Current Data Research Articles

The impact of digital finance on financial inclusion in Zimbabwe

This study looks at how digital finance affects financial inclusion in Zimbabwe. There has been a noticeable change in Zimbabwe's financial services sector with the introduction of digital technology, especially mobile money and digital banking services. The present study investigates the ways in which digital finance initiatives have facilitated the expansion of financial services accessibility, the advancement of financial literacy, and the promotion of economic empowerment among marginalised communities in Zimbabwe. This study offers insights into the potential obstacles related to digital finance in achieving financial inclusion objectives in Zimbabwe through an extensive analysis of current research and empirical data.

Power Signal Histograms—A Method of Power Grid Data Compression on the Edge for Real-Time Incipient Fault Forensics

Across the power grid infrastructure, deployed power transmission systems are susceptible to incipient faults that interrupt standard operations. These incipient faults can range from being benign in impact to causing massive hardware damage and even loss of life. The power grid is continuously monitored, and incipient faults are recorded by Digital Fault Recorders (DFRs) to mitigate such outcomes. DFR-recorded data allow for power quality forensics and event analysis, but this ability comes at the cost of high data storage and data transmission requirements. It is common for data older than two weeks to be overwritten due to storage limitations, without being analyzed. This inhibits the creation of long-term data libraries that would enable incipient fault forensics and the characterization of behavior that precedes them, which limits the development and implementation of preventive measures; thus, there is a critical need to reduce DFR-recorded data’s storage requirements. This work addresses this critical need by leveraging the cyclic and residual histograms and introducing the frequency and Root Means Squared (RMS) histograms, which alleviate the current high data storage requirements and provide effective Incipient Fault Prediction (IFP). The residual, frequency, and RMS histograms are an extension of the cyclic histogram, reduce the data storage requirement by up to 99.58%, can be generated on the DFR without interrupting its normal operations, and are capable of predicting voltage arcing six hours before it is strong enough to trigger a DFR-recorded event.

Data Classification System for Economic Analysis after the Implementation of Separate Order Construction in the Firefighting System Installation Business

Data on the performance of the firefighting system installation business are scarce compared with other construction projects, such as electricity and information and communication projects, where separate order construction was previously practiced. This study aimed to obtain data on fire facility construction contracts by analyzing the current data, deriving improvement plans, and reviewing empirical studies on separate order construction from various construction projects, both domestically and internationally. An analysis of the data from Statistics Korea and the Public Procurement Service revealed an annual increase in the number and amount of firefighting system installation projects. In addition, the scale of the construction could be identified using separate order construction data. This study highlights cost reduction, shortened construction delay periods, and increased construction speed as the key economic review items. Based on these findings, a data classification system for the construction of firefighting facilities was proposed and categorized according to the project size, ordering organization, contractor, type of construction, construction period, and contract method.

The Role of Changes in the Redox Status in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a hemoblastosis of CD5+ B lymphocytes with lymphocytosis, damage to the lymphatic organs, occurring in the older age group, the etiology and pathogenesis of which are not fully understood. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the regulation of stem cells and the activation of intracellular survival signaling pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. The aim of the study was to analyze the current data on the role of redox status changes in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A review of published relevant studies 2018-2023, scientific articles in scientific electronic bibliographic databases PubMed and Social Sciences Citation Index, devoted to the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the role of free-radical oxidation processes in it was carried out. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, oxidative stress with a systemic excess of reactive oxygen species, an imbalance in the effectiveness of antioxidant defense is caused mainly by activation of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, low levels of NADPH-oxidase type 2, increased expression of heme oxygenase-1, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione recycling enzymes, superoxide dismutase-2, thioredoxins and decreased expression of catalase. One of the mechanisms of resistance to drug therapy and oxidative stress of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is the intracellular signaling pathway dependent on erythroid nuclear factor-2, due to the activation of expression in cells of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and-5, heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin-1 and -2, reduced glutathione, natural killer cell activity, which is associated with lifespan, chemotaxis, proliferation, and survival. FOXO family proteins are believed to suppress carcinogenesis. FOXO3a increases the expression of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and -5, and the activity of natural killer cells, which promotes the survival of tumor cells. The development of new targeted pharmacological agents that are capable of accumulating reactive oxygen species and reducing antioxidant protection due to the degradation of erythroid nuclear factor-2 and activation of NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 is underway, which modernizes the therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Use of Direct Anticoagulants in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Review of the Current Evidence and Emerging Perspectives.

Thromboembolic events and atrial fibrillation are common among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and these conditions typically require anticoagulation. Traditionally, vitamin K antagonists were used for management, but the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has increased in KTRs. In the general population, DOACs are recommended over warfarin, but the applicability of these recommendations to KTRs is unclear because of risk-benefit concerns. There is some hesitancy to use DOACs in KTRs because of their dependence on renal clearance for elimination, potential drug-drug interactions, and limited data. To date, studies of DOACs in KTRs have demonstrated that they are efficient in thromboembolic events, major bleeding is rare, and drug-drug interactions appear rare. However, no guidance yet exists about the use of DOACs, reversal of DOAC action, and the pre- and post-kidney transplant management of DOACs in KTRs, and the evidence base is scarce. Thus, decisions on DOAC use in KTRs are based on expert opinion and the resources and experiences of individual transplant centers. This review summarizes 10 published studies on the use of DOACs in 741 KTRs, evaluating the side effects, efficacy, drug-drug interactions, and perioperative management compared with those of 1320 KTRs using vitamin K antagonists. Although current data are limited, DOACs appear to be relatively safe and effective in KTRs, with some studies suggesting lower bleeding rates and better kidney function than with vitamin K antagonists. However, more research with larger patient groups is needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Testing the CKM unitarity at high energy via the W+W− production at the LHC and future colliders

We propose a novel test to assess the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix, VCKM, at present and future collider experiments. Our strategy makes use of the W+W− production cross section to directly probe the VCKM†VCKM product, which regulates the high-energy behavior of the observable. The violation of unitarity is signaled by an anomalous behavior of the cross section that grows quadratically with the W+W− invariant mass with respect to the Standard Model prediction. By using the recent ATLAS measurements of the W+W− cross section we are able to constrain the maximal unitarity violation allowed by current data, producing a bound complementary to the results of flavor physics experiments. Forecasts for the high luminosity phase of the LHC and for the future 100 TeV hadron collider are also discussed.

Navigating uncertainty: The interplay of future job forecasting, learning agility, responsiveness, and adaptability

Background: According to the 2023 World Economic Forum report, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation on the job market was more significant than originally projected. Although 2018 research forecasted significant job losses balanced by job creation, current data indicates otherwise. Between 2023 and 2027, it is anticipated that 69 million new jobs will be created due to advancements in AI, however, this will be offset by the loss of 83 million jobs, leading to a net decrease of 14 million jobs worldwide. Roles related to AI, digitalization, and sustainability, such as AI specialists and renewable energy engineers are expected to grow, while those in clerical and administrative sectors are most at risk of decline. This shift underscores the need for reskilling and adapting to evolving fields, as nearly 44% of workers skills will face disruption by 2027. The demand for analytical thinking, technological literacy, and adaptability will grow as companies increasingly adopt frontier technologies. Objectives: (1) identify key variables influencing adaptability of college graduates in Indonesia, (2) quantify the strength of relationships between these variables to understand the combined effect on graduate adaptability. The research also aims to (3) develop theoretical and practical recommendations to strengthen ICIL policy and equip students with the relevant skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing job market. Methodology: The research focuses on predicting future employment trends, adaptability, and learning agility (LA), along with the implications for improving the Independent Campus Independent Learning (ICIL) policy. It focused on the significant unemployment rate among college graduates, along with the lack of research on the relationship between job change predictions, graduates’ adaptability, and the impact on graduates’ general well-being. The mixed-method strategy with quantitative analysis was used to conduct this research with data collected from 284 ICIL participants through online survey. The gathered data was evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Lisrel version 10. Results: The result showed that job trend projections significantly influence responsiveness, which demonstrated a robust association between employment trend predictions and LA. Responsiveness significantly influenced learning agility which indicated no significant direct association between job trend projections and graduate adaptability. Conclusion: The research emphasized the need to consider adaptability as a concept with multiple dimensions. It proposed incorporating these factors into strategies for education and human resources development in order to better equip graduates for the demands of a constantly changing work market. Unique contribution: This research focused on adaptability as a multifaceted concept that consist of the ability to forecast job trends, be sensitive, and possess LA. It offered a deeper understanding of the relationships between these variables as discussed in the human resources literature. Technology, corporate culture, and training played a critical role in connecting employment trend prediction with the ability to respond effectively. Key recommendation: Institutions should implement a comprehensive approach to the development of human resources, with emphasis on fostering critical thinking, analytical abilities, and the practical application of information. By employing these tactics, higher education institutions may effectively equip graduates with both academic proficiency and the ability to adapt and thrive in quickly changing organizational environments, leading to the production of robust and versatile workers.

A Solution to Reduce the Impact of Patients' No-Show Behavior on Hospital Operating Costs: Artificial Intelligence-Based Appointment System.

Patient no-show behavior is a critical factor complicating hospital resource optimization and causing waste. The inefficiency caused by patients' no-shows and the resulting increased operating costs negatively affect the hospitals' financial structure and service quality. For this reason, health managers must make accurate predictions about whether patients will attend an appointment and plan the appointment system within the framework of these predictions. This research aims to optimize the hospital appointment system by making accurate predictions regarding the no-show behavior of the patients, based on recorded data. An artificial intelligence-based appointment system has been developed according to patients' demographics and past behavior patterns. The forecast results and realized performance results were compared. The artificial intelligence we have developed continuously improves appointment assignments by learning from past and current data. According to the findings, the artificial intelligence-based appointment system increased the rate of patients attending appointments by 10% per month. Likewise, the hospital capacity utilization rate increased by 6%. Findings from the study confirmed that no-show risks could be managed in the appointment process through artificial intelligence. This artificial intelligence-based design for appointment systems significantly decreases hospital costs and improves service quality performance.

Phenotypes and clinical laboratory data for polycystic ovary syndrome cases: A nationwide survey in Japan.

Describe the current phenotypes and clinical laboratory data regarding polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Japan, taking into account ethnic differences and obesity status. Data for 986 PCOS cases and 965 control cases were collected using a nationwide survey in Japan. Obese/overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) and non-obese/overweight (BMI <25 kg/m2) cases were compared. Japanese PCOS cases predominantly involved non-obese/overweight patients, accounting for 75% of all cases. Among non-obese/overweight PCOS cases, the incidence of both amenorrhea and clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism was significantly lower than in obese/overweight PCOS cases, whereas the rate of elevated serum luteinizing hormone (LH) level was significantly higher. Even though the incidence of hirsutism in Japan is only 13.5%, the detection rate for hyperandrogenism increased by as much as 30.4% when hirsutism was added to the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) criteria for the diagnosis of hyperandrogenism in addition to elevated serum total testosterone level. When evaluated based on timing of blood sampling, the LH level and LH/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio determined at the initial consultation involving a chief complaint of irregular menstrual cycle (after confirming the absence of follicles measuring ≥1 cm in diameter) were significantly higher than on days 2-3 or 4-6 of the menstrual cycle. Ethnic differences, including obesity status, affected the phenotype and clinical laboratory data of Japanese PCOS patients, such as the incidence rates of clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism and the rate of elevated basal LH level. Adding hirsutism to the JSOG 2024 criteria would enhance the accuracy of PCOS diagnosis and enhance consistency with the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Measuring basal LH level is useful for assessing the endocrinologic characteristics of Japanese PCOS cases, as well as lean Asian PCOS cases, but the timing of blood sampling can affect the result.

Determinants and patterns of self-medication: A comprehensive literature review

Background- Self-medication is a major public health concern practiced worldwide. Research indicates that improper self-medication leads to adverse drug reactions, masks underlying diseases, results in incorrect diagnoses, escalates morbidity, contributes to drug interactions, fosters antibiotic resistance, and strains resources within the healthcare system. Many studies on self-treatment have been published for certain countries or diseases, in addition to specific demographics, including teenagers, senior citizens, and medical pupils. The issue of self-treatment and related antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to global public health, as there has been a reported rise in self-medication practices over the past ten years. To obtain a thorough yet equivalent awareness of related issues and to make more definitive and practical conclusions for future action planning than those derived from reviews on the topic, it may be beneficial to integrate the current global self-medication data. Therefore, we set out to undertake a study to fully understand the prevalence, sample demographics, medications consumed, target ailment, and reasons for self-medication. Methods-Using the terms "self-medication, “Factors associated with it," and "non-prescription," a systematic review of the literature on self-medication practices was conducted using the databases PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science. The search was limited to cross-sectional study articles published between 2018 and 2022. Results- This analysis comprised 23 studies comprising 8,445 individuals in total. Headache, pain, and fever were shown to be among the most prevalent indications for self-treatment, followed by cold and cough. A summary of 20 studies inferred that Analgesics, antipyretics, and NSAIDs were the most self-practiced medications. Conclusion- Self-medication is widely practiced worldwide. It is critical to control and oversee appropriate self-medication practices through the enactment of strict laws and the involvement of legislators and medical experts. Large-scale public health awareness efforts on a variety of platforms, efficient medication distribution regulation, and legal proceedings against medical malpractice should all receive a great deal of attention. More cross-sectional studies employing a standard methodological framework are needed to have a deeper understanding of the incidence and practices of self-medication worldwide.

Characterisation of turbulence at sites with coexisting waves and currents: An analysis by empirical mode decomposition

This paper presents a novel side information assisted Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method for separating wave orbital velocity from a combined wave-tidal current velocity data, measured by three different Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) deployed in the Pentland Firth, Orkney Waters, UK. The effectiveness of this technique is confirmed through two methods: (1) the spectra of the wave-removed velocity align with the Kolmogorov −5/3 power law, and (2) the extracted wave orbital velocities were used to derive significant wave heights, which were validated against wave heights measured by the same ADCPs and through numerical modelling carried out with a coupled wave-current tool (TOMAWAC-TELEMAC 3D).The decomposed data was further used to calculate three-dimensional turbulence intensities (TI) for combined wave-current, wave-only, and current-only conditions, across different flow speeds and wave heights. The results demonstrate the robustness of the decomposition method in various scenarios and quantify the individual TI contributions from waves, currents, and their combined effects. This work provides valuable insights into the dynamics of areas where waves and currents coexist.

Distributed additive hazards regression analysis of multi-site current status data without using individual-level data

Distributed additive hazards regression analysis of multi-site current status data without using individual-level data

Border Trap-Enhanced Ga2O3 Nonvolatile Optoelectronic Memory.

Nonvolatile deep ultraviolet optoelectronic memory (DUVOEM) holds immense potential in cyberphysical systems, offering high storage density, swift conversion speeds, and robust data security. However, the current data retention time, typically limited to milliseconds or hours, mostly underperforms the expectations of years as a nonvolatile memory. In this work, we present a β-Ga2O3/SiO2/Si thin-film transistor DUVOEM with an enhanced data storage capability via trapping and releasing of photogenerated holes in border traps. Specifically, the photogenerated holes in β-Ga2O3 will tunnel through SiO2 and be captured by these defects. Innovatively, the much slower holes' release process from the border traps has been harnessed in developing outstanding nonvolatile optoelectronic memories. Rapid writing and erasing speeds, long-time retention (≥10 years), and high robustness demonstrate its practical application values. This study not only provides a novel strategy for nonvolatile DUVOEM but also provides an instance of functionalizing β-Ga2O3 memory with common defects in Si technology.

A phase 2, multicenter, clinical trial of CPX-351 in older patients with secondary or high-risk acute myeloid leukemia: PETHEMA-LAMVYX.

LAMVYX was a multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 trial designed to validate the safety and efficacy of CPX-351 in patients aged 60-75 years with newly diagnosed, secondary acute myeloid leukemia and to generate evidence on key issues not addressed in the preceding regulatory pivotal trial. The primary end point of the study was the complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) rate after induction. Eligible patients were recommended to undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after the first consolidation cycle. Alternatively, patients could undergo up to six maintenance cycles with CPX-351. Twenty-nine patients (49%; 95% exact confidence interval [CI], 37%-62%) patients achieved a CR/CRi after one or two cycles of induction, with a measurable residual disease negativity rate of 67% as assessed by centralized, multiparameter flow cytometry. Among patients who had serial next-generation sequencing analyses available, clearance of somatic mutations that were present at diagnosis was achieved in 7 (35%). The median follow-up among survivors was 16.8 months (range, 8.7-24.3 months). The median event-free survival was 3.0 months (95% CI, 1.4-7.3 months), and the median overall survival was 7.4 months (95% CI, 3.7-12.7 months). In landmark analyses at day +100 from diagnosis, the 1-year overall and event-free survival rate among patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 70% (95% CI, 47%-100%) and 70% (95% CI, 47%-100%), respectively. The corresponding values were 89% (95% CI, 71%-100%) and 44% (95% CI, 21%-92%), respectively, for patients who entered the maintenance phase. No significant longitudinal changes were observed in severity index or quality-of-life visual analog scale scores. The current data provide novel insights that might inform the clinical positioning and optimal use of CPX-351, complementing previous results (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04230239).

The impact of alcohol misuse in trauma patients: A scoping review protocol.

Alcohol use is a contributing factor in many cases of traumatic injury. There is conflicting evidence on the impact of alcohol use at the time of physical trauma on severity of injury and hospital course. Similarly, the significance of alcohol use disorder on outcomes in hospitalized trauma patients is unclear. This scoping review aims to provide a concise overview of the current literature surrounding peri-trauma alcohol use and alcohol use disorder on injury severity, in-hospital complications, patient outcomes, and long-term health impact of alcohol use in trauma. We will also explore the associated healthcare costs of this patient population. A systematic search of the following databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library will be completed to extract all studies that meet our inclusion criteria from January 2000 onwards. Case reports will be excluded. Two reviewers will screen all citations, abstracts, and full text articles. A third reviewer will act as tiebreaker at each stage of the screening process. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis will be conducted and assessed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. This review will contribute to the literature by providing a concise overview of the current data on the impact of alcohol on outcomes following trauma. We will explore the overall themes in the literature, limitations, and future directions to focus forthcoming research in this patient population. This project is registered via the Open Science Framework. The public registration is uniquely identified with the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z84WK. There were no funders or sponsors involved in the development of this protocol.

ИСКУССТВЕННЫЙ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТ И МАШИННОЕ ОБУЧЕНИЕ В ПЕДИАТРИИ - СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ И НЕИЗВЕДАННЫЕ ГОРИЗОНТЫ

The scientific article examines the implementation of digital technologies in the field of medicine. This review summarizes current data on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI-ML) in pediatrics based on global research. Currently, machine learning helps create models for predicting the severity of the condition in children with bronchiolitis, neonatal sepsis, bacterial infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, for screening autism, and internalizing disorders. The review highlights the variety of algorithms, analyzes the main methods with algorithms used in the development of artificial intelligence, and their application depending on specific tasks and requirements. As a result of the work, the relevance and necessity of using intelligent technologies in the modern world was determined. It was also found that despite the serious difficulties in implementing AI-ML systems, the prospects for their use encourage the search for solutions to overcome any obstacles. Highly qualified specialists from different parts of the world are constantly working on the development of this area.

Penalized Likelihood Estimation for Current Status Data with Informative Censoring

Current status data occurs when failure time of subjects in a survival study is only known to be either less or greater than the censoring time. Thus, the failure time is either left – or right – censored. Analyzing data of this structure under the Cox Proportional Hazards model with dependent censoring assumption can be challenging. To address this, a Penalized Maximum Likelihood Estimation (PMLE) approach was proposed. The unknown baseline cumulative hazard functions for both the failure time and the censoring time were estimated using splines. The advantage of penalized approach over unpenalized method is that that the desired smoothness level of the functions are controlled by their respective penalty terms. The possible dependence between the failure and censoring times was accounted for using the gamma-frailty model. An easy to implement hybrid computational algorithm is proposed to estimate the PMLEs and the Bayesian technique was employed for the estimation of the variances of the parameters. Extensive simulation studies were conducted to assess the statistical properties of the PMLEs. It was observed that the realized estimators were not only consistent, asymptotically normal and efficient, but also, were robust to the number of knots chosen, the proportion of dependent censoring used and the frailty distribution employed. The proposed PMLE method was further applied to real data obtained from tumorigenicity experiment.

Epidemiological pattern and clinical indications for tracheostomy at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza Tanzania

Background: Tracheostomy is among the first surgical procedures done by man and is performed from generation to generation with the major reason of saving lives. In Tanzania this procedure is commonly done and in the medical universities is taught as one of the procedures that all doctors should know. Tracheostomy is a common emergency lifesaving procedure performed between 21 to 25 patients per year among all patients receiving ENT services (13, 14). Though there is a scarcity in recent data and literature on the magnitude of tracheostomies performed in the lake zone. The most common indication for tracheostomy varies in studies from upper airway obstruction due to trauma, neoplasm, or prolonged intubation (13, 14). The pattern of tracheostomy indications may have changed with time due to advancement in medical practice. However, we lack current data in our setting highlighting indications for tracheostomies performed Methodology: This study aims at finding the epidemiological pattern and clinical indications for tracheostomy patients attending at Bugando medical centre. The engagement was done in a zonal referral hospital serving 6 regions of the country. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which spanned from September 2023 to May 2024. Results: The total number of patients was 35 whereby males were 51.4%(18) and females 48.6% (17).Number of males was slightly higher compared to females by 1.1%.The median age for the patient was 23 years, with the mean age of 20 years. The leading age group with the largest number of patients was 50 to 59 years. Most patients came from rural areas 74 %(26). Among clinical indications for tracheostomy the leading was upper airway obstruction by 65.7%, within which malignancy predominated other conditions by 65.2%, followed by trauma 26.1%, then prolonged intubation. Females showed a significant predominant distribution of malignancies of head and Neck by 60% which were evenly distributed in varying head and neck sites with p value of 0.039 which is statistical significant; with exception of laryngeal malignancies which were observed in males alone accounting for 26.7% in the whole study period. In conclusion this study shows the prevalence of tracheostomy in our environment, which is 1.8% and the clinical indication pattern has changed from trauma in previous studies to upper airway obstruction secondary to neoplastic conditions. It also shows the significance of site of malignancy to its relation to gender and this findings are not found in other studies. Recommendation: Molecular studies are needed to analyze further the differences in subsite in terms of gender.

Lack of glycemic control in type two diabetes mellitus patients is associated with reduced serum epidermal growth factor level and increased insulin resistance.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is steadily increasing worldwide in an alarming fashion. Importantly, poor glycemic control is associated with development of various health sequalae's due to glucolipotoxicity, oxidative stress and increased inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of glycemic control on the relative abundance of inflammatory markers in patients with controlled and uncontrolled T2DM, and to test their association with the glycemic status in diabetic patients in Jordan. An observational cross-sectional study design was used. Patients with T2DM with controlled diabetes [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤7.0%, n=110] and age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched uncontrolled diabetic patients (HbA1c >7.0%, n=105) were recruited. An antibody membrane array was used to examine the relative abundance of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the sera of the study subjects, followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to confirm the results. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score were significantly elevated in the uncontrolled T2DM group (P<0.05). Antibody membrane array showed that serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) is significantly decreased in the uncontrolled T2DM group, and this was confirmed by ELISA (158.77±111.7 vs. 95.9±82.7 pg/ml, P=0.002). The binary logistic model was used to predict the likelihood of being uncontrolled diabetic based on EGF levels. After controlling for age, sex and BMI, EGF was statistically associated with diabetes control, where lower EGF levels predicted uncontrolled diabetes. Additionally, Pearson's product-moment correlation showed a statistically significant negative correlation between EGF and HbA1c (r=-0.25, P<0.0001), and a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and HbA1c, (r=0.32, P<0.0001). The current data identify a novel link between serum EGF levels and the status of HbA1c indicative of diabetic control.

The role of beta blockers in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Beta-blockers are used to treat various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and chronic heart failure. They act by suppressing the effects of catecholamines through various pathways and affect heart rate, strength, and renin release, providing antihypertensive and anti-ischemic effects. The individual effects of various drugs on clinical outcomes in this group were determined according to characteristics of the patient, underlying disease, and type of beta-blocker used. In recent years, beta-blockers have faced a serious obstacle when new guidelines on hypertension suggest their use as second-line therapy after angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and slow calcium channel blockers in the absence of clear indications. In fact, these recommendations were based on meta-analyses that showed that beta-blockers have fewer beneficial effects on overall mortality, cardiovascular events, and brain stroke. In addition, according to currently available data, the appointment of beta-blockers for diseases such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and stable coronary heart disease can cause more harm than good outcomes. Bisoprolol is a beta-blocker with the highest selectivity for beta1-adrenergic receptors, which determines the rare frequency of side effects that develop because of its use. This review presents current data on the use of beta-blockers for treating cardiovascular diseases, with an emphasis on the use of bisoprolol.