We previously reported a sustainable food waste management approach to produce an acceptable organic liquid fertiliser for recycling food waste called “FoodLift.” This study follows our previous work to evaluate the macronutrients and cation concentrations in harvested structural parts of lettuce, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes produced using food waste-derived liquid fertiliser (FoodLift) and compare them against commercial liquid fertiliser (CLF) under hydroponic conditions. N and P concentrations in the structural parts of lettuce and the fruit and plant structural parts of cucumber appear to be similar between FoodLift and CLF (p > 0.05), with significantly different N concentrations in the various parts of cherry tomato plants (p < 0.05). For lettuce, N and P content varied from 50 to 260 g/kg and 11 to 88 g/kg, respectively. For cucumber and cherry tomato plants, N and P concentrations ranged from 1 to 36 g/kg and 4 to 33 g/kg, respectively. FoodLift was not effective as a nutrient source for growing cherry tomatoes. Moreover, the cation (K, Ca, and Mg) concentrations appear to significantly differ between FoodLift and CLF grown plants (p < 0.05). For example, for cucumber, Ca content varied from 2 to 18 g/kg for FoodLift grown plants while Ca in CLF-grown cucumber plants ranged from 2 to 28 g/kg. Overall, as suggested in our previous work, FoodLift has the potential to replace CLF in hydroponic systems for lettuce and cucumber. This will lead to sustainable food production, recycling of food waste to produce liquid fertiliser, and will promote a circular economy in nutrient management.

Background: Kidney transplantation is a superior treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), compared with hemodialysis, offering better quality of life and birth outcomes in women with ESRD and lower fertility rates. Objectives: To investigate the pregnancy, maternal, fetal, and graft outcomes following kidney transplantation in women with ESRD and evaluate the improvements in quality of life and associated risks. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Data Sources and Methods: A thorough search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ATC abstracts, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, was conducted to identify studies that analyzed pregnancy outcomes in kidney transplant patients. The search was conducted from the inception of each database to January 2023. Results: The study reviewed 109 studies that evaluated 7708 pregnancies in 5107 women who had undergone renal transplantation. Of these, 78.48% resulted in live births, 9.68% had induced abortion, and 68.67% had a cesarean section. Miscarriage occurred in 12.54%, preeclampsia in 20.87%, pregnancy-induced hypertension in 24.30%, gestational diabetes in 5.08%, and preterm delivery in 45.30% of cases. Of the 853 recipients, 123 had graft loss after pregnancy and 8.06% suffered acute rejection. Conclusion: Pregnancy after kidney transplantation is associated with risks for mother and fetus; however, live births are still possible. In addition, there are reduced overall risks of stillbirths, miscarriages, neonatal deaths, and gestational diabetes. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42024541659).

Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is required when repair is not feasible, and it continues to be a relatively high-risk procedure owing to the complex medical and/or surgical profile of patients. The choice between mechanical and biological prostheses for TVR remains a subject of debate owing to their distinct advantages and disadvantages. This study aimed to analyse and compare the clinical outcomes of these two types of prostheses in the tricuspid position. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the COCHRANE library were searched from 1995 to April 2023 for studies comparing clinical outcomes of mechanical versus biological valves in the tricuspid position. Data on 30-day mortality, reoperations, 5-year valve failure rates, thrombotic/thromboembolic events, and long-term survival were extracted, pooled, and analysed. Forest plots were generated using a random-effects model. From an initial pool of 4716 citations, 37 studies meeting our inclusion criteria were assessed, collectively encompassing 8316 prostheses (3796 mechanical, 4520 bioprostheses). Our analysis revealed that mechanical valves exhibited a non-significant trend towards diminished 30-day mortality (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.69–1.06). A distinct disparity emerged in valve durability, with mechanical valves demonstrating a significantly increased risk of 5-year valve failure (RR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.38–3.56). Strikingly, mechanical valves displayed a substantial six-fold elevated risk of thrombotic events (RR = 6.29, 95% CI = 3.98–9.92). In contrast, the long-term survival and reoperation rates demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two valve types. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides insights into the selection of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves for TVR. These findings highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves in terms of early mortality, valve durability, and thrombotic risk. Our analysis provides clinicians with evidence-based guidance for optimizing outcomes in TVR, offering a foundation for informed decision-making in this intricate surgical landscape. Despite these insights, clinicians must overcome the limitations of retrospective studies, evolving healthcare, and anticoagulant disparities to ensure careful consideration in tricuspid valve replacement decisions.

Background: There is an increased demand for nutrition during pregnancy to improve fetal growth and development. Several dietary interventions have been recommended to pregnant women to meet their maternal needs. Using a larger sample size, we aim to assess the effect of balanced protein–energy supplementation given to pregnant women on birth outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the effect of balanced protein–energy supplementation given to pregnant women on birth outcomes. Design: Search included PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Embase from initiation till 20 March 2023 to select relevant studies examining perinatal factors associated with balanced protein–energy supplementation. Mean differences (MD) and risk ratios (RRs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Review Manager. Data sources and methods: Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were included. Out of 218,720 studies initially identified, 24 met the inclusion criteria, involving pregnant women who received balanced protein–energy supplementation and reported outcomes related to perinatal death, birthweight, length, or head circumference. Results: Meta-analysis of pooled studies revealed that balanced protein supplementation had a significant effect on birthweight (g) (MD: 62.67, CI: 27.92–97.43), low birth weight (LBW) (RR: 0.73, CI: 0.57–0.95), birth length (MD: 0.20, CI: 0.10–0.30), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) babies (RR: 0.74, CI: 0.59–0.93) and had no significant effect on the birth head circumference (MD: 0.05, CI: −0.09 to 0.20), perinatal death (RR: 0.83, CI: 0.50–1.37), and preterm birth (RR: 0.86, CI: 0.68–1.08). Conclusion: Balanced protein–energy supplementation is an effective intervention for birth length, birth weight, risk of LBW, and SGA births, particularly in women who are undernourished.