CI Values Research Articles

Swasthya Pahal (Health for All) Using a Sustainable, Multisector, Accessible, Affordable, Reimbursable, and Tailored Informatics Framework in Rural and Urban Areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Protocol for a Quantitative Study

Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) require a longer period of care, for which health care systems must acquire technologically advanced solutions to enhance patient care. Swasthya Pahal (health for all) is an innovative, interactive, multilingual, stand-alone, internet-enabled computer-based program that aims to improve the self-management of NCDs. Objective This study aims to enhance the self-management of chronic NCDs (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity) by determining the usefulness, acceptance, and effectiveness of the Swasthya Pahal program in hospital and community settings in both rural and urban areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This objective can be met by generating risk factor profiles of individuals enrolled and enhancing their self-management of NCDs using a portable health information kiosk that uses the Sustainable, Multisector, Accessible, Affordable, Reimbursable, and Tailored (SMAART) model. Methods A quantitative study will be conducted on a convenient sample of 2800 individuals from selected hospital and community settings in rural (n=1400) and urban areas (n=1400) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Data will be collected on sociodemographics, health behaviors, and clinical status, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Objective assessments such as weight, blood pressure, and random blood sugar levels will be measured. In addition, the usefulness, acceptance, and effectiveness of the Swasthya Pahal program will be determined. Results Results will be summarized using descriptive analysis. Appropriate bivariate and multivariate regression analysis will be performed to determine the predictors of the outcome variables of usefulness, acceptance, and effectiveness of Swasthya Pahal in wider settings. All analyses will be performed using SAS (version 9.1; SAS Institute), and the results will be reported as 95% CI values and P<.05. Conclusions The study proposes to enhance the self-management of NCDs in both rural and urban community settings through the implementation of the Swasthya Pahal program based on the SMAART informatics framework. The study aims to understand the implementation, acceptability, and usability of Swasthya Pahal among a diverse sample of people in urban and rural settings. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/39950

Supervised machine learning-based categorization and prediction of uranium adsorption capacity on various process parameters

Existing uranium poses significant dangers to the environment and the general population's health. Within the scope of this study, machine learning techniques were utilized to assess the characteristics that influence uranium adsorption. The adsorbent material, pH, temperature, solid-liquid ratio (SLR), and initial concentration (Ci) values were imported as the feature to evaluate using ML models in this study. The finding concluded that the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model performed excellently by attaining an accuracy of 98%, which is very high in classifying low and high levels of adsorption predictions. The Random Forest model was also the best performer for Qe prediction, with the lowest MSE value of 334.45 and the highest Squared-R score of 0.92 for the uranium adsorption process. Permutation Importance analysis indicated that initial concentration had the strongest impact on Qe. Knowing that a good interaction between uranyl ions and adsorbent surface would result in more active sites for trapping radioactive metal, optimizing this parameter can be quite helpful for designing new materials capable of capturing uranium species strongly from solutions. ML model excels at predicting Qe in uranium adsorption and can directly accommodate large datasets and non-linear input parameter-Qe interactions. As noted, the innovation poised to drive ML research has been made possible by recent technological developments in machine learning and can improve while offering new ways of addressing difficult environmental problems.

The associations of dietary manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium and magnesium with cognitive outcomes in Chinese adults: a cross sectional study in Shanghai.

The role of individual nutrients including vitamins and minerals in cognitive function gained increasing attention in recent years. With regard to the association between dietary minerals and cognitive function, the results of human studies are inconclusive. The objective of this study was to explore the association between mineral intake and cognitive function using the data from Shanghai Health and Nutrition Survey (SHNS) in 2018. In total, 835 adults were included in a crosssectional study, and completed a three-day dietary record to estimate their average daily intake of minerals. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for the assessment of cognitive function, and logistic regression analyses were performed on participants to examine the association between dietary mineral intake and cognitive performance. The participants were divided into tertiles according to their mineral intake. Participants in the second and third tertile of the dietary copper intake had lower rates of low MMSE scores compared to those in the lowest tertile. We found the adjusted OR and 95%CI values were 0.44 (0.21-0.89) and 0.40 (0.16-0.94), respectively. Participants in the second tertile of dietary magnesium intake showed a trend of lower rates of low MMSE score compared to those in the lowest tertile (p = 0.06). The adjusted OR and 95%CI values were 0.35 (0.16-0.72). No significant association were observed between any of the other minerals including iron, zinc, selenium and manganese and cognitive function. Our findings suggest that dietary intake of copper and magnesium may have a protective effect on cognitive performance in elderly over 60 years old. To prevent cognitive decline, elderly should get recommended amounts of copper and magnesium from diet or supplements.

Fast chlorophyll fluorescence rise kinetics as a high-throughput diagnostic tool for evaluating the capacity of 2-amino-3-methylhexanoic acid at inducing plant resistance against high temperature

Plant resistant induction is considered as a promising strategy for protecting crops against extreme high temperature (HT). However, a high-throughput method to accurately estimate the capacity of plant resistance inducers (PRIs) for HT resistance has not been developed. Here, we present a simple approach using fast chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics in Arabidopsis leaf discs to assess PRI efficacy in inducing HT resistance. Both 2-amino-3-methylhexanoic acid (AMHA) and salicylic acid (SA) significantly alleviated the temperature-dependent increase in the K-peak of the OJIP curve and variations in amplitude of heat-responsive JIP-test parameters within the elevated-temperature range of 25–42℃. The PIABS (performance index on absorption basis) and WK (relative variable fluorescence at the K-step to the amplitude FJ - FO) as two classical heat-responsive characteristic parameters were used to produce a novel hypersensitive parameter HT sensitivity indicator, PIABS/WK (named Hs). Based on the correlation of logHs with elevated temperatures, a model for quantifying the capacity of HT-resistance induction (called Ci) by AMHA or SA was established. A three-grade classification according to the Ci value was proposed as low (0<Ci ≤ 1℃), moderate (1℃ <Ci ≤ 2℃), and high resistance (Ci > 2℃). AMHA at 1 µM and SA at 100 µM had Ci values of 2.49℃ and 4.09℃ in Arabidopsis plants, respectively, associated with their high level of HT resistance induction. Additionally, the EC50 derived from the relative stimulation ratio (Kc) was also introduced as a quantitative index for measuring the ability of AMHA and SA to induce HT resistance. The EC50 value of AMHA is about 0.1 µM in Arabidopsis and 0.35 µM in tomato, being much lower than that of SA (approximately 63 µM in Arabidopsis). Thus, AMHA is a more potent plant inducer than SA. The model was validated through additional experimental evidence, demonstrating its reliability and applicability. This study provides an expeditious high-throughput method for screening promising PRI candidates.

Combined Targeting of SYK and BCL-2 in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Mechanism Study

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous haematological malignancy and is the most common acute leukaemia in adults, with a median age of onset of 68 years and a 5-year survival rate of only 30%. Only 60-80% of adult AML patients can achieve complete remission with the first induction chemotherapy, and 50-80% of AML patients ultimately relapse with the “3+7” first-line treatment regimen based on anthracycline and cytarabine (Ara-C), so there is an urgent need to find safer and more effective targeted therapies. There is an urgent need to find safer and more effective targeted therapies. Venetoclax (ABT-199) is an FDA-approved oral selective Bcl-2 inhibitor with limited anti-leukaemia activity as a single agent, and mechanisms of resistance include up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, compensation of multiple metabolic pathways such as OXPHOS glycolysis, and mutations in BCL-2 and BAX.In 2018, the FDA approved the use of Venetoclax in combination with demethylating drugs (azacitidine ( AZA) or low-dose azacitidine AraC (LDAC)) in combination for newly diagnosed AML in older adults aged 75 years and older, and while this combination greatly improves remission rates, most patients relapse within 18 months. It has been suggested that direct or indirect inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) may be able to circumvent adaptive resistance of AML to Venetoclax+ AraC combination therapy. Therefore, an ideal candidate therapy in combination with Venetoclax should be able to antagonise its resistance mechanisms from metabolic pathways and down-regulation of MCL-1. Purpose To investigate the efficacy and related mechanisms of co-targeting SYK with BCL-2 for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Experimental Design AML cell lines and primary patient samples were collected for cell proliferation assays. Firstly, cell activity was detected by MTS colorimetric assay, by Compusyn calculation software, the joint index CI value was calculated, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential was altered, gene expression was detected by transcriptome sequencing, and the signalling pathways were analysed, followed by apoptosis-related proteins, BCL-2-related proteins by Western Blot, and glucose was detected by metabolism kit. sugar consumption,ATP and lactate content. The in vivo efficacy of the combination of Venetoclax and Entospletinib was assessed using an MV4-11-derived xenograft mouse model. Results SYK is highly expressed in AML and is associated with poor prognosis. ...The combination of Venetoclax and Entospletinib in AML cell lines and AML primary patient cells had significant synergistic growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects...Venetoclax in combination with Entospletinib down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, MCL-1, and BCL-XL, and down-regulated phosphorylated ERK expression, thereby affecting MCL1 post-translational protein stability rather than transcriptional levels.... Venetoclax in combination with Entospletinib downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1, BCL-XL and phosphorylated ERK, thereby affecting the post-translational protein stability of MCL1, but not the transcriptional level. Conclusions The combination of Venetoclax and Entospletinib had significant synergistic killing effects in both AML cell lines and AML primary patient cells.Venetoclax in combination with Entospletinib exerts synergistic therapeutic effects on AML through down-regulation of ERK phosphorylation affecting the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1, BCL-XL and reprogramming of glucose metabolism.

Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity: Results of two open randomized pharmacokinetic studies

Introduction. Obesity is a growing public health issue in Russia, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Controlling obesity involves lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy. Semaglutide, an effective obesity treatment, stimulates insulin production and reduces appetite. Developing a generic semaglutide preparation will improve its availability in Russia.Aim. To study the comparative pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence, safety and tolerability of semaglutide products GP40331 and Wegovy using concentrations of 0.68 and 3.2 mg/ml in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions.Materials and methods. Bioequivalence studies, conducted per Good Clinical Practice, were open-label, randomized, and involved healthy male volunteers. Subjects received semaglutide at single doses of 0.25 mg (0.68 mg/ml) and 0.5 mg (3.2 mg/ml) under fasting. Bioequivalence was determined by the 90% CI of the ratios of geometric mean values of the primary pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC0-t, Cmax). Semaglutide concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.Results. The 90% CI values for the ratios of geometric means of the primary PK parameters of semaglutide were 90.22–110.29 and 86.48–108.98% (0.68 mg/ml) and 90.62–115.71 and 92.86–113.51% (3.2 mg/ml). Comparable safety was proven for both concentrations.Conclusion. GP40331 and Wegovy at 0.68 and 3.2 mg/mL are bioequivalent and equally safe.

Exploring the impact of family support and its function on high-risk behaviour among adolescents in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia: A cross sectional study

This study aims to investigate the impact of family support and family function on high-risk behavior among adolescents in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia using Cross-sectional study design. in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia using cross-sectional study design. The sample size consisted of 195 adolescents (aged 15 to 19) with various sociodemographic characteristics, as well as various types of risky behaviors, such as smoking, consuming alcohol, and so on. and so on. The results of the study indicate that perceptions of and family functions are significantly related to the level of adolescent involvement in high-risk behavior. Adolescents who perceive strong family support and cohesive family functioning are significantly less likely to engage in high-risk behavior. Significance test of the model, variable value of the Sig, which is 0.000, which means that the model has an independent variable that statistically significantly affects the dependent variable because the P-value &lt;α; (0.000 &lt;0.05). Family function is a variable that has a value of 0.000 so that it is related to the dependent variable and has a CI value of 95% (0.029-0.348) significantly less likely to engage in high-risk behavior. In addition, gender, age, and other sociodemographic factors also play a role in determining high-risk behavior. These findings underline the important role of the family in shaping adolescent behavior and emphasize the need for providing appropriate sexual information and education by parents. The implication of this research underscores the significance of parental involvement in providing emotional support, information, and supervision for their children. These parental roles can substantially reduce high-risk behaviors among adolescents.

Exploring the impact of family support and its function on high-risk behaviour among adolescents in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia: A cross sectional study.

This study aims to investigate the impact of family support and family function on high-risk behavior among adolescents in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia using Cross-sectional study design. in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia using cross-sectional study design. The sample size consisted of 195 adolescents (aged 15 to 19) with various sociodemographic characteristics, as well as various types of risky behaviors, such as smoking, consuming alcohol, and so on. and so on. The results of the study indicate that perceptions of and family functions are significantly related to the level of adolescent involvement in high-risk behavior. Adolescents who perceive strong family support and cohesive family functioning are significantly less likely to engage in high-risk behavior. Significance test of the model, variable value of the Sig, which is 0.000, which means that the model has an independent variable that statistically significantly affects the dependent variable because the P-value <α; (0.000 <0.05). Family function is a variable that has a value of 0.000 so that it is related to the dependent variable and has a CI value of 95% (0.029-0.348) significantly less likely to engage in high-risk behavior. In addition, gender, age, and other sociodemographic factors also play a role in determining high-risk behavior. These findings underline the important role of the family in shaping adolescent behavior and emphasize the need for providing appropriate sexual information and education by parents. The implication of this research underscores the significance of parental involvement in providing emotional support, information, and supervision for their children. These parental roles can substantially reduce high-risk behaviors among adolescents.

Localized shear and distributed strain accumulation as competing shear accommodation mechanisms in crustal shear zones: constraining their dictating factors

Abstract. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of strain localization in the Earth’s lithosphere is crucial for explaining the mechanics of tectonic plate boundaries and various failure-assisted geophysical phenomena, such as earthquakes. Geological field observations suggest that shear zones are the most important lithospheric structures demonstrating intense shear localization at plate boundaries, accommodating a major portion of tectonic deformations. Despite extensive studies over the past several decades, the factors governing how shear zones accommodate bulk shear, whether via distributed strain (i.e. the development of macroscopic S (schistosity) foliations normal to the principal shortening strain axis) or via localized shearing (i.e. the formation of shear-parallel C bands, where C refers to the French “cisaillement” (shear)), remain largely unexplored. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by providing observational evidence of varying S and C development in crustal shear zones from two geological terrains in eastern India. These field observations are complemented by 2D viscoplastic numerical simulations within a strain-softening rheological framework to constrain the factors controlling two competing shear accommodation mechanisms: distributed strain accumulation and shear band formation. The model-based analysis recognizes the bulk shear rate (γ˙b), initial viscosity (ηv), and initial cohesion (Ci) of a shear zone as the most critical factors determining the dominance of one mechanism over the other. For a given Ci value, low γ˙b and ηv values facilitate the formation of S foliation (uniformly distributed strain), which transitions to a C-dominated shear accommodation mechanism as ηv increases. However, increasing γ˙b facilitates shear accommodation through a combination of the two mechanisms, leading to S–C structures. The article finally discusses the conditions under which shear zones can significantly intensify rates of localized shear, producing rapid slip events, such as frictional melting and seismic activities.

Synergistic Action of Thymol-citral is Associated with Cell Cycle Arrest and Intracellular ROS Generation in A549 Cells

Objective: NSCLC is the predominant form of lung cancer, often exhibiting resistance to chemotherapy. Thymol and citral have shown promise as anticancer agents in different cancer cell lines but have not been evaluated in combination against NSCLC. Hence, we planned to investigate the anticancer effect of thymol-citral combination and explore its mechanisms of action against A549 cells. Methods: A549 cells were exposed to varying concentrations of thymol and citral, alone and in combination. Cell proliferation, plasma membrane integrity, apoptotic markers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, cell cycle distribution, senescence induction, and migration potential were assessed. Additionally, in vitro safety was evaluated in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and human red blood cells (RBCs). Results: Thymol and citral showed synergistic action against A549 cells, with a CI value of 0.75. After 24 h, they induced apoptosis, caused G0/G1 phase arrest, and increased ROS levels, suggesting oxidative stress as the mechanism. This combination also induced cell senescence, significantly inhibited A549 cell migration, and was non-toxic to human RBCs and HBECs. Conclusion: Overall, the thymol-citral synergistic combination was found to be a safe and effective therapy option for non-small cell lung cancer.

An innovative approach towards decolorization of tint and enhancing the optical & physical properties of high iron Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glass by co-doping with Ce4+/Nd3+: An experimental and comparative study

The aim of the research is to manufacture the colourless high iron Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glass with natural local raw materials with high iron content. Chemical and physical decolorizer like CeO2 and Nd2O3 were used in oxidation conditions by maintaining the redox of the melt. The maximum transmittance of colourless glass obtained at 546–562 nm is 91 % with a thickness of 6.5 mm. The addition of polyvalent ions Nd2O3/CeO2 decreases the optical band gap (Eg) and Urbach energy (ΔE) which results in resistance against solarization. Additionally, it also decreases the structural disorder results in high young & shear modulus. Lack of O–H in glass facilitates to retain more Si–O–Si in the glass matrices which enhances the down conversion luminance intensity of Nd3+ from 4I9/2 to 4F5/2 and improves the Far-IR behavior of the glass. Chromaticity diagram revealed that the doped glass has CI value 5416K which is closes to white light emission 5500k. Due to the presences of the Nd2O3/CeO2 and antimony oxide the Refractive index (ng), density (ρ), molar volume (V) and molecular weight of the glass increases. Maintaining the redox of the glass melt and Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio with the chemical and physical decolorizer will help to decolourize the Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glasses with the Fe2O3 content up to 0.3 % with the same methodology.

Trial Factors Associated With Completion of Clinical Trials Evaluating AI: Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in clinical trials remains the gold standard for translation into clinical settings. However, design factors associated with successful trial completion and the common reasons for trial failure are unknown. This study aims to compare trial design factors of complete and incomplete clinical trials testing AI tools. We conducted a case-control study of complete (n=485) and incomplete (n=51) clinical trials that evaluated AI as an intervention of ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial design factors, including area of clinical application, intended use population, and intended role of AI, were extracted. Trials that did not evaluate AI as an intervention and active trials were excluded. The assessed trial design factors related to AI interventions included the domain of clinical application related to organ systems; intended use population for patients or health care providers; and the role of AI for different applications in patient-facing clinical workflows, such as diagnosis, screening, and treatment. In addition, we also assessed general trial design factors including study type, allocation, intervention model, masking, age, sex, funder, continent, length of time, sample size, number of enrollment sites, and study start year. The main outcome was the completion of the clinical trial. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI values were calculated for all trial design factors using propensity-matched, multivariable logistic regression. We queried ClinicalTrials.gov on December 23, 2023, using AI keywords to identify complete and incomplete trials testing AI technologies as a primary intervention, yielding 485 complete and 51 incomplete trials for inclusion in this study. Our nested propensity-matched, case-control results suggest that trials conducted in Europe were significantly associated with trial completion when compared with North American trials (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.14-7.10; P=.03), and the trial sample size was positively associated with trial completion (OR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.00; P=.02). Our case-control study is one of the first to identify trial design factors associated with completion of AI trials and catalog study-reported reasons for AI trial failure. We observed that trial design factors positively associated with trial completion include trials conducted in Europe and sample size. Given the promising clinical use of AI tools in health care, our results suggest that future translational research should prioritize addressing the design factors of AI clinical trials associated with trial incompletion and common reasons for study failure.

Effects of LED polarized and vortex light on growth and photosynthetic characteristics of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Most studies currently focus on traditional illuminant regulating plant growth, while less attention has been given to the LED internal luminescence. This study examined how polarized and vortex light affect the growth and photosynthetic traits of pepper plants, with LED light used as the control. The findings indicated that circular polarized light significantly increased the aboveground biomass of pepper. Additionally, both polarized and vortex light treatment significantly influenced the root development of pepper. In comparison to the control group, the chlorophyll content was highest under circular polarized light, while the Pn, Sc, Tr, and Ci values were highest under linear polarized light, and the enzyme activity of Rubisco was increased. Circular polarized light notably increased the activities of POD, CAT, and SOD, the activity of SOD reached its peak under the left vortex light. Moreover, the content of MDA was observed to be the lowest under linear and right vortex light treatments. The expressions of key genes for chlorophyll synthesis (CaHEMA1 and CaCAO) and antioxidant enzyme synthesis (CaPOD, CaSOD, and CaMDHAR) were significantly altered under varying polarized light conditions, The latter genes, which play crucial roles in antioxidant enzyme activity, also showed significant variations in response to different polarized light treatments. In conclusion, polarized light significantly impacts the growth of pepper and is anticipated to be utilized for plant growth, setting the stage for future research in this area.

BD Vaginal Panel assay results on the high-throughput BD COR system compared to the BD MAX system.

Molecular-based assays demonstrate excellent sensitivity for the detection of vaginitis causes. Here, the high-throughput BD Vaginal Panel for BD COR System (VP-COR) performance was compared to that of the predicate, BD MAX Vaginal Panel for BD MAX System (VP-MAX). Clinical or contrived samples were used to determine the agreement between VP-COR and VP-MAX. Acceptance criteria for VP-COR agreement were as follows: bacterial vaginosis (BV) required a positive percent agreement (PPA) point estimate of ≥95% and a negative percent agreement (NPA) point estimate of ≥98%; Candida group, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) required a PPA and NPA point estimate of ≥95% [with lower bound of 95% confidence interval (95% CI) ≥90%]. PPA was 99.5% (95% CI: 97.5-100) and 97.9% (95% CI: 96.5-98.8) for BV contrived (n = 516) and BV clinical (n = 1,050) specimens, respectively. For the Candida group (clinical; n = 724), C. glabrata (contrived; n = 544), C. krusei (contrived; n = 522), and TV (clinical; n = 702), PPA was 99.4% (95% CI: 98.0-99.9), 100% (95% CI: 97.9-100), 100% (95% CI: 97.6-100), and 99.7% (95% CI: 98.3-100), respectively; the lowest lower bound CI value was 97.6%. NPA was >95% for BV contrived and BV clinical specimens. For the Candida group, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and TV, NPA was ≥98.9%; the lowest lower bound CI value was 97.3%. These results demonstrate the equivalent performance of the VP-COR assay when compared to VP-MAX.IMPORTANCEVaginitis is common among women of reproductive age, resulting in around 10 million office visits a year. Diagnosis is often difficult due to its multiple causes-including bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis-as well as variation in symptom presentation. Typically, cases are identified with a combination of symptomology, medical history, physical examination, and office- or laboratory-based testing. These traditional techniques involve subjective elements and demonstrate varying sensitivity and specificity. Inaccurate or delayed diagnosis leads to continued symptoms, repeat visits, inappropriate treatment, and unnecessary costs. Alternatively, the use of molecular-based assays increases sensitivity for the detection of vaginitis causes. With the validation of the vaginal panel molecular assay on COR (a high-throughput platform), a workflow can be streamlined in high-demand laboratories while providing high sensitivity for vaginitis detection.

Comparing surgical clipping with endovascular treatment for unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis.

Unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm (uMCAA) has traditionally been treated with open surgical clipping (SC). Endovascular treatments (EVTs) were designed to reduce surgical risks in these cases. Nevertheless, despite its potential benefits, many surgeons favor SC for uMCAA. This updated meta-analysis aimed to compare the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of SC and EVT for uMCAA. The authors searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases according to the Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included those with ≥ 4 patients with uMCAA reporting comparative data of SC and EVT. The endpoints were the complete occlusion rate (Raymond class I and II), good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2 or Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≥ 4), procedure-related complications (further divided into major and minor), and mortality. The authors pooled OR with 95% CI values with a random-effects model. I2 statistics were used to assess heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to address high heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plot analysis and the Egger's test. The analysis included data from 10 studies. Regarding the complete occlusion assessment, the comparative analysis revealed OR 0.17 (95% CI 0.08-0.40, p < 0.01), favoring SC. In terms of achieving good clinical outcomes, OR 0.44 (95% CI 0.20-0.97, p < 0.05) was determined, favoring SC. No differences regarding total procedure-related complications, major complications, or mortality were identified. However, a higher likelihood of minor complications was identified for EVT, with OR 4.68 (95% CI 2.01-10.92, p < 0.01). This systematic review and meta-analysis identified a lower likelihood of complete occlusion at last follow-up and lower likelihood of good clinical outcomes in patients treated with EVT when compared with SC. Furthermore, a higher likelihood of minor complications was identified in patients who underwent EVT when compared with SC. The findings reinforce that, based on the currently available data, SC should be considered the primary approach for treating uMCAA. However, EVT is an evolving approach, and this study's findings represent a synthesis of observational studies. Randomized trials are warranted to elucidate which approach should be the mainstay for uMCAA and to identify the nuances that determine whether SC or EVT is more or less indicated for addressing uMCAA with consideration of the individuality of each patient and aneurysm.

Effects of drought on photosynthetic induction in leaves of different wheat genotypes under dark-to-light transition

Adjustment of photosynthetic processes to an increase in irradiance constrains the CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic carbon gain compared to that which would be obtained if photosynthesis reached its terminal value instantaneously. Acceleration of photosynthesis induction under field conditions of fluctuating light opens up new perspectives for increasing yields. However, there is little information on response of photosynthetic processes to changes in the light under drought conditions. In a pot experiment, we have studied the peculiarities of response of CO2- and H2O-gas exchange parameters in flag leaves of 3 winter wheat genotypes to a transition from dark to bright light under drought conditions, to reveal the features of drought effect on photosynthetic induction processes. The plants were exposed to a 7-day drought (30% FC) during the flowering stage. After that, the watering of the treated plants was restored to the control level (70% FC), which was maintained until the end of the growing season. Induction curves of CO2 assimilation and transpiration of the flag leaves were recorded after keeping them in the darkness for 30 minutes, then the light was turned on. It was revealed that drought impacts the photosynthetic apparatus by reducing its maximum functional intensity as well as by diminishing its ability to respond to changing light conditions. Specifically, drought slows the rate of gas exchange increase during transitions from dark to light. High-yielding wheat genotypes, which had higher assimilation rates and stomatal conductance under optimal watering, showed increased sensitivity to drought. The reduction in the CO2 assimilation rate in wheat leaves under drought was primarily due to damage to the photosynthetic apparatus in mesophyll cells, rather than inhibition of stomatal conductance. This conclusion is supported by Ci value calculations, which were highest at the lowest CO2 assimilation rate at the beginning of light exposure and lowest at the highest CO2 assimilation rate when reaching a steady-state plateau. The stronger impact of the drought on the biochemical components of the photosynthetic apparatus than on stomata is also suggested by a decrease in instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi) during photosynthesis. The genotypic differences in the effects of drought on the dynamics of photosynthetic induction parameters during dark-to-light transitions in wheat leaves suggest the potential of these traits for evaluating breeding material. This could enhance the ecological plasticity of new wheat varieties.

The correlation between anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibodies and hypercoagulability in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy

Background Patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) are more likely to be complicated by venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association between anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies and hypercoagulability in patients with IMN. Methods A total of 168 patients with biopsy-proven IMN and 36 patients with biopsy-proven minimal change disease (MCD) were enrolled in this study. The clinical data, serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and coagulation-related indices of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results Patients with IMN were categorized into glomerular PLA2R staining-positive (GAg+) IMN group and glomerular PLA2R staining-negative (GAg-) IMN group in the study. Patients with IMN who were GAg + had lower PT, APTT and R time than patients with IMN who were GAg-, while the CI value was higher in patients with IMN who were GAg+. Patients with IMN who were GAg + were divided into the SAb+/GAg + group and the SAb-/GAg + group. Patients with IMN who were SAb+/GAg + had higher Fib and MA values than patients with IMN who were SAb-/GAg+. Correlation analysis showed that serum anti-PLA2R antibodies were positively correlated with fibrinogen, D-dimer, K time, CI value, α-angle, and MA value. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that anti-PLA2R antibodies were independently correlated with fibrinogen and MA value. Conclusion Our study provides a new perspective on the underlying mechanisms of hypercoagulability in patients with IMN. Anti-PLA2R antibodies are associated with hypercoagulability in patients with IMN and may affect coagulation in patients with IMN by affecting platelet aggregation function and fibrinogen counts.

A study with cancer stem cells and three-dimensional tumoroids: investigation of the combined effects of 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin in breast cancer

The purpose of the present study was in vitro determination of the combined effects of doxorubucin and 5-fluorouracil by 2D and 3D culture conditions on breast cancer using MCF-7 cell line and CSCs isolated from these cells. In the first stage of this study, CSC isolation and their characterization were performed. In the next experimental period, the antiproliferative effects of 5-Fu and Dox on the MCF-7 and CSCs were demonstrated on 2D. To evaluate the synergistic/antagonistic effects of these chemotherapeutics, the CI was calculated. Additionally, 3D tumor spheroids were used as another model. In the last step, qRT-PCR analysis was performed to examine apoptosis-related gene expressions. In this study, it was clearly seen that CSCs obtained from the breast cancer cell line express stemness factors. In addition, the antiproliferative effects of 5-Fu and Dox on breast cancer and associated CSCs were very clear. Their synergistic effects were determined by CI values. Moreover, it was seen that combined theraphy changed the expression levels of genes related to apoptosis. Additionally, it was molecularly demonstrated that 3D tumoroids were more resistant than the others. In conclusion, the polychemotherapeutic approach was much more effective than the monotherapy. The fact that this effect was seen not only in breast cancer cells, but also in breast cancer stem cells. In addition, it was very promising that the results obtained were similar in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional tumoroids.

Conservation Prioritization of Orthoptera Assemblages on a Mediterranean Island

In response to the ongoing global extinction, conservationists must prioritize future conservation investments to ensure that such measures are biologically effective and economically viable. To propose an effective conservation plan for Orthoptera assemblages on Cyprus Island, we introduce the Standardized Conservation Index (StCI), a biodiversity index accounting for the conservation value (ci), presence, dispersal ability, endemism and conservation status of a species. We evaluated the effect of eleven environmental variables on StCI, ci, species richness and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, using linear and generalized linear models. Species and environmental data were collected in 60 localities that were placed along four elevational zones and included seven habitat types. Our results revealed the importance of rural mosaics and forests for the conservation of Orthoptera. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index failed to show the importance of high-altitude forests. The Orthoptera species diversity was favored by flower heads and the soil humidity, while rock cover and high shrubs had a positive and negative effect, respectively, on the StCI and ci values. Our results underline the value of StCI in complementing traditional diversity indices, as a scale-independent index that can be used for different taxa to prioritize sites of conservation concern.

Correlation between anti-mullerian hormone with insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Epidemiological studies regarding the correlation between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and insulin resistance (IR) in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) remain inconsistent. The primary aim of this study was to determine the correlations between AMH and IR in patients with PCOS and to explore the selected factors that influence the correlations. We conducted systemic searches of online databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, and ProQuest) from inception to December 20, 2023 and manual searches of the associated bibliographies to identify relevant studies. We then performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses to explore the sources of heterogeneity, followed by a publication bias risk assessment of the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. We used a random-effects model to estimate the pooled correlations between AMH and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Of the 4835 articles identified, 22 eligible relevant studies from three regions were included and identified as low risk of bias. The random-effects pooled correlation estimate was 0.089 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.040, 0.215), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 87%; τ2 = 0.0475, p < .001). Subgroup analyses showed that the study region did not influence the correlation estimates, and sensitivity analysis showed no significant alteration in the pooled correlation estimate or 95% CI values. No publication bias was observed. There was a weak, statistically insignificant correlation between AMH and HOMA-IR in patients with PCOS. The correlation estimates did not vary according to the study participants' regions.