Photo/electro catalytic green hydrogen production promoted by Ga modified Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 nano catalysts.

The current work concentrates on the fabrication of Ga doped Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 nanocatalysts via sol-gel auto-combustion (SGA) for the production of green and sustainable source of energy i.e., hydrogen through photocatalytic and electrocatalytic routes. Single-phased cubic crystal structure with Fd3m geometry was observed through XRD patterns. FESEM images show the aggregated and spherical shaped grains with distinct grain boundaries and average grain size of 1.04 and 1.39 µm for the Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4, and Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4 nanomaterials. Soft magnetic behaviour with a coercivity (Hc) and saturation magnetization (Ms) of 235.32-357.26 Oe and 54.65-61.11 emu/g was obtained for the produced nanomaterials. The estimation of photocatalytic nature for generating H2 was conducted using the sacrificial agents i.e., 0.128 M Na2S and 0.079 M Na2SO3. The analysis focused on measuring the maximum H2 generation was achieved by photocatalysts throughout three consecutive 4-h cycles. Out of all compositions, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4 nanomaterial have the highest photocatalytic activity of 16.71 mmol gcat-1. However, the electrocatalytic behaviour of prepared Co0.6Cu0.4GaxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.00-0.03) electrocatalysts were determined for HER (Hydrogen evolution reaction) reaction. The overpotential values of Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.01Fe1.99O4, Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.02Fe1.98O4, and Co0.6Cu0.4Ga0.03Fe1.97O4 catalysts at 10 mA cm-2 were -0.81, -0.85, -1.03, and 1.21 V, correspondingly. Thus, at cathode current density of 10 mA/cm-2, an elevation in overpotential was noted, which indicates that the undoped Co0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 (x = 0.00) electrocatalyst have remarkable electrocatalytic HER activity. Consequently, owing to photo/electro catalytic water splitting traits, the prepared catalysts are highly efficient for the green hydrogen generation.

Magnetically recoverable sol-gel auto-combustion developed Ni1-xCuxDyyFe2-yO4 magnetic nanoparticles for photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and antibacterial applications.

Copper and dysprosium doped NiFe2O4 magnetic nanomaterials, Ni1-xCuxDyyFe2-yO4 (x = y = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03), was prepared by utilizing sol-gel auto-combustion approach to inspect the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) pollutant and also, to perform the electrocatalytic water splitting and antibacterial studies. The XRD analysis reveal the growth of a single-phase spinel cubic structure for produced nanomaterials. The magnetic traits show an increasing trend in saturation magnetization (Ms) from 40.71 to 47.90 emu/g along with a decreasing behaviour of coercivity from 158.09 to 156.34 Oe at lower and higher Cu and Dy doping content (x = 0.0-0.01). The study of optical band gap values of copper and dysprosium-doped nickel nanomaterials decreased from 1.71 to 1.52 eV. This will increase the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue pollutant from 88.57% to 93.67% under natural sunlight, respectively. These findings clearly show that under natural sunlight irradiation for 60 min, the produced N4 photocatalyst displays the greatest photocatalytic activity with a maximum removal percentage of 93.67%. The electrocatalytic characteristics of produced magnetic nanomaterials for both HER and OER were examined with a Calomel electrode taking as a reference in a 0.5 N H2SO4 and 0.1 N KOH electrolyte. The N4 electrode demonstrated considerable 10 and 0.024 mA/cm2 of current density, with onset potentials of 0.99 and 1.5 V for HER and OER and also, have tafel slopes of 58.04 and 295 mV/dec, respectively. The antibacterial activity for produced magnetic nanomaterials was examined against various bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. typhi, and P. aeruginosa) in which N3 sample produced significant inhibition zone against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) but no zone of inhibition against gram-negative bacteria (S. typhi and P. aeruginosa). With all these superior traits, the produced magnetic nanomaterials are highly valuable for the wastewater remediation, hydrogen evolution, and biological applications.

Systematic review of antimicrobials, mucosal coating agents, anesthetics, and analgesics for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines.

PURPOSE: To update the clinical practice guidelines for the use of antimicrobials, mucosal coating agents, anesthetics, and analgesics for the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis (OM). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). The body of evidence for each intervention, in each cancer treatment setting, was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2014 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the evidence level, the following guidelines were determined: Recommendation, Suggestion, and No Guideline Possible. RESULTS: A total of 9 new papers were identified within the scope of this section, adding to the 62 papers reviewed in this section previously. A new Suggestion was made for topical 0.2% morphine for the treatment of OM-associated pain in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients treated with RT-CT (modification of previous guideline). A previous Recommendation against the use of sucralfate-combined systemic and topical formulation in the prevention of OM in solid cancer treatment with CT was changed from Recommendation Against to No Guideline Possible. Suggestion for doxepin and fentanyl for the treatment of mucositis-associated pain in H&N cancer patients was changed to No Guideline Possible. CONCLUSIONS: Of the agents studied for the management of OM in this paper, the evidence supports a Suggestion in favor of topical morphine 0.2% in H&N cancer patients treated with RT-CT for the treatment of OM-associated pain.

Systematic review of oral cryotherapy for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines.

PURPOSE: To update the 2013 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) clinical practice guidelines on oral cryotherapy for the management of oral mucositis (OM) caused by cancer therapies. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of MASCC/ISOO. The evidence for each intervention for specific cancer treatment modalities was assigned a level of evidence (LoE). The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2013 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the LoE, the guidelines were set as: recommendation, suggestion, or no guideline possible. RESULTS: A total of 114 papers were identified: 44 from PubMed and 70 from Web of Science. After abstract triage and merging with the 2013 database, 36 papers were reviewed. The LoE for prevention of OM with oral cryotherapy in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant using high-dose melphalan conditioning protocols was upgraded, and the guideline changed to recommendation. Additionally, the recommendation for prevention of OM with oral cryotherapy in patients receiving bolus 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of solid tumors was confirmed. No guidelines were possible for other clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence supports recommendations for the use of oral cryotherapy for the prevention of OM for either (i) patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant with high-dose melphalan conditioning protocols or (ii) patients receiving bolus 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.

Systematic review of natural and miscellaneous agents, for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines - part 2: honey, herbal compounds, saliva stimulants, probiotics, and miscellaneous agents.

OBJECTIVE: To update the clinical practice guidelines for the management of oral mucositis (OM) that were developed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). This part focuses on honey, herbal compounds, saliva stimulants, probiotics, and miscellaneous agents. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of MASCC/ISOO. The body of evidence for each intervention, in each clinical setting, was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2014 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the evidence level, one of the following guidelines were determined: Recommendation, Suggestion, No Guideline Possible. RESULTS: A total of 78 papers were identified within the scope of this section, of which 49 were included in this review and merged with nine publications that were reported in the previous guidelines update. A new Suggestion was made for honey (combined topical and systemic delivery) for the prevention of OM in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. A new Suggestion clarified that chewing gum is not effective for the prevention of OM in pediatric patients with hematological or solid cancer treated with chemotherapy. No guideline was possible for other interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous natural products and herbal remedies were studied for the management of OM. Of the agents reviewed in this systematic review, a guideline in favor was made for honey (combined topical and systemic), while a guideline against was made for chewing gum. Additional research is warranted to clarify the potential of other interventions.

In-Vivo and Ex-Vivo Measurements of Blood Glucose Using Whispering Gallery Modes.

The permittivity of blood glucose is not a strong function of its concentration in microwave or millimeter-wave frequencies. Measuring glucose concentrations remains a challenge, particularly in the presence of interference caused by the ambient leaky waves. In this paper, however, we demonstrate that a near-linear correlation between the glucose concentration and the blood permittivity was noticeably observed at a whispering gallery mode resonance. METHOD: the proposed sensor was a vacuum suction aspirator partially wounded with a turn of the Goubau line. This arrangement enabled a fixed cylindrical volume of a skin tissue bump or glucose/water solution to be formed and used as a whispering gallery resonator for in-vivo and ex-vivo measurements. RESULTS: in the in-vivo study, a near-linear correlation between the glucose levels and the S21 parameters was noticeably observed at the fundamental whispering gallery resonance (i.e., at 2.18 GHz). In the ex-vivo study, a similar correlation was observed between the concentration of a glucose/water solution and the S21 parameters 56.6 GHz. CONCLUSION: the results of both investigations were consistent not only with the invasive measurements using the Accu-checkTM, but also with the conclusion drawn by some other research groups who have successfully measured blood glucose concentrations at millimeter-wave frequencies.

Systematic review of anti-inflammatory agents for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to update the clinical practice guidelines for the use of anti-inflammatory agents in the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/ International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) subcommittee on mucositis guideline update. The body of evidence for each intervention, in each cancer treatment setting, was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the clinical practice guidelines published in 2014. Based on the evidence level, one of the following three guideline determinations was possible: recommendation, suggestion, and no guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 11 new papers across five interventions were examined. The recommendation for the use of benzydamine mouthwash for the prevention of radiotherapy-induced mucositis remained unchanged. New suggestion for the use of the same for prevention of mucositis associated with chemoradiotherapy was made. No guideline was possible for any other anti-inflammatory agents due to inadequate and/or conflicting evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Of the anti-inflammatory agents studied for oral mucositis, the evidence supports the use of benzydamine mouthwash in the specific populations listed above. Additional well-designed research is needed on other (class of agents) interventions and in other cancer treatment settings.

Systematic review of basic oral care for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to update the clinical practice guidelines for the use of basic oral care (BOC) interventions for the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis (OM). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society for Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). The body of evidence for each intervention in each cancer treatment setting was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2013 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the evidence level, one of the following three guideline determinations was possible: Recommendation, Suggestion, No guideline possible. RESULTS: A total of 17 new papers across six interventions were examined and merged with a previous database. Based on the literature, the following guidelines were possible. The panel suggests that the implementation of multi-agent combination oral care protocols is beneficial for the prevention of OM during chemotherapy, head and neck (H&N) radiation therapy (RT), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Level of Evidence III). The panel suggests that chlorhexidine not be used to prevent OM in patients undergoing H&N RT (Level of Evidence III). No guideline was possible for professional oral care, patient education, saline, and sodium bicarbonate, and expert opinion complemented these guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence supports the use of multi-agent combination oral care protocols in the specific populations listed above. Additional well-designed research is needed on the other BOC interventions prior to guideline formulation.

Systematic review of natural and miscellaneous agents for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines-part 1: vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements.

PURPOSE: To update the clinical practice guidelines for the use of natural and miscellaneous agents for the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis (OM). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer / International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). The body of evidence for each intervention, in each cancer treatment setting, was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2014 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the evidence level, the following guidelines were determined: Recommendation, Suggestion, and No Guideline Possible. RESULTS: A total of 78 papers were identified within the scope of this section, out of which 29 were included in this part, and were analyzed with 27 previously reviewed studies. A new Suggestion was made for oral glutamine for the prevention of OM in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients receiving radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy. The previous Recommendation against the use of parenteral glutamine for the prevention of OM in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients was re-established. A previous Suggestion for zinc to prevent OM in H&N cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy was reversed to No Guideline Possible. No guideline was possible for other interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Of the vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements studied for the management of OM, the evidence supports a Recommendation against parenteral glutamine in HSCT patients and a Suggestion in favor of oral glutamine in H&N cancer patients for the management of OM.

Statistical and spectral analysis of ECG signal towards achieving non-invasive blood glucose monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the cases of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) have increased in the past three decades, and it is recorded as one of the leading cause of death. This epidemic is a metabolic condition where the body cannot regulate blood glucose, thereby leading to abnormally high blood sugar. Genetic condition plays a significant role to determine a person susceptibility to the condition, a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet are behaviour that supports the current global epidemic. The complication that arises from diabetes includes loss of vision, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular complications and so on. Victims of this condition require constant monitoring of blood glucose which is done by the pricking of the finger. This procedure is painful, inconvenient and can lead to disease infection. Therefore, it is important to find a way to measure blood glucose non-invasively to minimize or eliminate the disadvantages encountered with the usual monitoring of blood glucose. METHOD: In this paper, we performed two experiments on 16 participants while electrocardiogram (ECG) data was continuously captured. In the first experiment, participants are required to consume 75 g of anhydrous glucose solution (oral glucose tolerance test) and the second experiment, no glucose solution was taken. We explored statistical and spectral analysis on HRV, HR, R-H, P-H, PRQ, QRS, QT, QTC and ST segments derived from ECG signal to investigate which segments should be considered for the possibility of achieving non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. In the statistical analysis, we examined the pattern of the data with the boxplot technique to reveal the change in the statistical properties of the data. Power spectral density estimation was adopted for the spectral analysis to show the frequency distribution of the data. RESULTS: HRV segment obtained a statistical score of 81% for decreasing pattern and HR segment have the same statistical score for increasing pattern among the participants in the first quartile, median and mean properties. While ST segment has a statistical score of 81% for decreasing pattern in the third quartile, QT segment has 81% for increasing pattern for the median. From a total change score of 6, ST, QT, PRQ, P-H, HR and HRV obtained 4, 5, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. For spectral analysis, HRV and HR segment scored 81 and 75% respectively. ST, QT, PRQ have 75, 62 and 68% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained demonstrate that HR, HRV, PRQ, QT and ST segments under a normal, healthy condition are affected by glucose and should be considered for modelling a system to achieve the possibility of non-invasive blood glucose measurement with ECG.

Realization of Low Profile Leaky Wave Antennas Using the Bending Technique for Frequency Scanning and Sensor Applications.

This paper proposes an efficient transmission line modulation by using the bending technique to realize low profile leaky wave antennas in the Ku-band for frequency scanning and sensor applications. The paper focuses mainly on the bending effects of the transmission line in terms of the sharpness of edges. The right-hand/left-hand transmission line can be designed in the form of zig-zag pattern with sharp corners and only the right-hand transmission line in the form of sinusoidal patterns with smooth corners. In this presentation, we demonstrate that transmission lines of this kind can be used to realize highly efficient leaky wave antennas with broadband impedance matching and high gain characteristics in the Ku-band. Dispersion analysis and ladder network analysis have been performed for investigating the performance of the proposed designs. The sharpness of the bends periodically distributed along the body of the antenna has been used to our advantage for frequency scanning in the left-hand and right-hand quadrants at different frequencies. The proposed bending technique has been proven to be instrumental in achieving the desired characteristics of low profile leaky wave antennas.

Green synthesis of chitosan-encapsulated CuO nanocomposites for efficient degradation of cephalosporin antibiotics in contaminated water.

The synthesis and characterization of chitosan encapsulated copper oxide nanocomposites (CuNPs) using plant extracts for the photocatalytic degradation of second-generation antibiotics, cefixime and cefuroxime, were investigated. The study revealed that the presence of diverse chemical components in the plant extract significantly influenced the size of the CuNPs, with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showing spherical shapes and sizes ranging from 11-35 nm. The encapsulation process was confirmed by an increase in size for certain samples, indicating successful encapsulation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis further elucidated the chemical makeup, confirming the valency state of Cu2+ and the presence of Cu-O bonding, with no contaminants detected. Photocatalytic activity assessments demonstrated that the copper oxide nanocomposites exhibited significant degradation capabilities against both antibiotics under UV light irradiation, with encapsulated nanocomposites (EnCu30) showing up to 96.18% degradation of cefuroxime within 60 min. The study highlighted the influence of chitosan encapsulation on enhancing photocatalytic performance, attributed to its high adsorption capability. Recycling studies confirmed the sustainability of the Cu nanocomposites, maintaining over 89% degradation rate after five consecutive cycles. This research underscores the potential of green-synthesized CuNPs as efficient, stable photocatalysts for the degradation of harmful antibiotics, contributing to environmental sustainability and public health protection.

Emerging pharmacotherapy trends in preventing and managing oral mucositis induced by chemoradiotherapy and targeted agents.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has tremendously changed the clinical outcomes and prognosis of cancer patients. Despite innovative pharmacological therapies and improved radiotherapy (RT) techniques, patients continue to suffer from side effects, of which oral mucositis (OM) is still the most impactful, especially for quality of life. AREAS COVERED: We provide an overview of current advances in cancer pharmacotherapy and RT, in relation to their potential to cause OM, and of the less explored and more recent literature reports related to the best management of OM. We have analyzed natural/antioxidant agents, probiotics, mucosal protectants and healing coadjuvants, pharmacotherapies, immunomodulatory and anticancer agents, photobiomodulation and the impact of technology. EXPERT OPINION: The discovery of more precise pathophysiologic mechanisms of CT and RT-induced OM has outlined that OM has a multifactorial origin, including direct effects, oxidative damage, upregulation of immunologic factors, and effects on oral flora. A persistent upregulated immune response, associated with factors related to patients' characteristics, may contribute to more severe and long-lasting OM. The goal is strategies to conjugate individual patient, disease, and therapy-related factors to guide OM prevention or treatment. Despite further high-quality research is warranted, the issue of prevention is paramount in future strategies.

Guidance on mucositis assessment from the MASCC Mucositis Study Group and ISOO: an international Delphi study.

Background: Mucositis is a common and highly impactful side effect of conventional and emerging cancer therapy and thus the subject of intense investigation. Although common practice, mucositis assessment is heterogeneously adopted and poorly guided, impacting evidence synthesis and translation. The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Mucositis Study Group (MSG) therefore aimed to establish expert recommendations for how existing mucositis assessment tools should be used, in clinical care and trials contexts, to improve the consistency of mucositis assessment. Methods: This study was conducted over two stages (January 2022-July 2023). The first phase involved a survey to MASCC-MSG members (January 2022-May 2022), capturing current practices, challenges and preferences. These then informed the second phase, in which a set of initial recommendations were prepared and refined using the Delphi method (February 2023-May 2023). Consensus was defined as agreement on a parameter by >80% of respondents. Findings: Seventy-two MASCC-MSG members completed the first phase of the study (37 females, 34 males, mainly oral care specialists). High variability was noted in the use of mucositis assessment tools, with a high reliance on clinician assessment compared to patient reported outcome measures (PROMs, 47% vs 3%, 37% used a combination). The World Health Organization (WHO) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scales were most commonly used to assess mucositis across multiple settings. Initial recommendations were reviewed by experienced MSG members and following two rounds of Delphi survey consensus was achieved in 91 of 100 recommendations. For example, in patients receiving chemotherapy, the recommended tool for clinician assessment in clinical practice is WHO for oral mucositis (89.5% consensus), and WHO or CTCAE for gastrointestinal mucositis (85.7% consensus). The recommended PROM in clinical trials is OMD/WQ for oral mucositis (93.3% consensus), and PRO-CTCAE for gastrointestinal mucositis (83.3% consensus). Interpretation: These new recommendations provide much needed guidance on mucositis assessment and may be applied in both clinical practice and research to streamline comparison and synthesis of global data sets, thus accelerating translation of new knowledge into clinical practice. Funding: No funding was received.

A Voxel Vascular Structure-based Mannequin-like Arm Electromagnetic Model for Radio Frequency Biomedical Sensors.

Radio Frequency (RF) sensor is widely used to monitor physiological signals. Generally, RF sensor simulation is mostly done using a layered model, which sometimes cannot model the accurate properties in the real world. A voxel vascular structure-based mannequin-like arm electromagnetic model (VVS-MaM) is proposed to evaluate the RF sensor, which mainly gathers the real physiological signal. This model is built with high-precision Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and it can finish fast simulation while there is also a voxel-like part in it which means it has the advantages of both the layered model and the real human model. After modelling, both simulation and in-vivo experiments are designed to test this sensor. In the simulation, the simulated standard resonant frequency of the equivalent model is 1.8137 GHz, and the relative error of the VVS-MaM is 0.012 GHz, which is closer to the standard value than the layer model result of 0.049 GHz. Meanwhile, in the in-vivo experiments, an RF sensor based on a composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL) and complementary split resonator rings (CSRRs) are fabricated, and the measurements from the real experiments are gathered and stored to compare with that of the simulation. The comparison shows that the relative error of the VVS-MaM (0.08804 GHz)is closer to the in-vivo measurements than that of the layer model (0.09891 GHz), which validates the performance of VVS-MaM.Clinical Relevance-Radio Frequency, magnetic resonance imaging, scattering parameter, composite right/left-handed, complementary split resonator ring.

Gradient variability coefficient: a novel method for assessing glycemic variability and risk of hypoglycemia.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the clinical importance of glycemic variability and hypoglycemia, thus far, there is no consensus on the optimum method for assessing glycemic variability and risk of hypoglycemia simultaneously. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A novel metric, the gradient variability coefficient (GVC), was proposed for characterizing glycemic variability and risk of hypoglycemia. A total of 208 daily records of CGM encompassing 104 patients with T1DM and 2380 daily records from 1190 patients with T2DM were obtained in our study. Simulated CGM waveforms were used to assess the ability of GVC and other metrics to capture the amplitude and frequency of glucose fluctuations. In addition, the association between GVC and the risk of hypoglycemia was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The results of simulated CGM waveforms indicated that, compared with the widely used metrics of glycemic variability including standard deviation of sensor glucose (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), GVC could reflect both the amplitude and frequency of glucose oscillations. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC was 0.827 in T1DM and 0.873 in T2DM, indicating good performance in predicting hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed GVC might be a clinically useful tool in characterizing glycemic variability and the assessment of hypoglycemia risk in patients with diabetes.

Non-invasive Monitoring of Three Glucose Ranges Based On ECG By Using DBSCAN-CNN.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) can maintain homeostasis through the coordination of different organs including heart. The change of blood glucose (BG) level can stimulate the ANS, which will lead to the variation of Electrocardiogram (ECG). Considering that the monitoring of different BG ranges is significant for diabetes care, in this paper, an ECG-based technique was proposed to achieve non-invasive monitoring with three BG ranges: low glucose level, moderate glucose level, and high glucose level. For this purpose, multiple experiments that included fasting tests and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted, and the ECG signals from 21 adults were recorded continuously. Furthermore, an approach of fusing density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise and convolution neural networks (DBSCAN-CNN) was presented for ECG preprocessing of outliers and classification of BG ranges based ECG. Also, ECG's important information, which was related to different BG ranges, was graphically visualized. The result showed that the percentages of accurate classification were 87.94% in low glucose level, 69.36% in moderate glucose level, and 86.39% in high glucose level. Moreover, the visualization results revealed that the highlights of ECG for the different BG ranges were different. In addition, the sensitivity of prediabetes/diabetes screening based on ECG was up to 98.48%, and the specificity was 76.75%. Therefore, we conclude that the proposed approach for BG range monitoring and prediabetes/diabetes screening has potentials in practical applications.

Validation of a Novel 'Supportive Oral Care Protocol' (SOCP), a Model for Care in Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Tertiary Cancer Centre in India.

India has a huge burden of head and neck cancer and specifically oral cancer. Supportive oral care is not a standard of care in our population and is often neglected. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for such care in India which could be followed. The aim of this study is to validate a novel institutional supportive oral care protocol (SOCP) for head and neck cancer patients. This protocol is specific to our population developed for head and neck/dental oncology experts working in cancer centres to provide comprehensive care. This is a cross-sectional validity study. Fifteen dental oncology experts working in cancer centres/hospitals across India and six oncology experts from our centre were enrolled. All experts provided their inputs on 41 points of the SOCP. The data was analysed for item validity, content validity index and inter-rater agreement. The statistical analyses used were kappa measure for inter-rater agreement and content validity index for item-wise agreement. Out of 861 responses from all the reviewers, 91% agreed, 8.4% agreed with modification and 0.6% disagreed. The content validity index and agreement between reviewers ranged from 0.9 to 1 for kappa measure. The SOCP of our institution was shown to be a valid protocol. SOCP addresses oral and dental supportive care and rehabilitation as part of overall comprehensive care for head and neck cancer patients in our population.

The efficacy of an ayurvedic preparation of yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on radiation-induced mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common and debilitating painful side effect of many forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Mucositis may lead to dose reductions and unplanned interruptions of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT) and often affects patients' quality of life. AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of the ayurvedic preparation in decreasing the severity of mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, the patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 patients received conventional mucositis treatment, whereas Group 2 patients received ayurvedic preparation Yashtimadhu in addition to conventional treatment. Group 3 patients received honey for local application in oral cavity as well as one tea spoon of honey twice daily orally in addition to routine conventional treatment. All the patients were assessed for mucositis at the end of every week during the RT for a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed between the groups at each time point. Nearly 42.85% of patients in conventional treatment arm developed Grade 3 mucositis, 20% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in group where honey was given, and only 15.5% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in Yastimadhu group. Unplanned treatment breaks and hospitalization of patients were reduced with the use of yashtimadhu as compared to other two groups. CONCLUSION: Yashtimadhu was observed to be effective and delayed the development of severe form of mucositis. The drug appeared to be more efficient in the management of radiation-induced mucositis.