Atypical Pulmonary Metastasis of Prostate Adenocarcinoma: A Rare Phenomenon.

Prostate cancer can metastasise to the lung. Most common presentations described in the literature are solitary pulmonary nodules, lymphangitic spread and, rarely, pleural effusion. We describe a case of prostate adenocarcinoma with diffuse bilateral reticulonodular and lymphangitic pulmonary metastasis, and malignant pleural effusion while being on androgen deprivation therapy. LEARNING POINTS: Lymphangitic metastasis of prostate cancer to the lung with diffuse reticulonodular infiltrate is a rare presentation.In chemical castration-sensitive prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can be improving but the patient can still develop new distant metastases.

The effect of maternal undernutrition on adverse obstetric outcomes among women who attend antenatal care in Gedeo zone public hospitals, cohort study design.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition refers to an overall deficiency of nutrients due to an inadequate intake of a well-balanced diet. Undernourishment during pregnancy is an important contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. It remains a persistent problem in developing countries, where women usually fall behind men in having access to food, health care, and education. Despite the high prevalence of maternal undernourishment, its direct impact on obstetric outcomes has not been studied in developing countries, including Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of maternal undernutrition on adverse obstetric outcomes in Gedeo zone public hospitals. METHOD: A cohort study design was employed in Gedeo zone public hospitals from June 30, 2022, to February 28, 2023. This study included 721 pregnant women, 237 were exposed group whereas 484 were non-exposed. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a non-exposed group and the exposed group was selected consecutively. Both groups were followed for 7 months, from 16 weeks of gestation to 24 h of delivery. The pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist were used. EpiData 4.4.1.2.version was used for data entry and analyzed using Stata version 16 software. A modified Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used to determine relative risk, and the statistical association was declared at a p-value ≤ 0.05. Finally, the findings were reported in figures, tables, and words. RESULT: The incidence of adverse obstetrics outcomes among undernourished and normally nourished mothers was hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP) (7.49% vs. 3.19%), antepartum haemorrhage (7.49% vs. 3.19%), obstructed labor (1.53% vs. 3.49%), premature rupture of the membrane (2.5% vs. 3.33%), preterm labor (6.52% vs. 6.93%), instrumental vaginal delivery (1.8% vs. 4.3%), postpartum haemorrhage (5.95% vs. 3.88%), and sepsis (3.74% vs. 1.94%). The risk of adverse obstetric outcomes among undernourished women was hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP) (aRR) = 4.07, 95%CI: 2.53-6.55), antepartum haemorrhage (APH) (aRR = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.08-12.72), preterm labor (aRR = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.23-2.62), operative delivery (aRR = 1.24, 95%C: 0.87-1.78), postpartum haemorrhage (aRR = 3.02, 95%CI: 1.91-4.79), and sepsis/chrioaminitis (aRR = 3.55, 95%CI: 1.83-6.89) times higher than normally nourished women. CONCLUSION: The incidence rates of hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP), antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage, and sepsis were higher among undernourished women than normally nourished women. Undernourished women during pregnancy have an increased risk of adverse obstetrics outcomes including hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, antepartum, preterm labor, operative delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, and sepsis/chorioamnionitis.

Identification of some variable parameters in serum of COVID-19 patients in comparison with control group.

The study intended to determine the correlation among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and variable abnormalities in liver function test, lipids, and thyroid hormones. The study included 160 infected COVID-19 patients (80 females and 80 male) and 100 subjects as a control group (50 females and 50 males), attended the Al-Sader Medical City in Al-Najaf, Iraq during the period between January 2021 to October 2021. The patients' age ranged from 16-80 years old. Liver enzymes, lipid profile and thyroid hormone were tested. The results revealed a significant increase in liver function levels including alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and Albumin (p < 0.05). Also, there was an increase in lipids levels including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. The result showed significant difference in levels of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone between COVID-19 infected patients and the control group. As well the antithyroid antibodies (thyroglobulin antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyrotropin receptor antibodies) were increased. There was a correlation between increasing thyroid hormones and their antibodies with infection by COVID-19. This study concluded that COVID-19 infection can induce disturbances in liver and thyroid function tests and changes in the lipid metabolism.

Efficacy and safety of aldafermin in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced subtype of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NASH prevalence is increasing exponentially and carries a high risk for disease progression, cirrhosis, and liver-related mortality. Aldafermin, a fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) analog, is one of the evolving therapeutic agents with the potential to regulate multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of NASH. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of aldafermin in patients with NASH. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched till November 2023 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Continuous data were pooled as mean difference (MD), while dichotomous data were pooled as risk ratios (RR) with a 95 % confidence interval. A subgroup meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the two doses (1 mg and 3 mg) of aldafermin. RESULTS: Four RCTs with a total of 491 patients were included. Aldafermin showed a dose-dependent improvement in the ≥30 % reduction in the liver fat content (RR: 2.16, 95 % CI [1.41 to 3.32]) and (RR: 5.00, 95 % CI [1.34 to 18.64]), alanine aminotransferase levels (MD: -19.79, 95 % CI [-30.28 to -9.3]) and (MD: -21.91, 95 % CI [-29.62 to -14.21]), aspartate aminotransferase levels (MD: -11.79, 95 % CI [-18.06 to -5.51]) and (MD: -13.9, 95 % CI [-18.59 to -9.21]), and enhanced liver fibrosis score (ELF) (MD: -0.13, 95 % CI [-0.29 to 0.02]) and (MD: -0.33, 95 % CI [-0.50 to -0.17]), in the 1 mg and 3 mg subgroups respectively. No significant differences were detected in the aldafermin group regarding histologic endpoints, lipid profile, metabolic parameters, and overall adverse effects, except for the increased occurrence of diarrhea in the aldafermin 3 mg subgroup. CONCLUSION: Aldafermin is a promising well-tolerated therapeutic agent for NASH with evidence supporting its ability to reduce liver fat content, fibrosis serum biomarkers, and liver enzymes. However, its effectiveness in improving histologic fibrosis, while showing numerical trends, still lacks statistical significance. Larger and longer NASH trials are warranted to enhance the robustness of the evidence.

Evaluation of enamel surface integrity after orthodontic bracket debonding: comparison of three different system.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate enamel surface integrity and time consumed during residual cement removal after bracket debonding using different adhesive removal burs with and without a dental loupe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty human-extracted premolars were collected, cleaned, mounted, and prepared for orthodontic bracket bonding. Teeth were randomly divided into three main groups (n = 20) based on the adhesive removal method: tungsten carbide system (TC), sof-lex discs system (SD), and diamond system (DB) groups. Then, each group was subdivided into two subgroups (naked eye and magnifying loupe subgroups). The brackets were bonded and then debonded after 24 h, and the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was assessed. The adhesive remnants were removed by different systems, and the final polishing was performed by Silicone OneGloss. The enamel surface roughness was evaluated before bracketing (T0), after residual cement removal (T1), and finally after polishing (T2) using surface Mitutoyo SJ-210 profilometry and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine the Enamel Damage Index (EDI) score. The time consumed for adhesive removal was recorded in seconds. RESULTS: The Kruskal Wallis test showed a statistically significant difference in roughness values at T1 compared to T2 between subgroups (p < 0.001). When comparing EDI at T1 and T2, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test showed statistically significant differences in all subgroups. The pairwise comparisons revealed that EDI scores showed a statistically significant difference at T1 and T2 between DB vs. TC and SD (p = 0.015) but not between TC vs. SD (p = 1.000), indicating the highest roughness value observed in the DB group. The time for cement removal was significantly shorter in the magnifying loupe group than in the naked eye group and was shortest with the TC group, whereas the time was the longest with the DB group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All three systems were clinically satisfactory for residual orthodontic adhesive removal. However, TC system produced the lowest enamel roughness, while the DB system created the greatest. The polishing step created smoother surfaces regardless of the systems used for resin removal.

What is the impact of Kinesio taping on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: As a therapeutic intervention for several musculoskeletal illnesses, the benefits and effectiveness of Kinesio taping (KT) are currently unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis's (MA) goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of KT for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and its impact on clinical outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive search of online databases was done to discover relevant studies. Inclusion criteria included controlled or randomized clinical trials that were published in English. Changes in pain, flexion strength, and extension strength were among the outcomes of interest. RevMan 5.4 was used to extract and analyze data. RESULTS: After satisfying the inclusion requirements, five studies were included in the MA. Pooled analysis showed that, in comparison with the intervention group, the control group had a statistically significant improvement in flexion strength (Standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.44, 95% Confidence interval (CI) [0.01, 0.87], p = 0.04). Extension strength and pain, however, did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups (SMD = 30, 95% CI [- 0.12, 0.72], p = 0.16), (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI [- 0.14, 0.66], p = 0.20), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests limited to no benefits of KA post-ACL reconstruction. While the control group surprisingly showed better improvement in flexion strength, no significant differences were found in extension strength and pain. Further rigorous trials are needed to confirm its utility in rehabilitation.

Four chemometric models enhanced by Latin hypercube sampling design for quantification of anti-COVID drugs: sustainability profiling through multiple greenness, carbon footprint, blueness, and whiteness metrics.

Montelukast sodium (MLK) and Levocetirizine dihydrochloride (LCZ) are widely prescribed medications with promising therapeutic potential against COVID-19. However, existing analytical methods for their quantification are unsustainable, relying on toxic solvents and expensive instrumentation. Herein, we pioneer a green, cost-effective chemometrics approach for MLK and LCZ analysis using UV spectroscopy and intelligent multivariate calibration. Following a multilevel multifactor experimental design, UV spectral data was acquired for 25 synthetic mixtures and modeled via classical least squares (CLS), principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares (PLS), and genetic algorithm-PLS (GA-PLS) techniques. Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) strategically constructed an optimal validation set of 13 mixtures for unbiased predictive performance assessment. Following optimization of the models regarding latent variables (LVs) and wavelength region, the optimum root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) was attained at 2 LVs for the 210-400 nm spectral range (191 data points). The GA-PLS model demonstrated superb accuracy, with recovery percentages (R%) from 98 to 102% for both analytes, and root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) and prediction (RMSEP) of (0.0943, 0.1872) and (0.1926, 0.1779) for MLK and LCZ, respectively, as well bias-corrected mean square error of prediction (BCMSEP) of -0.0029 and 0.0176, relative root mean square error of prediction (RRMSEP) reaching 0.7516 and 0.6585, and limits of detection (LOD) reaching 0.0813 and 0.2273 for MLK and LCZ respectively. Practical pharmaceutical sample analysis was successfully confirmed via standard additions. We further conducted pioneering multidimensional sustainability evaluations using state-of-the-art greenness, blueness, and whiteness tools. The method demonstrated favorable environmental metrics across all assessment tools. The obtained Green National Environmental Method Index (NEMI), and Complementary Green Analytical Procedure Index (ComplexGAPI) quadrants affirmed green analytical principles. Additionally, the method had a high Analytical Greenness Metric (AGREE) score (0.90) and a low carbon footprint (0.021), indicating environmental friendliness. We also applied blueness and whiteness assessments using the high Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI) and Red-Green-Blue 12 (RGB 12) algorithms. The high BAGI (90) and RGB 12 (90.8) scores confirmed the method's strong applicability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. This work puts forward an optimal, economically viable green chemistry paradigm for pharmaceutical quality control aligned with sustainable development goals.

Exploring the acceptance of geriatric dentistry programming for undergraduate dental students through stakeholder interviews.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Older adults frequently report unmet oral healthcare needs. Current research suggests a lack of provider willingness to perform geriatric dental care plays a role in limiting older adults' access to dental services. To better understand the acceptance of geriatric dentistry programming in Ontario, and to explore considerations for successful implementation, we completed consultations with dental students and dental education stakeholders. Findings from a scoping review we conducted previously (Alicia C. Brandt and Cecilia S. Dong) were used to guide this research. METHODS: Consultations involved a questionnaire and semi-structured individual interviews. Descriptive and parametric statistics such as Pearson's bivariate correlation and One-way analysis of variance were completed on questionnaire data using SPSS V.28. Interview data were transcribed verbatim, and the content was analyzed using emergent coding and thematic analysis in NVivo. Student and faculty data were analyzed separately and then consolidated. RESULTS: Ten students and 12 dental faculty members completed the questionnaire of which ten students and nine faculty members also participated in interviews. Themes were organized into barriers and facilitators, with a subsection on interprofessional collaboration. Barriers included: 1. Student anxiety and skill level; 2. Constraints of the learning environment; 3. Patient factors; and 4. Knowledge gaps. Facilitators included: 1. Learning environment and culture; 2. Volume of exposure; 3. Soft skills; and 4. Desired interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Both students and faculty stakeholders demonstrated acceptance of geriatric dentistry programming at the undergraduate dentistry level that supports improved access to care for this population. Pilot programs integrating different intervention elements which were viewed as most promising would be beneficial.

Efficacy and Safety of Lotilaner Ophthalmic Solution 0.25% in the Treatment of Demodex Blepharitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% in the treatment of demodex blepharitis. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched. RCTs comparing lotilaner with placebo or any other standard treatments were included. Outcomes of mean collarette grade (MCG), mite density (Md), meaningful collarette reduction (MCR), mite eradication (ME), were pooled as mean difference (MD), and the outcomes of erythema cure (EC), collarette cure (CC) adverse events (AE) as risk ratio (RR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) between the two groups from baseline to the endpoint. Review Manager (Version 5.4.1) software was used to conduct all statistical analyses. RESULTS: Four RCTs (947 patients) were included in this study. The overall effect favored the lotilaner group in terms of mean collarette grade upper lid (MD -0.99, 95% CI [-1.26, -0.72]), MCG lower lid (MD -0.57, 95% CI [-1.03, -0.11]), Md (MD -1.13, 95% CI [-1.47, -0.79]), MCR (MD 2.07, 95% CI [2.27, 3.21]), ME (MD 3.46, 95% CI [2.96, 4.04]). EC (RR 3.16, 95% CI [2.18 to 4.59]) and CC (RR 4.17, 95% CI [2.97 to 5.85]). No significant difference between the two groups in terms of AE (RR 1.25, 95% CI [0.75 to 2.06]). However, these findings are limited by significant heterogeneity in some of the reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that lotilaner might effectively treat Demodex blepharitis. However, further RCTs with larger and more diverse populations are needed to confirm these findings as some outcomes show significant heterogeneity.

ChIPr: accurate prediction of cohesin-mediated 3D genome organization from 2D chromatin features.

The three-dimensional genome organization influences diverse nuclear processes. Here we present Chromatin Interaction Predictor (ChIPr), a suite of regression models based on deep neural networks, random forest, and gradient boosting to predict cohesin-mediated chromatin interaction strength between any two loci in the genome. The predictions of ChIPr correlate well with ChIA-PET data in four cell lines. The standard ChIPr model requires three experimental inputs: ChIP-Seq signals for RAD21, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 but works well with just RAD21 signal. Integrative analysis reveals novel insights into the role of CTCF motif, its orientation, and CTCF binding on cohesin-mediated chromatin interactions.

A Green-and-White Integrative Analytical Strategy Combining Univariate and Chemometric Techniques for Quantifying Recently Approved Multi-Drug Eye Solution and Potentially Cancer-Causing Impurities: Application to the Aqueous Humor.

BACKGROUND: Drug impurities are now seen as a major threat to the production of pharmaceuticals around the world and a major part of the global contamination problem, especially when it comes to carcinogenic impurities. OBJECTIVE: We present the first spectrophotometric strategy based on a combination of univariate and multivariate methods as impurity profiling methods for the estimation of lignocaine (LIG) and fluorescein (FLS) with their carcinogenic impurities: 2,6-xylidine (XYL) and benzene-1,3-diol (BZD). METHOD: The data processing strategy depends on overcoming unresolved bands by employing five affordable, accurate, selective, and sensitive methods. The methods applied were a direct UV univariate spectrophotometric analysis (D0) and four multivariate chemometric methods, including classical least squares (CLS), principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares (PLS), and genetic algorithm (GA-PLS). FLS analysis (1-16 µg/mL) was performed using the D0 method at 478 nm; then, the application of the ratio subtraction method (RSM) allowed the removal of interference caused by the FLS spectrum. From the resulting ratio spectra, LIG, XYL, and BZD can be efficiently determined by chemometrics. The calibration set was carefully selected at five concentration levels using a partial factorial training design, resulting in 25 mixtures with central levels of 160, 40, and 3 µg/mL for LIG, XYL, and BZD, respectively. Another 13 samples were applied to validate the predictive ability. RESULTS: The statistical parameters demonstrated exceptional recoveries and smaller prediction errors, confirming the experimental model's predictive power. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed approach was effectively tested using newly FDA-approved LIG and FLS pharmaceutical preparation and aqueous humor. Additionally, it was effectively assessed for whiteness, greenness, and sustainability using five assessment tools. HIGHLIGHTS: With its remarkable analytical performance, sustainability, affordability, simplicity, and cost-efficiency, the proposed strategy is an indispensable tool for quality control and in situ analysis in little-equipped laboratories, increasing the proposed approach's surveillance ability.

A rare presentation of mycotic cerebral aneurysm, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and mitral valve aneurysm in left-sided lnfective endocarditis: a case report and literature review.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) can present as a syndromic-like condition with multisystem involvement; this can make early diagnosis particularly challenging. Rarely, left-sided IE can lead to mitral valve aneurysm formation. Showering of septic emboli to the cerebral circulation may result in a mycotic aneurysm that can rupture, leading to haemorrhagic stroke, as in this case. Case summary: A 28-year-old male presented with a triad of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from mycotic cerebral aneurysm rupture, left-sided aortic and mitral valve IE causing severe regurgitation and aorto-mitral curtain fistula and mitral valve aneurysm formation. The SAH was the main initial presentation and was immediately treated with coiling by an interventional radiologist. However, the patient later developed heart failure due to severe aortic and mitral valve regurgitation that led to the diagnosis of IE. The patient underwent aortic and mitral valve replacements procedure10 days after SAH presentation. He then recovered satisfactorily from the operationa and successfully discharged home after completeing his course of intravenous antibiotics. Discussion: In this article, we shed some light on this unusual syndromic presentation, elaborate on the underlying mechanism, the ultimate importance of clinical examination, pitfalls in diagnosis, the important role of the heart team in IE, and finally the timing of surgery after SAH.

Clinicopathological Study of PD-1/PD-L1 Expression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with Emphasis on Large B-Cell Richter Transformation.

OBJECTIVE: In the era of immunotherapy, inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway has changed the therapeutic landscape for many tumors. Limited studies were performed on the expression of PD-1 in chronic lymphocytic lymphoma/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and its Richter transformation into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL-RT). This study aims to evaluate PD-1/PD-L1 expression and their prognostic role in CLL/SLL, DLBCL-RT, and DLBCL-de novo patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on 96 cases (38 CLL/SLL, 11 DLBCL-RT and 47 DLBCL-de novo) that were retrieved from the pathologic and clinical databases at the Oncology Center, Mansoura University. Immunohistochemical evaluation of PD-1 and PD-L1 was assessed in tumor cells and the microenvironment in those patients. RESULTS: This study demonstrated positive expression of PD-1 in CLL/SLL patients, mainly in proliferation centers. Moreover, it showed a higher prevalence of PD-1 expression in DLBCL-RT (9/11 patients) than in DLBCL-de novo (5/47 patients) (P < 0.001). Tumor cells revealed positive PD-L1 expression in 5/47 DLBCL-de novo patients and negative PD-L1 expression in all CLL/SLL and DLBCL-RT patients. PD-1 was positive in reactive T-cells, and PD-L1 was positive in background histiocytes and dendritic cells in all studied cases. PD-1 positive expression in tumor cells was considered an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in DLBCL patients (P = 0.04). In addition, DLBCL-RT had a significantly shorter OS than DLBCL-de novo (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of PD-1 expression in DLBCL-RT patients supports the promising and potential role of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in the treatment of DLBCL-RT patients.

Dietary propolis improves the growth performance, redox status, and immune response of Nile tilapia upon a cold-stress challenge.

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the potential of adding propolis (PR) to the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to mitigate the harmful effect of cold stress (CS) on the growth performance, redox status, and immunological response. Two trials were conducted in this study. First, 210 Nile tilapia fingerlings (28.61±0.20 g) were used in a preliminary trial to determine the appropriate PR level and supplementation period to be applied for the main trial. Fish were assigned into 7 treatment groups (3 aquaria replicates × 10 fish per aquarium in each treatment group) according to the rate of PR supplementation in the fish diets at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 g/kg for 6 consecutive weeks. The average body weight and body weight gain were determined weekly. It was found that PR supplementation at 10 g/kg in fish diet for 4 weeks was enough to obtain significant results on the growth performance of Nile tilapia. For the main trial of the present study, 480 Nile tilapia fingerlings (average weight 29.93±0.11 g) were distributed into randomized 2 PR × 2 CS factorial treatment groups (6 replicate aquariums containing 20 fish in each group). Fish of PR groups received a basal diet for a feeding period of 4 weeks, included with 10 g/kg PR (+ PR group) or without PR inclusion (- PR group). Fish of the CS groups were either challenged with cold stress at 18°C (+ CS group) or maintained at a temperature of 26°C during the feeding period (- CS group). The results showed that CS challenge significantly (p < 0.05) impaired the growth indices, redox status, and immune response in the challenged fish compared to the non-challenged fish. On contradictory, the inclusion of PR into fish diets enhanced (p < 0.05) the feed intake, growth indices, antioxidant enzyme activity, and immunological parameters. Moreover, PR treatment alleviated the CS deterioration of fish weights, specific growth rates, feed efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity, lymphocyte proliferation, and phagocytosis activity and alleviated the elevated mortality, H/L ratio, and malondialdehyde levels by cold stress. It is concluded that the inclusion of propolis at 10 g/kg in the diet of Nile tilapia fish could be approved as a nutritional approach to enhance their performance, especially when stressed by low-temperature conditions.

Dietary propolis complementation relieves the physiological and growth deterioration induced by Flavobacterium columnare infection in juveniles of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The current study was proposed to explore the role of dietary propolis (PR) supplementation in alleviating the negative effects of columnaris disease (CD) challenge on the growth performance, plasma biochemicals, antioxidant activity, stress indicators, and immunological reactions of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fish. Five hundred forty common carp juveniles were evenly placed in thirty-six 100-L tanks and stocked for acclimatization to the lab conditions with a control diet within a started period of 14 days. Fish (average initial weight of 7.11±0.06 g) were randomly distributed into one of six treatment groups (6 replicate tanks × 15 fish per tank in each treatment group). Fish in the first group was assigned as a negative control without CD challenge or PR supplementation. Fish in the other five groups were challenged with CD by immersion of fish for 60 min into a 10-L water bath supplemented with 6×106 CFU/mL (median lethal dose, LD50) of pathogenic F. columnare bacteria. After infection, the fish were restored to their tanks and fed on a basal diet supplemented with PR at 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 g/kg diet. The experimental period continued for 6 consecutive weeks in which the feed was introduced twice a day (8:00 and 15:00 h) at a rate of 2% of the fish biomass. Ten percent of water was siphoned and renewed after each meal every day, in addition to 50% of water refreshment after cleaning the tank every three days. The tanks were continuously aerated and provided with standard rearing conditions for carp fish (24.0±1.12°C, 7.7±0.22 pH, 6.3±0.16 mg/L O2, and 14L/10D photoperiod). The growth performance traits such as feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), and cumulative mortality rates (CM) were recorded during the experimental period. At the end of the trial, blood samples were obtained from the fish to evaluate some plasma biochemicals, including aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), antioxidant biomarkers, including total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), total superoxide dismutase (TSOD), reduced glutathione (rGSH), and catalase (CAT), stress indicators, including heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, cortisol (COR), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and immunological reactions, including peripheral blood leukocyte proliferation (PBLP), phagocytosis activity (PHG), lysozyme activity (LYS), alternative complement hemolytic action (ACH50), and total immunoglobulin concentration (TIG). In addition, samples of infected fish gills were taken to quantify the number of F. columnare in the PR-supplemented groups using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. The results showed that incorporating PR into the dietary ingredients of common carp has a protective effect against the challenge with F. columnare infection. There were linear and quadratic positive trends (P < 0.05) in most parameters of growth performance, plasma biochemicals, antioxidant activity, stress indicators, and immunological reactions with the increased PR-supplemented levels in the diet of infected fish. The best results were obtained when using PR at 9 g/kg in the diet, while higher levels (12 g/kg PR) showed an adverse trend in the evaluated parameters. The FI, WG, FW, SGR, and FE were improved by approximately 37, 104, 34, 73, and 49% in the fish treated with 9 g/kg PR compared to none-PR-infected fish. In addition, adding PR at the 9 g/kg diet level was the best dose that reduced the H/L ratio, COR, MDA, and MPO by about 14, 52, 48, and 29%, respectively, in the infected fish. Furthermore, the mortality rate was reduced by 94%, and the number of pathogenic bacteria cells adherent to the fish gills was lowered by 96% in the infected fish treated with 9 g/kg PR compared to none-PR infected fish. Our results concluded that dietary supplementation with 9 g/kg PR could be a promising nutritional approach for improving the growth performance, physiological profile, and health status of common carp fish, particularly when challenged with F. columnare or similar bacterial infections.

Surface modification of a screen-printed electrode with a flower-like nanostructure to fabricate a guanine DNA-based electrochemical biosensor to determine the anticancer drug pemigatinib.

The present study developed a DNA biosensor to determine pemigatinib for the first time. Three-dimensional carnation flower-like Eu3+:ß-MnO2 nanostructures (3D CF-L Eu3+:ß-MnO2 NSs) and a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with polyaniline (PA) were employed. The double-stranded DNA was also immobilized completely on the PA/3D CF-L Eu3+:ß-MnO2 NSs/SPE. Then, electrochemical techniques were used for characterizing the modified electrode. After that, the interaction between pemigatinib and DNA was shown by a reduction in the oxidation current of guanine using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). According to the analysis, the dynamic range of pemigatinib was between 0.001 and 180.0 µM, indicating the new electrode has a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.23 nM) for pemigatinib. Afterwards, pemigatinib in real samples was measured using the PA/3D CF-L Eu3+:ß-MnO2 NSs/SPE loaded with ds-DNA. The proposed DNA biosensor showed good selectivity toward pemigatinib in the presence of other interference analytes, such as other ions, structurally related pharmaceuticals, and plasma proteins. In addition, the interaction site of pemigatinib with DNA was predicted by molecular docking, which showed the interaction of pemigatinib with the guanine bases of DNA through a groove binding mode. Finally, we employed the t-test to verify the capability of the ds-DNA/PA/3D CF-L Eu3+:ß-MnO2 NSs/SPE for analyzing pemigatinib in real samples.

LncRNA PVT1: as a therapeutic target for breast cancer.

A significant number of women are identified with breast cancer (BC) every year, making it among the most prevalent malignancies and one of the leading causes of mortality globally. Despite significant progress in understanding BC pathogenesis and treatment options, there is still a need to identify new therapeutic targets and develop more effective treatments. LncRNAs have been discovered as biomarkers and a promising target for various cancers, including BC. PVT1 is a particular one of these lncRNAs, and research has indicated that it has a significant impact on the appearance and progression of BC.PVT1 is an attractive therapeutic target for BC due to its role in promoting cancer cell growth, metastasis and invasion. In addition to its potential as a treatment strategy, PVT1 may also have diagnostic value in BC. In this article, we will discuss targeting PVT1 as a treatment strategy for BC.

Is vacuum-assisted closure therapy the main culprit in right ventricular rupture after deep sternal wound infection?

Right ventricular rupture after deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but fatal complication, and can occur with or without vacuum assisted closure (VAC) therapy. There is currently no strong evidence to suggest whether or not VAC therapy is a contributing factor to this complication. In total, 30 articles were retrieved and assessed through a systematic review strategy from 1953 to 2022. The keywords: 'vacuum assisted closure'; 'VAC'; 'negative pressure wound therapy'; 'deep sternal wound infection'; 'DSWI'; 'right ventricular rupture'; and 'cardiac rupture' were used in the search. Overall, 15 of the included articles satisfied the predefined eligibility criteria. Fatal right ventricular ruptures were reported in 18 (36%) out of 50 cases. In this article, the risk factors, mechanisms and management of right ventricular rupture are discussed. A novel view of the mechanism of VAC-associated right ventricular rupture is highlighted, with a focus on both pre- and intraoperative management.

Oxidative stress affects the beginning of the growth of cancer cells through a variety of routes.

Oxidative stress is a physiological condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the cell's antioxidant defense system. ROS are highly reactive molecules that can cause damage to cellular structures such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. the regulation of ROS levels and the antioxidant defense system is crucial for cancer prevention and treatment. Strategies to enhance antioxidant defenses or induce oxidative stress selectively in cancer cells are being developed as potential therapeutic approaches. targeting oxidative stress in cancer treatment is an active area of research with several potential therapeutic approaches being investigated. Developing selective and effective therapies that target oxidative stress in cancer cells while sparing normal cells will be crucial for improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Tissue Doppler Echocardiography As A Predictor Of Early Subclinical Right Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction In Asthmatic Children.

Objectives: To assess the effect of asthma in children on systolic and diastolic functions of the heart, and to explore the relationship between the two. Method: The case-controlstudy was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from September 2019 to May 2022, and comprised asthmatic children of either gender aged 5-15 years and healthy controls matched for age and gender. The participants were subjected to detailed history, complete examination, spirometry evaluation and conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Myocardial performance index was calculated and compared. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 120 subjects, 60(50%) were cases; 33(55%) boys and 27(45%) girls with mean age 9.4±2.9 years(range: 5-15 years). The remaining 60(50%)subjects were controls; 34(56.6%) boys and 26(43.3%) girls with mean age 9.7±2.9 years (range: 5-15 years). Left ventricular dimensions, estimated pulmonary artery pressure, and right ventricular dimensions showed no significant inter-group differences (p>0.05), but right ventricular end diastolic diameter was significantly higher in the cases than the controls (p=0.046). Tissue Doppler showed that lateral annular peak Ê, Â, isovolumetric relaxation time and myocardial performance index values were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tissue Doppler echocardiography could detectsubtle right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asthmatic children even with no clinical symptoms and normal findings on conventional echocardiography.