Objective: Ventricular arrhythmias are the primary arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac death. We address the problem of classification between ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and non-ventricular rhythms (NVR). Methods: To address the challenging problem of the discrimination between VT and VF, we develop similarity maps – a novel set of features designed to capture regularity within an ECG trace. These similarity maps are combined with features extracted through learnable Parzen band-pass filters and derivative features to discriminate between VT, VF, and NVR. To combine the benefits of these different features, we propose a hierarchical multi-stream ResNet34 architecture. Results: Our empirical results demonstrate that the similarity maps significantly improve the accuracy of distinguishing between VT and VF. Overall, the proposed approach achieves an average class sensitivity of 89.68%, and individual class sensitivities of 81.46% for VT, 89.29% for VF, and 98.28% for NVR. Conclusion: The proposed method achieves a high accuracy of ventricular arrhythmia detection and classification. Significance: Correct detection and classification of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia are essential for effective intervention and for the development of new therapies and translational medicine.

Besides the quality of colour reproduction itself, there are other secondary print quality attributes. Secondary print quality evaluation is very important and is influenced primarily by the print method and type of substrate. For textile printers, there is an additional challenge related to macro non-uniformities due to the nature of the substrate. One of these secondary quality attributes is print mottle, which is influenced by macro non-uniformities that remain at the top layer of the print after the ink is fixed on the substrate. Print mottle values primarily consist of an analysis of macro non-uniformities and can be analysed using the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) method, among others. In this study, the GLCM method was used as well as the macro non-uniformity index or NU value verification method performed by ImageJ software. Four different textile printing methods and one cotton fabric substrate are used. The objective is to examine print mottle and the impact of printing method on macro non-uniformities. The printing methods include DTF, DTG, screen printing, and screen transfer printing. The aim is to compare the results of different printing methods and to determine their relation to perceived non-uniformity as assessed visually.

Background: Age-related changes in physiological parameters are crucial in understanding the health and performance of working dogs, particularly those in demanding roles such as military and law enforcement. However, limited research exists on how aging affects the hematological and biochemical health of these dogs. Aim: This study aims to characterize age-related variations in hematological and biochemical parameters in working Belgian Shepherd dogs to provide insights that could inform health management strategies for these animals. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 26 male Belgian Malinois working dogs, categorized into three age groups: adults (2–6 years), seniors (7–10 years), and geriatrics (11+ years). Comprehensive hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted. Analysis of complete blood count was performed for a total of 16 parameters: red blood cell, white blood cell, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, platelet, neutrophil, basophil, leukocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts. Mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, and mean platelet volume were subsequently determined. The biochemistry parameters included glucose, creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen:creatinive ratio, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, Na:K ratio, chloride, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, as well as alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transeferase, total cholesterol, amylase, and lipase. Results: Significant age-related changes were observed in various parameters. Older dogs exhibited decreased creatinine and increased phosphorus and potassium levels, indicating potential changes in muscle mass, renal function, and electrolyte balance. Additionally, the albumin-to-globulin ratio decreased with age, reflecting shifts in protein synthesis and immune function. Conclusion: The study highlights important age-related variations in hematological and biochemical parameters in working Belgian Shepherd dogs. These findings emphasize the need for age-specific health management strategies to maintain the health, performance, and longevity of these dogs, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in critical service roles.

In previous research, 1,2,3-triazolium salts showed significant biological activity as potential inhibitors of cholinesterase enzymes (ChEs), which are crucial for neurotransmission. In this research, pairs of uncharged thienobenzo-triazoles and their charged salts were prepared in order to further examine the role of the positive charge on the nitrogen of the triazole ring in interactions within the active site of the enzymes, and to compare the selectivity of 1,2,3-triazolium salts in relation to their uncharged analogs obtained by photochemical cyclization. Neutral thienobenzo-triazoles showed very good selective activity toward butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), while their salts showed excellent non-selective inhibition toward both BChE (the most active 23: IC50 0.47 μM) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes (the most active 23: IC50 4.4 μM). These new structures with incorporated 1,2,3-triazolium salts present the new scaffold for drug development as it is known that the current therapy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) comprises selective AChE inhibitors, while in Parkinson’s and all stages of AD, non-selective inhibitors of ChEs are preferred. Molecular docking of the selected compounds and their corresponding salts into the active sites of ChEs was conducted to identify the interactions responsible for the stability of the non-covalent cholinesterase–ligand complexes. As genotoxicity studies are crucial when developing new active substances and finished drug forms, in silico studies for all the synthesized compounds have shown that compound 18 is the most promising candidate for genotoxic safety.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in childhood, significantly contributing to both short- and long-term disability. While certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles are known to be associated with specific subgroups of JIA, emerging evidence suggests a strong correlation between these alleles and treatment response. This study involved 143 JIA patients diagnosed according to International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria. Each patient underwent HLA class II typing, including HLA-B27, as well as tests for rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Comprehensive rheumatological assessments were conducted at diagnosis, with follow-ups at three and six months post-onset. After six months of methotrexate (MTX) treatment, patients were categorized as responders or non-responders. Responders achieved clinically inactive disease based on the American College of Rheumatology Provisional Criteria for Defining Clinical Inactive Disease and Clinical Remission. Non-responders, who did not reach clinically inactive disease after six months of treatment, required the addition of another non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) or a biological DMARD. Our analysis revealed that the HLA-DRB1*01 allele is a significant prognostic marker for therapeutic response, predicting therapeutic resistance (P ═ 0.01). The most prevalent HLA-DRB1 alleles in the treatment-resistant group were HLA-DRB1*08:11 (11.3%), HLA-DRB1*01:01 (8.5%), HLA-DRB1*01:13, HLA-DRB1*04:11 (7%), HLA-DRB1*08:13, and HLA-DRB1*08:15 (4.2%). These findings highlight the critical role of HLA class II alleles in pediatric rheumatology, particularly in relation to treatment response and disease prognosis. In the era of personalized medicine, understanding the genetic contributions to treatment response and outcomes in JIA patients is essential. A key limitation of this study was the lack of comparison of treatment responses across different JIA subtypes. Future studies should prioritize evaluating MTX efficacy within specific JIA subgroups to enable a more tailored understanding of its effectiveness.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is classified into Germinal Center B‐cell (GCB) and activated B‐cell (ABC) subgroups originating from different stages of lymphoid differentiation. Cell of origin dictates the behavior and therapeutic response of DLBCL. This study aimed to evaluate single and combinatorial effects of metformin and thymoquinone (TQ) in two DLBCL cell lines belonging to GCB and ABC subtypes. Metformin and TQ caused dose‐dependent responses in both ABC and GCB DLBCL subtypes. Metformin had a greater impact on the ABC subtype while TQ demonstrated more pronounced effects on the GCB subtype. Synergistic effects were observed in the DHL4 (GCB subtype) but not in the HBL1 (ABC subtype) cell line. This is the first study to compare the effects of metformin and TQ in ABC versus GCB subtype of DLBCL. It brings valuable results that could be utilized in further research aimed at reshaping treatments for subtype‐specific lymphomas.