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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Intraoperative Ultrasound for Removal of a Fishbone Foreign Body Embedded in the Tongue.

Background: Ultrasound (U/S) is a dynamic imaging modality with many applications in medicine. In Otolaryngology, U/S is used routinely in the clinic with several evolving applications intraoperatively. Case Report. A 53-year-old male presented to the emergency department with dysphagia, odynophagia, hoarseness, and sensation of foreign body after ingesting fish. A CT scan identified an approximately 2 cm horizontally-oriented foreign body consistent with a fishbone embedded in the left posterolateral tongue. Intraoperative U/S was used to localize and remove the fishbone without complications. Results: The patient recovered well after surgery and was discharged home on postoperative day 2. No residual foreign body was found on the repeat CT scan. Conclusion: Our case demonstrates the effectiveness of intraoperative U/S for removal of fishbone foreign bodies from the tongue and serves to inspire future applications of this modality in Otolaryngology.

Effect of Donors' Biliary Variation on Postoperative Biliary Complications in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Observational Study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to evaluate the biliary anatomy variation according to the Varotti classification and its correlation with surgical outcomes for both donors and recipients undergoing living donor liver transplants (LDLTs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 150 LDLT cases performed at a single center in Vietnam with preoperative radiologic evaluations and intraoperative surgical assessments to identify biliary variant anatomy. Postoperative biliary complications were documented and analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed to determine any significant associations between biliary variations and post-transplant outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred fifty cases of LDLT at 108 Military Central Hospital from October 2017 to December 2022 were included in our study. Among the donors, the mean age was 30.89 ± 7.23, with male predominance (77.3%). The prevalence of type 1 biliary anatomy was 84.67%. Type 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b accounted for 5.33%, 2.67%, 5.33%, 0.67%, and 1.33% of cases, respectively. Donors' complications were witnessed in 7 cases (4.67%), and all needed intervention (Clavien-Dindo grade 3). Biliary complications were found in 36 (24.0%) recipients, with 22 (14.67%) cases of biliary stenosis and 16 (10.67%) cases of biliary leak, including 2 cases encountering both complications. Age, gender, graft type, preoperative liver function, biliary variant anatomy, number of graft orifices, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and blood loss were not significant risk factors for recipients' biliary complications. Cold ischemia time significantly increased the biliary complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that biliary variant anatomy is common in living liver donors. Such variations should not be a contraindication to liver donation. However, accurate pre- and intraoperative radiologic and surgical evaluations are fundamental for a careful reconstruction plan.

Laparoscopic-cholangioscopic cooperative modified tunnel technique for hepatolithiasis combined with dilated common bile duct: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Intrahepatic and extrahepatic lithiasis, a condition characterized by the presence of stones in the liver and bile ducts, is a common disease in Asia, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. We report a case with laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct using a flexible cholangioscope and modified trans-common bile duct tunnel for hepatolithiasis combined with the dilated common bile duct. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 35-year-old male patient has had chronic epigastric and right upper quadrant pain. The common bile duct was 11 mm dilated, and hepatolithiasis was also present, according to an upper abdomen MRI. The largest stone measured between 14 and 21 mm. A modified trans-common bile duct tunnel from the abdominal wall into the common bile duct was used in a laparoscopic procedure to examine the common bile duct. Complications during the procedure or following it were not present. The procedure took 120 min, and the blood loss was about 50 ml. The patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day, and a follow-up visit one month later revealed that single-session stone clearance had been accomplished. DISCUSSION: Laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct using a cholangioscope and modified trans-choledochal tube is applicable in selected patients and can be effectively and safely used to treat hepatolithiasis combined with the dilated common bile duct. CONCLUSION: In this case, we present an innovative approach for hepatolithiasis when combined with dilated common bile duct.

Acetylmelodorinol isolated from Sphaerocoryne affinis seeds inhibits cell proliferation and activates apoptosis on HeLa cells.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a major global health concern with a high prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. Natural products, particularly plant-derived compounds, have shown immense potential for developing anticancer drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer properties of the pericarp and seeds of Sphaerocoryne affinis fruit on human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and isolate the bioactive compound from the active fraction. METHODS: We prepared solvent fractions from the ethanol extracts of the pericarp and the seed portion by partitioning and assessing their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells. Subsequently, we collected acetylmelodorinol (AM), an anticancer compound, from the ethyl acetate fraction of seeds and determined its structure using nuclear magnetic resonance. We employed cytotoxicity assay, western blotting, Annexin V apoptosis assay, measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, to evaluate the anticancer properties of AM on HeLa. RESULTS: The solvent fractions from the seed displayed considerably higher cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells than those of the pericarp. We isolated and identified acetylmelodorinol as an anticancer compound from the ethyl acetate fraction from S. affinis seed extract. Treatment with acetylmelodorinol inhibited HeLa cell proliferation with an IC50 value of 2.62 ± 0.57 µg/mL. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that acetylmelodorinol treatment disrupted cell cycle progression by reducing the expression of cyclin E, CDK1/2, and AKT/mTOR pathways, increasing the intracellular ROS levels, reducing BCL-2/BCL-XL expression, causing DNA fragmentation and nuclear shrinkage, and triggering apoptosis through caspase 3 and 9 activation in a dose-and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous reports, this study focuses on the inhibitory effects of AM on the AKT/mTOR pathway, leading to a reduction in cell proliferation in cervical cancer cells. Our findings highlight the promising potential of acetylmelodorinol as an effective treatment for cervical cancer. Additionally, this study establishes a foundation for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying AM's properties, fostering further exploration into plant-based cancer therapies.

Bond Trading: Intramolecular Metal and Ligand Exchange within a NO/Ni/Co Complex.

With the goal of generating hetero-redox levels on metals as well as on nitric oxide (NO), metallodithiolate (N2 S2 )CoIII (NO- ), N2 S2 = N,N- dibenzyl-3,7-diazanonane-1,9-dithiolate, is introduced as ligand to a well-characterized labile [Ni0 (NO)+ ] synthon. The reaction between [Ni0 (NO+ )] and [CoIII (NO- )] has led to a remarkable electronic and ligand redistribution to form a heterobimetallic dinitrosyl cobalt [(N2 S2 )NiII ∙Co(NO)2 ]+ complex with formal two electron oxidation state switches concomitant with the nickel extraction or transfer as NiII into the N2 S2 ligand binding site. To date, this is the first reported heterobimetallic cobalt dinitrosyl complex.

Enhanced anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic neuropathic pain and related parvalbumin-positive neurons in male rats.

Anxiety commonly co-occurs with and exacerbates pain, but the interaction between pain progression and anxiety, and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Inhibitory interneurons play a crucial role in maintaining normal central nervous system function and are suggested to be involved in pain-induced anxiety. This study aimed to elucidate the time-dependent effects of neuropathic pain on the developmental anxiety-like behaviors and related inhibitory interneurons; parvalbumin (PV)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-positive neurons in corticolimbic regions. Using an 8-week-old male Wistar rat model with partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL), anxiety-like behaviors were biweekly assessed post-surgery through open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. From 4 weeks post-surgery, pSNL rats exhibited reduced OF center time, rearing, and initial activity, along with diminished EPM open-arm activities (time spent, head dips, movement, and rearing), which correlated with the paw withdrawal threshold. These effects were absent at 2 weeks post-surgery. At 8 weeks post-surgery, specific behaviors (decreased total rearing and increased inactive time in EPM) were observed in the pSNL group. Immunohistochemistry revealed changes in PV- and CCK-positive neurons in specific corticolimbic subregions of pSNL rats at 8 weeks post-surgery. Notably, PV-positive neuron densities in the basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLC) and hippocampal cornu ammonis areas 1 and 2 correlated with anxiety-like behavioral parameters. PV-positive neurons in the BLC of pSNL rats were predominantly changed in large-cell subtypes and were less activated. These findings indicate that anxiety-like behaviors emerge in the late phase of neuropathic pain and relate to PV-positive neurons in corticolimbic regions of pSNL rats.

Predictors of twin pregnancy in in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with day 3 double embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with twin pregnancy following day 3 double embryo transfer (DET). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study incorporated data from 16,972 day 3 DET cycles. The participants were women aged between 18 and 45 years who underwent in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) at My Duc Assisted Reproduction Technique Unit (IVFMD), My Duc Hospital, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. RESULTS: Of the 16,972 day 3 DET cycles investigated, 8,812 (51.9%) resulted in pregnancy. Of these, 6,108 cycles led to clinical pregnancy, with 1,543 (25.3% of clinical pregnancies) being twin pregnancies. Factors associated with twin pregnancy included age under 35 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 1.71; p<0.001) and cycles involving the transfer of at least one grade I embryo. Relative to the transfer of two grade III embryos, the risk of twin pregnancy was significantly elevated following the transfer of two grade I embryos (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.69; p<0.001) or a combination of one grade I and one grade II embryo (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.55; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: By analyzing a large number of IVF/ICSI cycles, we identified several predictors of twin pregnancy. These findings can assist medical professionals in tailoring treatment strategies for couples with infertility.

The Theoretical and Experimental Insights into the Radical Scavenging Activity of Rubiadin.

Rubiadin (RBD), an anthraquinone derivative, is obtained from Rubia cordifolia, a plant species classified under the Rubiaceae family. Rubiadin has proven beneficial properties, such as anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activity. The antioxidant activity of this molecule was suggested by some experimental results but has not been clearly established thus far. In this study, we employ DFT calculations to comprehensively assess the mechanism and kinetics of the HO•/HOO• radical scavenging activity of this compound in relation to solvents. RBD showed moderate HO• radical scavenging activity, with rate constants of 2.95 × 108 and 1.82 × 1010 M-1 s-1 in lipid and polar media, respectively. In the aqueous solution, the compound exhibited remarkable superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (k = 4.93 × 108 M-1 s-1) but modest HOO• antiradical activity. RBD also showed promising antiradical activity against a variety of radicals (CCl3O•, CCl3OO•, NO2, SO4•-, and N3•), while experimental and computational results confirmed that RBD has moderate activity in DPPH/ABTS•+ assays. Thus, RBD is predicted to be a good, albeit selective, radical scavenger.