Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of COVID-19 vaccine side effects in patients with rheumatic diseases and to examine any potential associations with medications, disease type, or comorbidities. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study from rheumatology units in different hospitals in Iraq was carried out between 8th of August 2021 and 4th of August 2022. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they have a rheumatic disease and have taken one or more doses of any COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 661 (57.8% female, mean age 46.51± 12.97 years) patients with rheumatic illnesses who received the "COVID-19" vaccination were included in this study. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequent diagnostic group. The Pfizer vaccine was given to the majority of patients (74.6%), followed by Sinopharm (16.2%), and AstraZeneca (9.2%). Side effects were detected in 661(100%) and 528 (100%) patients following the first and second vaccination doses, respectively; among which the most frequent were injection site pain in 57.8% following the first dose and 47.6% after the second dose, followed by fatigue and fever. According to multivariate logistic regression models, age (B=-0.204, p = 0.000), had a significantly inverse correlation coefficient with the experience of greater side effects. Rheumatic disease flares reported in 9.9%, 10.3%, and 8.2% of patients who received the Pfizer, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca vaccines, respectively. Conclusion: The "COVID-19" vaccination has a reassuring safety profile with no greater risk of adverse events in any specific illness or pharmacological therapy.

Two chromatographic methods for determination of cytarabine and dexamethazone; two co-administered drugs for the treatment of leukemia: green analytical perspective.

Two sensitive, straightforward and repeatable chromatographic techniques were developed for the determination of Cytarabine HCl and Dexamethazone in their pure form and spiked human plasma without prior separation. The drugs are used co-administered for the treatment of Leukemia, a certain type of blood cancer. Method (A) is an isocratic chromatographic HPLC method; separation was accomplished on C18 column using the eluting mixture of 6.9 g/L Monobasic Sodium Phosphate pH 3: methanol (70:30, v/v) and detection was at 275 nm. Concentrations were in the range of 0.2-15 µg/mL for both CYT and DEX. Method (B) is a HPTLC method in which separation was attained on HPTLC F254 plates using methanol: ethyl acetate: ammonia, (7.8:2:0.2, by volume) as eluting solvents and detection was at 275 nm. Concentrations were in the range of 0.1-4 µg/band for both CYT and DEX. The parameters for system suitability testing were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the developed chromatographic procedures in terms of performance. The recently developed techniques were applied for the determination of the drugs under investigation in spiked human plasma. Validation parameters were examined in accordance with US-FDA criteria. All results were found to be within the acceptable ranges. To evaluate the greenness characters of the proposed methods to the environment; three greenness assessment tools including eco-scale assessments (ESA), green analytical procedure index (GAPI), and Analytical Greenness calculator (AGREE) were used. Acceptable and satisfying results that demonstrated the greenness characteristics of the suggested methods were attained.

Oncological outcomes post transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, a single-centre retrospective Australian study.

We present a cohort review of TORS resection for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and its associated oncological outcomes spanning a 10-year period. A retrospective case series review was performed of patients undergoing primary surgical treatment for HPV-associated OPSCC through the St. Vincent's Head and Neck Cancer service from 2011 to 2022. The primary outcomes were to investigate complete resection of the primary tumour, rates of recurrence, and survival analysis. Secondary outcomes included complications, rates of adjuvant therapy, sites of recurrence and rates of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). 184 patients underwent TORS-based therapy with neck dissection, and guideline-directed adjuvant therapy for HPV-associated OPSCC. Our median follow-up was 46 months. The positive margin rate on final histopathology analysis was 10.9%. Adjuvant therapy was indicated in 85 patients (46%). The local recurrence rate was 10.9% with the majority (80%) of patients recurring in the first 3 years since treatment. The disease-specific survival at 3 years was 98.6% and at 5 years was 94.4%. The 3-year and 5-year OS for the cohort was 96.7% and 92.5%, respectively. The presence of extranodal extension and positive margins were associated with increased risk of recurrence, whereas adjuvant therapy was found to be a protective factor for both overall recurrence and survival. Major complications occurred in 12 patients (6.5%), resulting in one death. This study has demonstrated that primary surgical therapy for HPV-associated OPSCC is a safe and effective treatment modality with low local recurrence and complication rates, and overall survival benefits.

Clinical Outcomes of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole in Critically Ill Patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Bacteremia and Pneumonia Utilizing Renal Replacement Therapies.

Background: The clinical outcomes of usual doses of Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) for treating S. maltophilia in critically ill patients on renal replacement therapies (RRT) have not been established. We sought to assess the clinical outcomes of TMP/SMZ in patients with sepsis utilizing RRT. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on all critically ill adult patients with S. maltophilia infections who received RRT between May 2015 and January 2022. The primary endpoint was clinical cure while the secondary endpoints were microbiologic cure, 30-day infection recurrence, and mortality. Results: Forty-five subjects met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 70.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 63.5-77] years, 57.8% were males, and the median body mass index was 25.7 [IQR: 22-30.2] kg/m2. Clinical success and failure were reported in 18 (40%) and 27 (60%) cases, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 30-day reinfection rates of both groups; however, mortality was significantly higher in the clinical failure group, involving 12 patients (44.4%), versus none in the clinical success group (p = 0.001). The median daily dose of TMP/SMZ upon continuous veno-venous hemofiltration was 1064 [IQR: 776-1380] mg in the clinical cure group vs. 768 [IQR:540-1200] mg in the clinical failure group (p = 0.035). Meanwhile, the median dose for those who received intermittent hemodialysis was 500 [IQR: 320-928] mg in the clinical success group compared to 640 [IQR: 360-1005] mg in the clinical failure group (p = 0.372). A total of 55% experienced thrombocytopenia, 42% hyperkalemia, and 2.2% neutropenia. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the total daily dose at therapy initiation was the only independent factor associated with clinical success after adjusting for different variables including the body mass index [Odds ratio 1.004; 95% confidence interval: (1-1.007), p = 0.044]. Conclusions: Although the S. maltophilia isolates were reported as susceptible, TMP/SMZ with conventional doses to treat bacteremia and pneumonia in critically ill patients utilizing RRT was associated with high rates of clinical and microbiologic failure as well as with mortality. Larger outcomes and pharmacokinetics studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Long noncoding RNAs (CTC-471J1.2, NeST) as epigenetic risk factors of active juvenile lupus nephritis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the circulating levels of long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients could dramatically explore more insights about the disease pathogenesis. Hence, we aimed to quantify the level of expression of CTC-471J1.2 and NeST in LN patients and to correlate it with the disease activity. METHOD: This case-control study was conducted on a group of children with juvenile LN attending to Mansoura University Children's Hospital (MUCH). Demographics, clinical, and laboratory findings were collected besides the measurement of lncRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The expression level of lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 was significantly down-regulated in children with active LN versus inactive cases or controls. In contrast, the NeST was significantly up-regulated in active LN cases. A significant correlation was found between CTC-471J1.2 expression and LN activity parameters. Additionally, both lncRNAs showed a reasonable sensitivity and specificity in differentiation of active LN. A regression analysis model revealed that CTC-471J1.2 and NeST were independent predictors of active nephritis. CONCLUSION: The expression level of circulatory lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 and NeST can be used as sensitive and specific biomarkers for active LN. Furthermore, both could serve as predictors for nephritis activity.

The characteristics and predictors of mortality in periprosthetic fractures around the knee.

Aims: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) around the knee are challenging injuries. This study aims to describe the characteristics of knee PPFs and the impact of patient demographics, fracture types, and management modalities on in-hospital mortality. Methods: Using a multicentre study design, independent of registry data, we included adult patients sustaining a PPF around a knee arthroplasty between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Univariate, then multivariable, logistic regression analyses were performed to study the impact of patient, fracture, and treatment on mortality. Results: Out of a total of 1,667 patients in the PPF study database, 420 patients were included. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.4%. Multivariable analyses suggested that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, history of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), history of rheumatic disease, fracture around a loose implant, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) during hospital stay were each independently associated with mortality. Each point increase in ASA grade independently correlated with a four-fold greater mortality risk (odds ratio (OR) 4.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19 to 14.06); p = 0.026). Patients with PVD have a nine-fold increase in mortality risk (OR 9.1 (95% CI 1.25 to 66.47); p = 0.030) and patients with rheumatic disease have a 6.8-fold increase in mortality risk (OR 6.8 (95% CI 1.32 to 34.68); p = 0.022). Patients with a fracture around a loose implant (Unified Classification System (UCS) B2) have a 20-fold increase in mortality, compared to UCS A1 (OR 20.9 (95% CI 1.61 to 271.38); p = 0.020). Mode of management was not a significant predictor of mortality. Patients managed with revision arthroplasty had a significantly longer length of stay (median 16 days; p = 0.029) and higher rates of return to theatre, compared to patients treated nonoperatively or with fixation. Conclusion: The mortality rate in PPFs around the knee is similar to that for native distal femur and neck of femur fragility fractures. Patients with certain modifiable risk factors should be optimized. A national PPF database and standardized management guidelines are currently required to understand these complex injuries and to improve patient outcomes.

Comparative study between ventriculosubgaleal shunt and external ventricular drain for management of post infective hydrocephalus among pediatrics.

PURPOSE: Post infective hydrocephalus (PIH) is a type of hydrocephalus which occurs after an infection of the brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Treatment of PIH requires temporary measures such as external ventricular drain (EVD) and ventriculosubgaleal shunt (VSGS) until CSF becomes clear and ready to implement VP shunt. Limited research has been done to explore the tradeoff between these approaches particularly in pediatric PIH patients. Our study compares the complications, mortality rates, and the cost of used resources of both procedures. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted for 18 months in which we compared between VSGS and EVD for management of PIH involving 42 randomized cases with 21 patients in group A operated by VSGS and 21 patients in group B operated by EVD. RESULTS: Our results show a statistically significant difference between both groups in the duration of implementation of VSGS/EVD until resolution of infection occurs. Additionally, a higher rate of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and a longer length of hospital stay (LOS) were recorded among the EVD group. No statistically significant difference between the number of complications that happened in both despite variations in their forms. Moreover, both groups showed nearly similar mortality rates. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in the rate of complications between VSGS and EVD for PIH. Based on that, VSGS emerges as a favorable and cost-effective option for the management of PIH which leads to less economic burden on patients and the country's health resources, especially in developing countries.

Short and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Octogenarian Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Comparative Analysis of Revascularization Strategies Versus Medical Management.

INTRODUCTION: As the primary cause of morbidity and mortality among older individuals, cardiovascular disease remains a major concern. Choosing between revascularization and medical management of elderly patients remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the clinical implications of these treatment approaches in the context of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in octogenarian patients. METHODS: This observational cohort study involved 41 octogenarian patients who were diagnosed with NSTEMI from 2019 to 2021 and were managed by revascularization (with either percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or both) or conservative medical therapy. All NSTEMI patients were diagnosed based on symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, and cardiac biomarkers. The study compared the short- and long-term outcomes of 13 patients in the revascularization group and 28 in the medical therapy group. RESULTS: Overall, the mean patient age was 84.63 years. Eighteen patients were men (43.9%), and 23 were women (56.1%). The most prevalent disease among the sample was hypertension (34 patients, 82.9%), followed by diabetes mellitus (27 patients, 65.9%) and prior ischemic heart disease (21 patients, 51.2%). Almost all patients in the revascularization-treated group developed complications after the procedure (84.6%), while 46.4% of the patients in the medication-only group developed a complication later on. The revascularization-treated group showed higher mortality rates in both the short- and long-term (23.1% and 38.5%, respectively) compared to the medication-only group, which showed better survival rates numerically in both the short- and long-term (14.3% and 32.1%, respectively). This was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Revascularization treatment in elderly patients with NSTEMI was associated with a higher risk of complications and a higher mortality rate compared with conservative medical management. Patients managed with only medications had a better survival rate in both the short- and long-term.

Effect of Maillard reaction based on catechol polymerization on the conversion of food waste to humus.

The pollution and harm of food waste (FW) are increasingly concerned, which has the dual attributes of pollutants and resources. This study aimed to improve the synthesis efficiency of FW humic substances (HS), and investigating the effect of catechol on the formation mechanism and structure of humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA). Results indicated that catechol incorporation could enable to exhibit higher HS yield and more complex structure, especially the maximum particle size of FA reached 4800 nm. This was due to the combination of catechol with multiple nitrogenous compounds, which accelerated molecular condensation. Spectroscopic scans analysis revealed that Maillard reaction occurs first. Subsequently, Maillard reaction products and amino acids were combined with different sites of catechol, which leads to the difference of molecular structure of HS. The structure of FA is characterized by an abundance of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, whereas HA is rich in benzene and heterocyclic structures. The structural difference was responsible for the disparity in the functional properties of FA and HA. Specifically, the presence of amino, hydroxyl, pyridine, and carboxyl groups in FA contributes significantly to its chelating activity. This research provides an efficient and sustainable unique solution for the high-value of FW conversion, and provides evidence for understanding the structural evolution of HA and FA.

Neonatal Purpura Fulminans in a Patient With Arterial Thrombosis and Congenital Renal Agenesis.

Neonatal purpura fulminans (PF) is an uncommon skin disorder characterized by acute disseminated intravascular coagulation, tissue necrosis, and small vessel thrombosis. Here, we present a case of a seven-day-old male who was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Unit at Gaafar Ibn Auf Tertiary Hospital, in January 2023. He presented with black bullous lesions on the plantar surface of the left foot, deep bluish discoloration over the right buttock and right lower abdomen, and gangrenous changes in the right foot with clear demarcation. Birth history was not significant other than mild pallor and icterus. His blood workup was consistent with severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time with decreased protein C and S levels; blood culture yielded no growth. A Doppler ultrasound scan of lower extremities confirmed distal occlusion of the right dorsalis pedis artery. The abdominal ultrasound revealed a free left renal bed and left-sided renal agenesis. We came to a diagnosis of neonatal PF and started administering blood and fresh frozen plasma and subcutaneous heparin injections, but unfortunately, the patient eventually passed away. Hence, we decided to report this case to emphasize the significance of the clinical picture in assisting with early diagnosis, despite limited access to genetic testing. We also want to highlight the importance of a "high index of suspicion" that might be mandatory for better outcomes.

The Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of DL-Lactic Acid Syrup (Tonsitin) in Children With Recurrent Tonsillitis: A Pilot Study.

To evaluate Tonsitin (10% DL-lactic acid) safety, tolerability, and efficacy, as a treatment for recurrent tonsillitis (RT) in children. This is a clinical prospective, randomized, double blind pilot study, to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Tonsitin in healthy children with RT. Safety evaluated in terms of adverse events (AEs), tolerability in terms of compliance, and efficacy in terms of tonsils' size and frequency of tonsillitis, and quality of life. The study included 51 children. The treatment regimen was tolerable among the participants. Six children experienced AEs, but mostly mild. Tonsil size declined in both groups, but these results did not reach statistical significance. Tonsillitis episodes' frequencies were random and not significant. Tonsitin treatment was found to be feasible in the clinical setup and was well tolerated, and appears to be safe. Study efficacy results did not reach statistical significance.

One-pot synthesis of novel chitosan-salicylaldehyde polymer composites for ammonia sensing.

Chitosan (Chs)-salicylaldehyde (Sal) polymer derivatives were formed via the reaction of Chs-Sal with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CD). These polymers were synthesized through inclusion with ß-CD and doping with ZnO NPs to give pseudopolyrotaxane and Chs-Sal/ZnO NPs composite, respectively, for low-temperature detection and sensing of NH3 vapors as great significance in environmental control and human health. Additionally, the polymer (Chs-Sal/ß-CD/ZnO NPs) was prepared via the insertion of generated composite (Chs-Sal/ZnO NPs) through ß-cyclodextrin ring. The structural and morphological characterizations of the synthesized derivatives were confirmed by utilizing FTIR, XRD and, SEM, respectively. Also, the optical properties and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of the synthesized polymers were explored. The obtained results confirmed that using ß-CD or ZnO NPs for modification of polymer (Chs-Sal) dramatically enhanced thermal stability and optical features of the synthesized polymers. Investigations on the NH3-sensing properties of Chs-Sal/ß-CD/ZnO NPs composite were carried out at concentrations down to 10 ppm and good response and recovery times (650 s and 350 s, respectively) at room temperature (RT) and indicated that modification by ß-CD and doping with ZnO NPs effectively improves the NH3-sensing response of Chs-Sal from 712 to 6192 using Chs-Sal/ß-CD/ZnO NPs, respectively, with low LOD and LOQ of 0.12 and 0.4 ppb, respectively.

Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Ovarian Damage.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol-A (BPA) has a well-proven deleterious effect on the hypothalamicpituitary- gonadal axis. OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the therapeutic potentials of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a murine model of BPA-induced ovarian damage. METHODS: Fifty adult female rats were divided into: Group 1; control group, Group IIa, IIb: rats were given oral gavage of BPA (25 and 50 mg/Kg body weight respectively) on a daily basis for 15 days, and Group IIIa, IIIb; rats were intravenously treated with of MSCs (106 cells) after receiving the last dose of BPA as in group II. Plasma and ovarian tissue levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and gonadal axis hormones were assessed. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNNEL assay and by apoptosis markers (FAS, FASL, Caspase 3, SLTM). A histological examination of ovarian tissue was also conducted. RESULTS: BPA resulted in a significant elevation in plasma levels of LH, FSH, and ovarian tissue levels of MDA and a significant decrease in estradiol and progesterone. All genetic and protein markers of apoptosis were elevated in BPA treated group with decreased oestrogen receptor expression in the ovarian tissue. Increased apoptotic cells were confirmed by TUNEL assay. A high dose of BPA was able to increase the number of atretic follicles in the ovarian tissue whereas the numbers of primordial, primary, secondary and Graafian follicles were decreased. All the laboratory and histological abnormalities were ameliorated by treatment with MSCs. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of MSCs could possibly explain the ability of this therapeutic modality to ameliorate BPA-induced-ovarian damage.

Evolution from basic to advanced structure of fulvic acid and humic acid prepared by food waste.

Fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA) are common polyacids in nature. However, the evolutionary process of their basic and advanced structures is still unclear. FA and HA were separated into five molecular weight components to investigate the process of evolution from small to large molecules. The primary structure analysis showed that FA were rich in CN, COOH and OH content, while HA were rich in (CH2)n, NH2 and CC. Moreover, with the molecular weight increasing, the structures could complement each other to maintain the hydrophilic or hydrophobic balance. The 2D-COS spectroscopy demonstrated that during the growth of FA, COOH, NH2 and OH firstly respond. On the other hand, during the growth of HA, NH2 and (CH2)n firstly respond. In addition, advanced structure of FA was affected by intramolecular hydrogen bonds and π - π interaction. HA was affected by hydrophobic interactions due to the abundance of hydrophobic groups, primarily (CH2)n and benzene rings. 3D conformational fitting and particle size characterization confirmed that the interaction forces determine that FA and HA become tightly and loosely molecules respectively. This study is to further explore the geochemical formation and evolution process of FA and HA molecules.

An individual approach to intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurement during total thyroidectomy.

PURPOSE: Hypocalcemia is a common complication of thyroidectomy. Measurement of the intraoperative serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels became an established technique but it requires further improvements. We aimed to assess intraoperative PTH level testing results against the hypothesis that the PTH assay may be performed almost immediately after thyroid gland removal. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. During total thyroidectomy surgery, the patients had PTH levels measured at the cutting time and again immediately after the thyroid gland is removed. Post-operatively, serial total blood calcium levels were obtained twice daily and recorded. RESULTS: Among 63 enrolled patients, 39 had multinodular goiter, 15 thyroid carcinoma, and nine had Graves' disease. The mean age was 59.8 ± 15.3 years, 43 females. The mean PTH level before surgery was 45.8 ± 22.0 pg/mL. Post-operatively, 11/63 patients developed hypocalcemia with serum calcium levels <8 mg/dL. Four patients with ≥50 % decrease in PTH concentration were normocalcemic a day after surgery and were discharged early. Four patients with ≥70 % PTH decrease were treated accordingly during prolonged hospitalization and did not suffer from permanent hypocalcemia. The cut-off value of 70 % decrease after the gland removal was able to predict postoperative hypocalcemia with a sensitivity of 100 %, specificity 82.9 %, PPV 60.0 % and NPV 100 %. CONCLUSION: Measurements of intraoperative PTH may not be performed at fixed time intervals but after 1-2 min after removal of the thyroid gland. Defining those not at risk would allow the majority of patients to be waived from post-operative blood calcium testing and safely discharged early after surgery.

Draft genome sequencing data of Enterococcus faecium BT22, a vancomycin-resistant opportunistic pathogen isolated from hospital effluents.

A vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Enterococcus, designated as BT22, was isolated from untreated hospital effluents at Chettia Chlef Hospital. The complete genome of strain BT22 was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform, revealing a total length of 2,577,707 bp, with 2462 coding sequences (CDS) and an average G+C content of 38.00 mol%. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed that strain BT22 belongs to the same species as Enterococcus faecium AVS0243, with a similarity of 99.79 %. The study identified 12 antibiotic resistance genes and one virulence gene in strain BT22. These genes confer resistance to various classes of antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, and vancomycin. However, the virulence gene identified codes for adhesion. Furthermore, mobile genetic elements, such as IS elements carried by a conjugative plasmid, were detected. The genomic sequencing data of E. faecium BT22 will be of great value to the scientific community, enabling comparative genomic analyses and a better understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms, particularly towards vancomycin. The genomic information has been deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession number JASSVD010000000, providing an essential resource in the fight against antibiotic resistance and the spread of resistant bacterial strains.

Predicting cognitive dysfunction and regional hubs using Braak staging amyloid-beta biomarkers and machine learning.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presence of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aß) in Braak regions suggests a connection with cognitive dysfunction in MCI/AD. Investigating the multivariate predictive relationships between regional Aß biomarkers and cognitive function can aid in the early detection and prevention of AD. We introduced machine learning approaches to estimate cognitive dysfunction from regional Aß biomarkers and identify the Aß-related dominant brain regions involved with cognitive impairment. We employed Aß biomarkers and cognitive measurements from the same individuals to train support vector regression (SVR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models and predict cognitive performance solely based on Aß biomarkers on the test set. To identify Aß-related dominant brain regions involved in cognitive prediction, we built the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) model. We found elevated Aß in MCI compared to controls and a stronger correlation between Aß and cognition, particularly in Braak stages III-IV and V-VII (p < 0.05) biomarkers. Both SVR and ANN, especially ANN, showed strong predictive relationships between regional Aß biomarkers and cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). LIME integrated with ANN showed that the parahippocampal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, and hippocampus were the most decisive Braak regions for predicting cognitive decline. Consistent with previous findings, this new approach suggests relationships between Aß biomarkers and cognitive impairment. The proposed analytical framework can estimate cognitive impairment from Braak staging Aß biomarkers and delineate the dominant brain regions collectively involved in AD pathophysiology.

An in vitro study measuring marginal gaps of inlay restorations fabricated from different CAD-CAM materials after thermocycling.

BACKGROUND: Many monolithic machined materials have been introduced and provided a suitable mechanical and physical properties for inlay restorations. However, there is shortage in the studies evaluating the marginal adaptation using these materials. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effect of fabricating inlay restorations from 3 different CAD-CAM materials on marginal gaps before and after thermocycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty human premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 20) according to the material used: (e.max CAD, Ivoclar AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein), (HC, Shofu, Koyoto, Japan) and (Brilliant Crios, Coltene, Altstätten, Switzerland) (n = 20). A scanning electron microscope (SEM) (JSM- 6510 lv, JEOL, Tokyo, JAPAN) was used to for measuring the marginal gaps after cementation of inlay restorations. The magnification was adapted to 250x. Marginal gaps were revaluated with SEM after thermocycling. The temperatures of baths were 5 and 55 °C was applied for a total of 5000 cycles. All data were statistically analyzed by using ANCOVA to demonstrate if there were any statistically significant differences between the gap measures after thermocycling of the three independent (unrelated) groups. A Bonferroni adjustmen was used to perform post hoc analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Post-intervention marginal gap was statistically significantly lower in group EX (110.8 µm) which was statistically significant compared with group SF (112.5 µm) (mean difference=-1.768, P = .007) and group BR (113 µm) (mean difference=-2.272, P = .001), however, in. comparing SF and BR groups, there was no significant difference (mean difference=-0.5, P = .770). CONCLUSIONS: Thermocycling affected the marginal gaps of composite based restoration and resin-modified ceramics widely. However, it had a very small effect on glass ceramics marginal adaptation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The marginal gaps of CAD-CAM inlays varied according to material used (ceramic based, combination, or resin based). Thermocycling has a minor effect on the marginal adaptation of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic inlays, where it affected the margin of resin-modified ceramic and composite based inlays greatly. Using lithium disilicate glass-ceramic might improve the clinical longevity of inlay restored teeth.

High Bacterial Contamination Load of Self-Service Facilities in Sakaka City, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia, with Reduced Sensitivity to Some Antimicrobials.

Although self-service facilities (SSFs) have been used on a large scale worldwide, they can be easily contaminated by microorganisms from the hands of their sequential users. This research aimed to study the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance of bacteria contaminating SSFs in Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia. We randomly swabbed the surfaces of 200 SSFs, then used the suitable culture media, standard microbiological methods, and the MicroScan WalkAway Microbiology System, including the identification/antimicrobial susceptibility testing-combo panels. A high SSFs' bacterial contamination load was detected (78.00%). Ninety percent of the samples collected in the afternoon, during the maximum workload of the SSFs, yielded bacterial growth (p < 0.001 *). Most of the contaminated SSFs were supermarket payment machines, self-pumping equipment at gas stations (p = 0.004 *), online banking service machines (p = 0.026 *), and barcode scanners in supermarkets. In the antiseptic-deficient areas, 55.1% of the contaminated SSFs were detected (p = 0.008 *). Fifty percent of the contaminated SSFs were not decontaminated. The most common bacterial contaminants were Escherichia coli (70 isolates), Klebsiella pneumoniae (66 isolates), Staphylococcus epidermidis (34 isolates), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (18 isolates), and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (14 isolates), representing 31.53%, 29.73%, 15.32%, 8.11%, and 6.31% of the isolates, respectively. Variable degrees of reduced sensitivity to some antimicrobials were detected among the bacterial isolates. The SSFs represent potential risks for the exchange of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between the out-hospital environment and the hospitals through the hands of the public. As technology and science advance, there is an urgent need to deploy creative and automated techniques for decontaminating SSFs and make use of recent advancements in materials science for producing antibacterial surfaces.