Fully automatic mpMRI analysis using deep learning predicts peritumoral glioblastoma infiltration and subsequent recurrence.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is most aggressive and common adult brain tumor. The standard treatments typically include maximal surgical resection, followed adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of these treatment is often limited, as tumor often infiltrate into the surrounding brain tissue, often extending beyond the radiologically defined margins. This infiltration contributes to the high recurrence rate and poor prognosis associated with GBM patients, necessitating advanced methods for early and accurate detection of tumor infiltration. Despite the great promise traditional supervised machine learning shows in predicting tumor infiltration beyond resectable margins, these methods are heavily reliant on expert-drawn Regions of Interest (ROIs), which are used to construct multi-variate models of different Magnetic Resonance (MR) signal characteristics associated with tumor infiltration. This process is both time consuming and resource intensive. Addressing this limitation, our study proposes a novel integration of fully automatic methods for generating ROIs with deep learning algorithms to create predictive maps of tumor infiltration. This approach uses pre-operative multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) scans, encompassing T1, T1Gd, T2, T2-FLAIR, and ADC sequences, to fully leverage the knowledge from previously drawn ROIs. Subsequently, a patch based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model is trained on these automatically generated ROIs to predict areas of potential tumor infiltration. The performance of this model was evaluated using a leave-one-out cross-validation approach. Generated predictive maps binarized for comparison against post-recurrence mpMRI scans. The model demonstrates robust predictive capability, evidenced by the average cross-validated accuracy of 0.87, specificity of 0.88, and sensitivity of 0.90. Notably, the odds ratio of 8.62 indicates that regions identified as high-risk on the predictive map were significantly more likely to exhibit tumor recurrence than low-risk regions. The proposed method demonstrates that a fully automatic mpMRI analysis using deep learning can successfully predict tumor infiltration in peritumoral region for GBM patients while bypassing the intensive requirement for expert-drawn ROIs.

Sex-specific Differences in IDH1-Wildtype Glioblastoma patients in the ReSPOND Consortium.

BACKGROUND: Understanding sex-based differences in glioblastoma patients is necessary for accurate personalized treatment planning to improve patient outcomes. PURPOSE: To investigate sex-specific differences in molecular, clinical and radiological tumor parameters, as well as survival outcomes in glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 wildtype (IDH1-WT), grade 4 patients. METHODS: Retrospective data of 1832 glioblastoma, IDH1-WT patients with comprehensive information on tumor parameters was acquired from the Radiomics Signatures for Precision Oncology in Glioblastoma (ReSPOND) consortium. Data imputation was performed for missing values. Sex-based differences in tumor parameters, such as, age, molecular parameters, pre-operative KPS score, tumor volumes, epicenter and laterality were assessed through non-parametric tests. Spatial atlases were generated using pre-operative MRI maps to visualize tumor characteristics. Survival time analysis was performed through log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard analyses. RESULTS: GBM was diagnosed at a median age of 64 years in females compared to 61.9 years in males (FDR = 0.003). Males had a higher Karnofsky Performance Score (above 80) as compared to females (60.4% females Vs 69.7% males, FDR = 0.044). Females had lower tumor volumes in enhancing (16.7 cm3 Vs. 20.6 cm3 in males, FDR = 0.001), necrotic core (6.18 cm3 Vs. 7.76 cm3 in males, FDR = 0.001) and edema regions (46.9 cm3 Vs. 59.2 cm3 in males, FDR = 0.0001). Right temporal region was the most common tumor epicenter in the overall population. Right as well as left temporal lobes were more frequently involved in males. There were no significant differences in survival outcomes and mortality ratios. Higher age, unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNAmethyltransferase (MGMT) promoter and undergoing subtotal resection increased the mortality risk in both males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates significant sex-based differences in clinical and radiological tumor parameters of glioblastoma, IDH1-WT, grade 4 patients. Sex is not an independent prognostic factor for survival outcomes and the tumor parameters influencing patient outcomes are identical for males and females. ABBREVIATIONS: IDH1-WT = isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 wildtype; MGMTp = O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase promoter; KPS = Karnofsky performance score; EOR = extent of resection; WHO = world health organization; FDR = false discovery rate.

Integrating imaging and genomic data for the discovery of distinct glioblastoma subtypes: a joint learning approach.

Glioblastoma is a highly heterogeneous disease, with variations observed at both phenotypical and molecular levels. Personalized therapies would be facilitated by non-invasive in vivo approaches for characterizing this heterogeneity. In this study, we developed unsupervised joint machine learning between radiomic and genomic data, thereby identifying distinct glioblastoma subtypes. A retrospective cohort of 571 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients were included in the study, and pre-operative multi-parametric MRI scans and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) data were collected. L21-norm minimization was used to select a subset of 12 radiomic features from the MRI scans, and 13 key driver genes from the five main signal pathways most affected in glioblastoma were selected from the genomic data. Subtypes were identified using a joint learning approach called Anchor-based Partial Multi-modal Clustering on both radiomic and genomic modalities. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified three distinct glioblastoma subtypes: high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk, based on overall survival outcome (p < 0.05, log-rank test; Hazard Ratio = 1.64, 95% CI 1.17-2.31, Cox proportional hazard model on high-risk and low-risk subtypes). The three subtypes displayed different phenotypical and molecular characteristics in terms of imaging histogram, co-occurrence of genes, and correlation between the two modalities. Our findings demonstrate the synergistic value of integrated radiomic signatures and molecular characteristics for glioblastoma subtyping. Joint learning on both modalities can aid in better understanding the molecular basis of phenotypical signatures of glioblastoma, and provide insights into the biological underpinnings of tumor formation and progression.

Effects of flaxseed supplementation on weight loss, lipid profiles, glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on weight loss, lipid profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and glucose levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). A systematic search was performed using various online databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until June 2023. To evaluate heterogeneity among the selected studies, the Q-test and I2 statistics were employed. Data were combined using either a fixed- or random-effects model and presented as a weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Of the 428 citations, six RCTs were included. The pooled results did not show significant changes in the WMD of lipid factors (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol) following flaxseed intake. However, after performing a sensitivity analysis to determine the source of heterogeneity, flaxseed supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in TG levels (WMD = -18.39 mg/dL; 95% CI: -35.02, -1.75). Moreover, no significant differences were observed in either weight or BMI following flaxseed intake. However, the circulating levels of fasting blood glucose (WMD = -8.35 mg/dL; 95% CI: -15.01, -1.69, p = .01) and hs-CRP (WMD = -1.35 mg/L; 95% CI: -1.93, -0.77, p < .01) significantly decreased after the intervention. Flaxseed supplementation was associated with lowering FBS, hs-CRP, and TG levels but did not affect weight loss parameters and other lipid markers in CAD.

Adsorption of diazinon from aqueous solution using metal organic framework and functionalized graphene: Comparison of BBD, ANN models.

In the present study, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and aminated graphitic carbonaceous structure (ACS-RGO) through chemical synthesis prepared by a simple precipitation method and used for diazinon removal. Several techniques such as XRD , FESEM and FTIR were applied for identification of MOF-5 and ACS-RGO. Also, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed in this work to look at the effectiveness of diazinon adsorption. To forecast pesticide removal, we applied artificial neural network (ANN) and Box-Behnken Design (BBD) models. For the ANN model, a sensitivity analysis was also performed. The effect of independent variables like solution pH, various concentrations of diazinon, MOFs and ACS-RGO adsorbent dose and contact time were assessed to find out the optimum conditions. Based on the model prediction, the optimal condition for adsorption ACS-RGO and MOF-5 were determined to be pH 6.6 and 6.6, adsorbent dose of 0.59 and 0.906 g/L, and mixing time of 52.15 and 36.96 min respectively. These conditions resulted in 96.69% and 80.62% diazinon removal using ACS-RGO and MOF-5, respectively. Isotherm studies proved the adsorption of ACS-RGO and MOF-5 following the Langmuir isotherm model for diazinon removal. Diazinon removal followed by the pseudo-second and Pseudo-first order kinetics model provides a better fit for analyzing the kinetic data associated with pesticide adsorption for ACS-RGO and MOF-5, respectively. Based on the obtained results, the predicted values for the efficiency of diazinon removal with the ANN and BBD were similar (R2=0.98). Therefore, two models were able to predict diazinon removal by ACS-RGO and MOF-5.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of protective effects of Silibinin-loaded polymeric micelles on human hair against UV-B radiation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Silibinin-loaded polymeric micelles from human hair against UV-B radiation. METHODS: Eight formulations with different concentrations of Silibinin, Pluronic F-127, and Labrasol-Labrafil were made by a solvent evaporation method, and the selected formulation was chosen by examining their properties like particle size and loading efficiency. Six groups of human hair, including a group that received the selected formulation, were exposed to UV-B radiation and by calculating its factors such as peak-to-valley roughness, RMS roughness, FTIR, and the amount of protein loss, the protective effect of the selected formulation was judged. RESULTS: According to the results, the loading efficiency and particle size of the selected formulation were 45.34% and 43.19 nm. The Silibinin release profile had two parts, fast and slow, which were suitable for creating a drug depot on hair. Its zeta potential also confirmed the minimum electrostatic interference between the formulation and hair surface. The zeta potential of selected formulation was -5.9 mv. Examination of AFM images showed that the selected formulation was able to prevent the increase in peak-to-valley roughness and RMS roughness caused by UV-B radiation. RMS roughness after 600 h of UV radiation in Groups 5 and 6 was significantly lower than the negative control group and the amount of this factor did not differ significantly between 0 and 600, so it can be concluded that the selected formulation containing Silibinin and the positive control group was able to prevent the increase of RMS roughness and hair destruction. In other hands, the two positive control groups and the selected formulation containing Silibinin were able to effectively reduce hair protein loss. CONCLUSION: Silibinin-loaded polymeric micelles were able to effectively protect hair from structural and chemical changes caused by UV-B radiation.

Tocilizumab degradation via photo-catalytic ozonation process from aqueous.

Following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, tocilizumab has emerged as a potentially efficacious therapeutic intervention. The utilization of O3-Heterogeneous photocatalytic process (O3-HPCP) as a hybrid advanced oxidation technique has been employed for the degradation of pollutants. The present study employed a solvothermal technique for the synthesis of the BiOI-MOF composite. The utilization of FTIR, FESEM, EDAX, XRD, UV-vis, BET, TEM, and XPS analysis was employed to confirm the exceptional quality of the catalyst. the study employed an experimental design, subsequently followed by the analysis of collected data in order to forecast the most favorable conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of several factors, including reaction time (30-60 min), catalyst dose (0.25-0.5 mg/L), pH levels (4-8), ozone concentration (20-40 mMol/L), and tocilizumab concentration (10-20 mg/L), on the performance of O3-HPCP. The best model was discovered by evaluating the F-value and P-value coefficients, which were found to be 0.0001 and 347.93, respectively. In the given experimental conditions, which include a catalyst dose of 0.46 mg/L, a reaction time of 59 min, a pH of 7.0, and an ozone concentration of 32 mMol/L, the removal efficiencies were found to be 92% for tocilizumab, 79.8% for COD, and 59% for TOC. The obtained R2 value of 0.98 suggests a strong correlation between the observed data and the predicted values, indicating that the reaction rate followed first-order kinetics. The coefficient of synergy for the degradation of tocilizumab was shown to be 1.22. The catalyst exhibited satisfactory outcomes, but with a marginal reduction in efficacy of approximately 3%. The sulfate ion (SO42-) exhibited no influence on process efficiency, whereas the nitrate ion (NO3-) exerted the most significant impact among the anions. The progress of the process was impeded by organic scavengers, with methanol exhibiting the most pronounced influence and sodium azide exerting the least significant impact. The efficacy of pure BiOI and NH2-MIL125 (Ti) was diminished when employed in their pure form state. The energy consumption per unit of degradation, denoted as EEO, was determined to be 161.8 KWh/m3-order.

Crosstalk between autophagy and insulin resistance: evidence from different tissues.

Insulin is a critical hormone that promotes energy storage in various tissues, as well as anabolic functions. Insulin resistance significantly reduces these responses, resulting in pathological conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The management of insulin resistance requires better knowledge of its pathophysiological mechanisms to prevent secondary complications, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Recent evidence regarding the etiological mechanisms behind insulin resistance emphasizes the role of energy imbalance and neurohormonal dysregulation, both of which are closely regulated by autophagy. Autophagy is a conserved process that maintains homeostasis in cells. Accordingly, autophagy abnormalities have been linked to a variety of metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, T2DM, obesity, and CVDs. Thus, there may be a link between autophagy and insulin resistance. Therefore, the interaction between autophagy and insulin function will be examined in this review, particularly in insulin-responsive tissues, such as adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle.

Nonionizing Electromagnetic Irradiations; Biological Interactions, Human Safety.

Human is usually exposed to environmental radiation from natural and man-made sources. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effects of exposure to environmental radiation, partly related to understanding and protecting against the risk of exposure to environmental radiation with beneficial and adverse impacts on human life. The rapid development of technologies causes a dramatic enhancement of radiation in the human environment. In this study, we address the biological effects caused by different fractions of non-ionizing electromagnetic irradiation to humans and describe possible approaches for minimizing adverse health effects initiated by radiation. The main focus was on biological mechanisms initiated by irradiation and represented protection, and safety approaches to prevent health disorders.

Association of partial T2-FLAIR mismatch sign and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation in WHO grade 4 gliomas: results from the ReSPOND consortium.

PURPOSE: While the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is highly specific for isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant, 1p/19q-noncodeleted astrocytomas among lower-grade gliomas, its utility in WHO grade 4 gliomas is not well-studied. We derived the partial T2-FLAIR mismatch sign as an imaging biomarker for IDH mutation in WHO grade 4 gliomas. METHODS: Preoperative MRI scans of adult WHO grade 4 glioma patients (n = 2165) from the multi-institutional ReSPOND (Radiomics Signatures for PrecisiON Diagnostics) consortium were analyzed. Diagnostic performance of the partial T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was evaluated. Subset analyses were performed to assess associations of imaging markers with overall survival (OS). RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one (5.6%) of 2165 grade 4 gliomas were IDH-mutant. Partial T2-FLAIR mismatch was present in 40 (1.8%) cases, 32 of which were IDH-mutant, yielding 26.4% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity, 80.0% positive predictive value, and 95.8% negative predictive value. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated IDH mutation was significantly associated with partial T2-FLAIR mismatch (odds ratio [OR] 5.715, 95% CI [1.896, 17.221], p = 0.002), younger age (OR 0.911 [0.895, 0.927], p < 0.001), tumor centered in frontal lobe (OR 3.842, [2.361, 6.251], p < 0.001), absence of multicentricity (OR 0.173, [0.049, 0.612], p = 0.007), and presence of cystic (OR 6.596, [3.023, 14.391], p < 0.001) or non-enhancing solid components (OR 6.069, [3.371, 10.928], p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated cystic components (p = 0.024) and non-enhancing solid components (p = 0.003) were associated with longer OS, while older age (p < 0.001), frontal lobe center (p = 0.008), multifocality (p < 0.001), and multicentricity (p < 0.001) were associated with shorter OS. CONCLUSION: Partial T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is highly specific for IDH mutation in WHO grade 4 gliomas.

Visible-light-driven TiO2@Fe2O3/Chitosan nanocomposite with promoted photodegradation of meropenem and imipenem antibiotics by peroxymonosulfate.

This study assessed wastewater treatment by visible-light/Peroxymonosulfate process using its linking with TiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated on chitosan. Meropenem and Imipenem photodegradation was evaluated as a model-resistant contaminant by TiO2@Fe2O3/chitosan nanocomposite. The synthesised TiO2@Fe2O3/chitosan was characterised using various techniques. Fe2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles on the chitosan surface were affirmed via XRD, EDX, and FTIR findings. The FESEM and TEM results verified the deposition of TiO2@Fe2O3 on the chitosan surface. Under optimum circumstances (pH = 4, catalyst dosage = 0.5 g/L, antibiotics concentration = 25 mg/L reaction time = 30 min, and PMS = 2 mM), maximum degradation efficiency was obtained at about 95.64 and 93.9% for Meropenem and Imipenem, respectively. Also, the experiments demonstrated that TiO2@Fe2O3/chitosan had a better performance than photolysis and adsorption by catalyst without visible light irradiation in degrading antibiotics. The scavenger tests confirmed that O2⋅-, SO4⋅-, HO⋅, and h+ are present simultaneously during the pollutant photodegradation process. After five recovery cycles, the system eliminated over 80 percent of antibiotics. It suggested that the catalyst's capacity to be reused may be cost-effective.

Evaluation of general health, exposure to workplace violence, and predicting its consequences in health care employees in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is an important event that affects the safety of healthcare employees, and diagnosing it in hospitals is an immediate occupational concern. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate general health and the prevalence of occupational violence and to predict its consequences among nurses and paramedics as the main body in medical settings. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 in a selected hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 208 healthcare workers participated in the study. To study general health, exposure to workplace violence, job burnout, and productivity, the general health questionnaire (GHQ), the workplace violence questionnaire, the Maslach burnout questionnaire, and the workforce productivity questionnaire were provided to healthcare workers, respectively. Then, a multiple linear regression model was used to predict violence and its consequences. RESULTS: The results revealed that 34.1% of the participants have psychological disorders, and 74.5% have experienced one type of violence in their workplace at least once during the past year. The multiple linear regression model results indicated that workplace violence prevalence proved the ability to predict the increase in burnout and decrease in job productivity. CONCLUSION: Exposure to violence in the workplace significantly increases the risk of mental disorders associated with the risk of mental illness. Therefore, managing exposure to violence in the workplace is a practical step in improving general and mental health and ultimately increasing job productivity in medical settings.

Sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal cancer risk: a literature review.

Sleep, accounting for roughly one-third of a person's life, plays an important role in human health. Despite the close association between sleep patterns and medical diseases proven by several studies, it has been neglected in recent years. Presently, all societies are facing the most challenging health-threatening disease, cancer. Among all cancer types, gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, especially colorectal type, seem to be one of the most relevant to an individual's lifestyle; thus, they can be prevented by modifying behaviors most of the time. Previous studies have shown that disruption of the 24-h sleep-wake cycle increases the chance of colorectal cancer, which can be due to exposure to artificial light at night and some complex genetic and hormone-mediated mechanisms. There has also been some evidence showing the possible associations between other aspects of sleep such as sleep duration or some sleep disorders and GI cancer risk. This review brings some information together and presents a detailed discussion of the possible role of sleep patterns in GI malignancy initiation.

Opium may affect coronary artery disease by inducing inflammation but not through the expression of CD9, CD36, and CD68.

The molecular mechanisms of opium action with regard to coronary artery disease (CAD) have not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of opium on the expression of scavenger receptors including CD36, CD68, and CD9 tetraspanin in monocytes and the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in CAD patients with and without opium addiction. This case-control study was conducted on three groups: (1) opium-addicted CAD patients (CAD + OA, n = 30); (2) CAD patients with no opium addiction (CAD, n = 30); and (3) individuals without CAD and opium addiction as the control group (Ctrl, n = 17). The protein and mRNA levels of CD9, CD36, and CD68 were evaluated by the flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods, respectively. The consumption of atorvastatin, aspirin, and glyceryl trinitrate was found be higher in the CAD groups compared with the control group. The plasma level of TNF-α was significantly higher in the CAD + OA group than in the CAD and Ctrl groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). MDA levels significantly increased in CAD and CAD + OA patients in comparison with the Ctrl group (p = 0.010 and p = 0.002, respectively). No significant differences were found in CD9, CD36, CD68, IFN-γ, and NOx between the three groups. The findings demonstrated that opium did not have a significant effect on the expression of CD36, CD68, and CD9 at gene and protein levels, but it might be involved in the development of CAD by inducing inflammation through other mechanisms.

Artificial intelligence-based locoregional markers of brain peritumoral microenvironment.

In malignant primary brain tumors, cancer cells infiltrate into the peritumoral brain structures which results in inevitable recurrence. Quantitative assessment of infiltrative heterogeneity in the peritumoral region, the area where biopsy or resection can be hazardous, is important for clinical decision making. Here, we derive a novel set of Artificial intelligence (AI)-based markers capturing the heterogeneity of tumor infiltration, by characterizing free water movement restriction in the peritumoral region using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)-based free water volume fraction maps. We leverage the differences in the peritumoral region of metastasis and glioblastomas, the former consisting of vasogenic versus the latter containing infiltrative edema, to extract a voxel-wise deep learning-based peritumoral microenvironment index (PMI). Descriptive characteristics of locoregional hubs of uniformly high PMI values are then extracted as AI-based markers to capture distinct aspects of infiltrative heterogeneity. The proposed markers are utilized to stratify patients' survival and IDH1 mutation status on a population of 275 adult-type diffuse gliomas (CNS WHO grade 4). Our results show significant differences in the proposed markers between patients with different overall survival and IDH1 mutation status (t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, linear regression; p < 0.01). Clustering of patients using the proposed markers reveals distinct survival groups (logrank; p < 10-5, Cox hazard ratio = 1.82; p < 0.005). Our findings provide a panel of markers as surrogates of infiltration that might capture novel insight about underlying biology of peritumoral microstructural heterogeneity, providing potential biomarkers of prognosis pertaining to survival and molecular stratification, with applicability in clinical decision making.

Effects of workload and job stress on the shift work disorders among nurses: PLS SEM modeling.

Nurses, as the largest forces in the health system, are always challenged with various work responsibilities such as long working hours, lack of manpower and death of patients. This study aimed at providing a model of the relationship between workload and physical and mental health, sleep disorders, and individual and family problems by the mediation role of job stress. The present study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 300 nurses in a specialty and sub-specialty hospital in Tehran. For this reason, various questionnaires including demographic, survey of shift workers (SOS) and job stress questionnaires were used to collect the desired data. The proposed model was presented using structural equation modeling method based on Smart-PLS and SPSS-20 software. The results show that workload has an effect on job stress (ß=0.747), mental health (ß=-0.291), Physical health (ß=-0.253), sleep quality (ß=-0.234) and personal and family problems (ß=-0.206). Also the results of this study show that job stress has an effect on mental health (ß=-0.295), Physical health (ß=-0.349), sleep quality (ß=-0.295) and Personal and family problems (ß=-0.441). In conclusion, results showed that the data fitted well with the model and that workload is associated with physical and mental problems, sleep disorders and individual and family problems both directly and indirectly through job stress mediation.

Is there any relationship between fixed orthodontic treatment and developmental indicators in children and adolescents? A prospective cohort study.

Background: Fixed orthodontic treatment may cause discomfort four to six weeks after the initiation of the treatment as it may change the type and amount of food consumed by children. This temporary change may have a long-term effect on the growth status of such children. This study aimed to detect the longitudinal relationship between fixed orthodontic treatment and developmental indicators in children and adolescents. Methods: The study population encompassed adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment as the exposure group (n = 30) and adolescents with no orthodontic treatment as the control group (n = 90). The patients' dental age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and wrist circumference were assessed at the baseline, as well as 1, 3, and 6 months after the orthodontic treatment. The significance level was set to be p = 0.05. Results: One-hundred twenty participants were included in this study. In the two groups, all growth parameters revealed an increasing trend. In the exposure group, weight-related indices (i.e., weight, BMI, and wrist circumference) decreased in the first month and then increased during the next five months. All indices in the control group and height in the exposure group exhibited a continuous increase. Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic treatment affects childhood growth indices. However, these effects are probably short-term, and the catchup growth mechanism can offset these effects and modify the changes in growth indices. A longer follow-up period is recommended to be considered by future researchers.

Assessment of rotavirus and norovirus emitted from water spray park: QMRA, diseases burden and sensitivity analysis.

A quantitative model on exposure to pathogenic viruses in air of recreational area and their corresponding health effects is necessary to provide mitigation actions in content of emergency response plans (ERP). Here, the health risk associated with exposure to two pathogenic viruses of concern: Rotavirus (RoV) and Norovirus (NoV) in air of water spray park were estimated using a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model. To this end, real-time Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) was employed to measure the concentration levels of RoV and NoV over a twelve-month period. The probability of infection, illness and diseases burden of gastrointestinal illness (GI) caused by RoV and NoV for both workers and visitors were estimated using QMRA and Monto-Carlo simulation technique. The annual mean concentration for RoV and NoV in sampling air of water spray park were 20and 1754, respectively. The %95 confidence interval (CI) calculated annual DALY indicator for RoV (Workers: 2.62 × 10-4-2.62 × 10-1, Visitors: 1.50 × 10-5-2.42 × 10-1) and NoV (Workers: 5.54 × 10-3-2.53 × 10-1; Visitors: 5.18 × 10-4-2.54 × 10-1) were significantly higher the recommended values by WHO and US EPA (10-6-10-4 DALY pppy). According to sensitivity analysis, exposure dose and disease burden per case (DBPC) were found as the most influencing factors on disease burden as a consequences of exposure to RoV and NoV, respectively. The comprehensive information on DALY and QMRA can aid authorities involved in risk assessment and recreational actions to adopt proper approach and mitigation actions to minimize the health risk.

Corrigendum to data on nitrate-nitrite pollution in the groundwater resources a Sonqor plain in Iran [Data in Brief Volume 20 (2018) Pages 394-401].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.08.023.].

Apelin and its ratio to lipid factors are associated with cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain if the circulating levels of apelin, as an important regulator of the cardiovascular homeostasis, differ in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and controls. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify the studies addressing apelin in CVD up to April 5, 2021. Due to the presence of different units to measure the circulating levels of apelin across the included studies, they expressed the standardized mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) as summary effect size. A random-effects model comprising DerSimonian and Laird method was used to pool SMDs. RESULTS: Twenty-four articles (30 studies) comprised of 1793 cases and 1416 controls were included. Pooled results obtained through random-effects model indicated that apelin concentrations in the cases' blood samples were significantly lower than those of the control groups (SMD = -0.72, 95% CI: -1.25, -0.18, P = 0.009; I2 = 97.3%, P<0.001). New combined biomarkers showed a significant decrease in SMD of apelin/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (apelin/HDL-C) ratio [-5.17; 95% CI, -8.72, -1.63, P = 0.000; I2 = 99.0%], apelin/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (apelin/LDL-C) ratio [-4.31; 95% CI, -6.08, -2.55, P = 0.000; I2 = 98.0%] and apelin/total cholesterol (apelin/TC) ratio [-17.30; 95% CI, -22.85, -11.76, P = 0.000; I2 = 99.1%]. However, no significant differences were found in the SMD of apelin/triacylglycerol (apelin/TG) ratio in cases with CVDs compared to the control group [-2.96; 95% CI, -7.41, 1.49, P = 0.000; I2 = 99.2%]. CONCLUSION: The association of apelin with CVDs is different based on the region and disease subtypes. These findings account for the possible usefulness of apelin as an additional biomarker in the diagnosis of CVD in diabetic patients and in the diagnosis of patients with CAD. Moreover, apelin/HDL-c, apelin/LDL-c, and apelin/TC ratios could be offered as diagnostic markers for CVD.