The behavior of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) on urban materials, such as concrete, significantly impacts forensic and military responses to chemical incidents. This study examined the persistence and degradation mechanisms of sarin (GB), soman (GD), and sulfur mustard (HD) on three types of commonly used concrete with varying water-cement ratios. Over two months, we evaluated the effects of concrete composition, temperature, and fragment size on CWA behavior. Half-lives and activation energies for CWA dissipation were calculated under various conditions. Results showed that concrete properties and external temperature strongly influenced dissipation rates. G-series agents underwent rapid hydrolysis, forming methylphosphonates, while HD degradation involved elimination, nucleophilic substitution, and oxidation, producing several previously unreported byproducts. Smaller concrete fragments increased recovery values and accelerated degradation due to greater surface area exposure, and higher temperatures further enhanced dissipation rates, particularly for volatile agents. Differences in dissipation among concrete types were linked to their physical and chemical properties, notably water-cement ratios. This study highlights the challenges of detecting CWAs due to their rapid penetration and transformation in concrete and provides insights for improving sampling, identification, and decontamination strategies under realistic conditions.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Cíl: Cílem této studie bylo zjistit souvislost klinicko-patologických charakteristik s bezpříznakovým přežitím (DFS), celkovým přežitím (OS) a expresí cyklooxygenázy-2 (COX-2) u pacientek s ovariálním karcinomem. Metody: Data od 74 pacientek s ovariálním karcinomem byla retrospektivně analyzována. Exprese COX-2 byla stanovena imunohistochemickou metodou. Ke zjištění vztahu mezi klinicko-patologickými charakteristikami pacientek a DFS a OS byly použity Kaplan-Meierova analýza a Coxova regresní analýza. Výsledky: U 31 (41,9 %) pacientek došlo k recidivě a během sledovaného období zemřelo 9 (12,2 %) pacientek. OS pacientek s pooperačním reziduálním objemem >1 cm (p < 0,001), OS pacientek rezistentních na chemoterapii (p = 0,001) a OS pacientek ve stadiu III-IV (p = 0,056) bylo nižší. Věk, histologický podtyp, stadium a rezistence na chemoterapii byly prediktory DFS, zatímco rezistence na chemoterapii byla prediktorem OS. COX-2 pozitivita byla zjištěna u 39 (52,7 %) pacientek a byla významně vyšší u ovariálního karcinomu ve stadiu III-IV než ve stadiu I-II (p = 0,032). Hladina CA125, velikost tumoru, počet pacientek s ascitem, počet pacientek s reziduálním objemem >1 cm a počet pacientek ve stadiu III byly numericky vyšší u pacientek s COX-2 pozitivním ovariálním karcinomem než u pacientek s COX-2 negativním ovariálním karcinomem. DFS a OS u pacientek s COX-2 pozitivním ovariálním karcinomem byly numericky nižší než u pacientek s COX-2 negativním ovariálním karcinomem. Tyto rozdíly však nebyly statisticky významné. Závěr: Vyšší pozitivita COX-2 u ovariálního karcinomu ve stadiu III-IV naznačuje, že COX-2 může přispívat k progresi rakoviny. K objasnění vztahů mezi expresí COX-2 a progresí ovariálního karcinomu jsou zapotřebí studie s větším počtem pacientek.
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the association of clinicopathological features with disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in ovarian cancer patients. Methods: Data from 74 ovarian cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed. COX-2 expression was determined by an immunohistochemical method. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between clinicopathological features of the patients and DFS and OS. Results: Recurrence was observed in 31 (41.9%) patients, and 9 (12.2%) patients died during the study period. OS of patients with postoperative residual volume >1 cm (p < 0.001), OS of chemotherapy-resistant patients (p = 0.001), and OS of stage III-IV patients (p = 0.056) were lower. Age, histological subtype, stage, and chemotherapy resistance were predictors of DFS, while chemotherapy resistance was predictive of OS. Thirty-nine (52.7%) patients were COX-2 positive and COX-2 positivity in Stage III-IV ovarian cancer was significantly higher than in Stage I-II ovarian cancer (p = 0.032). CA125 level, tumor size, number of patients with ascites, number of patients with residual >1 cm, and number of stage III patients were numerically higher in COX-2 positive ovarian cancer patients than in COX-2 negative ovarian cancer patients. DFS and OS in COX-2 positive ovarian cancer patients were numerically lower than in COX-2 negative ovarian cancer patients. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The higher COX-2 positivity in stage III-IV ovarian cancer suggests that COX-2 may contribute to cancer progression. Larger sample size studies are needed to clarify the relationships between COX-2 expression and ovarian cancer progression.
BACKGROUND: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the definitive therapy for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AoS). The aim of this work is to compare the effect of a mechanical prosthesis (MP) and a bioprosthesis (BP) on the survival of patients aged 50-65 years after AVR. METHODS: The retrospective analysis included 276 patients aged 50 to 65 years who had undergone isolated AVR for AoS; 161 patients were implanted with an MP and 115 with a BP. Patient survival, adjusted for age, gender and risk parameters affecting survival, was assessed. A subgroup analysis was performed on the 208 patients with a modern valve (prosthesis models that are no longer used in clinical practice were removed from the sample). RESULTS: After adjusting for risk factors for overall survival as well as for age and sex, the implantation of an MP did not have a significant effect on overall survival in comparison to a BP, at a median follow-up of 10.3 years (p = 0.477). The size of the MP had no significant effect on overall survival either (HR: 1.29; 95%CI: 0.16-10.21; p = 0.812). However, the indexed effective orifice area of the BP had a positive effect on overall survival (HR: 0.09; 95%CI: 0.01-0.78; p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The estimated survival of patients aged between 50 and 65 years after implantation of a BP with a sufficiently large indexed effective orifice area may exceed that of patients with an MP.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gingivitis and periodontitis are common periodontal diseases that can significantly harm overall oral health, affecting the teeth and their supporting tissues, along with the surrounding anatomical structures, and if left untreated, leading to the total destruction of the alveolar bone and the connective tissues, tooth loss, and other more serious systemic health issues. Numerous studies have shown that propolis can help reduce gum inflammation, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and promote tissue regeneration, but with varying degrees of success reported. For this reason, this comprehensive systematic review aims at finding out the truth concerning the efficacy of propolis mouthwashes in treating gingivitis and periodontitis, as its main objective. DATA SOURCES: Research findings from 6 different databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed®, Europe PMC, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), BioMed Central, and Google Scholar, were retrieved and examined in addition to a manual search in the references lists. STUDY SELECTION AND SYNTHESIS: The PICOS framework was used to select and exclude studies. The focus was on clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effectiveness of propolis-containing mouthwashes in comparison with propolis-free ones for the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis, employing related periodontal indices. Animal studies, microbiological studies, in-vitro studies, retrospective studies, case-control studies, cohorts, case reports, case series, reviews, letters, editorials, meta-analyses, and non-clinical randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs), all were excluded. A meta-analysis was not performed and data were only studied qualitatively due to the obvious heterogeneity amongst the studies. Data from the selected studies were extracted, and then the revised Cochrane's risk of bias tool (RoB 2.0) was utilised by two of the authors, independently, to evaluate the risk of bias in each study. RESULTS: At first, 151 results were reached, but then after removing duplicates, 99 records remained, and were later screened, assessed, and studied in full details based on the set PICOS criteria. Out of these 99 articles, ten studies were included in this systematic review, encompassing a total of 453 patients with an age range of (13-70) years old. Propolis mouthwashes with different protocols of application were the intervention whereas placebo or the rest of the tested mouthwashes such as, chlorhexidine, sodium fluoride with cetylpyridinium chloride, sterile distilled water, hydrogen peroxide, were the ones to which propolis mouthwashes were compared. Treatment duration extended from 14 days to 3 months and the follow-up period differed from 14 days to 3 months. In general, propolis mouthwashes decreased plaque accumulations and gingival inflammation in gingivitis patients based on the employed indices. On the other hand, the aforementioned tested mouthwashes other than propolis were deemed equally effective or even superior to propolis in some studies. As an overall assessment for the risk of bias, four studies were assigned as having a low risk of bias. Two studies were deemed to have some concerns, while four studies were identified as having a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that propolis has shown positive effects in terms of controlling gingival and periodontal inflammation especially when used with mechanical methods, studies lack certainty and their power of evidence is low with no agreed gold standards. These conclusions come, for sure, within the limitations of this review, like having substantial variability amongst the included studies and the presence of studies with a high risk of bias. The findings demonstrate that propolis-based mouthwashes showed promising clinical outcomes in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation. However, it is highly recommended to conduct more rigorous trials with patient-reported outcome measures, extended follow-up periods, larger samples sizes, better-designed methodologies, typified propolis use, and with the implementation of similar indices in order to obtain more reliable, conclusive, and generalisable results. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024524523.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a widely used approach to promote well-being among older adults and is an effective intervention method for older adults with diverse health conditions, including community-dwelling older adults. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the impact of group RT on assessments of depression, anxiety and self-esteem in older adults living in the community. METHODS: We implemented sessions of group simple RT. The sample consisted of 24 older adults living in the community who attended a 12-week RT course. The duration of each reminiscence session was 60 min. The average age of the sample was 74.7 years. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, the Older adults' Quality of Life-Brief version and the Sense of Coherence scale to assess mental health outcomes before and after intervention. RESULTS: After intervention, we observed statistically significant improvements in assessments of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.011), self-esteem (p = 0.007) and the comprehensibility dimension of the sense of coherence scale (p = 0.039). Depression showed the largest effect size (Cohen's d = 0.870; 95% CI: 0.392 to 1.335), indicating a large effect, followed by self-esteem (Cohen's d = 0.612; 95% CI: -1.044 to -0.170) and anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.543; 95% CI: 0.108 to 0.967), both of which demonstrated a moderate effect. CONCLUSIONS: We found group RT to be effective for several outcomes among older adults. Reminiscence is a good non-invasive treatment for the promotion of mental health in community-dwelling older adults. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As research has now established RT to be an essential component of activities for older adults in senior care facilities, we should also offer it to those living in the community as an effective activity for the promotion of healthy aging among older adults.
- MeSH
- Depression * therapy psychology MeSH
- Geriatric Assessment MeSH
- Quality of Life MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Independent Living * MeSH
- Self Concept * MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Psychotherapy, Group methods MeSH
- Anxiety * therapy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Virtual reality (VR) holds significant promise for psychiatric research, treatment, and assessment. Its unique ability to elicit immersion and presence is important for effective interventions. Immersion and presence are influenced by matching-the alignment between provided sensory information and user feedback, and self-presentation-the depiction of a user's virtual body or limbs. Discrepancies between real and virtual hands can affect the sense of presence and thus treatment efficacy. However, the precise impact of positional offsets in healthy individuals remains under-explored. This review assesses how various factors influence the detection thresholds for positional offsets in VR among healthy subjects. METHODS: A comprehensive database search targeted English-language studies on the detection thresholds of virtual hand positional offsets using head-mounted displays (HMDs) with specific tracking capabilities. Data on methodologies, participant demographics, and VR system specifics were extracted. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing significant variability in detection thresholds-from a few millimeters to 42 cm for linear shifts and from 2° to 45° for angular shifts. Sensitivity to these offsets was affected by hand movement direction and magnitude, hand representation realism, and the presence of distractions. VR system specifications, such as resolution and tracking accuracy, also played a significant role. Methodological issues included small sample sizes, inadequate demographic reporting, and inconsistent presence or avatar embodiment measures. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the need to consider identified influencing factors to maximize user presence in VR-based therapies. Variability in VR device capabilities also emphasizes the need for detailed reporting of device properties in research. The individual variability in offset detection further illustrates VR's potential as a tool for studying body ownership and multisensory integration.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Systematic Review MeSH
Abies guatemalensis Rehder, an endangered conifer endemic to Central American highlands, is ecologically vital in upper montane forests. It faces threats from habitat fragmentation, unsustainable logging, and illegal Christmas tree harvesting. While previous genetic studies on mature trees from eighteen populations showed high within-population diversity and limited among-population differentiation, the genetic impact of recent anthropogenic pressures on younger generations has yet to be discovered. Understanding these effects is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies for this vulnerable species. We sampled 170 young trees (< 15 years old) from seven populations across Guatemala. Seven microsatellite markers were used to analyse genetic diversity, population structure, and recent demographic history. Moderate levels of genetic diversity were observed within populations (mean Shannon diversity index = 4.97, mean Simpson's index = 0.51, mean allelic richness = 11.59, mean observed heterozygosity = 0.59). Although genetic structure broadly aligned with mountain corridors, substantial admixture patterns suggest historical connectivity across all populations. Most populations showed evidence of recent bottlenecks (p < 0.05) and inbreeding. The results suggest a potential decline in genetic diversity and increased population structuring (ΦST = 0.274, p < 0.01) over the past decades compared to the previous study on old trees. The observed genetic patterns indicate ongoing impacts of habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic pressures on A. guatemalensis. Conservation efforts should prioritise expanding effective population sizes and facilitating gene flow, particularly for isolated populations. While restoration efforts may be logistically easier within mountain ranges, genetic evidence suggests that increasing overall population connectivity could benefit this species. Management strategies should implement systematic seed collection protocols to maintain genetic diversity in future populations. These findings highlight the urgent need for conservation measures to preserve remaining genetic diversity and promote connectivity among A. guatemalensis populations.
- MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Genetic Variation * MeSH
- Abies * genetics MeSH
- Microsatellite Repeats * genetics MeSH
- Endangered Species * MeSH
- Genetics, Population MeSH
- Conservation of Natural Resources MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Guatemala MeSH
BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone 6 mg in patients with severe COVID-19 has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity. The effects of higher doses of corticosteroid, that would further increase anti-inflammatory effects, are uncertain. The objective of our study was to assess the effect of 20 mg dexamethasone vs. 6 mg dexamethasone intravenously in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. METHODS: In a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial conducted in nine hospitals in the Czech Republic, we randomized adult patients with ARDS and COVID-19 requiring high-flow oxygen, noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation to receive either intravenous high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg/day on days 1-5, 10 mg/day on days 6-10) or standard-dose dexamethasone (6 mg/d, days 1-10). The primary outcome was 28-day ventilator-free days. The five secondary outcomes were 60-day mortality, C-reactive protein dynamics, 14-day WHO (World Health Organization) Clinical Progression Scale score, adverse events and 90-day Barthel index. The long-term outcomes were 180- and 360-day mortality and the Barthel index. The planned sample size was 300, with interim analysis after enrollment of 150 patients. RESULTS: The trial was stopped due to a lack of recruitment, and the follow-up was completed in February 2023. Among 234 randomized patients of 300 planned patients, the primary outcome was available for 224 patients (110 high-dose and 114 standard-dose dexamethasone; median [interquartile range (IQR)] age, 59.0 [48.5-66.0] years; 130 [58.0%] were receiving noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline). The mean number of 28-day ventilator-free days was 8.9 (± 11.5) days for high-dose dexamethasone and 8.0 (± 10.7) days for standard-dose dexamethasone, with an absolute difference of + 0.81 days (95% CI - 2.12-3.73 days). None of the prespecified secondary outcomes, including adverse events, differed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not reaching its prespecified enrollment, there was no signal to either benefit or harm high-dose dexamethasone over standard-dose dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 and moderate-to-severe ARDS. Trial registration Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04663555. Registered 10 December 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04663555?term=NCT04663555&rank=1 and EudraCT: 2020-005887-70.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * mortality complications MeSH
- Dexamethasone * administration & dosage therapeutic use MeSH
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment * MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome * drug therapy mortality MeSH
- Respiration, Artificial * MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
INTRODUCTION: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) versus its dissection for patients who underwent breast surgery. METHODS: The authors searched Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus from inception until March 2023. Records were screened for eligible studies, and all relevant outcomes were pooled as an odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% CI in the meta-analysis models using RevMan version 5.4. RESULTS: These results from 11 studies (1021 patients) favored preservation of the ICBN over its dissection in terms of anaesthesia and hypaesthesia [OR 0.50, (95% CI, 0.31-0.82); P = 0.006] and [OR 0.33, (95% CI, 0.16-0.68); P = 0.003], respectively. Whereas the overall effect favored ICBN dissection over preservation in the case of hyperaesthesia [OR 4.34, (95% CI, 1.43-13.15); P = 0.01]. Conversely, no significant variance was detected between the two groups in terms of pain [OR 0.68, (95% CI, 0.28-1.61) P = 0.38], paraesthesia [OR 0.88, (95% CI, 0.49-1.60); P = 0.68], and analgesia [OR 1.46, (95% CI, 0.05-45.69); P = 0.83]. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis revealed that the preservation of the ICBN has a significant effect on the disturbance of sensory parameters of hypaesthesia and anaesthesia when compared to its dissection. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to precisely compare both techniques on a wider range of parameters.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) limit the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobials, representing a problem of high importance. Current research on the presence of ARGs in microorganisms focuses mainly on humans, livestock, hospitals, or wastewater. However, the spectrum of ARGs in the dust resistome in workplaces and households has gone relatively unexplored. This pilot study aimed to analyze resistome in indoor dust samples from participants' workplaces (a pediatric hospital, a maternity hospital, and a research center) and households and compare two different approaches to the ARGs analysis; high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) and whole metagenome shotgun sequencing (WMGS). In total, 143 ARGs were detected using HT-qPCR, with ARGs associated with the macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B (MLSB) phenotype being the most abundant, followed by MDR (multi-drug resistance) genes, and genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides. A higher overall relative quantity of ARGs was observed in indoor dust samples from workplaces than from households, with the pediatric hospital being associated with the highest relative quantity of ARGs. WMGS analysis revealed 36 ARGs, of which five were detected by both HT-qPCR and WMGS techniques. Accordingly, the efficacy of the WMGS approach to detect ARGs was lower than that of HT-qPCR. In summary, our pilot data revealed that indoor dust in buildings where people spend most of their time (workplaces, households) can be a significant source of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, which may potentially pose a health risk to both humans and animals.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Bacteria genetics isolation & purification drug effects classification MeSH
- Genes, Bacterial genetics MeSH
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial genetics MeSH
- Family Characteristics MeSH
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Metagenome MeSH
- Air Microbiology MeSH
- Pilot Projects MeSH
- Dust * analysis MeSH
- Workplace * MeSH
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing MeSH
- Air Pollution, Indoor MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
