Key Contributors to Signal Generation in Frequency Mixing Magnetic Detection (FMMD): An In Silico Study.

Frequency mixing magnetic detection (FMMD) is a sensitive and selective technique to detect magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) serving as probes for binding biological targets. Its principle relies on the nonlinear magnetic relaxation dynamics of a particle ensemble interacting with a dual frequency external magnetic field. In order to increase its sensitivity, lower its limit of detection and overall improve its applicability in biosensing, matching combinations of external field parameters and internal particle properties are being sought to advance FMMD. In this study, we systematically probe the aforementioned interaction with coupled Néel-Brownian dynamic relaxation simulations to examine how key MNP properties as well as applied field parameters affect the frequency mixing signal generation. It is found that the core size of MNPs dominates their nonlinear magnetic response, with the strongest contributions from the largest particles. The drive field amplitude dominates the shape of the field-dependent response, whereas effective anisotropy and hydrodynamic size of the particles only weakly influence the signal generation in FMMD. For tailoring the MNP properties and parameters of the setup towards optimal FMMD signal generation, our findings suggest choosing large particles of core sizes dC>25 nm with narrow size distributions (σ<0.1) to minimize the required drive field amplitude. This allows potential improvements of FMMD as a stand-alone application, as well as advances in magnetic particle imaging, hyperthermia and magnetic immunoassays.

Hard and soft tissue alterations using dual-zone concept versus connective tissue graft at maxillary immediate implant placement: A 1-year randomized clinical and volumetric trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the esthetic outcome, as well as clinical, radiographic, and volumetric tissue alterations 1 year after immediate implant placement (IIP) with connective tissue grafting (CTG) versus dual-zone concept (DZ) at sites with thin labial bone in the esthetic zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 30 patients treated with IIP simultaneous with either CTG or DZ (n = 15 each). Pink esthetic score (PES) was assessed 6 months after crown placement as the primary outcome. Amount of bone labial to the implant, labio-palatal ridge reduction, and crestal bone changes were measured via CBCT after 1 year. Volumetric analysis of linear labial soft tissue contour, interdental, and mid-facial soft tissue level changes, and total volume loss (mm3) were measured after 1 year. RESULTS: Similar PES was observed in the CTG (12.53 ± 1.13) and DZ (12.13 ± 1.55) groups, with no significant difference (p = 0.42). Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences found between the two groups in labio-palatal bone reduction (mm&%), interdental papillae, and mid-facial gingival levels (p > 0.05). However, the mean vertical crestal bone changes in the CTG and DZ groups were -1.1 ± 0.6 mm and 0.2 ± 1.0 mm, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0002). Moreover, CTG revealed less linear and total volume (mm3) loss in the labial soft tissue which was statistically significant compared to DZ (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Both groups demonstrated the same PES, nevertheless, volumetric analysis revealed twice total labial volume loss in DZ compared to CTG. It might be concluded that the use of CTG with IIP caused less horizontal reduction in the supra-implant complex compared to the DZ.

Performance of Bituminous Binder Modified with Recycled Plastic Pellets.

Finding beneficial uses for waste plastics has been an environmental challenge for municipalities. A limited number of studies have investigated the performance of asphalt mixtures containing plastic waste in cold regions that experience freeze-thaw cycling. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of adding two types of recycled plastic pellets on the high- and low-temperature performance of bituminous binders. Nylon-based (NP) and polyester-based (PP) recycled plastic pellets were used in this study. A PG 58-28 bituminous binder was modified by different dosages of NP and PP plastic pellets. The impact of adding Elvaloy copolymer and polyphosphoric acid on the modified binders was also investigated. Results showed that using recycled plastic pellets as a modifier for bituminous binders improved their elastic response and rutting resistance without affecting their low-temperature performance. The PP modifier showed better elastic behavior and rutting resistance than the NP modifier.

A personalized classification of behavioral severity of autism spectrum disorder using a comprehensive machine learning framework.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder with a heterogeneous nature, influenced by genetics and exhibiting diverse clinical presentations. In this study, we dissect Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into its behavioral components, mirroring the diagnostic process used in clinical settings. Morphological features are extracted from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, found in the publicly available dataset ABIDE II, identifying the most discriminative features that differentiate ASD within various behavioral domains. Then, each subject is categorized as having severe, moderate, or mild ASD, or typical neurodevelopment (TD), based on the behavioral domains of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Through this study, multiple artificial intelligence (AI) models are utilized for feature selection and classifying each ASD severity and behavioural group. A multivariate feature selection algorithm, investigating four different classifiers with linear and non-linear hypotheses, is applied iteratively while shuffling the training-validation subjects to find the set of cortical regions with statistically significant association with ASD. A set of six classifiers are optimized and trained on the selected set of features using 5-fold cross-validation for the purpose of severity classification for each behavioural group. Our AI-based model achieved an average accuracy of 96%, computed as the mean accuracy across the top-performing AI models for feature selection and severity classification across the different behavioral groups. The proposed AI model has the ability to accurately differentiate between the functionalities of specific brain regions, such as the left and right caudal middle frontal regions. We propose an AI-based model that dissects ASD into behavioral components. For each behavioral component, the AI-based model is capable of identifying the brain regions which are associated with ASD as well as utilizing those regions for diagnosis. The proposed system can increase the speed and accuracy of the diagnostic process and result in improved outcomes for individuals with ASD, highlighting the potential of AI in this area.

Independent of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Cirrhosis, Early Adulthood Obesity Is Associated with Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 6% to 20% of all cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) diagnoses are explained by primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), but the underlying risk factors in the absence of PSC are unclear. We examined associations of different risk factors with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 121 patients with ECC and 308 patients with ICC treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center between May 2014 and March 2020, compared with 1,061 healthy controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the adjusted OR (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each risk factor. RESULTS: Being Asian, diabetes mellitus, family history of cancer, and gallbladder stones were associated with higher odds of developing ICC and ECC. Each 1-unit increase in body mass index in early adulthood (ages 20-40 years) was associated with a decrease in age at diagnosis of CCA (6.7 months, P < 0.001; 6.1 months for ICC, P = 0.001; 8.2 months for ECC, P = 0.007). A family history of cancer was significantly associated with the risk of ICC and ECC development; the AORs (95% CI) were 1.11 (1.06-1.48) and 1.32 (1.01-2.00) for ICC and ECC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, early adulthood onset of obesity was significantly associated with CCA and may predict early diagnosis at younger age than normal weight individuals. IMPACT: The study highlights the association between obesity and CCA, independent of PSC. There is a need to consider the mechanistic pathways of obesity in the absence of fatty liver and cirrhosis.

Computed tomography-guided stereotactic surgery in the management of brain lesions: A single-center experience.

Background: The present study presents our experience with computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic surgery in managing deep-seated brain lesions and provides a background in the expanding fields of morphological stereotactic neurosurgery. Methods: We conducted this retrospective cohort study on 80 patients managed at the Department of Neurosurgery, Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt, between January 2019 to January 2021. We targeted patients with morphological stereotactic surgeries performed as the primary management modality of their treatment. Results: A total of 80 patients, with a mean age of 44.3 years, were included in the study. The stereotactic targets were supratentorial in 71 patients (88.75%), infratentorial in seven patients (8.75%), and both supraand infratentorial in two patients (2.5%). The lesions showed enhancements with IV contrast in 55 patients (68.75%). Stereotactic procedures were performed under local anesthesia in 64 patients and general anesthesia in 16 patients. Of the 80 stereotactic procedures, 52 were biopsies (65%). We observed a significant improvement in the postoperative Karnofsky performance score compared to the postoperative score (63.4 ± 19.8 vs. 56.7 ± 15.4, P = 0.001). The level of agreement between clinical, radiological, and final pathological diagnosis was assessed; it was complete in 47.5% of the patients. The postprocedural CT scan demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage in five patients (6.25%); four (5%) were silent with no neurological complications. Conclusion: This study provided evidence that the stereotactic procedure is easy to perform, accurate in targeting the lesion, and spares patients from undergoing major surgical procedures. Stereotactic applications of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, deep-seated abscesses, encysted tumors, or medically refractory benign intracranial hypertension can improve the outcome even in medically high-risk patients.

Ectopic PLAG1 induces muscular dystrophy in the mouse.

Even though various genetic mutations have been identified in muscular dystrophies (MD), there is still a need to understand the biology of MD in the absence of known mutations. Here we reported a new mouse model of MD driven by ectopic expression of PLAG1. This gene encodes a developmentally regulated transcription factor known to be expressed in developing skeletal muscle, and implicated as an oncogene in certain cancers including rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma composed of myoblast-like cells. By breeding loxP-STOP-loxP-PLAG1 (LSL-PLAG1) mice into the MCK-Cre line, we achieved ectopic PLAG1 expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle. The Cre/PLAG1 mice died before 6 weeks of age with evidence of cardiomyopathy significantly limiting left ventricle fractional shortening. Histology of skeletal muscle revealed dystrophic features, including myofiber necrosis, fiber size variation, frequent centralized nuclei, fatty infiltration, and fibrosis, all of which mimic human MD pathology. QRT-PCR and Western blot revealed modestly decreased Dmd mRNA and dystrophin protein in the dystrophic muscle, and immunofluorescence staining showed decreased dystrophin along the cell membrane. Repression of Dmd by ectopic PLAG1 was confirmed in dystrophic skeletal muscle and various cell culture models. In vitro studies showed that excess IGF2 expression, a transcriptional target of PLAG1, phenocopied PLAG1-mediated down-regulation of dystrophin. In summary, we developed a new mouse model of a lethal MD due to ectopic expression of PLAG1 in heart and skeletal muscle. Our data support the potential contribution of excess IGF2 in this model. Further studying these mice may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of MD and perhaps lead to new treatment strategies.

Understanding the Role of Connectivity Dynamics of Resting-State Functional MRI in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Study.

In addition to the standard observational assessment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent advancements in neuroimaging and machine learning (ML) suggest a rapid and objective alternative using brain imaging. This work presents a pipelined framework, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that allows not only an accurate ASD diagnosis but also the identification of the brain regions contributing to the diagnosis decision. The proposed framework includes several processing stages: preprocessing, brain parcellation, feature representation, feature selection, and ML classification. For feature representation, the proposed framework uses both a conventional feature representation and a novel dynamic connectivity representation to assist in the accurate classification of an autistic individual. Based on a large publicly available dataset, this extensive research highlights different decisions along the proposed pipeline and their impact on diagnostic accuracy. A large publicly available dataset of 884 subjects from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange I (ABIDE-I) initiative is used to validate our proposed framework, achieving a global balanced accuracy of 98.8% with five-fold cross-validation and proving the potential of the proposed feature representation. As a result of this comprehensive study, we achieve state-of-the-art accuracy, confirming the benefits of the proposed feature representation and feature engineering in extracting useful information as well as the potential benefits of utilizing ML and neuroimaging in the diagnosis and understanding of autism.

Isolation, Identification, and Genetic Characterization of Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella Species Isolated from Chicken Farms.

Salmonella is a major cause of foodborne outbreaks. It causes gastroenteritis in humans and animals. This micro-organism causes severe illness in chickens and has a major impact on chicken productivity and the poultry industry. This study aimed to address the prevalence of Salmonella infection in broiler chicken farms in Kafrelsheikh, Gharbia, and Menofeya provinces in Egypt during 2020-2022. This work also aimed to evaluate the genetic characterization and antibiotic resistance of the isolated Salmonella strains. Clinical signs and mortalities were observed and recorded. In total, 832 samples were collected from 52 broiler flocks, including 26 from both one-week-old and 6-week-old chicken farms from different organs (liver, intestinal content, spleen, and gallbladder). The prevalence of Salmonella infections was reported in the study region to be 36.54%. Of the 26 one-week-old farms surveyed, 11 (42.31%) and 8/26 (30.77%) of the six-week-old broiler chicken farms had Salmonella infections. Recovered isolates were serotyped as 9 (47.37%) S. enteritidis O 1,9,12, ad monophasic H: g, m: -, 6 (31.58.%) S. shangani 2, (10.53%) S. gueuletapee 1, (5.26%) S. II (salamae), and 1 (5.26%) untypable. The results showed that Salmonella infection was predominant in one-week-old chicks compared to infection in six-week-old and uninfected flocks. All Salmonella isolates were resistant to ampicillin and erythromycin, while all isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and levofloxacin. The isolates also contained 10.53% (2/19) streptomycin, 10.53% (2/21) gentamicin, 15.79% (3/19) doxycycline, and 26.32% (5/19) lincomycin and colistin. The phenotypically resistant Salmonella samples against ampicillin, erythromycin, and macrolide harbored bla TEM , bla SHV , ermB, ereA, mphA, and ermB, respectively. This baseline data on Salmonella spp. prevalence, serotyping, and antibiotic profiles are combined to define the antimicrobial resistance to this endemic disease. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying this drug resistance should be of general importance in understanding both the treatment and prevention of Salmonella infection in this part of Egypt.

State of the Art: Lung Cancer Staging Using Updated Imaging Modalities.

Lung cancer is among the most common mortality causes worldwide. This scientific article is a comprehensive review of current knowledge regarding screening, subtyping, imaging, staging, and management of treatment response for lung cancer. The traditional imaging modality for screening and initial lung cancer diagnosis is computed tomography (CT). Recently, a dual-energy CT was proven to enhance the categorization of variable pulmonary lesions. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends usage of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) in concert with CT to properly stage lung cancer and to prevent fruitless thoracotomies. Diffusion MR is an alternative to FDG PET/CT that is radiation-free and has a comparable diagnostic performance. For response evaluation after treatment, FDG PET/CT is a potent modality which predicts survival better than CT. Updated knowledge of lung cancer genomic abnormalities and treatment regimens helps to improve the radiologists' skills. Incorporating the radiologic experience is crucial for precise diagnosis, therapy planning, and surveillance of lung cancer.

Special Issue "Computer Aided Diagnosis Sensors".

Sensors used to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases in the medical domain are known as medical sensors [...].

Preparation and characterization of bioactive polyvinylpyrrolidone film via electrospinning technique.

Electrospinning technique became a very common and effective method to fabricate nonwoven films with a large surface area for different purposes especially in the biomedical field. Antimicrobial submicron fibrous films based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) doped with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), Zinc Oxide (ZnO), and (Ag-NPS/ZnO), were successfully fabricated via the electrospinning technique. The morphology and the elemental configurations of the as-prepared films were studied by using scanning electron microscope with EDX. While the phase formation and crystal structures were determined by using XRD analysis. The antibacterial effect was investigated against one of the most common Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae by using a modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The results showed that the doping nanoparticles were uniformly loaded on the surface of the fabricated film fibers. By using Scherrer equation the calculated average crystallite sizes of Ag-NPs, ZnO, and Ag-NPs/ZnO on PVP fibers were 63, 30, and 44 nm, respectively. The antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the growth inhibition zones in the bacteria plates of 23.3, 54, and 60.6 mm for the samples of Ag-NPs/PVP, ZnO/PVP, and Ag-NPs/ZnO/PVP, respectively. The antimicrobial efficiency increased by forming nanocomposites of both ZnO nanoparticles and Ag nanoparticles inside the film. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Novel antimicrobial submicron electrospun membranes based on polyvinylpyrrolidone doped with silver, zinc oxide nanoparticles were successfully fabricated. The fabricated samples showed bactericidal activity against K. pneumoniae.

From HIV to COVID-19, Molecular mechanisms of pathogens' trade-off and persistence in the community, potential targets for new drug development.

Background: On the staggering emergence of the Omicron variant, numerous questions arose about the evolution of virulence and transmissibility in microbes. Main body of the abstract: The trade-off hypothesis has long speculated the exchange of virulence for the sake of superior transmissibility in a wide array of pathogens. While this certainly applies to the case of the Omicron variant, along with influenza virus, various reports have been allocated for an array of pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and tuberculosis (TB). The latter abide to another form of trade-off, the invasion-persistence trade-off. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanisms and mutations of different obligate intracellular pathogens that attenuated their more morbid characters, virulence in acute infections and invasion in chronic infections. Short conclusion: Recognizing the mutations that attenuate the most morbid characters of pathogens such as virulence or persistence can help in tailoring new therapies for such pathogens. Targeting macrophage tropism of HIV by carbohydrate-binding agents, or targeting the TMPRSS2 receptors to prevent pulmonary infiltrates of COVID-19 is an example of how important is to recognize such genetic mechanisms.

Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in the African continent: where do we stand? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-Related Acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) is a global health problem with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the current situation in the developing world including African countries. Africa is the poorest continent per capita, and women from Sub-Saharan Africa alone account for 66% of the estimated global maternal deaths from preventable obstetric causes. METHODS: OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on the clinical profile, maternal and renal outcomes of women with PR-AKI in the African continent. SEARCH STRATEGY: Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library were searched in February 2022, using the MeSH terms and text key words: "pregnancy", "pregnant", "acute kidney injury", "acute renal insufficiency", "acute renal injury", "acute renal failure", and "Africa". SELECTION CRITERIA AND DATA COLLECTION: Studies from African countries which reported maternal and renal outcomes in women with PR-AKI during pregnancy or postpartum were included. Editorials, short communications, and case reports were excluded. The study quality was assessed using the NHLBI tool. Data extraction was done using predefined data fields. RESULTS: A total of 167 studies were evaluated, of which 14 studies from seven African countries met the inclusion criteria. Preeclampsia, obstetric hemorrhage, and sepsis represented the main causes of PR-AKI. Maternal mortality ranged between 0 and 34.4%. Although the majority of women needed ICU admission and hemodialysis, renal recovery occurred in 53.1-90% of patients. Perinatal mortality has been reported to be 1.5-60.5% in the included studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: PR-AKI in Africa represents the second leading cause of AKI. Limited access to obstetric care, late referral, and late diagnosis of women with risks for PR-AKI hinder the curtailment of the problem. Provision of health care facilities with adequately trained personnel and implementation of preventive strategies will be of great value in decreasing the magnitude of the problem.

Incidence, Molecular Detection, and Partial Nucleotide Sequencing of Some Viruses Causing Fig Mosaic Disease (FMD) on Fig Plants in Egypt.

Fig mosaic disease (FMD) is a viral disease that poses a significant danger to Egypt's fig-producing economy. During the two growing seasons 2017 and 2018, fig leaves and fruits displaying a variety of symptoms linked with fig mosaic disease (FMD) were collected and differentiated from the most famous fig-growing governorates in Egypt, Mersa Matruh, Ismailia, and Giza. Symptomatic samples were tested for the presence of fig mosaic virus (FMV), fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2), fig mild mottle-associated virus (FMMaV), fig latent virus 1 (FLV-1), fig fleck-associated virus (FFkaV), and fig cryptic virus (FCV) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific primers. Three viruses were detected in mixed infections and showed positive results. FMV was detected with infection rate 49% followed by FLMaV-2 with infection rate 21.8% and FLMaV-1 with infection rate 10.9%, respectively, whereas all tested samples were negative for the other viruses. According to the sequence and phylogenetic analysis, the Egyptian FMV isolate was closely related to other FMV isolates, particularly the Argentina ones (Acc. No. KP796424), with 99% identity. While FLMaV-1 showed more than 98% identity with reference isolate FLMaV-1 (Acc. No. LN873219), on the other hand, the isolate of FLMaV-2 showed 100% identity with reference FLMaV-2 isolate (Acc. No. FJ473383) based on phylogenetic analysis. Because fig output in Egypt is expanding, our findings suggest that greater attention should be paid to improving the phytosanitary condition of fig trees in Egypt.

Gastrointestinal bleeding: imaging and interventions in cancer patients.

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) among cancer patients is a major source of morbidity and mortality. Although a wide variety of etiologies contribute to GIB, special considerations should be made for cancer-related factors such as the type of malignancy, location and extent of disease, hemostatic parameters, and treatment effects. Key imaging modalities used to evaluate GIB include computed tomography angiography (CTA), radionuclide imaging, and catheter-based angiography. Understanding the cancer and treatment history and recognizing the associated imaging manifestations are important for identifying the source and potential causes of GIB in cancer patients. This article will review the common clinical presentations, causes, imaging manifestations, and angiographic management of GIB in cancer patients.

Phase II Study of Ramucirumab in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer Previously Treated By Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2)-mediated angiogenesis contributes to pathogenesis of biliary tract cancers (BTC). We investigated ramucirumab, a mAb targeting VEGFR-2 for treatment of advanced, chemorefractory BTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a phase II, single-arm trial for advanced, unresectable, pre-treated patients with BTC with ECOG 0/1, adequate liver, renal, and marrow functions. Ramucirumab was administered at 8 mg/kg, 2 weekly with restaging performed 8 weekly. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Exploratory endpoints included correlation of tumor mutational status with PFS and OS. RESULTS: 61 patients were enrolled: the median age was 58.5 years; 59 with stage IV disease; 62%, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; 22%, gallbladder cancer; and 16%, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. All received prior chemotherapy: 52% had 1 prior, and rest ≥2 prior lines. Median treatment duration was 10.1 weeks (range, 2.1-86). Median PFS was 3.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1-4.8]; median OS, 9.5 months (95% CI, 5.8-13.6). One (1.7%) patient achieved partial response; 26 (43.3%), stable disease; and 25 (41.7%), disease progression; DCR, 45%. Median 6-month PFS and OS rates were 32% (95% CI, 0.22-0.46) and 58% (95% CI, 0.47-0.72). The majority of toxicities were grade 1 or 2; grade 3 proteinuria (1, 2%), hypertension (13, 22%), and pulmonary embolism (1, 2%), and grade 4 gastrointestinal bleeding (1, 2%) occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Ramucirumab was well tolerated and resulted in PFS similar to that achieved with other chemotherapy regimens used historically for chemorefractory BTC.