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1.
Heliyon ; 10(17): e36781, 2024 Sep 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39296158

RESUMO

The Neutrosophic Cubic Shapley Normalized Bonferroni (NC-SNWBM) method represents a cutting-edge approach to decision making theory, combining three distinct mathematical frameworks the neutrosophic cubic sets (NCS), Shapley values, and the Bonferroni aggregation operator. This innovative method addresses the challenges posed by uncertainty, vagueness, and imprecision in decision-making (DM) processes, offering a comprehensive and versatile tool for handling complex and dynamic scenarios. Neutrosophic cubic sets offers a strong platform to handle ambiguous and vague data due to three components Membership Grade (MG), Non-Membership Grade (NMG) and Indeterminancy Grade (IG) in data. By adding Shapley Fuzzy Measures (SFM), which come from cooperative game theory, distribute values among cooperative agents equally and to account for each agent's contributions to all potential coalitions. The Bonferroni aggregation operator-a statistical aggregative tool that regulates the likelihood of many types in error in statistical tests and the interdependence of the input arguments by allowing different values to parameters involved. These values are further improved by normalization in the framework of the NC-SNWBM approach in order to consider the various degrees of impact that agents exert in various circumstances. This operator is smoothly combined with normalized Shapley values and neutrosophic cubic sets in the NC-SNWBM approach to enable the aggregation of data with different levels of imprecision and uncertainty from various sources using NCS. The MG, NMG and IG connected to NCS are important elements of the NC-SNWBM approach. To evaluate each element's contribution to the overall value distribution SFM are used, and the Bonferroni aggregation operator maintains a careful balance between conservatism and significance. Together, these components provide a thorough framework that successfully tackles the problems caused by ambiguity, imprecision, and uncertainty in scenarios involving decision-making. The NC-SNWBM operator is applied to a numerical problem as an application in investment environment and sensitive and comparative analysis are conducted. The recommendation based on sensitive and comparative analysis proposed.

2.
Trop Anim Health Prod ; 56(8): 282, 2024 Sep 26.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39322769

RESUMO

Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata are tick-borne protozoans that cause piroplasmosis in cattle, resulting in huge damages to the livestock industry. The prevalence of these infections depends on various intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. In Pakistan, there is no information regarding the molecular characterization of Babesia bigemina and the risk factors associated with piroplasmosis. This study aimed to molecularly characterize Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. infecting various cattle breeds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and to shed light on risk factors associated with these infections. Altogether, 219 blood samples were collected from various symptomatic cattle breeds, including Holstein Friesian (65.3%; 143/219), Jersey (21.5%; 47/219) and Sahiwal (13.2%; 29/219). Isolated genomic DNA from these blood samples was used in PCR for the amplification of the 18S rRNA fragment of apicomplexan parasites. Obtained 18S rDNA sequences from cattle hosts showed 99.5% identity with B. bigemina, or 100% with T. annulata. Having an overall infection rate of 61.6% (135/219), the highest infection rate was recorded for T. annulata (43.8%; 95/219), followed by B. bigemina (18.3%; 40/219). Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences revealed that B. bigemina clustered with corresponding species reported from Bolivia, and South Africa, while T. annulata grouped with same species from Italy, India, and Turkey. Among the different risk factors, the breed, season, and tick infestation were found to have a significant (P < 0.05) association with the piroplasmid infections. The information obtained in this study can be employed for effective surveillance and control of babesiosis and theileriosis in Pakistan. In addition to confirming our previous molecular detection of T. annulata in cattle, this study provides the first molecular surveillance and phylogenetic position of B. bigemina and associated risk factors in the study region.


Assuntos
Babesia , Babesiose , Doenças dos Bovinos , Filogenia , RNA Ribossômico 18S , Theileria annulata , Theileriose , Bovinos , Animais , Babesia/isolamento & purificação , Babesia/genética , Babesia/classificação , Theileriose/epidemiologia , Theileriose/parasitologia , Babesiose/epidemiologia , Babesiose/parasitologia , Theileria annulata/genética , Theileria annulata/isolamento & purificação , Fatores de Risco , Paquistão/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/parasitologia , RNA Ribossômico 18S/análise , RNA Ribossômico 18S/genética , Prevalência , DNA de Protozoário/análise , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Feminino
3.
PLoS One ; 19(9): e0310407, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39292723

RESUMO

The recent global outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, yellow fever, and Ebola have highlighted the critical need for robust health data management systems that can rapidly adapt to and mitigate public health emergencies. In contrast to traditional systems, this study introduces an innovative blockchain-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) access control mechanism that effectively safeguards patient data integrity and privacy. The proposed approach uniquely integrates granular data access control mechanism within a blockchain framework, ensuring that patient data is only accessible to explicitly authorized users and thereby enhancing patient consent and privacy. This system addresses key challenges in healthcare data management, including preventing unauthorized access and overcoming the inefficiencies inherent in traditional access mechanisms. Since the latency is a sensitive factor in healthcare data management, the simulations of the proposed model reveal substantial improvements over existing benchmarks in terms of reduced computing overhead, increased throughput, minimized latency, and strengthened overall security. By demonstrating these advantages, the study contributes significantly to the evolution of health data management, offering a scalable, secure solution that prioritizes patient autonomy and privacy in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape.


Assuntos
Blockchain , COVID-19 , Registros Eletrônicos de Saúde , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Segurança Computacional , SARS-CoV-2 , Privacidade , Confidencialidade , Doenças Transmissíveis/epidemiologia
4.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 22129, 2024 09 27.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39333333

RESUMO

Tick-borne bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Coxiella cause several emerging veterinary and human infectious diseases. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are medically important vectors due to their potential role in the transmission of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. There is an inadequate knowledge on tick-borne Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting transhumant camels in Pakistan. In this study, we conducted a molecular survey for screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting camels. Seven hard tick species including Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma scupense, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma turanicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l were confirmed on camels in three distinct physiographic regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A subset of morphologically identified ticks were subjected to molecular assays for the genetic characterization of ticks and the detection and genetic characterization of Rickettsia and Coxiella species using standard genetic markers. Ticks screened for pathogens resulted in the detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii and Coxiella burnetii. The molecular analysis further reveals the presences of an undetermined Rickettsia aeschlimannii-like species, that is making a distinct phylogenetic clade with R. aeschlimannii. The detection of pathogens in camel ticks poses potential health hazards as these ticks frequently bites humans. Molecular screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. associated with camel ticks is a preliminary step toward the surveillance of evaluating their zoonotic threats in the region.


Assuntos
Camelus , Coxiella burnetii , Rickettsia , Animais , Camelus/microbiologia , Camelus/parasitologia , Rickettsia/genética , Rickettsia/isolamento & purificação , Rickettsia/classificação , Coxiella burnetii/genética , Coxiella burnetii/isolamento & purificação , Paquistão , Filogenia , Carrapatos/microbiologia , Ixodidae/microbiologia , Infecções por Rickettsia/microbiologia , Infecções por Rickettsia/transmissão , Infestações por Carrapato/veterinária , Infestações por Carrapato/parasitologia
5.
J Phys Chem Lett ; 15(37): 9374-9379, 2024 Sep 19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39240543

RESUMO

The combination of infrared spectroscopy (IR) and ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) has revealed that protein secondary structures are retained upon transformation from aqueous solution to the gas phase under gentle conditions. Yet the details about where and how these structural elements are embedded in the gas phase remain elusive. In this study, we employ long time scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine the extent to which proteins retain their solution structures and the impact of protonation state on the stability of secondary structures in the gas phase. Our investigation focuses on two well-studied proteins, myoglobin and ß-lactoglobulin, representing typical helical and ß-sheet proteins, respectively. Our simulations accurately reproduce the experimental collision cross section (CCS) data measured by IM-MS. Based on accurately reproducing previous experimental collision cross section data and dominant secondary structural species obtained from IM-MS and IR, we confirm that both proteins largely retain their native secondary structural components upon passing from aqueous solution to the gas phase. However, we observe significant reductions in secondary structure contents (19.2 ± 1.2% for myoglobin and 7.3 ± 0.6% for ß-lactoglobulin) in specific regions predominantly composed of ionizable residues. Further mechanistic analysis suggests that alterations in protonation states of these residues after phase transition induce changes in their local interaction networks and backbone dihedral angles, which potentially promote the unfolding of secondary structures in the gas phase. We anticipate that similar protonation state induced unfolding may be observed in other proteins possessing distinct secondary structures. Further studies on a broader array of proteins will be essential to refine our understanding of protein structural behavior during the transition to the gas phase.


Assuntos
Gases , Lactoglobulinas , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Mioglobina , Desdobramento de Proteína , Prótons , Gases/química , Mioglobina/química , Lactoglobulinas/química , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Espectrofotometria Infravermelho
6.
Bioorg Chem ; 152: 107724, 2024 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39167873

RESUMO

Tyrosinase inhibitors are studied in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors as tyrosinase enzyme is involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of melanin, hence these inhibitors are beneficial for the management of melanogenesis and hyperpigmentation-related disorders. In the current work, a novel series of diphenyl urea derivatives containing a halo-pyridine moiety (5a-t) was synthesized via a multi-step synthesis. In vitro, tyrosinase inhibitory assay results showed that, except for two compounds, the derivatives were excellent inhibitors of human tyrosinase. The average IC50 value of the inhibitors (15.78 µM) is lower than that of kojic acid (17.3 µM) used as the reference compound, indicating that, on average, these molecules are more potent than the reference. Derivative 5a was identified as the most potent human tyrosinase inhibitor of the series, with an IC50 value of 3.5 ± 1.2  µM, approximately 5 times more potent than kojic acid. To get further insights into the nature of binding site interactions, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies were carried out. Moreover, the evaluation of in silico ADME properties showed a highly favorable profile for the synthesized compounds. These findings suggested that the further development of this class of compounds could be useful to get potent drug-like compounds that can target hyperpigmentation-related disorders.


Assuntos
Inibidores Enzimáticos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Monofenol Mono-Oxigenase , Piridinas , Monofenol Mono-Oxigenase/antagonistas & inibidores , Monofenol Mono-Oxigenase/metabolismo , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Inibidores Enzimáticos/síntese química , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Humanos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Piridinas/química , Piridinas/farmacologia , Piridinas/síntese química , Estrutura Molecular , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ureia/farmacologia , Ureia/análogos & derivados , Ureia/química , Ureia/síntese química , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular
7.
Front Vet Sci ; 11: 1413237, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39193370

RESUMO

African swine fever is a hemorrhagic disease of pigs with high mortality rates. Since its first characterization in 1921, there has been sufficient information about African swine fever virus (ASFV) and related diseases. The virus has been found and maintained in the sylvatic cycle involving ticks and domestic and wild boars in affected regions. The ASFV is spread through direct and indirect contact with infected pigs, their products and carrier vectors especially Ornithodoros ticks. Severe economic losses and a decline in pig production have been observed in ASFV affected countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. At the end of 2018, the ASFV adversely affected China, the world's leading pork-producer. Control strategies for the disease remained challenging due to the unavailability of effective vaccines and the lack of successful therapeutic measures. However, considerable efforts have been made in recent years to understand the biology of the virus, surveillance and effective control measures. This review emphasizes and summarizes the current state of information regarding the knowledge of etiology, epidemiology, transmission, and vaccine-based control measures against ASFV.

8.
J Fungi (Basel) ; 10(8)2024 Aug 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39194906

RESUMO

Maize is a crucial staple crop that ensures global food security by supplying essential nutrients. However, heavy metal (HM) contamination inhibits maize growth, reduces output, and affects food security. Some endophytic fungi (EFs) in maize seeds have the potential to enhance growth and increase dry biomass, offering a solution to mitigate the negative effect of HM contamination. Using these functional EFs could help maintain crop production and ensure food safety in HM-contaminated areas. In the present study, the diversity of EFs in corn grains from various HM-contaminated areas in China was studied through culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. We tested the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits of several dominant culturable isolates and evaluated the growth-promoting effects of these twenty-one isolates through pot experiments. Both studies showed that HM contamination increased the diversity and richness of corn grain EFs and affected the most dominant endophytes. Nigrospora and Fusarium were the most prevalent culturable endophytes in HM-contaminated areas. Conversely, Cladosporium spp. were the most isolated endophytes in non-contaminated areas. Different from this, Saccharomycopsis and Fusarium were the dominant EFs in HM-contaminated sites, while Neofusicoccum and Sarocladium were dominant in non-contaminated sites, according to a culture-independent analysis. PGP trait tests indicated that 70% of the tested isolates (forty-two) exhibited phosphorus solubilization, IAA production, or siderophore production activity. Specifically, 90% of the tested isolates from HM-contaminated sites showed better PGP results than 45% of the isolates from non-contaminated sites. The benefit of the twenty-one isolates on host plant growth was further studied through pot experiments, which showed that all the isolates could improve host plant growth. Among them, strains derived from HM-contaminated sites, including AK18 (Nigrospora), AK32 (Beauveria), SD93 (Gibberellia), and SD64 (Fusarium), had notable effects on enhancing the dry biomass of shoots and roots of maize under Cd stress. We speculate that the higher ratio of PGP EFs in corn grains from HM-contaminated areas may explain their competitiveness in such extreme environments. Fusarium and Cladosporium isolates show high PGP properties, but they can also be phytopathogenic. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate their pathogenic properties and safety for crops before considering their practical use in agriculture.

9.
J Pak Med Assoc ; 74(8): 1541-1544, 2024 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39160732

RESUMO

Meningomyelocele is a common congenital condition and its reconstruction poses a challenge for surgeons. The dorsal intercostal artery (DICA) flap offers a one-stage tension-free closure with adequate results. This study, spanning from January 2019 to September 2022, analyses the outcome of nine DICA flaps for meningomyelocele reconstruction, where the average size of the DICA flap was 6.8 x 4.6 cm for an average defect of 6.33 x 4 cm. Notably, no post-operative blood transfusion was required, nor any complications occurred except for one patient's septic shock-related death. Two had post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, repaired primarily with one requiring VP shunt. Based on our experience, the DICA flap, with its consistent anatomy, is a reliable option for the reconstruction of meningomyelocele defects.


Assuntos
Meningomielocele , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica , Retalhos Cirúrgicos , Humanos , Meningomielocele/cirurgia , Masculino , Feminino , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica/métodos , Lactente , Vazamento de Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/cirurgia , Vazamento de Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/etiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias
10.
Interv Neuroradiol ; : 15910199241273973, 2024 Aug 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39165193

RESUMO

Lumbar synovial cysts (LSC) that protrude into the spinal canal can cause lower back pain, neurogenic claudication, and radiculopathy. Often diagnosed in the elderly population (typically ∼60 years of age) with a slight preponderance for females, their underlying etiology is thought to be due to degeneration of the adjacent facet joint, with the most common location at the level of L4-L5. Treatment of LSC can be conservative (with NSAIDs and physical therapy), percutaneous (with rupture), or surgically (with decompression with or without fusion). Percutaneous treatment of LSC involves rupturing the cyst by injecting it with steroids and local anesthetics. Although this option is less invasive than surgery, multiple studies have documented recurrence with this method and patients eventually undergoing surgical intervention. In this report, we document a case where a patient who presented with a symptomatic LSC underwent successful percutaneous treatment with bleomycin.

11.
Neurosurgery ; 2024 Aug 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39101708

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal chordomas are primary bone tumors where surgery remains the primary treatment. However, their low incidence, lack of evidence, and late disease presentation make them challenging to manage. Here, we report the postoperative outcomes of a large cohort of patients after surgical resection, investigate predictors for overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) times, and trend functional outcomes over multiple time periods. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients followed for spinal chordoma at a quaternary spinal oncology center from 2003 to 2023 was included. Data were collected regarding demographics, preoperative and perioperative management, and follow-up since initial definitive surgery. Primary outcomes were OS and LRFS, whereas secondary outcomes were functional deficits. RESULTS: One hundred one patients had an average follow-up of 6.0 ± 4.2 years. At the time of census, 25/101 (24.8%) had experienced a recurrence and 10/101 (9.9%) had died. After surgery, patients experienced a significant decrease in pain over time, but rates of sensory deficits, weakness, and bowel/bladder dysfunction remained static. Tumors ≥100 cm3 (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.89, 95% CI 1.72-20.18, P = .005) and mobile spine chordomas (HR = 7.73, 95% CI 2.09-28.59, P = .002) are related to worse LRFS, whereas having neoadjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved LRFS (HR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.88, P = .038). On the other hand, being age ≥65 years was associated with decreased OS (HR = 16.70, 95% CI 1.54-181.28, P = .021). CONCLUSION: Surgeons must often weigh the pros and cons of en bloc resection and sacrificing important but affected native tissues. Our findings can provide a benchmark for counseling patients with spinal chordoma. Tumors ≥100 cm3 appear to have a 5.89-times higher risk of recurrence, mobile spine chordomas have a 7.73 times higher risk, and neoadjuvant radiotherapy confers an 11.1 times lower risk for local recurrence. Patients age ≥65 years at surgery have a 16.70 times higher risk of mortality than those <65 years.

12.
Future Med Chem ; 16(12): 1185-1203, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38989989

RESUMO

Aim: Synthesis of novel bis-Schiff bases having potent inhibitory activity against phosphodiesterase (PDE-1 and -3) enzymes, potentially offering therapeutic implications for various conditions. Methods: Bis-Schiff bases were synthesized by refluxing 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone with hydrazine hydrate, followed by treatment of substituted aldehydes with the resulting hydrazone to obtain the product compounds. After structural confirmation, the compounds were screened for their in vitro PDE-1 and -3 inhibitory activities. Results: The prepared compounds exhibited noteworthy inhibitory efficacy against PDE-1 and -3 enzymes by comparing with suramin standard. To clarify the binding interactions between the drugs, PDE-1 and -3 active sites, molecular docking studies were carried out. Conclusion: The potent compounds discovered in this study may be good candidates for drug development.


[Box: see text].


Assuntos
Acetofenonas , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 1 , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Inibidores de Fosfodiesterase , Acetofenonas/química , Acetofenonas/farmacologia , Acetofenonas/síntese química , Inibidores de Fosfodiesterase/farmacologia , Inibidores de Fosfodiesterase/síntese química , Inibidores de Fosfodiesterase/química , Humanos , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 1/metabolismo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Estrutura Molecular , Bases de Schiff/química , Bases de Schiff/farmacologia , Bases de Schiff/síntese química , Domínio Catalítico
15.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 14617, 2024 Jun 25.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38918460

RESUMO

The use of waste foundry sand (WFS) in concrete production has gained attention as an eco-friendly approach to waste reduction and enhancing cementitious materials. However, testing the impact of WFS in concrete through experiments is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, this study employs machine learning (ML) models, including support vector regression (SVR), decision tree (DT), and AdaBoost regressor (AR) ensemble model to predict concrete properties accurately. Moreover, SVR was employed in conjunction with three robust optimization algorithms: the firefly algorithm (FFA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and grey wolf optimization (GWO), to construct hybrid models. Using 397 experimental data points for compressive strength (CS), 146 for elastic modulus (E), and 242 for split tensile strength (STS), the models were evaluated with statistical metrics and interpreted using the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) technique. The SVR-GWO hybrid model demonstrated exceptional accuracy in predicting waste foundry sand concrete (WFSC) strength characteristics. The SVR-GWO hybrid model exhibited correlation coefficient values (R) of 0.999 for CS and E, and 0.998 for STS. Age was found to be a significant factor influencing WFSC properties. The ensemble model (AR) also exhibited comparable prediction accuracy to the SVR-GWO model. In addition, SHAP analysis revealed an optimal content of input variables in the concrete mix. Overall, the hybrid and ensemble models showed exceptional prediction accuracy compared to individual models. The application of these sophisticated soft computing prediction techniques holds the potential to stimulate the widespread adoption of WFS in sustainable concrete production, thereby fostering waste reduction and bolstering the adoption of environmentally conscious construction practices.

16.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4846, 2024 Jun 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38844481

RESUMO

The collective light-matter interaction of chiral supramolecular aggregates or molecular ensembles with confined light fields remains a mystery beyond the current theoretical description. Here, we programmably and accurately build models of chiral plasmonic complexes, aiming to uncover the entangled effects of excitonic correlations, intra- and intermolecular charge transfer, and localized surface plasmon resonances. The intricate interplay of multiple chirality origins has proven to be strongly dependent on the site-specificity of chiral molecules on plasmonic nanoparticle surfaces spanning the nanometer to sub-nanometer scale. This dependence is manifested as a distinct circular dichroism response that varies in spectral asymmetry/splitting, signal intensity, and internal ratio of intensity. The inhomogeneity of the surface-localized plasmonic field is revealed to affect excitonic and charge-transfer mixed intermolecular couplings, which are inherent to chirality generation and amplification. Our findings contribute to the development of hybrid classical-quantum theoretical frameworks and the harnessing of spin-charge transport for emergent applications.

17.
Indian J Community Med ; 49(3): 549-554, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38933783

RESUMO

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic brought substantial changes in the way doctors used to interact with patients. In the general practice, consultation over the phone has become a norm now. However, it is not well known how this new mode of consultation affected clinicians' practices. Objective of this study was to find out if doctors working in the general practices were trained enough for telephonic consultation and how this new mode of consultation affected their clinical practice in general. It was an online survey. Information was gathered by using an online questionnaire which was sent electronically to general practitioners (GPs) and general practitioner speciality trainees (GPSTs) working in the general practices based in Leicestershire. Data were analyzed by using software SPSS. Descriptive characteristics of participants were reported in terms of numbers and percentages, whereas Chi square test was run to assess if there is a difference between GPs and GPSTs in terms of their experience of remote consultations by telephone. The questionnaire response rate was 69.3% (n = 133/192). Of the total, 54.1% (n = 72/133) of participants were women. About 36% (n = 48/133) of the participants were GPSTs, whereas 64% (n = 85/133) were qualified GPs. Not having enough training for phone consultation, technical issues during consultation, inadequate supervision framework, difficulties in building therapeutic alliance with patients, making diagnosis and risk assessment, and increased duration of consultation were identified as issues. Similarly, concerns around patients' confidentiality and medico legal issues were highlighted. GPs and GPSTs reported similar difficulties. In conclusion, lack of training for the telephonic consultation has been identified as a unanimous issue along with other challenges to phone consultations. There is an urgent need to take measures to make telephone consultation more successful, enjoyable, and safe for patient care by addressing identified issues. Larger studies with representative samples are needed to increase generalizability of our findings.

18.
Nano Lett ; 24(22): 6496-6505, 2024 Jun 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38787288

RESUMO

Asymmetric surface functionalization of complex nanoparticles to control their directional self-assembly remains a considerable challenge. Here, we demonstrated a conformal DNA design strategy for flexible remodeling of the surface of complex nanoparticles, taking Au nanobipyramids (AuNBPs) as a model. We sheathed one or both tips of AuNBPs into conformal DNA origami with an exceptionally accurate orientation control. Such asymmetrically and symmetrically distributed surface patches possess regioselective, sequence, and site-specific DNA binding capabilities. As a result, we realized a series of prototypical multicomponent "colloidal molecules" made of AuNBPs and Au nanospheres (AuNSs) with defined directionality and number of "bonding valence" as well as 1D and 3D hierarchical assemblies, e.g., inverse core-satellites of AuNBPs and AuNSs, side-by-side and tip-to-tip linear assemblies of AuNBPs, and 3D helical superstructures of AuNBPs with tunable twists. These findings inspire new opportunities for nanoparticle surface engineering and the high-order self-assembly of nanoarchitectures with higher complexity and broadened functionalities.


Assuntos
DNA , Ouro , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Propriedades de Superfície , Ouro/química , DNA/química , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Conformação de Ácido Nucleico
19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38690880

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Distal basilar artery aneurysms (DBAs) are high-risk lesions for which endovascular treatment is preferred because of their deep location, yet indications for open clipping nonetheless remain. The subtemporal approach allows for early proximal control and direct visualization of critical posterior perforating arteries, especially for posterior-projecting aneurysms. Our objective was to describe our clinical experience with the subtemporal approach for clipping DBAs in the evolving endovascular era. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-institution case series of patients with DBAs treated with microsurgery over a 21-year period (2002-2023). Demographic, clinical, and surgical data were collected for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients underwent clipping of 11 ruptured and 16 unruptured DBAs with a subtemporal approach (24 female; mean age 53 years). Ten patients had expanded craniotomies for treatment of additional aneurysms. The aneurysm occlusion rate was 100%. Good neurological outcomes as defined by the modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 and Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≥4 were achieved in 21/27 patients (78%). Two patients died before hospital discharge, one from vasospasm-induced strokes and another from an intraoperative myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that microsurgical clip ligation of DBAs using the subtemporal approach remains a viable option for complex lesions not amenable to endovascular management.

20.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces ; 16(19): 24951-24960, 2024 May 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38687553

RESUMO

Chiral plasmonic nanocrystals have recently attracted increasing attention in circular polarization-dependent photocatalysis driven by hot carriers. While being concealed in traditional ensemble measurements, the individual chiral photocatalytic activity of nanocrystals can exclusively be revealed by directly correlating the circular differential photocurrent response to helical morphologies using single-particle techniques. Herein, we develop a method named circular differential photocurrent mapping (CDPM) and demonstrate that CDPM can be used to characterize the circular differential hot electron (CDHE) response from individual Au nanohelicoids (AuNHs) on a TiO2 photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell. The single-particle circular differential scattering and CDHE measurements were interpreted with calculations performed on a model in direct correlation to the helical morphologies of the nanocrystal. While CDHE response was found inactive at a dipolar resonance of 750 nm, helicity-convoluted sites of HE generation were identified on the AuNH at a specific higher-order mode of 550 nm, resulting in a significant response of CDHE in association with the handedness of the AuNH. Details of circular differential contributions were further resolved by examining the efficiencies of individual AuNHs in terms of g-factors. Our study provides a powerful microscopic method at the single-particle level for the photocatalytic characterization of chiral nanocrystals, gaining fundamental insights into the photocatalysis of chirality, especially toward plasmon-induced asymmetrical photochemistry or photoelectrochemistry.

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