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Thermocatalytic ammonia synthesis beyond conventional Haber-Bosch: Principles, advances, challenges and opportunities
Full text linkLong plane trees
Full text linkIn the longest plane spanning tree problem, we are given a finite planar point set , and our task is to find a plane (i.e., noncrossing) spanning tree for with maximum total Euclidean edge length. Despite more than two decades of research, it remains open whether this problem is NP-hard. Thus, previous results have focused on polynomial-time algorithms that produce plane trees whose total edge length approximates , the maximum possible length. The approximate trees in these algorithms all have small unweighted diameter, typically two to four. It is natural to ask whether this is a common feature of longest plane spanning trees, or an artifact of the specific approximation algorithms. We provide three results to elucidate the interplay between the approximation guarantee and the unweighted diameter of the approximate trees. First, we describe a polynomial-time algorithm to construct a plane tree with diameter at most four and total edge length at least . This constitutes a substantial improvement over the state of the art. Second, we show that a longest plane tree among those with diameter at most three can be found in polynomial time. Third, for any candidate diameter , we provide upper bounds on the approximation factor that can be achieved by a longest plane tree with diameter at most (compared to a longest plane tree without constraints)
Paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia revealing disseminated colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma
Full text linkBackground: Hypereosinophilia, defined as a peripheral blood eosinophil count greater than 1.5 × 109/L, can arise from allergic, infectious, autoimmune, or malignant conditions. In solid tumors, it is rare and most often linked to mucin-secreting carcinomas, while on extremely rare occasions, it accompanies signet ring cell carcinoma, a highly aggressive form of adenocarcinoma. Case Presentation: A 64-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and hypereosinophilia (2.9 × 109/L). She was admitted with suspected eosinophilic pneumonia, but extensive testing was inconclusive. After bone marrow biopsy, her condition deterioratedhistology revealed metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma. PET/CT showed skeletal metastases without apparent local recurrence, although colonoscopy could not be performed to definitively rule it out. Retrospective review uncovered a 2 mm rectal polyp with signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) removed two years earlier. Peripheral eosinophilia progressively increased from 0.16 × 109/L ten months earlier to a peak of 4.29 × 109/L one month prior to admission. She died four weeks after discharge. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this case represents one of the smallest reported primary colorectal SRCC lesions (2 mm) presenting with disseminated disease and paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia as the first diagnostic clue. Monitoring peripheral blood eosinophil counts may provide additional insight into disease activity and prognosis in solid tumors
Thermal stabilization of lipase by choline chloride- and betaine-based deep eutectic solvents
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Modulating metabolic health and physiological functions
Full text linkThe human gut possesses a highly complex and metabolically functional microbial community. This microbial ecosystem, often termed a “super-organism”, plays a critical function in regulating the host’s metabolic processes, including gut motility, energy absorption, appetite, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as hepatic fat storage. These metabolic functions of the gut microbiota (GM) play a central role in maintaining host homeostasis and overall metabolic health. This review synthesizes findings from recent clinical and preclinical studies, focusing on the interactions between gut microbiota, metabolic functions, and dietary interventions, to provide an evidence-based overview of current knowledge and future perspectives. Evidence was compiled through a narrative review of studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using prespecified keywords related to gut microbiota, metabolic syndrome, diet, and dysbiosis.Recent advancements in nutritional science and microbiology have highlighted the substantial relation between the GM and multiple pathological conditions, including metabolic syndrome (MetS). A plethora of studies predict that disruptions in the GM, known as dysbiosis, may influence the progression of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Notably, elucidating the contributions of the GM in the pathogenesis of MetS could offer promising avenues for therapeutic interventions. Herein, we review the physiological and metabolic functions of the GM and its connection to MetS pathogenesis, while also highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms underlying these observed associations. Furthermore, we discuss the influence of different dietary approaches on MetS and the impact of nutritional therapeutic strategies to support the development of beneficial gut bacteria and alleviate dysbiosis. By integrating insights from both clinical and preclinical research, this study provides a comprehensive overview of how GM modulation can support metabolic health. The possibility of tailoring nutritional interventions based on individual microbiota profiles represents a promising frontier for personalized and effective approaches to improve metabolic health
The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) supports the continuedrecommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination of all newbornswithin 24 hours of birth
Full text linkManual versus rigid intraoperative maxillo-mandibularfixation in the surgical management of mandibular fractures
Full text linkPurpose: Intraoperative stabilisation of bony fragments with maxillo-mandibular fixation (MMF) is an essential step in the surgical treatment of mandibular fractures that are treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The MMF can be performed with or without wire-based methods, rigid or manual MMF, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare the use of manual versus rigid MMF, in terms of occlusal outcomes and infective complications. Materials and methods: This multi-centric prospective study involved 12 European maxillofacial centres and included adult patients (age ≥16 years) with mandibular fractures treated with ORIF. The following data were collected: age, gender, pre-trauma dental status (dentate or partially dentate), cause of injury, fracture site, associated facial fractures, surgical approach, modality of intraoperative MMF (manual or rigid), outcome (minor/major malocclusions and infective complications) and revision surgeries. The main outcome was malocclusion at 6 weeks after surgery. Results: Between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, 319 patients-257 males and 62 females (median age, 28 years)-with mandibular fractures (185 single, 116 double and 18 triple fractures) were hospitalised and treated with ORIF. Intraoperative MMF was performed manually on 112 (35%) patients and with rigid MMF on 207 (65%) patients. The study variables did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for age. Minor occlusion disturbances were observed in 4 (3.6%) patients in the manual MMF group and in 10 (4.8%) patients in the rigid MMF group (p > .05). In the rigid MMF group, only one case of major malocclusion required a revision surgery. Infective complications involved 3.6% and 5.8% of patients in the manual and rigid MMF group, respectively (p > .05). Conclusion: Intraoperative MMF was performed manually in nearly one third of the patients, with wide variability among the centres and no difference observed in terms of number, site and displacement of fractures. No significant difference was found in terms of postoperative malocclusion among patients treated with manual or rigid MMF. This suggests that both techniques were equally effective in providing intraoperative MMF
In vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea in diagnosing small fibre neuropathy
Full text linkObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of corneal in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in the diagnostic process of small fibre neuropathy (SFN) compared to skin biopsy. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was performed at the Eye Hospital and Institute of Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, and included 35 patients with a clinical picture of SFN. All patients underwent a neurological exam that included an SFN questionnaire, standard skin biopsy, and ophthalmological assessment, including corneal IVCM. Results: Skin biopsy confirmed SFN in 14/35 patients (40%). These patients had a significantly shorter corneal nerve fibre length (CNFL) compared to those with negative biopsy (13.67 ± 2.99 mm/mm2 vs. 16.27 ± 3.54 mm/mm2, p = 0.030), as well as reduced corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) (36.68 ± 14.68 branches/mm2 vs. 48.81 ± 17.83 branches/mm2, p = 0.042). CNFL reduction below the 5th percentile was proven in 13/35 patients, yielding 64.3% sensitivity (95% CI: 35.1–87.2%) and 80.9% specificity (95% CI: 58.1–94.6%) compared to skin biopsy. In idiopathic SFN, negative IVCM results aligned with negative biopsies in 90% (95% CI: 55.5–99.8%) of cases. Meanwhile, in secondary SFN, positive IVCM results detected evidence of peripheral neurodegeneration in an additional 27.3% (95% CI: 6–61%) with negative skin biopsy. Conclusion: CNFL reduction in corneal IVCM demonstrated significant diagnostic value for SFN. Since skin biopsy findings do not always correspond with IVCM findings, corneal IVCM could be applied as a complementary tool to standard skin biopsy rather than as a replacement. It might be additionally useful for detecting patchy pattern presentations of SFN, excluding neuropathy in idiopathic SFN, and detecting neuropathy in biopsy-negative secondary SFN. In patients with positive IVCM, it could also be used as a primary tool for follow-up monitoring
Bridging continents
Full text linkPurpose: Increasing travel, climate change, spread of antimicrobial resistance and pandemics increased the need for welltrained infectious diseases (ID) specialists and qualified ID specialist training for protecting public health all over the world. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of ID specialty training programs for standardization and quality improvement in a large geographical area. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among national respondents of 29 countries [Central Asia (Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan), the Middle East (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Lebanon), Southeast Europe (Albania, Greece, Kosovo, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Croatia), Eastern Europe (Russia, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan), Southeast Asia (Malaysia), Türkiye] to evaluate the structure and components of ID training programs. Results: In this study, structural variability in ID training programs was notable. 65.5% of the countries offered independent specialty program, 59% of the countries reported a required exam for entry into the ID specialization. Nearly all of the countries had a formal training curriculumwritten exams were the most common used assessment method. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of ID specialty training across diverse regions, highlighting major structural differences in curricula, training duration, and national standards. Its broad geographic scope and contributions from actively engaged ID educators offer a unique global perspective. The findings underscore the urgent need for harmonized training frameworks, the strengthening of national curricula, and the promotion of international collaboration and inclusive strategies, all essential for developing a skilled, competent and resilient global ID workforc