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(1) Background: Nutrition is a critical aspect of health and well-being in the elderly population, as physiological changes associated with aging can impact nutrient utilization and dietary needs. The aim of this study was the assessment of nutritional screening and associated factors among community-dwelling elderly people. (2) Methods: This study is the first phase of an intervention trial of people aged 65 years and over who received primary health services and resided in the municipality of Archanes Asterousia in Crete, Greece. Nutritional risk was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment. Diet-related factors were analyzed, including health status (oral hygiene, depression, cognitive decline, impaired functioning, quality of life), social factors (educational attainment, marital status, type of work before 60 years), and lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, diet). (3) Results: A total of 730 elderly people were evaluated (males, 31.5%), with an average age (±SD) of 76.83 (±6.68) years. MNA was found to have a statistically significant connection with assessment of oral hygiene, mental state, Charlson comorbidity, functional independence (assessed with the Barthel scale), and quality of life. The exception was geriatric depression (GDS), with which no statistically significant association was found (p > 0.05). Nutritional risk analysis revealed 379 participants (51.9%) to be adequately nourished, 205 (28.1%) to be at risk of malnutrition, and 146 (20.0%) to be malnourished. (4) Conclusions: These results clearly demonstrated the key factors that contribute to the nutritional screening of elderly people and need to be addressed by health authorities and social services. Full article

The aim of the current study was to investigate the tear proteome in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to healthy controls, and to identify differences in the tear proteome of children with T1D depending on different characteristics of the disease. Fifty-six children with T1D at least one year after diagnosis, aged 6–17 years old, and fifty-six healthy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The proteomic analysis was based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) enabling the identification and quantification of the protein content via Data-Independent Acquisition by Neural Networks (DIA-NN). Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD052994. In total, 3302 proteins were identified from tear samples. Two hundred thirty-nine tear proteins were differentially expressed in children with T1D compared to healthy controls. Most of them were involved in the immune response, tissue homeostasis and inflammation. The presence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis and the level of glycemic control of children with T1D influenced the tear proteome. Tear proteomics analysis revealed a different proteome pattern in children with T1D compared to healthy controls offering insights on deregulated biological processes underlying the pathogenesis of T1D. Differences within the T1D group could unravel biomarkers for early detection of long-term complications of T1D. Full article

Introduction: The importance of diet in shaping the gut microbiota is well established and may help improve an individual’s overall health. Many other factors, such as genetics, age, exercise, antibiotic therapy, or tobacco use, also play a role in influencing gut microbiota. Aim: This narrative review summarizes how three distinct dietary types (plant-based, Mediterranean, and Western) affect the composition of gut microbiota and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, focusing on the keywords “dietary pattern”, “gut microbiota” and “dysbiosis”. Results: Both plant-based and Mediterranean diets have been shown to promote the production of beneficial bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), while simultaneously lowering concentrations of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a molecule associated with negative health outcomes. Additionally, they have a positive impact on microbial diversity and therefore are generally considered healthy dietary types. On the other hand, the Western diet is a typical example of an unhealthy nutritional approach leading to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, where TMAO levels rise and SCFA production drops due to gut dysbiosis. Conclusion: The current scientific literature consistently highlights the superiority of plant-based and Mediterranean dietary types over the Western diet in promoting gut health and preventing NCDs. Understanding the influence of diet on gut microbiota modulation may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies. Full article

The field of energy storage and conversion materials has witnessed transformative advancements owing to the integration of advanced in situ characterization techniques. Among them, numerous real-time characterization techniques, especially in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning TEM (STEM) have tremendously increased the atomic-level understanding of the minute transition states in energy materials during electrochemical processes. Advanced forms of in situ/operando TEM and STEM microscopic techniques also provide incredible insights into material phenomena at the finest scale and aid to monitor phase transformations and degradation mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries. Notably, the solid–electrolyte interface (SEI) is one the most significant factors that associated with the performance of rechargeable batteries. The SEI critically controls the electrochemical reactions occur at the electrode–electrolyte interface. Intricate chemical reactions in energy materials interfaces can be effectively monitored using temperature-sensitive in situ STEM techniques, deciphering the reaction mechanisms prevailing in the degradation pathways of energy materials with nano- to micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Further, the advent of cryogenic (Cryo)-TEM has enhanced these studies by preserving the native state of sensitive materials. Cryo-TEM also allows the observation of metastable phases and reaction intermediates that are otherwise challenging to capture. Along with these sophisticated techniques, Focused ion beam (FIB) induction has also been instrumental in preparing site-specific cross-sectional samples, facilitating the high-resolution analysis of interfaces and layers within energy devices. The holistic integration of these advanced characterization techniques provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes in energy materials. This review highlights the recent progress in employing state-of-the-art characterization techniques such as in situ TEM, STEM, Cryo-TEM, and FIB for detailed investigation into the structural and chemical dynamics of energy storage and conversion materials. Full article

Background/Objective: Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity and its metabolic complications. Despite the fact that numerous studies have been carried out in adults, limited data on Sfrp5 exist for youth, especially in relation to overweight and obesity. Methods: In our study, we assessed the concentrations of Sfrp5, total oxidative (TOS) and antioxidative (TAS) status, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and several cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α) in 120 children and adolescents (mean age ± SE: 11.48 ± 0.25 years; 48 prepubertal, 72 pubertal; 74 males and 46 females) before and 1 year after the implementation of a personalized, structured, lifestyle intervention program of healthy diet, sleep, and physical exercise. Results: Based on the body mass index (BMI), participants were categorized as having morbid obesity (n = 63, 52.5%), obesity (n = 21, 17.5%), overweight (n = 22, 18.33%), or normal BMIs (n = 14, 11.67%), based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off points. Following the 1-year lifestyle intervention program, a significant improvement in anthropometric measurements (BMI, BMI-z score, diastolic blood pressure, WHR, and WHtR), body-composition parameters, hepatic enzymes, lipid profile, inflammation markers, and the insulin-sensitivity profile (HbA1C, HOMA index) was observed in all subjects. Sfrp5 decreased in subjects with obesity (p < 0.01); however, it increased significantly (p < 0.05) in patients with morbid obesity. Linear regression analysis indicates that TNF-α and systolic blood pressure were the best positive predictors and hs-CRP was the best negative predictor for Sfpr5 concentration at initial assessment and glucose concentration for ΔSfrp5, while TNF-α and TAS were the best positive predictors for Sfpr5 concentration at annual assessment. Conclusions: These results indicate that Sfrp5 is associated with severe obesity and is increased following weight loss in children and adolescents with morbid obesity. It is also related to metabolic homeostasis, as well as inflammation and oxidative status. Full article

Study Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the association between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in American Indian communities, a historically underrepresented population in clinical research with a high prevalence of asthma and OSA risk factors like smoking and obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data retrieved from the Strong Heart Study cohort. Participants who attended both the Asthma Sub-study and the Sleep Heart Health Study around the same time were compared for active asthma diagnosis, OSA diagnosis, and potential risk factors for asthma and OSA. The association between asthma and OSA was then evaluated. Results: Among the 2480 participants who attended the Strong Heart Study Phase III exam, 123 participated in both the Asthma Sub-study and the Sleep Heart Health Study. Of these, 13 were diagnosed with OSA, with 4 having moderate to severe OSA. There was no statistically significant difference in OSA prevalence between the active asthma group and the non-active asthma group (former asthma or no asthma) (9.6% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.63). Additionally, body mass index did not differ significantly between participants with both active asthma and OSA and those without active asthma, OSA, or both. OSA diagnosis was significantly associated with male sex (Odds Ratio [OR] 9.2 [1.85–45.87], p = 0.007) and body mass index (OR 1.1 [1.02–1.26], p = 0.016) but not with age or a diagnosis of active asthma. Conclusions: In this American Indian cohort, no significant difference in OSA prevalence was observed between participants with and without active asthma, contradicting previous studies. Further research is needed to explore the underlying reasons for this discrepancy. Full article

Psychological distress, an emotional condition with symptoms of anxiety and depression, leads to impaired function, behavior, and personal traits. The current study examined the association between social determinants of health and the severity of psychological distress among adults in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multinomial multivariable logistic regression, we analyzed data from 5106 (n = 5106) participants in the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 6. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans (AOR = 0.62, CI = 0.42–0.93) had lower odds of reporting mild psychological distress rather than no stress. Other variables associated with a higher likelihood of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress, rather than no distress, are being in the 50–64 years age group (AOR = 2.77, CI = 1.45–5.28), divorced (AOR = 2.50, CI = 1.70–3.69), and widowed (AOR = 3.78, CI = 2.15–6.64). Respondents living in an urban area had lower odds of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress (AOR = 0.56, CI = 0.39–0.80) compared to those living in rural areas. Our findings identify several risk factors for psychological distress by sociodemographic characteristics such as age, race, marital status, and urban living, providing empirical evidence for interventions in behavioral health. These findings suggest there is an utmost need for a multi-sectoral approach to address the social determinants of health associated with psychological distress post-COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Background: Liraglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1RA), is a well-established anti-diabetic drug, has also been approved for the treatment of obesity at a dose of 3 mg. There are a limited number of studies in the literature that have looked at changes in metabolite levels before and after liraglutide treatment in patients with obesity. To this end, in the present study we aimed to explore the changes in the plasma metabolomic profile, using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) in patients with obesity. Methods: A single-center prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 mg liraglutide therapy in twenty-three patients (M/F: 8/15) with obesity, mean BMI 40.81 ± 5.04 kg/m², and mean age of 36 ± 10.9 years, in two groups: at baseline (pre-treatment) and after 12 weeks of treatment (post-treatment). An untargeted metabolomic profiling was conducted in plasma from the pre-treatment and post-treatment groups using LC-HRMS, along with bioinformatics analysis using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). Results: The metabolomics analysis revealed a significant (FDR p-value ≤ 0.05, FC 1.5) dysregulation of 161 endogenous metabolites (97 upregulated and 64 downregulated) with distinct separation between the two groups. Among the significantly dysregulated metabolites, the majority of them were identified as belonging to the class of oxidized lipids (oxylipins) that includes arachidonic acid and its derivatives, phosphorglycerophosphates, N-acylated amino acids, steroid hormones, and bile acids. The biomarker analysis conducted using MetaboAnalyst showed PGP (a21:0/PG/F1alpha), an oxidized lipid, as the first metabolite among the list of the top 15 biomarkers, followed by cysteine and estrone. The IPA analysis showed that the dysregulated metabolites impacted the pathway related to cell signaling, free radical scavenging, and molecular transport, and were focused around the dysregulation of NF-κB, ERK, MAPK, PKc, VEGF, insulin, and pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling pathways. Conclusions: The findings suggest that liraglutide treatment reduces inflammation and modulates lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the drug’s multifaceted impact on overall metabolism in patients with obesity. Full article

Mature, vital, and motile spermatozoa are essential for reaching the oocyte and binding to hyaluronic acid (HA) in the cumulus oophorus matrix. This study aims to determine the relationship between sperm-migration ability and HA-binding potential, as well as the relationship between sperm concentration and motility. Semen samples were collected from 702 men aged 20–56 years (median 34.8). We evaluated the sperm concentration and motility from basic semen analysis, the swim-up test (expressed as millions per mL and the migration efficiency percentage), and the hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA). A moderate positive correlation was found between the migration test results and HBA (R = 0.48). The highest correlation was observed between the concentration of motile spermatozoa and the migration test results (R = 0.85) and HBA (R = 0.4). The sperm migration efficiency strongly correlated with progressive motility (R = 0.6). Although significantly higher sperm migration was observed in patients with normal HBA results, the results of the functional tests were found to differ in some cases. For infertility treatment, the current diagnostic algorithm should be enhanced with more comprehensive seminological methods that assess the sperm-migration ability and HA-binding potential. We also recommend incorporating the swim-up method into the diagnostic protocol before planning assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Full article

Need for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) confers an increased risk of hearing loss in the newborn and of later neurodevelopmental impairment. In this retrospective longitudinal case-controlled study, we assess how the degree of prematurity, measured via gestational age, birth weight, and z-scores, in 138 infants admitted to the NICU are associated with permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHI) and 2-year developmental outcomes. Logistic regression analyses, Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance, and Chi-squared tests were used. Independent of prematurity, PCHI and NICU admission were predictive of poor developmental outcomes. Twenty-one (47%) children with PCHI had a moderate-to-severe developmental delay, compared to three (7%) matched controls. Days in the NICU but not z-scores predicted PCHI. Z-score was not prognostic of moderate or severe developmental impairment in children with PCHI. The odds ratio of moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment with PCHI was high, at 12.48 [95% CI = 3.37–46.40]. Children with PCHI were significantly more likely to have cerebral palsy than their matched counterparts (30% vs. 2%). These findings challenge the conventional focus on gestational age and birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with PCHI and NICU admission. A more nuanced approach to monitoring and intervention is needed. Full article

Background: Offspring hypertension arising from adverse maternal conditions can be mitigated through dietary nutritional supplementation, including resveratrol. Previously, we identified derivatives of resveratrol butyrate ester (RBE), specifically 3,4′-di-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED2) and 3-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED4), demonstrating their superior antioxidant capabilities compared to RBE itself. This study sought to assess the protective impact of maternal supplementation with ED2 or ED4 on offspring hypertension in a rat model subjected to a high-fructose (HF) diet during pregnancy and lactation. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were distributed into distinct dietary groups throughout pregnancy and lactation: (1) standard chow; (2) HF diet (60%); (3) HF diet supplemented with ED2 (25 mg/L); and (4) HF diet supplemented with ED4 (25 mg/L). Male offspring were euthanized at the age of 12 weeks. Results: The maternal HF diet induced hypertension in the offspring, which was mitigated by perinatal supplementation with either ED2 or ED4. These protective effects were attributed to the antioxidant properties of ED2 and ED4, resulting in an increased availability of nitric oxide (NO). Additionally, supplementation with ED2 was connected to an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Clostridium genera, which was accompanied by a decrease in Angelakisella and Christensenella. On the other hand, ED4 supplementation shielded rat offspring from hypertension by elevating concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and their receptors while reducing trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of purified RBE monomers, ED2 and ED4, as preventive measures against hypertension resulting from a maternal high-fructose diet. Further research is warranted to explore their clinical applications based on these promising results. Full article

We intend to evaluate the association of intact Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (i-FGF23), a phosphaturic hormone that contributes to anemia of inflammation, with markers of iron homeostasis, inflammation, and bone mineral metabolism in acute pediatric infections. Seventy-nine children, aged 1 month–13 years, out of which forty-two were males and thirty-seven females, participated in this study. Children with diseases and nutrient deficiencies causing anemia were excluded. Twenty-six patients had bacterial infections, twenty-six had viral infections, and twenty-seven children served as healthy controls. Complete blood count, markers of inflammation, iron and mineral metabolism, serum hepcidin, and i-FGF23 were compared between the groups. Thirty-nine percent of patients with bacterial infection and twelve percent of patients with viral infection presented characteristics of anemia of inflammation (p < 0.001). Ninety-two percent of patients with bacterial infection and eighty-one percent of patients with viral infection had functional iron deficiency (p < 0.001). Hepcidin was significantly positively correlated with the duration of fever, markers of inflammation, and negatively with iron, mineral metabolism parameters, and i-FGF23. i-FGF23 was positively correlated with iron metabolism parameters and negatively with the duration of fever, markers of inflammation, and hepcidin. Hepcidin levels increase, whereas i-FGF23 levels decrease in acute pediatric infections. Further research is required to understand the role of FGF23 in the hepcidin–ferroportin axis and for hepcidin in the diagnosis of bacterial infections and mineral metabolism. Full article

The kidney is an essential excretory organ that works as a filter of toxins and metabolic by-products of the human body and maintains osmotic pressure throughout life. The kidney undergoes several physiological, morphological, and structural changes with age. As life expectancy in humans increases, cell senescence in renal aging is a growing challenge. Identifying age-related kidney disorders and their cause is one of the contemporary public health challenges. While the structural abnormalities to the extracellular matrix (ECM) occur, in part, due to changes in MMPs, EMMPRIN, and Meprin-A, a variety of epigenetic modifiers, such as DNA methylation, histone alterations, changes in small non-coding RNA, and microRNA (miRNA) expressions are proven to play pivotal roles in renal pathology. An aged kidney is vulnerable to acute injury due to ischemia-reperfusion, toxic medications, altered matrix proteins, systemic hemodynamics, etc., non-coding RNA and miRNAs play an important role in renal homeostasis, and alterations of their expressions can be considered as a good marker for AKI. Other epigenetic changes, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, are also evident in AKI pathophysiology. The endogenous production of gaseous molecule hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was documented in the early 1980s, but its ameliorative effects, especially on kidney injury, still need further research to understand its molecular mode of action in detail. H₂S donors heal fibrotic kidney tissues, attenuate oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and GFR, and also modulate the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS). In this review, we discuss the complex pathophysiological interplay in AKI and its available treatments along with future perspectives. The basic role of H₂S in the kidney has been summarized, and recent references and knowledge gaps are also addressed. Finally, the healing effects of H₂S in AKI are described with special emphasis on epigenetic regulation and matrix remodeling. Full article

(1) Background: Digitization is of the utmost importance in improving the transfer of medical data. In order to emphasize the need for the greater implementation of digital solutions, we compared analog PROMs (aPROMs) to electronic PROMs (ePROMs) to emphasize the time benefits for clinical everyday life. (2) Methods: This prospective, observational study compared the evaluation of SF-36 in patients between 18 and 80 years old with musculoskeletal pathologies. We performed an age-independent and age-dependent analysis. (3) Results: After the import of aPROMs data, ePROMs took significantly less time (11.97 ± 3.00 min vs. 9.41 ± 3.12 min, p = 0.002, d = 0.797). There were no significant differences associated with age for aPROMs (7.23 ± 2.57 min vs. 8.38 ± 2.71 min, p = 0.061, d = −0.607) or ePROMs (8.72 ± 2.19 min vs. 10.09 ± 3.80 min, p = 0.130, d = −0.436), respectively. (4) Conclusions: This study indicates that ePROMs are a time-feasible method for collecting data to guide patient-personalized treatment approaches. Full article

Objectives: This study aims to demonstrate the role of case-level American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria, such as familial segregation and pathology data, in providing conclusive evidence for the pathogenicity of ultrarare GLA variants causing Anderson–Fabry disease when gene-level and variant-level criteria provide ambiguous or discrepant results. Case/family description: A 52-year-old woman presented with new-onset shortness of breath, chest pain, and palpitations. Echocardiography revealed mild left ventricular wall thickening (14 mm) and mild diastolic dysfunction. She was the second of three siblings born to unrelated parents, both of whom died from malignancies. Family screening identified brothers, one affected 55-year-old with hypertension and asthma and one unaffected 47-year-old. The 15-year-old son of the proband complained of exercise-induced burning feet acral pain his electrocardiogram showed a short PR interval and signs of early hypertrophy. Results: Endomyocardial biopsies of the proband and the affected sibling demonstrated substrate accumulation (globotriaosylceramide). The anti-α-galactosidase-A immunostain showed a total loss of the enzyme in the hemizygous male and a mosaic pattern in the heterozygous female. The next-generation sequencing short-read multigene panel identified the c.547+3A>G variant in the GLA gene and excluded variants in other genes; Oxford-Nanopore long-read sequencing excluded known pathogenic deep intronic variants. A Multiplex-Ligation-dependent-Probe-Amplification assay excluded copy number variations. Based on the variant-level and gene-level ACMG criteria, the variant was classified as a Variant of Uncertain Significance or Likely Benign using different bioinformatic tools. By adding case-level functional data (endomyocardial biopsy, PS3_VeryStrong) and familial data (segregation of genotype with phenotype, PP2_Moderate), the variant was classified as Likely Pathogenic/Pathogenic. Conclusion: ACMG case-level data can unambiguously resolve uncertain interpretations of GLA variants. Full article