Conditioning Procedure Research Articles

Conditional Variable Screening for Ultra-High Dimensional Longitudinal Data With Time Interactions.

In recent years, we have been able to gather large amounts of genomic data at a fast rate, creating situations where the number of variables greatly exceeds the number of observations. In these situations, most models that can handle a moderately high dimension will now become computationally infeasible or unstable. Hence, there is a need for a prescreening of variables to reduce the dimension efficiently and accurately to a more moderate scale. There has been much work to develop such screening procedures for independent outcomes. However, much less work has been done for high-dimensional longitudinal data in which the observations can no longer be assumed to be independent. In addition, it is of interest to capture possible interactions between the genomic variable and time in many of these longitudinal studies. In this work, we propose a novel conditional screening procedure that ranks variables according to the likelihood value at the maximum likelihood estimates in a marginal linear mixed model, where the genomic variable and its interaction with time are included in the model. This is to our knowledge the first conditional screening approach for clustered data. We prove that this approach enjoys the sure screening property, and assess the finite sample performance of the method throughsimulations.

Aspects on Social Egg Freezing – Current State in Bulgaria

Abstract Problem statement Oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical reasons has been widely promoted among young women who tend to delay their reproduction. As the methodology has proved its safety and efficiency in the field of assisted reproduction technology and the embryo laboratory, the interest in oocyte cryopreservation has increased highly. However, do social freezers ever come back and use these oocytes, or they keep them as a safety boat with no real near-future plans for reproduction? Methods The following study has been performed as a retrospective analysis of 296 women who had oocyte freezing procedure for non-medical (social) reasons, medical conditions (oncological treatment) and oocyte donation from January 2013 to June 2023 at Medical Complex Ob/Gyn “Dr Shterev” – Sofia, Bulgaria. Results Throughout the observed period, 190 women with 221 procedures vitrified their oocytes for future use. Only 9.47% of them had medical conditions and 7.36% were hindered to use their reproductive gametes at the day of the oocyte retrieval (absence of spermatozoa, sickness). The average age of the women in this group was 35.59 ± 1.5 years and the mean number of cryopreserved oocytes was 5.63 ± 1.4 per women. Compared to social cryopreserves, and bound to the Bulgarian legislation, the 106 women who donated their oocytes were younger (28.86 ± 1.5 years (p < 0.05)) with 7.34 ± 1.7 (p < 0.05) cryopreserved oocytes per donor. As the clinic has well represented program for oocyte donation 82.1% of the donors were used. In result, there were 37 clinical pregnancies with 47 children born. In the same period, only 46 (24.2%) women who stored their own gametes in our cryobank came back and claimed them for assisted reproduction. Nine clinical pregnancies had been registered and 10 children were born. An intriguing fact we can point from the medical history of the clear social freezers (SF) is the record of previous procedure(s) for abortion on demand. It was reported for 12% of the women in this group. Conclusion According to the results we observed as evident that patients need more clarity towards the procedures for oocyte cryopreservation and consequent fertility treatment. We should rise more awareness to the most preferable age for cryopreservation and number of oocytes to be stored.

Validation of a sieve analysis procedure to quantify reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) binder availability

ABSTRACT Recycled binder availability (RBA) refers to the proportion of total recycled binder that is available to blend with virgin asphalt binder and is considered an inherent property of a given reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) stockpile. Recycled binder contribution (RBC) is the fraction of the recycled asphalt binder that is incorporated into the virgin binder within an asphalt mixture. Binder that is inside agglomerated RAP particles that do not separate during the mixing process is ‘unavailable’. This study validates a method to quantify RBA through comparative sieve analysis of RAP and recovered RAP aggregate, testing two hypotheses: (1) RAP agglomerations preexist and don’t fully break during production, and (2) RBA measurements estimate RBC. The method was applied to nine RAP sources from four states. The innovation was verified to accurately reflect RBC in asphalt mixtures through comparative tracer-based microscopy. Results showed RBA and RBC typically between 50-60%, indicating not all recycled binder blends with virgin binder. Further analysis of mixtures fabricated with different preheating and conditioning procedures suggested that RBC doesn’t vary significantly with laboratory production conditions. Thus, RBA measurements from sieve analysis show promise in estimating RBC in asphalt mixtures across production conditions, supporting the study’s hypotheses.

Visuo-spatial compound stimuli discrimination with (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) in two-choices rewarding learning tasks

This paper proposes an experimental protocol allowing Gryllus pennsylvanicus to discriminate an A–A and A–B motif pairs of compound visual stimuli. Specifically, this study consists in an operant conditioning procedure including a dichotomous Y-maze, two different pairs of compound visual colored cues and a water reward. Results are conclusive for this visuo-spatial regularities study,(Gryllus pennsylvanicus) were able to significantly discriminate between the two compound visual patterns and learned the association with the reinforcer.

Evaluation of landing procedures for a high-altitude platform with skid-type landing gear based on pilot-in-the-loop simulations

AbstractIn the context of the project HAP, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is currently developing a solar-powered high-altitude platform. The underlying vehicle is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supposed to be stationed in the stratosphere for 30 days. Due to, among others, low achievable rates of descent, the use of skids as landing gear and its high susceptibility to wind, landing this aircraft is a very challenging task. Hence, it requires a landing procedure specifically tailored to the aircraft’s particularities. Furthermore, this procedure needs to be easy to follow by pilots especially in adverse atmospheric conditions. This paper deals with a pilot-in-the-loop simulation campaign conducted to assess a landing procedure developed for the high-altitude platform in earlier works. Within this campaign, the pilots are supposed to land the aircraft following this developed procedure in atmospheric turbulence conditions. In addition, they also land the aircraft following a second procedure, which is based on a conventional landing. In doing so, the altitude at which a flare is performed and/or the propellers are shut down is varied. Finally, the novel procedure’s overall feasibility from a piloting point of view and its potential to reduce the risks during landing are assessed. The results show that the procedure proves to reduce the risk of inadvertent ground contact of the aircraft payload compartment, which is associated with serious damage to aircraft structure and payload. However, since the novel procedure is challenging for the pilots, some improvements to the procedure are proposed.

A Computational Framework for Understanding the Impact of Prior Experiences on Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain.

Pain perception is influenced not only by sensory input from afferent neurons but also by cognitive factors such as prior expectations. It has been suggested that overly precise priors may be a key contributing factor to chronic pain states such as neuropathic pain. However, it remains an open question how overly precise priors in favor of pain might arise. Here, we first verify that a Bayesian approach can describe how statistical integration of prior expectations and sensory input results in pain phenomena such as placebo hypoalgesia, nocebo hyperalgesia, chronic pain, and spontaneous neuropathic pain. Our results indicate that the value of the prior, which is determined by the internal model parameters, may be a key contributor to these phenomena. Next, we apply a hierarchical Bayesian approach to update the parameters of the internal model based on the difference between the predicted and the perceived pain, to reflect that people integrate prior experiences in their future expectations. In contrast with simpler approaches, this hierarchical model structure is able to show for placebo hypoalgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia how these phenomena can arise from prior experiences in the form of a classical conditioning procedure. We also demonstrate the phenomenon of offset analgesia, in which a disproportionally large pain decrease is obtained following a minor reduction in noxious stimulus intensity. Finally, we turn to simulations of neuropathic pain, where our hierarchical model corroborates that persistent non-neuropathic pain is a risk factor for developing neuropathic pain following denervation, and additionally offers an interesting prediction that complete absence of informative painful experiences could be a similar risk factor. Taken together, these results provide insight to how prior experiences may contribute to pain perception, in both experimental and neuropathic pain, which in turn might be informative for improving strategies of pain prevention and relief.

Ischemic Postconditioning Mitigates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome characterized by the disruption of alveolar endothelial and epithelial barriers, neutrophilic infiltration in pulmonary regions, and non-cardiogenic edema, associated with high mortality and morbidity. Despite intensive research efforts, there is currently no approved specific treatment for the condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effect of ischemic post-conditioning in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury and its possible association with inflammatory and apoptotic processes. Lung injury was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg LPS. Under anesthesia, latex tourniquets were wrapped around both hind limbs of the animals in a region close to the body to achieve complete ischemia. The ischemic conditioning procedure consisted of four cycles of 10 min of ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion. Inflammation, and apoptosis levels were measured using ELISA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for histopathological evaluation, while TUNEL staining was employed for apoptotic cell counting. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey test was used for comparisons between groups. Intraperitoneal LPS administration induced neutrophil infiltration and apoptotic cell death in lung tissue. These effects were prevented by remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) application. Additionally, the beneficial effects of ischemic conditioning can be transferred via serum. RIPostC can ameliorate LPS-induced ALI. The mechanism of the protective effects of RIPostC may lie in the suppression of apoptosis and neutrophil infiltration.

Impenetrable Abdomen: A Case Report of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Performed in Patient with Huge Paramedian Laparocele.

Bariatric surgical techniques have demonstrated scientific efficacy and interventional safety; however, these approaches are not universally appropriate for all patients. The term "impenetrable abdomen" refers to the inability to achieve surgical access to the abdominal cavity, a condition that may arise from several underlying factors. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is proposed as a safe and effective technique in this subgroup of patients with obesity. A 56-year-old Caucasian woman with an impenetrable abdomen due to the presence of a large left paramedian laparocele underwent ESG (Fig. 1) to our unit. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a substantial laparocele in the left paramedian region, involving the tenuous loops, mesentery, and part of the transverse colon. The patient body mass index (BMI) at presentation was 47.15 kg/m2 (116 kg per 1.57 m). Comorbidities included obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), requiring nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, hepatic steatosis, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypovitaminosis D. The case was discussed with our multidisciplinary board team (MDT), who agreed to proceed with the ESG. The endoscopic procedure was performed in the supine position, using the Overstitch device and lasted 58 min. No intraprocedural or post-procedural complications/adverse events have been observed. The patient resumed a liquid diet on the first postoperative day and was discharged from the hospital 24 h after the procedure in good clinical condition. Regular outpatient follow-up visits showed significant reduction of the BMI at 6 months post-procedure with a value of 34.9 kg/m2 compared with the initial value of 47.1 kg/m2. Additionally, the patient's use of nocturnal CPAP for OSAS was successfully discontinued suggesting an improvement in her respiratory condition as a result of weight loss. Moreover, there was a notable reduction in the pharmacological management required for arterial hypertension. These outcomes underscore the positive impact of selecting the most appropriate therapeutic strategy for each patient with obesity through a multidisciplinary team approach. In our experience, we confirm that endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is both feasible and safe in patients presenting with an impenetrable abdomen. Despite the minimally invasive approach, this technique has proven effective in terms of body weight loss and reduction of obesity related compared with bariatric surgery.

Attention and nocebo hyperalgesia: Testing a novel virtual reality attention bias modification paradigm

Nocebo effects in pain (nocebo hyperalgesia) have received significant attention recently, with negative expectancies and anxiety proposed to be explanatory factors. While both expectancy and anxiety can bias attention, attention has been rarely explored as a potential mechanism involved in nocebo hyperalgesia. The present study aimed to explore whether attention bias modification (ABM) using an immersive, ecologically valid VR paradigm successfully induced attention biases (AB) and subsequently influenced nocebo hyperalgesia. One-hundred and two healthy participants were randomised in a 2 (AB training: towards vs. away from pain) x 2 (nocebo condition: nocebo vs. control) design. Pain-related AB was successfully changed by the VR paradigm as measured by reaction time and gaze, with moderate to large effects. Participants then completed either a nocebo instruction and conditioning procedure (nocebo paradigm) or a matched control procedure. The primary outcome was self-reported pain intensity. Secondary outcomes were attention bias and self-reports of expectancy, anticipatory anxiety, and state anxiety. The nocebo paradigm induced significantly greater pain expectancy, anticipatory anxiety and pain intensity during the test phase for the nocebo group compared to control. Pain expectancy also fully mediated the effect of the nocebo group on nocebo hyperalgesia and anticipatory anxiety in separate models. ABM did not, however, affect nocebo hyperalgesia or pain expectancy, casting doubt on the potential for ABM to inoculate against nocebo hyperalgesia. Unexpected effects of ABM were observed for state anxiety and anticipatory anxiety, whereby training away from pain exacerbated each, which necessitates further exploration. PerspectiveThis article tests the efficacy of a novel attention bias modification paradigm, designed in virtual reality, for inducing pain-related biases, and whether these biases exacerbate or inoculate against nocebo hyperalgesia. While pain-related biases were successfully induced, there was no relationship with the strength of induced nocebo hyperalgesia.

Effect of chronic alcohol exposure and single-prolonged stress on conditioned fear behavior

The present study investigated the impact of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure and single-prolonged stress (SPS) on the acquisition of fear memories in both male and female Wistar rats. Adult rats were first subjected to CIE by vapor inhalation followed by SPS. Following a subsequent 8-day incubation period, the rats underwent a Pavlovian fear conditioning procedure (tone-shock pairings) followed by cued-tone extinction training, and then testing of extinction recall memory and fear renewal memory. In control animals that had not been exposed to either CIE or SPS, female rats exhibited significantly lower levels of freezing compared to male rats during tone-shock pairings. This lower level of freezing in female rats during conditioning was associated with an increased speed of movement compared to males. Also compared to males, female rats exhibited lower levels of fear extinction, recall, and renewal. Exposure to CIE, SPS, or CIE+SPS had no effect on freezing during the cued-conditioning, extinction, or extinction recall phases of the testing procedure in either sex. In fear renewal, CIE exposure decreased freezing in male but not female rats, while SPS increased freezing in female but not male rats. CIE exposure significantly reduced freezing during the fear renewal phase. Taken together, these results provide further evidence that male and female rats adopt different avoidance strategies for threat responding. These results also revealed that prior exposure to CIE, SPS, or CIE+SPS had minimal effects on threat responding using conditioned freezing as an indicator of fear responsivity.

Activation, but not inactivation, of the medial or lateral orbitofrontal cortex impaired context-specific fear encoding

In laboratories, classical fear conditioning and extinction procedures are commonly used to study the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying fear regulation. Contextual fear conditioning involves the association of an aversive event with the environment where it occurs, which engages the hippocampus and its interactions with the amygdala. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), divided into the lateral OFC (lOFC) and medial OFC (mOFC) subregions, plays a crucial role in integrating contextual information from the hippocampus and modulating behavioral responses based on the anticipated outcomes of the context. Because of the extensive anatomical connections of the OFC with the fear circuit, including the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the medial prefrontal cortex, and the reasoning that proper retrieval of fear-related memory is context-dependent, we raised the question to investigate the ability of the animals to discriminate between contexts when they were trained under differential OFC activation levels during the encoding of contextual fear memory. In this study, we conducted a contextual fear conditioning procedure in rats using footshock as an unconditioned stimulus (US), followed by the test of their fear levels in contexts same (dangerous) or different (safe) from the conditioning context. We used a pharmacological approach to modulate the activation levels of the lOFC or the mOFC during conditioning to examine their roles on context-specific fear encoding. Our findings showed that the animals could accurately distinguish between the two contexts in control and OFC hypoactivation groups, but failed to do so if they were trained under OFC hyperactivation. Therefore, OFC hyperactivity disturbed the encoding of contextual information during fear acquisition.

A STUDY OF OBSTETRIC HYSTERECTOMY OVER A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS AT CUSMCH

Objectives: The study aimed (1) to determine the indication of obstetric hysterectomy and (2) to determine the fetomaternal outcome. Methods: This is a hospital-based retrospective study carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, C.U.Shah Medical College and Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Results: Out of 8881 deliveries during our study period, there were a total of 20 patients who underwent an obstetric hysterectomy, the incidence being 0.2%. Nine cases out of 6871 vaginal deliveries and 11 cases out of 2510 cesarean deliveries required an obstetric hysterectomy. Maximum patients, seven out of 20 were between 31 and 35 years age group followed by six patients between 36 and 40 years and five patients above 41 years. Only two patients were below 30 years of age. Most of the cases (70%) belonged to the lower middle class and 30% were from the upper middle class. About 60% were registered antenatal care (ANC) cases while 40% never visited any health-care facility. Out of 20 patients who underwent an obstetric hysterectomy, 18 patients (90%) were referred from another center while only 2 patients (10%) were admitted at our center. Eleven patients that are 55% delivered outside the institute among which three patients were home delivered by unskilled birth attendants. Nine patients were delivered at our center and among these sseven patients were referred from adjoining primary health-care centers, community health-care centers, and other private hospitals. Our institute being a tertiary hospital, maximum high-risk and complicated deliveries were referred. Conclusion: Obstetric hysterectomy is an unwanted but necessary emergency in obstetrics. It is a life-saving procedure in many catastrophic conditions, although it curtails the future. Good ANC, identification of risk factors, timely referral, and intervention at a well-equipped hospital can reduce obstetric hysterectomies. With the increasing incidence of cesarean deliveries and morbidly adherent placenta, the need for obstetric hysterectomy is increasing. With the improvement of modern obstetrics and modern modalities for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage and adherent placenta, there is a reduction in the number of obstetric hysterectomies.

12406 Epidemiology Of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 In South Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Abstract Disclosure: K. Kim: None. Y. Hwang: None. M. Yu: None. S. Moon: None. N. Hong: None. Y. Rhee: None. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) is one of the rarest endocrine disorders, with a scarcity of comprehensive epidemiological data globally. This deficiency in data is even more pronounced in Asian populations, where MEN1 remains an under-researched area. Therefore, our aim is to identity the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and patterns of comorbidities associated with MEN1.This nationwide cohort study assessed likely MEN1 cases from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2003-2020), selected via two operational definitions: one requiring an ICD-10 code for MEN1 (D44.8) and the other mandating at least two related procedures for MEN1-associated conditions (Primary Hyperparathyroidism, Pituitary Adenomas, and Duodenopancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors). Cases were 1:10 matched by age, sex, and index year with controls who did not have any MEN-1 associated tumors. Our study evaluated 412 patients with likely MEN1 (mean age 43.6 ± 15.8 years; 35.4% male) against an age-sex matched control group of 4,120. Baseline characteristics showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities in MEN1 patients, including diabetes mellitus (22.6% vs 4.8%), hypertension (38.1% vs 16.4%), and dyslipidemia (20.6% vs 11.2%), all with p<0.001. Cancer prevalence was markedly elevated in MEN1 patients across most types, compared to controls. Adrenal involvements were observed in 34.7% of MEN1 patients, with adrenal adenoma being the most common (31.6%). Parathyroid, pituitary, and duodenopancreatic involvements were identified in 58.6%, 22.3%, and 19.9% of MEN1 patients, respectively. Mortality analysis revealed MEN1 patients had a higher mortality rate (16.0 per 1000 person-years) and a younger mean age at death (60.1 years) compared to controls (68.0 years), with an adjusted mortality hazard ratio of 3.1. Additionally, mortality risk varied with organ involvement; parathyroid involvement showed an adjusted HR of 2.7, pituitary involvement 4.7, and duodenopancreas involvement 4.0. The risk increased significantly with multi-organ involvement, where patients affected in more than two organs had HRs from 2.8 to 7.3. Our findings indicate that MEN1 significantly impacts patient morbidity and mortality, necessitating improved surveillance and tailored management to enhance early detection and optimize care for this vulnerable patient group. These insights underscore the pressing need for further research into MEN1 and other rare diseases to advance patient care and outcomes. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Legal regulations of service order in the USSR militia in the 20s of the 20th century

The scientific paper is devoted to the problems of legal regulations of service in the USSR militia in the 20s of the 20th century. Legislative and by-laws adopted by the authorities of the Ukrainian SSR during the period under study were used. Some archival documents containing orders of the militia authorities regulating the service were introduced into scientific circulation. During the study period the distinct aspects of service in the Ukrainian SSR militia were identified. It was determined that in the 1920s, educational, political, and health criteria were established for Ukrainian SSR militia service candidates. The procedure for promotion and conditions of service career were established by the Rules of Service in the militia, which were approved by the NKVD of the USSR. The working hours and dismissal conditions of militia officers were regulated by departmental by-laws of the NKVD of the USSR and the collective agreement based on labor legislation. Attention was paid to the 1926 Regulation on the Militia, which stated the application of labor law standards to militia officers with specific exceptions outlined in the legislative act. It was determined that legal protection for militia officers during their duties was governed by the Criminal Codes of 1922 and 1927, along with the norms of the Administrative Code of 1927. The researcher believes that the 1926 Militia Regulation's provisions, which extended labor law norms to militia officers, are beneficial for updating the current legislation governing police service. It is suggested to consider the possibility of legal regulations of police service based on labor law norms with certain exceptions provided for in the legislation.

Implementation and outcomes in benign gynecological surgery with HUGO™ RAS system 12 months initial experience

We share our experience with the Hugo™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery system in benign gynecological surgeries. We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent elective robotic surgeries for benign gynecological conditions at our surgical center from February 2023 to February 2024. Data collected included patient demographics, surgery indications, and outcomes. Perioperative data on port-placement time, arm configurations, docking, and console time were documented. Procedural outcome data including troubleshooting and overall satisfaction were also recorded. The primary outcome was perioperative data on port placement, docking time, arm configuration, and console time. The secondary outcome was defined as team satisfaction, system troubleshooting, arm repositioning, and complications graded 3–4 on the Clavien–Dindo Scale. A total of 60 patients underwent procedures for benign gynecological conditions using the Hugo™ RAS over the 12-month study period, primarily for pelvic endometriosis (53%), hysterectomies (27%), and adnexal surgery (10%). The mean port-placement time was 13 min and 41 s. In 31% of cases, low-port placement was used, with arm positioning being asymmetrical in 63% and symmetrical in 37%, demonstrating the system’s flexibility in customizing port configurations while optimizing cosmetic outcomes. Docking time averaged 5 min and 51 s, and console time was 1 h and 5 min. Operational challenges included arm tremors and limited workspace for the assistant. This study details our knowledge using the Hugo™ RAS. Learning curves of port placement, arm positioning, docking, and procedure time can be rapidly adapted in a well-trained team. Our experience suggests the technology is still in its learning curve period.

Dopamine has no direct causal role in the formation of treatment expectations and placebo analgesia in humans.

Dopamine-based reward and learning mechanisms have been suggested to contribute to placebo effects. However, the exact role of dopaminergic neurotransmission in their generation and maintenance is still unclear. This study aimed to shed light on the causal role of dopamine in establishing positive treatment expectations, as well as on the magnitude and duration of their effect on pain. To this end, we used an established placebo analgesia paradigm in combination with 2 opposing pharmacological modulations of dopaminergic tone, i.e., the dopamine antagonist sulpiride and the dopamine precursor L-dopa which were both applied in an experimental, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with a between-subject design in N = 168 healthy volunteers. The study medication successfully altered dopaminergic tone during the conditioning procedure. Contrary to our hypotheses, the medication did not modulate the formation of positive treatment expectation and placebo analgesia tested 1 day later. Placebo analgesia was no longer detectable on day 8 after conditioning. Using a combined frequentist and Bayesian approach, our data provide strong evidence against a direct dopaminergic influence on the generation and maintenance of placebo effects. Further exploration of the neurochemical mechanisms underlying placebo analgesia remains paramount in the quest to exploit these effects for optimal treatment outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov German Clinical Trials Register, ID: DRKS00029366, https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00029366.

Anxiolytic and sedative effects of sodium valproate with different experimental paradigms in male and female rats.

Valproic acid or sodium valproate is a widely used drug in the treatment of epilepsy, although it also appears to have anxiolytic and sedative properties derived from its agonistic action on the GABAergic system. To analyze these potential effects of the drug, we conducted three experiments with rats using procedures designed to assess anxiety in rodents. In the first experiment, with a fear conditioning procedure, three groups of male rats were included that received either 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg of valproate or an equivalent volume of saline solution. In Experiment 2, recording spontaneous activity in an open field, we compared the effects of valproic acid (300 mg/kg) on male and female rats. In the third experiment, we analyzed the effect of valproic acid using a novelty-induced hypophagia test and tested again for potential differences as a function of the sex of the animals. The results showed an anxiolytic effect restricted to the 300 mg/kg dose of the drug in Experiment 1. Such an effect was restricted to the female sample in Experiment 2, but in the third experiment affected both sexes. As for the sedative effect, it was observed in all experiments irrespective of the sex of the rats. These findings hold significant implications for the treatment of anxiety disorders since valproate may offer a novel therapeutic approach for anxiety-related conditions with distinct benefits and fewer side effects. However, clinical studies are needed to validate the translation of these findings from animal models to human patients.

Calibration-free and ready-to-use wearable electroanalytical reporting system (r-WEAR) for long-term remote monitoring of electrolytes markers

A major bottleneck in the development of wearable ion-selective sensors is the inherent conditioning and calibration procedures at the user's end due to the signal's instability and non-uniformity. To address this challenge, we developed a strategy that integrates three interdependent materials and device engineering approaches to realize a Ready-to-use Wearable ElectroAnalytical Reporting system (r-WEAR) for reliable electrolytes monitoring. The strategy collectively utilized (1) finely-configured diffusion-limiting polymers to stabilize the electromotive force in the electrodes, (2) a uniform electrical induction in electrochemical cells to normalize the open-circuit potential (OCP), and (3) an electrical shunt to maintain the OCP across the entire sensor in the r-WEAR. The approaches jointly enable fabrication of homogeneously stable and uniform ion-selective sensors, eliminating common conditioning and calibration practices. As a result, the r-WEAR demonstrated a signal's variation down to ±1.99 mV with a signal drift of 0.5 % per hour (0.12 mV h−1) during a 12-h continuous measurement of 10 sensors and a signal drift as low as 13.3 μV h−1 during storage. On-body evaluations of the r-WEAR for four days without conditioning and re-/calibration further validated the sensor's performance in realistic settings, indicating its remarkable potential for practical usage in a user operation-free manner in wearable healthcare applications.

FR2 5G Networks for Industrial Scenarios: Experimental Characterization and Beam Management Procedures in Operational Conditions

FR2 5G Networks for Industrial Scenarios: Experimental Characterization and Beam Management Procedures in Operational Conditions

Factors influencing management modifications following fiberoptic bronchoscopy in critically ill ICU patients.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has evolved into a crucial diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for respiratory tract conditions over the years. Despite its benefits, this approach poses increased risks to critically ill patients. This study aimed to identify clinical parameters that influence management modifications after FOB in the general intensive care unit (ICU) population, an area not extensively explored. In this retrospective study, critically ill adults admitted to a medical ICU in Bangkok, Thailand, who underwent FOB between January 2013 and December 2022 were enrolled. Clinical parameters, imaging findings, and indications were analyzed to identify factors associated with modifications in post-bronchoscopic management. A total of 118 patients were reviewed and management modifications occurred in 69 patients (58.5%), in which antibiotic modification (78.3%) was the leading reason. Chronic steroid use and suspected interstitial lung disease were associated with management modifications after FOB, while alveolar infiltration on chest radiography was not. Although management modifications showed a trend toward lower mortality, statistical significance was not reached. Multivariate analysis identified chronic steroid use as the only independent factor [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-5.06; P=0.048]. Among critically ill patients, chronic steroid use was a predictor of management modifications after FOB and is likely to be beneficial.