Insights into Parkinson's Disease-Related Freezing of Gait Detection and Prediction Approaches: A Meta Analysis.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms, prominently featuring the freezing of gait (FOG), which significantly impairs patients' quality of life. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying FOG remain elusive, posing challenges for effective management and treatment. This paper presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of FOG prediction and detection methodologies, with a focus on the integration of wearable sensor technology and machine learning (ML) approaches. Through an exhaustive review of the literature, this study identifies key trends, datasets, preprocessing techniques, feature extraction methods, evaluation metrics, and comparative analyses between ML and non-ML approaches. The analysis also explores the utilization of cueing devices. The limited adoption of explainable AI (XAI) approaches in FOG prediction research represents a significant gap. Improving user acceptance and comprehension requires an understanding of the logic underlying algorithm predictions. Current FOG detection and prediction research has a number of limitations, which are identified in the discussion. These include issues with cueing devices, dataset constraints, ethical and privacy concerns, financial and accessibility restrictions, and the requirement for multidisciplinary collaboration. Future research avenues center on refining explainability, expanding and diversifying datasets, adhering to user requirements, and increasing detection and prediction accuracy. The findings contribute to advancing the understanding of FOG and offer valuable guidance for the development of more effective detection and prediction methodologies, ultimately benefiting individuals affected by PD.

Analgesic Effect of Addition of Pectointercostal Block to Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Breast Surgeries: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is an efficient perioperative analgesic modality for breast surgeries. SAPB does not block the anterior cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves; thus, it does not provide adequate analgesia for the parasternal region and the medial side of the breast. A new parasternal block, the pectointercostal fascial plane block (PIFB) has been developed to overcome this issue. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the perioperative analgesic effect of using PIFB in addition to SAPB. The primary outcome was to evaluate the postoperative pain score. The secondary outcomes were to assess perioperative opioid requirements, hemodynamic stability, and the satisfaction of the patient and surgeon. STUDY DESIGN: The current study was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study. The current study was registered at the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202001789968542) and was designed after obtaining ethical institutional approval (Institutional Review Board No 00012098, Federalwide Assurance No 00018699). SETTING: The study involved 60 women between 21 and 69 years old with breast cancer who were scheduled for modified radical mastectomy or conservative breast surgeries in a university hospital. METHODS: After verbal and informed written consent, the patients were allocated to Group 1, which received SAPB, and Group 2, which received SAPB with PIFB. We assessed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), perioperative opioid requirements, intraoperative hemodynamic stability, rescue analgesia, and complications. Patient and surgeon satisfaction were surveyed using a questionnaire where one is very dissatisfied and 5 is very satisfied. RESULTS: Intraoperative mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate were significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB). The number of patients who needed intraoperative fentanyl was also significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB) (P value = 0.010). Postoperative VAS showed no significant difference in both groups. The number of patients who needed postoperative rescue morphine, time for the first rescue analgesia, first morphine dose (mg), and total opioid consumption were also comparable for both groups. Patient satisfaction and surgeon satisfaction were comparable for both groups (P values = 1.000 and 0.496, respectively). LIMITATIONS: VAS was not recorded during movements and no follow-up was done to detect the potential effect on chronic postmastectomy pain. Moreover, after reviewing the literature, there was no efficient data about adding PIFB with different regional blocks for breast surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The number of patients who needed intraoperative fentanyl, as well as the MABP and heart rate were significantly lower in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB). Postoperative vital signs, VAS, postoperative analgesic requirements, and opioid consumption were comparable for both groups. Patient satisfaction was comparable for both groups, while surgeon satisfaction was higher in Group 2 (SAPB+PIFB) but statistically not significant.

Plant growth-promoting properties of bacterial endophytes isolated from roots of Thymus vulgaris L. and investigate their role as biofertilizers to enhance the essential oil contents.

The main objective of the current study was to improve the essential oil contents of Thymus vulgaris L. using bio-inoculation with bacterial endophytes. Therefore, out of fourteen endophytic bacterial isolates obtained from roots of T. vulgaris, five isolates were selected based on the highest nitrogen-fixation and phosphate solubilization activity and identified as: Bacillus haynesii T9r, Citrobacter farmeri T10r, Bacillus licheniformis T11r, Bacillus velezensis T12r, and Bacillus velezensis T13r. These five strains have been recorded as ammonia, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), siderophores, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) producers. These strains have the efficacy to fix-nitrogen by reduction of acetylene with values of 82.133±1.4-346.6±1.4 n-mole-C2H4/ml/24 h. The IAA, gibberellic acid, abscisic acid, benzyl, kinten, and ziaten production were confirmed using HPLC. Two strains of T11r and T13r showed the highest plant growth-promoting properties and were selected for bio-inoculation of T. vulgaris individually or in a consortium with different mineral fertilization doses (0, 50, 75, and 100%) under field conditions. The highest growth performance was attained with the endophytic consortium (T11r+T13r) in the presence of 100% mineral fertilization. The GC-MS analysis of thyme oil contents showed the presence of 23 various compounds with varying percentages and the thymol fraction represented the highest percentages (39.1%) in the presence of the bacterial consortium.

Echocardiographic features of indirect Gerbode defect in a cat / 대한수의학회지

This report describes the echocardiographic features of an indirect Gerbode defect in a young cat. Echocardiography revealed high-velocity, turbulent systolic flow directed from left ventricle to right ventricle through a ventricular septal defect. The flow immediately entered the right atrium through a tricuspid septal leaflet. The indirect-type Gerbode defect was confirmed through necropsy. When a high-velocity turbulent flow in the RA without pulmonary hypertension is observed on echocardiography, Gerbode defect should be considered.

Estimation of the novel antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antihyperlipidemic effects of silymarin in Albino rats and mice

Objective: To evaluate the other pharmacological actions of silymarin in Albino rats and mice such as antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antihyperlipidemic effects. Methods: Rats were injected intramuscularly with pyrogenic dose of brewer's yeast for the antipyretic test of silymarin. Another group of rats injected with 0.1 mL of 1% carrageenan solution in saline at the subplanter area of the right hind paw for the antiinflammatory test of silymarin. Another group of mice tested by hot plate method for determination of antinociceptive effect of silymarin. Hyperlipidemia was induced using high fat diet for 2 months to estimate the antihyperlipidemic activity of silymarin. Results: Silymarin showed a significant antipyretic effect of both doses (50 and 100 mg/ kg) compared with control untreated group. Moreover, silymarin elucidated a significant anti-inflammatory effect of both doses reflected on the decrease of the rat paw edema every hour interval for 4 h after administration in comparison with control positive group. By the same taken, both doses of silymarine revealed a significant antinociceptive action in hot plate method at 30 and 60 min post administration. Besides, it lowered significantly the serum levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta after 2 h of silymarin administration in carrageenan induced rat paw edema besides the significant decrease of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and significantly elevated high density lipoprotein after 2 weeks of silymarin administration. Conclusions: These outcomes delivered a new vision into the possible pharmacological mechanisms by which silymarin advances antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antihyperlipidemic effects.

Synthesis and pharmacological activities of some condensed 4-chloro-2,2-dialkyl chromene-3-carbaldehyde derivatives.

Some new hydrazono 5a,b, thiosemicarbazono 6a-c, and oximo chromenes 7a-c were prepared via the reaction of the corresponding beta-chlorocarbaldehyde 3 with hydrazine, aromatic hydrazine, thiosemicarbazide and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, respectively. In addition, ether derivatives 8a-h were prepared from the corresponding aldoximes 7a-c. The new products were tested for anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic score activities compared to indomethacin.