Comparison between Serum and Salivary Albumin and Calcium Levels in Adolescent Age-group with Dental Caries.

Aim: The aim of our pilot study is to analyze the relationship between dental caries and albumin and calcium levels in serum and saliva in adolescent patients with varying caries experience as determined by their caries progression between the age-group of 9 and 19 years. Materials and methods: A total of 20 subjects were selected based on their level of caries progression and divided into four groups of subjects, five in each as follows: group I-enamel caries, group II-dentinal caries, group III-pulpal caries, and group IV-control group. The saliva and serum were collected under standardized conditions from selected patients and analyzed for the presence of albumin and calcium, and then they were correlated to the same level in serum. The statistical analysis was done using the Chi-squared test. Results: According to the present study, there is an increase in the levels of caries with a decrease in the levels of salivary albumin and calcium. Serum albumin and calcium levels were also found to be decreased in caries-prone individuals; hence, a significant correlation between serum and salivary albumin and calcium levels was found. Conclusion: According to a review of the literature, we found an inverse relationship between the levels of albumin and calcium in serum and saliva with dental caries patients. So, it confirms the importance of albumin and calcium levels in inhibiting carrier progression. So it may be used as a biochemical indicator to evaluate the susceptibility of caries. How to cite this article: Vaish S, Gautam K, Agrawal D, et al. Comparison between Serum and Salivary Albumin and Calcium Levels in Adolescent Age-group with Dental Caries. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):328-333.

Dulaglutide rescues the elevated testicular dysfunction in a mouse model of high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for testicular function; however, dulaglutide's effect on the testis in obesity has received little attention. Currently, clinicians prescribe the antidiabetic drug dulaglutide only off-label for weight management in non-diabetics. Investigating the impact of this novel compound on obesity is critical for determining whether it has any disruptive effects on testicular cells. We used a well-known animal model of high-fat diet-induced obesity in this investigation, and testicular dysfunction was determined by sperm DNA damage, spermatocyte chromosomal abnormalities, and spermiogram analysis. Following a 12-week high-fat diet challenge, mice were randomly assigned to dulaglutide (0.6 mg/kg/day) or saline treatments for five weeks. Testes and sperm cells were collected 24 h after the last dulaglutide injection. Untreated obese mice had a lower testes/body weight ratio, more sperm DNA damage, diakinesis-metaphase I chromosomal abnormalities, a lower sperm count/motility, more cell morphological defects, and an altered testicular redox balance. In obese mice, dulaglutide injection efficiently restored all disturbed parameters to their control levels. Dulaglutide injection into healthy mice exhibited no significant harmful effects at the applied regimen. As a result, we infer that dulaglutide therapy might bring obese men additional benefits by recovering testicular dysfunction induced by obesity.

Transnasal Transsphenoidal Approach for a Nine-Year-Old Child With Pituitary Apoplexy: A Case Report.

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition of sudden hemorrhage or infarction within the pituitary gland that results in symptoms of acute onset such as severe headache, visual impairment, and hormonal deficiencies. Though more common in adults, the same criteria for diagnostic and management dilemmas apply to pediatric cases. We present the case of a nine-year-old boy presenting with acute-onset severe headache and significant visual deterioration suggestive of pituitary apoplexy. An emergency MRI was performed, which showed a hemorrhagic sellar and suprasellar mass compressing the optic chiasm. Given the severe visual symptoms in this case, emergency surgical intervention was indicated. Decompression and gross total resection of the tumor were successfully attained using the endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach by a multidisciplinary team. After the surgery, there was a significant improvement in the visual field, especially regarding the right eye's nasal hemifield, and the motor strength and consciousness remained stable. This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis and expedited surgical management in pediatric pituitary apoplexy. The transnasal transsphenoidal approach is practical for maximal decompression of the optic apparatus and reduces the risk of long-term visual deficits. In addition, it points out the need for coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment with the participation of neurosurgeons, endocrinologists, and pediatricians both for immediate and long-term consequences, including potential hormonal deficiencies. The report emphasizes the need for vigilance and prompt intervention in pediatric presentations, unlike the index case, for better outcomes and to avoid permanent morbidity.

An effective procedure used metal-organic framework for determination of cadmium ions in real tap water and human blood plasma samples.

A newly developed 2H5MA-MOF sensor by covalently linking NH2-MIL-53(Al) with 2'-Hydroxy-5'-methylacetophenon, designed for highly sensitive and selective detection of Cd2+ ions using fluorometric methods. Detailed structural and morphological analyses confirmed the sensor's unique properties. It demonstrated an impressive linear detection range from 0 to 2 ppm, with an exceptionally low detection limit of 5.77 × 10-2 ppm and a quantification limit of 1.75 × 10-1 ppm, indicating its high sensitivity (R2 = 0.9996). The sensor also responded quickly, detecting Cd2+ within just 30 s at pH 4. We successfully tested it on real samples of tap water and human blood plasma, achieving recovery rates between 96 % and 104 %. The accuracy of these findings was further validated by comparison with ICP-OES. Overall, the 2H5MA-MOF sensor shows great potential for fast, ultra-sensitive, and reliable detection of Cd2+ ions, making it a promising tool for environmental and biomedical applications.

Investigation of potential ascorbate peroxidase inhibitors for anti-leishmaniasis therapy.

L eishmaniasis is a prevalent disease that impacts 98 countries and territories, mainly in Africa, Asia, and South America. It can cause substantial illness and death, particularly in its visceral manifestation that can be specifically targeted in the development of medications to combat leishmaniasis. This study has found natural compounds with possible inhibitory activity against APX using a reliable and accurate QSAR model. Despite the severe side effects of current treatments and the absence of an effective vaccination, these compounds show promise as a potential treatment for the disease. Nine hit compounds were found, and subsequent molecular docking was performed. Estradiol cypionate showed the lowest binding energy (- 10.5 kcal/mol), thus showing the strongest binding, and also had the strongest binding affinity, with a ΔGTotal of - 26.31 ± 3.01 kcal/mol, second only to the control molecule. Additionally, three hits viz. cloxacillin-sodium (- 16.57 ± 2.89 kcal/mol), cinchonidine (- 16.04 ± 3.27 kcal/mol), and quinine hydrochloride dihydrate (13.38 ± 1.06 kcal/mol) also showed significant binding affinity. Multiple interactions between drugs and active site residues demonstrated a substantial binding affinity with the target protein. The identified compounds exhibited drug-like effects and were orally bioavailable based on their ADME-toxicology features. Overall, estradiol cypionate, cloxacillin sodium, cinchonidine, and quinine hydrochloride dihydrate all exhibited inhibitory effects on the APX enzyme of Leishmania donovani. These results suggest that further investigation is needed to explore the potential of developing novel anti-leishmaniasis drugs using these compounds.

Pressure induced mechanical, elastic, and optoelectronic characteristics of Cd0.75Zn0.25Se alloy.

The change in composition and pressure, both of which lead to new desired properties by altering the structure, is particularly important for improving device performance. Given this, we focused here on the mechanical, elastic, and optoelectronic characteristics of the Cd0.75Zn0.25Se alloy using density functional theory at various pressures from 0 GPa to 20 GPa. It is found that the bulk modulus of the material rises with increasing pressure and exhibits mechanical stability as well as cubic symmetry. In addition, the increased pressure leads to a rise in the direct bandgap energy of the material from 2.03 eV to 2.48 eV. The absorption coefficient of the alloy also increases as the pressure increases, where the effective range of absorption covers the broad spectrum of light in the visible range from orange to cyan. This is due to the electronic transitions caused by the altered pressure. The optical parameters, including optical conductivity, extinction coefficient, reflection, and refractive index, are also analyzed under the influence of pressure. Based on this research, effective applications of the Cd substituted Zn-chalcogenides (CdZnSe) alloys in the fields of optoelectronics and photovoltaics are outlined, especially concerning fabricating solar cells, photonic devices, and pressure sensors for space technology.

Design and numerical simulation of lead-free inorganic perovskites (Cs2BiAgI6) solar cell through computation method.

Cs2BiAgI6 is a lead-free inorganic perovskite material exhibits exceptional photoelectric characteristics and great environmental stability. HTL/Cs2BiAgI6is/ETLs solar cells was investigated numerically by using SCAPS 1-D Capacitance Simulator. IGZO, TiO2, WO3, MoO3, and SnO2 have been chosen as ETLs, while CuO, CuI, and MoO3 are as HTLs. The values of electrical parameters were calculated as function of thickness of the absorber layer, ETLs, HTLs, interface defect densities, doping densities, and working temperature. Comparative study shows that best configuration of obtain solar cell is MoO3/Cs2BiAgI6/IGZO. The obtain value of Jsc, Voc, FF and PCE are 23.80 mA/cm2, 1.193 V, 83.46 %, 23.711 % respectively. The value of quantum efficiency is 80-90 % in the range of 350-750 nm. These results will open the door for the widespread use of stable and environmentally friendly perovskite solar cells by providing theoretical recommendations for high performance of Cs2BiAgI6 based photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs).

Design of a novel high-sensitive SOI-Junctionless BioFET overcoming sensitivity degradation problems.

For the first time, a new configuration of label-free junctionless semiconductor device is proposed to boost sensitivity in the identification of biomolecule specifies. Instead of creating the nanocavity inside the gate oxide, the nanocavity is created in the channel region which is very useful for the SOI junctionless technology based biodevice having a high current in all operating modes. For better control of the conduction mechanism, a hole trench is created under the channel region just inside the buried oxide. This will help to modulate the energy bands terminating in enhancing the sensing performance. Unlike the conventional biosensors needing a large-scale gate oxide thickness for trapping the biomolecules, the proposed biosensor can work for very low gate oxide thickness. The different biomolecules such as Biotin, Protein A, Bacteriophage T7, and Apomyoglobin have been utilized as targeted biomolecules for evaluating the sensitivity. Comparing the proposed biosensor with the conventional and other biosensors showed an enhanced sensing performance. Practical related issues during the process of sensing in terms of fill factor percentage, steric hindrance of biomolecules, and the charges of biomolecules have been focused in the recommended biodevice. All the results exhibited high superiority of performance of the suggested biodevice as compared to the conventional biosensor.

New Advances in Metabolic Syndrome.

It is with great anticipation and pride that we present a Special Issue entitled "New Advances in Metabolic Syndrome", which provides a compendium of high-quality original papers written on novel aspects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) [...].

The Diagnostic Yield of Laboratory Tests in Chronic Constipation in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal complaint characterized by infrequent or difficult bowel movements, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Laboratory markers offer potential diagnostic value in identifying physiological changes associated with chronic constipation, yet their effectiveness remains underexplored. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of various laboratory tests in identifying the underlying causes of chronic constipation among adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Kurdistan Private Hospital and Jeen Clinics in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq, from December 2022 to May 2024. A total of 132 patients meeting the Rome IV criteria for chronic constipation were included. Data collection involved demographic information, lifestyle factors, and laboratory tests, including complete blood count (CBC), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), serum calcium, serum potassium, serum glucose, serum creatinine, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D levels. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 56 males (42.4%) and 76 females (57.6%) with a mean age of 46.5 years (SD=17 years) and a range of 18-81 years. Regular exercise was performed by only 56 (42.4%) patients, 85 (64.4%) patients were drinking less than 2 liters of water per day, and 108 (81.8%) were overweight or obese. Of the study population, hypothyroidism was detected in 27 (20.4%), hyperparathyroidism in 27 (20.4%), anemia in 58 (44%), leukocytosis in 24 (18.2%), renal impairment in 48 (36.4%), hypokalemia in four (3%), hyperkalemia in 12 (9.1%), hypocalcemia in 10 (7.6%), hypercalcemia in 12 (9.1%), impaired fasting glucose in 46 (34.8%), hyperglycemia in 21 (15.9%), and vitamin D deficiency in 80 (60.6%). Of the study population, 40 (30%) patients had normal laboratory investigations panel. CONCLUSION: In chronic constipation, laboratory tests have high diagnostic yield in adults and are essential for ruling out secondary causes of chronic constipation. Unhealthy lifestyles are prevalent in patients with chronic constipation.

Assessment of mental well-being and its socio-economic determinants among older adults in the Rohingya refugee camp of Bangladesh.

Older adults residing in refugee settlements with unhealthy living environments, inadequate access to health care services, and limited psychosocial support are vulnerable to experience mental health problems jeopardizing their mental well-being. The present study aims to explore the mental well-being status and its socio-economic determinants among the older adults living in the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥ 60 residing in five sub-camps within the Rohingya refugee camp of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted between November and December 2021. The 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale was used to assess mental well-being. A cumulated score was derived using the scale ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mental well-being. A generalized linear regression model was used to examine the socio-economic factors associated with the mental well-being of older adults. A total of 864 older adults participated in the study having a mean mental well-being score of 45.4. Regression analysis revealed that the difference in the logs of mental well-being score was expected to be significantly lower among participants aged 70-79 years (ß: - 1.661; 95% CI: - 2.750 to - 0.572; p = 0.003), aged ≥ 80 years (ß: - 3.198; 95% CI: - 5.114 to - 1.282; p = 0.001), and those with any non-communicable chronic conditions (ß: - 2.903; 95% CI: - 3.833 to - 1.974; p < 0.001) when compared to their counterparts. Conversely, the difference in the logs of mental well-being score was expected to be significantly higher among individuals with formal schooling (ß: 3.370, 95% CI: 1.855 to 4.886, p < 0.001) and those having additional income besides aid (ß: 1.629; 95% CI: 0.642 to 2.615; p = 0.001), compared to their respective counterparts. Our findings highlight the need to provide psychosocial assistance to older individuals, particularly those who live in large families, suffer from chronic diseases, and live in socio-economic deprivation.

Ten years of oil pollution detection in the Eastern Mediterranean shipping lanes opposite the Egyptian coast using remote sensing techniques.

The Eastern Mediterranean region, a vital conduit for global maritime trade, faces significant environmental challenges due to marine pollution, particularly from oil spills. This is the first study covering the long period of comprehensive monitoring of oil pollution using the full mission of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in the Mediterranean Sea, so this research aims to detect and analyze comprehensively the occurrence of oil spills in the Eastern Mediterranean over a decade (2014-2023). This study focuses on identifying geographical distribution patterns, proximity to shorelines, frequency across maritime zones, and potential sources of these spills, especially around major ports and maritime routes. This study utilizes SAR data from the Sentinel-1 satellite. The methodology included automated detection algorithms within the Sentinel application platform (SNAP) and integration with GIS mapping to study oil spill patterns and characteristics. Over 1000 Sentinel-1 scenes were investigated in the northern Mediterranean waters off the coast of Egypt, to detect and analyze 355 oil spill events with a total impacted area of more than 6000 km2. The analysis of temporal spill distribution reveals significant fluctuations from year to year. Within the entire timeline of the study, 2017 had the largest spatial areas covering one thousand square kilometers. In contrast, the single largest spill recorded during the study period occurred in 2020, covering 198.73 square kilometers. The results identified a non-uniform distribution of oil spills and primarily exhibiting elongated patterns aligned with the navigation routes. The distinct increase of oil spill incidents was within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), obviously drifted to the coastline and around major ports. The study emphasizes the critical role of remote sensing technologies in addressing environmental challenges caused by the maritime transport sector, advocating for enhanced monitoring and regulatory enforcement to protect marine ecosystems and support sustainable naval activities. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted continuous monitoring and rapid response strategies in high-traffic maritime areas, particularly around the EEZ and major ports.

The impact of study habits and personal factors on the academic achievement performances of medical students.

BACKGROUND: Academic achievement is essential for all students seeking a successful career. Studying habits and routines is crucial in achieving such an ultimate goal. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the association between study habits, personal factors, and academic achievement, aiming to identify factors that distinguish academically successful medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants consisted of 1st through 5th-year medical students, with a sample size of 336. The research team collected study data using an electronic questionnaire containing three sections: socio-demographic data, personal characteristics, and study habits. RESULTS: The study results indicated a statistically significant association between self-fulfillment as a motivation toward studying and academic achievement (p = 0.04). The results also showed a statistically significant correlation between recalling recently memorized information and academic achievement (p = 0.05). Furthermore, a statistically significant association between preferring the information to be presented in a graphical form rather than a written one and academic achievement was also found (p = 0.03). Students who were satisfied with their academic performance had 1.6 times greater chances of having a high-grade point average (OR = 1.6, p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the available literature, indicating a correlation between study habits and high academic performance. Further multicenter studies are warranted to differentiate between high-achieving students and their peers using qualitative, semi-structured interviews. Educating the students about healthy study habits and enhancing their learning skills would also be of value.

Outcomes of surgical management of ankle fractures in patients with diabetes.

Objective: Ankle fracture surgeries among diabetic are common and can have fatal consequences and serious adverse outcomes. A target hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level <8% in all elective surgeries for patients with diabetes is suggested to minimize poor outcomes. We investigated the postoperative outcomes and complications among patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery using HbA1c level as a predictor value. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City between January 2016 and December 2022 on all patients with diabetes who underwent open reduction and internal fixation and who had a documented HbA1c level. Radiological outcomes and complications were noted along with the levels of HbA1c and analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 44 patients were included in the study: 29 women (65.9%) and 15 (34.1%) men. The most frequent ankle fracture type was bimalleolar (54.5%). HbA1c was elevated (54.5%) in patients. A significantly higher proportion of patients who had <8% HbA1c level had radiological union compared to patients who had ≥8% HbA1c level (p = 0.036). Patients who had elevated HbA1c level had more complications although it did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age and HbA1c level were the significant factors for an uncomplicated and successful ankle surgery. Conclusion: Poor postoperative outcomes and complications are more common among patients with elevated HbA1c. This suggests that an elevated HbA1c level is associated with a poor treatment outcome. Determination of HbA1c levels may predict potential problems post ankle fracture surgery and improve management outcomes.

Thrombin Generation Is Associated With Extracellular Vesicle and Leukocyte Lipid Membranes in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Clotting, leading to thrombosis, requires interactions of coagulation factors with the membrane aminophospholipids (aPLs) phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is associated with elevated thrombotic risk, which is not fully preventable using current therapies. Currently, the contribution of aPL to thrombotic risk in ASCVD is not known. Here, the aPL composition of circulating membranes in ASCVD of varying severity will be characterized along with the contribution of external facing aPL to plasma thrombin generation in patient samples. METHODS: Thrombin generation was measured using a purified factor assay on platelet, leukocyte, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from patients with acute coronary syndrome (n=24), stable coronary artery disease (n=18), and positive risk factor (n=23) and compared with healthy controls (n=24). aPL composition of resting/activated platelet and leukocytes and EV membranes was determined using lipidomics. RESULTS: External facing aPLs were detected on EVs, platelets, and leukocytes, elevating significantly following cell activation. Thrombin generation was higher on the surface of EVs from patients with acute coronary syndrome than healthy controls, along with increased circulating EV counts. Thrombin generation correlated significantly with externalized EV phosphatidylserine, plasma EV counts, and total EV membrane surface area. In contrast, aPL levels and thrombin generation from leukocytes and platelets were not impacted by disease, although circulating leukocyte counts were higher in patients. CONCLUSIONS: The aPL membrane of EV supports an elevated level of thrombin generation in patient plasma in ASCVD. Leukocytes may also play a role although the platelet membrane did not seem to contribute. Targeting EV formation/clearance and developing strategies to prevent the aPL surface of EV interacting with coagulation factors represents a novel antithrombotic target in ASCVD.

The Management of Esophageal Perforation: A Systematic Review.

Esophageal perforation, a rare and serious condition, has seen a reduction in mortality from 30% to 15% over the last three decades due to advancements such as gastrointestinal stents, minimally invasive surgeries, and improved interventional radiology techniques. This review analyzes management strategies for esophageal perforation based on 14 English-language articles published from 2009 to 2024, primarily utilizing surveys and national database analyses. The management of esophageal perforation is complex, with challenges in diagnosis and treatment strategy. Despite surgery being the traditional treatment, the role of less invasive methods is growing. Effective management of esophageal perforation involves advanced imaging for diagnosis, hemodynamic stabilization, and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including surgical and non-surgical interventions. The evidence for different treatment outcomes remains limited, highlighting the need for comprehensive care involving thoracic surgery, interventional radiology, gastroenterology, and critical care in an intensive care unit setting.

MicroRNA as Key Players in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights into Their Role in Metastasis.

Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the most common cancer in global epidemiology. Both the frequency and fatality of this malignancy have shown an upward trend over recent decades. Liver cancer is a significant concern due to its propensity for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis. Liver cancer metastasis is a multifaceted process characterized by cell detachment from the bulk tumor, modulation of cellular motility and invasiveness, enhanced proliferation, avoidance of the immune system, and spread either via lymphatic or blood vessels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) playing a crucial function in the intricate mechanisms of tumor metastasis. A number of miRNAs can either increase or reduce metastasis via several mechanisms, such as control of motility, proliferation, attack by the immune system, cancer stem cell properties, altering the microenvironment, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Besides, two other types of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) can competitively bind to endogenous miRNAs. This competition results in the impaired ability of the miRNAs to inhibit the expression of the specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are targeted. Increasing evidence has shown that the regulatory axis comprising circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA is correlated with the regulation of HCC metastasis. This review seeks to present a thorough summary of recent research on miRNAs in HCC, and their roles in the cellular processes of EMT, invasion and migration, as well as the metastasis of malignant cells. Finally, we discuss the function of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network as a crucial modulator of carcinogenesis and the regulation of signaling pathways or genes that are relevant to the metastasis of HCC. These findings have the potential to offer valuable insight into the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches for management of liver cancer metastasis.

Prevalence of human papilloma virus among cervical cancer patients in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer, predominantly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), is a major health challenge in India, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Given India's vast geographic and socio-economic diversity, understanding regional variations in HPV prevalence is crucial for developing targeted and effective public health interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to elucidate the prevalence of HPV among cervical cancer patients in India. METHODS: A literature search was executed across PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to December 07, 2023. Observational studies reporting HPV prevalence among cervical cancer patients in India are included. A Modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for quality assessment. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to determine pooled HPV prevalence, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess result stability and investigate heterogeneity sources. All statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.3. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 17 studies with a total of 2529 cervical cancer cases, of which 1977 were HPV-positive. The pooled HPV prevalence was 85% (95% CI: 71-92%), with substantial heterogeneity (I²â€…= 94%). Subgroup analysis by geographic zones showed notable differences: South (88%, 95% CI: 76-95%), North (73%, 95% CI: 1-100%), East (99%, 95% CI: 1-100%), Central (71%, 95% CI: 54-84%), and West (77%, 95% CI: 0-100%). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the consistency of the results, and a reanalysis, excluding influential studies, yielded a prevalence of 82% (95% CI: 67-91%). CONCLUSION: Our analysis reveals a high prevalence of HPV in cervical cancer patients in India, with significant regional variations. The observed heterogeneity highlights the complexity of HPV epidemiology in India and necessitates further research to explore underlying causes and regional characteristics. Future studies should aim to expand geographic representation and deepen understanding of the factors contributing to the variability in HPV prevalence.

The effect of using two stabilization temperatures and fixation process on preparation of carbon nanofibers.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are prepared from electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) because of their high carbon content. Heat treatment (oxidative stabilization and carbonization) is necessary to convert PAN nanofibers into CNFs. The fixation of fibrous structure of polymer precursor during heat treatment is always considered as a problem. The aim of this work is to study the effects of two different stabilization temperatures and fixation on CNFs prepared from electrospun PAN nanofibers. In this study, we use two different stabilization temperatures (275 and 300 °C) to investigate the effect of temperature on the oxidation, cyclization, crosslinking, aromatization, and dehydrogenation processes that occur during the stabilization heat treatment. Further, we study the effect of electrospun sheet fixation during heat treatment on the fibrous structure of electrospun fibers and methods to prevent shrinkage and folding of the electrospun sheet. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the effectiveness of stabilization at 300 °C when transforming PAN elctrospun nanofibers to CNFs. Raman spectroscopy showed that carbonization at 800 °C after stabilization at 300 °C lowers the R-value (ID/IG ratio) comparing with that stabilized at 275 °C which indicates increasing the amount of structurally ordered graphite crystallites relative to the disordered structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that fixation process maintained a uniform fibrous structure for the stabilized sheets without shrinkage, whereas carbonization at 800 °C without fixation resulted in deformed and folded carbonized PAN with loss in the fibrous structure.