Orange peel biochar (C)-supported cadmium sulfide composites (CdS-C) were prepared by the combination of hydrothermal and calcination methods. The structure and morphology were characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The CdS-C composite with 60% CdS exhibited the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 7.8 mmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, approximately 3.69 times higher than that of synthesized CdS without biochar. These results indicate that biochar derived from orange peel could be a low-cost, renewable, environmentally friendly, and metal-free co-catalyst for CdS, enhancing its photostability. Full article

The formation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in petroleum reservoirs by anaerobic microbial activity (through sulfate-reducing microorganisms, SRMs) is called biogenic souring of reservoirs and poses a risk in the petroleum industry as the compound is extremely toxic, flammable, and corrosive, causing devastating damage to reservoirs and associated surface facilities. In this paper, we present a workflow and the tools to assess biogenic souring from a pragmatic engineering perspective. The retention of H₂S in the reservoir due to the reactions with iron-bearing rock minerals (e.g., siderite) is shown in a theoretical approach here and supported with literature data. Cases are provided for two fields under secondary (waterflooding) and tertiary flooding with microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The use of the Monte Carlo method as a numerical modeling tool to incorporate uncertainties in the measured physical/chemical/biochemical data is demonstrated as well. A list of studies conducted with different chemicals alone or in combination with various biocides to mitigate biogenic souring provides an overview of potential inhibitors as well as possible applications. Furthermore, the results of static and dynamic inhibition tests using molybdate are presented in more detail due to its promising mitigation ability. Finally, a three-step workflow for the risk assessment of biogenic souring and its possible mitigation is presented and discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) is a potentially vision-threatening pathology in congenital aniridia, for which both the underlying etiopathogenesis and effective treatment remain unclear. Methods:This prospective study was conducted to assess and compare the short-term outcome after superficial keratectomy (SK) alone or in a combination with an amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT). Here, 76 eyes were enrolled in 76 patients with grade 4 AAK. In all eyes, in order to assess preoperatively the efficiency of the limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC), the presence of corneal epithelial cells in confocal microscopy was established. The analyses included: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the stage of AAK and the number of corneal quadrants involved in corneal neovascularization (CNV). Results: Six months after surgery, the mean BCVA was 0.05 and ranged from 0.002 up to 0.1 in both groups. Improvement in BCVA occurred in 94.29% patients when *SK alone* was performed, and in 92.68% when in combination with AMT. There were no statistically significant differences in the effect of therapy depending on the type of surgery, regarding BCVA, stage of AAK and the number of quadrants with CNV. Conclusions: SK alone is an effective procedure in short outcomes limited to six months for advanced AAK in association with LESC partial efficiency. Full article

Background: Globally, approximately 1.4% of people have celiac disease (CD), induced by gluten sensitivity. If left untreated, it causes small intestinal inflammation and villous atrophy, which can result in failure to thrive, anemia, osteoporosis, malabsorption, and even malignancy. The only treatment option available is a gluten-free diet (GFD). Few studies have looked at the role and perception of telehealth in relation to CD and selective nutrition both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: Our goal was to screen and investigate the research conducted both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic concerning the utilization of telehealth applications and solutions in CD and other GFD-dependent circumstances. Methods: We employed a narrative review approach to explore articles that were published in scholarly journals or organizations between the years 2000 and 2024. Only English-language publications were included. PubMed and Google Scholar searches were mainly conducted using the following keywords: telemedicine, telehealth, telecare, eHealth, m-health, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, celiac disease, and gluten-free diet (GFD). Manual searches of the references in the acquired literature were also carried out, along with the authors’ own personal contributions of their knowledge and proficiency in this field. Results: Only a few studies conducted prior to the COVID-19 outbreak examined the viewpoints and experiences of adult patients with CD with relation to in-person clinic visits, as well as other options such as telehealth. The majority of patients believed that phone consultations were appropriate and beneficial. Video conferencing and telemedicine became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the effectiveness of using these technologies for CD on a global basis. In recent years, urine assays for gluten identification have become accessible for use at home. These tests could be helpful for CD monitoring with telemedicine assistance. Conclusions: The extended knowledge gathered from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to complement pre-COVID-19 data supporting the usefulness of telemedicine even after the emergent pandemic, encouraging its wider adoption in standard clinical practice. The monitoring and follow-up of CD patients and other GFD-dependent conditions can greatly benefit from telemedicine. Full article

In recent years, in the field of bioanalysis, the use of saliva as a biological fluid for the determination of biomarkers has been proposed. Saliva analysis stands out for its simplicity and non-invasive sampling. This paper proposes a method for the dual determination of ammonium and hydrogen sulfur in saliva using two colorimetric chemosensors. The ammonia reacts with 1,2-Naftoquinone 4 sulphonic acid (NQS) entrapped in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the hydrogen sulfide with AgNPs retained in a nylon membrane. The color changed from orange to brown in the case of ammonia chemosensors and from yellow to brown in the H₂S. The experimental conditions to be tested have been established. Both analytes have been determined from their gaseous form; these are ammonia from ammonium and hydrogen sulfur from hydrogen sulfur. Good figures of merit have been obtained by using both measuring strategies (reflectance diffuse and digitalized images). The acquired results show that both sensors can be used and provide good selectivity and sensitivity for the determination of these biomarkers in saliva. Both measurement strategies have provided satisfactory results for the real saliva samples (n = 15). Recoveries on spiked samples were between 70 and 100%. This methodology can lead to possible in situ diagnosis and monitoring of certain diseases and pathologies related with NH₄⁺ and/or H₂S, in a fast, simple, cheap and non-invasive way. Full article

Adolescents in resource-constrained environments face increasing sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates, necessitating effective interventions for promoting physical activity and combating non-communicable diseases. This study evaluates the impact of a 12 week Nyakaza Move-for-Health intervention on physical activity, anthropometry, cardiorespiratory fitness, and behaviour change among adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. One hundred twenty-eight adolescents participated, with assessments including self-reported physical activity, anthropometric indices, and cardiorespiratory fitness measures. The intervention significantly increased physical activity levels. The treatment group’s mean score was 2.2 (0.4) at baseline and 2.6 (0.4) (F (14, 79) = 4.884, p = <0.001, η2 = 0.156) at the endline. The body mass index decreased (mean = 22.4 (4.6) at baseline and 21.9 (4.2) at endline; p = 0.025, partial eta squared = 0.025, η2 = 0.004). The intervention programme significantly affected the WHR (mean = 0.80 (0.10) at baseline and 0.76 (0.9) at endline; p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.327, η2 = 0.100) and the predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) for the treatment group (mean = 42.4 (8.7) at baseline and mean = 43.6 (8.7) at endline; p < 0.711, partial eta squared = 0.017, η2 = 0.033). Focus group discussions indicated shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and motivation towards physical activity. Power analysis revealed strong observed power (PA: 0.983, BMI: 0.098, WHR: 0.887), indicating the robustness of the intervention’s effects. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the intervention in improving physical health outcomes. It is recommended that longitudinal studies be conducted to assess the long-term sustainability and impact of such interventions on adolescents’ health outcomes, thereby informing the development of comprehensive public health policies and programmes to promote physical activity and combat non-communicable diseases in similar settings. Full article

Background: the benefits of water are significant during the birth process. Improved maternal experience of labor, less use of epidurals, better pain management, shorter labor, and a greater sense of control are observed during the birth process. Objective: This report aims to determine the benefits of hydrotherapy in clinical childbirth approaches and its applicability in pain control. Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials selected from various databases with no publication date limits was conducted, comparing groups that did not use hydrotherapy with groups that did during labor. Results: Seven articles met the inclusion criteria, with five articles using hot water immersion and two using hot water shower as hydrotherapy treatments. This study identified 840 participants, with the intervention groups including 417 term pregnant women and the control groups including 423 pregnant women. The effect size of hydrotherapy on pain was calculated using the visual analog scale in five articles and analgesic use in the other two articles. Hydrotherapy significantly reduced pain during labor with a mean difference of −0.97 (95% CI: −1.91 to −0.03; I² = 97.32%, p < 0.001). The duration of the first stage of labor was not significantly affected, with a mean difference of −0.17 h (95% CI: −0.55 to 0.21; I² = 56.75%, p = 0.059). Additionally, hydrotherapy did not significantly impact the newborns’ Apgar scores at 5 min, with a mean difference of 0.18 (95% CI: −0.48 to 0.85; I² = 2.15%, p = 0.939). Conclusions: Hydrotherapy is beneficial for pain control in the first stage of labor and does not increase its duration or negatively affect the Apgar score of newborns. Full article

Forests are vital for terrestrial ecosystems, providing crucial functions like carbon sequestration and water conservation. In the Yellow River Basin, where 70% of forest coverage is concentrated in the middle reaches encompassing Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, there exists significant potential for coal production, with nine planned coal bases. This study centered on Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, a representative coal mining area in the Yellow River Basin, and combined the MSPA analysis method and MCR model to generate the five-period forest ecological network of Jincheng City from 1985 to 2022 under the background of coal mining and calculate the degree centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality, and eigenvector centrality; the correlation between the four centralities and carbon sequestration ability is further explored. Simultaneously, employing the RAND-ESU algorithm for motif identification within forest ecological networks, this study integrates the ecological policies of the research area with the specific conditions of the coal mining region to optimize the forest ecological network in Jincheng City. Findings reveal the following. (1) Forest ecological spatial networks: Forest ecological networks exhibit robust overall ecological connectivity in the study area, with potential ecological corridors spanning the region. However, certain areas with high ecological resistance hinder connectivity between key forest ecological nodes under the background of coal mining. (2) Correlation between topological indices and carbon sequestration ecological services: From 1985 to 2022, the carbon sequestration capacity of Jincheng City’s forest source areas increased year by year, and significant positive correlations were observed between degree centrality, betweenness centrality, eigenvector centrality with carbon sequestration ecological services, indicating a strengthening trend over time. (3) Motif Recognition and Ecological Network Optimization: During the study, four types of motifs were identified in the forest ecological network of Jincheng City based on the number of nodes and their connections using the RAND-ESU network motif algorithm. These motifs are 3a, 4a, 4b, and 4d (where the number represents the number of nodes and the letter represents the connection type). Among these, motifs 3a and 4b play a crucial role. Based on these motifs and practical considerations, network optimization was performed on the existing ecological source areas to enhance the robustness of the forest ecological network. Full article

Considering the lack of studies on the transient vibro-acoustic properties of conical shell structures, a Jacobi–Ritz boundary element method for forced vibro-acoustic behaviors of structure is proposed based on the Newmark-β integral method and the Kirchhoff time domain boundary integral equation. Based on the idea of the differential element method and the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), the vibro-acoustic model of conical shells is established. The axial and circumferential displacement tolerance functions are expressed using Jacobi polynomials and the Fourier series. The time domain response of the forced vibration of conical shells is calculated based on the Rayleigh–Ritz method and Newmark-β integral method. On this basis, the time domain response of radiated noise is solved based on the Kirchhoff integral equation, and the acoustic radiation characteristics of conical shells from forced vibration are analyzed. Compared with the coupled FEM/BEM method, the numerical results demonstrate the high accuracy and great reliability of this method. Furthermore, the semi-vertex angle, load characteristics, and boundary conditions related to the vibro-acoustic response of conical shells are examined. Full article

Russula griseocarnosa, an edible and medicinal mushroom abundant in nutrients and notable bioactivities, is predominantly grown in the broad-leaved forest with trees of the family Fagaceae in southern China. This species forms ectomycorrhizal associations with plant roots and cannot be artificially cultivated currently. Previous research indicates a strong correlation between the growth of R. griseocarnosa and factors such as the host plant, climate variables (specifically mean temperature and precipitation from June to October), and the rhizosphere microbiota of its habitat. However, comprehensive studies on the fundamental biology of this species are lacking. The interaction between R. griseocarnosa and its host plant, as well as the mechanisms underlying the microbial community dynamics within its habitat, remain ambiguous. The limited repertoire and diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in R. griseocarnosa relative to saprophytic fungi may contribute to its recalcitrance to cultivation on synthetic media. The specific core enzyme and the substances provided by the host plant to facilitate growth are yet to be elucidated, posing a significant challenge in the artificial cultivation of R. griseocarnosa. The habitat of R. griseocarnosa harbours unique microbial communities, indicating the presence of potentially beneficial microorganisms that could be exploited for artificial propagation and conservation efforts. However, the lack of definitive functional verification experiments hinders the realization of this promising prospect. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the nutritional profile and health benefits of R. griseocarnosa, emphasizing recent developments in its isolation, molecular ecology, and artificial cultivation. Additionally, it explores prospective advancements in R. griseocarnosa research, aiming to enrich our foundational understanding for applied purposes and fostering progress in the realm of ectomycorrhizal edible mushrooms. Full article

Background: We aimed to assess medication risks and determine factors influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer inpatients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify drug-related problems (DRPs) based on medication reviews, including patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify sociodemographic, disease-related, and drug therapy-related factors influencing changes from hospital admission to discharge in the scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Results: A total of 162 inpatients with various hematological and solid cancer diseases was analyzed. Patients received a mean of 11.6 drugs and 92.6% of patients exhibited polymedication resulting in a mean of 4.0 DRPs per patient. Based on PRO data, 21.5% of DRPs were identified. Multiple linear regression models described the variance of the changes in global HRQOL and physical function in a weak-to-moderate way. While drug therapy-related factors had no influence, relapse status and duration of hospital stay were identified as significant covariates for global HRQOL and physical function, respectively. Conclusion: This analysis describes underlying DRPs in a German cancer inpatient population. PROs provided valuable information for performing medication reviews. The multiple linear regression models for global HRQOL and physical function provided explanations for changes during hospital stay. Full article

Wrist injuries, driven by factors such as an aging population and the popularity of high-impact sports, have become increasingly prevalent. In response, this study focuses on developing a serious game for wrist injury rehabilitation within a virtual environment, aiming to enhance motivation and therapeutic adherence while highlighting the potential of virtual rehabilitation. Extensive literature research and the involvement of five experts during the game’s design led to the creation of “WristBreakout”, which successfully integrated 13 out of 15 recommended movements into gameplay. In addition, the technical feasibility of the VR headset “MetaQuest” within the domain of wrist rehabilitation was shown. A preliminary evaluation with six healthy participants showed positive results in terms of usability and acceptance (SUS average was 69; UES categories were between 3.97 and 4.77). This work contributes to the broader context of serious games and virtual reality (VR) applications in healthcare, exemplifying how technology can positively impact the rehabilitation experience. Full article

Folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis, repair, and methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Currently, most studies have focused on the effects of periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation on fetal development, and there is still a lack of population-based research exploring the association between FA use during pregnancy and placental development. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of FA supplementation in different pregnancies on placenta-related parameters at delivery. The study included 2708 pregnant women recruited from Ma’anshan City, Anhui Province, China, between May 2013 and September 2014. Information on FA use from one month before conception to delivery was collected. Placental length, width, and thickness were measured. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effects of FA supplementation in different pregnancies on placenta-related parameters. Based on multiple regression analysis, propensity score weighting was adopted to enhance comparability between different FA supplementation groups. Compared with FA non-users, FA supplementation before conception was associated with increased placental width (0.241 cm, 95%CI: 0.052–0.429, p = 0.013) and increased placental surface area (6.398 cm², 95%CI: 1.407–11.389, p = 0.012), and FA use in early/middle pregnancy was, respectively, related with increased placental thickness (0.061 cm, 95%CI: 0.004–0.117, p = 0.036; 0.066 cm, 95%CI: 0.004–0.129, p = 0.038). FA use before conception could increase placental width and area, and FA use in early/middle pregnancy could increase placental thickness. To confirm the findings, further investigations are needed. Full article

In this study, a 4-D, computerized ionospheric tomography algorithm, IONOLAB-Fusion, is developed to reconstruct electron density using both actual and virtual vertical and horizontal paths for all ionospheric states. The user-friendly algorithm only requires the coordinates of the region of interest and range with the desired spatio-temporal resolutions. The model ionosphere is formed using spherical voxels in a lexicographical order so that a 4-D ionosphere can be mapped to a 2-D matrix. The model matrix is formed automatically using a background ionospheric model with an optimized retrospective or near-real time manner. The singular value decomposition is applied to extract a subset of significant singular values and corresponding signal subspace basis vectors. The measurement vector is filled automatically with the optimized number of ground-based and space-based paths. The reconstruction is obtained in closed form in the least squares sense. When the performance of IONOLAB-Fusion across Europe was compared with ionosonde profiles, a 26.51% and 32.33% improvement was observed over the background ionospheric model for quiet and disturbed days, respectively. When compared with GIM-TEC, the agreement of IONOLAB-Fusion was 37.89% and 31.58% better than those achieved with the background model for quiet and disturbed days, respectively. Full article

Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles have recently received attention in different agriculture sectors as new technologies and practices are entering into force with limited adverse effects on the environment. However, various works have reported both positive or negative effects on plants. The present study focused on an evaluation of the effects of four different new micro- and nano-sized ZnO particles (namely, Desert Roses (DRs), MultiPods (MPs), NanoFlakes (NFs), and NanoParticles (NPs)) on the seed germination traits of Ocimum basilicum L., Lactuca sativa L., and Lepidium sativum L. ZnO particles were applied at concentrations of 12.5 ppm, 25 ppm, and 50 ppm. Seeds moistened with deionized water were used as a control. All the particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, and their production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) under seed germination conditions was evaluated through electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Seeds of each species were put on filter paper under controlled conditions in both dark and light photoperiods. In this bioassay, the final germination percentage (FGP), early root length, and index of germination were evaluated. The results showed a wide variability of response to the type and concentration of ZnO particles and to the applied photoperiod of the three studied species. O. basilicum FGP increased when treated with NPs and DRs already at the lowest concentration and especially in light conditions with values significantly superior to those of the control (71.1%, 69.4%, and 52.2%, respectively). At higher concentrations, phytotoxicity on root length was observed, with a reduction of circa 30% in comparison to untreated seeds. On the contrary, in L. sativum, a phytotoxic effect was seen in radicle length with all the used ZnO particles and concentrations. L. sativa seeds did not show significant effects due to the type of particles, with a reduction in FGP only at higher concentrations and particularly in light conditions. Upon light irradiation, different levels of ROS were counted by the application of ZnO particles. DRs produced the highest amount of DMPO-OH adduct (up to 2.7 × 10⁻⁵ M) followed by the NP type (2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M). Taking together all these findings, the seeds’ coat morphology, their ability to absorb ZnO particles, and the ROS production in light conditions are indeed crucial players in the application of these formulations in seed germination. Full article

In the lives of those who are the target of community health nursing, it is important to collaborate with individuals and communities to improve their quality of life. Herein, we aimed to determine the association between Internet use among older individuals and locomotive syndrome (LS), frailty, and sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study conducted between July 2022 and March 2023, we recruited 105 community-dwelling older Japanese adults who participated in a care prevention project called “Kayoi-no-ba”. All participants were divided into Internet and non-Internet user groups according to the classification of a previous study. We assessed LS (standing test, two-step test, and five-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale), frailty (through the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old), and sarcopenia (grip strength, normal walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass index) and made group comparisons between Internet users and non-users. Binomial logistic regression analyses were performed with Internet use as the independent variable and sarcopenia or LS as the dependent variables. The Internet and non-Internet user groups had 69 and 36 participants, respectively. The Internet user group comprised 65.7% of all participants, which was similar to that reported in a previous study of the same age group. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in sarcopenia and LS items, whereas adjusted binomial logistic analysis showed a significant association between sarcopenia and Internet use. In summary, among LS, frailty, and sarcopenia, sarcopenia showed the highest association with Internet use. Older adults without sarcopenia having good physical functions, such as grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle index, more likely used the Internet; while older adults with sarcopenia were less likely to use the Internet. This implied that Internet use may be associated with physical function. Full article

The joint probability density function of wind speed and wind direction serves as the mathematical basis for directional wind energy assessment. In this study, a nonparametric joint probability estimation system for wind velocity and direction based on copulas is proposed and empirically investigated in Inner Mongolia, China. Optimal bandwidth algorithms and transformation techniques are used to determine the nonparametric copula method. Various parameter copula models and models without considering dependency relationships are introduced and compared with this approach. The results indicate a significant advantage of employing the nonparametric copula model for fitting joint probability distributions of both wind speed and wind direction, as well as conducting correlation analyses. By utilizing the proposed KDE-COP-CV model, it becomes possible to accurately and reliably analyze how wind power density fluctuates in relation to wind direction. This study reveals the researched region possesses abundant wind resources, with the highest wind power density being highly dependent on wind direction at maximum speeds. Wind resources in selected regions of Inner Mongolia are predominantly concentrated in the northwest and west directions. These findings can contribute to improving the accuracy of micro-siting for wind farms, as well as optimizing the design and capacity of wind turbine generators. Full article

As society becomes more reliant on Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, state-of-health (SOH) estimation will need to become more accurate and reliable. Therefore, SOH modelling is in the process of shifting from using simple and continuous charge/discharge profiles to more dynamic profiles constructed to mimic real operation when ageing the Li-ion batteries. However, in most cases, when ageing the batteries, the same exact profile is just repeated until the battery reaches its end of life. Using data from batteries aged in this fashion to create a model, there is a very real possibility that the model will rely on the built-in repetitiveness of the profile. Therefore, this work will examine the dependence of the performance of a multiple linear regression on the number of charges used to train the model, and their location within the profile used to age the batteries. The investigation shows that it is possible to train models using randomly selected partial charges while still reaching errors as low as 0.5%. Furthermore, it shows that only one randomly sampled partial charge is needed to achieve errors smaller than 1%. Lastly, as the number of randomly sampled partial charges used to train the model increases, the dependence on particular partial charges tends to decrease. Full article

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are circulating cells of various origins that possess the capacity for renewing and regenerating the endothelial lining of blood vessels. During physical activity, in response to factors such as hypoxia, changes in osmotic pressure, and mechanical forces, endothelial cells undergo intense physiological stress that results in endothelial damage. Circulating EPCs participate in blood vessel repair and vascular healing mainly through paracrine signalling. Furthermore, physical activity may play an important role in mobilising this important cell population. In this narrative review, we summarise the current knowledge on the biology of EPCs, including their characteristics, assessment, and mobilisation in response to both chronic and acute physical activity in healthy individuals. Full article

The role of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is emerging for the assessment of non-oncological diseases, such as inflammatory and infectious diseases, even if the evidence in the literature is still in its initial phases. We conducted a systematic search of Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library databases for studies published before 31 December 2023 reporting infectious and inflammatory disease imaging with FAPI PET/CT. We included twenty-one studies for a total of 1046 patients. The most frequent disease studied was lung interstitial disease, investigated in six studies for a total of 200 patients, followed by bone and joint diseases in two studies and 185 patients, IgG4-related disease in 53 patients, and Crohn’s disease in 30 patients. Despite the heterogeneity of studies in terms of study design and technical features, FAPI PET/CT showed a high detection rate and diagnostic role. Moreover, when compared with 2-[¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT (n = 7 studies), FAPI PET/CT seems to have better diagnostic performances. The presence of chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling, typical of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, may be the underlying mechanism of FAPI uptake. Full article

Cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women globally. Its onset and progression have been attributed to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, especially 16 and 18, while the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is believed to also significantly contribute to cervical cancer growth. The E6 protein associated with high-risk HPV strains, such as HPV16 and HPV18, is known for its role in promoting cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers. E6 proteins contribute to the malignant transformation of infected cells by targeting and degrading tumor suppressor proteins, especially p53. On the other hand, EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) plays a crucial role in the maintenance and replication of the EBV genome in infected cells. EBNA1 is believed to increase HPV E6 and E7 levels, as well as c-MYC, and BIRC5 cellular genes in the HeLa cell line, implying that HPV/EBV co-infection accelerates cervical cancer onset and growth. Thus, the E6 and EBNA1 antigens of HPV and EBV, respectively, are attractive targets for cervical cancer immunotherapy. This study, therefore, virtually screened for potential drug candidates with good binding affinity to all three oncoviral proteins, HPV16 E6, HPV18 E6, and EBNA1. The compounds were further subjected to ADMET profiling, biological activity predictions, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations. A total of six compounds comprising ZINC000013380012, ZINC000070454124, ZINC000014588133, ZINC000085568136, ZINC000095909247, and ZINC000085597263 demonstrated very strong affinity (≤−60 kJ/mol) to the three oncoviral proteins (EBNA1, HPV16 E6, and HPV18 E6) after being subjected to docking, MD, and MM/PBSA. These compounds demonstrated relatively stronger binding than the controls used, inhibitors of EBNA1 (VK-1727) and HPV E6 (baicalein and gossypetin). Biological activity predictions also corroborated their antineoplastic, p53-enhancing, Pin1 inhibitory, and JAK2 inhibitory activities. Further experimental testing is required to validate the ability of the shortlisted compounds to silence the insidious effects of HPV E6 and EBNA1 proteins in cervical cancers. Full article

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of fertility-preserving (FP) treatments and fertility counseling that was offered in a cohort of newly diagnosed children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Methods: In this observational study, boys and girls with cHL aged ≤ 18 years with scheduled treatment according to the EuroNet-PHL-C2 protocol were recruited from 18 sites (5 countries), between January 2017 and September 2021. In 2023, a subset of Dutch participants (aged ≥ 12 years at time of diagnosis) and parents/guardians were surveyed regarding fertility counseling. Results: A total of 101 boys and 104 girls were included. Most post-pubertal boys opted for semen cryopreservation pre-treatment (85% of expected). Invasive FP treatments were occasionally chosen for patients at a relatively low risk of fertility based on scheduled alkylating agent exposure (4/5 testicular biopsy, 4/4 oocyte, and 11/11 ovarian tissue cryopreservation). A total of 17 post-menarchal girls (20%) received GnRH-analogue co-treatment. Furthermore, 33/84 parents and 26/63 patients responded to the questionnaire. Most reported receiving fertility counseling (97%/89%). Statements regarding the timing and content of counseling were generally positive. Parents and patients considered fertility counseling important (94%/87% (strongly agreed) and most expressed concerns about (their child’s) fertility (at diagnosis 69%/46%, at present: 59%/42%). Conclusion: Systematic fertility counseling is crucial for all pediatric cHL patients and their families. FP treatment should be considered depending on the anticipated risk and patient factors. We encourage the development of a decision aid for FP in pediatric oncology. Full article