The aim of the study was to determine the effect of step load in hypoxia on the effectiveness of preoperative rehabilitation (PR) and hormone levels based on a case study. Introduction: We assessed the impact of variables such as rate of movement and time under tension (TUT) in normobaric hypoxia on the levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and erythropoietin (EPO). Additionally, the impact of step load on the hypertrophy and strength of knee extensors and flexors was assessed. Methods: The work uses a case study, the research subject of which was a 23-year-old female professional handball player. The tests included an isokinetic assessment of the peak torque of knee extensors and flexors as well as body composition analysis. Results: The results showed a more than (10.81-fold) increase in GH after the microcycle with time under tension (TUT). The deficit between the lower limbs was also reduced. Conclusions: Using a hypoxic environment based on an appropriate altitude, combined with changes such as a short rest break between sets and a controlled tempo of movement with an eccentric phase, TUT may offer an alternative to the PR process, especially among athletes who care about fast RTS. Full article

Electrokinetic (EK) microsystems, which are capable of performing separations without the need for labeling analytes, are a rapidly growing area in microfluidics. The present work demonstrated three distinct binary microbial separations, computationally modeled and experimentally performed, in an insulator-based EK (iEK) system stimulated by DC-biased AC potentials. The separations had an increasing order of difficulty. First, a separation between cells of two distinct domains (Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was demonstrated. The second separation was for cells from the same domain but different species (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus). The last separation included cells from two closely related microbial strains of the same domain and the same species (two distinct S. cerevisiae strains). For each separation, a novel computational model, employing a continuous spatial and temporal function for predicting the particle velocity, was used to predict the retention time ($t_{R,p}$) of each cell type, which aided the experimentation. All three cases resulted in separation resolution values $R_s>1.5,$ indicating complete separation between the two cell species, with good reproducibility between the experimental repetitions (deviations < 6%) and good agreement (deviations < 18%) between the predicted $t_{R,p}$ and experimental ($t_{R,e}$) retention time values. This study demonstrated the potential of DC-biased AC iEK systems for performing challenging microbial separations. Full article

(1) Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a significant global health challenge, contributing to numerous cancer deaths. Despite advances in diagnostics and therapy, identifying reliable biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic stratification remains difficult. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), crucial for innate immunity, now show potential as contributors to cancer development and progression. This study aims to investigate the role of TLR expression as potential biomarkers in the development and progression of NSCLC. (2) Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 89 patients diagnosed with NSCLC and 40 healthy volunteers, for whom the prevalence of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 was assessed on selected subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of recruited patients along with the assessment of their serum concentration. (3) Result: Our study showed several significant changes in NSCLC patients at the beginning of the study. This resulted in a 5-year follow-up of changes in selected TLRs in recruited patients. Due to the high mortality rate of NSCLC patients, only 16 patients survived the 5 years. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that TLRs may constitute real biomarker molecules that may be used for future prognostic purposes in NSCLC. However, further validation through prospective clinical and functional studies is necessary to confirm their clinical utility. These conclusions may lead to better risk stratification and tailored interventions, benefiting NSCLC patients and bringing medicine closer to precision. Full article

Background: Burns represent a serious health problem, associated with multiple-organ failure, prolonged hospitalization, septic complications, and increased rate of mortality. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of various circulating molecules in children with severe burns (more than 25% TBSA), in three different moments: 48 h, day 10, and day 21 post-burn. Materials and Methods: This study included 32 children with burns produced by flame, hot liquid, and electric arc and 21 controls. Serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), α 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and platelet factor 4 (PF4) were detected using the Multiplex technique. Several parameters, such as fibrinogen, leucocyte count, thrombocyte count, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were also determined for each patient during hospitalization. Results: Significant statistical differences were obtained for CRP, AGP, and PF4 compared to the control group, in different moments of measurements. Negative correlations between CRP, AGP, and PF4 serum levels and burned body surface, and also the hospitalization period, were observed. Discussions: CRP levels increased in the first 10 days after burn trauma and then decreased after day 21. Serum PAI-1 levels were higher immediately after the burn and started decreasing only after day 10 post-burn. AGP had elevated levels 48 h after the burn, then decreased at 7–10 days afterwards, and once again increased levels after 21 days. PF4 serum levels increased after day 10 since the burning event. Conclusions: Serum CRP, AGP, PAI-1, and PF4 seem to be promising molecules in monitoring patients with a burn within the first 21 days. Full article

Background: Male fertility is known to have been negatively influenced by the progress of civilization. Another condition whose incidence has been on the increase for the same reason is insulin resistance (IR). In addition, men increasingly often resign from the pursuit of active forms of leisure, preferring more sedentary ones. Considering these trends, this aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lifestyle factors, insulin resistance, and male fertility in men with and without the condition. A further aim was to select those lifestyle factors that would make it possible to predict the level of male fertility, especially when IR is concerned. Methods: This study was performed in a group of 73 participants, divided into groups based on their insulin resistance status. Their physical activity, diet, perceived stress, sleep quality, libido level, and duration of sexual abstinence were assessed on the basis of a number of parameters, including indices proposed by the authors. In addition, relevant anthropometric measurements were taken and tests related to glucose metabolism and semen quality were carried out. On the basis of these data, statistical tests were performed to establish or disprove relationships between lifestyle choices and semen quality, as measured my sperm motility. Results: The results of this study highlighted the associations between a number of parameters, i.e., micronutrient and vitamin intake, diet quality, body composition, insulin resistance, and the duration of sexual abstinence, and semen quality, as measured by sperm motility. Significantly, the presence or absence of IR was linked to male fertility. A multivariate model was developed, incorporating parameters such as the Matsuda index, vitamin intake, and sexual abstinence duration, to predict motility scores. Conclusions: This study underscores the negative impact of modern civilization’s lifestyle choices on male fertility. Notably, vitamin and mineral consumption, especially from antioxidant-rich diets like the Mediterranean diet, emerged as key modifiable factors affecting fertility. Routine diagnostics for insulin resistance in fertility-related interventions is recommended. This study also highlights the importance of considering sexual abstinence duration during semen collection for accurate diagnostic results. Future research should focus on validating the proposed multivariate model and exploring the effects of lifestyle modifications, particularly vitamin supplementation, on fertility outcomes in men, especially in the context of IR. Full article

Chronic pain is a common symptom in various types of neuromuscular disorders. However, for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the literature regarding chronic pain is scarce. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of chronic pain in children, adolescents, and adults with SMA and investigated the influence of clinical characteristics on chronic pain. Materials and Methods: This study used data from 141 patients, which were collected by the Swiss Registry for Neuromuscular Disorders. Extracted data included information on pain (present yes/no, pain location, and pain medication) and clinical characteristics, such as SMA type, motor function, wheelchair use, scoliosis, and contractures. Results: The analyses revealed that the highest prevalence of chronic pain was observed in adolescents with 62%, followed by adults with 48%, children (6–12 years) with 39%, and children < 6 years with 10%. The legs, back, and hips were most frequently reported as pain locations. Sex (females), age (adolescents), and the presence of contractures and scoliosis (with surgery) were factors that were associated with chronic pain. Conclusions: These findings contribute to a better understanding of pain in SMA, shedding light on its prevalence and characteristics in different age groups, which underscores the importance of assessing and managing pain in patients with SMA. Full article

Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices worldwide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are its main metabolic products. The misuse or mixing of cinnamon on the market is quite serious. This study used gas chromatography-ion migration spectroscopy (GC-IMS) technology to analyze the VOCs of cinnamon samples. The measurement results showed that 66 VOCs were detected in cinnamon, with terpenes being the main component accounting for 45.45%, followed by aldehydes accounting for 21.21%. The content of esters and aldehydes was higher in RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04; the content of alcohols was higher in RG-01; and the content of ketones was higher in RG-02. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and partial least squares regression analysis can be performed on the obtained data to clearly distinguish cinnamon. According to the VIP results of PLS-DA, 1-Hexanol, 2-heptanone, ethanol, and other substances are the main volatile substances that distinguish cinnamon. This study combined GC-IMS technology with chemometrics to accurately identify cinnamon samples, providing scientific guidance for the efficient utilization of cinnamon. At the same time, this study is of great significance for improving the relevant quality standards of spices and guiding the safe use of spices. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lipid metabolism plays an important role in maternal health and fetal development. There is a gap in the knowledge of how lipid metabolism changes during pregnancy for Black women who are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that the comprehensive lipidome profiles would show variation across pregnancy indicative of requirements during gestation and fetal development. Methods: Black women were recruited at prenatal clinics. Plasma samples were collected at 8–18 weeks (T₁), 22–29 weeks (T₂), and 30–36 weeks (T₃) of pregnancy. Samples from 64 women who had term births (≥37 weeks gestation) were subjected to “shotgun” Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify systematic changes and dimensionality reduction models were used to visualize patterns and identify reliable lipid signatures. Results: Total lipids and major lipid classes showed significant increases with the progression of pregnancy. Phospholipids and glycerolipids exhibited a gradual increase from T₁ to T₂ to T₃, while sphingolipids and total sterol lipids displayed a more pronounced increase from T₂ to T₃. Acylcarnitines, hydroxy acylcarnitines, and Lyso phospholipid levels significantly decreased from T₁ to T₃. A deviation was that non-esterified fatty acids decreased from T₁ to T₂ and increased again from T₂ to T₃, suggestive of a potential role for these lipids during the later stages of pregnancy. The fatty acids showing this trend included key fatty acids—non-esterified Linoleic acid, Arachidonic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, and Docosahexaenoic acid. Conclusions: Mapping lipid patterns and identifying lipid signatures would help develop intervention strategies to reduce perinatal health disparities among pregnant Black women. Full article

White-collar workers around the world are reconfiguring their ways of working. Some have found their way out, performing office work outdoors, through walk-and-talks, outdoor meetings, or reading sessions. Working outdoors has proved both invigorating and challenging. This qualitative interview study aims to develop a conceptual framework concerning the implications of white-collar workers incorporating the outdoors into their everyday work life. Applying a constructivist grounded theory approach, 27 interviews with a total of 15 participants were systematically analyzed. Findings evolved around the following categories: practicing outdoor office work, challenging the taken-for-granted, enjoying freedom and disconnection, feeling connected and interdependent, promoting health and well-being, enhancing performance, and finally adding a dimension to work. These categories were worked into a conceptual model, building on the dynamic relationship between the practice of working outdoors on one hand, and how this challenges the system in which office work traditionally takes place on the other. Interviews reflected the profound learning process of the employees. Drawing on the concepts of free space and resonance, we demonstrate how performing office work outdoors may unlock a transformative potential by opening up connectedness and interdependence and contribute to a sustainable work life as well as overall sustainable development. Full article

Nanostructured metal oxides (NMOs) provide electrical properties such as high surface−to−volume ratio, reaction activity, and good adsorption strength. Furthermore, they serve as a conductive substrate for the immobilization of biomolecules, exhibiting notable biological activity. Capitalizing on these characteristics, they find utility in the development of various electrochemical biosensing devices, elevating the sensitivity and selectivity of such diagnostic platforms. In this review, different types of NMOs, including zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), iron (II, III) oxide (Fe₃O₄), nickel oxide (NiO), and copper oxide (CuO); their synthesis methods; and how they can be integrated into biosensors used for medical diagnosis are examined. It also includes a detailed table for the last 10 years covering the morphologies, analysis techniques, analytes, and analytical performances of electrochemical biosensors developed for medical diagnosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are prone to develop infections. Methods: Accordingly, 195 untreated early (e)RA patients and 398 healthy controls were selected from women in Tatarstan’s cohort to study infectious history in the anamnesis (four criteria) and in the previous year (16 criteria). Information about annual infections was collected face-to-face from year to year by a qualified rheumatologist/ general practitioner and included the active use of information from medical records. Results: In the anamnesis, tuberculosis, and pneumonia, and in the previous year, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and herpes simplex virus reactivation incidence were reported to be increased in eRA patients, as well as the event number and duration of acute and chronic tonsillitis. Moreover, more bacterial-suspected upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections were retrieved in sporadic eRA patients as compared to familial eRA patients. An elevated immunization against CCP prevented respiratory tract infection in those with HSV exacerbation. Finally, associations were retrieved between infection (event number/delay) and RA indices: (i) chronic tonsillitis exacerbations with disease activity and health assessment (HAQ) in familial eRA; (ii) bacterial-suspected upper respiratory infections with the number of swollen and tender joints in sporadic eRA; and (iii) HSV exacerbation with inflammation in eRA patients with negative/low response against CCP. Here, we demonstrate the complex nature of the interplay of RA with specific infections. Conclusions: For the first time, differences in the patterns of annual trivial infections and their links with RA indices were found in cohorts of familial and sporadic cases of the disease. Additionally, for the first time, we identified a remarkable relationship between early RA and exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, as well as tuberculosis in the patient’s history. Altogether, this study supports the existence of a complex interplay between infections and RA at onset driven by familial status and the presence of anti-CCP Ab at elevated levels. Full article

Biofilms based on bacteria Pseudomonas veronii (Ps. veronii) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) were used for novel biosensor creation for rapid biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) monitoring. Based on the electrochemical measurement results, it was shown that the endogenous mediator in the matrix of E. coli and Ps. veronii biofilms and ferrocene form a two-mediator system that improves electron transport in the system. Biofilms based on Ps. veronii and E. coli had a high biotechnological potential for BOD assessment; bioreceptors based on such biofilms had high sensitivity (the lower limits of detectable BOD₅ concentrations were 0.61 (Ps. veronii) and 0.87 (E. coli) mg/dm³) and high efficiency of analysis (a measurement time 5–10 min). The maximum biosensor response based on bacterial biofilms has been observed in the pH range of 6.6–7.2. The greatest protective effect was found for biofilms based on E. coli, which has high long-term stability (151 days for Ps. veronii and 163 days for E. coli). The results of the BOD₅ analysis of water samples obtained using the developed biosensors had a high correlation with the results of the standard 5-day method (R² = 0.9820, number of tested samples is 10 for Ps. veronii, and R² = 0.9862, number of tested samples is 10 for E. coli). Thus, biosensors based on Ps. veronii biofilms and E. coli biofilms could be a novel analytical system to give early warnings of pollution. Full article

Background: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the most commonly performed minimally invasive intensive care unit procedure worldwide. Methods: This study evaluated the percentage of consistency between the entry site observed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and the prediction for the PDT level based on pre-procedural ultrasonography (USG) in PDT procedures performed using the forceps dilatation method. The effect of morphological features on intervention sites was also investigated. Complications that occurred during and after the procedure, as well as the duration, site, and quantity of the procedures, were recorded. Results: Data obtained from a total of 91 patients were analyzed. In 57 patients (62.6%), the USG-estimated tracheal puncture level was consistent with the intercartilaginous space observed by FOB, while in 34 patients (37.4%), there was a discrepancy between these two methods. According to Bland Altman, the agreement between the tracheal spaces determined by USG and FOB was close. Regression formulas for PDT procedures defining the intercartilaginous puncture level based on morphologic measurements of the patients were created. The most common complication related to PDT was cartilage fracture (17.6%), which was proven to be predicted with maximum relevance by punctured tracheal level, neck extension limitation, and procedure duration. Conclusions: In PDT procedures using the forceps dilatation method, the prediction of the PDT intervention level based on pre-procedural USG was considerably in accordance with the entry site observed by FOB. The intercartilaginous puncture level could be estimated based on morphological measurements. Full article

Maintaining balance is critical to minimizing astronauts’ risk of falling and reducing injury or suit damage. Previous studies involving spacesuits have not examined the effects of the superior shift of the center of gravity (CoG) on astronauts’ ability to balance. Here, the purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of CoG shift due to a simulated Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) on balance. Seventeen participants’ standing balance was examined for three test configurations: unsuited, weighted with an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) vest, and xEMU hard upper body torso (HUT). Using a Tekscan forceplate walkway, the CoG locations were determined. Balance assessments were performed to determine the limits of stability and standing balance performance during wide or tandem stances with eyes open/closed. The center of pressure (CoP) time series was examined in terms of displacement, velocity, and frequency measures. During the eyes-open wide stance, the xEMU vest significantly increased the mediolateral balance parameters, while the HUT significantly increased the total displacement (TOTEX), mean velocity (MVELO), and mean frequency (MFREQ) of the CoP. In the eyes-closed wide stance, the HUT significantly increased these parameters. In the eyes-closed tandem stance, the xEMU vest significantly decreased the parameters. The xEMU vest significantly reduced the TOTEX, MVELO, and MFREQ (improved standing balance), while the HUT decreased standing balance ability, seen with significant increases in said parameters. By quantifying CoG’s effect on balance, our results form the basis for future balance and posture studies of xEMU spacesuits. Full article

Introduction: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) are rare and mainly originate from the pancreas. SPNs originating from the ovary (SPN-O) are extremely rare, and only 13 cases have been reported in the English literature since 2010. Case: We report a 31-year-old woman with SPN-O accompanied by multiple metastases in the abdominal cavity. The patient underwent staging surgery and cytoreduction. Furthermore, the multidisciplinary board decided on adjuvant chemotherapy with an FP regimen (fluorouracil plus cisplatin) because a microscopic metastasis was discovered in the peritoneum near the appendix. Next-generation sequencing showed some pathologic mutations of oncogenes/cancer-associated genes, including CTNNB1 and TP53. This is the fourteenth case of SPN-O and the first one to demonstrate the TP53 pathogenic mutant variant in SPN-O. The patient showed 8 months of disease-free survival until February 2024. Conclusion: The combination of R0 cytoreduction with FOLFIRI chemotherapy appears to be an effective and feasible treatment option. Full article

Objective: To assess the association between pretreatment thrombocytosis, anemia, and leukocytosis and overall survival (OS) of advanced-stage EOC. Furthermore, to develop nomograms using established prognostic factors and pretreatment hematologic parameters to predict the OS of advanced EOC patients. Methods: Advanced-stage EOC patients treated between January 1996 and January 2010 in eastern Netherlands were included. Survival outcomes were compared between patients with and without pretreatment thrombocytosis (≥450,000 platelets/µL), anemia (hemoglobin level of <7.5 mmol/L), or leukocytosis (≥11.0 × 10⁹ leukocytes/L). Three nomograms (for ≤3-, ≥5-, and ≥10-year OS) were developed. Candidate predictors were fitted into multivariable logistic regression models. Multiple imputation was conducted. Model performance was assessed on calibration, discrimination, and Brier scores. Bootstrap validation was used to correct for model optimism. Results: A total of 773 advanced-stage (i.e., FIGO stages IIB–IV) EOC patients were included. The median [interquartile range, IQR] OS was 2.3 [1.3–4.2] and 3.0 [1.4–7.0] years for patients with and without pretreatment thrombocytosis (p < 0.01). The median OS was not notably different for patients with and without pretreatment leukocytosis (p = 0.58) or patients with and without pretreatment anemia (p = 0.07). The final nomograms comprised established predictors with either pretreatment leukocyte or platelet count. The ≥5- and ≥10-year OS models demonstrated good calibration and adequate discrimination with optimism-corrected c-indices [95%-CI] of 0.76 [0.72–0.80] and 0.78 [0.73–0.83], respectively. The ≤3-year OS model demonstrated suboptimal performance with an optimism-corrected c-index of 0.71 [0.66–0.75]. Conclusions: Pretreatment thrombocytosis is associated with poorer EOC survival. Two well-performing models predictive of ≥5-year and ≥10-year OS in advanced-stage EOC were developed and internally validated. Full article

Background: Axial spondyloarthropathy(AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton, often characterized by sacroiliitis. While pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially lethal condition, has been linked to several autoimmune diseases, limited data exist regarding PE risk among patients with AS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized the Clalit Healthcare Services (CHS) database, including 5825 patients with AS and 28,356 matched controls. Follow-up began at the date of first AS diagnosis for patients and at the matched patient’s diagnosis date for controls and continued until PE diagnosis, death, or study end date. Results: Prevalence of PE before AS diagnosis in patients compared to controls was 0.4% vs. 0.2% (p < 0.01). The incidence rate of PE was 11.6 per 10,000 person-years for patients with AS and 6.8 per 10,000 person-years for controls. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for PE in patients with AS was 1.70 (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated excess risk for PE in patients with AS regardless of gender and age, with variations among AS treatment categories. Discussion: Our findings highlight a significant association between AS and PE, indicating an increased risk in patients with AS independent of age and sex and suggests a subclinical level of inflammation. Preliminary results suggest a protective role of immunosuppressing drugs. Further research into the impact of treatment strategies should be conducted and could inform clinical management and reduce the life-threatening risk of PE in Patients with AS. Full article

In the scheduling of hard real-time systems on multicore platforms, significant unpredictability arises from interference caused by shared hardware resources. The objective of this paper is to offer a schedulability analysis for such systems by assuming a general model that introduces interference as a time parameter for each task. The analysis assumes constrained deadlines and is provided for fixed priorities. It is based on worst-case response time analysis, which exists in the literature for monocore systems. We demonstrate that the worst-case response time is an upper bound, and we evaluate our proposal with synthetic loads and execution on a real platform. Full article

The identification and characterization of immunogenic tumor antigens are essential for cancer vaccine development. In light of the impracticality of isolating and evaluating each putative antigen individually, in silico prediction algorithms, particularly those utilizing machine learning (ML) approaches, play a pivotal role. These algorithms significantly reduce the experimental workload necessary for discovering vaccine candidates. In this study, we employed six supervised ML methods on a dataset comprising 212 experimentally validated human tumor peptide antigens and an equal number of non-antigenic human peptides to develop models for immunogenicity prediction. These methods encompassed k-nearest neighbor (kNN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The models underwent validation through internal cross-validation within 10 groups from the training set and were further assessed using an external test set. Remarkably, the kNN model demonstrated superior performance, recognizing 90% of the known immunogens in the test set. The RF model excelled in the identification of non-immunogens, accurately classifying 93% of them in the test set. The three top-performing ML models according to multiple evaluation metrics (SVM, RF, and XGBoost) are to be subsequently integrated into the new version of the VaxiJen server, facilitating tumor antigen prediction through a majority voting mechanism. Full article

In patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a lower level of cognitive function is associated with a higher likelihood of progression to dementia. In addition, gait disturbances and structural changes on brain MRI scans reflect cognitive levels. Therefore, we aimed to classify MCI based on cognitive level using gait parameters and brain MRI data. Eighty patients diagnosed with MCI from three dementia centres in Gangwon-do, Korea, were recruited for this study. We defined MCI as a Clinical Dementia Rating global score of ≥0.5, with a memory domain score of ≥0.5. Patients were classified as early-stage or late-stage MCI based on their mini-mental status examination (MMSE) z-scores. We trained a machine learning model using gait and MRI data parameters. The convolutional neural network (CNN) resulted in the best classifier performance in separating late-stage MCI from early-stage MCI; its performance was maximised when feature patterns that included multimodal features (GAIT + white matter dataset) were used. The single support time was the strongest predictor. Machine learning that incorporated gait and white matter parameters achieved the highest accuracy in distinguishing between late-stage MCI and early-stage MCI. Full article

Xanthone derivatives, a class of natural compounds abundantly found in plants such as mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) and certain herbs, have garnered substantial interest due to their diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Recent investigations have unveiled their potential as modulators of enzymatic activity, prompting exploration into their effects on hyaluronidase-mediated hyaluronic acid (HA) degradation, and their effects in topical treatment of telangiectasia and rosacea. Telangiectasia and rosacea are common dermatological conditions characterized by chronic skin inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and visible blood vessels, resulting in significant cosmetic concerns and impaired quality of life for affected individuals. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding regarding the interplay between the mechanisms of action by which xanthone derivatives exert their therapeutic effects, including the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of oxidative stress pathways, and regulation of vascular endothelial growth factors. Furthermore, we will discuss the implications of harnessing xanthone derivatives as therapeutic agents for mitigating vascular dysfunction and its associated pathologies, thereby offering insights into future research directions and therapeutic strategies in the field of vascular biology. Full article

Background: Persistent hypotension in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased mortality. Predicting acute hypotensive events can lead to timely intervention. We aimed to develop a prediction model of acute hypotensive events in patients admitted to the ICU. Methods: We included adult patients admitted to the Nagoya City University (NCU) Hospital ICU between January 2018 and December 2021 for model training and internal validation. The MIMIC-III database was used for external validation. A hypotensive event was defined as a mean arterial pressure < 60 mmHg for at least 5 min in 10 min. The input features were age, sex, and time-series data for vital signs. We compared the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of three machine-learning algorithms: logistic regression, the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and long short-term memory (LSTM). Results: Acute hypotensive events were found in 1325/1777 (74.6%) and 2691/5266 (51.1%) of admissions in the NCU and MIMIC-III cohorts, respectively. In the internal validation, the LightGBM model had the highest AUROC (0.835), followed by the LSTM (AUROC 0.834) and logistic regression (AUROC 0.821) models. Applying only blood pressure-related features, the LSTM model achieved the highest AUROC (0.843) and consistently showed similar results in external and internal validation. Conclusions: The LSTM model using only blood pressure-related features had the highest AUROC with comparable performance in external validation. Full article