Efficacy of high-frequency chest wall oscillations vs. lung flute in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with post-COVID.

OBJECTIVE: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high-frequency chest wall oscillations (HFCWO) and lung flute (LF) are used to improve COPD patients' pulmonary functions, exertional dyspnea, as well as life quality. This comparative study aimed to assess the efficiency of HFCWO vs. LF in post-coronavirus-disease (COVID) men with COPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty post-COVID men with COPD, who were aged 40-60 years old, were included in this HFCWO-vs.-LF comparative study and were divided into two groups. One group (N=30) received HFCWO, and the other group (N=30) received LF three times per week. Both groups' pulmonary functions, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1/FVC (FEV1/FVC), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25-75%) were assessed. Also, the COPD assessment test score (CAT score) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were measured before and following the trial. RESULTS: Regarding all variables (post-COVID patients' FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, CAT score, as well as 6MWD), both groups had substantial changes after the three-week HFCWO-vs.-LF interventional period as the p-value was below 0.05. The changes in post-COVID patients' FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and 6MWD were high in the HFCWO group, while the changes in post-COVID patients' CAT score, FVC, and FEF25-75% were high in the LF group. CONCLUSIONS: HFCWO is more efficient than the LF in improving pulmonary functions and exertional dyspnea in post-COVID men with COPD.

Numerical treatment and global error estimation for thermal electro-osmosis effect on non-Newtonian nanofluid flow with time periodic variations.

The essential purpose of this study is to discuss the impact of time-periodic variations on mixed convection heat transfer for MHD Eyring-Powell nanofluid. The fluid flows through a non-Darcy porous medium over an infinite vertical plate. The effects of viscous dissipation, Ohmic dissipation, electro-osmosis force, heat source, thermal radiation, Dufour feature, and chemical reaction are presumed. The system of partial differential equations which governs the problem is transformed into a system of non-linear algebraic equations and then an explicit finite difference approach is espoused to solve these nonlinear algebraic equations. The numerical results for the velocity, temperature, and nanoparticles concentration distributions are computed and displayed through a set of graphs. Also, the skin friction coefficient, reduced Nusselt number, and Sherwood number are computed numerically for various values of the physical parameters. It is found that the velocity becomes greater with an elevation in the value of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity. Meanwhile, it enlarges with rising in the value of the electro-osmotic parameter. The rise in the value of the thermal radiation parameter causes a dwindling influence on both temperature and nanoparticles concentration. Investigations of these effects together are very useful due to their important vital applications in various scientific fields, especially in medicine and medical industries, such as endoscopes, respirators, and diverse medical implementations, as nanoparticles can be utilized in the remedy of cancer tumors. Additionally, electroosmotic flow is important due to its ability to control fluid movement and enhance mass transport, making it valuable in various application such as sample separation, drug delivery, and DNA analysis, offering enhanced efficiency and sensitivity.

Effect of dextrose prolotherapy on internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dextrose prolotherapy in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of internal derangement was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The posterior and anterior disc attachment, as well as the most tender part of the masseter muscle, were injected with 12.5% dextrose. Pain, maximum mouth opening, clicking, and deviation were assessed immediately before treatment, as well as at 2-, 4-, and 12- weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the four clinical variables at the three-time intervals. Pain at two weeks was reduced by 60% (6 vs. 3.75) and by 200% (6 vs. 1.9) at 4 weeks. The maximum mouth opening was increased by 6.4 mm at 2 weeks and 7.85 mm at 4 weeks. The percentage of patients with clicking decreased from 70%, preoperatively- to 50% at 2 weeks, 15% at 4 weeks, and 5% at 12 weeks. The ratio of patients with deviation was decreased from 80% preoperatively to 35% at 2 weeks, 15% at 4 weeks, and 5% at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Prolotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for alleviating the symptoms of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

Molecular spectrum of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, TP53, and APC somatic gene mutations in Arab patients with colorectal cancer: determination of frequency and distribution pattern.

BACKGROUND: The frequency rates of mutations such as KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA in colorectal cancer (CRC) differ among populations. The aim of this study was to assess mutation frequencies in the Arab population and determine their correlations with certain clinicopathological features. METHODS: Arab patients from the Arab Gulf region and a population of age- and sex-matched Western patients with CRC whose tumors were evaluated with next-generation sequencing (NGS) were identified and retrospectively reviewed. The mutation rates of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, TP53, and APC were recorded, along with clinicopathological features. Other somatic mutation and their rates were also identified. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the association between mutation status and clinical features. RESULTS: A total of 198 cases were identified; 99 Arab patients and 99 Western patients. Fifty-two point seven percent of Arab patients had stage IV disease at initial presentation, 74.2% had left-sided tumors. Eighty-nine point two percent had tubular adenocarcinoma and 10.8% had mucinous adenocarcinoma. The prevalence rates of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, TP53, APC, SMAD, FBXW7 mutations in Arab population were 44.4%, 4%, 4%, 13.1%, 52.5%, 27.3%, 2% and 3% respectively. Compared to 48.4%, 4%, 4%, 12.1%, 47.5%, 24.2%, 11.1% and 0% respectively in matched Western population. Associations between these mutations and patient clinicopathological features were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report comprehensive hotspot mutations using NGS in Arab patients with CRC. The frequency of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, TP53, APC and PIK3CA mutations were similar to reported frequencies in Western population except SMAD4 that had a lower frequency and higher frequency of FBXW7 mutation.

Adjoint variable method for two-dimensional plasmonic structures.

We present, for the first time, an adjoint variable method (AVM) for wideband sensitivity analysis of dispersive materials. The time domain transmission line modeling technique is exploited to calculate the response and its sensitivities with respect to all the designable parameters using at most one extra simulation. A z-domain representation of dispersive materials is utilized in the derivation of this technique. Our approach is illustrated through sensitivity analysis of a two-dimensional teeth-shaped plasmonic resonator. The AVM sensitivities are compared with the accurate and expensive finite difference approach and good agreement is achieved. This theory can be extended to other dispersive materials and dispersive metamaterials as well.