Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Medicine: A Comprehensive Toolkit for Change in Radiology.

This toolkit presents a comprehensive framework for a toolkit intended to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the medical field and recommendations. We advocate for clear, comprehensive definitions and interpretations of fundamental EDI terms, laying the groundwork necessary for initiating and maintaining EDI initiatives. Furthermore, we offer a systematic approach to establishing EDI committees within medical departments, accentuating the pivotal role these committees play as they drive and steer EDI strategies. This toolkit also explores strategies tailored for the recruitment of a diverse workforce. This includes integral aspects such as developing inclusive job advertisements, implementing balanced search methods for candidates, conducting unbiased appraisals of applications, and structuring diverse hiring committees. The emphasis on these strategies not only augments the diversity within medical institutions but also sets the stage for a more holistic approach to healthcare delivery. Therefore, by adopting the recommended strategies and guidelines outlined in this framework, medical institutions and specifically radiology departments can foster an environment that embodies inclusivity and equity, thereby enhancing the quality of patient care and overall health outcomes.

3D bioprinting for organ and organoid models and disease modeling.

INTRODUCTION: 3D printing, a versatile additive manufacturing technique, has diverse applications ranging from transportation, rapid prototyping, clean energy, and medical devices. AREAS COVERED: The authors focus on how 3D printing technology can enhance the drug discovery process through automating tissue production that enables high-throughput screening of potential drug candidates. They also discuss how the 3D bioprinting process works and what considerations to address when using this technology to generate cell laden constructs for drug screening as well as the outputs from such assays necessary for determining the efficacy of potential drug candidates. They focus on how bioprinting how has been used to generate cardiac, neural, and testis tissue models, focusing on bio-printed 3D organoids. EXPERT OPINION: The next generation of 3D bioprinted organ model holds great promises for the field of medicine. In terms of drug discovery, the incorporation of smart cell culture systems and biosensors into 3D bioprinted models could provide highly detailed and functional organ models for drug screening. By addressing current challenges of vascularization, electrophysiological control, and scalability, researchers can obtain more reliable and accurate data for drug development, reducing the risk of drug failures during clinical trials.

Second-Degree Burns and Aloe Vera: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Aloe vera is a cost-effective, accessible wound care adjunct with a minimal risk profile. Despite its centuries-long history being used to treat varying wound types, published reports remain inconclusive on its efficacy. In this article, the authors report the results of a systematic review assessing the efficacy of topical aloe vera products in wound care applications, as well as a meta-analysis of its utility in burn healing where data are most robust. DATA SOURCES: In accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the authors searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials assessing the use of aloe vera in healing various wound types. STUDY SELECTION: The database search identified 91 articles. After duplicates were removed, 74 articles were screened, and of those, 47 were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, 28 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 4 studies assessing second-degree burns were included in the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: The following data points were collected from each study: number of participants/wounds, treatment type, adjunctive therapy (if any), and primary outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Risk-of-bias analysis was conducted on included articles, and results were compiled. A meta-analysis was undertaken for studies focusing on the treatment of burns. Cumulatively, these studies had a total of 133 patients with 163 wounds being assessed. Analysis revealed a statistically significant mean difference in time to healing of 4.44 days in favor of aloe vera treatment (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Topical aloe vera usage for second-degree burn wound healing demonstrated significantly faster time to healing compared with other treatments.

Cryopreservation of embryogenic cultures of Dioscorea bulbifera l. by encapsulation- dehydration.

Embryogenic cultures of Dioscorea bulbifera were cryopreserved using an encapsulation- dehydration procedure with subsequent plant regeneration. Embryogenesis was induced by culturing in vitro grown axillary bud meristems on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg per liter 2,4-D. After cryopreservation, recovery growth of embryogenic culture up to 53.3 percent was recorded when excised proliferating embryogenic cultures of 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter were: encapsulated in 3 percent calcium alginate containing 0.15 M sucrose followed by preculturing with 0.5 M sucrose for 3 d; dehydrated in the laminar air flow for 4 h, thereby reducing the bead moisture content to 19.4 percent ( fresh weight basis); plunged into liquid nitrogen; thawed at 40 degree C; and cultured on recovery growth medium, i.e. MS supplemented with 2.0 mg per liter 2,4-D and 0.3 mg per liter BAP. However, preculturing for an extended period of 7 d increased the recovery growth further to 67.8 percent. During recovery growth the embryogenic tissue protruded out of the beads without loss of structural integrity of the cryopreserved embryos. Subculturing of these cultures on to embryo conversion medium, i.e. MS medium with 0.5 mg per liter zeatin and 400 mg per liter glutamine, resulted in production of plantlets through embryo conversion. The regenerated plantlets exhibited the same morphology as that of originally maintained in vitro plantlets and were established in vivo, in a net house with 80 percent success.

Cryopreservation of in vitro shoot tips of Dioscorea deltoidea Wall., an endangered medicinal plant: effect of cryogenic procedure and storage duration.

In vitro shoot tips of Dioscorea deltoidea Wall., an endangered medicinal plant, were successfully cryopreserved using the vitrification and the encapsulation-dehydration techniques with subsequent high frequency plant regeneration. Using vitrification, post-liquid nitrogen (LN) shoot regeneration up to 83% was recorded when excised shoot tips were pretreated overnight on MS medium containing 0.3 M sucrose followed by loading with MS containing 2 M glycerol plus 0.4 M sucrose for 20 min at 25 degree C, dehydration with PVS2 for 90 min at 0 degree C and quenching in LN. After 1 h of storage in LN, the shoot tips were rewarmed in a water-bath at 40 degrees C, unloaded with 1.2 M sucrose solution for 20 min and cultured on recovery growth medium. While using encapsulation-dehydration, the highest regeneration frequency recorded was 76% when sucrose-pretreated shoot tips were encapsulated with 3% calcium alginate, precultured in 0.75 M sucrose for 3 days, dehydrated to 25% moisture content (FW basis) under the laminar air flow, stored in LN for 1h and rewarmed at 40 degree C. The cryopreserved shoot tips maintained their viability and an unaltered level of regeneration capability after up to one year of storage in LN.