Background: Overweight has been identified as a comorbidity associated with phenylketonuria (PKU). A systematic review with meta-analysis found that although patients with PKU had a similar body mass index (BMI) when compared to non-PKU controls, there was a significantly higher BMI when measured in patients described as having classical PKU. Objective: The aim of this retrospective longitudinal study was to id...
Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programs that use low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) have been shown to reduce LC mortality by up to 25 % and are considered cost-effective. The European Health Union has encouraged its Member States to explore the feasibility of LCS implementation in their respective countries. The task force conducted a com...
Enteric protozoan parasites, such as Blastocystis sp., Balantioides coli, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis, may have implications for both animal and human health.Transmitted through the fecal–oral route, these parasites cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. This study investigated the presence of these enteric protozoan parasites and genetically characterized them in hed...
Background: Seroepidemiological studies provide estimates of population-level immunity, prevalence/incidence of infections, and evaluation of vaccination programs. We assessed the seroprevalence of protective antibodies against influenza and evaluated the correlation of seroprevalence with the cumulative annual influenza incidence rate. Methods: We conducted an annual repeated cross-sectional seroepidemiologica...
Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programs that use low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) have been shown to reduce LC mortality by up to 25 % and are considered cost-effective. The European Health Union has encouraged its Member States to explore the feasibility of LCS implementation in their respective countries. The task force conducted a com...
Background: This study aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 5 years of age of European children born very preterm across multi-dimensional outcomes by presence and severity of congenital anomalies. Methods: The study used data from a European cohort of children born very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) and followed up to 5 years of age (N = 3493). Multilevel Ordinary Least Squares...
In the 21st century, three betacoronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) have emerged in humans worldwide as a result of animal spillover, causing severe respiratory infections and resulting in more than seven million deaths. In 2013, a novel Betacoronavirus closely related to MERS-CoV (Betacoronavirus cameli) was discovered in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), raising questions on the possibili...
This chapter presents an overview on the state-of-the-art procedures for load tests on bridges and on the applicable sensing and data acquisition technologies. Best practices for the planning, preparation and execution of load tests are presented. The discussion is supported by practical applications in which the authors have been involved during the last 20 years. Selected case studies are used to illustrate t...
Background: Preterm birth is a global health concern. Its adverse consequences may persist throughout the life course, exerting a potentially heavy burden on families, health systems, and societies. In high-income countries, the first children who benefited from improved care are now adults entering middle age. However, there is a clear gap in the knowledge regarding the long-term outcomes of individuals born p...