Review Article Research Articles

Case report: Cochlear implantation for deafness caused by endolymphatic sac tumors in patients with von Hippel–Lindau syndrome

IntroductionEndolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) are rare neuroectodermal neoplasms that originate in the endolymphatic sac and duct. They exhibit no specific age or gender predilection, although they are more prevalent in patients with von Hippel–Lindau syndrome.Material and methodsThe manuscript preparation adhered to the CARE guidelines for standardizing clinical cases and the PRISMA guidelines for scientific reviews. Three studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected from an analysis of 15 articles, supplemented by two additional studies identified through citation review.ResultsThe presented case describes a 16-year-old boy diagnosed with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss secondary to bilateral ELST. Surgical excision of the right ear tumor with simultaneous cochlear implantation was performed, followed by left ear surgery. Hearing restoration was achieved in the implanted right ear, with normal hearing in the left ear, and no postoperative vestibular symptoms were observed.ConclusionPrompt surgical intervention remains the cornerstone of ELST treatment. While cochlear implantation is sporadically reported in scientific literature, it offers a potential option for hearing improvement in patients suffering from deafness caused by the disease.

Prosthetic Applications of Short Dental Implants in Limited Bone Height Cases: A Review Article

Prosthetic Applications of Short Dental Implants in Limited Bone Height Cases: A Review Article

Repurposing Plant-Based Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitors: A Review of Novel Therapeutic Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Fungal Biofilms.

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains necessitates the development of novel therapeutic approaches for battling biofilm-related infections. Biofilms, efflux pumps, and suppression of virulence traits in pathogenic yeasts are governed by epigenetic enzymes, namely, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). The review article is focused on the use of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors (HATi), a mechanism-based epidrug that inactivates the regular function of HATs. With an emphasis on specific plant-based HATi and their Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR), the review enumerates the extensive list of anticancer HATi that can be screened for antifungal activities. By repurposing these anticancer HATi, this approach may help generate broad-spectrum antifungal medications that highlight common biological pathways between fungus and cancer, possibly revolutionizing both treatment domains.

Employee Engagement - A Literature Review

Employees are one of the main resources and part of the organization. They play a crucial role in running to the organization. Good relation between owner and employees is important for achieving the desired goal and better working condition, payment system, relations between employees etc. in also so important for an employee for smoothly helping to operate the business. Employee Engagement is that construct which can do all the above works effectively. For remaining the employees engaged for a long time, it is important for the employer that he recognize their work, appreciate their work when needed, allow them to participate for making any important decision making etc. In this paper, various definitions and thoughts and aspects of Employee Engagement has been explained. This is a review paper and many articles, research papers are included for studying this research paper.

Opportunities and Challenges of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Integration

This paper presents an overview of the status and prospects of fuel cell electric vehicles (FC-EVs) for grid integration. In recent years, renewable energy has been explored on every front to extend the use of fossil fuels. Advanced technologies involving wind and solar energy, electric vehicles, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) are becoming more popular for grid support. With recent developments in solid oxide fuel cell electric vehicles (SOFC-EVs), a more flexible fuel option than traditional proton-exchange membrane fuel cell electric vehicles (PEMFC-EVs), the potential for vehicle-to-grid (V2G)’s implementation is promising. Specifically, SOFC-EVs can utilize renewable biofuels or natural gas and, thus, they are not limited to pure hydrogen fuel only. This opens the opportunity for V2G’s implementation by using biofuels or readily piped natural gas at home or at charging stations. This review paper will discuss current V2G technologies and, importantly, compare battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to SOFC-EVs for V2G’s implementation and their impacts.

Biomaterials’ enhancement of immunotherapy for breast cancer by targeting functional cells in the tumor micro-environment

Immunotherapy for breast cancer is now being considered clinically, and more recently, the number of investigations aimed specifically at nano-biomaterials-assisted immunotherapy for breast cancer treatment is growing. Alterations of the breast cancer micro-environment can play a critical role in anti-tumor immunity and cancer development, progression and metastasis. The improvement and rearrangement of tumor micro-environment (TME) may enhance the permeability of anti-tumor drugs. Therefore, targeting the TME is also an ideal and promising option during the selection of effective nano-biomaterial-based immuno-therapeutic strategies excepted for targeting intrinsic resistant mechanisms of the breast tumor. Although nano-biomaterials designed to specifically release loaded anti-tumor drugs in response to tumor hypoxia and low pH conditions have shown promises and the diversity of the TME components also supports a broad targeting potential for anti-tumor drug designs, yet the applications of nano-biomaterials for targeting immunosuppressive cells/immune cells in the TME for improving the breast cancer treating outcomes, have scarcely been addressed in a scientific review. This review provides a thorough discussion for the application of the different forms of nano-biomaterials, as carrier vehicles for breast cancer immunotherapy, targeting specific types of immune cells in the breast tumor microenvironment. In parallel, the paper provides a critical analysis of current advances/challenges with leading nano-biomaterial-mediated breast cancer immunotherapeutic strategies. The current review is timely and important to the cancer research field and will provide a critical tool for nano-biomaterial design and research groups pushing the clinical translation of new nano-biomaterial-based immuno-strategies targeting breast cancer TME, to further open new avenues for the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, as well as other cancer types.

Mechanism and Methodologies of Seed Priming: Enhancing Germination and Crop Resilience

Due to its potential to improve seed germination and early seedling development, "seed priming" has garnered attention recently. This review article covers seed priming systems, their processes, and their many crop production purposes. Seed priming and its importance in seed performance are discussed. Seed priming methods include osmotic, hydro-, hormonal, and microbiological. Each technique is thoroughly detailed, including its procedures, requirements, and pros and cons. The molecular, physiological, and biochemical changes and priming substance-seed interactions of seed priming are examined. The article also discusses seed priming's benefits for stress tolerance, seed germination, seedling vigour, and sustainable agriculture. Most seed treatments use seed imbibition, which allows seeds to germinate but prevents radicals from reaching the seed coat. Dry, desiccation-resistant seeds can be stored until planting. Priming accelerates and synchronises future germination, and early seedlings from primed seeds are often more robust and resistant to abiotic stressors. Progressive farmers that want to boost agricultural productivity would benefit from this technology. This article discusses seed priming methods, mechanisms, and usage in various agricultural situations to boost crop productivity and seed performance.

Role of Pyrimidine Derivatives in the Treatment of Cancer

The study of the chemistry of pyrimidines is contributing to the expansion of research into the therapeutic applications of these compounds. In the field of medicinal chemistry, the sheer number of pyrimidine synthesis methods and reactions that are available opens up a world of possibilities. These investigations have been inspired by the fact that pyrimidines can be used as building blocks for a wide variety of compounds that have a physiological effect. The pyrimidine ring and its fused derivatives, which include pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, quinazoline, and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine, have garnered a great deal of attention due to the extensive variety of biological potential that they possess. In addition, fused pyrimidines are considered to be bioisosteres with purines. As a consequence of this, numerous substances, such as pyrimidine and derivatives of fused pyrimidine, have demonstrated promising anticancer potential. Pyrimidine compounds have been shown to possess a number of beneficial qualities, including antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and analgesic effects. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the anticancer significance of certain fused pyrimidine derivatives and privileged pyrimidines through the use of various types of inhibition. Additionally, the study reveals structure-activity relationships and provides specifics regarding the synthetic compounds that were utilized in the construction of these scaffolds. The hope is that this research will assist medicinal chemists in the development of highly selective pyrimidine anticancer agents. The focus of this review article is on recent research on synthetic pyrimidine compounds that have anticancer effects. Additionally, the paper examines the chemistry and biological activities of pyrimidines.

Hydroxyl and sulfate radicals-based electrochemical advanced oxidation process for treating dye-bearing wastewater – a review

ABSTRACT Dye-bearing wastewater presents a substantial ecological risk. Consequently, there is a critical requirement for efficient treatment strategies. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) utilizing hydroxyl and sulfate radicals emerge as viable alternatives to degrade dye pollutants effectively. This review article emphasizes the implementation of EAOPs in the treatment of both synthetic and actual dye-bearing wastewater. The fundamentals, chemistry, and recent developments concerning hydroxyl radicals-based EAOP, including anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton, and sulfate radicals-based EAOP, have been thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, the article explores the comparative effectiveness of the individual hydroxyl and sulfate radical systems as well as the integrated hydroxyl and sulfate radical systems within a singular electrochemical cell. It has been established that sulfate radicals demonstrate a higher oxidation potential, greater pH adaptability, and a longer half-life in comparison to hydroxyl radicals, making them efficient for dye degradation when assessed against anodic oxidation and electro-Fenton processes. Thus, EAOPs represent a promising technological approach for the remediation of dye-bearing wastewater.

Amphiphilic Oligonucleotide Derivatives—Promising Tools for Therapeutics

Recent advances in genetics and nucleic acid chemistry have created fundamentally new tools, both for practical applications in therapy and diagnostics and for fundamental genome editing tasks. Nucleic acid-based therapeutic agents offer a distinct advantage of selectively targeting the underlying cause of the disease. Nevertheless, despite the success achieved thus far, there remain unresolved issues regarding the improvement of the pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutic nucleic acids while preserving their biological activity. In order to address these challenges, there is a growing focus on the study of safe and effective delivery methods utilising modified nucleic acid analogues and their lipid bioconjugates. The present review article provides an overview of the current state of the art in the use of chemically modified nucleic acid derivatives for therapeutic applications, with a particular focus on oligonucleotides conjugated to lipid moieties. A systematic analysis has been conducted to investigate the ability of amphiphilic oligonucleotides to self-assemble into micelle-like structures, as well as the influence of non-covalent interactions of such derivatives with serum albumin on their biodistribution and therapeutic effects.

Agroforestry for Carbon Neutrality: An Effective Pathway to Net Zero

Agroforestry is a promising strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and net zero emission, aiming towards the balance between greenhouse gas emissions and equal amount of carbon removal through sequestration Among several methods of carbon sequestration, agroforestry stands out for its unique ability to simultaneously sequester carbon while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with chemical fertilizer use in conventional agriculture. These systems store carbon through multiple pathways like, in above-ground biomass, below-ground root systems, and enhanced soil organic carbon accumulation while maintaining the agricultural productivity. Acknowledged under the afforestation and reforestation programs of the Kyoto Protocol, agroforestry has attracted interest for its several advantages from both industrialized and developing countries for its multifaceted benefits, including its potential to combat desertification and reduce anthropogenic emissions. Beyond carbon sequestration, it enhances soil fertility, supports biodiversity conservation, and provides economic diversification for farmers through multiple income streams. The role of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) negotiations in extending the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period has further strengthened agroforestry's position in global climate action, particularly through the development of REDD offset credits in compliance carbon markets. The World Agroforestry Centre defines agroforestry as a dynamic, ecologically based natural resources management system that integrates trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifying and sustaining production for increased social, economic, and environmental benefits. The Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA) defines it as an intensive land management system that optimizes the benefits from biological interactions created when trees and/or shrubs are deliberately combined with crops and/or other natural resources. This review article critically examines agroforestry's crucial role as an effective pathway toward achieving carbon neutrality and net zero goals, synthesizing current knowledge and future prospects.

Specification uncertainty: what the disruption index tells us about the (hidden) multiverse of bibliometric indicators

AbstractFollowing Funk and Owen-Smith (Manag Sci 63:791–817, 2017), Wu et al. (Nature 566:378–382, 2019) proposed the disruption index (DI1) as a bibliometric indicator that measures disruptive and consolidating research. When we summarized the literature on the disruption index for our recently published review article (Leibel and Bornmann in Scientometrics 129:601–639, 2024), we noticed that the calculation of disruption scores comes with numerous (hidden) degrees of freedom. In this Letter to the Editor, we explain based on the DI1 (as an example) why the analytical flexibility of bibliometric indicators potentially endangers the credibility of research and advertise the application of multiverse-style methods to increase the transparency of the research.

Exploring Recent Advances in Lignocellulosic Biomass Waste Delignification Through the Combined Use of Eutectic Solvents and Intensification Techniques

Growing awareness of resource sustainability and waste management has driven the search for circular-economy solutions. Lignocellulosic biomass waste, the most abundant renewable carbon resource, offers green potential as an alternative to declining non-renewable fuels. However, due to its recalcitrant nature, it requires pre-processing to convert it into valuable products like energy and chemicals. Biorefineries play a key role in this process by promoting the integral use of biomass, by finding ways to utilize lignin, previously treated as waste. Common pretreatment methods are unsustainable, prompting research into eco-friendly solvents and advanced techniques like ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Recent approaches have also explored the use of eutectic solvents, which, when combined with these intensification techniques, offer promising results. These green technologies improve delignification efficiency, which in turn improves the saccharification process, reduces solvent use, and minimizes environmental impact. Despite progress, challenges remain in making these methods economically viable and adaptable to diverse biomass types. This review article highlights recent advances in sustainable treatment technologies, including the combined use of eutectic solvents and process-intensification techniques, and the potential of the obtained lignin in various industrial applications. It also discusses future prospects for more environmentally friendly processes in biomass utilization.

Immigration Policy as a Social Determinant of Health among Brazilian Immigrants in the United States: A Narrative Review.

The pervasive effects of increasingly restrictive migration policies on the health of immigrant populations in the U.S. have been well-documented, but not so much concerning the unique experiences of Brazilian immigrants, a subgroup of the Latino/a/x population. Considering that, this narrative review article employs a research design that is both conceptual and exploratory-to understand the possible connections and associations between restrictive immigration policies and negative health outcomes among Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. Findings indicate that Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. face an array of health and non-health related challenges, including racism and poor working conditions, with undocumented individuals experiencing worse outcomes. Studies highlight the complex relationship between immigration policies and health and emphasize the detrimental effects of deportation fear, healthcare access obstacles, and mental health repercussions due to hostile immigration policymaking and generalized anti-immigrant sentiment. More research is needed to understand the unique challenges faced by the Brazilian immigrant population concerning several mental and physical health outcomes.

Levosimendan, a Promising Pharmacotherapy in Cardiogenic Shock: A Comprehensive Review

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a critical condition with high mortality rate, as the current management of CS presents significant challenges. Exploration of more effective therapies is necessitated. This review article comprehensively examines the efficacy and safety of levosimendan in the management of CS. By synthesising evidence from numerous studies, a comparison of levosimendan over traditional inotropic agents, such as enoximone, dobutamine, dopamine and norepinephrine, is highlighted. The unique mechanism of action of levosimendan enhances myocardial contractility without increasing oxygen demand, offering a promising alternative for patients with CS. This review also delves into comparative studies that demonstrate the superiority of levosimendan in improving survival rates, haemodynamic parameters, and reducing the incidence of CS complications. Safety profiles and adverse effects are critically assessed to provide a balanced view of the therapeutic window provided by levosimendan. The review concludes that levosimendan is a valuable addition to the therapeutic strategy against CS, with the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Role of Vitamin D in Allergic Diseases

Introductions: Vitamin D has gained recognition in recent decades not only as a key regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone health but also as an important factor modulating the immune system. Research indicates that vitamin D influences both innate and adaptive immune responses, which is significant in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D has a beneficial effect on asthma exacerbations and may help reduce respiratory inflammation, as well as alleviate symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of food allergies, worsen symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and contribute to the transition from acute to chronic urticaria. Conversely, supplementation may help prevent allergies, reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis by supporting skin barrier function and antimicrobial peptide production, and relieve symptoms in patients with chronic urticaria. Purpose of the study: The review article aims to present the current state of knowledge on the role of vitamin D in the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, and eczema. Material and methods: To summarize the current knowledge on the topic, a literature review of English language papers with a focus on the most current literature was performed. The review was conducted with the PubMed database with 64 works used, accessed before October 2024. Conclusions: Although the impact of blood vitamin D levels on the development and progression of allergic diseases has not yet been fully clarified, scientific studies suggest its significant role in modulating immune responses. Due to its immunoregulatory properties, vitamin D offers new hope for more effective treatment and prevention of allergic diseases.

Emerging Challenges and Innovations in the Management of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Hospital Settings”

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae represent a crucial global public health issue. The challenges associated with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are multifac-eted. This review article aims to explore and comprehend the emerging challenges and the latest developments in the management of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infec-tions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Studies published from database inception until May 2024 were included. Articles were selected based on relevance, study design, and quality. Data from clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews were synthesized to provide a detailed over-view of the current state of knowledge on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The re-view identifies key epidemiological trends, including geographic variations and risk factors associated with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Mechanisms of resistance are elu-cidated, focusing on carbapenemase production and other related factors. Current treatment options are assessed, with an emphasis on newer antibiotic combinations such as ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, and cefepime/en-metazobactam. The review also highlights emerging therapeutic approaches, including novel antibiotics and non-traditional approaches like phage therapy, fecal microbiota transplanta-tion, probiotics, antimicrobial peptides, vaccines, and herbal drugs. Additionally, the review also reflects on effective infection prevention and control strategies. While research efforts to explore newer combinations and alternate approaches to treat carbapenem-resistant Entero-bacteriaceae infections are crucial, the importance of stringent infection prevention and con-trol strategies cannot be overstated. This dual focus is essential to address both the immediate and long-term challenges posed by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Current trends on the advancement and limitation of biohydrogen research: An exclusive overview

AbstractHydrogen is believed to be the most potential energy‐resources in the coming time due to its high energy density and zero greenhouse gas footprint. Among all types of hydrogen production processes, bio‐based hydrogen (biohydrogen) generation processes are found to be relatively cleaner than the other processes. In this review article current biohydrogen generation processes are critically reviewed to understand the critical factors associated with the hydrogen generation along with the challenges to be eliminated. In this review the factor like types of substrates, their pretreatment, bioreactor design, and other parametric influences on the overall biohydrogen production is discussed. Also, impact of different catalyst in hydrogen production has been discussed in this topic. The review indicated that most of the current hydrogen‐research are focused on the development of processes with high yield. However, one of the major drawbacks of biohydrogen process is purification of H2 from the gaseous mixture produced by microbial strains. To establish the biohydrogen production processes as promising as it considered to be there needs to have a robust purification system. Also, this review highlights that more rigorous research on the biohydrogen storage and its hazard analysis is necessary to meet the future expectation of hydrogen use in mass‐scale.

Primary osseous tumors of the orbit.

This review article focuses on the various primary osseous tumors of the orbit. Due to overlapping clinical, radiologic, and histologic features, differentiating these entities can pose significant challenges diagnostically. In this review, emphasis is placed on key distinguishing clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular characteristics. Also described are important prognostic details, recurrence risks, and the gold standard treatment methods for each entity. Relevant genetic syndrome associations are additionally covered. Orbital bone entities discussed include osteoma, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.

Managing emotional and physical stress in sickle cell anemia: a review of effective strategies and approaches

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic blood disorder characterized by recurrent pain episodes, chronic complications, and significant emotional and physical stress. This review article explores effective strategies for managing both the emotional and physical aspects of stress in SCA patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as “sickle cell anemia,” “stress management,” “psychological support,” and “pain management.” Emotional stress in SCA arises from chronic pain, frequent hospitalizations, and disease uncertainty, leading to conditions such as anxiety and depression. Effective management of emotional stress involves a combination of psychological counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and support groups, which help patients develop coping strategies and address the mental health challenges of living with a chronic illness. This review evaluates various psychological interventions and their impact on patient outcomes, emphasizing the need for integrated mental health support in the management of SCA. Physical stress in SCA is primarily due to acute vaso-occlusive crises and chronic pain, which require effective pain management and preventive measures. The review explores pharmacological treatments, such as opioids and hydroxyurea, as well as non-pharmacological approaches, including physical therapy and lifestyle modifications. Additionally, the article discusses innovative therapies like gene therapy and stem cell transplantation, which hold promise for long-term disease management.