A total of 18 studies were included and 17 assessed aspects of online supermarkets. Pricing and promotional strategies were commonly applied to unhealthy products, while nutrition labelling may not meet regulated requirements or support consumer decision-making. Few studies investigated the different and specific ways online supermarkets can influence consumers. One framework for comprehensively capturing the healthiness of online supermarkets was identified, particularly highlighting the various ways retailers can tailor the environment to target individuals. Comprehensive assessments of online supermarkets can identify the potential to support or undermine healthy choices and dietary patterns. Common, validated instruments to facilitate consistent analysis and comparison are needed, particularly to investigate the new opportunities the online setting offers to influence consumers.
The transintestinal cholesterol efflux (TICE) pathway is the second described route for plasma cholesterol fecal elimination. This article summarizes recent TICE research progresses, involving TICE inducers, molecular determinants of this pathway, and its role in lipoprotein metabolism.

TICE is an active pathway in mice, rats, and humans. Kinetic measurements showed that under basal conditions, the relative contribution of TICE in fecal elimination of plasma cholesterol is quantitatively less important than the hepatobiliary pathway. However, the amplitude of TICE can be induced by numerous nutritional factors and pharmacological drugs. More importantly, by contrast with the stimulation of biliary cholesterol excretion that is associated with an increased risk of gallstone formation, TICE appears as a safer therapeutical target. Finally, several independent studies have demonstrated that TICE is actively contributing to the anti-atherogenic reverse cholesterol pathway reinforcing the interest to better unrapeutical perspectives for patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether different NdYAG laser applications as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) improve the healing response to periodontal therapy in smokers with periodontitis.

This clinical trial included eighty systemically healthy smokers with periodontitis. Patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group SRP alone (group 1), SRP+low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with NdYAG laser (group 2), SRP+pocket debridement with NDYAG laser (group 3), and SRP+combined pocket debridement and LLLT with NdYAG laser (group 4). Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (%), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples for metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels were collected at baseline, 1 month and 3 months after treatment.

There were no significant differences between the treatment groups for the GI, PI, and BOP (%) parameters and MMP-8 levels at any time points (p > 0.05). For moderately deep pockets, PD and CAL reductions were significantly greater in all test groups compared to group 1 (p ˂ 0.05). For deep pockets, these reductions were significantly greater in group 2 and group 4 compared to group 1 (p ˂ 0.05). PD and CAL reductions were generally similar between test groups (p > 0.05) except PD reduction between baseline and 3 months in deep pockets (p ˂ 0.05).

The findings of this clinical trial suggest that NdYAG laser applications may be beneficial on the healing response of smokers to non-surgical therapy compared to SRP alone.
The findings of this clinical trial suggest that NdYAG laser applications may be beneficial on the healing response of smokers to non-surgical therapy compared to SRP alone.
WNK1 (WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1) is a kind of protein kinase and participates in angiogenesis, having a potent tumor promoting role. WNK1 is ubiquitously expressed, and its upregulated expression has been reported in several tumor types.

Here, we aimed to investigate the correlation between WNK1 expression and colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) progression.

In the current study, WNK1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemically in adjacent normal colonic mucosae and primary adenocarcinomas. The effect of WNK1 on overall survival (OS) and its associations with the clinicopathological parameters were analyzed in a retrospective cohort of COAD patients (n = 185). The tumor-related effects of WNK1 in COAD were further tested via cellular and mice experiments.

According to our cohort, higher WNK1 expression was significantly associated with unfavorable prognostic factors, such as high pT stage, pN stage, as well as shorter OS. Moreover, WNK1 exhibited tumor promoting role in COAD cancer cell lines as well as in nude mice. Silencing WNK1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of COAD both in vitro and in vivo.

In all, WNK1 acts as a tumor promoter and may be used as a COAD prognostic biomarker.
In all, WNK1 acts as a tumor promoter and may be used as a COAD prognostic biomarker.
Sacroiliac dysfunction is an important cause of low back pain with significant impact on quality of life and daily activities. Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion (MIS SI fusion) is an effective treatment for patients who failed non-surgical strategies. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical outcomes and complications of this surgical technique.

For patients with SI joint dysfunction, MIS SI fusion reduced pain and disability as measured by Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Index and improved quality of life as measured by Short-Form 36 and EuroQol-5D questionnaires. Satisfaction rates were higher in the SI fusion group when compared to the conservative management. In recent clinical trials, adverse events occurred with a similar rate in the first 6months for patients assigned in the conservative management versus patients assigned to MIS SI fusion. MIS SI fusion is an effective and safe procedure for patients with sacroiliac dysfunction who failed non-surgical strategies. This procedure provides rapid as well as sustained pain relief, improvement in back function, high patient satisfaction, with low rate of complications.
For patients with SI joint dysfunction, MIS SI fusion reduced pain and disability as measured by Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Index and improved quality of life as measured by Short-Form 36 and EuroQol-5D questionnaires. Satisfaction rates were higher in the SI fusion group when compared to the conservative management. In recent clinical trials, adverse events occurred with a similar rate in the first 6 months for patients assigned in the conservative management versus patients assigned to MIS SI fusion. signaling pathway MIS SI fusion is an effective and safe procedure for patients with sacroiliac dysfunction who failed non-surgical strategies. This procedure provides rapid as well as sustained pain relief, improvement in back function, high patient satisfaction, with low rate of complications.
The aim of this study was to evaluate an image reconstruction algorithm, including a new maximum-likelihood attenuation correction factor (ML-ACF) for time of flight (TOF) brain positron emission tomography (PET).

The implemented algorithm combines an ML-ACF method that simultaneously estimates both the emission image and attenuation sinogram from TOF emission data, and a scaling method based on anatomical features. To evaluate the algorithm's quantitative accuracy, three-dimensional brain phantom images were acquired and soft-tissue attenuation coefficients and emission values were analyzed.

The heterogeneous distributions of attenuation coefficients in soft tissue, skull, and nasal cavity were sufficiently visualized. The attenuation coefficient of soft tissue remained within 5% of theoretical value. Attenuation-corrected emission showed no lateral differences, and significant differences among soft tissue were within the error range.

The ML-ACF-based attenuation correction implemented for TOF brain PET worked well and obtained practical levels of accuracy.
The ML-ACF-based attenuation correction implemented for TOF brain PET worked well and obtained practical levels of accuracy.L-asparaginase (ASNase) is the principal chemotherapeutic agent against different blood cancers. The risks associated with current clinical preparations demand screening for novel ASNases. Accordingly, the study was conducted to shortlist ASNases having clinically safer profiles from a novel niche, namely, microbes in the gut and hemolymph of apparently healthy Scylla serrata. A four-step strategic approach incorporating the essential requirements for clinically safer profiles was followed. The initial step through plate assay showed five (9.61%) potential ASNase producers. The relative prevalence of ASNase producers was higher in hemolymph (13.33%) than gut (4.5%). The positive isolates were identified as Priestia aryabhattai, Priestia megaterium, Bacillus altitudinis, Shewanella decolorationis, and Chryseomicrobium amylolyticum. Quantitative profiles revealed high ASNase production (114.29 to 287.36 U/mL) without any optimization, with an added advantage of the extracellular production. The second step for substrate specificity studies revealed the absence of L-glutaminase and urease activities in ASNases from C. amylolyticum and P. megaterium, the most desirable properties for safe clinical applications. This is the first report of glutaminase and urease-free ASNase from these two bacteria. The third step ensured type II nature of selected ASNases, the targeted form in clinical applications. The fourth step confirmed the activity and stability in human physiological conditions. Altogether, the results revealed two potential ASNases with clinically compatible profiles.
This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of our repair technique using autologous pericardial patches for active infective endocarditis with extensive mitral valve destruction.

From 2009 through 2016, 12 patients with extensive mitral leaflet destruction due to infective endocarditis underwent mitral valve repair with an autologous pericardial patch. Mid-term clinical outcomes and echocardiographic findings of these patients were retrospectively assessed.

The perioperative mortality rate was 8.3% (1/12). Postoperatively, the mitral regurgitation grade was ≤ 1 + in all patients. During 5.0 ± 3.2years of follow-up, there was no recurrence of infective endocarditis or death. There were no cases of mitral regurgitation grade >  + 1 and pressure gradient > 5mmHg during follow-up among 6 patients who underwent posterior leaflet reconstruction, whereas elevation of the pressure gradient was observed in patients who underwent reconstruction of two areas of the anterior leaflet and survived up till the for leaflet and bi-leaflet lesion repair did not yield satisfactory results. The indication for surgical repair should be carefully evaluated when an extensive anterior region is involved.
To reveal distinctive features of vitamin D metabolism in patients with active acromegaly compared to healthy individuals, particularly in the setting of cholecalciferol treatment.

The study group included 34 adults with active acromegaly, and the control group included 30 apparently healthy adults with similar age, sex, and BMI. All participants received a single dose (150,000 IU) of cholecalciferol aqueous solution orally. Laboratory assessments including serum vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D
, 25(OH)D
, 1,25(OH)
D
, 3-epi-25(OH)D
and 24,25(OH)
D
), free 25(OH)D, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) as well as serum and urine biochemical parameters were performed before the intake and on Days 1, 3, and 7 after the administration. All data were analyzed with nonparametric statistics.

Patients with acromegaly had tendency to lower baseline 25(OH)D
levels (p = 0.05) and lower 25(OH)D
levels (p < 0.05) during the follow-up. They were also characterized by PTH suppression (lower baseline PTH levels and lower prevalence of secondary hyperparathyroidism), altered production of main vitamin D metabolites (higher 1,25(OH)
D
and lower 24,25(OH)
D
levels with corresponding lower 25(ОН)D
/1,25(ОН)
D
and higher 25(ОН)D
/24,25(ОН)
D
ratios) as well as concordant biochemical features (higher levels of serum phosphorus and albumin-adjusted calcium levels) throughout the study (p < 0.signaling pathway