Knowledge on Human Papillomavirus Infections, Cancer Biology, Immune Interactions, Vaccination Coverage and Common Treatments: A Comprehensive Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a circular, double-stranded DNA virus and recognized as the most prevalent sexually transmitted infectious agent worldwide. The HPV life cycle encompasses three primary stages. First, the virus infiltrates the basal cells of the stratified epidermis. Second, there is a low-level expression of viral genes and preservation of the viral genome in the basal layer. Lastly, productive replication of HPV occurs in differentiated cells. An effective immune response, involving various immune cells, including innate immunity, keratinocytes, dendritic cells, and natural killer T cells, is instrumental in clearing HPV infection and thwarting the development of HPV-associated tumors. Vaccines have demonstrated their efficacy in preventing genital warts, high-grade precancerous lesions, and cancers in females. In males, the vaccines can also aid in preventing genital warts, anal precancerous lesions, and cancer. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough and detailed exploration of HPV infections, delving into its genetic characteristics, life cycle, pathogenesis, and the role of high-risk and low-risk HPV strains. In addition, this review seeks to elucidate the intricate immune interactions that govern HPV infections, spanning from innate immunity to adaptive immune responses, as well as examining the evasion mechanisms used by the virus. Furthermore, the article discusses the current landscape of HPV vaccines and common treatments, contributing to a holistic understanding of HPV and its associated diseases.

Complete clinical response to chemoradiation in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the base of tongue: Case report of a rare tumor in a rare location.

Key Clinical Message: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon malignancy of head and neck. Although the cornerstone of treatment is surgery, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) might be used as an effective treatment for unresectable tumors. Herein we report a case of massive ACC of base of tongue with durable complete response to definitive CRT. Abstract: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor accounting for 1% of all head and neck cancers. The best treatment option is complete surgical resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. When surgical resection is not feasible, definitive radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy can be considered. Herein we report a non-smoker 72-year-old woman presented with throat discomfort and sensation of a lump. Evaluation revealed an unresectable adenoid cystic carcinoma of the base of tongue in whom complete clinical response was achieved after definitive concurrent chemoradiation. Although the cornerstone of treatment is complete surgical resection, this case report indicates that concurrent chemoradiotherapy might result in complete clinical response and could be used as a definitive treatment in selected ACC tumors.

Optimizing PGRs for in vitro shoot proliferation of pomegranate with bayesian-tuned ensemble stacking regression and NSGA-II: a comparative evaluation of machine learning models.

BACKGROUND: The process of optimizing in vitro shoot proliferation is a complicated task, as it is influenced by interactions of many factors as well as genotype. This study investigated the role of various concentrations of plant growth regulators (zeatin and gibberellic acid) in the successful in vitro shoot proliferation of three Punica granatum cultivars ('Faroogh', 'Atabaki' and 'Shirineshahvar'). Also, the utility of five Machine Learning (ML) algorithms-Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Ensemble Stacking Regression (ESR) and Elastic Net Multivariate Linear Regression (ENMLR)-as modeling tools were evaluated on in vitro multiplication of pomegranate. A new automatic hyperparameter optimization method named Adaptive Tree Pazen Estimator (ATPE) was developed to tune the hyperparameters. The performance of the models was evaluated and compared using statistical indicators (MAE, RMSE, RRMSE, MAPE, R and R2), while a specific Global Performance Indicator (GPI) was introduced to rank the models based on a single parameter. Moreover, Non­dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm­II (NSGA­II) was employed to optimize the selected prediction model. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the ESR algorithm exhibited higher predictive accuracy in comparison to other ML algorithms. The ESR model was subsequently introduced for optimization by NSGA­II. ESR-NSGA­II revealed that the highest proliferation rate (3.47, 3.84, and 3.22), shoot length (2.74, 3.32, and 1.86 cm), leave number (18.18, 19.76, and 18.77), and explant survival (84.21%, 85.49%, and 56.39%) could be achieved with a medium containing 0.750, 0.654, and 0.705 mg/L zeatin, and 0.50, 0.329, and 0.347 mg/L gibberellic acid in the 'Atabaki', 'Faroogh', and 'Shirineshahvar' cultivars, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the 'Shirineshahvar' cultivar exhibited lower shoot proliferation success compared to the other cultivars. The results indicated the good performance of ESR-NSGA-II in modeling and optimizing in vitro propagation. ESR-NSGA-II can be applied as an up-to-date and reliable computational tool for future studies in plant in vitro culture.

Disseminated protothecosis: Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Human protothecosis is an uncommon infection caused by Prototheca spp that rarely infects humans. AIM: Description of a rare disease and a review of its articles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reported a 24-year-old man who presented with red-brown papules and plaques on the trunk's lateral side. We reviewed the literature about disseminated protothecosis and reported our experience with a patient with protothecosis between 2021 and 2023. RESULTS: Overall, 54 cases of disseminated protothecosis were evaluated, 39 were due to P. wickerhamii, 12 were due to P. zopfii (22.2%), and three were due to Prototheca spp. We found that males were more affected (37 cases, 68.5%) than females (16 cases, 29.6%). The mean age of patients was 39.53 ± 22.48 years. However, disseminated protothecosis can affect people of any age (1-80 years). In contrast to P. wickerhamii, which causes blood, skin, brain, and gastrointestinal tract infections, P. zopfii was mainly found in the blood (7/22) and did not have a significant difference in the mortality rate (P = 0.11). DISCUSSION: Disseminated protothecosis is a rare disease in immunocompromised patients but is generally rarer in immunocompetent hosts. Several underlying disorders include immunocompromised patients, prolonged application of steroids, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, organ transplantation, AIDS, and surgeries. Amphotericin B has been the most effective agent for protothecosis and is reserved for visceral and disseminated infections. Regarding localized cutaneous types, excision or surgical debridement is used. CONCLUSION: Mulberry's appearance and appropriate cultural environments are helpful in diagnosing it.

How assisted eating becomes a caring practice in institutional settings: Embodied gestures and stages of assisted eating.

Assisted eating is a basic caring practice and the means through which many individuals receive adequate nutrition. Research in this area has noted the challenges of helping others to eat while upholding their independence, though has yet to explicate how this caring practice is achieved in detail and across the lifespan. This paper provides an empirical analysis of assisted eating episodes in two different institutions, detailing the processes through which eating is collaboratively achieved between two persons. Data are video-recorded episodes of infants during preschool lunches and care home meals for adults with dementia, both located in Sweden. Using EMCA's multimodal interaction analysis, three core stages of assisted eating and their underpinning embodied practices were identified: (1) establishing joint attention, (2) offering the food, and (3) transferring food into the mouth. The first stage is particularly crucial in establishing the activity as a collaborative process. The analysis details the interactional practices through which assisted eating becomes a joint accomplishment using a range of multimodal features such as eye gaze, hand gestures, and vocalisations. The paper thus demonstrates how assisted eating becomes a caring practice through the active participation of both caregiver and cared-for person, according to their needs. The analysis has implications not only for professional caring work in institutional settings but also for the detailed analysis of eating as an embodied activity.

Heart-specific NFAT5 knockout suppresses type I interferon signaling and aggravates coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis.

Nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) is an osmosensitive transcription factor that is well-studied in renal but rarely explored in cardiac diseases. Although the association of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) with viral myocarditis is well-established, the role of NFAT5 in this disease remains largely unexplored. Previous research has demonstrated that NFAT5 restricts CVB3 replication yet is susceptible to cleavage by CVB3 proteases. Using an inducible cardiac-specific Nfat5-knockout mouse model, we uncovered that NFAT5-deficiency exacerbates cardiac pathology, worsens cardiac function, elevates viral load, and reduces survival rates. RNA-seq analysis of CVB3-infected mouse hearts revealed the significant impact of NFAT5-deficiency on gene pathways associated with cytokine signaling and inflammation. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo investigation validated the disruption of the cytokine signaling pathway in response to CVB3 infection, evidenced by reduced expression of key cytokines such as interferon ß1 (IFNß1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), interleukin 6 (IL6), among others. Furthermore, NFAT5-deficiency hindered the formation of stress granules, leading to a reduction of important stress granule components, including plakophilin-2, a pivotal protein within the intercalated disc, thereby impacting cardiomyocyte structure and function. These findings unveil a novel mechanism by which NFAT5 inhibits CVB3 replication and pathogenesis through the promotion of antiviral type I interferon signaling and the formation of cytoplasmic stress granules, collectively identifying NFAT5 as a new cardio protective protein.

Distinct neurological phenotypes associated with biallelic loss of NOTCH3 function: evidence for recessive inheritance.

BACKGROUND: NOTCH3 variants are known to be linked to cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). However, some null NOTCH3 variants with homozygous inheritance cause neurological symptoms distinct from CADASIL. The aim of this study was to expand the clinical spectrum of this distinct condition and provide further evidence of its autosomal recessive inheritance. METHODS AND RESULTS: Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on a proband who exhibited livedo racemosa, ataxia, cognitive decline, seizures, and MRI white matter abnormalities without anterior temporal pole lesions. Segregation analysis was conducted with Sanger sequencing. WES of the proband identified a novel homozygous NOTCH3 null variant (c.2984delC). The consanguineous parents were confirmed as heterozygous variant carriers. In addition, three heterozygous NOTCH3 null variants were reported as incidental findings in three unrelated cases analyzed in our center. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern in this early-onset leukoencephalopathy, in contrast to CADASIL's dominant gain-of-function mechanism; which is a clear example of genotype-phenotype correlation. Comprehensive genetic analysis provides valuable insights into disease mechanisms and facilitates diagnosis and family planning for NOTCH3-associated neurological disorders.

rGO/ZIF-8 Aerogel for Effective Removal of Malachite Green from Wastewater.

In this study, dopamine-modified graphene aerogel (DGA) is synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal method using graphene oxide as the precursor and dopamine as the reducing agent. Subsequently, in situ immersion synthesis is conducted to obtain ZIF-8 loaded on a dopamine-modified graphene aerogel skeleton (ZDGA), featuring a regular honeycomb interconnected mesoporosity and a high specific surface area of 532.8 m2/g. The synthesized ZDGA exhibited exceptional adsorption performance for the cationic dye malachite green. At room temperature, ZDGA achieved an impressive equilibrium adsorption capacity of 6578.34 mg/g. The adsorption process followed pseudo-secondary kinetics and adhered to the Langmuir model, indicating chemically dominated adsorption on a monomolecular layer. Intraparticle diffusion was the primary rate determinant, with π-π stacking, electrostatic adsorption, hydrogen bonding, and Lewis acid-base interactions serving as the key driving forces. It has an ideal specific surface area and good cycling performance, which highlights its potential application in dye wastewater treatment.

A formulation for asphalt concrete air void during service life by adopting a hybrid evolutionary polynomial regression and multi-gene genetic programming.

Bitumen, aggregate, and air void (VA) are the three primary ingredients of asphalt concrete. VA changes over time as a function of four factors: traffic loads and repetitions, environmental regimes, compaction, and asphalt mix composition. Due to the high as-constructed VA content of the material, it is expected that VA will reduce over time, causing rutting during initial traffic periods. Eventually, the material will undergo shear flow when it reaches its densest state with optimum aggregate interlock or refusal VA content. Therefore, to ensure the quality of construction, VA in asphalt mixture need to be modeled throughout the service life. This study aims to implement a hybrid evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR) combined with a teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO) algorithm and multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP) to predict the VA percentage of asphalt mixture during the service life. For this purpose, 324 data records of VA were collected from the literature. The variables selected as inputs were original as-constructed VA, VA orig (%); mean annual air temperature, MAAT (°F); original viscosity at 77 °F, η o r i g , 77 (Mega-Poises); and time (months). EPR-TLBO was found to be superior to MGGP and existing empirical models due to the interquartile ranges of absolute error boxes equal to 0.67%. EPR-TLBO had an R2 value of more than 0.90 in both the training and testing phases, and only less than 20% of the records were predicted utilizing this model with more than 20% deviation from the observed values. As determined by the sensitivity analysis, η o r i g , 77 is the most significant of the four input variables, while time is the least one. A parametric study showed that regardless of MAAT , η o r i g , 77 , of 0.3 Mega-Poises, and VA orig above 6% can be ideal for improving the pavement service life. It was also witnessed that with an increase of MAAT from 37 to 75 °F, the serviceability of asphalt concrete takes 15 months less on average.

Brainstem Chipmunk Sign: A Diagnostic Imaging Clue across All Subtypes of Alexander Disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While classic brain MR imaging features of Alexander disease have been well-documented, lesional patterns can overlap with other leukodystrophies, especially in the early stages of the disease or in milder phenotypes. We aimed to assess the utility of a new neuroimaging sign to help increase the diagnostic specificity of Alexander disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A peculiar bilateral symmetric hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images affecting the medulla oblongata was identified in an index patient with type I Alexander disease. Subsequently, 5 observers performed a systematic MR imaging review for this pattern by examining 55 subjects with Alexander disease and 74 subjects with other leukodystrophies. Interobserver agreement was assessed by the κ index. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves were determined. RESULTS: The identified pattern was present in 87% of subjects with Alexander disease and 14% of those without Alexander disease leukodystrophy (P < .001), 3 with vanishing white matter, 4 with adult polyglucosan body disease, and 3 others. It was found equally in both type I and type II Alexander disease (28/32, 88% versus 18/21, 86%; P = .851) and in subjects with unusual disease features (2/2). Sensitivity (87.3%; 95% CI, 76.0%-93.7%), specificity (86.5%; 95% CI, 76.9%-92.5%), and interobserver agreement (κ index = 0.82) were high. CONCLUSIONS: The identified pattern in the medulla oblongata, called the chipmunk sign due to its resemblance to the face of this rodent, is extremely common in subjects with Alexander disease and represents a diagnostic tool that can aid in early diagnosis, especially in subjects with otherwise atypical MR imaging findings and/or clinical features.

Total Knee Arthroplasty With or Without Prior Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing the outcomes of bariatric surgery followed by total knee arthroplasty (TKA) versus TKA alone in obese patients have disparate results. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to compare TKA with and without prior bariatric surgery in obese patients. METHODS: MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase were searched from inception to April 9, 2023. There were twelve included studies that yielded 2,876,547 patients, of whom 62,818 and 2,813,729 underwent TKA with and without prior bariatric surgery, respectively. Primary outcomes were medical complications (ie, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, renal failure, respiratory failure, venous thromboembolism [VTE], arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and stroke); surgical complications (ie, wound complications [eg, infection, hematoma, dehiscence, delayed wound healing, and seroma], periprosthetic joint infection, mechanical complications, periprosthetic fracture, knee stiffness, and failed hardware); revision, and mortality. Secondary outcomes were blood transfusion, length of stay (day), and readmission. RESULTS: The odds ratios (OR) of 90-day VTE (OR = 0.75 [0.66, 0.85], P < .00001), 90-day stroke (OR = 0.58 [0.41, 0.81], P = .002), and 1-year periprosthetic fracture (OR = 0.74 [0.55, 0.99], P = .04) were lower in those who underwent bariatric surgery before TKA. Although the mean difference in hospital stays (-0.19 days [-0.23, -0.15], P < .00001) was statistically less in those who underwent bariatric surgery before TKA, it was not clinically relevant. The other outcomes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery before TKA is beneficial in terms of a lower risk of VTE, stroke, and periprosthetic fracture. This analysis suggests surgeons consider discussing bariatric surgery before TKA in obese patients, especially those who are at risk of VTE and stroke.

Defect-enabling zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks for energy and environmental remediation applications.

This comprehensive review explores the diverse applications of defective zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) in energy and environmental remediation. Zr-MOFs have gained significant attention due to their unique properties, and deliberate introduction of defects further enhances their functionality. The review encompasses several areas where defective Zr-MOFs exhibit promise, including environmental remediation, detoxification of chemical warfare agents, photocatalytic energy conversions, and electrochemical applications. Defects play a pivotal role by creating open sites within the framework, facilitating effective adsorption and remediation of pollutants. They also contribute to the catalytic activity of Zr-MOFs, enabling efficient energy conversion processes such as hydrogen production and CO2 reduction. The review underscores the importance of defect manipulation, including control over their distribution and type, to optimize the performance of Zr-MOFs. Through tailored defect engineering and precise selection of functional groups, researchers can enhance the selectivity and efficiency of Zr-MOFs for specific applications. Additionally, pore size manipulation influences the adsorption capacity and transport properties of Zr-MOFs, further expanding their potential in environmental remediation and energy conversion. Defective Zr-MOFs exhibit remarkable stability and synthetic versatility, making them suitable for diverse environmental conditions and allowing for the introduction of missing linkers, cluster defects, or post-synthetic modifications to precisely tailor their properties. Overall, this review highlights the promising prospects of defective Zr-MOFs in addressing energy and environmental challenges, positioning them as versatile tools for sustainable solutions and paving the way for advancements in various sectors toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Correction: Defect-enabling zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks for energy and environmental remediation applications.

Correction for 'Defect-enabling zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks for energy and environmental remediation applications' by Saba Daliran et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cs01057k.

Nanoinjection: A Platform for Innovation in Ex Vivo Cell Engineering.

ConspectusIn human cells, intracellular access and therapeutic cargo transport, including gene-editing tools (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 and transposons), nucleic acids (e.g., DNA, mRNA, and siRNA), peptides, and proteins (e.g., enzymes and antibodies), are tightly constrained to ensure healthy cell function and behavior. This principle is exemplified in the delivery mechanisms of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells for ex-vivo immunotherapy. In particular, the clinical success of CAR-T cells has established a new standard of care by curing previously incurable blood cancers. The approach involves the delivery, typically via the use of electroporation (EP) and lentivirus, of therapeutic CAR genes into a patient's own T cells, which are then engineered to express CARs that target and combat their blood cancer. But the key difficulty lies in genetically manipulating these cells without causing irreversible damage or loss of function─all the while minimizing complexities of manufacturing, safety concerns, and costs, and ensuring the efficacy of the final CAR-T cell product.Nanoinjection─the process of intracellular delivery using nanoneedles (NNs)─is an emerging physical delivery route that efficiently negotiates the plasma membrane of many cell types, including primary human T cells. It occurs with minimal perturbation, invasiveness, and toxicity, with high efficiency and throughput at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Nanoinjection promises greatly improved delivery of a broad range of therapeutic cargos with little or no damage to those cargos. A nanoinjection platform allows these cargos to function in the intracellular space as desired. The adaptability of nanoinjection platforms is now bringing major advantages in immunomodulation, mechanotransduction, sampling of cell states (nanobiopsy), controlled intracellular interrogation, and the primary focus of this account─intracellular delivery and its applications in ex vivo cell engineering.Mechanical nanoinjection typically exerts direct mechanical force on the cell membrane, offering a straightforward route to improve membrane perturbation by the NNs and subsequent transport of genetic cargo into targeted cell type (adherent or suspension cells). By contrast, electroactive nanoinjection is controlled by coupling NNs with an electric field─a new route for activating electroporation (EP) at the nanoscale─allowing a dramatic reduction of the applied voltage to a cell and so minimizing post-EP damage to cells and cargo, and overcoming many of the limitations of conventional bulk EP. Nanoinjection transcends mere technique; it is an approach to cell engineering ex vivo, offering the potential to endow cells with new, powerful features such as generating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells for future CAR-T cell technologies.We first discuss the manufacturing of NN devices (Section 2), then delve into nanoinjection-mediated cell engineering (Section 3), nanoinjection mechanisms and interfacing methodologies (Section 4), and emerging applications in using nanoinjection to create functional CAR-T cells (Section 5).

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Can Change the Composition of Secondary Metabolites in Fruits of Solanum nigrum L.

Solanum nigrum is a common weed in arable land, while being used in traditional medicine around the world due to its remarkable levels of valuable secondary metabolites. Agronomic and biological techniques can alter the production of a specific metabolite by influencing plant growth and metabolism. The effects of colonization with three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizoglomus intraradices, and Rhizoglomus fasciculatum, on the chemical composition of S. nigrum fruits were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. More than 100 different chemical constituents were evaluated by GC-MS. Our study revealed that the levels of phenols (quinic acid), benzenes (hydroquinone), sulfur-containing compounds, lactone and carboxylic acids were improved by R. intraradices. In contrast, hydroxymethylfurfural increased by 68 % in R. fasciculatum inoculated with uninoculated S. nigrum plants, and this species was also the most efficient in inducing sugar compounds (D-galactose, lactose, and melezitose). Our results suggest that AMF colonization is an effective biological strategy that can alter the chemical composition and improve the medicinal properties of S. nigrum.

Improving access to psychological intervention in low-middle income settings: Results from a waitlist-controlled, proof-of-concept trial of the MemFlex intervention for trauma-exposed Afghan youth.

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity interventions targeting a range of mental health issues offer a scalable approach for young trauma survivors in low-middle income countries. AIMS: Here, we present results from a proof-of-concept, randomized, waitlist-controlled trial evaluating MemFlex, an autobiographical memory-based intervention, for trauma-exposed Afghan youth residing in Iran. MemFlex seeks to reduce the negative and overgeneral memory biases which maintain and predict poor mental health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Young people aged 12-18 years (N = 40) with parents who had experienced forced migration from Afghanistan were recruited from high schools in Karaj City in Iran. All had experienced a traumatic event in the last year. Participants were randomized to receive four weeks of a group-based delivery of MemFlex or Waitlist. Our primary cognitive outcome was autobiographical memory flexibility, that is, the ability to deliberately retrieve any memory type on demand. Primary clinical outcome was emotional distress, measured on the Farsi version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. RESULTS: Results indicated that MemFlex participants demonstrated large effect sizes for pre-to-post improvement in memory flexibility (d = 2.04) and emotional distress (d = 1.23). These improvements were significantly larger than Waitlist (ds < .49), and were maintained at three-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Positive benefits were observed for completion of MemFlex, and future comparison against an active intervention appears warranted. CONCLUSION: Further evaluation of MemFlex in this context may offer a low-cost, and low-resource intervention to improve access to psychological intervention for young migrants in low-middle income countries.

Generation mechanism and empirical model of eddy current force and torque in drum-type eddy current separation.

Enhancing the recovery efficiency of non-ferrous metals in eddy current separation is of great significance. In this study, the accuracy of the simulation model was verified by comparing the eddy current force. The transformation mechanism of the Lorentz forces into the eddy current force and torque in non-ferrous metal particles was revealed by analyzing various physical fields. Then, the influence of magnetic field parameters on eddy current, eddy current force, and torque was studied. It shows that the eddy current force and torque are affected by the vector gradient of the magnetic field and the magnetic flux density, respectively. Additionally, the time derivative of the magnetic field impacts the magnitude of the eddy current force and torque by controlling the eddy current. On this basis, the empirical models of eddy current force and torque were established by similarity theory. The results obtained can improve and expand the application of eddy current separation.

The comparison of visibility of the maxillary sinus septa between cone-beam computed tomography scans and panoramic radiograph images as dependent on the cortical bone thickness: a retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the visibility of the maxillary sinus septa (MSS) in panoramic radiography (PR) versus cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to investigate whether the buccal cortical bone thickness (BT) or the septa dimensions influence their visibility. METHODS: Corresponding PR and CBCT images of 355 patients were selected and examined for MSS visibility. The septa dimensions (width, height, depth) and the BT were measured. Results were analysed statistically. RESULTS: Comparing the corresponding regions on CBCT and PR, 170 MSS were identified; however, only 106 of these were also visible using PR. The MSS visibility was significantly higher on CBCT versus PR images (P1: p = 0.039, P2: p = 0.015, M1: p = 0.041, M2: p = 0.017, M3: p = 0.000), except region C (p = 0.625). Regarding the measurements of MSS dimensions, only the height in region M1 (p = 0.013) and the width in region P2 (p = 0.034) were significantly more visible on CBCT. The BT in the area of the MSS was found to have a marginal influence on its visibility on the PR images only in regions M3 and M1 (M3: p = 0.043, M1: p = 0.047). In terms of MSS visibility based on the dimensions, significance was found for all three influencing variables only in region P2 (width; p = 0.041, height; p = 0.001, depth; p = 0.007). There were only isolated cases of further significance: M3 for width (p = 0.043), M2 for height (p = 0.024), and P1 for depth (p = 0.034), no further significance was noted. CONCLUSION: MSS visibility appears significantly higher on CBCT versus PR images. It is concluded that the septa dimensions and BT can influence MSS visibility on PR images just in certain regions.

Omega-3 fatty acids and health of auditory and vestibular systems: a comprehensive review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to comprehensively review animal and human studies that explore the role of omega-3 PUFAs in maintaining the health of the auditory organ across all life stages. METHODS: This narrative review involved searching Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles from December 1980 to July 2023. RESULTS: some animal and human studies suggest that both deficiency and excessive intake of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can lead to auditory neural conduction impairment and reduced hearing acuity from fetal development to old age (presbycusis). These effects are likely to be dependent on the dosage. Some research indicates that an excessive intake of omega-3, rather than a deficiency, can result in nutritional toxicity and hearing impairments. Animal studies highlight the positive impact of omega-3 supplements with high DHA content in addressing hearing damage, but human research on this subject is limited. Furthermore, certain studies propose that omega-3 PUFAs may prevent or delay age-related hearing loss, with high plasma omega-3 concentration, particularly long-chain omega-3 PUFA, linked to reduced hearing loss. Additionally, consuming fish more than twice a week may be associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in adulthood, with these effects potentially influenced by age and gender. However, the majority of studies have been conducted on animals, and clinical trials are scarce. Research on the influence of omega-3 PUFAs on the peripheral and central vestibular systems remains limited. CONCLUSION: This article delves into the impact of omega-3 on the auditory-vestibular system, exploring its influence on neurodevelopment, protection, and treatment. It not only highlights specific research gaps but also offers valuable insights for potential future studies.

Determinants of survival and recurrence in patients with stage I colorectal cancer.

Background: Due to the novel advanced screening methods, the number of patients diagnosed with stage I colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing. This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify recurrence and survival risk factors of patients with stage I CRC after surgery. Materials and methods: Patients with stage I CRC were evaluated, and their demographic and clinicopathologic variables were recorded. The log-rank test assessed the association of variables with overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), local recurrence, and distant metastasis. Results: The median overall survival period was 51 months. The recurrence rate was 13.7%: 7.2% local and 9.3% distant recurrence. One-, two-, three-, and five-year RFS were 92%, 89%, 87%, and 83%, respectively, and OS were 96%, 93%, 90%, and 89%, respectively. Local and distant recurrence rates were higher in patients with higher tumor grades. Additionally, RFS and OS were worse in patients with higher tumor grades, and perforation was associated with worse OS. Conclusions: The determinants of survival and recurrence identified in the present study can be used to improve patient outcomes by early diagnosis and appropriate management of high-risk patients.