Search Results (48)

Background and Objectives: The prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI), derived from serum albumin levels and absolute monocyte counts, has demonstrated prognostic value in gastrointestinal cancers. However, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. This study assessed the prognostic utility of the PINI for overall survival (OS) in patients with stage I–IIIA NSCLC undergoing curative-intent resection. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included 522 patients. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between PINI and OS along with clinical and hematologic variables. Model performance was assessed using the concordance index (C-index), integrated area under the curve (iAUC), continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), nomogram construction, and calibration curves. Results: In the multivariate analysis, the PINI remained an independent predictor of OS, along with age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, stage, pleural invasion, and the modified Shine–Lal index. The full model (FM), incorporating all these variables, outperformed the baseline model (BM) that was based solely on stage (C-index: 0.841 vs. 0.692; iAUC: 0.804 vs. 0.663; both p < 0.001). Compared with the intermediate model (IM), which included all FM variables except the PINI, the FM demonstrated modest but statistically significant improvements (C-index: 0.841 vs. 0.820, p = 0.012; iAUC: 0.804 vs. 0.793, p = 0.001). At 3- and 5-year time points, the FM still yielded superior risk reclassification over the BM and IM, as indicated by improvements in IDI and cNRI. A nomogram based on the FM showed good calibration with the observed survival outcomes. Conclusions: The PINI is an independent and clinically meaningful prognostic biomarker in patients with stage I–IIIA NSCLC undergoing curative surgery. Incorporating the PINI into the BM or IM improved risk discrimination and reclassification, supporting its potential use in personalized prognostic assessment. However, external validation is warranted. Full article

This study evaluated the effectiveness of individual clean-in-place (CIP) steps in removing biofilms from reverse osmosis (RO) membranes under dynamic flow conditions using the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) biofilm reactor. Biofilms were developed in the laboratory under continuous flow, using mixed-species bacterial isolates obtained from 10-month-old RO membrane biofilms from a commercial facility. Individual CIP chemicals, representative of those used in commercial protocols, were tested against 24 h-old biofilms. Additionally, a complete six-step sequential CIP process was conducted under dynamic conditions, consisting of treatments with alkali, surfactant, acid, enzyme, a secondary surfactant, and sanitizer. All experiments were performed in quadruplicate, and data were subjected to statistical analysis. Among individual treatments, the acid step was the most effective, significantly outperforming the other CIP cleaning steps by reducing bacterial counts from 5.62 to 4.10 log units, a 96.98% reduction. The full six-step CIP protocol reduced counts to 2.24 log units, indicating the persistence of resistant cells. The presence of viable cells post-treatment highlights the limited efficacy of the tested CIP chemicals in fully eradicating mature biofilms. Additionally, skipping any step in the membrane cleaning can significantly compromise the efficiency and performance during production. These findings suggest that biofilms grown in vitro under dynamic conditions using the CDC reactor exhibit a more robust assessment of the CIP treatments in accomplishing the biofilm control. This study highlights the need for optimized, scientifically validated CIP protocols targeting biofilms to improve cleaning efficacy and food safety. Full article

Lasia spinosa Thwaites (LST) has emerged as a potential supplement for enhancing male reproductive performance. This study evaluated the effects of long-term oral supplementation with LST on hematological parameters, semen characteristics, ultrasonographic measurements of the prostate gland and testes, and the cryopreservation potential of canine sperm. Six healthy male dogs received oral LST supplementation at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for 7 days (short-term). After a three-month washout period to ensure full physiological recovery, the same dogs underwent a long-term supplementation protocol (60 days). In the short-term trial, no clinically significant changes were observed in hematological or serum biochemical parameters, including complete blood count, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, total protein, and albumin; all parameters were within normal reference ranges. Serum testosterone levels and semen characteristics were also unaffected (p > 0.05). During the long-term treatment, blood profiles and testosterone levels remained stable. Although prostatic and testicular volumes increased slightly, the changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A significant increase in semen volume was observed (p < 0.05), while other semen parameters showed no significant differences. Notably, post-thaw sperm motility significantly improved at both 15 min and 4 h after thawing, and sperm viability was significantly enhanced at 4 h post-thaw (p < 0.05), suggesting a potential protective effect of LST during cryopreservation. These findings indicate that LST supplementation is physiologically safe and may improve canine sperm quality during freezing and thawing, supporting its potential application in reproductive health management. Full article

Background: TGF-β is an immunosuppressive cytokine. Its signaling pathway plays a role in anti-inflammatory responses. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a clinical consequence of atherosclerosis, which manifests as chronic inflammation and involves platelet mediators, including TGF-β. The aim of this study is to validate the diagnostic utility of TGF-β levels in relation to classical and molecular risk factors for CAD. Methods: The study group included 25 women and 75 men, all aged up to 55 and 50 years, respectively, who had been diagnosed with early-onset CAD. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure plasma levels of TGF-β, sCD36, PCSK9, TNF, VEGF, IL-6, and E-selectin using the ELISA method. Furthermore, a full lipid profile, apolipoproteins (Lp(a), ApoA1, and ApoB), C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and blood morphology were analyzed at the Central Hospital Laboratory. A physical examination was also performed. Results: Positive associations were observed between TGF-β concentration and TNF, platelet count, PTC, and triglyceride levels. TNF and platelet concentration were significant independent predictors of increased plasma TGF-β levels. None of the clinical parameters showed statistically significant associations with plasma TGF-β concentration. Conclusions: Our research has demonstrated that TGF-β levels, including circulating TNF, triglycerides, and platelets, are linked to specific biochemical risk factors in early-onset CAD cases. Full article

This paper examines the impact of carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment on national carbon intensity (CI) across 43 countries from 2010 to 2020. Using a dynamic common correlated effects (DCCE) log–log panel, we estimate the elasticity of CI with respect to sectoral CCS facility counts within four income-group panels and the full sample. In the high-income panel, CCS in direct air capture, cement, iron and steel, power and heat, and natural gas processing sectors produces statistically significant CI declines of 0.15%, 0.13%, 0.095%, 0.092%, and 0.087% per 1% increase in facilities, respectively (all p < 0.05). Upper-middle-income countries exhibit strong CI reductions in direct air capture (–0.22%) and cement (–0.21%) but mixed results in other sectors. Lower-middle- and low-income panels show attenuated or positive elasticities—reflecting early-stage CCS adoption and infrastructure barriers. Robustness checks confirm these patterns both before and after the 2015 Paris Agreement and between emerging and developed economy panels. Spatial analysis reveals that the United States and United Kingdom achieved 30–40% CI reductions over the decade, whereas China, India, and Indonesia realized only 10–20% declines (relative to a 2010 baseline), highlighting regional deployment gaps. Drawing on these detailed income-group insights, we propose tailored policy pathways: in high-income settings, expand tax credits and public–private infrastructure partnerships; in upper-middle-income regions, utilize blended finance and technology-transfer programs; and in lower-income contexts, establish pilot CCS hubs with international support and shared storage networks. We further recommend measures to manage CCS’s energy and water penalties, implement rigorous monitoring to mitigate leakage risks, and design risk-sharing contracts to address economic uncertainties. Full article

Parks play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat island effects, a key challenge for urban sustainability. Park cooling intensity (PCI) mechanisms across varying canopy-layer urban heat island (CUHI) gradients remain underexplored, particularly regarding interactions with meteorological, topographical, and socio-economic factors. According to the urban-suburban air temperature difference, this study classified the city into non-, weak, and strong CUHI regions. We integrated causal inference, machine learning and a geographical detector (Geodetector) to model and interpret PCI dynamics across CUHI gradients. The results reveal that surrounding impervious surface coverage is a universal driver of PCI by enhancing thermal contrast at park boundaries. However, the dominant drivers of PCI varied significantly across CUHI gradients. In non-CUHI regions, surrounding imperviousness dominated PCI and exhibited bilaterally enhanced interaction with intra-park patch density. Weak CUHI regions relied on intra-park green coverage with nonlinear synergies between water body proportion and park area. Strong CUHI regions involved systemic urban fabric influences mediated by surrounding imperviousness, evidenced by a validated causal network. Crucially, causal inference reduces model complexity by decreasing predictor counts by 79%, 25% and 71% in non-, weak and strong CUHI regions, respectively, while maintaining comparable accuracy to full-factor models. This outcome demonstrates the efficacy of causal inference in eliminating collinear metrics and spurious correlations from traditional feature selection, ensuring retained predictors reside within causal pathways and support process-based interpretability. Our study highlights the need for context-adaptive cooling strategies and underscores the value of integrating causal–statistical approaches. This framework provides actionable insights for designing climate-resilient blue–green spaces, advancing urban sustainability goals. Future research should prioritize translating causal diagnostics into scalable strategies for sustainable urban planning. Full article

Background: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is traditionally viewed as a disorder of delayed lung fluid clearance, but emerging evidence suggests inflammatory involvement. Aim: This study investigated systemic inflammatory indices [(systemic immune-inflammation index (SII-i), systemic inflammation response index (SIR-i), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NL-r), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PL-r)] and underlying mechanisms in TTN pathogenesis for the first time. Methods: This retrospective case–control study included 199 neonates (123 with TTN and 76 healthy controls) admitted between 2022 and 2025 to a tertiary care hospital. Complete blood count parameters were collected within the first two hours of life. Inflammatory indices were calculated and compared between groups. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on gestational age (late preterm vs. term) and mode of delivery (cesarean vs. vaginal). Results: Although not statistically significant, TTN infants showed a trend toward higher inflammatory indices with median NL-r (2.54 vs. 1.75, p = 0.197) and SII-i (729,307.83 vs. 373,593.50, p = 0.276). Term TTN infants had higher NL-r (3.08 vs. 2.04, p = 0.022) and SII-i (729,147.74 vs. 538,928.30, p = 0.133) than late preterm infants. SIR-i and NL-r values were higher in the full-term group than in the early-term and late-preterm groups (p = 0.014, p = 0.022, respectively). Cesarean births showed higher NL-r (3.20 vs. 2.33, p = 0.049) and SII-i (p = 0.040) than vaginal deliveries. Strong correlations existed between SII-I, NL-r (r = 0.886, p < 0.01), and SII-i, SIR-i (r = 0.817, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Elevated inflammatory indices in neonates with TTN, particularly in term infants and those delivered vaginally, suggest a supportive/potential role for systemic inflammation in TTN pathophysiology. These markers may serve as potential supplementary markers for risk stratification, though further prospective validation is required to confirm their clinical relevance. These findings suggest that the early assessment of systemic inflammatory indices may assist clinicians in identifying neonates at risk for TTN, thereby guiding initial respiratory support strategies. Full article

Background and Objectives: The prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was reported to be clinically relevant for colorectal cancer prognosis. Herein, the utility of PINI as a prognostic factor for the survival of patients with gastric cancer (GC) was investigated. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 492 patients with stage I–III GC, predominantly of Asian descent, who underwent curative-intent gastrectomy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified independent predictors of overall survival (OS). Model performance was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), integrated area under the curve (iAUC), time-dependent AUC, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI). Results: The PINI score—calculated as [albumin (g/dL) × 0.9] − [absolute monocyte count (/μL) × 0.0007]—was found to be independently associated with OS (p < 0.001). Additional independent prognostic factors included age, body mass index, 5-factor modified frailty index, tumor–node–metastasis (TMN) stage, gastrectomy type, and anemia. The full model that included all significant covariates outperformed the baseline TNM model, showing significantly higher C-index and iAUC values (both p < 0.001). Compared with an intermediate model, which excluded PINI, the full model demonstrated a superior C-index and iAUC (both p = 0.004). Although the observed improvements in AUC, IDI, and cNRI at 3 years were not statistically significant, the full model achieved significant gains in all three metrics at 5 years, underscoring the added long-term prognostic value of the PINI. Conclusions: PINI is a significant independent predictor of survival in patients with GC who underwent curative-intent surgery. Its inclusion in prognostic models enhances the long-term predictive accuracy for survival, supporting its potential role in guiding personalized postoperative management. External validation in larger multi-ethnic prospective cohorts is essential to confirm its generalizability and to establish its role in routine clinical practice. Full article

Background: Our aim was to assess the expression profiles of the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of stem-cell genes (POU5F1, NANOG) and pancreatic progenitor genes (CK19, HES1, INS, PDX1) in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in selected neoplastic pancreatic diseases, such as cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, to identify neoplastic disease markers in the pancreas. Methods: In this study, 49 patients diagnosed with pancreatic neoplastic diseases (37 with cancer and 12 with neuroendocrine tumors) and 34 control patients, all of whom were hospitalized at a tertiary center, were enrolled. Venous blood samples were collected from the participants, and RNA was extracted from PBMCs. The mRNA expression levels of six stem-cell and pancreatic progenitor markers— POU5F1 (POU class 5 homeobox 1), NANOG, CK19 (keratin 19), HES1 (HES family bHLH transcription factor 1), INS (insulin), and PDX1 (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1)—were quantified via real-time quantitative PCR. The data were statistically analyzed to explore associations between gene-expression levels and various clinical, biochemical, and morphological parameters (including full blood count, Ca 19-9, weight, height, and BMI) via the Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results: The results revealed that the expression of the gene associated with early stem cells, NANOG (median= 0.002, p = 0.03), as well as the genes encoding insulin INS (median = 0.004, p = 0.02) and CK19 (median 0.0003, p = 0.005), was significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, the gene-expression levels in patients with neuroendocrine tumors did not exhibit statistically significant differences compared to those observed in the control group. Additionally, no significant differences in gene expression were observed among patients at different stages of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, CK19 overexpression was found to be positively correlated with inflammatory markers, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) and WBC, in patients with pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: An elevated mRNA expression of specific stem and pancreatic progenitor genes (NANOG, INS, CK19) in PBMCs may serve as a potential markers for pancreatic cancer, reflecting the disease’s interplay with systemic inflammation. Full article

Climate Envelope Models (CEMs) commonly employ 19 bioclimatic variables to predict species distributions, yet selecting which variables to include remains a critical challenge. Although it seems logical to select ecologically relevant variables, the biological responses of many target species are poorly understood. Random Forest (RF), a popular method in CEMs, can effectively handle correlated and nonlinear variables. In light of these strengths, this study explores the full model hypothesis, which involves using all 19 bioclimatic variables in an RF model, using Crustulina guttata (Theridiidae: Araneae) as a test case. Four model variants—a simplified model with two variables, an ecologically selected model with seven variables, a statistically selected model with ten variables, and a full model with nineteen variables—were compared against a thousand randomly assembled models with matching variable counts. All models achieved high performance, though results varied based on the number of variables employed. Notably, the full model consistently produced stronger predictions than models with fewer variables. Moreover, specifying particular variables did not yield a significant advantage over random selections of equally sized sets, indicating that omitting variables may risk the loss of important information. Although the final model suggests that C. guttata may have dispersed beyond its native European range through artificial means, this study examined only a single species. Thus, caution is warranted in generalizing these findings, and additional research is needed to determine whether the full model hypothesis extends to other taxa and environmental contexts. In scenarios where ecological knowledge is limited, however, using all available variables in an RF model may preserve potentially significant predictors and enhance predictive accuracy. Full article

Statistical counting ad infinitum is the holographic observable to a statistical dynamics with finite states under independent and identically distributed N sampling. Entropy provides the infinitesimal probability for an observed empirical frequency $\widehat{\mathit{\nu }}$ with respect to a probability prior $\mathbf{p}$, when $\widehat{\mathit{\nu }}\ne \mathbf{p}$ as $N\to \infty$. Following Callen’s postulate and through Legendre–Fenchel transform, without help from mechanics, we show that an internal energy $\mathbf{u}$ emerges; it provides a linear representation of real-valued observables with full or partial information. Gibbs’ fundamental thermodynamic relation and theory of ensembles follow mathematically. $\mathbf{u}$ is to $\widehat{\mathit{\nu }}$ what chemical potential $\mu$ is to particle number N in Gibbs’ chemical thermodynamics, what $\beta =T^{-1}$ is to internal energy U in classical thermodynamics, and what $\omega$ is to t in Fourier analysis. Full article

Background: Denture stomatitis is an inflammatory condition involving swelling and redness of the oral mucosa beneath a denture. Among various available treatments, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and nano-wire nanostructures have been suggested as potential future therapies. However, there is a lack of information in the literature about the effectiveness of ZnONPs regarding microbial adhesion to different denture base resins. Here, we review studies on the effect of ZnONP use on microbial adhesion to denture base resins to answer the following study question: “Does incorporating ZnONPs into denture base resins reduce microbial adhesion?” Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an electronic and manual search ranging from Jan 2000 to May 2024 was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to answer the study question. All full-length English-language articles investigating the effects of ZnO nanostructures on Candida albicans adhesion to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resins were included. The extracted data were tabulated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the included studies. Results: Of the 479 studies reviewed, 7 studies successfully met the eligibility criteria. All included studies utilized PMMA as the denture base material with different polymerization methods. C. albicans was the most extensively studied microbial species, with various count methods used. Six studies concluded a statistically significant impact of ZnONPs on decreasing C. albicans adhesion to the denture base. However, one study reported the opposite. Conclusions: Incorporating ZnONPs into PMMA denture base resin has a positive impact on reducing C. albicans adherence and could be recommended for denture stomatitis treatment. However, further studies are needed to cover the notable gap in data regarding the safety and effectiveness of ZnO nanostructures. Full article

Background and Objectives: Epidemiological and microbiological–immunological studies have led to the conclusion that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for preterm birth. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify the relationship of some hematological cellular biomarkers characterizing the chronic oral focus of infection with pregnancy outcomes and their impact on those outcomes. Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory tests were conducted on 100 pregnant women, grouped by full-term or preterm births, with the assessment of the following markers: DMF, CPI and PIRI, PHP, microbiological examination of periodontal pockets and amniotic fluid, WBS count, WBCSI, LGI, and NMR. A statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS Statistics version 19.0. Results: Women with preterm labor had higher-grade caries (CSL > 0.3), while women with full-term childbirth had moderate caries (CSL < 0.3). A satisfactory level of oral hygiene efficiency was found in 50% (group 1) and 38.1% (group 2) of the expectant mothers. The periodontal status by the PIRI showed tissue lesions in 20.7% (group 1) and 92.9% (group 2) of the women. The WBCSI was 2.27 ± 0.82 and 2.15 ± 0.68, the NMR was 9.29 ± 5.119 and 11.62 ± 7.78, and the LGI was 3.54 ± 1.1 and 3.73 ± 0.81 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Comparative analysis of bacterial contamination of the amniotic fluid revealed the predominance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (64.3%), Tannerella forsythia (57.1%), Prevotella intermedia (50%), Porphyromonas gingivalis (57.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (45.2%), and Candida albicans (50%) in women with premature birth. Conclusions: In women with preterm birth, the values of the indices characterizing a chronic oral focus of infection evoke more significant correlations with the timing of delivery, which indicates the significant role of an oral focus of infection. The presence of microbial invasion of amniotic fluid may indicate the role of periodontopathogenic bacteria in pregnant women diagnosed with a risk of preterm birth. Full article

Background: Little is known about morphogenetic changes in the umbilical cord during the maturation process. Extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, progenitor activity, and immunomodulation are represented by specific markers; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP2), CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and human β-defensin 2 (HBD2) in preterm and full-term human umbilical cord tissue. Methods: Samples of umbilical cord tissue were obtained from 17 patients and divided into two groups: very preterm and moderate preterm birth umbilical cords; late preterm birth and full-term birth umbilical cords. Routine histology examination was conducted. Marker-positive cells were detected using the immunohistochemistry method. The number of positive structures was counted semi-quantitatively using microscopy. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS Statistics 29 program. Results: Extraembryonic mesenchyme cells are the most active cell producers, expressing MMP2, TIMP2, VEGF, and HBD2 at notable levels in preterm and full-term umbilical cord tissue. Statistically significant differences in the expression of CD34, MMP2, and TIMP2 between the two patient groups were found. The expression of VEGF was similar in both patient groups, with the highest number of VEGF-positive cells seen in the extraembryonic mesenchyme. The expression of HBD2 was the highest in the extraembryonic mesenchyme and the amniotic epithelium, where mostly moderate numbers of HBD2-positive cells were detected. Conclusions: Extracellular matrix remodeling in preterm and term umbilical cords is strongly regulated, and tissue factors MMP2 and TIMP2 take part in this process. The expression of VEGF is not affected by the umbilical cord’s age; however, individual patient factors can affect the production of VEGF. Numerous CD34-positive cells in the endothelium of the umbilical arteries suggest a significant role of progenitor cells in very preterm and moderate preterm birth umbilical cords. Antimicrobial activity provided by HBD2 is essential and constant in preterm and full-term umbilical cords. Full article

This study conducted a detailed analysis of the vaginal microbiota in pregnant women to explore its correlation with preterm birth (PTB) outcomes. The primary objective was to identify microbial variations associated with increased PTB risk. Secondary objectives included investigating how changes in microbial composition relate to the local immune environment and PTB. Utilizing a retrospective case–control design, the study involved pregnant women with liveborn infants between 2019 and 2023. In total, 89 women who delivered preterm and 106 term deliveries were included. Data collection focused on third-trimester vaginal cultures. Statistically significant differences were observed between the preterm and full-term groups in several areas. The median white blood cell count (10.2 × 10³/mm³ vs. 7.6 × 10³/mm³, p = 0.009) and neutrophil count (7.2 × 10³/mm³ vs. 5.1 × 10³/mm³, p < 0.001) were higher in the preterm group. Vaginal pH was also elevated in preterm births (5.6 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001), with a higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (29.2% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.001) as indicated by the Nugent Score. The study noted a significant association of PTB with the presence of Candida spp. (OR = 1.84, p = 0.018), Gardnerella vaginalis (OR = 2.29, p = 0.003), Mycoplasma hominis (OR = 1.97, p = 0.007), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (OR = 2.43, p = 0.001). Conversely, a reduction in Lactobacillus spp. correlated with a decreased PTB risk (OR = 0.46, p = 0.001). The study provides compelling evidence that specific vaginal microbiota components, particularly certain pathogenic bacteria and an altered Lactobacillus profile, are significantly associated with PTB risk. These findings highlight the potential of targeting microbial factors in strategies aimed at reducing PTB rates. Further research is necessary to fully understand the complex interplay between microbial dynamics, host immunity, and PTB outcomes. Full article