (PSCS) and cell blocks (CBs) of canine lymphoma cases. Ki67 immunostaining was performed on 30 cases (26 nodal and 4 non-nodal) of CL, including B-cell, T-cell, and null-phenotype lymphomas. The Ki67 index was quantified manually using image analysis software as a support. The results showed Ki67 positivity in all CBs, with archival time affecting the antigenicity in PSCS, especially in samples older than two years. The Ki67 index in CBs of nodal CL were higher, and there was no significant agreement on Ki67 classification in PSCS and CBs. A univariate brief survival analysis was performed to preliminary evaluate the prognostic value of Ki67 in cytological samples. Ki67 indexes determined in cytology showed no significant association with survival. Cases of nodal CL with high Ki67 in CBs, if treated with chemotherapy, tended to survived longer (compared to those animals not treated with chemotherapy). These preliminary results showed that Ki67 immunostaining in CBs is more reliable for assessing CL proliferation and might offer predictive information. These findings highlight the potential of Ki67 quantification in CBs for supporting treatment decisions. Full article

A high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) method was developed and validated for analyzing fermentable and reducing sugars in brewing matrices. The method exhibited detection limits of 2.5–12.5 mg/L and quantification limits of 12.0–30.0 mg/L. Linearity was achieved for all sugars, fitted with a quadratic calibration model (R² = 0.9998). Precision metrics revealed relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 2% for repeatability and below 6% for intermediate precision. Recovery rates between 86 and 119% confirmed robustness and minimal matrix interference. Application to brewing samples highlighted variability in sugar profiles, with sucrose concentrations in wort ranging from 3.5 to 22.0 g/L and maltose and maltotriose in finished beers between 0.80 and 1.50 g/L and 1.10–2.50 g/L, respectively. Batch variability analysis showed that brewing conditions had a greater impact on sugar concentrations than malt batch origin, with maltose variation reaching 34.6%. This HPLC-ELSD method provides a robust and reliable tool for sugar analysis in brewing, offering valuable insights into fermentation dynamics and batch consistency. Its application to industrial contexts underscores its potential for improving quality control and optimizing brewing processes. Full article

As climate change intensifies globally, understanding forest ecosystem responses becomes crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. Quantitative insights into forest resilience and vulnerability in Romania were obtained by integrating climate indicators with forest stand responses across 400 km² of experimental forests spanning 13 forest districts from 2013–2022. Climate analysis examined R10mm trends (heavy rainfall days) and warm spell duration index (WSDI) patterns from 1950–2022, while forest assessment used correlation matrix analysis and principal component analysis to evaluate relationships between environmental and structural variables. R10mm trends varied from −1.4 to 1.8 days per decade, showing significant changes in eastern Romania and Western Carpathians. WSDI revealed increasing warm spells, particularly in western regions (2 days per decade). Strong correlations between elevation and precipitation (r = 0.615) emerged, with PCA showing these as primary resilience drivers, explaining 56.7% of variance. Species analysis found that fir, beech, and spruce show strong climate resilience with healthy regeneration across conditions, while sessile oak and hornbeam face greater challenges from changing aridity patterns. The work combines long-term management data with climate trends, providing the first comprehensive assessment of climate–forest interactions in Romanian ecosystems. Integration of climate indices with forest parameters reveals elevation-precipitation gradients as key resilience indicators, offering practical guidance for forest managers to protect resilient species while supporting vulnerable ones facing environmental pressures. Full article

A soft tissue-filled external ear canal, sometimes also referred to as otitis externa in the veterinary literature, is a prevalent disease in pet rabbits, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits. The authors describe the clinical findings, diagnostic workup, therapy, and outcome of pet rabbits treated surgically for a lateral ear canal ablation (LECA). For the time period between 2015 and 2023, the medical records of two veterinary clinics were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 25 pet rabbits, diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) scans with a soft tissue-filled external ear canal and (if present) middle ear, were identified. All the pet rabbits were evaluated as lop-eared pet rabbits and all were treated surgically using the same surgical technique, LECA. In accordance with Richardson et al., we categorized the different ear filling levels by using the grading system that was established in 2019. The mean follow-up period was 19 days, and in one case complete wound healing was not reached within 131 days after surgery. A total of 7/25 of the pet rabbits were evaluated with wound healing issues. Of the cases, 18/25 did not develop any recurrent ear diseases. Loss to follow-up was observed in 5/25 of the cases and recurrent ear diseases were identified in 2/25 of the pet rabbits. Progression of the ear disease was detected in four cases. CT post-operative images were acquired for 14/25 of the pet rabbits. Based on this study, LECA can be considered a safe surgical method to treat soft tissue-filled external ear canals, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits. Nonetheless, thorough post-surgical management including wound control is critical for therapy success. Full article

2-Propanol in the gaseous phase of clinical samples can serve as a biomarker for disease diagnosis. In this context, a novel fiber-optic Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometric sensor with a microtip structure was developed using the light-guided induced polymerization technique. The optical fiber sensor (OFS) with the best performance, measuring approximately 15 µm in length, exhibited good sensitivity to 2-propanol, with a response of −71.1 ± 2.1 pm/ppm. Additionally, it demonstrated good stability, with a maximum standard deviation of 0.15 nm and an estimated resolution of 3.18 ppm. The good sensitivity and ease of fabrication of this OFS highlight its potential for biomedical applications, particularly in non-invasive disease detection, given the role of 2-propanol as a biomarker for various health conditions. Full article

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation technology allows concrete to detect and diagnose cracks autonomously. However, the concrete’s compact structure and alkaline environment necessitate the adoption of a proper carrier material to safeguard microorganisms. In this study, various bacterial strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sphaericus, and Bacillus megaterium, were immobilized in lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECA) to investigate their effect on the self-healing performance, mechanical strength, and freeze–thaw durability. Self-healing concrete specimens were prepared using immobilized LECA, directly added bacterial spores, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) fibers, and air-entraining admixture (AEA). The pre-cracked prisms were monitored for 224 days to assess self-healing efficiency through ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and surface crack analysis methods. A compressive strength restoration test was conducted by pre-loading the cube specimens with 60% of the failure load and re-testing them after 28 days for strength regain. Additionally, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were conducted to analyze the precipitate material. The findings revealed that self-healing efficiency improved with the biomineralization activity over the healing period demonstrated by the bacterial strains. Compression and flexural strengths decreased for the bacterial specimens attributed to porous LECA. However, restoration in compression strength and freeze–thaw durability significantly improved for the bacterial mixes compared to control and reference mixes. XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the formation of calcite as a self-healing precipitate. Overall, results indicated the superior performance of Bacillus megaterium followed by Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus subtilis. The findings of the current study provide important insights for the construction industry, showcasing the potential of bacteria to mitigate the degradation of concrete structures and advocating for a sustainable solution that reduces reliance on manual repairs, especially in inaccessible areas of the structures. Full article

Fabry disease, the second most common lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A), which leads to an accumulation of glycosphingolipids (GSL), mainly globotriaosylceramide (also known as Gb3). This aberrant GSL metabolism subsequently causes cellular dysfunction; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unknown. There is growing evidence that damage to organelles, including lysosomes, mitochondria, and plasma membranes, is associated with substrate accumulation. Current methods for the detection of Gb3 are based on anti-Gb3 antibodies, the specificity and sensitivity of which are problematic for glycan detection. This study presents a robust method using lectins, specifically the B-subunit of Shiga toxin (StxB) from Shigella dysenteriae and LecA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as alternatives for Gb3 detection in Fabry fibroblasts by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. StxB and LecA showed superior sensitivity, specificity, and consistency in different cell types compared to all anti-Gb3 antibodies used in this study. In addition, sphingolipid metabolism was analyzed in primary Fabry fibroblasts and α-Gal A knockout podocytes using targeted tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our findings establish lectins as a robust tool for improved diagnostics and research of Fabry disease and provide evidence of SL changes in cultured human cells, filling a knowledge gap. Full article

Various pathogens use receptors on the host’s plasma membrane for their cellular uptake. For the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, interactions between its lectin LecA and the host cell glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (also known as Gb3) are crucial for its internalization via the so-called lipid zipper mechanism. In this study, we investigated the interactions of the P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 with phase-separated lipid bilayers containing Gb3. Surprisingly, bacteria are mostly bound to the interphase of liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) membrane domains. Simultaneously with the formation of bacterial aggregates and the accumulation of membrane lipids, the lipid bilayers were drastically reorganized and Lo domains were dissolved. Surprisingly, Gb3 was found to play a role in the localization of the bacterium at the interface, less so LecA. When microspheres were used as a minimal mimic of the bacterium, these beads also localized preferentially at the Lo–Ld phase boundaries, but in contrast to living bacteria, beads were unable to cause membrane reorganization and dissolution of the Lo domain, even when coated with LecA. Targeting phase boundaries as “weak points” in membranes and thereby reorganizing and destabilizing the host cell plasma membrane could be an attractive entry strategy for P. aeruginosa and many other bacteria and viruses. Full article

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer worldwide, exhibiting the highest incidence rate among all cancer types. Poor outcomes often characterize this cancer as it is commonly diagnosed in advanced stages due to its unspecific symptoms. After diagnosis, the therapeutic choice is a crucial stage that profoundly affects patients’ survival. Treatment choices for lung cancer must be made carefully, acknowledging the histological type and genetic characteristics of the tumor. Non-small cell lung cancer, the most common and complex type, has a high mutational burden, making next-generation sequencing (NGS) essential for identifying specific mutations and guiding treatment. With several approved targeted therapies already available, this approach highlights the critical role of personalized medicine in lung cancer care. Despite the current therapeutic pipeline, research trying to develop new tailored drugs considering individual patient characteristics has evolved over the years. This article aims to outline the current therapeutic approach for each type of lung cancer and present the latest insights into emerging therapies, highlighting the role of personalized medicine in enhancing treatment outcomes and improving patients’ quality of life. Full article

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a major cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, with significant implications for reproductive health. The bacterium’s genome contains highly polymorphic regions, influencing both the type and severity of infections. These genetic variations, particularly those occurring in the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene, are critical for classifying the bacterium into distinct serovars and enable CT to adapt to diverse host environments, contributing to its immune evasion, persistence, and pathogenicity. Persistent or untreated urogenital infections can lead to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and pelvic inflammatory disease, ultimately increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and infertility. This review consolidates current knowledge on the genetic diversity of CT, its potential role in modulating infection outcomes, and its immune evasion mechanisms. By integrating scientific evidence linking chlamydial infections to infertility, we underscore the urgent need for targeted research to address this critical public health challenge. Full article