Search Results (1,227)

Lameness remains a significant welfare and productivity challenge in dairy farming, often underdiagnosed due to the limitations of conventional detection methods. Unlike most previous approaches to lameness detection that rely on a single-sensor or gait-based measurement, this study integrates four complementary data domains—behavioural, physiological, biochemical, and milk composition parameters—collected from 272 dairy cows during early lactation to enhance diagnostic accuracy and biological interpretability. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic classification performance of multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms trained on multimodal data collected at the time of clinical lameness diagnosis during early lactation, and to identify the most influential physiological and biochemical traits contributing to classification accuracy. Specifically, six algorithms—random forest (RF), neural network (NN), Ensemble, support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and logistic regression (LR)—were assessed. The input dataset integrated physiological parameters (e.g., water intake, body temperature), behavioural indicators (rumination time, activity), blood biochemical biomarkers (non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)), and milk quality traits (fat, protein, lactose, temperature). Among all models, RF achieved the highest validation accuracy (97.04%), perfect validation specificity (100%), and the highest normalized Matthews correlation coefficient (nMCC = 0.94), as determined through Monte Carlo cross-validation on independent validation sets. Lame cows showed significantly elevated NEFA and body temperatures, reflecting enhanced lipid mobilization and inflammatory stress, alongside reduced water intake, milk protein, and lactose content, indicative of systemic energy imbalance and impaired mammary function. These physiological and biochemical deviations emphasize the multifactorial nature of lameness. Linear models like LR underperformed, likely due to their inability to capture the non-linear and interactive relationships among physiological, biochemical, and milk composition features, which were better represented by tree-based and neural models. Overall, the study demonstrates that combining sensor data with blood biomarkers and milk traits using advanced ML models provides a powerful, objective tool for the clinical classification of lameness, offering practical applications for precision livestock management by supporting early, data-driven decision-making to improve welfare and productivity on dairy farms. Full article

(1) Background: Resting heart rate (RHR) is an easily measurable cardiovascular risk indicator, yet its relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors remains understudied in rural African populations. This study investigated the association between RHR and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in the rural Ellisras community, South Africa. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 629 participants (306 males, 323 females) aged 18 years and above from the Ellisras Longitudinal Study. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, biochemical parameters, and lifestyle factors were assessed. RHR was categorized as normal (60–100 bpm), bradycardia (<60 bpm), or tachycardia (>100 bpm). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and logistic regression to identify predictors of abnormal RHR. (3) Results: The mean age was 25.55 ± 1.97 years, with significant gender differences in cardiovascular parameters. Females had higher RHR (81.78 ± 11.73 vs. 70.36 ± 12.89 bpm, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (24.62 vs. 20.67 kg/m², p < 0.001), and waist circumference (WC) (81.00 vs. 73.50 cm, p < 0.001). Resting heart rate (RHR) distribution varied significantly by gender (p < 0.001), with bradycardia more prevalent in males (91.3% vs. 8.7%) and tachycardia in females (75.0% vs. 25.0%). Significant positive correlations were observed between RHR and age (r = 0.105, p = 0.009), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.135, p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (r = 0.098, p = 0.016), total cholesterol (TCHOL) (r = 0.168, p < 0.001), LDL-C (r = 0.201, p < 0.001), WC (r = 0.169, p < 0.001), and sum of 4 skinfolds (bicep, tricep, subscapular and supraspinale) and (r = 0.184, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = −0.105, p < 0.001). In the logistic regression analysis, participants aged >25 years had significantly lower odds of abnormal RHR (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26–0.97, p = 0.039), after adjusting for confounders. In the fully adjusted model, RHR remained significantly associated with DBP (β = 0.59, p < 0.001), LDL-C (β = 2.76, p = 0.008), WC (β = 0.10, p = 0.012), and triglycerides (TG) (β = 2.78, p = 0.002). (4) Conclusions: RHR demonstrates significant associations with multiple cardiovascular risk factors in this rural South African population, with distinct gender-specific patterns. Age emerged as the primary independent predictor of abnormal RHR. These findings suggest that RHR could serve as a valuable, cost-effective screening tool for cardiovascular risk assessment in resource-limited rural settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dietary intake during pregnancy influences hematological parameters, reflecting nutritional status and potentially affecting maternal and fetal outcomes. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to compare dietary nutrient intake in pregnant women depending on their red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV). Methods: A total of 31 pregnant women in their third trimester were divided into the following two groups: within reference range RDW-CV (n = 22) and elevated RDW-CV (n = 9). Dietary intake was assessed via a dietary recall (USDA Multiple-Pass Method). Intake of energy (kcal/day), macronutrients (g/day), vitamins (mg/day; µg/day) B1, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, A, D, E, and minerals (mg/day) Zn, P, Mg, K, Ca, Fe were recorded. Complete blood count (CBC) parameters were measured (Total WBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, RDW-CV, PLT, NEU, LYM, MON, EOS, BAS, LMR). Results: The elevated RDW-CV group had a significantly lower level of daily energy adequacy. Both groups did not meet recommended intakes for energy, iron, vitamin D. A statistical significance in MCV differences was noted, with lower values in the elevated RDW-CV group, supported by a Cohen’s d = 0.82, suggesting early changes in erythrocyte size distribution. The reference range RDW-CV group consumed significantly more zinc, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin B12, whereas vitamin C intake was higher in the elevated RDW-CV group. Conclusions: Pregnant women with an elevated RDW-CV tended to exhibit greater nutritional insufficiencies than those with reference range RDW-CV. Our findings suggest potential associations between hematologic indices (RDW-CV, MCV) and dietary nutrient intake patterns during pregnancy. These preliminary observations are based on a pilot study and warrant confirmation in larger, prospective studies incorporating biochemical markers. Full article

Purpose: To assess the association between hair loss in females and various biomarkers including hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, zinc, selenium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, and thyroid hormones. Patients and methods: This study enrolled 100 women presenting with hair loss and 100 age-matched healthy controls. Venous blood samples were collected for analysis of hematological, hormonal and biochemical parameters. Results: The mean age of participants was comparable between groups (43.06 ± 10.76 vs. 41.39 ± 7.94 years; p = 0.88). Hair loss in females had significantly lower mean levels of Hb (11.45 ± 0.39 vs. 13.09 ± 0.46 g/dL; p < 0.001), iron (70.14 ± 7.85 vs. 94.42 ± 5.61 µg/dL; p < 0.001) and ferritin (39.34 ± 3.71 vs. 48.09 ± 5.31 ng/mL), all with p < 0.001. Serum levels of selenium (67.11 ± 5.53 vs. 71.45 ± 4.05 µg/L), zinc (86.07 ± 3.98 vs. 88.87 ± 2.03 µg/L), copper (90.71 ± 3.48 vs. 104.84 ± 5.38 µg/L), and calcium (8.61 ± 0.28 vs. 9.11 ± 0.27 mg/dL) were significantly reduced in women with hair loss (p < 0.001). Thyroid hormones were also significantly lower in the hair loss group, including TSH (1.74 ± 0.25 vs. 2.35 ± 0.39 µIU/mL) and FREE T4 (1.11 ± 0.11 vs. 1.32 ± 0.12 ng/dL), despite remaining within the normal reference ranges. Patients also showed lower serum folate (6.17 ± 0.63 vs. 6.96 ± 0.41 ng/mL), vitamin B12 (185.52 ± 35.27 vs. 258.30 ± 52.84 pg/mL), and vitamin D (26.32 ± 2.98 vs. 32.20 ± 3.76 ng/dL) levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Hair loss in females is significantly associated with reduced levels of circulating hemoglobin, iron, copper, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, thyroid-stimulating hormone and FREE T4 hormone. Full article

Background: The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbiota that plays a vital role in metabolic health. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), a growing health concern characterized by obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all of which are strongly associated with insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to analyze changes in gut microbiome composition and metabolic parameters in individuals with MetS following a 3-month shared medical appointment program driven by a patient-centered agenda with an emphasis on lifestyle pillars of diet, activity, sleep, and stress management. Methods: Thirty-six individuals with MetS were recruited. Of these, 14 completed a structured metabolic health program with facilitated group appointments, including personalized dietary adjustments, increased physical activity, stress management, and clinical monitoring, while 22 served as an untreated group. Fecal samples were collected for full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Clinical and biochemical parameters, including body weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, triglycerides, and liver enzymes, were assessed. Microbiome data were analyzed for alpha and beta diversity and differential abundance. Correlations between microbial genera and clinical parameters were evaluated using Spearman correlation. Results: Post-intervention, significant improvements were observed in body weight (p = 0.0061), HbA1c (p = 0.033), triglycerides (p = 0.047), AST (p = 0.016), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.020). Alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiome showed no significant changes. However, differential abundance analysis revealed increased levels of butyrate-producing and anti-inflammatory genera including Duncaniella, Megasphaera, Pseudoruminococcus, and Oliverpabstia. Conclusions: A 3-month lifestyle intervention in individuals with MetS was associated with marked improvements in metabolic health and beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition. These findings suggest that even small lifestyle modifications may be a potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome management, highlighting the need for personalized approaches in future research. Full article

Background: Sow reproductive performance is a critical parameter for the productivity of commercial pig farms. Gut microbiota is associated with performance in sow reproduction. At least, under healthy conditions, microbial metabolites from the gut microbiota are considered major contributors to host physiological regulation and productivity. However, information on the differences in gut-derived metabolites related to the sow reproductive performance remain scarce. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the reproductive performance and microbial metabolite levels in sow’s feces and plasma. Methods: We selected four commercial farms: two with high- (group H) and two with low-reproductive performance (group L). Sows had their feces and blood collected. Results: Except for the iso-butyrate concentration, fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations remained unchanged between groups. Among intestinal putrefactive metabolites, the indole concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in group H. The concentrations of plasma metabolites p-cresyl sulfate, p-cresyl glucuronide and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) were higher (p < 0.05) in group L than in group H, while the opposite was true for the acetate concentration (p < 0.05). Among plasma biochemicals, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and potassium concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in group L. Conclusions: Blood metabolites, especially gut microbiota-derived metabolites, seemed to be associated with the performance related to sow reproduction. Particularly, harmful metabolites such as p-cresyl glucuronide, p-cresyl sulfate and TMAO were of importance, because they are potentially inflammation factors. In fact, TNF-alpha was stimulated in group L. According to our results, we estimated that p-cresyl glucuronide, p-cresyl sulfate, TMAO and TNF-alpha could be useful physiological indicators to understand sow reproductive performance. Full article

Introduction/Background: Most adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are non-functioning adrenal tumors (NFATs) without clinically overt hormonal hypersecretion; one-third show subtle endocrine over-activity and mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). One out of ten NFATs involves not a unilateral (UTs), but bilateral tumors (BTs). Bone health, as opposed to cardio-metabolic complications, is less studied in NFAs/MACS, particularly in BTs. Hence, we aimed to analyze (blood) mineral metabolism assays (MMAs), including bone turnover markers (BTMs), central Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), and 10-year fracture risk estimation (FRAX/FRAXplus) in menopausal patients with UTs vs. BTs. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study. The inclusion criteria were women aged ≥50 y and CT-based AI detection. The exclusion criteria were medication against osteoporosis, malignancies, bone metabolic disorders, and cs-1mg-DST >5 µg/dL. Results: The cohort [N = 129; mean age: 62.39 ± 7.9 y; and y since menopause (YSM): 13.7 ± 8] included UT (62.22%) and BT (31.78%) groups with a similar age, YSM, type 2 diabetes rate (35.23% vs. 36.59%), arterial hypertension (73.6% vs. 75.5%), BMI, fasting glycemia, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (p > 0.5 for each). The borderline significance for morning cortisol was higher in UTs vs. BTs [median (interquartile interval): 13.9 (11.16, 15.00) vs. 10.10 (8.88, 12.95) µg/dL; p = 0.05] and the MACS-positive rate (24.45% vs. 36.59%; p = 0.051). The largest tumor diameter was similar (2.26 ± 0.97 vs. 2.51 ± 0.87 cm; p = 0.175), as was cs-1mg-DST [1.27 (1.01, 1.95) vs. 1.52 (0.92, 2.78) µg/dL; p = 0.357]. MMAs, BTMs, and DXA-BMD/T scores were similar in the UT vs. BT groups. The most prevalent DXA categories were osteopenia (50.82%) and normal (41.38%). The rate of DXA bone impairment (osteoporosis + osteopenia) was 72.13% vs. 58.62%. A generally low prevalence of fragility fractures was found (3.88%; N = 5, 3/2 between the groups). Out of the 25.58% (N = 33) females who were found to be MACS-positive, 54.55% were in the UT group and 45.45% were in the BT group. Age, YSM, the rate of analyzed comorbidities, BMI, biochemical parameters, DXA/BMDs, and FRAX/FRAXplus (lumbar BMD adjustment)-based probabilities were similar between the UT and BT groups, regarding MACS-positive vs. MACS-negative groups. Diabetic patients were all MACS-positive. A higher PTH level in the MACS-positive UT vs. MACS-positive BT groups (36.32 ± 9.21 vs. 51.65 ± 9.58 pg/mL; p = 0.01) was found, with the mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D showing mild deficiency (24.21 ± 12.73 vs. 26.16 ± 9.89 ng/mL; p = 0.694). In UTs, the largest tumor diameter statistically significantly correlated with baseline ACTH (r = −0.391; p < 0.001) and cs-1mg-DST (r = 0.306; p < 0.001), while in BTs, the largest diameter of the two tumors showed a positive correlation with cs-1mg-DST (r = 0.309; p = 0.012). Conclusions: The findings from this real-life setting (similar age, YSM, and diabetes and MACS-positive rates) could help us to better understand the bone features in UTs vs. BTs, noting that ACTH/cs-1mg-DST measurements showed no difference. The study population was associated with a generally low fracture prevalence and 10-year fracture risk probabilities, which might act as a bias in this distinct clinical exploration. Whether a multifactorial algorithm is needed to provide a 360-degree perspective of the bone health assessment in these patients remains an open matter. So far, starting from the current guidelines, a patient-centered approach is mandatory. To our best knowledge, this study adds to the limited number of prior studies regarding bone impairment in bilateral tumors. Full article

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet, can decrease quality of life and increase the risk of obesity, depression, and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In workplace settings, these health issues are associated with increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity. The Pure Health 2K Longevity Study (PHLS) evaluated the effectiveness of a 90-day incentive-based lifestyle intervention among working adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A single-arm interventional study was conducted by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) over a 4-month period. A total of 2300 participants aged 18–59 were enrolled, with 1688 (73.4%) completing the program. Participants underwent baseline and endline assessments, including physical measurements (weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference), biochemical parameters (blood pressure, glucose, Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and self-reported health behaviors and adverse events. Significant reductions were observed in weight (77.0 to 75.9 kg), BMI (26.8 to 26.4 kg/m²), and waist circumference (95 to 93 cm) (all p < 0.001). Notably, 4.6% of participants transitioned from overweight to normal weight, and 3.4% from obese to overweight. No adverse events were reported. A short-term, workplace-based lifestyle intervention can produce meaningful improvements in anthropometric and biochemical health indicators, particularly among high-risk individuals. Full article

Estrogen deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased lipoprotein oxidation, accumulation of lipid-rich material, and platelet activation. The absence of estrogen causes physiological, metabolic, and biochemical changes that increase the risk of cardiometabolic disease development caused by a deregulation in metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism and plasma lipoprotein levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has cardioprotective properties related to the quality and the quantity of its components that can be modified by some nutritional factors. Guava (Psidium guajava L.), a widely cultivated fruit in Mexico, is notable for its high polyunsaturated fatty acid and dietary fiber content in its seeds, but its effect on health is understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of guava-seed supplementation on body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, HDL composition, and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity in an ovariectomized rat model (OVX). Four groups with six adult female Wistar rats each were classified as a SHAM group: rats with simulated ovariectomy; OVX group: rats with ovariectomy; OVX + GS group: ovariectomized rats supplemented with 6 g of guava seeds; OVX + DGS group: ovariectomized rats supplemented with 6 g of defatted guava seeds. Biochemical parameters, size, and lipid concentration of HDL subclasses, apolipoproteins, and PON1 activity were determined. A decrease in body weight gain, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and triglycerides in plasma was observed at the end of the experiment in the supplemented groups. The supplementation of 6 g of guava seeds for 30 days decreased biochemical parameters in ovariectomized rats; these results could be attributed to the seed composition, suggesting a protective effect against the risk of developing diseases in menopausal states. Full article

Background: Haemoglobinopathies are among the most common monogenic disorders worldwide. Early identification of asymptomatic carriers through reliable screening and molecular diagnostics is crucial for prevention programmes, especially in high-prevalence regions such as Southern Italy. Methods: A total of 5243 individuals were analysed between 2013 and 2024 using both biochemical and genetic parameters. First-level screening included full blood count, iron status, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for haemoglobin variant quantification. Molecular analyses were performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the HBA1, HBA2, and HBB genes. Results: We identified 267 individuals (11.2%) as carriers of α-thalassaemia and 473 individuals (16.7%) as carriers of β-thalassaemia. Among them, 5 were compound heterozygotes and 3 homozygous for the α-3.7 deletion. A rare case of HbG Philadelphia in association with a triplicated α-gene was also observed. The most common β-globin mutations included c.118C>T (β⁰39, 44%), IVS-I-110 (17.7%), IVS-I-6 (12.7%), and IVS-I-1 (12.3%). Among α-globin mutations, the most prevalent were -α^3.7 (48%), α2 IVS1 -5nt (15.4%), -20.5 Kb (14.2%), and triplicated α (11%). In total, 18.7% of individuals were found to carry either α- or β-thalassaemia traits. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods—such as the osmotic fragility test—and the importance of integrating haematological, biochemical, and molecular data to accurately identify thalassaemia carriers. The variability of genotype–phenotype correlations, especially in the context of immigration and genetic diversity, underscores the need for comprehensive molecular analysis. We propose a three-step diagnostic algorithm combining first-level screening, iron status assessment, and NGS-based sequencing for inconclusive cases. Full article

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dietary Saponaria officinalis inclusion in the diet of dairy cows during the dry period on colostrum and milk quality, focusing specifically on the somatic cell count (SCC), the physicochemical composition and fatty acid (FA) profile. The effect of the addition on various biochemical parameters was evaluated in the serum of cows and their calves. This study was conducted on Ukrainian Black and White cattle. Twenty-four cows were selected from the herd twenty-one days prior to their expected calving date. They were allocated into three groups of eight cows each (n = 8) and began to be fed soapwort, as outlined below. Group C was fed a conventional TMR diet (0 g/cow per day); Group E1—TMR and 20 g of dry soapwort root powder per cow per day; and Group E2—50 g of dry soapwort root powder per cow per day. Blood samples were collected from the cows 21 d before labour and on the day of calving, and from calves on day 3, in week 2, and in week 6. Biochemical profiles of the liver, lipids, and kidneys were evaluated in the collected samples. Colostrum was collected from the cows two hours after calving during the initial complete milking, and milk was collected in the eighth week of lactation. The fundamental composition, SCC, and FA profiles were assessed in colostrum and milk. Higher protein levels were found in the serum of calves in the second week of life in groups E1 (p < 0.01) and E2 (p < 0.05) compared to group C. In calves, serum ALT levels were higher in group C than in groups E1 and E2 at 2 and 6 weeks of age (p < 0.05). The addition did not affect the biochemical profiles of lipids, liver, or kidneys in cows. The SCC in the colostrum was higher in group E2 than in group C (p < 0.05). A decrease (p < 0.01) in SCC was noted in the milk of groups E2 and E3 compared to the control group. In the colostrum of cows in group E2, an increase in UFA levels was observed, including beneficial acids, such as C18:2n6c, C22:6n3, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), while trans isomers decreased. The results suggest that Saponaria officinalis can be used as a supplement in the feeding of cows during the dry period to improve colostrum quality and also support the physiological development of calves and the health of the cows’ mammary glands. Full article

α-CGRP (alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide) is a vasoactive and anti-inflammatory neuropeptide that is cardioprotective in transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced pressure overload heart failure (HF) models. Our previous investigations established that a peptoid modification of α-CGRP, termed NMEG-CGRP, prevented left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and remodeling when administered subcutaneously every other day for 28 days, starting two days post-TAC surgery (termed prevention study). Here, we determined whether NMEG-CGRP would be cardioprotective when administered after the development of LV dysfunction secondary to TAC surgery (termed treatment study). Starting 15 days post-sham or TAC surgery, we administered NMEG-CGRP (3.6 mg/kg/mouse) subcutaneously every other day for 28 days in mice assigned to treatment groups. In vivo assessments included weekly electrocardiography to evaluate cardiac function and blood sampling for immunophenotyping. On Day 45, mice were euthanized, and hearts were collected for gross, histological, and biochemical analyses. Compared to sham-operated mice, TAC mice exhibited decreased LV ejection fraction and increased hypertrophy, dilation, fibrosis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. In contrast, TAC mice treated with NMEG-CGRP demonstrated significant improvements in cardiac function and cellular and biochemical parameters when compared to TAC mice. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of NMEG-CGRP in the treatment of established cardiovascular dysfunction and its progression in pressure overload-induced HF. Full article

COVID-19 remains a global health challenge, with severe cases often leading to complications and fatalities. The objective of this study was to assess supervised machine learning algorithms for predicting severe COVID-19 based on demographic, clinical, biochemical, and genetic variables, with the aim of identifying the most informative prognostic markers. For Machine Learning (ML) analysis, we utilized a dataset comprising 226 observations with 68 clinical, biochemical, and genetic features collected from 226 patients with confirmed COVID-19 (54—moderate, 142—severe and 30 with mild disease). The target variable was disease severity (mild, moderate, severe). The feature set included demographic variables (age, sex), genetic markers (single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FGB (rs1800790), NOS3 (rs2070744), and TMPRSS2 (rs12329760)), biochemical indicators (IL-6, endothelin-1, D-dimer, fibrinogen, among others), and clinical parameters (blood pressure, body mass index, comorbidities). The target variable was disease severity. To identify the most effective predictive models for COVID-19 severity, we systematically evaluated multiple supervised learning algorithms, including logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors, decision trees, random forest, gradient boosting, bagging, naïve Bayes, and support vector machines. Model performance was assessed using accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). Among the predictors, IL-6, presence of depression/pneumonia, LDL cholesterol, AST, platelet count, lymphocyte count, and ALT showed the strongest correlations with severity. The highest predictive accuracy, with negligible error rates, was achieved by ensemble-based models such as ExtraTreesClassifier, HistGradientBoostingClassifier, BaggingClassifier, and GradientBoostingClassifier. Notably, decision tree models demonstrated high classification precision at terminal nodes, many of which yielded a 100% probability for a specific severity class. Full article

Background: Spexin is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological functions, including energy metabolism, appetite regulation, and weight loss. This study aimed to identify correlations between circulating spexin levels, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: We included 128 Korean children and adolescents in the study. Among them, 69 individuals (53.9%) were classified as obese, 43 (33.6%) were considered overweight, and 16 (12.5%) had a normal weight. We recorded participants’ anthropometric parameters, fasting biochemical parameters, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and assessed their correlations with plasma spexin levels. Results: Plasma spexin levels were significantly lower in obese subjects than in controls (mean, 163.1 vs. 198.4 pg/mL; p = 0.01). Subjects with IR had lower spexin levels than those without IR (mean, 145.3 vs. 185.1 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Spexin levels were negatively correlated with the BMI SDS (r = −0.30; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = −0.33; p < 0.001), fasting insulin (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), HOMA-IR value (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), triglyceride (TG) level (r = −0.38; p < 0.001), and plasma leptin level (r = −0.26; p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, HOMA-IR and TG levels were independently associated with plasma spexin levels (p < 0.001 for both). Mediation analyses suggest a potential bidirectional relationship between obesity-related reductions in circulating spexin and insulin resistance. Conclusions: Decreased circulating spexin levels were associated with obesity and IR among Korean children and adolescents. Our findings suggest a link between circulating spexin, obesity, and IR in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the potential clinical, biochemical, haematological, and pathological associations of carpal tunnel syndrome through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing the fields of internal medicine, gastroenterology, and neurology. Methods: The study group (CTS-positive) comprised 265 patients who presented with dyspeptic complaints and underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, gastric antrum biopsy, electromyography, and comprehensive biochemical and haematological analyses. A control group of 265 patients with similar symptoms but without CTS was selected for comparison. A comparative analysis was conducted on clinical findings, gastric biopsy results, and biochemical and haematological parameters. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender distribution, or gastric biopsy findings (Helicobacter pylori, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, and dysplasia) between the CTS-positive and CTS-negative groups. However, significant biochemical differences were identified, including elevated calcium and reduced magnesium levels in CTS-positive patients. Haematological evaluations revealed higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil, erythrocyte, haemoglobin, and haematocrit levels, along with reduced neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios and red blood cell distribution widths in the CTS-positive group. Further analysis in the form of correlation and logistic regression analyses provided further confirmation of the association of elevated calcium, haemoglobin, and lymphocyte levels with increased risk of CTS. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary study identifies significant associations between CTS and specific biochemical and haematological parameters, notably calcium-magnesium imbalance and erythrocyte indices. These findings suggest underlying biological interactions that may guide future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Full article