In this work, comb homopolymers as well as comb-type copolymers of thermo-responsive oligo(ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)s, OEGMAs, with various chain lengths (DEGMA, PEGMA₅₀₀, and PEGMA₉₅₀ containing 2, 9, or 19 repeating ethylene glycol units, respectively) were synthesized through free radical (co)polymerization. For the copolymers, either the functional hydrophobic glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or the inert hydrophilic N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAM) were selected as comonomers. The self-assembly and thermo-responsive behavior of the products was investigated through Nile Red fluorescence probing, turbidimetry, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Interestingly, it was found that all OEGMA-based homopolymers exhibit a tendency to self-organize in aqueous media, in addition to thermo-responsiveness. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) increases with the number of repeating ethylene oxide units in the OEGMA macromonomers (CAC was found to be 0.003, 0.01, and 0.03% w/v for the homopolymers PDEGMA, PPEGMA₅₀₀, and PPEGMA₉₅₀, respectively). Moreover, the CAC of the copolymers in aqueous media is highly affected by the incorporation of hydrophobic GMA or hydrophilic DMAM units, leading to lower or higher values, respectively. Thus, the CAC decreases down to 0.003% w/v for the GMA-richest copolymer of PEGMA₉₅₀, whereas CAC increases up to 0.01% w/v for the DMAM-richest copolymer of DEGMA. Turbidimetry and DLS studies proved that the thermo-sensitivity of the polymers is governed by several parameters such as the number of repeating ethylene glycol groups in the side chains of the OEGMAs, the molar percentage of the hydrophobic or hydrophilic comonomers, along with the addition of salts in the aqueous polymer solutions. Thus, the cloud point of the homopolymer PDEGMA was found at 23 °C and it increases to 33.5 °C for the DMAM-richest copolymer of DEGMA. Lastly, the formation of a hydrogel upon heating aqueous mixtures of the GMA-comprising copolymers with silica nanoparticles overnight is strong evidence of the functional character of these polymers. Full article

Glomerular diseases (GDs), significant causes of end-stage kidney disease, are better understood through epidemiological studies based on kidney biopsies (KBs), which provide important insights into their prevalence and characteristics. This study aims to analyze the clinicopathological features of GDs diagnosed from 2008 to 2017 at Romania’s largest reference center. In this decade-long study, 1254 adult patients diagnosed with GDs were included. The local previously validated renal histopathological prognostic score was calculated for each KB using four histopathologic lesions: global glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and fibrocellular/fibrous crescents. The mean patient age was 50 years, with a male predominance (57%). The primary referral reasons were nephrotic syndrome (46%), nephritic syndrome (37%), chronic kidney disease (12%), asymptomatic urinary abnormalities (4%), and acute kidney injury (1%). Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) was the most frequently diagnosed GD (20%), aligning with frequencies reported in European registries. Diabetic glomerular nephropathy was the most common secondary GD (10%). It also presented the highest median renal histopathological prognostic score (2), indicating a poorer prognosis. Lower eGFR and higher proteinuria were independently associated with higher scores. This decade-long study highlights IgAN as the most frequent GD diagnosed by KB. Diabetic glomerular nephropathy was identified as the most common secondary GD. The renal histopathological prognostic score, notably high in diabetic glomerular nephropathy patients, was correlated with lower eGFR and higher proteinuria, underlining its clinical relevance. Full article

6-BA, a small molecule compound of cytokinins, has been proven to delay leaf senescence in different species, including Chinese flowering cabbage; however, its specific mechanism remains relatively unknown. In this study, the application of external 6-BA delayed leaf senescence in Chinese flowering cabbage, showing that 6-BA effectively prevented the decrease in the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and overall chlorophyll content and suppressed the expression of the senescence-associated gene BrSAG12 over a 7-day period of storage. Moreover, treatment with 6-BA decreased the respiratory rate, NAD(H) content, the activities of hexose phosphate isomerase (PHI), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the transcriptional abundance of related genes by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, 6-BA also increased the activity and expression levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphate gluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH). The group treated with 6-BA retained elevated levels of NADP (H), ATP, total ATPase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK) activity, as well as the expression of respiratory enzymes. Molecular docking indicated that 6-BA hinders the glycolysis pathway (EMP), tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and cytochrome pathway (CCP), and sustains elevated levels of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) through interactions with the PHI, SDH, 6-PGDH, G6PDH, CCO, and AAO proteins, consequently delaying postharvest leaf senescence in Chinese flowering cabbage. Full article

The growing need for materials that are eco-friendly and sustainable in the industrial sector has shifted focus from synthetic fossil to natural fibers, alongside the utilization of recycled polymer textiles. This research introduces a novel method for using end-of-life textiles, such as polyester and polyamide fabrics, in the production of composite materials, aiming to lessen textile waste and enhance material longevity. The mechanical attributes of flax fabric (FF), flax–recycled polyamide fabric (F/RPA), and flax–recycled polyester fabric (F/RPES) composite laminates are assessed through tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear, and Charpy impact tests. The study revealed that the addition of end-of-life synthetic fibers improves tensile strength, while the trend in modulus values suggests that flax provides a high degree of stiffness to the composites, which is moderated by the addition of synthetic fibers. This effect is consistent across both tensile and flexural testing, although the impact on stiffness is more significant in bending. The inclusion of polyester fibers in the composite laminate resulted in significant enhancements, with an 11.1% increase in interlaminar shear maximum force, a 17.4% improvement in interlaminar shear strength, and a 67.1% rise in un-notch impact energy, compared to composites made with only flax fiber (FF). The microscopic examination uncovered the internal structure and demonstrated a clear, strong bond between the polyester and polyamide fiber layers with the flax fibers. Additionally, the life cycle assessment revealed that the F/RPES composite had less environmental impact than FF and F/RPA in all 18 categories analyzed. This indicates that the environmental footprint of producing F/RPES is smaller than that of both FF and F/RPA. Full article

Locoregionally advanced and metastatic melanoma represent a challenging clinical problem, but in the era of immune checkpoint blockade and intralesional and infusional therapies, more options are available for use. Isolated limb infusion (ILI) was first introduced in the 1990s for the management of advanced melanoma, followed by the utilization of isolated extremity perfusion (ILP). Following this, intralesional oncolytic viruses, xanthene dyes, and cytokines were introduced for the management of in-transit metastases as well as unresectable, advanced melanoma. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first oncolytic intralesional therapy, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Additionally, immune checkpoint inhibition has demonstrated efficacy in the management of advanced melanomas, and this improvement in outcomes has been extrapolated to aid in the management of in-transit metastatic disease. Finally, percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), also approved by the FDA, has been reported to have a significant impact on the treatment of hepatic disease in uveal melanoma. While some of these treatments have less utility due to inferior outcomes as well as higher toxicity profiles, there are selective patient profiles for which these therapies carry a role. This review highlights intralesional and infusional therapies for the management of metastatic melanoma. Full article

This paper presents an overview of integrating new research outcomes into the development of a structural health monitoring strategy for the floating cover at the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) in Melbourne, Australia. The size of this floating cover, which covers an area of approximately 470 m × 200 m, combined with the hazardous environment and its exposure to extreme weather conditions, only allows for monitoring techniques based on remote sensing. The floating cover is deformed by the accumulation of sewage matter beneath it. Our research has shown that the only reliable data for constructing a predictive model to support the structural health monitoring of this critical asset is obtained directly from the actual floating cover at the sewage treatment plant. Our recent research outcomes lead us towards conceptualising an advanced engineering analysis tool designed to support the future creation of a digital twin for the floating cover at the WTP. Foundational work demonstrates the effectiveness of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry methodology in generating a digital elevation model of the large floating cover. A substantial set of data has been acquired through regular UAV flights, presenting opportunities to leverage this information for a deeper understanding of the interactions between operational conditions and the structural response of the floating cover. This paper discusses the current findings and their implications, clarifying how these outcomes contribute to the ongoing development of an advanced digital twin for the floating cover. Full article

Opportunistic networks, an evolution of mobile Ad Hoc networks (MANETs), offer decentralized communication without relying on preinstalled infrastructure, enabling nodes to route packets through different mobile nodes dynamically. However, due to the absence of complete paths and rapidly changing connectivity, routing in opportunistic networks presents unique challenges. This paper proposes a novel probabilistic routing model for opportunistic networks, leveraging nodes’ meeting probabilities to route packets towards their destinations. Thismodel dynamically builds routes based on the likelihood of encountering the destination node, considering factors such as the last meeting time and acknowledgment tables to manage network overload. Additionally, an efficient message detection scheme is introduced to alleviate high overhead by selectively deleting messages from buffers during congestion. Furthermore, the proposed model incorporates cross-layer optimization techniques, integrating optimization strategies across multiple protocol layers to maximize energy efficiency, adaptability, and message delivery reliability. Through extensive simulations, the effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated, showing improved message delivery probability while maintaining reasonable overhead and latency. This research contributes to the advancement of opportunistic networks, particularly in enhancing connectivity and efficiency for Internet of Things (IoT) applications deployed in challenging environments. Full article

Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) can counteract the deleterious effects of oxidative stress (OS). Their binding to the red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been reported in non-immune hemolytic anemias (NIHAs). Our aim was to evaluate the relationships between CAT, GPx, and Prx2, focusing on their role at the RBC membrane, in hereditary spherocytosis (HS), sickle cell disease (SCD), β-thalassemia (β-thal), and healthy individuals. The studies were performed in plasma and in the RBC cytosol and membrane, evaluating OS biomarkers and the enzymatic activities and/or the amounts of CAT, GPx, and Prx2. The binding of the enzymes to the membrane appears to be the primary protective mechanism against oxidative membrane injuries in healthy RBCs. In HS (unsplenectomized) and β-thal, translocation from the cytosol to the membrane of CAT and Prx2, respectively, was observed, probably to counteract lipid peroxidation. RBCs from splenectomized HS patients showed the highest membrane-bound hemoglobin, CAT, and GPx amounts in the membrane. SCD patients presented the lowest amount of enzyme linkage, possibly due to structural changes induced by sickle hemoglobin. The OS-induced changes and antioxidant response were different between the studied NIHAs and may contribute to the different clinical patterns in these patients. Full article

Excessive emissions of carbon dioxide have led to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Reducing carbon dioxide into high-value-added chemicals through solar energy is a promising approach. Herein, a g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ heterojunction photocatalyst with efficient electron transfer is designed for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The CH₄ (18.32 µmol·h⁻¹·g⁻¹) and CO (25.35 µmol·h⁻¹·g⁻¹) evolution rates of g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ are higher than those of g-C₃N₄ and TiO₂. The enhanced photocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance is attributed to the efficient charge carrier transfer in the g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ heterojunction. The electron transfer route was verified by in situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic CO₂ reduction mechanism on g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ was investigated by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). This work provides a strategy for designing a polymer/metallic oxide heterojunction with efficient electron transfer for enhanced photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Full article

This study aimed to validate a semiquantitative electronic food frequency questionnaire (eFFQ) in estimating the intake of a comprehensive list of nutrients and bioactive compounds among adults from six regions of Argentina using multiple 24 h dietary recall (24HR) as a reference. A total of 163 adults completed two administrations of the eFFQ and four 24HRs. The paired t-test/Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman/Pearson correlations, cross-classification, weighted kappa statistics, and Bland–Altman plots were employed to determine relative validity. To determine reproducibility, intraclass correlations (ICC), cross-classification, and weighted kappa statistics were calculated. For relative validity, crude correlations ranged from 0.15 to 0.57; energy adjustment and de-attenuation slightly improved most of these correlations. In cross-classification analysis, agreements within one quintile adjacent to exact agreement (EA ± 1) ranged from 52.2% to ~74%; extreme misclassifications were < 7%. For reproducibility, the crude ICC ranged from 0.29 to 0.85, showing moderate to good correlations for most nutrients. Cross-classification analysis showed agreement levels for the EA ± 1 quintile of 70.6% to 87.7%. Weighted kappa values ranged from 0.21 to 0.62. The results show that this eFFQ is relatively valid in ranking adults according to their nutrient intake and has an acceptable reproducibility, yet it slightly overestimates the intake of most nutrients. Full article

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting positive diagnostic yields in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) according to the guideline of small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). Method: Patients with a complaint of melena or hematochezia who were admitted were consecutively enrolled. In patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, examination was performed according to the guideline. When OGIB was suspected, SBCE was performed. Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on the SBCE results: a positive group (n = 78) and a negative group (n = 67). Results: The rate of the positive diagnostic yield of SBCE was 53.8% (78/145). In patients over 60 years, the diagnostic yield was 61.5%, which was higher than in patients younger than 60 years (40.7%). In the multivariate analysis, there was a significant difference in the positive diagnostic yield in the patients aged over 60 years (p < 0.01). Factors related to the procedure and clinical characteristics also showed significant differences in the positive predictive rates according to the degree of bowel preparation, small bowel transit time, and transfusion requirements. Conclusions: SBCE could be recommended as a diagnostic tool for OGIB, especially in those with old ages (>60 years) and those who need transfusion, because of its relatively high diagnostic yields in these populations. Proper bowel preparation and a prolonged small bowel transit time may have clinical significance in relation to the positive diagnostic yield of SBCE in patients with OGIB. Full article

Surgical management of fractures has advanced with the incorporation of advanced technology, surgical techniques, and regenerative therapies, but delayed bone healing remains a clinical challenge and the prevalence of long bone nonunion ranges from 10 to 15% of surgically managed fractures. Delayed bone healing arises from a combination of mechanical, biological, and systemic factors acting on the site of tissue remodeling, and careful consideration of each case’s injury-related, patient-dependent, surgical, and mechanical risk factors is key to successful bone union. In this review, we describe the biology and biomechanics of delayed bone healing, outline the known risk factors for nonunion development, and introduce modern preventative and corrective therapies targeting fracture nonunion. Full article

This review analyzed scientific publications on noise pollution in 22 Arab countries from 1983 to 2022. The objective of this study was to assess the current state of research on noise pollution in the Arab world, identify trends and gaps in the literature, and subsequently formulate a thorough research agenda. A comprehensive search of the Scopus database was conducted using relevant search terms and inclusion criteria. Out of 249 results, 104 studies were selected. The data extraction from the 104 studies includes the country where the study was conducted/designed; the publication year; the journal of publication; sponsorship details; and the research methodology used. VOSviewer software (VOSviewer 1.6.18) was used to visualize the literature data and co-occurrence networks, collaborations, and research fronts. The analysis revealed that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait were the most active countries in noise pollution research, while Sudan and Libya had the lowest number of publications in this field. Additionally, countries like Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Mauritania had no publications on this subject. Research on noise pollution in this region mainly focuses on noise in urban zones and workplaces, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan. Topics vary across other Arab countries. The results highlight the increasing significance of noise pollution research in the Arab world, particularly evident in recent periods. However, scientific output from Arab countries remains significantly limited compared to other global contexts. This study emphasizes the pressing requirement for increased investment in noise pollution research, aiming to achieve knowledge of the acoustic situation in Arab countries in order to develop strategies to mitigate population exposure to noise pollution, improve the well-being of citizens, and protect public health. Full article

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a nutrition assistance program in the U.S. WIC served 2.5 million eligible Hispanic women, infants, and children under the age of five in 2021, which is WIC’s largest racial/ethnic group. However, limited research has been conducted to understand Hispanic WIC participants’ perceptions of WIC breastfeeding recommendations and their breastfeeding decisions. For this qualitative study, we interviewed 18 of these pregnant and postpartum WIC participants on their experiences and decision-making processes related to breastfeeding. Hispanic cultures and home country norms were identified as prominent influences on breastfeeding decisions, along with perceptions of WIC’s breastfeeding support. These results can help the WIC program to refine its breastfeeding education to better meet the needs of Hispanic participants. Full article

The objective of this study was to assess tobacco use (TU) behaviors among newly diagnosed pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and identify associated factors in Benin and Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 randomly selected TB clinics. To ensure a representative study cohort, clinics were stratified during the sampling process. PTB patients were consecutively sampled in 20 of the clinics between 1 December 2021 and 30 September 2022. The study population comprised individuals aged 15 years and above who were newly diagnosed with PTB. Among the 1399 registered PTB patients, 564 (40.3%) reported a history of TU, including 392 (28.0%) current tobacco users and 172 ex-tobacco users. Cigarettes emerged as the predominant form of TU (86.2%), followed by smokeless tobacco (6.4%), and chicha smoking (2.6%). Factors independently associated with tobacco use were male gender (p < 0.001), being in Burkina Faso (p < 0.001), and an age of 25–59 years (p = 0.002). Our multicentric study reveals a substantial prevalence of tobacco use among TB patients, with cigarette smoking emerging as the predominant form. These findings underscore the imperative for implementing targeted cessation interventions within TB control programs. Special emphasis is warranted for male patients aged 25–59 years. Full article

Artificial insemination in queen honey bees is the only tool that provides complete control over mating for research and breeding purposes, making it essential in genetic improvement and conservation programs in this species. The aims of this study were to characterize drone semen bacterial loads by culture-dependent and independent methods and to describe their variation depending on the method of semen collection, the colony and the apiary. In the first experiment, the bacterial loads of semen collected from the seminal vesicles or from ejaculates was studied using culture-dependent methods. The collection method had a significant influence on the overall bacterial count in semen. Out of the 42 semen samples analyzed, 26 (61.9%) tested positive for bacterial isolation. This encompassed the entirety of samples obtained from the seminal vesicles (21 of 21), whereas only 23.8% of those derived from ejaculates (5 out of 21) showed bacterial isolation. In the second experiment, next-generation sequencing techniques were used to describe the microbiome of ejaculated drone semen for the first time. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota, while the most abundant genera were Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Prevotella, Alloprevotella and Streptococcus. The results showed that the apiary had a significant effect on the community structure composition and abundance of the seminal microbiota, and significative differences in abundance were observed for the genera Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, Bifidobacterium and Alloprevotella. Significant differences were also observed in the richness of the microbiota between apiaries and colonies. Full article

The possibility of cyanoacetohydrazide usage as a novel derivatizing agent is demonstrated in the presented article, and a comparison with hydroxylamine as the most commonly used reagent is provided. Optimal conditions for steroid derivatization with cyanoacetohydrazide are provided. According to the collected data, the maximum yield of derivatives was observed at pH 2.8 within 70 min at 40 °C with 5 ng/mL limit of detection for all investigated analytes. It was shown that cyanoacetohydrazide derivatives produces both syn- and anti-forms as well as hydroxylamine, and their ratios were evaluated and shown in presented work. An efficiency enchantment from two to up to five times was achieved with a novel derivatization reagent. Its applicability for qualitative analysis of steroids in urine was presented at real samples. Additionally, the reproducible fragmentation of the derivatizing agent in collision-induced dissociation offers opportunities for simplified non-targeted steroidomic screening. Furthermore, cyanoacetohydrazide increases ionization efficiency in positive mode, which can eliminate the need for redundant high-resolution instrument runs required for both positive and negative mode analyses. Full article

The measurement of electrical conductivity (EC) has long been a tool for understanding soil properties. Previous studies concluded that EC measurement is not an ion-selective method, but these papers did not address the measurement frequency. An experimental tool and method were developed for semi-factory conditions in a large-scale soil trough at the Institute of Technology of the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences. A specially designed and built test apparatus mounted on the tractor’s three-point hitch was used as a measuring device. The wear-resistant steel elements of the measuring device were also the sensors for measuring EC. This paper describes the conditions of the measurement series, the measurement results, and our conclusions from the experiments with the soil sensor. Different characteristics were measured in soil moistened with K and Ca solutions at different concentrations. The EC values show an increasing tendency with increasing salt concentration, and we also found that the rate of change of EC is different for different solution ratios. Based on our measurements, we found that the best method to isolate concentration differences is to use the test frequency range 20 Hz–250 kHz. Full article

The COLOSS research association has been assessing honey bee colony losses, associated risk factors and management, focusing on Western countries but with a progressive international expansion. Here, we report the first survey on the loss rates of colonies in 2022/2023 in Ethiopia using COLOSS monitoring survey tools. A face-to-face interview questionnaire survey was conducted on 64 beekeepers selected from Oromia and Tigray regions. This covered 1713 honey bee colonies distributed in 68 apiaries. The percentages of colonies lost were significantly different between Oromia (24.1%) and Tigray (66.4%) regions. Colony losses were attributed as unsolvable queen problems (8% in Oromia; 10% in Tigray), natural disaster (32%; 82%), and empty hives or dead colonies (60%; 8%). The loss rate was significantly affected by queen replacement (p < 0.0001), use of natural comb (p < 0.0001), feed supplementation (p < 0.0001), region (p < 0.0001), varroa treatment (p < 0.0001), colony splitting (p < 0.01), and merging (p < 0.01). Beekeepers in Oromia managed more colonies and implemented improved practices compared to those in Tigray. However, all beekeepers in Oromia detected at least some bees with signs of deformed wing virus, compared to 76% of beekeepers in Tigray. In conclusion, the colony loss rate was significantly different between Oromia and Tigray regions due to differences in natural disasters, management, environment and health factors. Full article

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is a high-speed imaging modality based on intrinsic molecular vibrations, producing chemical maps in living systems. Such capability, allowing for direct visualization without the perturbation of biological processes, has enabled a plethora of biological and medical applications. In this review, after introducing the basic theory and competitive effects of SRS, some crucial features for SRS microscopy implementations, such as noise, spectral bandwidth, speed, chemical sensitivity, spatial resolution, and quantum enhancement, are discussed. Finally, some SRS applications in biological and medical imaging are described. Even if certainly not exhaustive, we aimed to offer a broad overview, providing guidance for newcomers and hinting at a more detailed investigation to interested researchers in this rapidly growing field. Full article

FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy is a first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), yet its therapeutic efficacy remains limited. Immunostimulatory therapies like oncolytic viruses can complement chemotherapies by fostering the infiltration of the tumor by immune cells and enhancing drug cytotoxicity. In this study, we explored the effect of combining the FOLFOXIRI chemotherapeutic agents with the oncolytic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) PD-H in the CRC cell line Colo320. Additionally, we examined the impact of the drugs on the expression of microRNAs (miRs), which could be used to increase the safety of oncolytic CVB3 containing corresponding miR target sites (miR-TS). The measurement of cytotoxic activity using the Chou–Talalay combination index approach revealed that PD-H synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic activity of oxaliplatin (OX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and SN-38. PD-H replication was not affected by OX and SN-38 but inhibited by high concentrations of 5-FU. MiR expression levels were not or only slightly elevated by the drugs or with drug/PD-H combinations on Colo320 cells. Moreover, the drug treatment did not increase the mutation rate of the miR-TS inserted into the PD-H genome. The results demonstrate that the combination of FOLFOXIRI drugs and PD-H may be a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic effect of FOLFOXIRI therapy in CRC. Full article

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with significant systemic and local bone loss. The aim of this study was to assess whether or not 15-month tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor (TNFαI) therapy in combination with methotrexate (MTX) affects circulating levels of sclerostin (SOST) in female RA patients. Plasma levels of SOST were measured using immunoassays kits. Baseline SOST levels showed no significant differences between RA patients and control participants. Postmenopausal women with RA tended to have higher sclerostin levels than premenopausal woman with RA. After 15 months of treatment with TNFαI, plasma levels of SOST were decreased. Before starting biological therapy, circulating levels of SOST significantly correlated with the patient’s age (p < 0.05) and the marker of inflammation, such as ESR (p < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age was the only significant predictor for baseline SOST levels in women with RA (β = 0.008, p = 0.028, R2 model = 0.293). Moreover, a positive correlation between SOST levels and the 28 joint disease activity score value based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) was found at baseline (p < 0.05), as well as after 15 months of biological therapy (p < 0.05). Thus, plasma SOST levels may be helpful for monitoring the efficacy of TNFαI treatment in RA patients. According to our results, TNFαI, in combination with MTX, has a beneficial effect on bone turnover with a significant reduction in bone metabolism marker SOST. Full article