bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Prepontine Cisternal Space Thickness with the Severity of Neurovascular Conflict and its Role in Predicting Outcome of Medical Management in Cases of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Authors: Arora Abhishek J , Kona Kiran K R , Pawar Rajsree , Jyotsna Y
Published: October 2023

Background:

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating disorder that presents with sudden onset of severe, unilateral, paroxysmal, and lancinating pain usually lasting for few seconds to few minutes.

Aims and Objectives:

The main aim of our study was to correlate the prepontine cisternal space thickness, with a severity of neurovascular compression (NVC) and percentage reduction of pain (patient outcome).

Materials and Methods:

Ours is an observational prospective study of 40 patients presenting with TN for magnetic resonance imaging in our department. Patients were followed up on medical treatment and their pain severity evaluated on their follow-up visit. Patients were divided into two groups based on prepontine cisternal space (Group A: ≤4 mm, Group B: >4 mm) and into three groups based on the percentage reduction of pain, Group 1 (0–35%), Group 2 (36–70%), and Group 3 consisted of patients with pain reduction of more than 70%. Ipsilateral prepontine cisternal space thickness was correlated with grade of NVC and percentage reduction of pain.

Results:

Mean percentage of pain reduction in group A and group B was 34.12 and 60.68%, respectively. Approximately 23.80% of grade1 NVC were seen in group A and 76.20% in group B, while 80% of grade 3 NVC were seen in group A and only 20% were seen in group B.

Conclusion:

There was poor response to medical treatment, in patients with narrowed prepontine cisternal space thickness with an inverse relationship between the grade of NVC and cisternal space thickness.
Translation of Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2) in Hindi (H-PDSS-2) and its Validation for Assessment of Sleep Disturbances among Indian Parkinson's Disease Patients
Authors: Singh Ruchi , Rai Nirendra K. , Chouhan Sunil , Pakhare Abhijit
Published: October 2023

Background and Objective:

Parkinson's disease sleep scale-2 (PDSS-2) is a reliable sleep assessment tool which has been validated in several languages. As sleep problems have a great impact on the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients, we aimed to translate and validate PDSS-2 in Hindi for its wider use among Hindi-speaking Indian patients. Our study objective was to translate PDSS-2 in Hindi (H-PDSS-2) and to assess the psychometric properties of H-PDSS-2 questionnaire for its use in Hindi-speaking Indian PD patients. Secondly, we aimed to compare the results with those of the other language PDSS-2 validation studies.

Material and Methods:

This study was done in two phases, enrolling 16 patients and 16 controls in the first/translation phase for assessment of internal consistency and discriminative power of PDSS-2. The test–retest reliability was determined in the second phase on 35 Parkinson's disease patients who were followed-up at an interval of 7–10 days.

Results:

No difficulties were faced by the patients and controls in the first phase, and internal consistency of the scale was good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.804). There was no significant difference in total H-PDSS-2 score at baseline 16.86 ± 10.59 and on retest 16.40 ± 9.54, suggesting good reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.710 to 0.901, and precision was 2.82 over the period of 7–10 days. Subdomains of H-PDSS-2 had moderate/high internal validity, and they showed significant correlation with Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) and HY disease scale.

Conclusion:

H-PDSS-2 is equivalent to the original PDSS-2 for tested psychometric attributes. Its use among Indian Parkinson's disease patients will help in the comprehensive assessment of sleep problems among PD patients.
Effects of Serum Cholesterol on Severity of Stroke and Dosage of Statins on Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Shridharan Priyanka , Nair Radhika , Gorthi Sankar P , Prakashini K , Chatterjee Aparajita
Published: October 2023

Background:

A high dose of statin is used to obtain an intensive lipid-lowering in stroke patients, even in patients with normal lipid levels. There are limited data on effect of dosage of statins and functional outcome in stroke patients.

Objectives:

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted in KMC Hospital Manipal, India between 2016 and 2018.

Result:

A total of 100 consecutive patients were included in the study, out of which 60 (60.0%) were males. Hyperlipidemia was present in 65 (65.0%) patients. On comparing the serum cholesterol levels with infarct volume using MRI, patients with low volume of ≤70 ml had higher mean serum total cholesterol concentration (223.83 mg/dl), whereas patients with high volume of >70 ml had low mean cholesterol level (218.70 mg/dl). The patients were divided into those who received low dose (≤20 mg) versus high dose (≥40 mg equivalent) of Atorvastatin. On comparing the mRS values at baseline and on day 90 with the dose of statins, patients who received a higher dosage had a statistically significant fall in mRS (p-0.045) at day 90.

Conclusion:

It was found that serum cholesterol levels were inversely related to the stroke severity. However, a higher the dose of statins resulted in better functional outcome and survival in post-stroke patients, possibly due to its neuroprotective effect.
Role of Cavernous Sinus Extension and MRI T2 Hypointensity in the Extent of Resection following Trans-Sphenoidal Surgery for Giant Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Singla Raghav , Sharma Ravi , Suri Ashish
Published: October 2023

Background:

Giant pituitary adenomas (GPA) pose a significant neurosurgical challenge. In this study, we present an experience of 60 consecutive patients with GPA operated by trans-sphenoidal surgery (microscopic/endoscopic).

Objective:

The aim of this study was to elucidate preoperative factors predicting extent of resection (EOR) following transsphenoidal surgery for GPA.

Materials and Methods:

The study was a retrospective evaluation of 60 adult patients (>18 years) with GPA operated over a decade. The patients were analyzed for their clinical presentation, EOR, radiology, visual outcome, endocrinological outcome, and complications.

Results:

The mean age of the cohort was 41.5 ± 13.3 years, mean tumor volume was 38.2 ± 19.1 cm3, and mean follow-up was 30.6 ± 21.7 months. Improvement in vision was seen in forty patients (66.7%), while another 16 (26.7%) had stable vision as prior to surgery. Duration of visual symptoms was found to be statistically significantly associated with postoperative improvement of vision (P = 0.001). Twenty-four patients (40.0%) underwent subtotal resection (STR), while the remaining 36 patients (60.0%) underwent either gross total or near-total resection. Factors associated with STR were retrosellar (P = 0.04), subfrontal (P = 0.02), Knosp 3,4 cavernous sinus extension (P = 0.03), and MRI T2 hypointensity (P = 0.02). During follow-up, eight patients (13.3%) had radiological evidence of growth of residual tumor.

Conclusions:

Most cases of GPA can be adequately handled by trans-sphenoidal surgery. The presence of retrosellar, subfrontal, cavernous sinus extensions, and T2 hypointensity should alert the surgeon for likelihood of STR, postoperative residual tumor hemorrhage and need for second-stage endonasal or transcranial surgery. However, utilization of extended endoscopic route has allowed good debulking of tumors having subfrontal and parasellar extensions, which was not possible previously using traditional microscopic transsphenoidal surgery.
The RIGHT Scoring System for the Medicolegal Classification of Head Injury
Authors: Gupta Vipin , Singh Hargunbir , Sandhu Mani R. , Kaur Ravinder , Singh Amandeep , Gupta Soumya
Published: October 2023

Background:

In India, in case of an allegation of assault, the medical officer is required to classify the nature of injury into simple, grievous, and dangerous based upon the Indian Penal Code, which is outdated and has numerous gray areas.

Objective:

The aim of this study is twofold: first, to formulate an objective scoring system for the medicolegal classification of head injuries and Second to validate the proposed scoring system on patients with head injury.

Methods and Material:

A panel of experts consisting of neurosurgeons, radiologists, and forensic specialists came up with an objective scoring system, coined as the RIGHT (radiological-intervention-Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)-based head trauma) scoring system consisting of three parameters, namely, the motor subscore of the GCS, computerized tomography image findings, and management of the patient. This was used to classify head injuries—into simple, grievous, and dangerous. A single-centre pilot study was planned—including patients with head trauma reporting to the emergency department. Medicolegal nature of the head injury was classified according to the proposed RIGHT score. A 6-month follow-up was performed using the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS).

Results:

In total, 130 patients with head injury reported to the emergency department. There was a significant correlation between the RIGHT score assigned upon admission and the GOS at 6 months (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

As the scoring system could be applied objectively and a significant correlation between nature of injury given by RIGHT score and 6-month outcome was present; therefore, the RIGHT scoring system proved to be an effective method in unambiguously classifying the nature of head injury for medicolegal opinions.
Persistence of postoperative pain due to extrusion of endodontic obturator plastic carrier
Authors: Taschieri Silvio , Gambarini Gianluca , Makeeva Irina , Tarasenko Svetlana , Corbella Stefano
Published: October 2023

The aim of the present study was to describe two clinical cases showing postoperative pain associated with the use of plastic carrier obturation system and apical bone fenestration. The patients were treated by surgical access and apicoectomy through a modern technique (using magnification and microsurgical approach), thus removing the direct contact between obturation material and submucosal connective tissue. The surgical interventions were carried on without the occurrence of any complication. Postsurgical adverse sequelae were negligible. After few weeks from the surgery, all symptoms disappeared. Radiographic healing was observed after 48 months. The presence of apical bone fenestration could be the cause of persistent pain after root canal treatment. The contact between plastic carrier and submucosal connective tissue could be the direct cause of spontaneous pain even in absence of periapical infection. Since the clinical diagnosis could be difficult, the use of tridimensional radiology could be justified. Surgical approach, by the removal of the contact between the carrier and connective tissues, can be considered a viable option to treat these particular affections.
Effects of Sabbagh Universal Spring 2 appliance on cephalometric indices in patients with Class II division 1 versus division 2 malocclusions
Authors: Hemmatpour Siamak , Molladavoodi Parastesh , Oliadarani Fatemeh Kadkhodaei , Bahrani Hossein , Rakhshan Vahid
Published: October 2023

Background:

Since there is no comparison between the effects of Sabbagh Universal Spring 2 (SUS2) appliance on Class II division 1 (div 1) versus Class II division 2 (div 2) patients, this preliminary study was conducted to comparatively assess, for the first time, the effects of SUS2 on 34 cephalometric indices in Class II/1 versus Class II/2 patients.

Materials and Methods:

This before–after clinical trial was conducted on 75 observations of 25 patients with Class II malocclusion, of whom 12 (9 females and 3 males) had Class II div 1 and 13 (11 females and 2 males) had Class II div 2 malocclusion diagnosed by clinical examination and cephalometric assessment. The growth level of all patients had to be CS3 according to the cervical vertebral maturation index. Lateral cephalographs were obtained before treatment (T0) and the patients underwent fixed orthodontic treatment. Lateral cephalographs were taken again (T1) and the patients received SUS2 functional appliance for 6 months. A final lateral cephalograph (T2) was then obtained. Thirty-four dentoskeletal indices were measured on lateral cephalographs, and changes in indices over time were determined and compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance, post hoc test, and t-test (α =0.05).

Results:

Within-group comparisons showed significant changes over time in SNB, sella nasion (SN)/occlusal plane, ANB, articular (Ar)-pogonion (Pog), L1-NB, condylion (Co)-gnathion, S-Ar/Ar-G, B-RL1, L1/nasion-point B (NB), U6-RL2, incisor mandibular plane angle, overjet, overbite, U1-RL1, and L1-RL2 (P < 0.05). The two groups were significantly different in terms of changes occurred to overjet, interincisal angle, U1/RL1, L1-NB, U1-NA, U1/NA, the Jarabak ratio, A-RL1, U1/SN, Pog-NB, and Co-A (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The SUS2 showed therapeutic efficacy for both Class II div 1 and 2 patients although it more commonly caused dentoalveolar rather than skeletal changes. Our study showed no considerable difference between the two groups after using this appliance, and the difference in the Jarabak ratio indicated better long-term growth pattern of div 2 patients and its conformity with camouflage treatments (mild or moderate Class II).
The effect of adjunctive use of melatonin as a supplement on serum ferritin level in periodontal patients
Authors: Faramarzi Masoumeh , Sadighi Mehrnoosh , Chitsazi Mohammadtaghi , Esmailzadeh Mahdieh , Foladvand Ghazale
Published: October 2023

Background:

Ferritin is an acute-phase protein that is increased in inflammatory diseases. Melatonin has been studied due to its antioxidant effects and the elimination of free radicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplement as an adjunct to routine periodontal treatment on serum ferritin levels in patients with periodontitis.

Materials and Methods:

Forty patients with chronic periodontitis were included in this randomized controlled clinical trial study. Twenty patients received nonsurgical periodontal treatment and twenty patients received nonsurgical periodontal treatment with adjunctive use of melatonin. Serum ferritin concentrations and periodontal parameters were recorded at baseline and 3 months after periodontal therapy. Serum ferritin level and periodontal parameters comparison at baseline and 3 months after periodontal treatment was done by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired sample t-test, respectively. Differences between test and control groups were evaluated by Mann–Whitney U-test for ferritin level and independent t-test for periodontal parameters, and a P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Serum ferritin level decreased in both the control and test group in 3 months follow-up compared to baseline (P < 0.001). The reduction in ferritin levels in the test group was more than the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.414). Improvement in periodontal parameters were not significant between two groups (P = 0.489), but improvement rates in the test group were more than control.

Conclusion:

Melatonin, as an adjunct to periodontal therapy, showed additional benefits in the reduction of serum ferritin levels and improvement of periodontal parameters.
Anatomy assessment of permanent mandibular premolar teeth in a selected Iranian population using cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Hasheminia Seyed Mohsen , Mehdizadeh Mojdeh , Bagherieh Shervin
Published: October 2023

Background:

Appropriate cleaning and shaping and three-dimensional obturation of the root canal system lead to a successful endodontic treatment. To achieve this, complete knowledge of the internal anatomy of root canals is necessary. Therefore, this study evaluated the number and shape of mandibular premolar roots and canals and classified their Vertucci classification using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of an Iranian sample population.

Materials and Methods:

This in vivo study was performed on CBCT images of patients aged 20–70 years who had attended a dental radiology center in Isfahan. CBCT images were examined in coronal, sagittal, and especially axial dimensions. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Groups were compared using the Chi-square of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The level of significance was predetermined as 0.05.

Results:

In both first and second premolars, the most common classes were Type I followed by Type V. The Chi-square did not show significant differences between males and females in terms of Vertucci classes in the first (P = 0.305) or second premolar (P = 0.315).

Conclusion:

Since a thorough knowledge of root canal anatomy is necessary for successful root canal treatment and almost one out of ten mandibular premolars has additional canal in their root canal system, accurate evaluating of preoperative radiographs, taking CBCT images if necessary, and probing the root canal system with fine and precurved files should be done to negotiate the entire canal system.
Effect of total-etch and self-etch adhesives on the bond strength of composite to glass-ionomer cement/resin-modified glass-ionomer cement in the sandwich technique – A systematic review
Authors: Manihani Amarjot Kaur D. S. , Mulay Sanjyot , Beri Lotika , Shetty Rajesh , Gulati Shreya , Dalsania Raj
Published: October 2023

The success of the sandwich technique depends on the bond strength of composite to glass-ionomer cement (GIC)/resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC). Currently used adhesives employ the total-etch and the self-etch techniques. The total-etch system is technique sensitive, whereas the self-etch system is popular for its ease of use. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the effect of total-etch and self-etch adhesives (SEAs) on the bond strength of composite to GIC/(RMGIC) in the sandwich technique. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Ebscohost, and Scopus) limiting the year of publications from January 1, 2000, to September 30, 2018, to identify the relevant studies. All the cross-references of the selected studies were also screened. In vitro studies on extracted human teeth were selected. A total of 10 articles were included in this review. A conclusion was drawn that SEAs when used in the sandwich technique resulted in greater bond strength in comparison to total-etch adhesives. Moreover, increased bond strength was achieved when the primer was employed on unset GIC as compared to set GIC. Furthermore, the application of SEAs over uncured RMGIC (co-curing technique) resulted in better bond strengths as compared to their application over cured RMGIC.
Knowledge and practice of Iranian prosthodontists regarding the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea: Design and development of a questionnaire
Authors: Niakan Somayeh , Shamshiri Ahmadreza , Davoodi Mojgan , Allahyari Somayeh
Published: October 2023

Background:

The present study was conducted to develop a standard questionnaire to assess the knowledge and practice of prosthodontists regarding the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA).

Materials and Methods:

This study had questionnaire designing and cross-sectional-descriptive phases. Questionnaire domains were identified by a panel of eight experts. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was assessed by experts and four laypeople. The internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire was checked using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Moreover, its stability was tested using the test–retest method. The questionnaire was completed online by 282 Iranian prosthodontists and the relationship between different variables and scores of knowledge and practice of them with simple and multiple linear regression tests was were analyzed.

Results:

A 32-item questionnaire was designed. The Scale Content Validity Index was >0.8 for clarity, simplicity, and necessity in all domains and the content validity of all questions was above 0.8. As for reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was above 0.7 on average. Faculty members had more knowledge (P = 0.04) and better practice (P = 0.001) compared to others. Prosthodontists who participated in sleep disorders training courses had higher scores in knowledge (P = 0.001) and practice (P = 0.001). Prosthodontists who referred patients to sleep disorders clinics had higher knowledge (P = 0.001) and practice (P = 0.001) than those who did not.

Conclusion:

The questionnaire developed in this study can be considered a comprehensive and executable scale with appropriate reliability and validity. There is a positive relationship between being exposed to information and the level of knowledge and practice of prosthodontists about OSA.
Clinical, histological, and histomorphometrical comparison of CenoBone® with and without plasma rich in growth factor for edentulous ridge preservation in the dental sockets
Authors: Keshavarzi Farshad , Ahrari Fateme , Seyedmajidi Maryam , Ziaei Maryam , Bijani Ali , Jenabian Niloofar
Published: October 2023

Background:

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, histological, and histomorphometrical outcomes of CenoBone® allograft with and without plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF) for the preservation of edentulous ridge in the dental sockets.

Materials and Methods:

This study is experimental clinical trial that 14 dental sockets were included the sockets required ridge preservation followed by implant placement in the premolar and molar of the mandible. After extraction of the teeth, the CenoBone® allograft and PRGF were used in the test group and CenoBone® allograft was used alone in the control group. During the first stage of surgery and 5 months later, in the second stage of surgery (implant placement), the vertical changes of the ridge were measured. Furthermore, using Core-Biopsy in the second stage of surgery, criteria of histologic and histomorphometric were determined. Data were analyzed with t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Fisher's exact test at the level of significance of P < 0.05.

Results:

The mean trabecular thickness in the test group (52.18 ± 5.53) was significantly higher than that in the control group (41.53 ± 10.40) (P = 0.344). However, there were no significant differences in the mean values of vertical bone absorption, bone percentage, remaining biomaterials, inflammation, and blood vessels between the two groups. There was no case of foreign body reaction and the bone was vital in all the cases and in direct contact with the biomaterial.

Conclusion:

Although CenoBone® allograft with PRGF was effective in some histomorphometric factors such as trabecular thickness, it did not lead to significant clinical changes.
Effect of sodium ascorbate on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets to bleached enamel using universal dental adhesive
Authors: Sadeghian Saeid , Fathpour Kamyar , Biglari Mahshid
Published: October 2023

Background:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bleaching agent, sodium ascorbate as an antioxidant, and delay time on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets to enamel using Transbond XT and universal adhesive.

Materials and Methods:

In this in vitro experimental study, 80 extracted maxillary premolars without any defect or decay were randomly divided into eight groups of 1: no bleaching + Transbond XT (NB/TX) bonding agent, 2: no bleaching + All-Bond Universal (NB/AB), 3: bleaching + Transbond XT (B/TX), 4: bleaching + All-Bond Universal (B/AB), 5: bleaching + sodium ascorbate + Transbond XT (B/SA/TX), 6: bleaching + sodium ascorbate + All-Bond Universal (B/SA/AB), 7: bleaching + Transbond XT after a 3-week delay (B/3W/TX), and 8: bleaching + All-Bond Universal after a 3-week delay (B/3W/AB). After thermocycling (1000 cycles, 5–55°C), the SBS was measured, and the adhesive remnant index scores were determined to assess the failure mode. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, Tamhane's post hoc test, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney U-test at the significance level of P < 0.05.

Results:

The mean SBS range was 5.5–29.78 MPa. The highest SBS values were related to Group 2 (NB/AB) which were significantly higher than all groups (P < 0.05) and the lowest values were observed in Group 5 (B/SA/TX) which were significantly lower than all groups except Group 3 (B/TX) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide significantly decreased the SBS of orthodontic brackets, and 10% sodium ascorbate could not reverse the adverse effect of bleaching on SBS. Delaying the bonding procedure by 3 weeks using Universal adhesive considerably decreased the adverse effect of bleaching on SBS and increased the SBS to a clinically acceptable level for orthodontic treatment.
Performance of HEART and TIMI scores in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) of chest pain patients in the emergency department
Authors: Ginoya Sonal Kaushal , Parikh Samira N.
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To compare the value of HEART and TIMI scores in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) of patients with chest pain in the emergency department at a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad, a city in western India.

Methods:

A prospective study was conducted on chest pain patients from January to December 2019. All adult patients with non-traumatic chest pain presenting to the emergency department were included, and their HEART and TIMI scores were evaluated. The patients were followed up within 4 weeks for monitoring any major adverse cardiac events or death. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to determine the value of HEART and TIMI scores in predicting MACEs. Besides, the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two scores were assessed and compared.

Results:

A total of 350 patients were evaluated [mean age (55.03±16.6) years, 56.6% of males]. HEART score had the highest predictive value of MACEs with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98, followed by the TIMI score with an AUC of 0.92. HEART score had the highest specificity of 98.0% (95% CI: 96.4%-99.6%), the sensitivity of 75.0% (95% CI: 70.7%-79.3%), and PPV of 97.0% (95% CI: 94.1%-99.9%) and NPV of 82.5% (95% CI: 74.6%-90.4%) for low-risk patients. TIMI score had a specificity of 95.0% (95% CI: 92.4%-97.6%), sensitivity of 75.0% (95% CI: 69.4%-80.6%), PPV of 92.3% (95% CI: 88.1%-96.5%) and NPV of 82.3% (95% CI: 73.8%-90.8%) for low-risk patients.

Conclusions:

HEART score is an easier and more practical triage instrument to identify chest pain patients with low-risk for MACEs compared to TIMI score. Patients with high HEART scores have a higher risk of MACEs and require early therapeutic intervention and aggressive management.
The role of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in male infertility: A scoping review
Authors: Kaya Cakir Hacer , Eroglu Onur
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To give a brief overview of the field of epigenetics and the potential predictive power that small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) may hold in relation to improving the treatment and diagnosis of male infertility.

Methods:

PRISMA-ScR was used as the scoping review guideline for this investigation. All article data here have been accessed from MEDLINE–PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, Sage Journals, and Google Scholar. The terms "small non coding RNA, male, infertility, miRNA, sperm" were used in the search between 2015 and 2023.

Results:

The study comprised 35 publications in total. Several sncRNAs, miR-155, miR-16, miR-196, miR-525-3p, miR-891 were found to be effective in regulating the mechanism of spermatozoa processing in the infertility of men. sncRNA can be used as a biomarker of male infertility.

Conclusions:

sncRNAs can act as biomarkers for the diagnosis of reproductive diseases. Actually, by recognizing sncRNAs and their mechanisms, a new way to treat infertile men would be paved. The functional annotation of sncRNAs in spermatogenesis is still in its infancy but has enormous potential. This is despite the fact that many potential sncRNAs have been found to date with the use of cutting-edge technology and publicly accessible sncRNA annotation tools.
Reproductive outcomes of water pipe smoking: A scoping review
Authors: Rostami Sahar , Fereidouni Farzane , Maleki-Hajiagha Arezoo , Motaharinejad Mohadese , Majidi Somayye , Amidi Fardin
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To present an overview of the adverse effects of water pipe smoking on various aspects of reproduction and perinatal complications, covering all the most relevant studies, from descriptive findings to clinical trials.

Methods:

We reviewed the literature and included full publications in English provided by international biomedical databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library over the last 38 years (May 1985 to June 2023). Search terms (Water pipe, Narghile, Shisha, Dokha, etc., and Reproduction, Fertility, etc.) were adopted from Medical Subheading (MeSH) and Boolean operators were utilized to improve sensitivity.

Results:

133 Papers were identified in the initial search, of which 29 were excluded due to duplication. Eliminating search overlap and irrelevant records by reviewing titles and abstracts reduced 42 papers. 62 Full-publication articles met the inclusion criteria. We summarized the effects of waterpipe smoke exposure on reproductive health based on three main categories: male and female fertility, fetal and neonatal outcomes, and pregnancy complications.

Conclusions:

Water pipe smoking has potential adverse effects on different aspects of human reproductive health, including semen parameters, male and female fertility, and fetal and neonatal health, and contributes to many maternal complications and morbidities.
Post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis: An ongoing concern
Authors: Alrajhi Nuha Nasser
Published: October 2023

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 rapidly spread across the globe causing over 6 million deaths and major compromization of health facilities. The vast majority of survivors post-COVID-19 are left with variable degrees of health sequelae including pulmonary, neurological, psychological, and cardiovascular complications. Post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis is one of the major concerns arising after the recovery from this pandemic. Risk factors for post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis include age, male sex, and the severity of COVID-19 disease. High-resolution computed tomography provides diagnostic utility to diagnose pulmonary fibrosis as it provides more details regarding the pattern and the extent of pulmonary fibrosis. Emerging data showing similarities between post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, finding that needs further exploration. The management of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis depends on many factors but largely relies on excluding other causes of pulmonary fibrosis, the extent of fibrosis, and physiological impairment. Treatment includes immunosuppressants versus antifibrotics or both.
Red blood cell distribution width at diagnosis as a predictor factor in chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Abdul-Latif Raghad Nabeel , Khalaf Asaad A. , Aqabi Adel S.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a hematological disorder of stem cells resulting from uncontrolled and unregulated growth of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), therapy has dramatically improved survival in these patients. TKIs treatment targeting BCR-ABL significantly improves the prognosis of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. To date, the validity of scoring systems is insufficient for predicting prognosis, and there are few studies of scoring systems for predicting treatment response and clinical efficacy of TKIs.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to predict treatment response in chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase (CP) patients treated with first-generation TKI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A prospective and retroprospective cohort study was conducted on chronic myeloid leukemia-CP patients treated with first-generation TKI at Iraqi Hematological Centers. The collection period was from December 2020 to November 2021. Patients were treated with first-generation TKIs as initial therapy and were followed up to assess the response by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The assessment of RDW was done at baseline and then at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after initiation of therapy.

RESULTS:

There were 150 patients included in this study. The mean age of patients was 43.7 ± 14 years (range: 18–84 years). Males were representing 48.6% and females 51.3%. The classification of baseline RDW showed that the majority of patients (53%) had high RDW. The RDW showed significant change over time, in which, it was significantly decreasing over time (P < 0.05). Association between PCR over time and baseline RDW category showed that the high baseline RDW was associated with higher mean PCR at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months (P < 0.05). The correlation between RDW at baseline and PCR at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months showed that there was a significant positive weak correlation between baseline RDW and PCR at 6, 12, and 18 months. The association between baseline RDW and the response showed that high baseline RDW was associated with higher failure rate at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

RDW could be used in the prediction of response to treatment. Furthermore, high RDW showed significant association with high disease activity score, high white blood cell count, and lower hemoglobin, in addition to association and correlation with PCR level.
Reversible gelatinous transformation of bone marrow – A rare and reversible cause of pancytopenia in tuberculosis
Authors: Abdulla Mansoor C.
Published: October 2023

A 68-year-old man presented with a low-grade fever for one month. He had loss of appetite and had lost 6 kilograms of weight in the last two months. He was evaluated and found to have miliary tuberculosis with pancytopenia. The bone marrow revealed Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow and there was no evidence of other causes of pancytopenia like histiocytic hyperplasia, maturation arrest, or infiltration of the bone marrow. The pancytopenia improved with anti-tubercular treatment showing the reversible nature of the disease. To conclude, multiple mechanisms can result in pancytopenia in tuberculosis. A bone marrow study can reveal most of them including rare causes like GTBM.
The Impact of the FertiStrong Mobile Application on Anxiety and Depression in Men: A Randomised Control Pilot Study
Authors: Domar Alice D. , Jasulaitis Lauren , Matevossian Karine , Jasulaitis Sue , Grill Elizabeth A. , Meike L. Uhler
Published: October 2023

Background:

Male factor accounts for up to half of all cases of infertility. Previously, research has focused on the psychological effects of infertility on female partners, but recent studies show negative consequences on male patients as well. Despite evidence that men are affected by infertility, there is limited studies focusing on coping methods for them.

Aims:

Determine if a cognitive-behavioral and relaxation mobile application, targeted at men experiencing infertility, could lead to decreases in psychological distress.

Settings and Design:

Randomized controlled.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty-nine men participated in a randomized pilot study of the FertiStrong application. Participants completed a demographic form, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) at baseline and one month follow-up. The intervention group downloaded the FertiStrong application and used it when needed. Control participants received routine infertility care.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Normally distributed data is presented as mean+/- SD; Differences in proportions were tested using Chi-square test and within group comparison were performed using paired t-test.

Results:

One participant was excluded, resulting in 38 participants, 19 in each group. There were no baseline differences in demographic characteristics (P>0.31). For the HADS anxiety domain, the control group had a small increase between baseline and follow up, while the intervention group had a small decrease. For the HADS depression domain, there was a slight increase in the controls. For the FPI, the control group had a two-point increase, from moderately stressed to extremely high while the intervention group had a five-point decrease, from extremely high to moderately high, but was not significant. Each FPI domain-specific score in the intervention group decreased and one, Rejection of Childfree lifestyle, was significant (P=0.03). The increase in stress level was significantly greater in the control group (P<0.02).

Conclusion:

Recruitment was challenging due to the short recruitment phase and the sample size was smaller than planned. However, there were several significant improvements noted in the intervention group and on all testing, the intervention group trended to less distress. More research is needed on convenient interventions for men experiencing infertility.
Contradictory Effect of Lymphocyte Therapy and Prednisolone Therapy on CD3+CD8+CD56+ Natural Killer T Population in Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Rezayat Fatemeh , Esmaeil Nafiseh , Rezaei Abbas , Sherkat Roya
Published: October 2023

Background:

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are influential immune cells in pregnancy failures, including recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Different approaches are used for these disorders due to their effects on maternal immunomodulation.

Aims:

In the present study, we compared the effects of two typical immunotherapies (lymphocyte immunotherapy [LIT] and low-dose prednisolone) on CD3+CD56+CD16+ and CD3+CD56+CD8+ cells as two distinct subsets of NKT cells in Women with RSA.

Settings and Design:

This study was a comparative cohort study conducted from 2021 to 2022. One hundred and five women with RSA were distributed into three treatment groups randomly.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty women in the group of low-dose prednisolone therapy, fifty women in the LIT group and five women without any treatment as the control group were included in the study. NK and NKT cell subsets were assessed using flow cytometry. Furthermore, the concentration of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was measured quantitatively using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Normality and comparisons between study groups were performed by non-parametric unpaired Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test, and one-way ANOVA.

Results:

The percentage of CD56dim NK cells was increased after prednisolone therapy, while this population significantly decreased in the LIT group. In contrast to the LIT group, the administration of prednisolone increased CD3+CD8+CD56+ NKT cells (P < 0.0001), which is helpful for pregnancy. The effect of the investigated treatment approaches on the population of peripheral CD3+CD56+CD16+ NKT cells of women with RSA was not adequately significant. The same situation was also observed regarding the serum level of IFN-γ. However, a significant decrease in serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β was observed after prednisolone therapy.

Conclusion:

The lower capability of LIT in changing the population of NKT cells compared to prednisolone therapy may be due to its mechanism of action, which is related to the production of blocking antibodies. These treatment approaches had different effects on NKT cells, indicating that NKT cell population and function can be affected using LIT and prednisolone therapy distinctly. In addition, prednisolone therapy and LIT in women with normal serum levels of IFN-γ have no harmful effects in changing the production of this critical cytokine.
The COVID-19 pandemic and orthodontic practice in Nigeria
Authors: Isiekwe Ikenna Gerald , Adeyemi Emmanuel Tope , Aikins Elfleda Angelina , Umeh Onyinye Dorothy
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES:

This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and awareness of orthodontists and orthodontic residents in Nigeria about the COVID-19 pandemic and the appropriate infection control measures required to mitigate its spread in orthodontic practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

It was a cross-sectional descriptive study of orthodontists and orthodontic residents. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board. Data collection was via an online questionnaire designed using Google forms and these were sent to the phone numbers of study participants. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.

RESULTS:

A total of 73 respondents with a mean age of 43.41 ± 9.21 years participated in the study. About 90% of the respondents had a very good knowledge of COVID-19, including its etiology, modes of transmission, signs, and symptoms. However, very few respondents were aware of the less common symptoms such as skin rash (16.4%) and red eyes (26%). Over 80% of the respondents knew the appropriate measures to take to prevent the spread of the virus in the dental clinic, in addition to the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to use.

CONCLUSION:

The respondents had a very good knowledge of the basic epidemiology of COVID-19 and the means of prevention of its transmission in the dental clinic. However, there was limited knowledge of the less common symptoms of the infection. In addition, majority of the respondents had a very good idea of the appropriate PPE to be used.
A new guide using CBCT to identify the severity of maxillary canine impaction and predict the best method of intervention
Authors: Alhummayani Fadia M. , Mustafa Zeinab A.
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to test the intra and inter-rater reliability, reproducibility, and validity of a new guide called the “Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Maxillary Canine Impaction (CBCT-MCI),” designed to assess the position, severity, and predictability of the maxillary canine impaction (MCI) treatment intervention using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study is a retrospective radiographic review of 44 patients with unilateral or bilateral MCI. A total of 56 maxillary impacted canines’ CBCT radiographs were analyzed using the new CBCT-MCI guide, with each of its 10 items scored. The total scores of the 10 items were then compared to a scale to predict the best treatment intervention of MCI: normal spontaneous eruption, surgical-orthodontic traction, or surgical extraction. Radiologists and orthodontists have developed, tested, and retested the CBCT-MCI guide on the same 56 maxillary impacted canines using CBCT radiographs to check its reliability and reproducibility using the Kappa coefficient. Furthermore, the validity of this guide was tested by comparing the predicted best treatment intervention with the actual treatment administered to the assessed impacted maxillary canine using the Kappa coefficient and percentage of agreement using cross-tabulation.

RESULTS:

The result of this study showed significantly strong Kappa values of intra-rater agreement (k = 0.91, (P < 0.0001) and inter-rater agreement (k = 0.84, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, testing the relationship between the two MCI treatment interventions using cross-tabulation, the agreement percentages between the predicated and actual treatment plans of the assessed MCI ranged between 70% and 95.5% with a significantly strong Kappa value (k = 0.82, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that the CBCT-MCI guide is capable of producing accurate, reliable, and reproducible results in assessing and predicting the type of orthodontic treatment intervention of MCI in a simple, quick, and efficient way.
Spectral decomposition formula and moments of symmetric square $L$-functions
Authors: Balkanova Olga Germanovna
Published: October 2023

We prove a spectral decomposition formula for averages of Zagier $L$-series
in terms of moments of symmetric square $L$-functions associated to Maass and
holomorphic cusp forms of levels $4$, $16$, $64$.
Closet In-Path Vehicle Detection and Recognition Algorithm Based on
Camera and Millimeter-Wave Radar Fusion
Authors: Yang Yifei , Zhao Zhiguo , Yu Qin , Deng Yunhong , Li Wenchang
Published: October 2023

The closet in-path vehicle (CIPV) is recognized relying on the detection results
for road lane lines in most current ACC system, which may not work well in the
poor conditions, for example, unclear road lane lines, low light level, bad
weather, and so on. To solve this problem, the article proposes a sensor
fusion-based CIPV recognition algorithm independent of road lane lines. First, a
robust Kalman filter based on the global coordinate system is designed to fuse
the millimeter-wave radar and camera targets. The fusion algorithm can
dynamically adjust the covariance matrix of sensor observations to avoid the
influence of anomalous observations on the fusion results. Stable detection of
targets by the fusion algorithm is the basis of the CIPV recognition algorithm.
Then, the CIPV recognition algorithm generates virtual lane lines using the
motion parameters of self-vehicle or the driving trajectory of vehicle target
and develops a mode switch strategy for virtual lane lines generation based on
the driving state of target. This strategy can flexibly switch to the applicable
virtual lane lines generation method in different scenarios. Finally, field
tests are conducted in typical scenarios to verify the performance of the CIPV
recognition algorithm. The results show that the algorithm is able to recognize
CIPV stably and accurately without relying on road lane lines.
Certificate Management Application
Authors: Marquez Antonio Flores , Goetz Jozef
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the paper is to show how to expand the low code interactive framework in order to develop a web app for the broad needs of different fields. The goal of this work is to give a chance to computer science senior project students to work on a broad spectrum of projects using Apache, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL. In this paper, the web app keeps track of recipients of computer science certificates. The web application is interactive, responsive, secured, password and database driven app. The web app uses a MYSQL database on the web server-side to record concentration, courses, and certificates. Admins and users with proper permissions can add, delete, view, and edit recipients, categories, certificates, and courses based on a level of permission. Admins with full permissions can edit permissions for other registered accounts. They have access to the Manage Categories, Manage Certificates, Manage Courses, Manage Recipients, and Manage Users pages depending on their permissions. The web app is accessible on all devices and is designed to be mobile as well. In conclusion, the project has been successfully designed and implemented according to best practices and finally tested on a web hosting server provider.