This dataset provides information on dental anxiety and psychological distress experienced by patients in Albania and Germany. Data were collected using the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Additional information on oral health and dental care behaviors was also obtained. The dataset contains the responses from 263 patients (N = 133 German and N = 130 Albanian) who completed questionnaires between December 2019 and July 2020. The variables include measures of dental anxiety (DAS), psychological distress (BSI-18), and self-reported oral health behaviors such as the tooth brushing frequency, frequency of dental visits, frequency of tartar removal, and frequency of professional teeth cleaning. The dataset also includes measures of subjective health status and oral health-related self-efficacy. The dataset enables for cross-cultural comparisons and supports further research into the relationship between dental anxiety, psychological distress, and oral health practices.

Cigarette smoking alters lipid metabolism in the lung, but the effects of heated tobacco products (HTPs) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate potential lipidomic alterations in lung and lung cancer tissues associated with HTP exposure. We performed lipidomic analysis on specimens from lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) and spontaneous pneumothorax patients. Frozen cancer and adjacent normal lung tissues from LAD cases and lung tissues from pneumothorax cases were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Relative intensities of 24 lipid classes were compared among the HTP-user, cigarette-smoker, and never-smoker groups (two cases for each group). In LAD cases, the HTP-user group exhibited high levels of acylcarnitine (AcCa), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), triglyceride (TG), and phosphatidylethanolamine in cancer tissue, and CoQ10, TG and monohexosylceramide in normal lung tissue. Cholesteryl ester and cholesterol were consistently low in both cancer and normal lung tissues, while multiple lysophospholipids (lysosphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine) and phosphatidylserine were low in normal lung tissue. In pneumothorax cases, CoQ10 was high and AcCa low in HTP-users, though similar patterns were observed in cigarette-smokers. This exploratory pilot study suggests that HTP use may induce oxidative stress-driven metabolic reprogramming, membrane remodeling, and stress-adaptive responses in lung and lung cancer tissues.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. Fingolimod (FTY720) is a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist that prevents lymphocytes from egressing from lymphoid tissues and has shown a cytotoxic effect on T-cell ALL (T-ALL) cells. However, the mechanism of action of FTY720 cytotoxicity in hematological malignancies is still unclear, and cell-specific effects have been reported. Here, we investigated the mechanism of cytotoxicity of FTY720 in T-ALL cells using a CRISPR-Cas9 genomic screening. Our goal was to identify novel positive regulators for the cytotoxic effect of FTY720 in T-ALL. Cells treated with FTY720 were enriched for single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) such as ZNF575, GPX3, FBXL15, DNAJB5, UBE2D1, ATXN7, C6orf201, RIC8A, RAB13, and C10orf12 when compared to the DMSO (vehicle control) samples. Altogether, our study identified novel genes that, when silenced, were positively correlated with the survival of T-ALL cells treated with FTY720.

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a type of intestinal motility disorder (IMD) that can occur after abdominal surgery. At present, there is no accepted treatment for POI and no reliable biomarkers to assess the status of POI. Erythropoietin (EPO) can promote the recovery of the intestine from various injuries, including POI. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory role of EPO and to identify reliable biomarkers of POI. The computational analysis suggested that immune signaling via EPO/EPOR pathways may vary in POI. Luminex multiplex analysis showed that EPO treatment considerably altered intestinal tissue pro-inflammatory (CRP, IL6, IL12p70, IL12p40, IL2, and IFNγ) and anti-inflammatory (IL4, IL10, and IL13) cytokines. EPO decreased pro-inflammatory intestinal chemokines (CCL12, CXCL2, and CCL4) and serum IL6, CRP, and CCL12 following POI. IL6, CRP, and CCL12 may serve as promising biomarkers for POI in both tissue and serum samples. The gene expression analysis of these markers confirmed their significance with increased levels in intestinal tissue of POI, and EPO treatment caused attenuation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of EPO following IM, and suggests CCL12, CRP, and IL6 as reliable biomarkers of POI in both intestinal and serum samples.

ObjectiveIn Endodontics, the primary objective of regenerative treatment is to revitalize the pulpo-dentinal complex of immature permanent teeth, promote continued root development, and achieve complete closure of the open apical terminus. Traditionally, apexification has been performed using conventional pulp space therapy for all non-vital immature permanent teeth. In this study, after rubber dam isolation and local anesthesia, routine endodontic procedures were initiated. Access cavity preparation was followed by biomechanical preparation using ProTaper hand files (size F3). Irrigation was carried out with 3% sodium hypochlorite, and two rounds of intracanal calcium hydroxide dressing were placed. At subsequent visits, the dressing was removed, the canals were dried with absorbent points, and an amniotic membrane scaffold (Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India) was positioned at the apex for two weeks. The entire pulp space was then obturated with Biodentin, and composite resin was used for post-endodontic restoration.ResultsApexification protocols were followed in ten adult non-vital permanent teeth with open apices. Clinical and radiographic evaluations demonstrated satisfactory healing. The amniotic membrane appeared to contribute to apical closure within two weeks and showed no adverse effects. It may represent a promising scaffold material for apexification in developing non-vital permanent teeth.Trial registration number: Current Controlled Trials CTRI/2025/11/097852 [Registered on 21/11/2025].

ObjectiveThe study examined the association between adiponectin levels and markers of Insulin Resistance (IR) in obese and non-obese adults with type 2 diabetes. Insulin Resistance was estimated using HOMA-IR, while group differences were assessed using appropriate statistical tests. Multiple linear regression was applied to evaluate associations between adiponectin and obesity indices while adjusting for HOMA-IR.ResultsMean serum adiponectin did not differ significantly across obese diabetics, non-obese diabetics, and controls (5.9 ± 3.6 µg/mL, 6.4 ± 3.2 µg/mL, and 6.8 ± 3.5 µg/mL, respectively; p = 0.13). Mean HOMA-IR values were comparable among obese diabetics (1.4 ± 2.1), non-obese diabetics (1.3 ± 1.0), and controls (1.1 ± 0.6). In multivariable regression models, serum adiponectin was not independently associated with obesity indices or HOMA-IR (all p > 0.05). Serum adiponectin levels were not significantly different across the study groups, although numerically lower values were observed in obese individuals with diabetes. No significant relationship was found between adiponectin and clinical or biochemical markers of IR. These findings suggest that adiponectin may have limited utility as an isolated marker of IR in Nigerian adults with type 2 diabetes and underscore the need for larger, longitudinal studies to clarify its role.

This study developed a predictive model to identify the high-risk patients for sequential oxygen therapy (SOT) following the extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A total of 152 patients were included in this study. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the potential risk factors associated with the need for SOT following the extubation from IMV in patients with CABG, including the timing of endotracheal extubation (OR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.29-0.52), duration of IMV (OR = 7.37, 95%CI = 4.28-10.47), simple/combined CABG (OR = 4.31, 95%CI = 1.95-6.67), 1-hour postoperative creatine kinase (CK) levels (OR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.17-2.02), oxygenation index (OI) (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.63-0.85), and base excess (BE) (OR = 0.47, 95%CI = 0.36-0.57) at the time of extubation. The nomogram demonstrated a consistency index (C-index) and an area under the ROC curve of 0.700. The calibration curve indicated a high degree of agreement between predicted and observed values, and the DCA confirmed the practical utility of the identified indicators.

ObjectiveStigma and discrimination in healthcare settings remain significant barriers to achieving the global goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Despite progress, interventions to address these issues are limited in Malaysia, where Health4All module being one of the few implemented in healthcare settings to reduce HIV-related stigma. This study explores the barriers and facilitators to its implementation, aiming to enhance its effectiveness in addressing stigma within these environments.ResultsUsing the Delphi method, expert opinions from public health and primary care sectors were collected over three iterative rounds to identify and prioritize barriers and facilitators to implementing the Health4All module. Data were obtained via email, with each round refining the previous findings. The implementation was facilitated by strong leadership, adequate funding, clinic champions, established HIV teams, and active staff engagement. Key barriers included workforce shortages, high turnover, recruitment challenges among key populations, language and content limitations, and online training constraints such as technical issues and limited interaction. Despite these challenges, cost-effective online delivery and targeted incentives improved uptake, emphasizing the critical influence of organizational, individual, and systemic factors on successful implementation. The findings provide a valuable foundation for future efforts to enhance healthcare practices and outcomes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-025-07575-8.

ObjectiveBloodstream infections (BSIs) are a common complication in hospitalized patients, but their incidence following open-heart surgery with delayed sternal closure (DSC) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) remain underexplored. This study aimed to determine the incidence of nosocomial BSIs in pediatrics undergoing open-heart surgery with DSC. A retrospective observational study was conducted using medical records of 178 infants with CHD who underwent open-heart surgery with DSC at Children’s Medical Center Hospital in Iran between 2018 and 2021. Data on demographic characteristics, surgical variables, and blood culture results were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, with a significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe incidence of nosocomial BSIs was 11.8% (21 of 178 infants). Among the positive cultures, Klebsiella was the most frequent pathogen, accounting for 47.6% of isolates (10 out of 21). Among the positive cultures, Klebsiella was the most frequent pathogen, accounting for 10 (47.6%) of isolates. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age (adjusted OR 0.97 per day; 95% CI 0.94–0.99; P = 0.03) and longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration (adjusted OR 1.008 per minute; 95% CI 1.000–1.016; P = 0.04) were independently associated with the occurrence of BSI. These findings suggest that younger age and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration are independent risk factors for the development of BSIs bloodstream infections in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery with DSC. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and to identify effective infection prevention strategies for this high-risk population.