Innovative strategies for managing hallucinations by exploring effects of tDCS on source monitoring abilities.

This randomised, crossover, sham-controlled study explored the neural basis of source-monitoring, a crucial cognitive process implicated in schizophrenia. Left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were the key focus areas. Thirty participants without neurological or psychological disorders underwent offline sham and active tDCS sessions with specific electrode montage targeting the left STG and DLPFC. Source-monitoring tasks, reality monitoring (Hear-Imagine), internal source-monitoring (Say-Imagine), and external source monitoring (Virtual-Real) were administered. Paired t-test and estimation statistics was performed with Graphpad version 10.1.0. The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was employed to control the false discovery rate in multiple hypothesis testing. A significant improvement in internal source monitoring tasks (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.97) was observed, but reality monitoring tasks demonstrated moderate improvement (p = 0.02, Cohen's d = 0.44). The study provides insights into the neural mechanisms of source monitoring in healthy individuals and proposes tDCS as a therapeutic intervention, laying the foundation for future studies to refine tDCS protocols and develop individualized approaches to address source monitoring deficits in schizophrenia.

Case series on Trichomonas vaginalis infections: impact of proper sample collection and diagnostic stewardship.

This paper elucidates the transformative impact of a strategic shift in diagnostic practices in the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis. It explores five cases where the implementation of a specific diagnostic protocol led to effective identification of the infection. In-depth discussions and a comprehensive literature review underline the necessity for precise diagnosis and the paramount importance of diagnostic stewardship in managing sexually transmitted infections.

Umbilical Artery Systolic/Diastolic Ratio and Amniotic Fluid Index in Prediction of Adverse Perinatal Outcome in Term Pregnancies.

Background: Antenatal fetal surveillance is a field of increasing importance in modern obstetrics. It is based on fetal heart rate monitoring using nonstress test and contraction stress test, ultrasound biometry and amniotic fluid assessment, Doppler blood flow studies of fetal and uteroplacental circulation, and an evaluation of biophysical fetal parameters. The combination of these methods leads to improvements in fetal morbidity and mortality. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of umbilical artery (UA) systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio, and amniotic fluid index (AFI) in term pregnancies for the prediction of perinatal outcome and their relation with perinatal outcome. Methods: This study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital on 100 pregnant women where all the term singleton pregnancies (37-42 weeks) admitted in maternity were subjected to color Doppler for UA S/D ratio assessment and AFI estimation. Further, management of patients was done according to color Doppler findings and their relation with perinatal outcome. Results: Out of 100 pregnant women, 68% had AFI >8 (normal), while 32% of women had AFI <8 (abnormal), with the mean AFI being 9.39 ± 2.55 cm, whereas70% had S/D ratio <3 (normal) and 30% of women had S/D ratio >3 (abnormal), with the mean S/D ratio of 2.61 ± 0.450. UA S/D ratio had better performance values (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value) than AFI in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes. Conclusion: AFI and UA S/D ratio are important for predicting low appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration score, meconium, respiratory complications, and perinatal mortality in high as well as low-risk pregnancy cases. However, UA S/D ratio is a better predictor of perinatal outcome in high-risk pregnancies.

Volumetric analysis of root filling with cold lateral compaction, Obtura II, Thermafil, and Calamus using spiral computerized tomography: An In vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of the present study is volumetric analysis of root canal filling with cold lateral compaction, Obtura II, Thermafil, and Calamus using spiral computerized tomography (SCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Root canals of eighty mandibular premolars were instrumented using rotary ProTaper, and the volume of the canal space was measured using spiral computerized tomography (SCT). The teeth were divided into four groups of twenty teeth each, and root canals filled by lateral compaction technique, Thermafil carriers, Obtura II, and Calamus techniques, respectively. AH Plus was used as a sealer with all techniques. The filled volume in each canal was measured using SCT, and the percentage of obturated volume (POV) was calculated. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The four groups were comparable in canal volume. The overall POV was 78.11%, 85.72%, 82.50%, and 87.89% for lateral compaction, Thermafil, Obtura II, and Calamus, respectively (P Conclusion: The greatest POV was obtained with Calamus and Thermafil. Voids were seen in all root fillings.

Evaluation of Coronal Leakage Following Different Obturation Techniques and in-vitro Evalution Using Methylene Blue Dye Preparation.

INTRODUCTION: Coronal and apical leakage still remains one of the most important cause for endodontic failure in spite of the presence of advanced endodontic materials. The cause may attribute to different filling techniques, physical and chemical properties of sealers and presence or absence of smear layer assessment of coronal or apical leakage is used as a research method to compare the sealing ability of different techniques and endodontic materials. AIM: To compare the coronal bacterial leakage using methylene blue in four different obturation techniques after protaper hand instrumentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety extracted single-rooted teeth were instrumented to an apical preparation size F3 Protaper hand files. Twenty teeth were randomly obturated with lateral compaction, 20 with vertical compaction, 20 with combination of vertical and lateral compaction and 20 with Thermafil. Ten teeth were used for positive and negative controls (five teeth in each group). Teeth were kept in 100% humidity for 90 days, and then subjected coronally to Proteus vulgaris for 21 days to assess bacterial leakage. After bacterial challenge, methylene blue was placed coronally for another 21 days, and then scoring was done according to depth of dye leakage. Chi-square test was done for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Leakage as observed with combination of vertical and lateral compaction was significantly less than vertical compaction, lateral compaction and thermafil carriers during bacterial challenge. However, when dye was used it also showed statistically significant results with thermafil carriers showing the least leakage in comparison to vertical condensation, lateral condensation and combined groups. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that two different methods i.e. bacterial and dye leakage revealed considerable variation on the same substrate Thus, due to the presence of variability among the results obtained by two different analytical methods used in the present study, the study emphasizes the need for standardization of methods as the lack of standardization hinders the comparison of different endodontic filling techniques.