Outcomes of an All-Soft Tissue Fixation Technique for Reconstruction of the Medial Patellofemoral Complex Using Double-Bundle Quadriceps Tendon Autograft for Recurrent Patellar Dislocation in Skeletally Immature Patients.

Background: Patellar fracture, femoral physis injury, and recurrent instability are concerning complications in medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction (MPFLR) techniques for recurrent patellar dislocation in children and adolescents. Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of an anatomic all-soft tissue fixation technique for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral complex (MPFC) using a double-bundle quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft for recurrent patellar dislocation in skeletally immature patients. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This retrospective study involved 24 skeletally immature patients (24 knees; 16 women and 8 men; age range, 9.5-15 years) with recurrent patellar dislocation who underwent MPFC reconstruction using a double-bundle QT autograft between September 2018 and January 2021. Only soft tissue suture fixation was used on the femoral and patellar sides of the 2 bundles of the QT. Radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate physeal status, lower limb alignment, patellar height and tilt, trochlear morphology, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance, and any associated knee pathology. Functional outcomes were assessed with the Kujala score, the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and the grading system of Insall et al.22. Results: The mean follow-up time was 40 ± 9.6 months (range, 28-56 months). At the final follow-up, the Kujala and VAS pain scores showed a significant improvement versus preoperative scores (P < .001), and the passive lateral patellar glide showed a significant reduction (P < .001). All patients had negative apprehension and J signs. Of the 24 patients, 23 regained full range of motion, while 1 patient had a knee flexion deficit. The patellar tilt angle improved significantly at the final follow-up (P < .001). There was no patellar fracture, femoral physis injury, or recurrence of patellar dislocation. According to the grading system of Insall et al, the results were excellent in 15 knees (62.5%), good in 8 knees (33.3%), fair in 1 knee (4.2%), and no knees showed poor results. Conclusion: Reconstruction of the MPFC using a double-bundle QT autograft with an all-soft tissue fixation technique was an effective method for treating patellar instability in skeletally immature patients.

To B or not to B: the application of uterine compression sutures to reduce blood loss after myomectomy.

Introduction: The aim was to assess the hemostatic impact of B-Lynch sutures following an open myomectomy for efficacy. Material and methods: In this prospective clinical research, performed in Alazhar university hospitals (Al-Hussain, Damietta, Assiut) and Minia University Maternity Hospital, 250 women scheduled for open myomectomy between January 2021 and January 2023 had multiple fibroid uteri with uterine sizes corresponding to 12-22 weeks. There were two groups of women. Group I (125) underwent standard open myomectomy surgery, whereas Group II (125) underwent normal open laparotomy surgery followed by B-Lynch sutures. Certain inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to every patient. We recorded vital data, length of the procedure, complications (bleeding during the procedure, bleeding from multiple bites, bladder injury, fever, wound infection), complete blood count before and after surgery, need for blood transfusion, postoperative vital data, time until ambulation, passing flatus, and ability to eat and drink, as well as the amount of blood lost during and after the procedure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in age, parity, weight, number of fibroids, or uterine size as measured by ultrasonography. Between groups I and II, there was a significant difference in the average intraoperative blood loss (Group I lost 562.6 ml, whereas Group II lost 411.3 ml) as well as the mean blood loss following surgery (205 ±82 ml in Group I and 117 ±41 ml in Group II). No significant difference was observed in the mean length of hospital stay between groups I and II (2 ±0.3 days and 2 ±0.6 days, respectively). Conclusions: Using a B-Lynch suture can help minimize blood loss during and after an open myomectomy. Therefore, if the uterus is large and has a lot of fibroids, it is recommended to be done frequently.

Detecting cyberbullying using deep learning techniques: a pre-trained glove and focal loss technique.

This study investigates the effectiveness of various deep learning and classical machine learning techniques in identifying instances of cyberbullying. The study compares the performance of five classical machine learning algorithms and three deep learning models. The data undergoes pre-processing, including text cleaning, tokenization, stemming, and stop word removal. The experiment uses accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score metrics to evaluate the performance of the algorithms on the dataset. The results show that the proposed technique achieves high accuracy, precision, and F1 score values, with the Focal Loss algorithm achieving the highest accuracy of 99% and the highest precision of 86.72%. However, the recall values were relatively low for most algorithms, indicating that they struggled to identify all relevant data. Additionally, the study proposes a technique using a convolutional neural network with a bidirectional long short-term memory layer, trained on a pre-processed dataset of tweets using GloVe word embeddings and the focal loss function. The model achieved high accuracy, precision, and F1 score values, with the GRU algorithm achieving the highest accuracy of 97.0% and the NB algorithm achieving the highest precision of 96.6%.

Prevalence of primary headaches in multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It is characterized by symptoms such as visual disturbances, paresis with spasticity, paresthesia, numbness, and fatigue. However, several studies have shown a high prevalence of headaches in individuals with MS. Migraine and tension-type headaches are the most frequent types of headaches experienced by those with MS. Additionally, the role of MS disease-modifying agents must be considered. These agents have different modes of action and side effect profiles, and their use may sometimes trigger headaches in patients with MS. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical characteristics of primary headaches in MS patients. The relationship between headache and clinical features of MS (Course of MS, duration, EDSS, brain imaging and DMD) are also investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-one MS patients diagnosed according to according to the 2017 revisions to the McDonald Criteria were included in the study. Data was collected from the MS unit medical records and from the interview with the patients. Patients with reported headaches are asked to recall their headache characteristics and patterns using an interviewer administered Arabic language-structured validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 33 years old, with a range of 22-55. Tension-type headache (TTH) was more common in males, patients with more severe disability (EDSS ≥ 3), and those with SPMS and PPMS phenotypes. Additionally, patients on rituximab or cyclophosphamide therapy were more likely to have TTH. On the other hand, females, patients with milder disability (EDSS < 3), and those with RRMS phenotype were more likely to have migraine. This was also true for patients with MRI lesions involving the periaqueductal gray, and those receiving INF or fingolimod (P < 0.05). Periaqueductal gray matter lesions were found in the MRI of 48 patients (40 %) who experienced headaches on more than 10 days per month. Sensorimotor lesions in the brain were found in 55 patients (53.4 %) with severe headaches (p-value < 0.001). Interferons were associated with an increased risk of worsening preexisting headaches and the appearance of de novo headaches related to its intake (odds ratio: 2.84, 3.72; relative risk: 1.63, 2.04; p-value = 0.03, < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, rituximab was associated with a decreased risk of worsening preexisting headaches and the appearance of de novo headaches related to its intake (odds ratio: 0.04, 0.09; relative risk: 0.11, 0.18; p-value = < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Primary headaches are a common occurrence in patients with MS. Migraines and tension-type headaches (TTH) are among the most prevalent types. It has been observed that interferon can exacerbate preexisting headaches and even cause new ones. Additionally, the location of MS plaques may play a role in the frequency and severity of headaches.

Outcomes of surgical treatment of patellar instability in children with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: patellar instability is a relatively frequent musculoskeletal disorder in children with Down syndrome (DS). However, such a condition has seldom been studied in the literature, even less its surgical treatment. Different techniques have been offered for this condition; the evidence for surgical options is scarce and primarily based on case reports or case series with few patients and heterogeneous techniques. Given this background, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of a uniform kind of surgical procedure for such a condition that combined lateral soft tissue release, medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction (using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon autograft), the Roux-Goldthwait procedure, and V-Y quadricepsplasty (if needed). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved 11 skeletally immature patients (12 knees; 9 males and 2 females), 5.5 to 14.1 years of age, with DS who had patellofemoral instability (PFI) and were managed by this technique between October 2018 and March 2020. Preoperative radiography, CT scan, and MRI were performed to evaluate the physis status, lower limb alignment, patellar height, trochlear morphology, and any associated knee pathology. A functional knee assessment was done by using the Kujala score and the modified Lysholm score. RESULTS: The mean time of follow-up (± SD) was 47.7 ± 5.8 months (range: 39-56). Pre-operatively, the Kujala score (± SD) was 52.6 ± 14.3 (range: (31-74), and at final follow-up, it was 92.2 ± 4.4 (range: (88-98), showing a significant improvement (P < 0.001). The preoperative modified Lysholm score (± SD) was 54.3 ± 8.1 (range: 39-62), and at final follow-up it was 92.4 ± 5.3 (range: 82-96), showing a significant improvement (P < 0.001). All patients had a stable patella without a recurrence of instability and regained full ROM. There was no incidence of a patellar fracture or femoral physis injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed technique of combined soft tissue procedures, including lateral soft tissue release, MPFL reconstruction (using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon autograft), the Roux-Goldthwait procedure, and V-Y quadricepsplasty, was an effective method for treating patellar instability in children with DS while avoiding physeal injury and patellar fracture. Functional scores and radiological outcomes were improved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective case series.

Correlation between pulp sensibility and magnetic resonance signal intensity following regenerative endodontic procedures in mature necrotic teeth- a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: With increasing studies being published on regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) as a treatment modality for mature necrotic teeth, the assessment of outcomes following regenerative endodontic procedures has become more challenging and the demand for a better understanding of the regenerated tissues following this treatment is rising. The study aimed to correlate cold, electric pulp testing (EPT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity (SI) in mature necrotic teeth treated with regenerative endodontic procedures. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective cohort study included eighteen adult patients who experienced tooth necrosis in mature maxillary anterior teeth recruited from the outpatient clinic, Conservative Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt from July 2017 until December 2018 with 12 months of follow-up. regenerative endodontic procedures via blood clot were performed. The canals were instrumented by ProTaper Next (PTN) files until final sizes X3 or X5. Biodentine was used as cervical plug material. Pre and post-operative clinical follow-up was done where the patients' responses to cold and electric pulp testing were given a scoring system and were compared to the normal contralateral tooth. Pre and post-operative magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity of both the involved tooth and its contralateral at the middle and the apical thirds of the root canals were assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months. Data was analyzed using the ANOVA, Friedman and Bonferroni tests. Significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: All 18 teeth scored a baseline score of "2" for cold and electric pulp testing. There was a significant difference between scores of the cold test at baseline and 12-month follow-up (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between scores of the electric pulp testing of baseline and 12-month follow-up (p < 0.001). There was a moderately significant indirect (inverse) correlation between magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity and cold test in both the middle and apical thirds at 12 months. No significant correlations were detected between magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity and electric pulp testingat any of the time intervals (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a successful non-invasive method to assess outcomes of regenerative endodontic procedures and correlating it with another reliable method of assessing pulpal responses, cold test, could validate these outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03804450).

Relationship between vitamin D receptors gene polymorphism and arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, a number of studies have linked vitamin-D deficiency with ED (Erectile dysfunction) risk factors. There is a clear correlation between VD (vitamin-D) levels and ED, according to observational and interventional researches that have been reported in the literature. This crucial information encouraged scientists to investigate the impact of VD on erectile function in greater detail. The fact that vitamin D is a component of a healthy penis that begins in early life has just come to light, however there haven't been many research looking at the connection between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and erectile dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between arteriogenic erectile dysfunction and the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between October 2022 and October 2023, at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, 40 patients with arteriogenic ED and 40 healthy controls underwent informed consent, a detailed history, a physical examination, a penile duplex ultrasound and the extraction of peripheral blood to determine the type of polymorphism for each of the vitamin D receptors: FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: There is no statistically significant association between arteriogenic erectile dysfunction and the vitamin D receptors (VDR) gene polymorphisms FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI. CONCLUSION: Since there is no statistically significant association between the polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and arteriogenic erectile dysfunction, it is advised to investigate other VDR gene polymorphisms as well as alternative clinical subtypes of erectile dysfunction.

From diagnosis to resistance: a symphony of miRNAs in pheochromocytoma progression and treatment response.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that produces and secretes catecholamine from either the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal locations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miR) can be used as biomarkers to detect cancer or the return of a previously treated disease. Blood-borne miRNAs might be envisioned as noninvasive markers of malignancy or prognosis, and new studies demonstrate that microRNAs are released in body fluids as well as tissues. MiRNAs have the potential to be therapeutic targets, which would greatly increase the restricted therapy options for adrenal tumors. This article aims to consolidate and synthesize the most recent studies on miRNAs in PCC, discussing their potential clinical utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers while also addressing their limitations.

Combination Therapy with Enalapril and Paricalcitol Ameliorates Streptozotocin Diabetes-Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Rats via Mitigation of Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress.

BACKGROUND: As the impacts of diabetes-induced reproductive damage are now evident in young people, we are now in urgent need to devise new ways to protect and enhance the reproductive health of diabetic people. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and paricalcitol (a vitamin D analog), individually or in combination, on streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction in rats and to identify the possible mechanisms for this protection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats; 10 normal rats were allocated as a non-diabetic control group. A total of 40 rats developed diabetes after receiving a single dose of STZ; then, the diabetic rats were divided into four groups of equivalent numbers assigned as diabetic control, enalapril-treated, paricalcitol-treated, and combined enalapril-and-paricalcitol-treated groups. The effects of mono and combined therapy with paricalcitol and enalapril on testicular functions, sperm activity, glycemic state oxidative stress, and inflammatory parameters, as well as histopathological examinations, were assessed in comparison with the normal and diabetic control rats. RESULTS: As a result of diabetes induction, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, serum levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as luteinizing hormone (LH), and the antioxidant enzyme activities, were significantly decreased, while abnormal sperm (%), insulin resistance, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased, along with severe distortion of the testicular structure. Interestingly, treatment with paricalcitol and enalapril, either alone or in combination, significantly improved the sperm parameters, increased antioxidant enzyme activities in addition to serum levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH, reduced insulin resistance, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and finally ameliorated the diabetes-induced testicular oxidative stress and histopathological damage, with somewhat superior effect for paricalcitol monotherapy and combined therapy with both drugs compared to monotherapy with enalapril alone. CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy with paricalcitol and its combination therapy with enalapril has a somewhat superior effect in improving diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction (most probably as a result of their hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties) compared with monotherapy with enalapril alone in male rats, recommending a synergistic impact of both drugs.

Pericardiectomy for Successful Treatment of Constrictive Pericarditis in a Pediatric Patient.

A 15-year-old girl with history of asthma and obesity presented with recurrent anasarca without systolic heart failure or significant renal disease. She was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis and successfully underwent pericardiectomy with pericardial stripping and a waffle procedure. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Clinical significance of vit D and AMH and its correlation with polycystic ovarian parameters in obese and non-obese Egyptian women.

Women of reproductive age are frequently affected by the heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic conditions recognized as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Moreover, FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone), steroidogenesis, and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) are suppressed by the anti-Mullerian hormone, a good indicator of ovarian reserve, that is generated from granulosa cells. In the past ten years, vitamin D (VD) has attracted and maintained great interest in human health and biomedical research, particularly those about female reproductive-metabolic problems. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the correlation of VD and AMH with PCOS parameters in Egyptian women. Assessments were done on 35 control women and 45 PCOS sufferers. Utilizing the updated Rotterdam criteria, PCOS was identified. After recording anthropometric data, fasting serum levels of VD, follistatin (FST), insulin, FSH, LH, total testosterone (TT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), as well as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and the free androgen index (FAI) were measured in both groups. Compared to the control group, the PCOS group had a greater prevalence of hypovitaminosis D but serum levels of follistatin, LH, TT, AMH, insulin, and FPG, were considerably higher. Besides, there was a substantial inverse relationship between VD and the levels of follistatin, FPG, LH, TT, and AMH and a positive correlation with FSH in PCOS women's blood. This study revealed that hypovitaminosis D, elevated AMH, and FST may be regarded as alarming risk factors for PCOS in Egyptian women.

Possible role of miRNAs in pheochromocytoma pathology - Signaling pathways interaction.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that originates from adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal chromaffin cells and results in the production of catecholamine. Paroxysmal hypertension and cardiovascular crises were among the clinical signs experienced by people with PCC. Five-year survival of advanced-stage PCC is just around 40% despite the identification of various molecular-level fundamentals implicated in these pathogenic pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are a type of short, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that attach to the 3'-UTR of a target mRNA, causing translational inhibition or mRNA degradation. Evidence is mounting that miRNA dysregulation plays a role in the development, progression, and treatment of cancers like PCC. Hence, this study employs a comprehensive and expedited survey to elucidate the potential role of miRNAs in the development of PCC, surpassing their association with survival rates and treatment options in this particular malignancy.

Analgesic Effect of Addition of Pectointercostal Block to Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Breast Surgeries: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is an efficient perioperative analgesic modality for breast surgeries. SAPB does not block the anterior cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves; thus, it does not provide adequate analgesia for the parasternal region and the medial side of the breast. A new parasternal block, the pectointercostal fascial plane block (PIFB) has been developed to overcome this issue. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the perioperative analgesic effect of using PIFB in addition to SAPB. The primary outcome was to evaluate the postoperative pain score. The secondary outcomes were to assess perioperative opioid requirements, hemodynamic stability, and the satisfaction of the patient and surgeon. STUDY DESIGN: The current study was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study. The current study was registered at the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202001789968542) and was designed after obtaining ethical institutional approval (Institutional Review Board No 00012098, Federalwide Assurance No 00018699). SETTING: The study involved 60 women between 21 and 69 years old with breast cancer who were scheduled for modified radical mastectomy or conservative breast surgeries in a university hospital. METHODS: After verbal and informed written consent, the patients were allocated to Group 1, which received SAPB, and Group 2, which received SAPB with PIFB. We assessed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), perioperative opioid requirements, intraoperative hemodynamic stability, rescue analgesia, and complications. Patient and surgeon satisfaction were surveyed using a questionnaire where one is very dissatisfied and 5 is very satisfied. RESULTS: Intraoperative mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate were significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB). The number of patients who needed intraoperative fentanyl was also significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB) (P value = 0.010). Postoperative VAS showed no significant difference in both groups. The number of patients who needed postoperative rescue morphine, time for the first rescue analgesia, first morphine dose (mg), and total opioid consumption were also comparable for both groups. Patient satisfaction and surgeon satisfaction were comparable for both groups (P values = 1.000 and 0.496, respectively). LIMITATIONS: VAS was not recorded during movements and no follow-up was done to detect the potential effect on chronic postmastectomy pain. Moreover, after reviewing the literature, there was no efficient data about adding PIFB with different regional blocks for breast surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The number of patients who needed intraoperative fentanyl, as well as the MABP and heart rate were significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB). Postoperative vital signs, VAS, postoperative analgesic requirements, and opioid consumption were comparable for both groups. Patient satisfaction was comparable for both groups, while surgeon satisfaction was higher in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB) but statistically not significant.

Accuracy of Traditional and Modern Formulas for Intraocular Lens Power Calculation After Radial Keratotomy Using Standard Keratometry.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of multiple traditional and modern intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas in post-radial keratotomy (RK) patients undergoing cataract surgery. Methods: This retrospective case series included 50 eyes with prior RK who underwent routine phacoemulsification surgery with single-piece acrylic IOL implantation (A constant = 118.8). Outcomes of multiple formulas were calculated. Included formulas were SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis, Barrett True-K, Haigis and Barrett True-K (target refraction of 0.50 D), Barrett Universal II, Kane, PEARL-DGS, Shammas no history, DK SRK/T, DK SRK/T (target refraction of 0.50 D), Double K (DK) Holladay 1, and DK Holladay 1 (target refraction of 0.50 D). Averages of multiple combinations of best-performing single formulas were calculated. Primary outcome is mean absolute error (MAE). Results: Haigis (with -0.50 D target refraction) and DK SRK/T showed the lowest mean and median absolute errors (MedAE) followed by Haigis, Barrett True-K, and Barrett True-K (with -0.50 D target refraction). Combinations of 3, 4, or 5 of best performing single formulas yielded good results with >60% of cases within +0.50 D of intended refraction and MAE around 0.50 D. The best performing formulas with flatter K readings were PEARL-DGS and Haigis (with additional -0.50 D target refraction) with MAE of 0.72 + 0.71 D and 0.70 + 0.70 D, respectively, followed by Barrett True-K (with intended -0.50 D target refraction) with MAE of 0.75 + 0.63 D. Conclusion: Using an average of three or more Haigis (with -0.50 D target refraction), the Barrett True-K, DK Holladay 1, and DK SRK/T formulas showed better outcomes than using a single formula for IOLMaster 700 standard K readings. The PEARL-DGS formula showed better accuracy in eyes with flatter K readings (<38 D).

Static friction, surface roughness, and antibacterial activity of orthodontic brackets coated with silver and silver chitosan nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effect of silver and silver chitosan nanocoatings on monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets regarding friction, roughness, and antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans. METHODS: A total of 99 upper right premolar brackets with a 0.022 × 0.025 -inch slot were divided into three groups, each 33 according to coating material; the non-coated group, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and silver chitosan nanoparticles (Ag-CsNPs) groups. Each group was equally subdivided into the following three subgroups regarding bracket materials: monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets. A universal testing machine determined static friction on a custom-made acrylic jig. Then a profilometer machine was used to collect roughness data, and finally, the anti-cariogenic effect was measured with the disc diffusion technique's "minimum zone of inhibition" against Streptococcus mutans. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare data between groups and subgroups, followed by the Bonferroni test for multiple pair-wise comparisons. RESULTS: The nanocoating effect on ceramic brackets' static friction was non-significant. The AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coated metallic group revealed a significant increase in static friction-a significant effect of the nanocoating in the surface roughness of monocrystalline and polycrystalline ceramic brackets. A significant favorable effect of AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs against Streptococcus mutans was observed. CONCLUSIONS: AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coats are unsuitable for decreasing friction in metallic brackets or improving roughness in polycrystalline ceramic brackets. Nano coating can improve roughness in monocrystalline ceramic brackets. Coating brackets with AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs has a tremendous antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans, a substantial factor in the incidence of dental caries.

Utilizing convolutional neural networks to classify monkeypox skin lesions.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that can cause severe illness in humans, presenting with skin lesions and rashes. However, accurately diagnosing monkeypox based on visual inspection of the lesions can be challenging and time-consuming, especially in resource-limited settings where laboratory tests may not be available. In recent years, deep learning methods, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), have shown great potential in image recognition and classification tasks. To this end, this study proposes an approach using CNNs to classify monkeypox skin lesions. Additionally, the study optimized the CNN model using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm, resulting in a significant improvement in accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC compared to the non-optimized model. The GWO optimization strategy can enhance the performance of CNN models on similar tasks. The optimized model achieved an impressive accuracy of 95.3%, indicating that the GWO optimizer has improved the model's ability to discriminate between positive and negative classes. The proposed approach has several potential benefits for improving the accuracy and efficiency of monkeypox diagnosis and surveillance. It could enable faster and more accurate diagnosis of monkeypox skin lesions, leading to earlier detection and better patient outcomes. Furthermore, the approach could have crucial public health implications for controlling and preventing monkeypox outbreaks. Overall, this study offers a novel and highly effective approach for diagnosing monkeypox, which could have significant real-world applications.

Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles for electrochemical detection of bromocresol green in river water.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-based electrochemical sensor has been reported for assessing bromocresol green (BG) in river water. Firstly, AgNPs were greenly produced using the aqueous extract of Ficus sycomorus leaves. Then, the AgNP-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was prepared using the sticking method. AgNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). TEM and SEM were used for determining the size of AgNPs before and after adsorption, respectively. The results show that there was an increase in AgNP size from 20 to 30 nm. Additionally, XRD was used for characterizing the crystal nature of AgNPs, while SWV exhibited a characteristic oxidation peak of AgNPs at 0.06 V. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for characterizing the catalytic effect of AgNPs. BG as a targeted pollutant was detected at AgNPs/GC based on its oxidation through proton and electron transfer. Two peaks corresponding to the monomer and polymer oxidation were detected. The monomer- and polymer-based sensors have revealed a linear range of 2.9 × 10-5 to 2.1 × 10-4 mole l-1 and low detection limits (LODs) of 1.5 × 10-5 and 1.3 × 10-5 mole l-1, respectively.

Effect of implant diameter and cantilever length on the marginal bone height changes and stability of implants supporting screw retained prostheses: A randomized double blinded control trial.

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of implants' two different diameters and cantilever lengths on the marginal bone loss and stability of mplants supporting maxillary prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six implants were placed in sixteen completely edentulous maxillary ridges. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A, implants were placed with a cantilever to anterior-posterior AP spread length (CL:AP) at a ratio of 1:3; Group B, implants were placed with a CL:AP at a ratio of 1:2. Patients were further divided into four sub-groups: Groups A1, A2, B1, and B2. Groups A1 and B1 received small diameter implants while Groups A2 and B2 received standard diameter implants. Bone height and stability measurements around each implant were performed at 0, 4, 8 and 24 months after definitive prostheses delivery. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the mean implant stability and height values revealed an insignificant difference between Group A1 and Group A2 at all the different time intervals while significantly higher values in Group B1 in comparison with Group B2. Results also showed significantly higher values in Group A1 in comparison with Group B1 and an insignificant difference between Group A2 and Group B2 at all the different time intervals. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the use of small diameter implants placed with a CL:AP at a ratio of 1:3 provided predictable results and that the 1:2 CL:AP significantly induced more critical bone loss in the small diameter implants group, which can significantly reduce long term success and survival of implants.

miRNAs driving diagnosis, progression, and drug resistance in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a tumor of transformed plasma cells. It's the second most common hematologic cancer after non-Hodgkin lymphoma. MM is a complex disease with many different risk factors, including ethnicity, race, and epigenetics. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are a critical epigenetic factor in multiple myeloma, influencing key aspects such as pathogenesis, prognosis, and resistance to treatment. They have the potential to assist in disease diagnosis and modulate the resistance behavior of MM towards therapeutic regimens. These characteristics could be attributed to the modulatory effects of miRNAs on some vital pathways such as NF-KB, PI3k/AKT, and P53. This review discusses the role of miRNAs in MM with a focus on their role in disease progression, diagnosis, and therapeutic resistance.