COVID-19 Total Mortality and Relative Waves: the Reasons for the Differences among European Countries

Background: Several mortality waves (between 1 to 5) have been observed over time in the 47 European countries. Material and Methods: The data on mortality rate shown on the WHO dashboard were used, and twelve LEEDELS variables (life expectancy, ecological, economic, demographic and lifestyle) during the period between March 2020 and September 2021. WMVs (weighted median values) were used to calculate the mortality rates and their respective waves. The partition model was used to identify which LEEDELS variables correlated with the mortality rates (predictors). Results: In the partition model four LEEDELS predictors were considered relevant: number of cars per 103 inhabitants, GDP, percentage of population over 65 years old, and life expectancy. The remaining eight LEEDELS variables (total population aged over 65 years old, population density, urban population, education expenditure, number of hospital beds, particulate matter, number of mobile phones, and number of internet connections) were irrelevant. The analysis revealed four pathways (from P1 to P4), which limit or increase the WMVs respectively. The P3 pathway was shown to be at the highest risk of death while P1 was more protective. Conclusions: High GDP, a high percentage of the population over 65 years of age and life expectancy are crucial for WMV containment, represented by P1. The pathway P3, characterized by high GDP, low percentage of population over 65 is at higher risk. Population density, particulate matter, number of hospital beds and expenditure on education, cell phone x 103 inhabitants were not found to be causal variables

A novel phospholipid delivery system of curcumin (Meriva\uae) preserves muscular mass in healthy aging subjects

Curcumin is known to interrupt pro-inflammatory signalling and increases anti-oxidant protection, thus inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the expression and function of inducible inflammatory enzymes. Together, these effects contribute to limit the onset and the progression of sarcopenia, due to the major role played by inflammation in the pathophysiology of this disease. This registry study evaluates the effects of Meriva\uae supplementation in otherwise healthy elderly subjects

Bacterial contamination of saline nasal irrigations in children: An original research

Microbiologic analysis of nasal saline irrigations (NSIs) used in hospitalized children was performed. Of 253 collected samples, 24.9% were positive, and the number of positive samples significantly increased over time (P < .001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected bacterium (28.6%). None of the 118 patients who received NSIs developed a nasosinusal infection. Colonization by cutaneous and environmental germs is frequent and develops early. Hygienic measures should be advocated to reduce contamination

Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with Pycnogenol.

The presence of edema in different phases and stages of essential hypertension may be due to antihypertensive treatment. Some drugs may cause edema by inducing vasodilatation, increasing the capillary exchange surface and capillary filtration. Pycnogenol has an important anti-edema effect in diabetic microangiopathy and chronic venous insufficiency. This 8-week study evaluated capillary filtration in 2 comparable treatment groups with hypertension treated with a calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor to define its efficacy in preventing edema caused by antihypertensives. A significant decrease in filtration was observed in the Pycnogenol groups. Pycnogenol controls this type of edema, it helps to prevent and limit long-term damage in the microcirculation in hypertensive patients, and allows the dose of anti-hypertensive drugs to be reduced in most patients

Results on MOVPE SiGeSn deposition for the monolithic integration of III-V and IV elements in multi-junction solar cells

Abstract In order to produce a step forward towards the monolithic integration of III-V and IV compounds in multijunction solar cells, a first assessment of SiGeSn deposition in a metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) chamber also used for III-V growth has been carried out. The study brings insights on several aspects of the MOVPE SiGeSn growth in order to get a better control of SiGeSn composition and to obtain epitaxial layers with improved morphology. In particular, it is shown that the gas source Si2H6 is more influenced by the growth temperature compared to GeH4 and SnCl4, moreover, its competition with SnCl4 makes it difficult to incorporate Si in SiGeSn, as SnCl4 partial pressure is increased. SiGeSn morphology is shown to be strongly dependent on temperature, As carry-over and growth rate. A new growth model is introduced in order to explain the importance of the adatom bond lengths in inhibiting tin segregation when SiGeSn is grown at relatively high growth temperatures (>480 °C). In order to investigate the photovoltaic behaviour of SiGeSn, a single-junction GaAs/InGaP/SiGeSn/Ge functional device has been manufactured and characterized by external quantum efficiency (EQE) and current-voltage measurements. The experimental and the simulated EQE show the higher absorption coefficient of SiGeSn with respect to Ge, which allows using SiGeSn layers with a thickness three times lower than Ge to produce the same photovoltaic current

Hypolipidaemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects of lupin proteins in a rabbit model

The biological activities of a protein isolate from lupin (Lupinus albus) were studied in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Focal plaque development was induced at both common carotid arteries by perivascular injury. After surgery. animals were fed three different diets for 90d, all with 1% cholesterol. 15 % SFA and 20 % protein: the protein source was casein (CAS), lupin proteins (LUP) or 50 % CAS + 50 % LUP (CAS + LUP). Lower cholesterolaemia was detected in the LUP v. the CAS group at 60 and 90 d of treatment (- 40.3 and - 33-5 %, respectively; P<0-05). Cryosection analyses of the carotids indicated a significant reduction in focal lesion progression in the LUP v. the CAS group (-37.4%; P<0.05). In summary. in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. a protein isolate from L. albus reduced cholesterolaemia and exerted a remarkable protective activity against atherosclerosis progression

Nanostructured Systems Containing Rutin: In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Photostability Studies

The improvement of the rutin photostability and its prolonged in vitro antioxidant activity were studied by means of its association with nanostructured aqueous dispersions. Rutin-loaded nanocapsules and rutin-loaded nanoemulsion showed mean particle size of 124.30 ± 2.06 and 124.17 ± 1.79, respectively, polydispersity index below 0.20, negative zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency close to 100%. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by the formation of free radical ·OH after the exposure of hydrogen peroxide to a UV irradiation system. Rutin-loaded nanostructures showed lower rutin decay rates [(6.1 ± 0.6) 10−3 and (5.1 ± 0.4) 10−3 for nanocapsules and nanoemulsion, respectively] compared to the ethanolic solution [(35.0 ± 3.7) 10−3 min−1] and exposed solution [(40.1 ± 1.7) 10−3 min−1] as well as compared to exposed nanostructured dispersions [(19.5 ± 0.5) 10−3 and (26.6 ± 2.6) 10−3, for nanocapsules and nanoemulsion, respectively]. The presence of the polymeric layer in nanocapsules was fundamental to obtain a prolonged antioxidant activity, even if the mathematical modeling of the in vitro release profiles showed high adsorption of rutin to the particle/droplet surface for both formulations. Rutin-loaded nanostructures represent alternatives to the development of innovative nanomedicines

Case series on clinical applications of liquid biopsy in pediatric solid tumors: towards improved diagnostics and disease monitoring

Background and aimsSolid tumors account for about 30% of all pediatric cancers. The diagnosis is typically based on histological and molecular analysis of a primary tumor biopsy. Liquid biopsies carry several advantages over conventional tissue biopsy. However, their use for genomic analysis and response monitoring of pediatric solid tumors is still in experimental stages and mostly performed retrospectively without direct impact on patient management. In this case series we discuss six clinical cases of children with a solid tumor for whom a liquid biopsy assay was performed and demonstrate the potential of liquid biopsy for future clinical decision making.MethodsWe performed quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) or reduced representation bisulphite sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfRRBS) on liquid biopsies collected from six pediatric patients with a solid tumor treated between 2017 and 2023 at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands. Results were used to aid in clinical decision making by contribution to establish a diagnosis, by prognostication and response to therapy monitoring.ResultsIn three patients cfRRBS helped to establish the diagnosis of a rhabdomyosarcoma, an Ewing sarcoma and a neuroblastoma (case 1-3). In two patients, liquid biopsies were used for prognostication, by MYCN ddPCR in a patient with neuroblastoma and by RT-qPCR testing rhabdomyosarcoma-specific mRNA in bone marrow of a patient with a rhabdomyosarcoma (case 4 and 5). In case 6, mRNA testing demonstrated disease progression and assisted clinical decision making.ConclusionThis case series illustrates the value of liquid biopsy. We further demonstrate and recommend the use of liquid biopsies to be used in conjunction with conventional methods for the determination of metastatic status, prognostication and monitoring of treatment response in patients with pediatric solid tumors