Health care-associated infections and mortality in critically ill pediatric patients; Infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud y mortalidad en pacientes pediátricos críticamente enfermos
https://url-shortener.me/83WL Las infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud (IAAS) en cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP) resultan en una problemática mundial. La mortalidad derivada de IAAS es de 10% pudiendo ser más alta en países en vías de desarrollo. Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre IAAS y mortalidad en pacientes pediátricos ingresados en Terapia Intensiva de un hospital de tercer nivel. Pacientes y Método: Estudio observacional de cohorte retrospectiva. Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas (diagnóstico, área de procedencia, días de estancia, mortalidad) e infectológicas (tipo de microorganismo, tipo de IAAS, multidrogo resistencia). Mediante prueba Chi cuadrado se evaluó la relación entre mortalidad y desarrollo de IAAS. A través de un modelo de regresión logística se evaluaron otras variables explicativas de la mortalidad. Resultados: Se estudiaron 363 pacientes, de los cuales el 23,7% fue diagnosticado con IAAS. La mediana de edad fue 3 años (RIC: 1-9). El 51,2% correspondieron al sexo masculino. La IAAS más frecuente fue la neumonía asociada a ventilación mecánica (36%). La mortalidad global fue del 10,7 % con diferencia significativa entre los grupos con y sin IAAS (18,4%, vs. 8,7% p:0,01). El modelo predictivo de mortalidad concluyó asociación entre mortalidad y bacterias multidrogo resistentes (MDR) (OR:8,66 IC 95% 2,01-37,21 p= 0,004). Este grupo presentó más días de hospitalización en UCIP (18 vs. 6 días), p = <0,001. Conclusiones: Para los pacientes ingresados en UCIP del Hospital Baca Ortiz durante el año 2022, la presencia de bacterias MDR se asoció con incrementos de mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria. https://doi.org/10.32641/andespediatr.v96i4.5107
Metal–organic framework-enabled biomass conversion technologies for microalgae bio-refinery in the food industry
https://url-shortener.me/83WL Biomass is a valuable renewable energy adapted as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Apart from fuels, biomass is synthesized into highly valuable products that are used in various forms including biofuels, biochemical, bioproducts, packing material, and find practice in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals industries. Particularly, microalgae a third‐generation feedstock known for its rich carbon content possesses protein lipids and carbohydrates produces a variety of green products such as bioethanol, biohydrogen, biodiesel, and biomethane, and also fixes carbon emission to a certain amount in the atmosphere. However, microalgae conversion in the presence of a catalyst such as a metal–organic framework (MOF) yields high‐quality valuable products. A MOF is a porous crystalline material where the structure and pore size can be controlled making it suitable for catalytic reactions and appropriate conversion paths. This review briefly explains the prevailing status of microalgae as a sustainable biomass and features its components for microalgae biorefinery into valuable products and its application in the food industry. MOF properties, characteristics and various MOF‐based conversion technologies for biomass conversion with its application are elaborated. In addition, usage of value products produced from microalgae biorefinery in the food industry and its importance is elucidated. In addition, the challenges in integrating biorefinery processes with food industry operations and their solutions are also presented. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13789
Prevalence and mortality factors in initial hospitalization for gastroschisis; Prevalencia y factores de mortalidad en la hospitalización inicial por gastrosquisis
https://url-shortener.me/83WC Gastroschisis is a congenital defect characterized by the protrusion of abdominal viscera through a paraumbilical opening. Objective: To determine the frequency of gastroschisis and describe variables associated with neonatal mortality. Patients and Method: A cross-sectional study based on data from the Perinatal Information System of the Hospital Gineco Obstétrico Isidro Ayora (2008–2022). Socio-demographic, obstetric, and neonatal variables were analyzed using Bayesian tests for contingency ta-bles, logistic regression, and the Bayesian t-test analog. Results: A total of 175 neonates were included (58.9% female). The frequency of gastroschisis was 0.13% (95% CI: 0.11–0.15), with a mortality rate of 22.8%. There was a negative association with gestational age (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49–0.85) and calendar year (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68–0.91), indicating lower mortality with each additional week of gestation and over time. The presence of ≥2 complications (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.30–7.12) and Apgar score < 7 at five minutes (OR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.01–60.91) were positively associated with mortality. Deceased neonates had lower birth weight (2,003.6g versus 2,316.7g; BF10=35.2) and shorter hospital stay (20.9 days versus 34.5 days; BF10=204). Conclusions: Gastroschisis showed a high frequency, with mortality associated with multiple complications, low Apgar scores, and low birth weight, while higher gestational age and advances in clinical management over the years were associated with a lower fatal risk. The need for a multidisciplinary approach to improve neonatal outcomes in this population is emphasized. © 2025, Sociedad Chilena de Pediatria. All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.32641/andespediatr.v96i4.5517
Bioremediation of restaurant wastewater using extremophilic Galdieria sulphuraria: An approach contributing to circular bioeconomy and environmental sustainability
https://url-shortener.me/83VV Recently, some applied sciences have focused on the biorefinery of wastewater because of its intrinsic composition. Algal-based wastewater treatment was explored for its potent bioremediation ability and biomass production, which can be used in various applications. When considering microalgae cultivation’s role in integrated production systems, especially when using wastewater and gaseous effluents, the hunt for new potential strains is crucial. This research explored the potential of microalga Galdieria sulphuraria (G. sulphuraria) 074 W (NIES-3638) to bioremediate raw restaurant wastewater owing to its distinct characteristics, including high temperature and acidic pH settings. The cultivation conditions were subjected to three cultivation modes (i.e., mixotrophic, heterotrophic, and autotrophic) for 14 days. During the cultivation of G. sulphuraria, various evaluations, including optical density, specific growth rate, and biomass productivity, were examined. Furthermore, the bioremediation efficiency of G. sulphuraria was examined for the removal of pollutants, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), fats, oil, grease (FOG), and uptake of nutrient such as ammoniacal-nitrogen (NH4+-N), total-nitrogen (TN), total-phosphorus (TP), and potassium (K). G. sulphuraria grown with restaurant wastewater scored 0.15 day−1 for specific growth rate and 39 mg L-1 d-1 biomass productivity. The maximum removal efficiencies for COD, BOD, FOG, NH4+-N, TN, TP, and K were 71%, 80%, 66%, 96%, 93%, 99%, and 75%, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that using G. sulphuraria is a promising approach for treating restaurant wastewater by removing pollutants, uptaking nutrients, and producing enriched biomass that can be further utilized to generate secondary metabolites. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2025.102091
Impact of joint interactions in concrete segmental tunnels: Advanced numerical modeling for seismic resilience
https://url-shortener.me/83VK Ensuring the seismic resilience of segmental tunnels is essential for safeguarding urban transportation systems, especially in earthquake-prone areas where structural integrity is critical. Conventional seismic analysis methods typically rely on simplified models, utilizing homogeneous beam or shell elements with equivalent stiffness properties to approximate tunnel behavior under seismic loading. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an advanced, high-fidelity numerical model tailored for segmental tunnels, incorporating material and geometric nonlinearities while maintaining computational efficiency. The proposed model uses fiber beam elements to precisely represent the reinforced concrete segments. In contrast, zero-length section elements simulate the intricate interactions between tunnel joints, bolts, gaskets, and concrete surfaces. The model’s accuracy is rigorously validated through experimental data from three distinct loading scenarios, confirming its capability to reliably predict the seismic response of segmental tunnels. Beyond experimental validation, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the influence of different segment assembly configurations on the seismic behavior of tunnels. The findings indicate that the arrangement and mechanical properties of the segments significantly affect the overall structural performance, highlighting the necessity of precise modeling techniques. The proposed model is a valuable tool for enhancing the seismic design of underground transportation networks by offering a more detailed and accurate representation of segmental tunnel behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2025.109164
Synthesis and therapeutic potential of copper oxide nanoparticles from endophytic fungi: anti-cancer activities and mechanisms
https://url-shortener.me/83V4 Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuONPs) contain medicinal properties and are an essential component of the next generation due to their unique properties. CuONPs have a vital role in therapeutics, especially for cancer treatment. This study’s main focus was synthesizing the CuONPs and assessing the anti-cancer activity, including the in vitro anti-angiogenesis and cytotoxicity analyses. CuONPs are synthesized using the enzymatic suspension of endophytic fungal strains FCSRL3 and FCPRS11 isolated from the Azadirachta indica grown in a minimal medium at optimum pH 7.2. About 14 different endophytic fungi confined from the neem tree, and the antagonistic and antioxidant properties were evaluated. The efficient FCSRL3 and FCPRS11 were identified as Aspergillus sydowi and Aspergillus versicolor at a molecular level. The synthesized CuONPs from two fungi were confirmed through characterization determination using SEM, EDAX, FT-IR, and XRD analyses. CuONPs revealed maximum antibacterial, antimycotic, and antioxidant activities at minimum concentration, exerting the highest bioactive properties. The anti-angiogenic activity of the CuONPs from two different fungal strains exhibited maximum inhibition of blood vessels in chick embryos, and the assessment was performed using HET-CAM. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the notable role of CuONPs in cancer remedies.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.108679