bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parental satisfaction and acceptance of silver diamine fluoride treatment for molar incisor hypomineralisation in pediatric dentistry: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Nerabieah Zuhair , AlKhouli Muaaz , Dashash Mayssoon
Published: February 2024

The study aimed to investigate parental satisfaction and acceptance of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) treatment for permanent molars affected by molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). This study was conducted in the pediatric dental department at Damascus University, Syria. This study was performed at the period from Jan 2023 to April 2023. In this cross-sectional study, a validated questionnaire employing a 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate esthetics, ease of application, pain perception, and taste acceptability. Participants included 100 parents or guardians of children aged 6–9 years who had received SDF treatment in the past year. The findings of this study revealed high satisfaction levels (77.5%) with the treatment. Parents expressed contentment with the appearance of their child's molars after SDF application (58% agreed or strongly agreed) and found the application process easy and pain-free (100% agreed or strongly agreed). However, taste acceptability posed a challenge, with over half of the parents (53%) finding it unacceptable. Regression analysis underscored the significant impact of esthetics, ease of application, pain perception, and taste on parental satisfaction. Moreover, parents with higher education levels (graduate or postgraduate) exhibited higher acceptance rates compared to those with lower education levels (63.1% vs. 33.6%). Notably, parental gender and age did not significantly influence SDF treatment acceptance. This study provides critical insights into parental satisfaction and acceptance of SDF treatment for MIH-affected permanent molars. Despite concerns about tooth discoloration, the high satisfaction levels suggest that SDF holds promise as an effective treatment option. Parental education significantly influenced acceptance rates. This research highlights the importance of considering parental perspectives and tailoring communication strategies in pediatric dentistry, ultimately contributing to improved care for young patients with MIH.
Mendelian randomization reveals apolipoprotein B shortens healthspan and possibly increases risk for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Martin Leah , Boutwell Brian B. , Messerlian Carmen , Adams Charleen D.
Published: February 2024

Apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) is a component of fat- and cholesterol-transporting molecules in the bloodstream. It is the main lipoprotein in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and has been implicated in conditions that end healthspan (the interval between birth and onset of chronic disease). However, APOB’s direct relationship with healthspan remains uncertain. With Mendelian randomization, we show that higher levels of APOB and LDL shorten healthspan in humans. Multivariable Mendelian randomization of APOB and LDL on healthspan suggests that the predominant trait accounting for the relationship is APOB. In addition, we provide preliminary evidence that APOB increases risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that ends healthspan. If these relationships are causal, they suggest that interventions to improve healthspan in aging populations could include strategies targeting APOB. Ultimately, given that more than 44 million people currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease worldwide, such interventions are needed.
Impaired bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways disrupt decidualization in endometriosis
Authors: Liao Zian , Tang Suni , Jiang Peixin , Geng Ting , Cope Dominique I. , Dunn Timothy N. , Guner Joie , Radilla Linda Alpuing , Guan Xiaoming , Monsivais Diana
Published: February 2024

Endometriosis is linked to increased infertility and pregnancy complications due to defective endometrial decidualization. We hypothesized that identification of altered signaling pathways during decidualization could identify the underlying cause of infertility and pregnancy complications. Our study reveals that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathways are impaired in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, leading to defective decidualization. Through detailed transcriptomic analyses, we discovered abnormalities in TGFβ signaling pathways and key regulators, such as SMAD4, in the endometrium of affected individuals. We also observed compromised activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), a subset of the TGFβ family, that control endometrial receptivity. Using 3-dimensional models of endometrial stromal and epithelial assembloids, we showed that exogenous BMP2 improved decidual marker expression in individuals with endometriosis. Our findings reveal dysfunction of BMP/SMAD signaling in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, explaining decidualization defects and subsequent pregnancy complications in these individuals.
Delivery of loaded MR1 monomer results in efficient ligand exchange to host MR1 and subsequent MR1T cell activation
Authors: Kulicke Corinna A. , Swarbrick Gwendolyn M. , Ladd Nicole A. , Cansler Meghan , Null Megan , Worley Aneta , Lemon Chance , Ahmed Tania , Bennett Joshua , Lust Taylor N. , Heisler Chelsea M. , Huber Megan E. , Krawic Jason R. , Ankley Laurisa M. , McBride Savannah K. , Tafesse Fikadu G. , Olive Andrew J. , Hildebrand William H. , Lewinsohn Deborah A. , Adams Erin J. , Lewinsohn David M. , Harriff Melanie J.
Published: February 2024

MR1-restricted T cells have been implicated in microbial infections, sterile inflammation, wound healing and cancer. Similar to other antigen presentation molecules, evidence supports multiple, complementary MR1 antigen presentation pathways. To investigate ligand exchange pathways for MR1, we used MR1 monomers and tetramers loaded with 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-d-ribitylaminouracil (5-OP-RU) to deliver the antigen. Using MR1-deficient cells reconstituted with wild-type MR1 or MR1 molecules that cannot bind 5-OP-RU, we show that presentation of monomer-delivered 5-OP-RU is dependent on cellular MR1 and requires the transfer of ligand from the soluble molecule onto MR1 expressed by the antigen presenting cell. This mode of antigen delivery strengthens the evidence for post-ER ligand exchange pathways for MR1, which could represent an important avenue by which MR1 acquires antigens derived from endocytosed pathogens.
Chemoenzymatic total synthesis of sorbicillactone A
Authors: Müller Jonas I. , Gulder Tobias A. M.
Published: February 2024

The sorbicillinoid family is a large class of natural products known for their structural variety and strong, diverse biological activities. A special member of this family, sorbicillactone A, the first nitrogen-containing sorbicillinoid, exhibits potent anti-leukemic and anti-HIV activities and possesses a unique structure formed from sorbicillinol, alanine, and fumaric acid building blocks. To facilitate in-depth biological and structure-activity relationship studies of this promising natural product, we developed a chemoenzymatic approach that provides access to sorbicillactone A and several analogs with excellent yields under precise stereochemical control. The key steps of the highly convergent, stereoselective, and short route are the enantioselective oxidative dearomatization of sorbillin to sorbicillinol catalyzed by the enzyme SorbC and the subsequent Michael addition of a fumarylazlactone building block. Additionally, our synthetic findings and bioinformatic analysis suggest that sorbicillactone A is biosynthetically formed analogously.
Risk-adjusted decision making can help protect food supply and farmer livelihoods in West Africa
Authors: Leip Debbora , Rovenskaya Elena , Wildemeersch Matthias
Published: February 2024

Weather extremes are challenging the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) – Zero Hunger globally and, most notably, in West Africa where it is further aggravated by rapid population growth. Here we present a stylized stochastic food production model to show how optimal crop allocations change depending on food security risk targets. To guarantee stable livelihoods for farmers, we examine the viability of a contingency fund that supports farmers in the event of low crop yields. Applied to the West African context, accounting for weather variability can substantially improve the reliability of the food supply and boost the fiscal sustainability of a contingency fund. Yet, setting reliability targets for food security is costly and leaves high residual risk in certain regions. Spatial risk-sharing through regional cooperation at the West African scale can eliminate the risk of insufficient food supply and further enhance the fund solvency.
Uncovering drone intentions using control physics informed machine learning
Authors: Perrusquía Adolfo , Guo Weisi , Fraser Benjamin , Wei Zhuangkun
Published: February 2024

Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) or drones are increasingly used across diverse application areas. Uncooperative drones do not announce their identity/flight plans and can pose a potential risk to critical infrastructures. Understanding drone’s intention is important to assigning risk and executing countermeasures. Intentions are often intangible and unobservable, and a variety of tangible intention classes are often inferred as a proxy. However, inference of drone intention classes using observational data alone is inherently unreliable due to observational and learning bias. Here, we developed a control-physics informed machine learning (CPhy-ML) that can robustly infer across intention classes. The CPhy-ML couples the representation power of deep learning with the conservation laws of aerospace models to reduce bias and instability. The CPhy-ML achieves a 48.28% performance improvement over traditional trajectory prediction methods. The reward inference results outperforms conventional inverse reinforcement learning approaches, decreasing the root mean squared spectral norm error from 3.3747 to 0.3229.
Twitter (X) use predicts substantial changes in well-being, polarization, sense of belonging, and outrage
Authors: Oldemburgo de Mello Victoria , Cheung Felix , Inzlicht Michael
Published: February 2024

In public debate, Twitter (now X) is often said to cause detrimental effects on users and society. Here we address this research question by querying 252 participants from a representative sample of U.S. Twitter users 5 times per day over 7 days (6,218 observations). Results revealed that Twitter use is related to decreases in well-being, and increases in political polarization, outrage, and sense of belonging over the course of the following 30 minutes. Effect sizes were comparable to the effect of social interactions on well-being. These effects remained consistent even when accounting for demographic and personality traits. Different inferred uses of Twitter were linked to different outcomes: passive usage was associated with lower well-being, social usage with a higher sense of belonging, and information-seeking usage with increased outrage and most effects were driven by within-person changes.
Morphological control and performance engineering of Co-based materials for supercapacitors
Authors: Pan Lin , Wang Dan , Wang Jibiao , Chu Yuan , Li Xiaosong , Wang Wenchang , Mitsuzaki Naotoshi , Jia Shuyong , Chen Zhidong
Published: February 2024

An overview of synthesis methods and performance engineering of Co-based materials is provided.
Copper-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)aniline and alkylsilyl peroxides: a route to pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines
Authors: An Zhenyu , Miao Man , Sun Fengkai , Lan Xiao-Bing , Yu Jian-Qiang , Guo Xiaoli , Zhang Jian
Published: February 2024

An efficient method was developed for the one-pot construction of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines via a Cu(ii)-catalyzed domino reaction between 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)anilines and alkylsilyl peroxides.
Unravelling a bench-stable zinc-amide compound as highly active multitasking catalyst for radical-mediated selective alk(en)ylation of unactivated carbocycles under mild conditions
Authors: Sahoo Sangita , Manna Subarna , Rit Arnab
Published: February 2024

An amide ligand supported zinc compound was developed as an effective multitasking catalyst for the radical-mediated C-alk(en)ylation of unactivated carbocycles (indene/fluorene) with diverse alcohols under mild conditions.
Oxygen dynamic exchange and diffusion characteristics of ZnO nanorods from 17O MAS NMR
Authors: Song Benteng , Li Yuhong , Wang Fang , Wang Yang , Ke Xiaokang , Peng Luming
Published: February 2024

Two oxygen migration behaviours during the H217O–ZnO interactions were observed by 17O NMR spectroscopy, namely, surface dynamic exchange and subsurface diffusion.
β-Carbonyl sulfonium enables cysteine-specific bioconjugation for activity-based protein profiling in live cells
Authors: Wan Chuan , Yang Dongyan , Guo Xiaochun , Zhang Tuanjie , Ruan Zhijun , Dai Chuan , Xing Yun , Yin Feng , Wang Rui , Li Zigang
Published: February 2024

Small electrophilic molecules have previously been reported to monitor different reactivities or covalent ligand abilities of nucleophilic residues in proteins. Herein, we develop β-carbonyl sulfonium compounds to selectively modify cysteines in peptides and proteins in live cells.
Can thick metal-halide perovskite single crystals have narrower optical bandgaps with near-infrared absorption?
Authors: Ghasemi Mehri , Wei Qianwen , Lu Junlin , Yang Yu , Hou Jingwei , Jia Baohua , Wen Xiaoming
Published: February 2024

The notable expansion of absorbance of MHP single crystals has been explained by their narrower optical bandgap. We demonstrate that NIR absorption in the MHP single crystals mainly originates from their large thickness and the technical limitation of the spectrophotometer.
Scintillation properties of lithium-6 salicylate-loaded liquid scintillators
Authors: Watanabe Akito , Koshimizu Masanori , Watanabe Kenichi , Sato Atsushi , Fujimoto Yutaka , Asai Keisuke
Published: February 2024

We developed lithium-6 (6LiSal)-loaded liquid scintillators to obtain a high light yield neutron scintillator detector. The highest light yield of 3970 photons per neutron was achieved by reducing non-radiative relaxation of the excited state.
Two binuclear Ni-inserted polyoxotantalates based on {NiTa10O32} units with catalytic activity
Authors: Zhao Hui , Chen Hanhan , yang Zhang Ming , Yang Yuanyuan , Yang Zongfei , Ma Pengtao , Niu Jingyang , Wang Jingping
Published: February 2024

Two cases of hetero-polyoxotantalates containing {NiTa10} are reported for the first time. Ni as a heteroatom is located in the center of the {Ta10} unit. And 2 exhibits excellent catalytic performance in transesterification reactions.
I2/CF3CO2Ag-mediated iodolactonization of various allenoic acids to access versatile 6- to 9-membered ring vinylic iodolactones
Authors: Bao Xiaobo , Wang Guoli , Dong Xu , Zhu Mengxiao , Yang Lili , Zhu Junjie , Shi Qingyuan , Zhang Hongzhen , Chen Dongyin
Published: February 2024

I2/CF3CO2Ag-mediated iodolactonization of allenoic acids has been developed to synthesize various 6- to 9-membered ring vinylic iodolactones in 16–89% yield.
A comprehensive modeling framework for coupled electricity and carbon markets
Authors: Liu Wenxuan , He Binghao , Xue Yusheng , Huang Jie , Zhao Junhua , Wen Fushuan
Published: February 2024

The carbon market plays a critical role in promoting the transition toward renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity generation and transmission. Extant research has overlooked the dynamic bilateral causality that exists between electricity and carbon markets. Moreover, these studies have frequently treated the macroeconomic effect as exogenous. To bridge this research gap, this paper presents a holistic modeling framework that comprehensively captures the intertwined nature of electricity and carbon markets and their concomitant interactions with the overarching economy. The suggested modeling framework is an integration of three principal modules, namely, a carbon market, an electricity market, and economic system. This synergistic blend provides an exhaustive understanding of the entire market operation cycle. It offers detailed clearance rules, and most importantly, it adopts a macroeconomic systematic modeling approach for evaluating the impact emanating from the interconnected electricity and carbon markets. To illustrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach, a case study anchored on empirical data sourced from the electricity and carbon markets in China is conducted. The empirical findings underscore the fact that incorporating a green certificate market into the modeling framework can precipitate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the results indicate that expanding the scale of the green certificate market from 1.9% in 2021 to 33% by 2023 will increase the generation of green electricity by 10%.
Daily average load demand forecasting using LSTM model based on historical load trends
Authors: Bareth Rashmi , Yadav Anamika , Gupta Shubhrata , Pazoki Mohammad
Published: February 2024

Load demand forecasting is very important for the management, designing and analysis of an electrical grid system. Load forecasting has progressively become a crucial component of the energy management system with the growth of the smart micro grid. This study presents a new framework to long term load forecasting in the world of electricity power with the help of historical load trends. The main objective of this research work is estimating monthly electricity demand of an Indian state Chhattisgarh, in terms of per day average load demand using a machine learning model—Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM). This framework considers average of each day load demand for every month of years 2018–2022 and forecasted per day average load demand for each month of the year 2023. Furthermore, the predicting accuracy is evaluated for training and testing phase, in terms of error metrics like Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The MAPE values under the training and testing phase are in the range of 0.010%–0.652% and 0.378%–10.54%, respectively. A comparative study of LSTM model with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model indicates the proposed LSTM model is more accurate and can be applied for real time load demand forecasting.
Adaptively hybrid fractal image coding
Authors: Wang Qiang , Jin Guohua , Bi Sheng
Published: February 2024

An adaptively hybrid method was proposed to improve the performance of fractal coding methods. First, it is found that the range blocks with large variances (RBLVs) play a crucial role in degrading decoded images, and the effect of the remaining range blocks with small variances (RBSVs) can be ignored. Then, an adaptive method was proposed to divide the range blocks into the above two categories: RBLVs and RBSVs. Second, RBLVs were designed to be encoded in an extended domain block pool (EDBP). Then, better block‐matching effect can be obtained, which will result in better decoded image quality. Further, the no‐search fractal encoding method is adopted for RBSVs to achieve faster encoding speed and fewer bits per pixel (bpp). Finally, four fractal coding methods were adopted to assess the performance of the proposed method. Experimental results show that compared with the previous methods, the PSNR quality of decoded images in the proposed method can be improved by about 0.15–0.4 dB, about 20%–35% of the total computations in encoding process can be saved, and about 0.2 bpp can be saved. Moreover, under the same decoding time, the proposed method can achieve comparable or smaller deviations regarding the decoded image.
Video stabilization based on low‐rank constraint and trajectory optimization
Authors: Shang Zhenhong , Chu Zhishuang
Published: February 2024

Video stabilization plays a pivotal role in enhancing video quality by eliminating unwanted jitter in shaky videos. This paper introduces a novel video stabilization algorithm that leverages low‐rank constraint and trajectory optimization to effectively eliminate undesirable motion and generate stabilized videos. In the proposed algorithm, a low‐rank constraint regularization term is incorporated to enhance the smoothness of motion trajectories. Additionally, a predictive path smoothness term is integrated to ensure the consistency of motion across neighbouring frames. To address the problem of excessive cropping resulting from aggressive smoothing, a flexible local window strategy that emphasizes local motion relationships within the trajectories is introduced. The experimental results show that, compared to other excellent video stabilization algorithms, the proposed algorithm improves the stability metric by approximately 2.3%. Furthermore, in the stabilized videos generated by the algorithm, an approximate improvement of 2.18 dB in average image temporal fidelity and a 5.7% increase in average structural similarity between adjacent frames are achieved. The code that implements the proposed method is publicly accessible at https://github.com/CZS0319/VS_Low‐Rank_Constraint_Trajectory_Optimization.
Analytical modelling with experimental validation of electromagnetic Halbach arrays in wireless power transfer systems
Authors: Gogo Tamuno‐omie , Zhu Dibin
Published: February 2024

A mathematical model is presented for the optimisation of an Electromagnetic Halbach Array (EHA) for wireless power transfer. The mathematical model is based on Biot‐Savart's law of magnetic field in a current‐carrying square loop. The model is validated through static electromagnetic simulations in ANSYS Maxwell and found to be accurate and effective when predicting the magnetic field within the EHA box. To verify the analytical and simulation results, an EHA was fabricated, and experimental verification was carried out. The results show that the mathematical model can be widely used in the analysis and design optimisation of EHAs of any size and with diverse parameters in the case of single‐layer square spiral planar coils.
Evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the upstream Citarum River using Allium cepa assay
Authors: Annisa  , Mulyawan Hafidh , Sunardi
Published: February 2024

Citarum River is the longest and largest river in West Java, and its existence greatly influences the lives of surrounding communities. Many industries are built around the area. It is important to assess the quality of the water, because certain heavy metal might leak to the body of water. This research aimed to investigate the mitotic index (MI), root length, frequency and types of chromosomal aberration which determined the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by using Allium cepa L. as biomarker. The Completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replications were used. Observation was done 96 hours after onion bulb soaked in water. Data was analysed using Analysis of Variance and continued with Duncan post-hoc. Results showed that root length was not affected. Water samples were affecting the MI, frequency, and types of chromosomal aberration. The highest number of chromosome aberrations was recorded on Dayeuh Kolot stations and the most common type of aberration was stickiness. The chromosome aberrations observed were; stickiness, chromosome loss, chromosome bridge, chromosome break, binucleated cells, multipolar, micronuclei, and c-mitosis. Based on the results, Allium assay is beneficial to evaluate the level of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in the upstream Citarum River.
The correlation between formal education and knowledge of used cooking oil management at Kampung Tersenyum society in South Jakarta
Authors: Diputra I Gede Yuda Marta , Sunardi  , Siyaranamual Martin Daniel
Published: February 2024

The phenomenon of used cooking oil collection at Kampung Tersenyum in South Jakarta has not been optimal. According to the data, there are only 36 sub-districts out of 65 sub-districts in South Jakarta that have been monitored to collect used cooking oil in the period October 2019 – June 2020. This research aims to analyze the knowledge of used cooking oil management in Kampung Tersenyum Society, South Jakarta. This research used a quantitative descriptive method. The population in this research is the residents of Kampung Tersenyum, South Jakarta. The sampling technique in this research was carried out with a purposive sampling method of 60 respondents. Data collection techniques used observation and interviews with questionnaires. Data analysis used percentage descriptive techniques. The results of the research showed that the last formal education majority of the society is at the high school level. The knowledge of used cooking oil management in South Jakarta is in the high category. From the results of the analysis, it was found that there is a correlation between formal education that has been taken with waste management knowledge which is the majority of elementary and junior high school education are knowledgeable in the category tends to be low, while the majority of education at the senior high school, bachelor,and master levels are knowledgeable in the high category.
Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit bei Morbus Crohn
Authors: Sonnenberg Elena , Siegmund Britta
Published: February 2024

Die Erstdiagnose einer chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankung (CED)
erfolgt oft im jungen Erwachsenenalter. Für viele Patientinnen spielen
daher Familienplanung und Schwangerschaft eine zentrale Rolle. Die European
Crohn‘s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) hat 2022 eine neue Leitlinie zu
Kinderwunsch, Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit herausgegeben [1]. In diesem Beitrag
gehen wir auf die neuen Aspekte in Bezug auf Schwangerschaft bei Morbus Crohn
ein.
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Male and Female Judo
Athletes
Authors: Rossi Carlo , Roklicer Roberto , Drid Patrik , Milovancev Aleksandra , Trivic Tatjana , Scardina Antonino , Carraro Attilio , Bianco Antonino
Published: February 2024

Changes in cardiac geometry develop after intense and prolonged training. Left
ventricular enlargement, increased relative wall thickness, and growing mass of
the left ventricle occur after strenuous exercise. Combat sports such as judo
can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy. Previous studies have found that there
are differences in left ventricular chamber size and thickness between the
sexes, with female athletes having smaller wall diameters and less hypertrophy
than male athletes. The research aims to examine heart muscle adaptations and
remodeling of cardiac geometry among elite judo athletes and to evaluate
differences between males and females. A cross-sectional study included a group
of 19 (males n=10, females n=9) professional judokas between 20 and 30 years.
Demographic and anthropometric data were collected. Cardiac geometry was
determined by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. In terms of left
ventricular mass and the left ventricular mass index significant differences
were found between male and female judokas (233.44±68.75 g vs. 164.11±16.59 g,
p=0.009), (105.16±24.89 vs. 84.66±15.06, p=0.044), respectively. A greater
enlargement of the heart muscle is observed in male athletes compared to the
female group. Left ventricle enlargement is likely to occur among elite-level
judokas.
Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Borylative Coupling of 1,3-Dienes with Aldehydes
Authors: Xiao Li-Jun , Ma Jin-Tao
Published: February 2024

The nickel-catalyzed borylative coupling of aldehydes and 1,3-dienes with diboron reagents offers an efficient method for synthesizing valuable homoallylic alcohols from easily accessible starting materials. However, achieving enantioselectivity in this reaction has been a significant challenge. We discuss our recent report on the first example of a nickel-catalyzed enantioselective borylative coupling of aldehydes with 1,3-dienes, employing a chiral spiro-phosphine–oxazoline ligand. Notably, by utilizing (E)-1,3-dienes or (Z)-1,3-dienes, we can reverse the diastereoselectivity, yielding either anti- or syn-products, respectively.
Treatment-Related Complications and Functional Results after Ruthenium-106 Brachytherapy in Small to Medium Size Uveal Melanomas (Part 2)
Authors: Lalos Fotios , Flühs Dirk , Guberina Maja , Bornfeld Norbert , Stuschke Martin , Sauerwein Wolfgang , Bechrakis Nikolaos E.
Published: February 2024

Purpose To analyze the treatment-related complications after ruthenium-106 brachytherapy in patients with uveal melanoma in terms of radiation-induced optic neuropathy, maculopathy and retinopathy, radiation-related vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment, as well as secondary glaucoma and radiogenic cataract. In addition, the course of visual acuity was analyzed.

Patients/Methods and Materials This retrospective study included 608 patients treated with ruthenium-106 brachytherapy between January 2008 and December 2010 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen. The follow-up time was 11 years. The occurrence of the radiation-induced complications was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate risk factor analyses. Hazard ratios were calculated for each variable.

Results Regarding the complications, 34% (N = 207) of the patients had no reported side effects or complications during follow-up. Radiation optic neuropathy was observed in 18.8% (N = 114) of the patients, with a median time to onset of 16 months (range: 3 – 78 months). Radiation maculopathy occurred in 8.2% (N = 50) after a median time of 17 months (range: 3 – 67 months). Radiation retinopathy was observed in 20.1% (N = 122), with a median time to onset of 21 months (range: 6 – 67 months). Secondary glaucoma developed in 9.7% of the patients (N = 53) and radiogenic cataract in 46.8% (N = 227). Vitreous hemorrhage (11.8%, N = 72) and scleral necrosis (2.1%, N = 13) occurred relatively rarely.

Conclusion The observed radiogenic complication rate is comparable with that reported in previous studies.
Etomidate versus Propofol as Induction Agents in Patients Undergoing Decompressive Procedures for Cervical Compressive Myelopathy with and without Impaired Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Lakshminarasimhaiah Geetha , Mohan Arun K. , Perikal Parichay J. , Bhat Smruthi K. , Gangadhar Umesh , Manoj Ashna
Published: February 2024

Background Patients with cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM) are known to have autonomic dysfunction, which can impact surgical outcomes. In such patients, screening patients for heart rate variability (HRV) may enable the anesthesiologist to predict hypotension, thereby attempting to modify the anesthetic technique. This study aimed to compare the hemodynamic changes in CCM patients between propofol and etomidate induction.

Methods Sixty CCM patients aged 18 to 70 years underwent an autonomic function test using HRV before decompressive surgery. The selected patients were randomized into two groups of 30 patients each to receive either etomidate or propofol for induction of anesthesia. The groups were compared for hemodynamic changes, the incidence of pain on injection, and the occurrence of myoclonus. While analyzing the hemodynamic changes, the two groups were subdivided into four groups, namely, propofol group with or without autonomic dysfunction (AD) and etomidate group with or without AD.

Results In the abnormal HRV group, patients induced with propofol showed a significantly higher incidence of hypotension at 3-minute (p = 0.02) and 5-minute (p = 0.04) time points. On the other hand, in HRV normal patients, induction with propofol showed a significantly higher (p = 0.03) incidence of hypotension at 5 minutes. During induction, higher grades of pain (p = 0.01) were observed in the propofol group, whereas the occurrence of myoclonus was more in the etomidate group (p = 0.07).

Conclusion As compared with propofol, the use of etomidate in patients with CCM undergoing decompressive procedures reduces hypotensive episodes, more so in patients with impaired HRV. Thus, HRV-based AD categorization may assist in optimal management of postinduction hypotension in patients with CCM.
Assisted technology in Parkinson's disease gait: what's up?
Authors: Capato Tamine T. C. , Chen Janini , Miranda Johnny de Araújo , Chien Hsin Fen
Published: February 2024

Background Gait disturbances are prevalent and debilitating symptoms, diminishing mobility and quality of life for Parkinson's disease (PD) individuals. While traditional treatments offer partial relief, there is a growing interest in alternative interventions to address this challenge. Recently, a remarkable surge in assisted technology (AT) development was witnessed to aid individuals with PD.

Objective To explore the burgeoning landscape of AT interventions tailored to alleviate PD-related gait impairments and describe current research related to such aim.

Methods In this review, we searched on PubMed for papers published in English (2018-2023). Additionally, the abstract of each study was read to ensure inclusion. Four researchers searched independently, including studies according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results We included studies that met all inclusion criteria. We identified key trends in assistive technology of gait parameters analysis in PD. These encompass wearable sensors, gait analysis, real-time feedback and cueing techniques, virtual reality, and robotics.

Conclusion This review provides a resource for guiding future research, informing clinical decisions, and fostering collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. By delineating this rapidly evolving field's contours, it aims to inspire further innovation, ultimately improving the lives of PD patients through more effective and personalized interventions.
Age as a predictive factor for reduced intracranial compliance in patients with headache
Authors: Cherain Luiz Gabriel Gonçalves , Barbosa Mateus Gonçalves de Sena , Francisco Ghaspar Gomes de Oliveira Alves , Cherain Luiz Miguel Gonçalves , Frigieri Gustavo , Rabelo Nícollas Nunes
Published: February 2024

Background Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) consists of a set of signs and symptoms related to changes in intracranial compliance (ICC) and ICP.

Objective This study presents a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent non-invasive monitoring of ICC based on complaints of headache, correlating decreased brain compliance and increased intracranial pressure.

Methods Noninvasive ICC monitoring was performed using a Brain4care device, which contains a strain gauge and a recorder connected to a mechanical device that touches the scalp surface in the frontoparietal area lateral to the sagittal suture. This tool monitors the ICP by identifying small changes in skull measurements that are caused by pressure variations, i.e., skull deformation is associated with the detection of changes in mean ICP. A clinical evaluation of 32 patients with complaints of headache occurred from the analysis of their medical records.

Results Of the 32 patients initially chosen, it was possible to complete the analysis of 18 due to the availability of data in the medical records. From the non-invasive monitoring of the ICC, the following data were collected: time-to-peak, P2/P1 ratio, age, and gender. From the statistical analysis of age and P2/P1 ratio, it was noted that as age increases, ICC tends to decrease regardless of sex (p < 0.05).

Conclusion This study concluded that there is a correlation between changes in intracranial compliance and headache complaints in outpatients. There was also a relationship between age and decreased intracranial compliance but without a specific pain pattern.
Ketogenic diet in pharmacoresistant epilepsies: a clinical nutritional assessment
Authors: Mendonça Cecilia Nascimento de , Henriques-Souza Adelia Maria de Miranda , Viana Larissa de Andrade , Souza Paula Azoubel de , Alves Neto Luis Bandeira , Mello Maria Júlia Gonçalves de
Published: February 2024

Background Epilepsies are among the most prevalent chronic neurological diseases, usually beginning in childhood. About 30% of children with epilepsies develop seizures that are difficult to control with medication. Recurrent epileptic seizures hinder diet intake, impairing the nutritional status. Although non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., ketogenic diet therapy) can improve epileptic seizure frequency, few studies analyzed their impact on the nutritional status of children and adolescents with epilepsies.

Objective The aim was to evaluate the effects of a ketogenic diet on the nutritional status and clinical course of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies.

Methods This cross-sectional study included patients under 18 years of age followed up at the Ketogenic Diet Ambulatory Clinic of the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira between December 2015 and December 2021. Socioeconomic, clinical, nutritional, and laboratory data were collected from medical records at different time points during the ketogenic diet.

Results The sample comprised 49 patients aged between 5 months and 17 years (median = 4.4 years), mostly male (62.1%), and from Recife and the metropolitan region (51%). Underweight patients (BMI-for-age) improved their nutritional status in six months. However, patients who were normal weight and overweight maintained their nutritional status. Dyslipidemia was a common and short-term adverse effect. Moreover, the treatment decreased epileptic seizure frequency and antiseizure medication intake.

Conclusion The ketogenic diet prevented malnutrition from worsening and reduced epileptic seizures and antiseizure medication intake.
Rehabilitation interventions targeting the activity and participation of patient with neuromuscular diseases: what do we know? A systematic review
Authors: Silva Sionara Ferreira , Magalhães Hugo Leonardo de , Deus Franciele Angelo de , Andrade Keysy Karoline Souza , Lima Vanessa Pereira , Gaiad Thaís Peixoto
Published: February 2024

Background To be objective and achievable, the rehabilitation goals must be focused on the functional expectations of patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD).

Objective Investigate rehabilitation programs that are able to modify the activity/participation of patients with NMD. Data search: Embase, BVS/Lilacs, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL/EBSCO, and Medline were searched in June 2021. It was last updated in March 2023.

Methods Randomized controlled trials investigating any rehabilitation therapy for patients with NMD with an outcome encompassing the activity/participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) were included. Pharmacological therapy studies were excluded. The results were synthesized according to the ICF core sets for NMD. The methodological quality and level of evidence were assessed using PEDro criteria and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 guideline and was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020209359).

Results Of a total of 1943 identified studies, 12 were included in this review with a methodological quality between regular and good. Light to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise was the most studied intervention. The mobility was assessed in all included studies.

Conclusion The variability of the types of NMD and the small sample size of the included studies demonstrates that there is very limited evidence of interventions focused on the activity/participation of individuals with NMD. Light to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise seems to improve the mobility, self-care, and social participation of patients with NMD, especially those with slow progression.
Myopathy due to carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency: updating genetic aspects of the first publication in Brazil
Authors: Lorenzoni Paulo José , Kay Cláudia Suemi Kamoi , Ducci Renata Dal-Pra , Fustes Otto Jesus Hernandez , Rodrigues Paula Raquel do Vale Pascoal , Arndt Raquel Cristina , Scola Rosana Herminia , Werneck Lineu Cesar
Published: February 2024

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder related to lipid metabolism affecting skeletal muscle. The first cases of CPT II deficiency causing myopathy were reported in 1973. In 1983, Werneck et al published the first two Brazilian patients with myopathy due to CPT II deficiency, where the biochemical analysis confirmed deficient CPT activity in the muscle of both cases. Over the past 40 years since the pioneering publication, clinical phenotypes and genetic loci in the CPT2 gene have been described, and pathogenic mechanisms have been better elucidated. Genetic analysis of one of the original cases disclosed compound heterozygous pathogenic variants (p.Ser113Leu/p.Pro50His) in the CPT2 gene. Our report highlights the historical aspects of the first Brazilian publication of the myopathic form of CPT II deficiency and updates the genetic background of this pioneering publication.
Imaging of Non-malignant Conditions of the Prostate and Seminal Vesicles: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Chandramohan Anuradha , Augustine Antony , Lakhani Aisha , Kanamathareddy Harsha Veena , Patnaik Shibangi , Thanikaivelu Sonia , Hiriyanna Sneha , John Reetu , Simon Betty , Eapen Anu , Gopinathan Vikram Raj
Published: February 2024

Non-malignant conditions of the prostate and seminal vesicles are much more common in imaging practice than prostate cancer. They include benign prostatic hyperplasia, infective and inflammatory prostatitis, prostatic and periprostatic cysts, and benign tumors. The advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate gland have dramatically improved the ability to identify these entities, many of them being identified incidentally in patients evaluated for other indications. Good knowledge of these conditions can aid in precise diagnosis and avoid interpretation pitfalls. In this article, we present non-malignant conditions of the prostate gland using several imaging modalities, including transrectal ultrasound, MRI, and computed tomography. We also present the pathological correlation for benign tumors.
Intra-articular Lipoma of the Pisotriquetral Joint: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Mettu Sindhura , Gavvala Sai Niharika , Shirodkar K. , Iyengar Karthikeyan Parthasarathy , Papineni Vijay Ram Kumar , Botchu Rajesh
Published: February 2024

Intra-articular lipomas are infrequently reported, with most reported cases occurring in the knee joint. A case of intra-articular lipoma in the small joints of the hand, specifically in the pisotriquetral joint, has been documented for the first time. A 24-year-old male visited the emergency department after a road traffic accident with a painful and swollen wrist. Radiographic examination revealed fractures of the distal radius and triquetrum. A subsequent wrist computed tomography scan identified an intra-articular lipoma within the pisotriquetral joint, further confirmed by ultrasonography. This article underscores the importance of recognizing that, though exceedingly rare, intra-articular lipomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors affecting the hand and wrist.
A Study on the Spectrum of Imaging Findings of Post-ERCP-Specific Complications: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
Authors: Mukherji Ruchira , Gopinath Manoj
Published: February 2024

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the imaging manifestations of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) specific complications by computed tomography to aid in its early and successful diagnosis and timely intervention.

Method Forty-one cases of imaging having post-ERCP were complications were retrospectively collected and the spectrum of complications and their key imaging features and methods to improve their detection were analyzed.

Result The most common complication detected in computed tomography (CT) post-ERCP was the presence of intra-abdominal collections seen in 21 patients (51.2%). Pancreatitis was seen in 20 of 41 patients (48.7%), while bowel perforation was present in 9 patients (21%). Pleural effusion was present in 8 patients (19.5%), liver abscess in 6 patients (14.6%), cholangitis in 4 patients (9.7%), gallbladder perforation in 4 patients (9.7%), displaced common bile duct stent in 3 patients (7.3%), possibility of main pancreatic duct cannulation in 2 patients (4.8%), vascular injury resulting in right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm in 1 patient (2.4%), thrombosis of portal vein or its branches in 2 patients (4.8%), superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in 1 patient (2.4%), right hepatic vein thrombosis in 1 patient (2.4%), pulmonary thromboembolism in 2 patients (4.8%), duodenal inflammation in 1 patient (2.4%), bowel ileus in 4 patients (9.6%), and bowel obstruction in 1 patient (2.4%).

Conclusion Complications after ERCP can cause significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed early and treated appropriately. Familiarity with normal findings post-ERCP and knowledge of the imaging appearance of these complications are vital in the early management of these conditions.
Approach to Nonmass Lesions on Breast Ultrasound
Authors: Mohan Supraja Laguduva , Dhamija Ekta , Gauba Richa
Published: February 2024

Nonmass lesions in breast ultrasound (US) are areas of altered echogenicity without definite margins or mass effect. However, these lesions may show calcifications, associated architectural distortion, or shadowing just like masses. They vary in their echogenicity, distribution, ductal or nonductal appearance and the associated features that can be seen in variety of benign and malignant pathologies. With no uniform definition or classification system, there is no standardized approach in further risk categorization and management strategies of these lesions. Malignant nonmass lesions are not uncommon and few sonographic features can help in differentiating benign and malignant pathologies. US-guided tissue sampling or lesion localization can be preferred in the nonmass lesions identified on second look US after magnetic resonance imaging or mammography. This article aims to describe various imaging patterns and attempts to provide an algorithmic approach to nonmass findings on breast US.
Association of Evening Eating with Sleep Quality and Insomnia among Adults in a Brazilian National Survey
Authors: Nunes Maria Eduarda Bezerra , Santos Caio Henrique Barros dos , Lima Márcia de Oliveira , Pedrosa Anny Kariny Pereira , Menezes Risia Cristina Egito de , Longo-Silva Giovana
Published: February 2024

Objective To examine the association of evening eating clock time, its elapsed time to the midpoint of sleep (TEM), consumption of caffeine and sugary foods, and dinner meal size with sleep quality indicators and insomnia.

Methods The present study's participants (n = 2,050; 18–65 y) were part of a population-based research, with virtual data collection. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess differences in the odd ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of sleep duration < 7 hours, sleep latency > 30 min, poor sleep quality, and insomnia (outcomes) with the evening diet-related variables. Linear regression analyses evaluated differences in sleep duration and latency associated with the same variables. Restricted cubic splines were used to investigate the shape of the association of mealtime and TEM with sleep duration and latency.

Results For each hour delay in evening eating and increase in the duration of TEM, the odds of sleep duration < 7 h [OR(95%CI):1.30(1.20,1.40); OR(95%CI):0.51(0.47,0.56)], sleep latency > 30  [OR(95%CI):1.14(1.07,1.22); 0.88(0.83,0.94)], poor sleep quality [OR(95%CI):1.21(1.13,1.30); 0.80(0.76,0.85)] and insomnia [OR(95%CI):1.12(1.04,1.20); 0.89(0.84,0.95)], respectively, increased and decreased. We found a dose-response association of evening eating (clock time and TEM) with sleep duration. The shortest latency was seen when evening eating was at ∼ 8 PM and ∼ 7 to 8 hours before the midpoint of sleep. Participants who reported dinner as their largest meal and consumed caffeine and/or sugary foods/beverages after 6 PM presented higher odds of sleep duration < 7 hours, poor sleep quality, and insomnia.

Conclusions Our findings indicate that an early-eating schedule has beneficial sleep effects and that it will be necessary to consider evening eating patterns and timing, along with sleep and circadian hygiene, to improve sleep quality and circadian health.