Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are made up of different wireless gadgets that have been outfitted with different kinds of sensors to gather environmental data. In agricultural operations, wireless sensor networking is widely utilized to boost output and lower losses in a number of ways. The greenhouse makes planting easier, which is advantageous for agriculture in a number of ways. Soil pH sensors and gas sensors are frequently utilized in agricultural models. These sensors may be used for a variety of integrated agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) applications. When traffic volume in wireless sensor networks (WSN) exceeds the combined or individual capacity of the underlying channels, congestion control becomes a critical domain. As a result, more care must be taken to create complex methods for preventing, identifying, and resolving congestion. When developing such strategies to maximize throughput, the limited resources of the WSN must be taken into account. In the last several years, a number of strategies have been established, such as specialized congestion control protocols and routing protocols that assist with congestion detection and control mechanisms. The Penman-Monteith equation is used to examine important issues, such as congestion control. This work aims to split the connection equally by the number of sources by using more than two reference factors, such as humidity and evapotranspiration, under various situations. According to the research, comparable variations with the same source value are achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness and equity of the suggested paradigm. These systems also show lower delay rates and faster throughput in an ideal location.

Background: Postpartum attachment is a multi-dimensional construct that includes maternal thoughts, behaviors, emotions and attitudes, which is influenced by both maternal and infant related factors. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting maternal-infant attachment. Materials and Methods: This study included participants who responded to the validity and reliability assessments of the ”Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale” (MSES) and the ”Postpartum Maternal Attachment Scale” (PMAS) through social media. Maternal depressive symptom levels were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Factors influencing attachment levels were analyzed using multiple regression models. Results: Data from 64 mothers who completed both surveys were evaluated. The infants’ ages ranged from 1 to 12 months, with a median age of 6 (3-10) months. 90.6% of the participants had at least a university degree. Maternal attachment was positively correlated with maternal self-efficacy (p<0.001, r s: 0.46) and negatively correlated with maternal depressive symptoms (p<0.001, r s: -0.41). Attachment scores did not vary according to the number of children, education level, or maternal employment status. In the multiple regression model (adjusted R2: 0.28, F (61,2): 13.772, p<0.001), both depressive symptom levels and parenting self-efficacy were found to significantly predict maternal attachment. Conclusion: This study shows that maternal depressive symptoms negatively influence postpartum attachment among highly educated mothers. Future research in this field should explore additional confounding variables and focus on interventions that take a holistic approach to peripartum care, for improving maternal-infant outcomes.

Background: Complementary feeding is essential for infant growth, development, and health, but parents often rely on online sources for guidance, which may lack accuracy. ChatGPT, a widely used AI language model, has potential as an accessible source of health information. This study evaluates the accuracy and reproducibility of ChatGPT-4’s responses to common questions about complementary feeding. Methods: A prospective study was conducted using ChatGPT-4 to answer 20 frequently asked questions about complementary feeding. Responses were evaluated independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Answers were categorized as ”comprehensive,” ”correct but insufficient,” ”some correct or incorrect,” or ”completely incorrect.” Statistical analysis was conducted to assess inter-rater reliability and response reproducibility. Results: ChatGPT-4 provided ”comprehensive” answers for 75% of questions and ”correct but insufficient” answers for 20%, with no responses deemed partially or completely incorrect. Inter-rater reliability was high (Cohen’s kappa: 0.859). The AI model demonstrated consistent and reproducible performance across evaluations. Conclusion: ChatGPT-4 provides accurate and reproducible information on complementary feeding, aligning with professional standards. While promising as a supplementary information tool, healthcare professionals’ oversight remains critical. Further research is needed to optimize AI’s role in patient education and clinical practice.

The advent of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current cryptographic systems, particularly public-key algorithms such as RSA and ECC, which are vulnerable to quantum attacks like Shor's algorithm. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) aims to develop and standardize quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to secure digital communications in the quantum era. This paper examines the current landscape of PQC, focusing on the evaluation and standardization efforts led by organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We analyze the major families of quantum-resistant algorithms, including lattice-based, hash-based, code-based, multivariate, and isogeny-based cryptography, discussing their security guarantees, performance trade-offs, and implementation challenges. Furthermore, we review NIST's PQC standardization process, highlighting selected finalists and alternate candidates, and explore the ongoing transition challenges in adopting these algorithms across industries. Finally, we discuss future directions for PQC research, including hybrid cryptographic systems and the need for continued cryptanalysis to ensure long-term security. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the progress and challenges in deploying quantum-resistant cryptography to safeguard against emerging quantum threats.

Square-wave voltammetry (SWV) was investigated as a potential analytical tool for quantitation of unsaturated fatty acid oxidation in edible oils exposed to high heat. A traditional linear regression calibration curve and a novel single-point calibration method were used to quantitate linoleic acid in oxidized oil samples. These methods were compared to a standard method for fatty acid analysis via gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Both GC-FID and SWV methods were able to detect a decrease in linoleic acid concentration for heated oil samples. SWV methods routinely calculated higher linoleic acid concentrations compared to GC-FID analysis. A novel finding is that SWV oxidation peak intensities, which are associated with electroactive compounds, decrease in intensity over time for peaks below 1.0 V and increase for peaks above this voltage. These findings represent a step forward in electrochemical characterization of heated oils in addition to further advancing opportunities for electrochemical oil quality screening.

Life cycles consist of linked stages, such as reproduction and overwintering. Carry-over effects (COEs) via body condition can postpone the impacts of environmental change to later stages and seasons. This complicates identifying drivers of population change, as these occur in other seasons, and for migratory species also in other places, than their impacts. Furthermore, COEs are rarely studied at a landscape scale or rigorously quantified using path analysis, so their role in population change remains poorly understood. We investigated COEs in a declining shorebird (Haematopus ostralegus) by linking poor environmental conditions at communal wintering grounds to low breeding success across habitats. We advanced beyond the traditional focus on mass, applying a multifaceted approach by measuring multiple physiological aspects of body condition in 1574 individuals. We followed them across their annual life cycle using a 20-year nationwide citizen science effort and applied an analytical framework integrating structural equation modelling and capture-recapture analysis to quantify the COE and its mechanism. Winter body condition predicted reproductive success, indicating a COE. Offspring from parents with high winter body condition survived longer the next summer, but not due to earlier breeding. Winter body condition was higher where grassland cover was greater, while individuals with different diet specialisations responded differently to temperature and food availability. Grassland decline, estimated at 40% over recent decades, can explain a 13.5% reduction in offspring, supporting our hypothesis that reproductive decline throughout the Netherlands is partly due a COE from a deteriorating winter environment. Causes thus do not necessarily lie in the breeding environment. Though grasslands are often seen as marginal habitat, our findings suggest they are vital for maintaining these shorebirds. We recommend preserving and restoring grasslands around major winter roosts. Our multifaceted, landscape-wide approach offers a template for overcoming challenges in studying COEs and identifying drivers of population decline.

Animals in aquatic ecosystems impacted by global changes often face reduced availability of vital organic compounds, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), vital for brain development and cognition. Cognitive skills are crucial for buffering the impacts of environmental stress on fitness, yet the link between the quality of diet and fitness-enhancing behaviours of individuals in food webs altered by global change remains unclear. We examined how dietary n-3 LC-PUFA affect brain development, social dominance, and growth in territorial juvenile salmonids in a large-scale model of a natural pre-alpine stream. For this assessment we used wild fish whose diet quality was estimated using stable isotope analysis, and hatchery reared fish exposed to dietary treatments in a common-garden experiment. In both wild and common garden experiment fish, diets low in n-3 LC-PUFA led to a decreased content of n-3 LC-PUFA in brain tissue but did not affect brain size, morphology, or neuron count. Fish with lower brain n-3 LC-PUFA content exhibited reduced competitiveness in social interactions and suboptimal habitat use, resulting in slower somatic growth. Our findings indicate that the limited availability of key organic compounds may impair behavioural flexibility of top aquatic consumers, possibly with negative impacts on intra- and inter-specific diversity of the consumers.

To mitigate the trade-off between food security and ecological security is a big challenge that the human-beings are facing nowadays. To this aim, land use optimisation is often conducted based on the superiority of the land to provide food or ecosystem services. However, previous studies largely ignore cropland use intensity in calculating food production and normally only consider the quantity and quality of the cropland. This is inflexible in accessing food security for land use optimisation as cropland use intensity and other constraints change. This study considers cropland use intensity for the prediction of food production. The Yangtze River Economic Belt was taken as the study area and a binary linear programming model is applied to optimise land use pattern in 2020. A Geographically Weighted Regression model is used to calculate food production based on the cropland use intensity concerning fertiliser, pesticide and agricultural film at a city level. The ecological security is evaluated according to the ecosystem service values modified by ecological sensitivity. Accordingly, the land use pattern is optimised to maximise ecological security and ensure food production remaining no less than that before optimisation. Results indicate an increase of ecological security at 2.10% without the cost of food security after land use optimisation. The area of cropland generally increases in the lower reach, while an increase of ecological land in the upper reach of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This study highlights the incorporation of cropland use intensity in accessing food production for land use optimisation to coordinate food security and ecological security.

Episodic memories contain information about the nature of an event, the place where it happened and the time when it occurred. In animals, the term “episodic-like memory” is preferred to refer to mnemonic instances containing these three features, commonly referred to as “what-where-when”. Models to study episodic-like memory have been proposed in corvidae and rodents, although their use in the neuroscience research has been limited due to certain limitations and potential ambiguities. While the neurological correlates of “what-where-when” have been identified in neuronal types such as place and time cells, it is unclear how they contribute to form a unitary representation, or how this information can be accessed during memory recall, either holistically or differentially. Here, we outline two new behavioural paradigms based on the everyday memory task that we have developed to model what and when components as well as ‘where’ information. In experiment 1 (E1), we demonstrate that rats are able to learn two distinct food positions on a daily basis and retrieve them independently. In E2, we establish that rats can learn that two flavours are replenished at different times after an initial sampling, thus use the temporal component to guide their decision making. These two tasks can therefore provide the basis to study how the item, location and time information of a memory are stored and accessed by the brain. This should be observable in single-unit recording or calcium-imaging studies.

While physicians are primarily responsible for Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonist (BZRA) deprescribing, non-physician healthcare professionals (HCPs) can support deprescribing. This study explored barriers to BZRA deprescribing faced by non-physician HCPs. We surveyed 258 HCPs (63.2% nurses) across six European countries using a Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF)-based questionnaire. Logistic regression assessed associations between TDF domains and HCPs’ intention to support deprescribing and their routine support of BZRA deprescribing. Major barriers (defined as TDF items with a mean<3) were found in the Goals (competing priorities), Environmental Context and Resources (time and staff lack), and Social Influence (patient reluctance) domains. Five TDF domains were associated with a stronger intention to support deprescribing: Social/Professional Role and Identity (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77-5.46); Beliefs about Consequences (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.07-3.34); Memory, Attention and Decision Processing (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16-2.82); Intention to promote alternatives (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.07-2.49) and Reinforcement (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.08-2.29). Knowledge was the only domain associated with routine BZRA deprescribing support (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.27). Different categories of HCPs face similar major barriers, but barriers vary across HCP categories and countries. Adapted to contextual differences, targeted interventions may address barriers, enhancing BZRA deprescribing.

The Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts) is a well-known storage pest, and it is listed as one of the 100 most invasive species in the world. This study predicted potential geographic distribution of the pest base on MaxEnt model, and assessed the impact of environmental factors on distribution patterns. The study also analyzed future distribution trends and the impact of environmental factors on its distribution. Results indicate that under current climate conditions, central and southern China, the southern United States, North Africa, southern Australia, and Argentina are highly suitable regions for T. granarium. The minimum temperature of the coldest month and elevation are the primary influencing factors, contributing over 95% to the model. Projections for future under SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios suggest no significant expansion in total suitable habitat. However, binary mapping and centroid analysis indicate a northward shift in the species’ suitable range, with new suitable areas emerging primarily in the northern United States, westernmost Russia, southern Kazakhstan, and northern China. These findings offer crucial data that can support the development of pest monitoring systems, early warning protocols, and quarantine strategies in countries at high risk.

The critically endangered Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), endemic to China’s fragmented Nanling Mountain Range, serves as a model to investigate universal drivers of speciation and population collapse in isolated taxa. Using whole-genome resequencing (23 P. mangshanensis; 41 sympatric relatives), we address how historical biogeography, adaptive divergence, and anthropogenic pressures jointly threaten small populations. Results reveal alarmingly low genetic diversity (θπ = 0.009), 91.92% homozygous SNPs, and negligible gene flow—hallmarks of prolonged isolation and inbreeding. Demographic analyses (PSMC/SMC++) trace population declines to post-Pleistocene habitat fragmentation (~10,000 years ago), a bottleneck shared by mountain-endemic vertebrates globally. Selective sweeps identified 192 genes under adaptation, including DLX5/DLX6 (skeletal growth), Hars (movement suppression), and SPAG6 (reproductive isolation), which collectively drove ecological divergence: increased body size to deter predators, reduced mobility to conserve energy, and reproductive isolation halting hybridization. These genomic signatures reflect a classic speciation trajectory—geographic isolation followed by adaptive and reproductive divergence—common in montane taxa. Critically, the study links extinction risks to synergistic pressures: historical climate shifts fragmenting habitats, contemporary anthropogenic barriers limiting gene flow, and genomic erosion eroding adaptive potential. By integrating paleodemography, climate modeling, and adaptive genomics, we establish a framework applicable to conservation of other fragmented species. Our findings underscore that small populations facing habitat loss and climate change are vulnerable to parallel extinction cascades unless adaptive loci are prioritized in management. This work highlights how genomic tools can disentangle universal speciation mechanisms and extinction drivers, offering actionable strategies for biodiversity preservation in the Anthropocene.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic non-essential heavy metals for humans. Consumption of crops with excessive Cd can lead to health issues like kidney failure and Itai-Itai disease in humans. Fertilizers used in agriculture often contain Cd from raw materials like phosphorus rock and power plant ash, which can increase crop’s Cd levels. However, the properties of the raw materials of fertilizer can suppress crop’s ability to absorb Cd by influencing soil pH. Phosphorus fertilizers could decrease soil pH, which enhances crop’s Cd absorption, while soil with high organic matter could inhibit the absorption. Ash fertilizers could increase soil pH, dissociate protons in soil, and reduce Cd bioavailability. In contrast, short-term fertilizer and long-term use may not significantly affect Cd levels in crops. However, applying a large amount of phosphate and ash fertilizer will significantly increase the Cd accumulation in crops, requiring remediation efforts. Soil washing and adding organic and inorganic amendments can rectify the Cd concentrations in soil. Phytoremediation involves using hyperaccumulators for Cd remediation in soil. Microbial remediation employs algae, fungi, or bacteria. Some fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) and bacteria (growth-promoting rhizobacteria) can be combined with Cd hyperaccumulators to enhance phytoremediation. Some successful intercropping and crop rotation cases for mitigating the Cd problem involving different plants and microbes are reviewed. It is essential to develop effective regulatory frameworks and management strategies to minimize the risks associated with Cd, safeguarding crop health and consumer safety.

IntroductionEBV is a ubiquitous pathogen implicated in various clinical syndromes, including malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders.2 While its association with acute leukemia is rare, EBV’s role in leukemogenesis, particularly in pediatric patients, remains an area of growing interest due to its complex interplay with immune dysregulation and host genetics.3AML in children is a heterogeneous malignancy, and its management becomes even more challenging when complicated by secondary HLH. HLH is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome triggered by infections, malignancies, or immune dysregulation, with EBV being a well-recognized precipitant.4 EBV-driven HLH is particularly severe, as the virus evades immune surveillance, leading to unchecked immune activation, cytokine storm, and potential multiorgan failure.5 Early recognition and aggressive treatment with immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, and targeted antiviral therapies are critical for improving outcomes.This case report describes a rare presentation of EBV infection in a previously healthy adolescent with newly diagnosed AML and secondary HLH. It highlights the diagnostic complexities of managing concurrent malignancy and immune dysregulation, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary, individualized approach to optimize patient outcomes.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown TITLE: A Successful Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in a Rare Case of Bloom Syndrome Associated with Monosomy 7/MDS – Uncharted Territory!

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown In this study we examined the frequency of allergic transfusion reactions in children and young adults over a seven-year period at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. There was a total of 62,982 transfusions during the study period and the transfused blood components included packed red blood cells (61.5%), platelet units (24.3%), fresh frozen plasma (10.1%) and cryoprecipitate units (4.1%). There were 120 allergic reactions (1 in 525 overall transfusions, 0.191%) in 90 recipients during the study period, with the highest rate noted for platelet units (1 in 356 platelet transfusions, 0.281%). Demographic records were available for 87 of the recipients and 95.4% had underlying hematologic or oncologic conditions. About half (50.8%) of the reactions were mild, causing only skin hives. Severe reactions tended to be more common with platelet units (60.5%). Epinephrine was used in the treatment of six of the reactions, rendering them anaphylactic reactions. The rate of allergic transfusion reactions reported in our study (0.191%) is much lower than the rates reported in the literature, suggesting under-reporting of allergic reactions.

Objective: This study aims to delve into the survival rate and prognostic risk factors of colorectal cancer patients with bone metastases. By constructing and validating an innovative prognostic nomogram, it was possible to more precisely predict the overall survival rate of such patients. This not only improves the prediction accuracy but also offers robust support for clinical diagnosis and treatment decision - making. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of the US National Cancer Institute was utilized to extract the relevant data of colorectal cancer patients from 2010 to 2021. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to dissect various factors influencing the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with bone metastases, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed based on these factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the effectiveness of the nomogram. Results: A total of 2086 metastatic colorectal cancer patients were screened.Through rigorous analysis, a series of independent prognostic factors were identified, including gender, marital status, age, diagnosis year, primary tumor site, tumor grade, chemotherapy, surgery, N stage, brain metastasis, liver metastasis, and lung metastasis. Subsequently, a nomogram prediction model was successfully constructed. The ROC curve, calibration curve, and DCA curve verification indicated that the nomogram model exhibited excellent predictive performance in evaluating the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with bone metastases in both the training set and the validation set, and could accurately reflect the trend of the patients’ conditions. Conclusions: By leveraging SEER database resources, this study developed a precise nomogram to predict survival in colorectal cancer patients with bone metastases at 3, 6, and 12 months. The nomogram serves as a robust clinical tool for survival prediction and personalized treatment planning, potentially improving outcomes for this patient population.

This paper elaborates the recent enhancements on IoT capabilities and efficiencies. From power, coverage, cost, complexity, device density, core network protocol, spectrum efficiency perspectives, it describes a comprehensive blueprint for driving IoT optimizations. For better mobile broadband experience, enabling Gigabit-class throughput with advanced 5G network techniques, millimeter wave, massive MIMO, carrier aggregation, and LAA benefit massive IoT improvements. Supporting Gigabit-class data rates for high-performance IoT requires high power efficiency. eMTC (enhanced machine-type communication) optimizes for the broadest range of IoT applications with VoLTE and mobility. NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) provides optimizations for high throughput and low delay LPWAN IoT use cases.

This paper proposes a prioritization-based distributed storage of big data processing application in Internet of Vehicle (IoV) system. Designing a scalable, high-performance big data distributed storage system for IoV, an advanced data-processing system for car services. The novel contribution focused on developing vehicular multi-channel control protocol that control the prioritization of services, according to bit rate, transmit power, speed, inter-vehicle distance. The proposed scheme can achieve higher performance in IoV storage system.

5 G reaps the benefits of the increased maximum throughput. Wireless communication technologies have constructed foundations as significant anchors for IoT due to its ubiquitous capability. The lasting growth technology improvements and innovations in 5G systems are expected to be the main efficient access strategies to accelerate IoT applications. This paper elaborates the recent advances on 5G key technologies and applications for IoT.

Abstract Chrysojasminum stans (Pax) Banf (C. stans) (formerly Jasminum stans Pax; Oleaceae), a vulnerable endemic shrub of the forests and evergreen bushlands of the central Ethiopian highlands, is not feasible for seed mass propagation and ex situ conservation. The present study was conducted to establish the suitability of stem cuttings as a vegetative propagation technique, focusing on the effect of stem cutting age softwood cutting, semi-hardwood cutting and hardwood cutting planting media, and the application of rooting hormone Indole Butyric acid on sprouting and rooting efficiency. Data on the number of newly sprouted shoots, leaves, roots, root length, and shoot height were collected. Statistically significant differences were observed in the number of roots and shoot length among the treatments applied, while there were no statistically significant differences among the treatments applied in newly emerged shoots, leaves, and root length. The results also revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in other parameters. The findings suggest that stem cutting propagation is an appropriate vegetative propagation technique for C. stans, particularly for softwood cutting planted in 1:1:1 soil, compost and sand respectively media. This is the first report of vegetative propagation of C. stans through stem cuttings, which can be used for conservation and sustainable utilization of this Ethiopian highland endemic plant species.

Unmated, “virgin”, females are frequently preferred by researchers in reproductive animal behavior study designs, with previously mated females often being entirely excluded from samples. Unmated females are assumed to be more responsive and receptive, while mated females may skew results due to difficulties controlling for previous mating experience. Failing to incorporate mated females, however, may yield incomplete or contradictory results. Many mating behavior hypotheses, such as the trade-up and convenience polyandry hypotheses, typically predict behavior to vary significantly with mating status. The trade-up hypothesis predicts that unmated females should readily mate with the first male encountered before becoming less receptive and only subsequently remating with preferred males. Conversely, the convenience polyandry hypothesis predicts that females should become increasingly receptive as male encounters increase due to the high cost of resisting male antagonism. We tested whether mating behavior and female receptivity varied with mating experience using the Opiliones species Leiobunum vittatum (Arachnida). L. vittatum is among the most common opilionids in North America and has lost precopulatory nuptial gifts while evolving morphology indicative of sexual conflict. We conducted successive behavioral assays using juvenile-collected and adult-collected individuals to compare mated and unmated female behavior as well as to assess how intra-individual receptivity varied with mate encounter number. Using a hybrid behavioral analysis incorporating both automated and manual video scoring, we found that prior mating experience did not significantly affect female receptivity or mating behavior. Additionally, increasing male encounters did not significantly affect behavior typically associated with sexual conflict. Collectively, we found no evidence supporting the trade-up or convenience polyandry hypotheses, nor did we find support for assumptions that unmated females better serve as behavioral subjects due to increased responsiveness. Further research is required to determine whether other factors such as social experience, local adaptation, or postcopulatory paternity biasing may be modulating mating behavior in the species.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Objectives: Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a worrying concern following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). This study aimed to compare hydration with trimetazidine (TMZ) plus allopurinol versus hydration alone in prevention of CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective PCI. Methods: Patients undergoing elective PCI in a prospective, randomized controlled study were included. Group 1 TMZ plus Allopurinol (n = 43) received hydration with TMZ plus Allopurinol, and Group 2 control (n = 42) received hydration. Before the procedure and up to 24 hours following the procedure, patients were administered 35 mg TMZ twice daily, and 300 mg allopurinol once daily 5 hours prior to the procedure and on the day of the procedure. The incidence of CA-AKI at 24- and 48-hours following exposure to Contrast Media was the main outcome. Risk stratification of CA-AKI was done based on Mehran score. Results: The incidence of CA-AKI was lower in TMZ plus allopurinol group compared to control group at 24 hrs and 48 hrs post-PCI; however, this did not reach statistical significance (4.7%, 16.3% versus 10%, 28.6%, P = 0.347 p = 0.174, respectively). Risk of CA-AKI was comparable based on Mehran score and was either low or moderate in both groups. Conclusion: TMZ plus allopurinol failed to produce a significant reduction of CA-AKI in patients with glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) > 60 ml/min, and low or moderate Mehran score undergoing elective PCI. The results encourage the conduct of future studies with a larger sample size in patients with high Mehran risk scores

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic to the Americas but has spread worldwide due to migration. Benznidazole is effective, but long-term follow-up efficacy studies with benznidazole are few and they include only small numbers of patients. METHODS: We analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of Chagas disease patients treated with benznidazole at a large tertiary center in Argentina (1980–2019). Treatment response was assessed through clinical, parasitological, and serological follow-up. Parasitemia was evaluated by direct visualization or qPCR. RESULTS:A total of 567 benznidazole-treated patients were identified; 411 were children (median age: 46 months (IQR: 9.5 - 124 months) and 53 adults (median: 26 years, IQR 20 - 34 years) ). At diagnosis, 11/411 (2.68%) of children and 1/53 (1.9%) of adults were symptomatic, all of whom improved after treatment. Baseline parasitemia was detected in 289/445 (64.94%) of patients, and 279/289 (96.54%) had parasitological follow-up for at least three years. Benznidazole dosing was 6.6 mg/kg/day for children and 5.6 mg/kg/day for adults, with median treatment durations of 8 weeks and 31 days, respectively. All patients cleared parasitemia at the end of treatment. Median serological follow-up was 4.8 years for children (IQR: 22.4–111.5 months) and 2.8 years for adults (IQR: 10.3–67.9 months). At one-year follow-up, 38.8% of patients showed >20% reduction in T. cruzi antibody titers, and 29.8% achieved seronegativity, with younger patients converting faster (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this Argentinian cohort, Benznidazole was highly effective, leading to sustained parasitemia clearance and declining antibody titers, supporting early treatment initiation.