Beneficial Choice Research Articles

Performance enhancement of horizontal axis wind turbine with guide ring

This study investigates the impact of integrating a guide ring upstream of the rotor plane for performance increase of a horizontal axis wind turbine rotor. The guide ring is strategically positioned near the rotor hub to reduce the radial component of wind flow and retain more axial velocity through the rotor. The methodology involved physical testing of a rotor retrofitted with guide rings ranging from 15% to 20% of the rotor diameter. Comparative experimental results demonstrate an increase in peak performance for retrofitted rotors, when compared to a standard rotor. The rotor retrofitted with an 18% guide ring emerged as the most beneficial choice, exhibiting a 4.34% peak power output increase and a broader operational range than the standard rotor. Overall, the study contributes valuable insights into post-installation optimisation strategies for horizontal axis wind turbine rotors.

Research Progress of Lithium Iron Phosphate in the Cathode of Lithium-Ion Battery

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been a new candidate for various industries. Unlike other types of lead-acid batteries, LIBs have a very high energy density, power density, and nominal voltage, making them a beneficial choice of battery for many electronic devices like electric vehicles. The role of cathode material in the battery is to start the electrochemical reaction, and the rate capacity is highly dependent on the ion-diffusion rate at the cathode. This makes the cathode the most critical component in the battery. Therefore, it is essential to have excellent cathode material to perform its function. Lithium iron phosphate has always been a desirable cathode material due to its stable structure, high safety, and low cost. By choosing the appropriate material, high capacity and performance can be achieved. By modifying the material through different strategies, LFP has the potential to exceed its theoretical capacity and be applied in the broader field of the electronics industry. First, this article focuses on a comparison of different cathode materials and explains why LFP is superior. Then, it will introduce the synthesis methods, including solid-state, hydrothermal, and sol-gel methods. Finally, it will discuss ways to modify LFP, including nanostructured LFP, carbon coating, and doping. This paper aims to serve as a guide and reference for research in the battery industry.

Haploidentical Versus Mismatched Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: HLA Factors and Donor Age Considerations

HLA-mismatched unrelated donors and haploidentical related donors are suitable stem cell sources for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) when patients lack HLA-matched donors. Clinical outcome after mismatched HCT is influenced by HLA factors including the similarity of peptide-binding motifs (PBMs) between the patient and unrelated donor, and of the HLA-B leader in unrelated and haploidentical donors. Whether these factors can aid in the selection between mismatched unrelated and haploidentical donors is not known. To address this question, we investigated outcomes between the two donor types defined by matching for the PBM and leader peptide. We compared PBM-matched (n = 614) and mismatched (n = 958) MMUDs with calcineurin-inhibitor-based prophylaxis to four haploidentical groups that received post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based prophylaxis. The haploidentical groups were B-leader matched/DRB1-mismatched (n = 722), B-leader matched/DRB1-matched (n = 154), B-leader mismatched/DRB1-mismatched (n = 493), and B-leader mismatched/DRB1-matched (n = 63). Multivariate analysis showed that the B-leader matched/DRB1-mismatched haploidentical group had the best overall survival (OS) compared to the PBM-matched MMUD, while other haploidentical groups had comparable OS. The PBM-mismatched MMUD showed the poorest outcomes, similar to the B-leader mismatched/DRB1-matched haploidentical group. Among non-HLA factors, donor age was the most significant predictor of OS. These results suggest that a B-leader matched/DRB1 mismatched haploidentical donor might be the preferred choice among donors of similar age. If such a donor is not available, the youngest donor from either PBM-matched unrelated or other haploidentical groups could be a beneficial choice. These findings need validation with both donor groups receiving PTCy-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.

Additive manufacturing of functional corundum-mullite refractory with acid-corrosion resistance and heat insulating by direct ink writing

The low thermal conductivity and high chemical stability of corundum-mullite refractories have garnered attention for high-temperature insulation and acid-corrosion-resistant applications. A 3D extrusion-based method (direct ink writing) utilizing clay-alumina-silica fume foaming inks was employed to create corundum-mullite refractories with controllable structures (non-porous surface, porous interior). The rheology and printing ability of the inks were modified by adjusting the additives (dispersant and foaming agent) content. Printing parameters, specifically pressure and nozzle moving speed, were adjusted to enhance the precision of the printed construction. The impact of extrusion pressure in the ink on the surface structure of printed products was also investigated. The properties of the corundum-mullite refractory were evaluated by heating it from 1200 °C to 1500 °C, resulting in improvements in acid corrosion rate (from 1.9 % to 14.7 %), thermal conductivity (from 0.35 to 1.65 W/m·K), and compressive strength (from 20.1 to 45.5 MPa), respectively. The Ashby-Glicksman model (closed pore) was employed to forecast the thermal conductivity of the porous refractory with complex pore structures, proving to be a beneficial choice. After acid corrosion for 12 h, there were minimal microcracks and pores on the surface of the refractory prepared at 1500 °C, and the acid corrosion rates were less than 3.4 %. This study illustrates the effectiveness of optimizing printing parameters to adjust pore structure and enhance refractory properties.

Repair of a “long and narrow” skin defect of the upper extremity with a modified design of a compound SCIP flap: a series of 12 cases

BackgroundLarge skin lesions of the upper extremity tend to be ‘‘long and narrow’’ in shape, and the currently used repair and reconstruction protocols still have some drawbacks, including difficulty in closure of the donor area, poor cosmetic appearance of the donor and recipient areas, and low flap survival rates. The ilioinguinal flap has been more widely used for repair and reconstruction of various complex conditions. In order to improve the versatility of the flap design and to achieve better aesthetic results, we report a study on the improved design of Compound SCIP flap for repairing "long and narrow" large skin defects of the upper extremity by using a modified design of the ilioinguinal flap for the procurement of perforating blood vessels and flap excision.MethodsFrom April 2005 to August 2015, a total of 12 patients underwent this modified design procedure, in which the anterior branch of the fourth lumbar artery or the posterior intercostal artery was selected to provide blood supply for the perforator flap together with the superficial branch of the superficial iliac artery to meet the blood supply needs of the flap for the one-time repair of a large "long and narrow" skin defect in the upper limb. Patient demographics, flap characteristics, and associated complications were retrospectively analyzed.Results3 females and 9 males were included in this study, the mean age of the patients was 31.7 years (range, 22–44 years), the mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 5.6 months (range, 7–24 months), and all patients had complete closure of the defect site and donor area, and all flaps survived.ConclusionsThe Compound SCIP flap presents some advantages in repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb. While ensuring the survival rate of the elongated ilioinguinal flap, it amplifies the benefits of the ilioinguinal flap and enhances skin utilization. This can serve as a beneficial choice for repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb.

Physician Modified Fenestrated Endografts for Endovascular Aortic Arch Repair in Zone 0

This multicentre study aimed to assess the early and midterm outcomes of physician modified fenestrated endografts (PMEGs) for endovascular aortic arch repair in zone 0. Between 2018 and 2022, a retrospective study was conducted in three centres of consecutive patients undergoing endovascular aortic arch repair in zone 0 with PMEGs. Endpoints included technical success, 30 day mortality rate, major adverse events, secondary interventions, stent stability, target vessel patency, and overall survival. A total of 54 patients (mean age 63 years; 45 males) with aortic arch pathology were included, comprising aortic dissections (n= 32; 59%) and aortic arch aneurysms (n= 22; 41%). Technical success was 98%. One patient died from stroke within 30 days. Major adverse events included stroke (n= 4; 7%), retrograde type A dissection (RTAD) (n= 3; 6%), and acute kidney injury (n= 2; 4%). During a median follow up of 12 months, there were two deaths (4%) of unknown cause at one month and 1.5 months, and no aortic related death. Type Ia, type Ic, and type IIIc endoleaks were observed in two (4%), three (6%), and two (4%) patients, respectively. No vessel stenosis was observed. Re-intervention was required in 10 patients (19%). Estimates of overall survival, freedom from secondary intervention, and freedom from target vessel instability at one year were 94.2% (standard error [SE] 3.3%), 81.8% (SE 6.0%), and 92.0% (SE 4.5%), respectively. This study has demonstrated the efficacy of PMEGs for zone 0 endovascular aortic arch repair, with acceptable technical success and mortality rates. Stroke, RTAD, and re-intervention rates remain a concern for endovascular therapy. A larger population and long term outcomes are required to assess the safety and durability of this technique as a beneficial choice for endovascular aortic arch repair in specialised centres.

Experimental study on transpiration cooling through additively manufactured porous structures

Film cooling and thermal barrier coating are the most common external cooling techniques used for gas turbine components. In film cooling, coolant air is brought to the external surface via rows of discrete holes. This study investigates an alternative geometry, referred to as transpiration cooling. Here, the coolant air is brought to the external surface through an additively manufactured porous structure. An experimental study was performed to characterize the downstream cooling performance by obtaining film cooling effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient using thermochromic liquid crystals. The experimental setup was first validated using a cylindrical film cooling sample and the results were compared to results obtained from previously published film cooling studies. After validation, transpiration cooling samples were investigated. A total of three porous structure samples with different thicknesses were subjected to testing. The thickness of the porous structure had insignificant effect on both the heat transfer coefficient and the film cooling effectiveness. The samples were tested at blowing ratios ranging from 0.5 to 2.0. Results showed an increase in laterally averaged heat transfer coefficient with increasing blowing ratio and compared to cylindrical film cooling, transpiration cooling yielded significantly higher distributions. The spanwise averaged film cooling effectiveness displayed a similar trend with higher values for transpiration cooling, mainly due to a more even mixing in the lateral direction. Values of the heat flux ratio showed that the high heat transfer coefficient penalizes the porous cooling method and only for low blowing ratios may transpiration cooling be the beneficial choice. From visualizations with water and carbon dioxide, it could be concluded that the inclination angle is close to 90° which yields a chaotic flow field and, in turn, high values of the heat transfer coefficient. By changing the additive manufacturing's build direction, a more favorable inclination angle should be achievable and, thereby, an opportunity to utilize the porous structure's excellent mixing in the spanwise direction.

Overview on Restoration with Endocrown

Endocrown restorations are single prostheses that are made of reinforced ceramics and may be acid etched; they are recommended for endodontically treated molar teeth that have suffered a considerable loss of coronal structure. In order to provide a strong foundation for the restoration and strengthen the restored tooth structurally, the quality and integrity of the residual tooth structure should be carefully preserved. For this reason, Endocrown is used as a minimally invasive technique. Endocrowns are particularly recommended for molars with short, destroyed, dilacerated, or unstable roots. They may also be utilized when it is unable to achieve an acceptable thickness of the ceramic coating on the metal or ceramic substructures due to significant coronal dental tissue loss and constrained interocclusal space. Endocrowns provide a more beneficial choice than conventional and post- and core-retained restorations because of the little and simple preparation required. This favorable outcome can be attributable to a number of variables, including the preparation method, occlusal thickness, and elastic moduli. When it comes to material selection it is impossible to create what is called the material of choice since new material is constantly being introduced.

Efficacy of a conservative physical treatment regimen on psychological status and quality of life in Greek patients with chronic low back pain.

Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is a very common health problem that has a great negative impact on the quality of life and the psychological well-being of backache patients. Literature findings have shown that a conventional physiotherapeutic approach is a beneficial choice for CLBP management. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of a conservative physical treatment on depression, anxiety, somatic symptom disorders (SSD), quality of life, pain and disability in Greek individuals suffering from CLBP. Seventy-five CLBP patients were recruited using random systematic sampling. All subjects received ultrasound, low-level laser, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ΤENS) and alongside an exercise program (sum of 10 sessions, 5 times per week). The intervention was assessed by comparing pre and post outcome measurements based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8), EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Pain Numerical Rating Scale (PNRS) instruments. The mean age of the sample was 60.8 years (±14.4) and nearly one out of four (25.3%) was obese. After the end of the treatment, there were improvements in EQ-5D-5L indices and decreases in HADS, SSS-8, RMDQ and PNRS scores, which were found to be statistically significant. Greater effect size was found in PNRS (d=0.75), followed by EQ-5D-5L index value scale (d=0.42), SSS-8 (d=0.38), EQ-5D-5L VAS (d=0.36), RMDQ (d=0.29), HADS-A (d=0.16) and HADS-D (d=0.14). Men and women had similar changes in all under-study scales after the treatment, while besides pain scale, the pre-intervention scores as well as the degree of change in all scores were similar across all Body Mass Index (BMI) levels. In conclusion, convectional physical treatment was found to be an effective option in improving considerably the psychological status and quality of life, while also decreasing functional disability and pain in CLBP patients in the short run.

Lefamulin - a recently developed antibiotic for treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP)

Introduction and aim. Nowadays, the increasing resistance of bacteria is a concerning and challenging issue in terms of effective treatment of bacterial infections. The amount of available antibiotics has been quite constant for many years. The search for substances alternative to older classes of drugs, among which resistance is growing, has been ongoing for years. One of the newly introduced available alternatives is lefamulin. The aim of this paper is to present the potential benefits of its use in comunity-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). 
 Material and methods. A review of the available literature was performed by searching the PubMed and GoogleScholar databases using the following key words: lefamulin; BC3781; pleuromutilin; CABP; community acquired pneumonia.
 Analysis of literature. Lefamulin is a bacteriostatic antibiotic from the group of pleuromutilins, which has a unique mechanism of action consisting in binding to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit in the peptidyl transferase center. Thanks to this, it rarely causes resistance among other groups of antibiotics and is characterized by a safe action profile. Its spectrum of action includes bacteria causing CABP. In phase III studies, the efficacy of lefamulin monotherapy was comparable to that of moxifloxacin with or without linezolid in CABP. Thanks to broad spectrum of action its usefulness may also extend to treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and multidrug-resistant organisms associated with sexually transmitted infections, e.g., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, although more additional clinical and pharmacodynamic data is needed.
 Conclusion. Lefamulin is a promising addition to the antibiotic armamentarium for treating CABP. Its unique mechanism of action, activity against typical and atypical bacteria, flexible dosing options, and favorable safety profile make it a beneficial choice for clinicians.

Unveiling the mechanism and performance of electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination of chlorinated PPCPs by electron-rich palladium electrode modulated through PANI-rGO interlayer

In order to simultaneously achieve higher dispersion, smaller particle size, and better catalytic performance of Pd, a Pd/Polyaniline-reduced graphene oxide/Nickel foam (Pd/PANI-rGO/NF) electrode is synthesized by introducing conductive PANI-rGO interlayer for electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (ECH) of typical chlorinated pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). 99.3% diclofenac (DCF) and 94.6% clofibric acid (CA) are removed by this electrode within 180 min and the results of risk assessment show that the toxicities of the two typical chlorinated PPCPs are significantly reduced in the aqueous environment. The electrode is characterized and analyzed. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) results indicate that the introduction of PANI-rGO effectively enhances the dispersion of Pd and reduces the size of Pd particle. Meanwhile, the combined analyses of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggest that electron transfer occurs between the PANI-rGO interlayer and Pd, leading to the formation of electron-rich Pd. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve indicates that the PANI-rGO interlayer improves the yield of active adsorbed hydrogen (H*ads). Therefore, the catalytic activities of Pd particles are synergistically improved. This work can provide a beneficial choice for the effective treatment of typical chlorinated PPCPs in the water environment.

Gut parasites infection increases mate rejection in a species with indirect sperm transfer

AbstractIn animals where both males and females have high costs associated with reproduction, it is not rare that both sexes evaluate their potential mate conditions to make the most beneficial choice according to their preferences. Parasite‐mediated selection theories predict that individuals would evaluate the ability of their potential mates to resist parasites and decide whether to accept or reject mating based on that information. These studies of parasite‐mediated sexual selection had been carried out through the traditional sex roles perspectives. Our study species in this article is one with indirect sperm transfer, the pseudoscorpion Lustrochernes argentinus, and we evaluated mating on the health condition (infected or not) of both males and females. Our hypothesis is that the presence of gregarines in potential mates influences mate choice and for that, we analyzed (1) if gregarine‐infected individuals suffer a higher proportion of rejection by their uninfected partners and (2) if spermatophore use success is lower when any of the individuals are infected. We tested this in a behavioral laboratory trial, comparing rejection by the male and the female and spermatophore use in four experimental groups. We found that both males and females suffer a higher probability of rejection when infected with gregarines; the maximum probability of sperm uptake success is when both individuals are healthy.

Evaluation of phytoremediation potential and resistance of Gladiolus grandiflora L. against cadmium stress.

Although irrigation water is a fundamental need for plant growth, it is also a source of pollutants if contaminated with harmful materials like cadmium (Cd). Irrigation water possessing abundant Cd causes damage to soil, plants, animals and ultimately human beings through the food chain. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflora L.) potential of Cd accumulation and the capability of the plant to be an economically beneficial choice in presence of high Cd irrigation water supply. Artificially prepared four levels of Cd irrigation water were applied to the plants viz., 30, 60, 90 and 120mgL-1. The results revealed that 30mgL-1 Cd had no difference in all growth-related parameters when compared to the control. Photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate along with plant height and spike length were reduced with high accumulation levels of Cd in plants. The main plant portion for Cd storage found in Gladiolus grandiflora L was corm where the amount of Cd was 10-12 times higher than the amount found in leaves, and 2-4 times more than the stem. This deportment was further established by the translocation factor (TF). In corm to shoot TF and corm to stem TF, the factor reduced with increasing Cd levels, while, in corm to leaves TF, Cd levels were statistically non-significant. From corm to shoot TF value of 0.68 and 0.43 in case of 30 and 60mgL-1, Cd treatments indicates good phytoremediation potential of Gladiolus in low and moderate Cd-polluted environments. Conclusively, the study reveals the good capability of Gladiolus grandiflora L. to harvest Cd from the soil and water in reasonably good amount with sufficient potential to grow under irrigation-based Cd stress. Under revelations of the study, Gladiolus grandiflora L appeared as a Cd accumulator which could potentially be used as a sustainable approach for phytoremediation of Cd.

Pediatric perioperative fluid management.

The purpose of perioperative fluid management in children is to maintain adequate volume status, electrolyte level, and endocrine system homeostasis during the perioperative period. Although hypotonic solutions containing glucose have traditionally been used as pediatric maintenance fluids, recent studies have shown that isotonic balanced crystalloid solutions lower the risk of hyponatremia and metabolic acidosis perioperatively. Isotonic balanced solutions have been found to exhibit safer and more physiologically appropriate characteristics for perioperative fluid maintenance and replacement. Additionally, adding 1-2.5% glucose to the maintenance fluid can help prevent children from developing hypoglycemia as well as lipid mobilization, ketosis, and hyperglycemia. The fasting time should be as short as possible without compromising safety; recent guidelines have recommended that the duration of clear fluid fasting be reduced to 1 h. The ongoing loss of fluid and blood as well as the free water retention induced by antidiuretic hormone secretion are unique characteristics of postoperative fluid management that must be considered. Reducing the infusion rate of the isotonic balanced solution may be necessary to avoid dilutional hyponatremia during the postoperative period. In summary, perioperative fluid management in pediatric patients requires careful attention because of the limited reserve capacity in this population. Isotonic balanced solutions appear to be the safest and most beneficial choice for most pediatric patients, considering their physiology and safety concerns.

Laptop selection with MEREC based WASPAS method

With the development of technology, computers have become very important in both daily life and business life. Evaluation of many data together, error-free and fast calculation has been facilitated by computers. With the development of remote working and field work areas, laptop computers have become more preferred for companies. Today, there are many different brands of laptop. The presence of many criteria and alternatives makes selection difficult for decision makers. In this case, the use of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods makes it easier for the decision maker to make the most beneficial choice. With MCDM methods, it is possible to select, sort and classify options with different features in the decision-making process. In this study, while making the most appropriate selection, priorities were determined with the MEREC (Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria) method, which is one of the objective weighting methods, and the alternatives were listed with the WASPAS (Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment) method. As a result of the processes, the most important criterion was the battery life, which corresponds to the K7 among the seven criteria, while the best alternative among the seven alternatives was A2.

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensor for Cancer Biomarker Detection

A biomarker is a physiological observable marker that acts as a stand-in and, in the best-case scenario, forecasts a clinically significant outcome. Diagnostic biomarkers are more convenient and cost-effective than directly measuring the ultimate clinical outcome. Cancer is among the most prominent global health problems and a major cause of morbidity and death globally. Therefore, cancer biomarker assays that are trustworthy, consistent, precise, and verified are desperately needed. Biomarker-based tumor detection holds a lot of promise for improving disease knowledge at the molecular scale and early detection and surveillance. In contrast to conventional approaches, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) allows for the quick and less invasive screening of a variety of circulating indicators, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNA (miRNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), lipids, and proteins. With several advantages, the SPR technique is a particularly beneficial choice for the point-of-care identification of biomarkers. As a result, it enables the timely detection of tumor markers, which could be used to track cancer development and suppress the relapse of malignant tumors. This review emphasizes advancements in SPR biosensing technologies for cancer detection.

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF COSMETIC PREPARATIONS USING NOVEL NATURAL COLORANT FROM LANTANA CAMARA LINN (CHATURANGI) AND BOMBAX CEIBA LINN (SHAALMALI)

The present work aimed to formulate various cosmetic formulations comprising of extract of Lantana camara Linn. and Bombax ceiba Linn. as natural coloring agents. Dried and powdered leaves of L. camara Linn and dried thorn powder of B. ceiba Linn produce red color. The obtained color was used as a natural colorant in the preparation of different cosmetic preparations, namely lipstick, rouge and eye shadow. Different ingredients like bees wax, carnauba wax, white soft paraffin, castor oil and strawberry essence were used to formulate the aforesaid cosmetics using the extracted color. The formulations were evaluated for color, texture, pH, perfume stability, melting point, breaking point, softening point, surface anomalies, aging stability, thixothrophy and patch test depending upon its type. The results revealed that melting points of the prepared lipstick were observed in the range of 62-64 o C. The breaking point of all the lipstick formulations were noted in the range of 31 – 34 g. Force of application was noted to be good for all the formulations. Softening point was found to be in the range of 52.33 to 59.66 0 C. Eye shadow and rouge show good adhesion and color dispersion; patch test on volunteers showed no signs of skin irritation. The results verified that the color extracted from the dried leaves of L. camara Linn and dried thorn of B. ceiba may prove to be a beneficial choice and work as an alternative to synthetic colorants in various cosmetic formulations, which are known to cause allergic reactions and are reported to be carcinogenic.

Bone Regeneration in Osteoporosis via Carbon Nanotube-Based Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2

We constructed a bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)@Carbon nanotube (CNT) delivery system to explore the feasibility of a nanodrug delivery system in the treatment of osteoporosis (OP). Osteoblasts were cultured and OP mouse models were constructed to evaluate the osteogenesis of nano-BMP-2 in OP therapy. In physicochemical property tests, we found that BMP-2 was effectively loaded into CNT to form nanoparticles (NPs) with a particle size of 100 nm. Additionally, we found that nano-BMP-2 had good stability and could effectively prolong BMP-2 release time. In cellular experiments, we found that nano-BMP-2 could penetrate osteoblasts more effectively than BMP-2 alone, and with the increase of BMP-2 loading, the amount of BMP-2 penetrating osteoblasts increased with an optimal loading of 100 μg. We determined that nano-BMP-2 could increase proliferation activity of osteoblasts to better promote OP repair. In our vivo experiments, we found that nano-BMP-2 was effectively excreted through the kidney and mainly distributed in bone tissue. Moreover, CNT effectively prolonged the half-life of BMP-2 and was safe to introduce through intramuscular injection and did not cause obvious inflammatory reactions. Following treatment, nano-BMP-2 increased body weight, femur weight, and femoral head diameter in OP mouse models. Furthermore, bone trabecular was arranged in a close and orderly fashion and was uniform in thickness in OP mice treated with nano-BMP-2. OP mice had improved bone mineral density, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and cortical bone thickness in their metaphyseal regions, implying nano-BMP-2 treatment led to improved OP symptoms. Therefore, BMP-2@CNT may be a beneficial choice for treatment of OP.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Semi-Scleral Contact Lenses after Radial Keratotomy: Apical Space, Lens Diameter, Limbal Clearance, Peripheral O-Rings, and Tear Exchange as Contact-Lens-Fitting Success Factors

The purpose of this case report is to verify if the adaptation of a rigid gas-permeable contact lens can improve VA and comfort in a patient with complications derived from radial keratotomy (RK) surgery. A semi-scleral contact lens was fitted in a 46-year-old female patient who had undergone bilateral RK before 30 years. The uncorrected distance visual acuity in the right eye (RE) and left eye (LE) was 0.5 and 0.6 logMAR (minimum angle resolution), respectively. The RE and LE manifest refractions were +2.00 − 4.25 × 155 diopters (D) and +2.00 − 3.00 × 15 D, respectively. A semi-scleral rigid gas-permeable Rose K2 XL™ lens was fitted in both eyes. The central clearance was 400–450 µm in the RE and 300–350 µm in the LE. The semi-scleral corrected distance visual acuity in the RE and LE was 0.1 and 0.16 logMAR, respectively. Semi-scleral contact lenses are comfortable and a beneficial choice for patients after RK when associated with visual problems and intolerance to other therapeutic options. Semi-scleral lenses permit prolonged duration of use without discomfort, adverse alterations, and improve the feeling of glare in scotopic vision. In the present case, there were multiple factors that influenced the resolution, such as the amount of apical space, lens diameter, limbal clearance, peripheral O-rings, and tear exchange.

Melatonin as an adjuvant treatment modality with doxorubicin

Combination chemotherapy seems to be a beneficial choice for some cancer patients particularly when the drugs target different processes of oncogenesis; patients treated with combination therapies sometimes have a better prognosis than those treated with single drug chemotherapy. However, research has shown that this is not always the case, and this approach may only increase toxicity without having a significant effect in augmenting the antitumor actions of the drugs. Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat many types of cancer, but it also has serious side effects, such as cardiotoxicity, skin necrosis, testicular toxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Many studies have examined the efficiency of melatonin (MLT) as an anticancer agent. In fact, MLT is an anti-cancer agent that has various functions in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing metastasis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the literature concerned with the role of MLT as an adjuvant in Dox-based chemotherapies and discuss how MLT may enhance the antitumor effects of Dox (e.g., by inducing apoptosis and suppressing metastasis) while rescuring other organs from its adverse effects, such as cardio- and nephrotoxicity.