Investigating the impacts of a recirculation sedimentation application on microalgae biomass cultivation in wastewater treatment.

Commercial microalgae production is often interrupted by contamination, leading to short production cycles, reinoculation needs, and culture collapses, significantly increasing costs. This study focuses on investigating Recirculated Sedimentation Application (RSA) to control contamination in microalgae culture systems used for wastewater treatment. Chlorella vulgaris culture was grown in an unsterilized mixture of tertiary treatment effluent and centrate of anaerobic digestion wastewater sludge over a 90-day experimental period. 60 L raceway reactor was operated under a light intensity of 275 µM m-2.s-1 with a 16:8 h light-dark photoperiod. To evaluate the effect of RSA on biological-based problems, the experiment was conducted in three phases. The benefits of utilizing RSA were established through the following observations: effective removal of contaminants at an acceptable level without releasing the culture; extension of the biofilm formation time on the inner walls; inhibition of heterotrophic bacteria and nitrification; enhancement of the suspended solids retention capacity of the raceway tank (up to 770 mg.L-1); and improvement in ammonium removal rate to approximately 30 mg.L-1d-1. The ideal salinity level for both ammonium removal and biomass concentration in RSA should be below 0.02%. These findings demonstrate the potential of phycoremediation for sustainable wastewater treatment and contribute to environmental bioremediation strategies.

This study investigates the effects of recirculated sedimentation using freshly formed and mature algae, based on settleability differences, for microalgae cultivation in open ponds with unsterilized wastewater, with the aim of maintain a stable and productive biomass community. Additionally, this study contributes to expand the current knowledge on several fronts: including removing contaminants without discharging the culture, improving biomass holding capacity of the reactor, reducing biofilm formation on reactor walls, suppressing bacterial growth in the culture media and enhancing ammonium removal rate. To the best of our knowledge, there have not been no previous studies to evaluate the effectiveness of sedimentation for these purposes.

Role of optically pumped magnetometers in presurgical epilepsy evaluation: Commentary of the American Clinical Magnetoencephalography Society.

One of the major challenges of modern epileptology is the underutilization of epilepsy surgery for treatment of patients with focal, medication resistant epilepsy (MRE). Aggravating this distressing failure to deliver optimum care to these patients is the underuse of proven localizing tools, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), a clinically validated, non-invasive, neurophysiological method used to directly measure and localize brain activity. A sizable mass of published evidence indicates that MEG can improve identification of surgical candidates and guide pre-surgical planning, increasing the yield of SEEG and improving operative outcomes. However, despite at least 10 common, evidence supported, clinical scenarios in MRE patients where MEG can offer non-redundant information and improve the pre-surgical evaluation, it is regularly used by only a minority of USA epilepsy centers. The current state of the art in MEG sensors employs SQUIDs, which require cooling with liquid helium to achieve superconductivity. This sensor technology has undergone significant generational improvement since whole head MEG scanners were introduced around in 1990s, but still has limitations. Further advances in sensor technology which may make ME G more easily accessible and affordable have been eagerly awaited, and development of new techniques should be encouraged. Of late, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have received considerable attention, even prompting some potential acquisitions of new MEG systems to be put on hold, based on a hope that OPMs will usher in a new generation of MEG equipment and procedures. The development of any new clinical test used to guide intracranial EEG monitoring and/or surgical planning must address several specific issues. The goal of this commentary is to recognize the current state of OPM technology and to suggest a framework for it to advance in the clinical realm where it can eventually be deemed clinically valuable to physicians and patients. The American Clinical MEG Society (ACMEGS) strongly supports more advanced and less expensive technology and looks forward to continuing work with researchers to develop new sensors and clinical devices which will improve the experience and outcome for patients, and perhaps extend the role of MEG. However, currently, there are no OPM devices ready for practical clinical use. Based on the engineering obstacles and the clinical tradeoffs to be resolved, the assessment of experts suggests that there will most likely be another decade relying solely on "frozen SQUIDs" in the clinical MEG field.

Prevalence and first molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in feces of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Sarcocystis species are obligatorily heteroxenous protozoan parasites with predator-prey life cycles. Global Knowledge about the epidemiology and the distribution pattern of different Sarcocystis species in dog feces are very scarce. Therefore, the current investigation was conducted to declare the occurrence of Sarcocystis in the fecal specimens of the most common canids in Egypt, the domestic dogs, and to identify the species present using various parasitological and molecular approaches. METHODS: A total of 100 dog fecal samples were collected and screened using fecal sugar flotation test for the presence of Sarcocystis oocysts/sporocysts. Additionally, thirty samples were used for genomic DNA extraction. The 18S rRNA gene fragment was the target of primers for a PCR, followed by purification and sequencing of the amplicons. RESULTS: Currently, the results obtained reviewed that 4% of fecal samples were positive for Sarcocystis spp. using LM. Additionally, Sarcocystis spp. were verified in sixteen dogs (53.3%, 16/30) using PCR and subsequent sequencing protocols. Statistically, insignificant difference in prevalence of sarcocystosis relative to age and gender was noticed. Morphologically, the detected sporocysts measured 13.2-16.0 × 9.4-11 µm. Based on the 18S rRNA gene, sequencing analysis of amplicons from sporocysts DNA revealed 99.82% nucleotide homology with published S. tenella partial nucleotide sequences from sheep in Iraq and Iran. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first molecular evidence in support of the final host role of domestic dogs in the life cycle of S. tenella in Egypt, which provides a precious diagnostic tool for further epidemiological studies and for the assessment of the effectiveness of control measures for this disease.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 Expression Regulates Intracellular Iron Levels and Oxidative Stress in the Retinal Endothelium.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 is a heme-containing monooxygenase found mainly in extrahepatic tissues, including the retina. CYP1B1 substrates include exogenous aromatic hydrocarbons, such as dioxins, and endogenous bioactive compounds, including 17ß-estradiol (E2) and arachidonic acid. The endogenous compounds and their metabolites are mediators of various cellular and physiological processes, suggesting that CYP1B1 activity is likely important in maintaining proper cellular and tissue functions. We previously demonstrated that lack of CYP1B1 expression and activity are associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in the retinal vasculature and vascular cells, including retinal endothelial cells (ECs). However, the detailed mechanism(s) of how CYP1B1 activity modulates redox homeostasis remained unknown. We hypothesized that CYP1B1 metabolism of E2 affects bone morphogenic protein 6 (BMP6)-hepcidin-mediated iron homeostasis and lipid peroxidation impacting cellular redox state. Here, we demonstrate retinal EC prepared from Cyp1b1-deficient (Cyp1b1-/-) mice exhibits increased estrogen receptor-α (ERα) activity and expresses higher levels of BMP6. BMP6 is an inducer of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin in the endothelium. Increased hepcidin expression in Cyp1b1-/- retinal EC resulted in decreased levels of the iron exporter protein ferroportin and, as a result, increased intracellular iron accumulation. Removal of excess iron or antagonism of ERα in Cyp1b1-/- retinal EC was sufficient to mitigate increased lipid peroxidation and reduce oxidative stress. Suppression of lipid peroxidation and antagonism of ERα also restored ischemia-mediated retinal neovascularization in Cyp1b1-/- mice. Thus, CYP1B1 expression in retinal EC is important in the regulation of intracellular iron levels, with a significant impact on ocular redox homeostasis and oxidative stress through modulation of the ERα/BMP6/hepcidin axis.

Factors associated with the spatial accessibility of healthcare services measured by the floating catchment area (FCA)-based method: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: The floating catchment area (FCA) method has emerged as the most comprehensive and accurate method for quantifying the spatial accessibility of health care services. There were variants of the FCA-based method that was continuously improvised by the researchers to suit specific local contexts and the different nature of healthcare service delivery. This scoping review identifies factors associated with the spatial accessibility of healthcare services that were specifically measured using the FCAbased method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoping review was performed through electronic databases (PubMed and ScienceDirect) using keywords: 'spatial accessibility', 'floating catchment area' and 'factors'. Google Scholar and Mendeley Network were also used as additional sources to obtain relevant studies. RESULTS: A total of 32 articles were included in this review. Factors identified can be distinguished into two broad categories, which are spatial and non-spatial factors. Spatial factors were remoteness or distance from the urban centre, areas in close proximity to main roads, and some specific geographical characteristics such as mountainous and deltaic regions, whereas non-spatial factors were the degree of urbanisation, population density and various demographic profiles of the population such as socioeconomic status, health need, and minority ethnic composition. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the body of literature pertinent to the factors associated with spatial accessibility to healthcare services. These findings could give insight for researchers to consider and incorporate those additional variables to further improve the FCA-based method calculations.

Stress perceived by drivers in public healthcare facilities in Negeri Sembilan during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare drivers, including ambulance drivers, were less concerned about health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, with not only the risk of COVID-19 infection but also a higher risk of prolonged states of alertness, stress, burnout, fatigue and road traffic accident. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among healthcare drivers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employs a crosssectional study design and utilises self-reported data obtained from locally validated personal stress inventory questionnaires. The data collection period spanned from August 1 to 31, 2020. The study sample consisted of 163 healthcare drivers affiliated with the Negeri Sembilan State Health Department. The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were the first used to determine the association between variables prior to conducting multiple logistic regression to predict the relationship between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: In COVID-19's first year, 7.4% (n = 12) of healthcare drivers reported perceived stress with ambulance drivers reporting more stress (10.6%; n = 5) than non-ambulance drivers (6.0%; n = 7). Simple statistical analysis identified perceived stress significantly associated with household income, smoking status and performing on-call. Further analysis by multiple logistic regression found that perceived stress was significantly related to smoking (aOR 19.9, 95% CI: 1.86-213.90), and performing on-call (aOR 8.69, 95% CI 1.21-62.28). Nevertheless, no association was found between perceived stress and age, ethnicity, marital status, education, household income, co-morbidities, driving assignment, employment duration, needing a part-time job or motor vehicle accident history. CONCLUSION: The study found that the perceived stress amongst Malaysian healthcare drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively low. This could be due to fewer lifethreatening tasks, emergencies, assigned tasks and increase income due to overtime during the COVD-19 pandemic. The OSH team's efforts to provide consistent safety and health training, including stress management, may have contributed to the healthcare driver's ability to effectively manage the stressful circumstances encountered during the pandemic. In order to enhance salary competitiveness, employers should provide financial management education alongside subsidised housing and childcare provisions. Healthcare drivers who smoke should be taught different stress reduction techniques so that they can handle their stress in a healthy way.

A role for Rab30 in retrograde trafficking and maintenance of endosome-TGN organization.

Rab30 is a poorly characterized small GTPase. Here we show that Rab30 is localised primarily to the TGN and recycling endosomes in a range of cell types, including primary neurons; minor levels of Rab30 were also detected throughout the Golgi stack and early endosomes. Silencing of Rab30 resulted in the dispersal of both early and recycling endosomes and TGN compartments in HeLa cells. By analyzing cargo trafficking in Rab30-silenced and Rab30-overexpressing HeLa cells, we demonstrate that Rab30 plays a role in retrograde trafficking of TGN38 from endosomes to the Golgi, but has no apparent role in the endocytic recycling of the transferrin receptor to the plasma membrane. Five interactive partners with Rab30 were identified by pull-down and MS analysis using GFP-tagged Rab30 mutant, Rab30(Q68L). Two of the interactive partners identified were Arf1 and Arf4, known regulators of endosome to TGN retrograde transport. Knockdown of Arf1 and Arf4 results in GFP-Rab30 decorated tubules arising from the recycling endosomes, suggesting association of Rab30 with tubular carriers. Overall our data demonstrates a role for Rab30 in regulating retrograde transport to the TGN and maintenance of endosomal-TGN organization.

A Systematic Review of Publications Using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) to Monitor Education in Medical Colleges in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate publications using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) and its domains, genders, and educational level (EL) to monitor the education environment in medical colleges (MCs), applied medical science colleges (AMSCs), and dental colleges (DCs) in Saudi Arabia (SA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature search was performed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Wiley Library, and Web of Science database keywords and medical, applied medical science, dental colleges headings, followed by a summary and analysis of results. We included all related studies that used DREEM as a tool and were published up to 2022. The following information was extracted from the included studies: researcher's name(s), publication year, overall DREEM, domain, gender, and educational levels. RESULTS Among the 40 studies included in this review, 25 papers were conducted in medical colleges, 5 in applied medical science, and 10 in dental colleges. Overall, DREEM scores among all involved colleges were "more positive than negative," with scores between 101 and 150. In relation to the 5 domains of DREEM, the percentages of medical colleges ranged from 75% to 88% for all domains, whereas it was higher in dental (80% to 90%) in most domains, but considerably lower for applied medical science (50% to 75%). Females had higher DREEM values in dental than medical and applied medical science colleges, whereas educational levels were higher in applied medical science colleges. CONCLUSIONS Overall, DREEM scores were more positive than negative and moved in the correct direction among all involved colleges, with varying degrees of significance between genders and educational levels.

Zymogen-poor acinic cell carcinoma of the soft palate with high-grade transformation.

Acinic cell carcinoma is an uncommon malignant salivary gland tumour accounting for approximately 6-7% of all salivary gland neoplasms. The key diagnostic feature of acinic cell carcinoma is the presence of acinar cell differentiation characterised by cytoplasmic zymogen secretory granules. This tumour shows a variety of growth patterns, including solid, microcystic, follicular and papillary cystic patterns. Acinic cell carcinoma is typically a cytologically low-grade malignancy. Acinic cell carcinomas with high-grade transformation (HGT) are exceedingly rare and are reported to have a more aggressive clinical course than conventional acinic cell carcinoma. This is a case report of this uncommon entity with high-grade transformation arising on the soft palate in a 64-year-old woman.

Karyotype patterns, clinical features, and parental ages of three predominant live born autosomal trisomies of Northeast Malaysia.

Chromosomal abnormality is one of the causes of congenital disorders among newborns. Despite aneuploidy being the major cause of first trimester miscarriages, very few aneuploidies such as trisomies of chromosomes 13, 18 and 21 survive to birth. The results of 4,064 patients referred for cytogenetic analysis at Human Genome Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia between 2008 and 2019 were reviewed. We retrospectively investigated the karyotype patterns, clinical features and parental ages of the three common live-born autosomal trisomies such as trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21. The relative frequency of cases with the total sample received and cultured was calculated in each group and compared with those reported elsewhere. Between 2008 and 2019, a total of 1034 live-born trisomic cases which accounted for 25.4% of the 4064 total referred cases and 73.7% of 1403 suspected trisomy cases, were identified, with age ranging from newborns to 57 years. Down syndrome was the commonest aneuploidy (857 cases; 21.1%) followed by Edwards syndrome (133 cases; 3.3%) and Patau syndrome (44 cases; 1.1%). The number of diagnosed cases for each of the trisomies was fairly stable from year to year. About two-thirds of both maternal and paternal ages were ≥ 35 years. This is the first cytogenetic report on the common live-born autosomal trisomies in the North-Eastern region of Malaysia. The prevalence of trisomies 21 was found to be higher compared to an earlier study in the North-Western region of Malaysia, wherein also, advanced maternal age was a significant risk factor.

FcRn mediates fast recycling of endocytosed albumin and IgG from early macropinosomes in primary macrophages.

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) rescues albumin and IgG from degradation following endocytosis and thereby extends the half-life of these plasma proteins. However, the pathways for the uptake of these soluble FcRn ligands, and the recycling itinerary of the FcRn-ligand complexes, have not been identified in primary cells. Here, we have defined the recycling of human albumin and IgG in primary mouse macrophages selectively expressing the human FcRn. Albumin is internalised by macropinocytosis; in the absence of FcRn, internalised albumin is rapidly degraded, while in the presence of FcRn albumin colocalises to SNX5-positive membrane domains and is partitioned into tubules emanating from early macropinosomes for delivery in transport carriers to the plasma membrane. Soluble monomeric IgG was also internalised by macropinocytosis and rapidly recycled by the same pathway. In contrast, the fate of IgG bound to surface Fcγ receptors differed from monomeric IgG endocytosed by macropinocytosis. Overall, our findings identify a rapid recycling pathway for FcRn ligands from early macropinosomes to the cell surface of primary cells.

Development of cell-based high throughput luminescence assay for drug discovery in inhibiting OCT4/DNA-PKcs and OCT4-MK2 interactions.

Amplification-independent c-MYC overexpression is suggested in multiple cancers. Targeting c-MYC activity has therapeutic potential, but efforts thus far have been mostly unsuccessful. To find a druggable target to modulate c-MYC activity in cancer, we identified two kinases, MAPKAPK2 (MK2) and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), which phosphorylate the Ser111 and the Ser93 residues of OCT4, respectively, to transcriptionally activate c-MYC. Using these observations, we present here a novel cell-based luminescence assay to identify compounds that inhibit the interaction between these kinases and OCT4. After screening approximately 80,000 compounds, we identified 56 compounds ("hits") that inhibited the luminescence reaction between DNA-PKcs and OCT4, and 65 hits inhibiting the MK2-OCT4 interaction. Using custom antibodies specific for pOCT4S93 and pOCT4S111 , the "hits" were validated for their effect on OCT4 phosphorylation and activation. Using a two-step method for validation, we identified two candidate compounds from the DNA-PKcs assay and three from the MK2 assay. All five compounds demonstrate a significant ability to kill cancer cells in the nanomolar range. In conclusion, we developed a cell-based luminescence assay to identify novel inhibitors targeting c-MYC transcriptional activation, and have found five compounds that may function as lead compounds for further development.

Development and validation of pelvic floor muscles exercise intervention for urinary incontinence among pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of urinary incontinence among pregnant women is high in Malaysia. However, healthcare providers appear to pay little attention to it along with a limited local intervention that addresses the continence health during pregnancy. This study aims to develop and validate intervention with pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) for pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The development of PFME intervention was guided by the Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Intervention (MRC Framework). This involved four phases: identification of current research evidence, expert opinion, validation via focus group discussions with physiotherapists and pregnant women, and piloting the intervention using a single group pre-post design among 30 pregnant women at Maternity Hospital Kuala Lumpur to assess the feasibility of the intervention by evaluating changes in knowledge and attitude. The qualitative approach was used to analyse the first three phases, while non-parametric methods were used to analyse the pilot prepost test results. RESULTS: Based on research evidence and guidelines found during the literature review, a PFME intervention was developed using a new paradigm incorporating two theories, the Health Belief Model and Motivational Interviewing that have been shown to be important in continence promotion and exercise adherence. The contribution of the panel of experts in refining the intervention to meet the local context, endorses the achievement of the intervention's content validity. While, the focus group discussion with pregnant women and physiotherapists revealed the face-validity of the intervention. The findings of the pilot pre-testing showed that PFME knowledge (p<0.001) and attitude (p=0.011) improved significantly immediately following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Evidently, this is a pioneer study that illustrates the development of a Malaysian context-adapting PFME intervention on the basis of recommended steps using the MRC Framework. Incorporating a theory-based and rigorous validation approach into the development of the PFME intervention brought novel perspectives to the intervention. Given the promising preliminary results of the pre-testing pilot study, the PFME intervention could be implemented in the planned randomised control trial to validate the robustness of the results.

Long-term evaluation of retinal morphology and function in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Purpose: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a condition of aberrant retinal vascularization in premature infants in response to high levels of oxygen used for critical care that can potentially cause blindness. Although therapies to mitigate vascular abnormalities are being evaluated, functional deficits often remain in patients with treated or regressed ROP. This study investigated long-term outcomes of hyperoxia on retinal morphology and function using a mouse model of oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (OIR). Methods: Twenty-two mice were exposed to 77% oxygen to induce OIR, while 23 age-matched control mice were raised in room air (RA). In vivo fluorescein angiography (FA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and focal electroretinography (fERG) were performed at P19, P24, P32, and P47, followed by histological assessments of retinal morphology, gliosis, microglia activation, and apoptosis. Results: FA in OIR mice showed capillary attrition despite peripheral revascularization. Inner retina thinning was detected with SD-OCT; outer and inner retinal dysfunction were demonstrated with fERG. Histology of the OIR mice exhibited a thin, disorganized structure. Immunohistochemistry showed increased gliosis, microglial activation, and apoptosis with increasing age from P19 to P47. The synapses between rod photoreceptor cells and rod bipolar cells were ectopically localized in the OIR mice. Conclusions: We demonstrated histological evidence of persistent ectopic synapses, prolonged cellular apoptosis, and gliosis in the OIR retina that corresponded with long-term in vivo evidence of capillary attrition, inner retinal thinning, and dysfunction despite full peripheral revascularization. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying these persistent phenotypes could enhance our understanding of ROP pathogenesis and lead to new therapeutic targets to preserve visual function in premature infants.

Inhibition of retinal neovascularization by a PEDF-derived nonapeptide in newborn mice subjected to oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a growing cause of lifelong blindness and visual defects as improved neonatal care worldwide increases survival in very-low-birthweight preterm newborns. Advancing ROP is managed by laser surgery or a single intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF, typically at 33-36 weeks gestational age. While newer methods of scanning and telemedicine improve monitoring ROP, the above interventions are more difficult to deliver in developing countries. There is also concern as to laser-induced detachment and adverse developmental effects in newborns of anti-VEGF treatment, spurring a search for alternative means of mitigating ROP. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent angiogenesis inhibitor appears late in gestation, is undetected in 25-28 week vitreous, but present at full term. Its absence may contribute to ROP upon transition from high-to-ambient oxygen environment or with intermittent hypoxia. We recently described antiangiogenic PEDF-derived small peptides which inhibit choroidal neovascularization, and suggested that their target may be laminin receptor, 67LR. The latter has been implicated in oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (OIR). Here we examined the effect of a nonapeptide, PEDF 336, in a newborn mouse OIR model. Neovascularization was significantly decreased in a dose-responsive manner by single intravitreal (IVT) injections of 1.25-7.5 µg/eye (1.0-6.0 nmol/eye). By contrast, anti-mouse VEGFA164 was only effective at 25 ng/eye, with limited dose-response. Combination of anti-VEGFA164 with PEDF 336 gave only the poorer anti-VEGF response while abrogating the robust inhibition seen with peptide-alone, suggesting a need for VEGF in sensitizing the endothelium to the peptide. VEGF stimulated 67LR presentation on endothelial cells, which was decreased in the presence of PEDF 336. Mouse and rabbit eyes showed no histopathology or inflammation after IVT peptide injection. Thus, PEDF 336 is a potential ROP therapeutic, but is not expected to be beneficial in combination with anti-VEGF.

Natural dead sea salt and retrospective dosimetry.

Accidents resulting in widespread dispersal of radioactive materials have given rise to a need for materials that are convenient in allowing individual dose assessment. The present study examines natural Dead Sea salt adopted as a model thermoluminescence dosimetry system. Samples were prepared in two different forms, loose-raw and loose-ground, subsequently exposed to 60Co gamma-rays, delivering doses in the range 2-10 Gy. Key thermoluminescence (TL) properties were examined, including glow curves, dose response, sensitivity, reproducibility and fading. Glow curves shapes were found to be independent of given dose, prominent TL peaks for the raw and ground samples appearing in the temperature ranges 361-385 ºC and 366-401 ºC, respectively. The deconvolution of glow curves has been undertaken using GlowFit, resulting in ten overlapping first-order kinetic glow peaks. For both sample forms, the integrated TL yield displays linearity of response with dose, the loose-raw salt showing some 2.5 × the sensitivity of the ground salt. The samples showed similar degrees of fading, with respective residual signals 28 days post-irradiation of 66% and 62% for the ground and raw forms respectively; conversely, confronted by light-induced fading the respective signal losses were 62% and 80%. The effective atomic number of the Dead Sea salt of 16.3 is comparable to that of TLD-200 (Zeff 16.3), suitable as an environmental radiation monitor in accident situations but requiring careful calibration in the reconstruction of soft tissue dose (soft tissue Zeff 7.2). Sample luminescence studies were carried out via Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as X-ray diffraction, ionizing radiation dependent variation in lattice structure being found to influence TL response.

Relative contribution of individual versus combined functional imaging studies in predicting seizure freedom in pediatric epilepsy surgery: an area under the curve analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive value and relative contribution of noninvasive presurgical functional imaging modalities based on the authors' institutional experience in pursuing seizure-free surgical outcomes in children with medically refractory epilepsy. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-institution, observational cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent evaluation and surgical treatment for medically refractory partial epilepsy between December 2003 and June 2016. During this interval, 108 children with medically refractory partial epilepsy underwent evaluation for localization and resective epilepsy surgery. Different noninvasive functional imaging modalities, including ictal SPECT, FDG-PET, and magnetoencephalography-magnetic source imaging, were utilized to augment a standardized paradigm (electroencephalography/semiology, MRI, and neuropsychology findings) for localization. Outcomes were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years (mean 7.5 years) utilizing area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Localizing modalities and other clinical covariates were examined in relation to long-term surgical outcomes. RESULTS: There was variation in the contribution of each test, and no single presurgical workup modality could singularly and reliably predict a seizure-free outcome. However, concordance of presurgical modalities yielded a high predictive value. No difference in long-term outcomes between inconclusive (normal or diffusely abnormal) and abnormal focal MRI results were found. Long-term survival analyses revealed a statistically significant association between seizure freedom and patients with focal ictal EEG, early surgical intervention, and no history of generalized convulsions. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive preoperative evaluation utilizing multiple noninvasive functional imaging modalities is not redundant and can improve pediatric epilepsy surgical outcomes.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma as a scaffold in regeneration/revitalization endodontics of immature permanent teeth assessed using 2-dimensional radiographs and cone beam computed tomography: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To assess the outcomes of platelet-rich plasma as a scaffold in regenerative/revitalization endodontics (RET) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 2-dimensional radiographs. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-six healthy patients with mean age of 12.66 ± 4.47, and immature permanent anterior teeth with necrotic pulps, were randomly allocated to two groups, whereby RET was performed using platelet-rich plasma (PRP, test group) and blood clot (BLC, control group). Changes in root length (RL), root dentinal thickness (RDT), apical foramen width (AFW) and radiographic root area (RRA), were assessed using both radiographic methods, whilst changes in periapical area diameter (PAD) were assessed using CBCT, over a period of 12 months. T-test and chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were used to compare continuous and categorical data between BLC and PRP groups, respectively. Changes in RL, RDT, AFW, RRA and PAD were examined by comparing the two groups (PRP versus BLC) using multilevel modelling, considering the clustering effect of repeated measures of several teeth originating from the same participant. RESULTS: Changes in RL, RDT, AFW, RRA and PAD, over time, were found to be significant for both groups. There was, however, no difference between the RET techniques (PRP versus BLC), using both radiographic and CBCT methods. The results of both assessment techniques (CBCT and 2-dimensional radiographic methods) were highly consistent (overall ICC ranged between 0.80 and 0.94). In addition, a significant effect of baseline PAD was found on RL, RRA and AD at 12 months (RL effect = -0.68, P < 0.001; RRA effect = -1.91, P = 0.025; AD effect = 0.08, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: The current study highlights successful and comparable clinical and radiographic outcomes of RET techniques using PRP and BLC. Standardized and calibrated 2-dimensional radiographic assessment was as effective as CBCT in assessing RET outcomes; therefore, the routine use of CBCT in RET is not recommended. Although an effect of baseline periapical lesion diameter on root development outcomes, at 12 months, were observed, more studies are recommended in order to assess such an effect.

Analysis of Frontal Sinus Fracture Management and Resource Utilization.

Frontal sinus fractures require a large amount of force and often occur in the context of a major trauma. Many patients with these fractures are assessed in an emergent setting where stabilization takes precedence. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of a sinus fracture can result in life-threatening conditions, such as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. A number of different treatment algorithms have been proposed, highlighting the complexity of frontal sinus fracture management. The goal of this study is to determine how patients with frontal sinus fractures were treated at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and what complications arose as a result of the fracture and subsequent management strategy. Over 9 years, there were 69 reported cases. A total of 63 of these occurred in males (91.3%) versus 6 (8.7%) in females. The majority occurred after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) or a motorcycle collision (MCC). A total of 51 cases were unilateral fractures and 18 were bilateral fractures. Five patients (7.2%) had CSF leakage and 64 (92.8%) did not have CSF leakage. One patient with CSF leakage (20.0%) was managed operatively. Of the 64 patients without CSF leakage, 4 (6.3%) were managed operatively. All operative patients were managed by cranialization. Complications included vision changes, facial pressure, anosmia, facial paresthesia, pneumocephalus, and mucus retention cysts. Vision changes were the most common complication. There did not appear to be any significant difference in complications between the CSF leakage groups, indicating that non-operative management remains a viable option in the management of frontal sinus fractures.

Effect of Disaccharide Inclusion in Vitrification and Warming Solutions on Developmental Competence of Vitrified/Warmed Germinal Vesicle Stage Buffalo Oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of immature oocyte is a potential strategy for preserving the female germline, providing a non-seasonal, easily accessible source for reproduction and science. Exposure of oocytes to high concentrations of cryoprotectants during vitrification is toxic and can negatively impact the fertilization ability and development of vitrified/warmed oocytes. OBJECTIVE: 1) to evaluate the effects of exposure of buffalo germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes to different vitrification solutions (VS), either supplemented with or without sucrose, on cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation following IVM; and 2) to compare the effects of sucrose and trehalose in the warming solution on developmental competence of buffalo oocytes vitrified at the GV-stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) obtained at slaughter from mature buffalo ovaries were randomly assigned into five groups: control - directly subjected to IVM); VS1 group - exposed to 20% ethylene glycol (EG) + 20% glycerol (GLY) + 0.5 M sucrose; VS2 group - exposed to 20% EG + 20% GLY; VS3 group - subjected to 20% EG+20% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + 0.5 M sucrose; and VS4 group - subjected to 20% EG+20% DMSO. Following cryoprotectant dilution, viable oocytes were matured in vitro for 22 h; cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation were then evaluated (Experiment 1). COCs were vitrified by solid surface vitrification (SSV) in a solution composed of 20% EG + 20% DMSO (VS4). Following vitrification, COCs were warmed in a solution composed of either sucrose or trehalose in decreasing concentrations (1 M, 0.5 M and 0.25 M). Morphologically viable oocytes were matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were evaluated at 30 h and day 7 post-insemination (p.i.), respectively (Experiment 2). RESULTS: Exposure of GV-buffalo oocytes to different cryoprotectant combinations did not significantly affect cumulus expansion following IVM. However, nuclear maturation rate (oocytes at MII) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the groups exposed to sucrose-free vitrification solutions (VS2 and VS4) and not significantly different from the control. Compared with the control group, the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly (P<0.05) lower in oocytes vitrified and then warmed in a solution containing trehalose; whilst this was not the case when sucrose was present in the solution. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that exposure of buffalo GV-oocytes to sucrose-free vitrification solutions improved nuclear maturation after IVM. Moreover, warming of vitrified buffalo oocytes in sucrose-based solution improved preimplantation development following IVM and IVF compared to trehalose based media.