The gut microbiota constitutes a complex ecosystem essential for host defense against infection and immune system maturation. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are characterized by a severe inflammation of the intestine, arising from dysregulated…
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by melanoma cells (MTEX) carry ecto-nucleotidases, CD39/CD73, on their surface membrane, produce adenosine (ADO), and deliver it to immune recipient cells, inducing immune suppression. Based on studies of MTEX from melanoma cell lines, we hypothesized that…
BackgroundTo evaluate whether warm intranasal saline irrigation (38-40 °C) during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is associated with reduced intraoperative bleeding compared with standard cold irrigation (18-21 °C).MethodsWe performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study of consecutive FESS procedures under inhalational general anaesthesia…
BackgroundVitamin K deficiency impairs the activation of calcification inhibitors such as matrix Gla protein, promoting vascular calcification in CKD. Protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) is a filtration-independent marker of vitamin K status validated in hemodialysis, yet no data…
BackgroundMultiple long-term conditions (MLTC) are common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study examined the impact of MLTC on mortality, CKD progression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a referred CKD population.MethodsAdults with non-kidney replacement therapy (KRT)-dependent…
BackgroundDiscriminatory gender norms and unequal power relations shape sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, approaches to assessing progress in gender-transformative interventions remain underdeveloped.ObjectiveThis paper compares measures and approaches to gender-transformative SRH interventions in the published evidence…
Background: Posttraumatic responses (PTR, i.e. posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], complex PTSD, prolonged grief, depression, and anxiety) have not been examined following late-life captivity. Most of the captivity literature focuses on young prisoners of war and, to a lesser extent, on…
Background: Early trauma exposure is widely associated with increased psychological distress, but less is known about how the timing and type of trauma interact to influence outcomes across diverse cultural settings.Objectives: This study tested three hypotheses: (1) that younger age…
Background: Adolescents are especially vulnerable to the psychological consequences of war, and displacement may add an additional burden beyond conflict exposure. However, the specific effects of war-related internal displacement on adolescent mental health remain understudied. This study is the first…
Background: War-related stressors can disrupt core beliefs and shape trauma outcomes, yet the distinct roles of moral processes in post-traumatic outcomes remain insufficiently understood.Objective: To examine how war-related stressors (WRS) and core-belief disruption (CBD) relate to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)…