Patient With a Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Right Heart Chamber That Caused Cardiogenic Shock Was Well-Responded to Corticosteroids and Chemotherapy.

Heart tumors are sporadic. Secondary heart tumors are 30 times more common than primary ones. Depending on the location and origin of the tumor, clinical pictures vary from asymptomatic to severe manifestations such as arrhythmia, heart failure, pericardial effusion, and cardiogenic shock. We report hereby a rare case who presented with faint clinical symptoms, rapidly progressing to right heart failure within a month. Echocardiography and computed tomography of the chest revealed a tumor in the right heart chamber of 72.0 × 43.0 mm, in addition to large mediastinal lymph and left supraclavicular lymph nodes, cardiogenic shock appeared 4 days after admission. Through examination, it was suspected that this was a cardiac lymphoma. The patient was treated with 2 mg methylprednisolone per kg body weight. Symptoms of cardiogenic shock improved significantly and disappeared after 6 hours of treatment. After supraclavicular lymph node biopsy and immunohistochemistry, the final result was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with large lymphoma in the right heart. The patient received chemotherapy with the R-CHOP regimen (Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisolone). Re-examination before the 5th chemotherapy cycle showed no signs of right heart failure, normal self-activity, and no dyspnea on exertion, and the tumor size in the heart on the echocardiogram was 23.8 × 19.1 mm. The report shows that a large right heart tumor with a clinical picture of cardiogenic shock in a patient with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was well-responded to initial treatment with methylprednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight and R-CHOP chemotherapy.

High performance method for COPD features extraction using Complex Network.

OBJECTIVES: The paper proposes a novel methodology for the classification of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) utilizing respiratory sound attributes. Methods: The approach involves segmenting respiratory sounds into individual breaths and conducting extensive studies on this dataset. Spectral Transforms, various Wavelet Transforms are applied to capture distinct signal features. Complex Network is also employed to extract characteristic elements, generating novel representations of spectrogram data based on graph factors, including entropy, density, and position. The normalized and enriched data is then used to develop COPD classifiers using six machine learning algorithms, fine-tuning with appropriate training details and hyperparameter tuning. Results: Our results demonstrate robust performance, with ROC curves consistently exhibiting an Area Under the Curve (AUC) > 96% across different time-frequency transformations. Notably, the Random Forest algorithm achieves an AUC of 99.67%, outperforming other algorithms. Moreover, the Wavelet Daubechies 2 (Db2) consistently approaches 98% accuracy, particularly noteworthy in conjunction with the Naive Bayes algorithm. Conclusion: This study diagnosis patients through spectrogram images extracted from lung sounds. The application of Inverse Transforms, Complex Network, and Optimized Classification Algorithms yielded results beyond expectations. This methodology provides a promising approach for accurate COPD diagnosis, leveraging Machine Learning techniques applied to respiratory sound analysis.

Hemicellulose-Based Sensors: When Sustainability Meets Complexity.

Hemicelluloses (HCs) are promising sustainable biopolymers with a great natural abundance, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Yet, their potential sensing applications remain limited due to intrinsic challenges in their heterogeneous chemical composition, structure, and physicochemical properties. Herein, recent advances in the development of HC-based sensors for different chemical analytes and physical stimuli using different transduction mechanisms are reviewed and discussed. HCs can be utilized as carbonaceous precursors, reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, binders, and active components for sensing applications. In addition, different strategies to develop and improve the sensing capacity of HC-based sensors are also highlighted.

Harnessing graph state resources for robust quantum magnetometry under noise.

Precise measurement of magnetic fields is essential for various applications, such as fundamental physics, space exploration, and biophysics. Although recent progress in quantum engineering has assisted in creating advanced quantum magnetometers, there are still ongoing challenges in improving their efficiency and noise resistance. This study focuses on using symmetric graph state resources for quantum magnetometry to enhance measurement precision by analyzing the estimation theory under time-homogeneous and time-inhomogeneous noise models. The results show a significant improvement in estimating both single and multiple Larmor frequencies. In single Larmor frequency estimation, the quantum Fisher information spans a spectrum from the standard quantum limit to the Heisenberg limit within a periodic range of the Larmor frequency, and in the case of multiple Larmor frequencies, it can exceed the standard quantum limit for both noisy cases. This study highlights the potential of graph state-based methods for improving magnetic field measurements under noisy environments.

A modification of normalized difference drought index to enhance drought assessment using remotely sensed imagery.

Drought is one of the common natural disasters with a wide range of occurrences in terms of space and time, and with varying levels of severity, that may result in economic damage and health issues to humans. This study focuses on assessing drought severity in the Central Highlands of Vietnam based on ground meteorological stations and multispectral remote sensing data. A Modification of the Normalized Difference Drought Index (MNDDI) was developed to enhance the effectiveness of remote sensing indices in the drought assessment. Results indicate that MNDDI outperforms Normalized Difference Drought Index and other investigated indicators, such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Latent Heat Index, and Normalized Difference Water Index, in representing the Earth's surface response to drought events. Correlations ranging from 0.85 to 0.63 were identified between MNDDI and various time scales of the commonly used meteorological drought indicator, namely the Standardized Precipitation Index, during the drought year of 2015. This work also reveals the superiority of MNDDI in portraying the response of land cover types to drought situations. The finding of a severe drought phenomenon in critical agricultural zones is highly consistent with the report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. This study contributes valuable insights to the preliminary assessment of drought through remote sensing data, offering a foundation for precise drought outlooks and effective risk management strategies.

New records of birds from Central Vietnam.

Background: There has been a series of bird surveys conducted in Vietnam over the last 20 years. However, most of these studies and surveys have focused on sites in Tonkin, the Red River Delta, Cochinchina (Mekong Delta), the Central Highlands and mountainous areas of Central Annam (Central region of Vietnam). The central coastal plain as well as the mountainous region of North Annam have rarely been comprehensively investigated. New information: As a result of our field surveys in 2023 and 2024, a total of 15 species of birds are recorded for the first time from North, Central and South Annam, comprising one Frigate-Bird species (Fregatidae), one ibis (Threskiornithidae), one reed-warbler (Acrocephalidae), one Treecreeper (Certhiidae), two buntings (Emberizidae), one chat (Muscicapidae), one yuhina (Zosteropidae), two nuthatches (Sittidae), two members of the laughingthrush family (Leiothrichidae) and three bulbuls (Pycnonotidae). In addition to photographs confirming the new records, we provide information on the distribution and conservation status of these newly-recorded bird species from Central Vietnam.

The interactions between zeolite and two cellulose derivatives: A comprehensive analysis of liquid and solid phase properties.

This study investigates the impact of cellulose-derived polymers, anionic carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and cationic cellulose (CC) on the colloidal and thermal stability of zeolite Na-X materials. By exploring polymer adsorption onto Na-X surfaces and characterising the resultant materials, using FT-IR, XPS, SEM, PSD, CHN, and zeta potential, the research unveils how CMC and CC modify zeolite properties. This investigation elucidates the potential roles of these polymers in colloidal systems with zeolites, revealing their promise for crafting organic-inorganic materials. Additional insight was also provided by careful examination of the thermal stability (TGA-DSC) of the obtained cellulose/zeolite materials. Furthermore, the study distinguishes the different adsorption mechanisms of CMC and CC, with CMC relying on some weak interactions (H-bonding and van der Waals forces), while CC interacts mainly via electrostatic forces. Both CMC and CC can act as stabilizing agents, with CMC being more efficient and using both electrosteric and depletion stabilizations. Importantly, the concentration of CC plays a role in bridging flocculation, highlighting the concentration-dependent nature of the stabilization mechanism.

Bilothorax as a complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A rare case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Bilothorax is a rare and poorly documented condition in the medical literature, with following hepatobiliary procedures being the most common cause. We present a case of bilothorax following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman with a history of prior percutaneous biliary stone removals presented with Charcot's triad and was diagnosed with cholangitis due to a distal common bile duct stone. She underwent ERCP with successful stone extraction and stent placement. Two days later, she developed a right-sided pleural effusion diagnosed as a post-ERCP bilothorax. She was treated with thoracentesis and antibiotics, and her condition significantly improved. After 15 days, she was discharged, and a one-month follow-up showed no complications or recurrence. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Bile is a potent chemo irritant that can cause adhesive pleurodesis. Besides, accompanying cholangitis can lead to pleural infection and empyema. In this patient, early diagnosis leading to timely pleural drainage decisions helped avoid potential consequences. CONCLUSION: Post-ERCP bilothorax is a rare complication but can lead to severe consequences. Nonoperative management by pleural drainage is a safe and effective strategy if diagnosis is made early, helping patients avoid more invasive interventions.

IGF-1 Mediated Neuroprotective Effects of Olfactory-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Auditory Hair Cells.

IMPORTANCE: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capability of providing ongoing paracrine support to degenerating tissues. Since MSCs can be extracted from a broad range of tissues, their specific surface marker profiles and growth factor secretions can be different. We hypothesized that MSCs derived from different sources might also have different neuroprotective potential. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we extracted MSCs from rodent olfactory mucosa and compared their neuroprotective effects on auditory hair cell survival with MSCs extracted from rodent adipose tissue. METHODS: Organ of Corti explants were dissected from 41 cochlea and incubated with olfactory mesenchymal stem cells (OMSCs) and adipose mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs). After 72 hours, Corti explants were fixed, stained, and hair cells counted. Growth factor concentrations were determined in the supernatant and cell lysate using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Co-culturing of organ of Corti explants with OMSCs resulted in a significant increase in inner and outer hair cell stereocilia survival, compared to control. Comparisons between both stem cell lines, showed that co-culturing with OMSCs resulted in superior inner and outer hair cell stereocilia survival rates over co-culturing with AMSCs. Assessment of growth factor secretions revealed that the OMSCs secrete significant amounts of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Co-culturing OMSCs with organ of Corti explants resulted in a 10-fold increase in IGF-1 level compared to control, and their secretion was 2 to 3 times higher compared to the AMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that OMSCs may mitigate auditory hair cell stereocilia degeneration. Their neuroprotective effects may, at least partially, be ascribed to their enhanced IGF-1 secretory abilities compared to AMSCs.

An insight into the antioxidant activities and the exploration of record high quantities of quercetin and luteolin in the plant parts of Myxopyrum smilacifolium (wall.) Blume.

This study attempts to reveal antioxidants in the plant parts of Myxopyrum smilacifolium (Wall.) Blume using antioxidant assays and LC-MS/MS analysis. Methanol is the most effective solvent for collecting antioxidants. The roots-derived methanol extract demonstrates the greatest antioxidant activity, corresponding to the extremely low IC50 values of 16.39 µg/mL and 19.80 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. The high phenolic and flavonoid contents are the primary reason for outstanding total antioxidant capacity (TAC; i.e. 247.73 ± 1.62 mg GA/g or 163.93 ± 0.83 mg AS/g) of the root extract. LC-MS/MS quantification of five phenolic compounds reveals exceptionally high amounts of quercetin and luteolin in the root extract, ranging from 238.86 ± 5.74 to 310.99 ± 1.44 µg/g and from 201.49 ± 7.84 to 234.10 ± 2.54 µg/g, respectively, in the root-derived methanol extract. The achievement highlights M. smilacifolium as a promising source of natural antioxidants for large-scale medical applications.

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light by cobalt ferrite nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots.

A simple approach was developed to synthesize cobalt ferrite nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots (CF/GQDs). The material was prepared from a homogeneous mixture of iron nitrate, cobalt nitrate, and starch at 140, 180 and 200 °C in a 24 h thermal hydrolysis process. The obtained materials were characterised by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, vibrating-sample magnetometry, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. Cobalt ferrite crystals of around 8-10 nm and graphene quantum dots formed directly at 200 °C. Stacking GQDs sheets onto the CF nanoparticles resulted in CF/GQDs nanoparticles. The nanocomposite exhibits satisfactory fluorescent and superparamagnetic properties, which are vital for catalytic applications. The CF/GQDs catalyse significantly the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The catalyst can be recycled with an external magnetic field and displays suitable stability. Also, it was reused in three successive experiments with a loss of efficiency of about 5%. The CF/GQDs are considered as an efficient photocatalyst for MB degradation and other dyes.

Qatar's National Mental Health Survey-The World Mental Health Qatar: Sampling design, instrument adaptation, quality control, and fielding procedures.

OBJECTIVES: The World Mental Health Qatar (WMHQ) study, the first national general population mental health survey in Qatar, was conducted as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. It was one of the few WMH survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents the methodological advances and challenges encountered while conducting the survey by telephone during the pandemic. METHODS: Disproportionate stratified sampling using a national-level cellular telephone frame selected a representative sample of Arabic-speaking adults. Participants were initially contacted via Short Message Service text, followed by telephone interviews. WMH training materials supported a comprehensive training program, and data quality was ensured through a quality control indicator system and extensive monitoring. RESULTS: Over 234 days, 5195 interviews in Arabic were completed, averaging 77 min each. In line with Qatar's population, the majority of participants were non-Qatari residents living in Qatar (72.2%). CONCLUSIONS: A distributed remote Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing system facilitated centralized quality monitoring and data security. However, the pandemic intensified challenges such as remote management of interviewer productivity, low response rates, and rising survey costs. The findings will inform Qatar's mental health policymakers, and the strategies used to address these challenges offer valuable insights for researchers worldwide.

Feasibility of replacing face-to-face with telephone interviews for the World Mental Health Qatar survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the feasibility of replacing face-to-face with telephone interviews conducted as part of the World Mental Health Qatar (WMHQ) survey and discuss the main methodological changes across the two pilots that were subsequently implemented in the full-scale WMHQ telephone survey. METHODS: We assessed the net mode effect by comparing the lifetime prevalence estimates of the main mental disorder classes (mood and anxiety disorders) and a number of disorders across the two survey pilots conducted prior to and post-pandemic. RESULTS: The main differences in terms of methodology for both pilots stemmed from differences in the survey mode, including questionnaire length, study recruitment method, and fielding team size and structure. These factors influenced response rates and costs. However, the lifetime prevalence estimates and other key indicators of survey results did not differ across modes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the comparability of data collected via telephone and face-to-face modes, supporting the adoption of telephone surveys for future mental health studies, particularly in the context of pandemics. They also confirm the feasibility of changing or mixing modes depending on field conditions in future psychiatric epidemiological research.

Improving Laryngoscopy Image Analysis Through Integration of Global Information and Local Features in VoFoCD Dataset.

The diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold disorders heavily rely on the use of laryngoscopy. A comprehensive vocal fold diagnosis requires accurate identification of crucial anatomical structures and potential lesions during laryngoscopy observation. However, existing approaches have yet to explore the joint optimization of the decision-making process, including object detection and image classification tasks simultaneously. In this study, we provide a new dataset, VoFoCD, with 1724 laryngology images designed explicitly for object detection and image classification in laryngoscopy images. Images in the VoFoCD dataset are categorized into four classes and comprise six glottic object types. Moreover, we propose a novel Multitask Efficient trAnsformer network for Laryngoscopy (MEAL) to classify vocal fold images and detect glottic landmarks and lesions. To further facilitate interpretability for clinicians, MEAL provides attention maps to visualize important learned regions for explainable artificial intelligence results toward supporting clinical decision-making. We also analyze our model's effectiveness in simulated clinical scenarios where shaking of the laryngoscopy process occurs. The proposed model demonstrates outstanding performance on our VoFoCD dataset. The accuracy for image classification and mean average precision at an intersection over a union threshold of 0.5 (mAP50) for object detection are 0.951 and 0.874, respectively. Our MEAL method integrates global knowledge, encompassing general laryngoscopy image classification, into local features, which refer to distinct anatomical regions of the vocal fold, particularly abnormal regions, including benign and malignant lesions. Our contribution can effectively aid laryngologists in identifying benign or malignant lesions of vocal folds and classifying images in the laryngeal endoscopy process visually.

Workplace wellbeing in community pharmacy practice: A cross-sectional study in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Background: Among pharmacy workers, low workplace wellbeing can lead to reduced effectiveness. However, to date, studies on this issue are limited within the community pharmacy setting in Vietnam. Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the component aspects of workplace wellbeing and their associations with demographic characteristics. Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Can Tho, Vietnam. Self-administered questionnaires were hand-delivered to all pharmacy workers working at selected community pharmacies. The workplace wellbeing scale comprised 18 items. Results: In total, 382 pharmacy workers participated in this study. Factor analysis revealed three fundamental aspects to workplace wellbeing: Factor 1 - perceived self-worth and job satisfaction, Factor 2 - positive emotions with work, and Factor 3 - negative emotions with work. Factor 1 showed a positive correlation with Factor 2, with a correlation coefficient (ρ) of 0.509, while both Factor 1 (ρ = -0.399) and Factor 2 (ρ = -0.416) demonstrated negative correlations with Factor 3. Higher income was associated with higher positive emotions with work (P = 0.008), higher perceived self-worth and job satisfaction (P = 0.013), and lower negative emotions with work (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Workplace wellbeing of pharmacy workers in their professional environments was associated with financial aspects. These findings suggest that policies aimed at improving income for pharmacy workers could bring benefits to enhancing job satisfaction and workplace wellbeing.

Sound Exposure Promotes Intratympanic Drug Delivery to the Inner Ear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of sound exposure, with the resultant windows vibration on perilymphatic concentrations following intratympanic (IT) dexamethasone and gentamicin in an animal model. STUDY DESIGN: Animal model blinded study. SETTING: Animal facility of a tertiary medical center. METHODS: Bilateral IT dexamethasone or gentamicin was applied to 15 tested rats. Following injections, each rat was exposed for 3 minutes to free field 30 dB sound pressure level (SPL), 512 vHz noise, with 1 external auditory canal plugged (contralateral control). Following noise exposure, perilymph was obtained from both ears. Drug concentrations were measured using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. RESULTS: For dexamethasone, the average (±SD) perilymphatic steroidal concentration was 0.417 µg/mL (±0.549) in the control ears versus 0.487 µg/mL (±0.636) in the sound-exposed ears (P = .008). The average (±SD) gentamicin perilymphatic concentration was 8.628 µg/mL (±2.549) in the sound-exposed ears, compared to 4.930 µg/mL (±0.668) in the contralateral control (nonsound exposed) ears. Sound exposure promoted steroidal and gentamicin diffusion to the inner ear by an averaged (±SD) factor of 1.431 and 1.730 (±0.291 and 0.339), respectively. CONCLUSION: Low-intensity noise (30 dB SPL) was found to enhance dexamethasone phosphate and gentamicin diffusion to the inner ear (by an averaged factor of ∼1.4 and 1.7, respectively) in a murine model.

Comparison of Clinical Features, Short-Term Outcome of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Between Adults and Children: A Retrospective Study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive research on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults and children, there is a lack of comparison regarding short-term outcomes in various age groups. Our study aims to elucidate the differences in clinical features and short-term outcomes in Vietnam. METHODS: After retrospective data collection, we compared clinical features in patients with GBS aged ≤16 years at Children's Hospital 2 and aged >16 years at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City from 2017 to 2021. A positive short-term outcome was recorded if patients had a GBS Disability Score of 0 to 2 at hospital discharge. RESULTS: We analyzed 109 adults (58.7% males; mean age 50.6 ± 17.7) and 111 children (58.6% males; mean age 7.2 ± 4.9). Comparable antecedent infection and immunization incidence in both groups were observed (35.8% vs 45.9%, P > 0.05). Pain and sensory disturbance were the most common onset symptom in adults (57.8%), whereas lower limb weakness predominated in children (61.3%). Ophthalmoplegia (18.3% vs 5.4%), pain, sensory disturbance (85.3% vs 67.6%), ataxia (33.0% vs 15.3%) were more prevalent in adults (P < 0.05). The axonal subtype was prominent in both adults (51.4%) and children (53.2%). Patients were classified into: classic GBS (49.5% and 68.5%), GBS variants (11.0% and 15.3%), classic Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) (1.8% and 1.8%), MFS variants (2.8% and 0%), and GBS/MFS overlap (34.9% and 14.4%). Short-term outcomes did not significantly differ based on age. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related variations in clinical features were observed, but adults and children exhibited similar short-term functional outcomes.

A novel method in COPD diagnosing using respiratory signal generation based on CycleGAN and machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this research is to use distinctive features in respiratory sounds for diagnosing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This study develops a classification method by utilizing inverse transforms to effectively identify COPD based on unique respiratory features while comparing the classification performance of various optimal algorithms. METHOD: Respiratory sounds are divided into individual breathing cycles. In the data standardization and augmentation phase, the CycleGAN model enhances data diversity. Comprehensive analyses for these segments are then implemented using various Wavelet families and different spectral transformations representing characteristic signals. Advanced convolutional neural networks, including VGG16, ResNet50, and InceptionV3, are used for the classification task. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the mentioned method. Notably, the best-performing method utilizes Wavelet Bior1.3 after standardization in combination with InceptionV3, achieving a remarkable 99.75% F1-score, the gold standard for classification accuracy. CONCLUSION: Inverse transformation techniques combined with deep learning models show significant accuracy in detecting COPD disease. These findings suggest the feasibility of early COPD diagnosis through AI-powered characterization of acoustic features. MOTIVATION AND SIGNIFICANCE: The motivation behind this research stems from the urgent need for early and accurate diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a respiratory disease that poses many difficulties when detected late, potentially causing severe harm to the patient's quality of life and increasing the healthcare burden. Timely identification and intervention are crucial to reduce the progression of the disease and improve patient outcomes.

Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube using endovascular balloon under local anesthesia-a case series and systematic literature review.

Objective: To report a novel technique in Balloon Dilation of Eustachian Tube (BDET) using an endovascular balloon (EVB), in a prospective cohort. The results are compared with reported outcomes using standard balloons. Methods: Demographic information and clinical parameters were collected prospectively fora series of patients with obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD). Balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty was performed under local anesthesia in a tertiary referral center, using the EVB. Systematic literature review was used for comparison, using Medline via "PubMed", "Embase", and "Web of Science". Results: Eight OETD candidates (12 ears) were enrolled; 5 males and 3 females. Average age was 48 (range -23 to 63) years. The most common presenting symptom was aural fullness (9/12), followed by ear pressure (7/12), hearing loss (5/12) and tinnitus (4/12). Otoscopically, tympanic membrane retraction was evident in 10/12 ears, the majority of which was class II-Sade classification. Pre-operative tympanogram was type B and C in 7 and 5 ears, respectively. All BDETs were performed without complications. Post-operative tympanometry was A in 8/12 ears. Post-operatively, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 results reduced to within normal limits (average score ≤3) in 11/12 ears (p = 0.0014). The systematic literature review included 6 papers (193 patients, 262 ETs) with comparable results, most also with little adverse effects. Conclusion: BDET using an EVB is a safe and effective option for OETD. It is well tolerated under local anesthesia in properly selected individuals. The reduced procedural cost may be an important factor in certain healthcare jurisdictions.

Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoids on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma xenograft in BALB/c nude mice model.

Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant and lethal tumor of the exocrine pancreas. Cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa have been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in several human tumors. However, the anti-tumor effect of cannabinoids on human PDAC is not entirely clarified. In this study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) at a dose of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight compared to the negative control (sesame oil) and positive control (5-fluorouracil) was investigated in human PDAC xenograft nude mice model. The findings showed that cannabinoids significantly decreased the mitotic cells and mitotic/apoptotic ratio, meanwhile dramatically increased the apoptotic cells. Parallelly, cannabinoids significantly downregulated Ki-67 and PCNA expression levels. Interestingly, cannabinoids upregulated BAX, BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and Caspase-3, meanwhile, downregulated BCL-2 expression level and could not change Caspase-8 expression level. These findings suggest that cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human PDAC xenograft models. Cannabinoids, including THC:CBD, should be further studied for use as the potent PDCA therapeutic agent in humans.