Variety Of Symptoms Research Articles

Comparative study on structural and functional brain differences in mild cognitive impairment patients with tinnitus.

Tinnitus may be associated with various brain changes. However, the degenerative changes in patients with tinnitus have not been extensively investigated. We aimed to evaluate degenerative, structural, and functional brain changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who also suffer from tinnitus. This study included participants aged 60 to 80 years with MCI and a hearing level better than 40 dB. The participants were classified into two groups: MCI with tinnitus (MCI-T) and MCI without tinnitus (MCI-NT). All patients underwent Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), 3 T brain MRI, F18-florapronol PET, and F18-FDG PET. The MCI-T group exhibited higher β-amyloid deposition in the superior temporal gyrus, temporal pole, and middle temporal gyrus compared to the MCI-NT group (p < 0.05 for all). Additionally, the MCI-T group showed increased metabolism in the inferior frontal gyrus, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (p < 0.005 for all). The THI score was strongly correlated with increased volume in the insula, ACC, superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, white matter near the hippocampus, and precentral gyrus (p < 0.05 for all). Moreover, the MCI-T group demonstrated higher metabolic activity in the default mode network (DMN) and lower activity in the executive control network (ECN) (p < 0.05 for all). In the MCI-T group, the posterior DMN was positively correlated with the visual network and negatively with the ECN, whereas in the MCI-NT group, it correlated positively with the ECN. The MCI-T group exhibited greater β-amyloid accumulation in the auditory cortex and more extensive changes across various brain networks compared with the MCI-NT group, potentially leading to diverse clinical symptoms such as dementia with semantic deficits or depression. Tinnitus in MCI patients may serve as a biomarker for degenerative changes in the temporal lobe and alterations in brain network dynamics.

Ulcer Symptoms Concealing Primary Jejunal Follicular Lymphoma: A Case Report

&lt;p&gt;胃腸道淋巴瘤的臨床表現多樣且非特異，往往難以區分良性或惡性。內視鏡和放射學檢查的表現也不具特定性。在胃腸道，淋巴瘤是一種相對罕見的腫瘤，佔胃腸道惡性腫瘤的1%&amp;ndash;8%，初發性胃、小腸和十二指腸淋巴瘤的比例約為10:3:1。濾泡性淋巴瘤主要發生在十二指腸，瀰漫性大B細胞淋巴瘤在胃和迴腸，黏膜相關淋巴組織淋巴瘤在胃，套細胞淋巴瘤在末端迴腸、空腸和結腸，而腸病相關T細胞淋巴瘤多在空腸。對於濾泡性淋巴瘤，觀察也是一種選擇，手術介入通常僅適於複雜的臨床狀況，如腸阻塞或穿孔。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;本篇病例報告一位74歲男性個案，十八年前出現反覆性上腹痛、腹部脹氣、打嗝、腹瀉，偶有便秘，多次上消化道內視鏡檢查診斷胃與十二指腸潰瘍，治療後症狀仍然存在。兩年後出現嘔吐，全套血液、生化、糞便檢驗皆無異常，上消化道內視鏡顯示多發性胃與十二指腸潰瘍，無幽門桿菌感染。腹部超音波顯示明顯胃擴張，電腦斷層檢查未發現腸阻塞或狹窄。小腸鏡顯示第三至第四部分十二指腸狹窄，組織切片為B細胞型態淋巴瘤。個案接受手術，術中發現在屈氏韌帶下方約5 cm處近端空腸有一4.8 cm &amp;times; 3.0 cm &amp;times; 1.3 cm環狀腫瘤併腸繫膜數顆腫大淋巴結，予以切除9.8 cm空腸與淋巴結並接受腸道吻合。病理診斷為第2級濾泡性淋巴瘤。術後接受化學治療及定期追蹤。至今已過十六年，病人情況良好。定期追蹤檢查並無復發。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;藉此病例報告提醒基層醫師面對反覆性消化性潰瘍時，必需將消化道淋巴瘤列入鑑別診斷。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is challenging to distinguish benign gastrointestinal tumors from malignant ones due to their diverse and nonspecific symptoms, and endoscopic and radiological findings often lack specificity. Lymphoma is relatively uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, constituting 1%-8% of malignant tumors with a primary tumor ratio of approximately 10:3:1 for the stomach, small intestine, and duodenum. Follicular lymphomas mainly occur in duodenum, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in stomach and ileum, MALT lymphomas in stomach, mantle cell lymphomas in terminal ileum, jejunum, and colon, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas in jejunum. For the treatment of follicular lymphomas, observation remains a viable option, while surgical intervention is usually reserved for complicated clinical conditions, such as intestinal obstruction or perforation. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; This case report features a 74-year-old male with recurrent epigastric pain, abdominal distention, hiccups, diarrhea and occasional constipation since he was diagnosed with duodenal ulcers eighteen years ago. Repeated panendoscopic examinations showed gastric and duodenal ulcers. Symptoms persisted after treatment and were followed by vomiting two years later. Comprehensive blood, biochemical, and stool analyses revealed no abnormalities. Panendoscopic examination showed multiple ulcers in the stomach and duodenum without Helicobacter pylori infection. Abdominal ultrasound indicated significant gastric dilation, and computed tomography scan revealed neither intestinal obstruction nor stenosis. Small intestinal fiberscope found stenosis in the third to fourth portions of the duodenum, and tissue biopsy suggested B-cell lymphoma. Intraoperatively, a circumferential tumor measuring 4.8 cm &amp;times; 3.0 cm &amp;times; 1.3 cm was identified, located approximately 5 cm proximal to the Ligament of Treitz. It was accompanied by enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. The excision of 9.8 cm of the jejunum, along with lymph node dissection, was followed by anastomosis. Surgical pathology confirmed grade II follicular lymphoma. Postoperatively, the patient receives chemotherapy and undergoes regular follow-up. The patient has remained in good medical condition over these sixteen years. Follow-up examinations did not show tumor recurrence. This case report aims to remind primary care physicians to consider gastrointestinal lymphoma early in the differential diagnosis of recurrent peptic ulcers.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Type 1 Diabetes: An In-Depth Review of Pathogenesis with a Focus on the Role of Physical Activity and Dietary Interventions

Introduction: Pompe disease is classified as a metabolic myopathy and is a glycogen storage disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner due to a mutation in the gene encoding the enzyme α-glucosidase. There are two main forms: infantile and late-onset. The disease progresses chronically, with clinical presentation characterized by progressive muscle weakness and varying degrees of respiratory insufficiency. Although incurable, causative treatment is available in the form of enzyme replacement therapy with alglucosidase alfa, a human recombinant α-glucosidase. Early diagnosis, primarily based on enzyme activity assessment, is crucial as timely treatment can extend and improve patients' quality of life. Purpose of the work: This study aims to review and characterize the clinical and genetic aspects of Pompe disease. Materials and methods: A comprehensive analysis of research papers available on PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus was undertaken using the searchterms encompassing the following keywords: Pompe disease / lysosomal storage disease / myopathy / acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase / glycogen / newborn screening / enzyme replacement therapy. Results: Pompe disease is a life-threatening rare condition where prompt diagnosis is essential due to the availability of causative treatment. It is included in newborn screening programs for inherited metabolic disorders in some countries. Unfortunately, in Poland, routine diagnostic screening does not cover this disease. Implementing screening could simplify diagnosis and reduce the need for extensive differential diagnostics. Diagnosing late-onset Pompe disease can be challenging due to its diverse progression and symptoms. Patients with Pompe disease, even those receiving enzyme replacement therapy, require multidisciplinary care involving cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, and physical therapy.

Laryngeal Neuromas in a 5-Year-Old With MEN2B: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder primarily driven by mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. MEN2B exhibits diverse symptoms affecting multiple organ systems, with mucosal neuromas being a prominent feature. These benign tumors contribute to the syndrome's clinical variability, alongside medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma. The article presents a case study of a young girl diagnosed with MEN2B, complicated by laryngeal neuromas leading to respiratory distress post-thyroidectomy. Laryngeal neuromas are exceedingly rare, underscoring the importance of recognizing such manifestations for proper airway management, especially during surgical interventions. Despite its rarity, MEN2B presents significant clinical challenges, requiring early detection, genetic counseling, and multidisciplinary management for improved outcomes. Clinicians must remain vigilant for rare manifestations like laryngeal neuromas to prevent serious complications, particularly during surgical procedures.

A CASE REPORT: PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA-INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN A 65-YEAR-OLD PATIENT – AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE

Pheochromocytoma is a rare adrenal gland tumor that produces excessive amounts of adrenaline and noradre­naline, leading to a surge in blood pressure. This condi­tion often goes undiagnosed due to its infrequency and diverse symptom presentation, surgery is considered as the definitive treatment. We report a 65-year-old male patient, initially referred to an endocrinologist for further evaluation of a mass in the right kidney discovered via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), leading to a diagno­sis of pheochromocytoma. Following a successful surgi­cal procedure and peri-operative period, the patient was discharged and advised to return to the hospital 1 month after the surgery and every 1 year for regular follow-ups.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of angioleiomyoma of the female genital tract: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundAngioleiomyoma, a benign tumour composed of smooth muscle cells and thick-walled vessels, is expected to be very rare in the female genital tract. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of angioleiomyoma in the female genital tract.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 89 women with angioleiomyoma in the genital tract who were treated at Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between July 2008 and October 2023. Symptom remission rate was the primary outcome of the study.ResultsAngioleiomyomas accounted for 0.6% of leiomyomas of the female genital tract. The average age of the 89 women was 41.8 ± 8.7 years. Seventy women (78.7%) had a history of uterine surgery, of whom two patients had removed uterine angioleiomyoma by laparoscopic myomectomy. The angioleiomyomas of 61 (68.5%) women were located in the uterine corpus, 17 (19.1%) in the broad ligament, 10 (11.2%) in the cervix and only 1 (1.1%) in the vagina. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the main clinical manifestation of angioleiomyomas located in the uterine corpus or cervix, whereas the main clinical manifestation of angioleiomyomas in the broad ligaments was pelvic mass. Of the 89 women, 59 underwent surgery to preserve the uterus, and 30 underwent total hysterectomy or subtotal hysterectomy. The intraoperative blood loss was more than 500 ml (700–4,500 ml) in six women. The symptom remission rate was 100% after surgery. Among the 59 women with preserved uterus, 8 showed multiple uterine leiomyomas during follow-up, but it was difficult to determine whether they were angioleiomyomas. Angioleiomyomas recurred in one women who underwent total hysterectomy.ConclusionAngioleiomyoma is rare in the female reproductive tract, and patients may present with diverse symptoms, which are related to the location of the tumour. Hysterectomy and myomectomy are both effective treatment methods, but the risk of intraoperative bleeding should be recognised for multiple lesions and those with large diameters. Relapse may occur in some patients.

Serotonin syndrome: A rare yet crucial diagnosis.

Serotonin syndrome is a rare, life-threatening toxidrome caused by serotonergic agents. This syndrome classically presents with a combination of mental status changes, autonomic hyperactivity, and neuromuscular abnormalities. However, diagnosing the condition is difficult because of its variable symptoms at presentation. As a result, serotonin syndrome often is underreported, making it harder to understand, recognize, and treat. Patients with this condition may present to primary or urgent care or an ED, and may become acutely symptomatic during an inpatient admission. Clinicians must be able to identify at-risk patients and intervene to prevent potentially lethal complications.

Genetic and pathophysiological insights from autopsied patient with primary familial brain calcification: novel MYORG variants and astrocytic implications

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a genetic neurological disorder characterized by symmetric brain calcifications that manifest with variable neurological symptoms. This study aimed to explore the genetic basis of PFBC and elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Six patients from four pedigrees with brain calcification were enrolled. Whole-exome sequencing identified two novel homozygous variants, c.488G > T (p.W163L) and c.2135G > A (p.W712*), within the myogenesis regulating glycosidase (MYORG) gene. Cerebellar ataxia (n = 5) and pyramidal signs (n = 4) were predominant symptoms, with significant clinical heterogeneity noted even within the same family. An autopsy of one patient revealed extensive brainstem calcifications, sparing the cerebral cortex, and marked by calcifications predominantly in capillaries and arterioles. The pathological study suggested morphological alterations characterized by shortened foot processes within astrocytes in regions with pronounced calcification and decreased immunoreactivity of AQP4. The morphology of astrocytes in regions without calcification remains preserved. Neuronal loss and gliosis were observed in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum, and dentate nucleus. Notably, olivary hypertrophy, a previously undescribed feature in MYORG-PFBC, was discovered. Neuroimaging showed reduced blood flow in the cerebellum, highlighting the extent of cerebellar involvement. Among perivascular cells constituting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit, MYORG is most highly expressed in astrocytes. Astrocytes are integral components of the BBB, and their dysfunction can precipitate BBB disruption, potentially leading to brain calcification and subsequent neuronal loss. This study presents two novel homozygous variants in the MYORG gene and highlights the pivotal role of astrocytes in the development of brain calcifications, providing insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PFBC associated with MYORG variants.

Comprehensive Analysis of Drug-Induced Parkinson-like Events.

Specific drugs are well known to have the capacity to induce Parkinson-like symptoms. Parkinson-like events are side effects that may persist for an extended period even after drug administration is discontinued. Although these events can be triggered by various drugs, the mechanisms underlying their diverse symptoms remain largely unclear. To investigate this, we used the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Reporting Database, which is maintained by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, to analyze the risk factors associated with Parkinson-like events along with the associated drug trends and characteristics. Our findings indicate that similar to Parkinson's disease, age-related differences affect the onset of these reported events, with older individuals being more susceptible. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis revealed that the mechanisms triggering these Parkinson-like events are consistent across reports, suggesting a common underlying cause. However, even with a consistent mechanism, the side effects can vary depending on the site of action. These insights underline the importance of the swift identification of the drugs suspected of causing these events and the implementation of measures to reduce their side effects.

Challenges and practices of deep learning model reengineering: A case study on computer vision

ContextMany engineering organizations are reimplementing and extending deep neural networks from the research community. We describe this process as deep learning model reengineering. Deep learning model reengineering — reusing, replicating, adapting, and enhancing state-of-the-art deep learning approaches — is challenging for reasons including under-documented reference models, changing requirements, and the cost of implementation and testing.ObjectivePrior work has characterized the challenges of deep learning model development, but as yet we know little about the deep learning model reengineering process and its common challenges. Prior work has examined DL systems from a “product” view, examining defects from projects regardless of the engineers’ purpose. Our study is focused on reengineering activities from a “process” view, and focuses on engineers specifically engaged in the reengineering process.MethodOur goal is to understand the characteristics and challenges of deep learning model reengineering. We conducted a mixed-methods case study of this phenomenon, focusing on the context of computer vision. Our results draw from two data sources: defects reported in open-source reeengineering projects, and interviews conducted with practitioners and the leaders of a reengineering team. From the defect data source, we analyzed 348 defects from 27 open-source deep learning projects. Meanwhile, our reengineering team replicated 7 deep learning models over two years; we interviewed 2 open-source contributors, 4 practitioners, and 6 reengineering team leaders to understand their experiences.ResultsOur results describe how deep learning-based computer vision techniques are reengineered, quantitatively analyze the distribution of defects in this process, and qualitatively discuss challenges and practices. We found that most defects (58%) are reported by re-users, and that reproducibility-related defects tend to be discovered during training (68% of them are). Our analysis shows that most environment defects (88%) are interface defects, and most environment defects (46%) are caused by API defects. We found that training defects have diverse symptoms and root causes. We identified four main challenges in the DL reengineering process: model operationalization, performance debugging, portability of DL operations, and customized data pipeline. Integrating our quantitative and qualitative data, we propose a novel reengineering workflow.ConclusionsOur findings inform several conclusion, including: standardizing model reengineering practices, developing validation tools to support model reengineering, automated support beyond manual model reengineering, and measuring additional unknown aspects of model reengineering.

Clinical presentation and factors associated with gluten exposure in children with celiac disease.

The prevalence of celiac disease (CeD) is increasing, yet it is still underdiagnosed, in part because of its heterogeneous presentation. Diagnostic criteria are evolving and management with strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is challenging for many. We aimed to characterize the clinical presentation of CeD among a large multicenter cohort of pediatric patients and to identify factors associated with gluten-free diet adherence. Patients with CeD aged 0-18 years were recruited from 11 United States health centers. Parents completed surveys about gluten-free diet adherence and patient electronic health records were reviewed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with gluten exposure. Charts were reviewed for 460 children with a median age of 6.4 years. Abdominal pain was reported in 57% of the cohort, but diverse symptoms were identified. Parent surveys were completed for 455 participants. Sixty-five (14%) participants were at high risk for gluten exposure based on parental reports of weekly or daily gluten exposure or eating gluten by choice in the past year. Participants under the age of 5 years had a lower risk of gluten exposure, while participants without repeat serology testing 18 months after initial diagnosis were at higher risk of gluten exposure. In a large, multicenter cohort of pediatric CeD patients, clinical presentation is highly variable, necessitating a high index of suspicion to make a diagnosis. Parent surveys indicate that 14% of patients are at high risk of gluten exposure, with patient age and lack of close follow-up associated with gluten-free diet adherence.

Personalized approach to malignant struma ovarii: Insights from a web-based machine learning tool.

Malignant struma ovarii (MSO) is a rare ovarian tumor characterized by mature thyroid tissue. The diverse symptoms and uncommon nature of MSO can create difficulties in its diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to analyze data and use machine learning methods to understand the prognostic factors and potential management strategies for MSO. In this retrospective cohort, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database provided the data used for this study's analysis. To identify the prognostic variables, we conducted Cox regression analysis and constructed prognostic models using five machine learning algorithms to predict the 5-year survival. A validation method incorporating the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to validate the accuracy and reliability of the machine learning models. We also investigated the role of multiple therapeutic options using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The study population comprised 329 patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that older age, unmarried status, chemotherapy, and the total number of tumors in patients were poor prognostic factors. Machine learning models revealed that the multilayer perceptron accurately predicted outcomes, followed by the random forest classifier, gradient boosting classifier, K-nearest neighbors, and logistic regression models. The factors that contributed the most were age, marital status, and the total number of tumors in the patients. The present study offers a comprehensive approach for the treatment and prognosis assessment of patients with MSO. The machine learning models we have developed serve as a practical, personalized tool to aid in clinical decision-making processes.

Pharmacological management of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common and frequently undiagnosed female endocrine disorder that is associated with diverse symptoms and features, and an increased risk of long-term chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pharmacotherapy for polycystic ovary syndrome should be directed at the key concerns of the individual patient. The combined oral contraceptive pill or metformin may be prescribed for irregular periods. The combined oral contraceptive pill is preferred over antiandrogens for treatment of hirsutism and acne. Metformin is of benefit for reducing excess body weight and improving hormonal and metabolic outcomes in those with high metabolic risk (e.g. body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2). Inositol appears to have limited benefits for metabolic outcomes, although it is associated with fewer adverse effects than metformin. Modification of lifestyle factors is important as part of a holistic approach to managing polycystic ovary syndrome. Anti-obesity drugs may be considered for weight management in addition to lifestyle interventions.

Teething - filling in the gaps….

Dentists and dental care professionals may be faced with concerns from parents and carers regarding teething in infants and young children. Teething is a normal physiological and self-limiting process; however, the diverse signs and symptoms that have, over time, been attributed to teething, can make diagnosis challenging. Appropriate diagnosis is crucial in preventing the potentially life-threatening sequalae of dismissing symptoms as teething and delaying appropriate treatment of a systemically unwell child. Management of teething can be approached in a five-step process based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical knowledge summary on teething. These include: 1) history-taking, clinical examination, diagnosis and referral of systemically unwell or severely distressed children for urgent medical review; 2) providing parental/carer reassurance, information and preventative advice; 3) simple, non-pharmacological management strategies; 4) pharmacological intervention; 5) safety-netting advice in case the child becomes systemically unwell, has prolonged symptoms, or is in severe distress. The purpose of this article is to bridge knowledge gaps regarding teething to enable appropriate diagnosis and encourage dissemination of preliminary information and ensure appropriate referral by frontline dental professionals.

The Current Research Status and Progress of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a common but serious mental illness with extremely high mortality and a high suicide rate. It has variable symptoms of both depression and mania and can separate into three types of sub-types---bipolar disorder type I, bipolar disorder type II and Rapid cycling bipolar disorder. So far, scientists and medical researchers had got a lot of success in the field of bipolar disorder. Therefore, this paper proposes to conclude the recent research to discuss the status and progress of bipolar disorder, which mainly discusses the history of bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatments, and possible etiology; this paper will discuss them from the view of genetic and environmental. Besides, this paper specifically focuses on the recent innovative discovery of genetic etiology and genetic model treatment methods.

Symptom experiences and self-management strategies of patients with haematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy: A qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore symptom experiences and self-management strategies from the haematological malignancy patient's perspective. MethodsA qualitative descriptive approach was used to provide a direct and comprehensive understanding of the symptoms experienced and self-management strategies during treatment among patients with haematological malignancy. Fourteen patients with haematologic malignancies who received chemotherapy at a Chinese tertiary hospital were selected using purposeful sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and one-on-one patient sessions. The collected data were analysed using the content analysis methods. Reporting adhered to the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. ResultsThe data from this study were categorized into four themes and eight subthemes: (1) the dynamics and complexity of symptom experience (nonlinear, and overloaded symptom burden); (2) strategies for coping with symptomatic change (actively responding to challenges, and facing symptoms negatively); (3) symptom affects interaction (symptoms affect family interactions, and symptoms affect social interactions); and (4) benefit from symptom management (promoting family relationships, and regaining a new role in society). ConclusionsPatients with haematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy still face complex and variable symptoms, and there are still considerable challenges in symptom management. The findings underscore that health care providers should provide the necessary symptom assessment to enhance the well-being of patients based on the characteristics of the patient's symptom experience and symptom management needs at different stages of the disease.

The Experience of Timisoara Hematology Clinic on the Management of Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients

Objectives. One of the most prevalent types of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders is non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which has shown an increased frequency worldwide of roughly 168% since 1975, coinciding with a decline in the age at diagnosis. Despite a ten-year improvement in overall survival, NHL accounts for approximately 3% of all cancer-related deaths. Delays in diagnosis and the emergence of related comorbidities are caused by the diverse symptomatology and symptoms associated with NHL. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess patients treated at Timisoara's Clinical Emergency Municipal Hospital who had been diagnosed with aggressive HNL. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study comprised 76 patients diagnosed with aggressive NHL between January 2020 and June 2023 who were admitted to Timisoara's Clinical Emergency Municipal Hospital. Biopsy along with histopathologic examination served as the basis for the diagnosis. As part of the first assessment, bone marrow biopsy and imaging studies (PET/CT) were carried out in addition to laboratory tests. The NHL was staged using the Ann Arbour classification. The present protocols were followed in the establishment of the treatment. PET/CT was used to assess the response to treatment. Results. In this study cohort 72% were stage 4 of NHL at the diagnosis, 16% were stage 3, 5% were stage 2, while only 2% were stage 1. B symptoms were present in 69% of cases. In patients with 4th stage of NHL, bone marrow represents the most frequent extranodal site. 57 patients finished minimum a complete chemotherapy line, from which 90% of the patients had complete (63%) or partial (24%) remission after first-line treatment. Conclusion. The importance of this study was to emphasize the heterogeneity of NHL and to evaluate the treatment response and survivance of aggressive NHL patients.

Molecularly imprinted Ag2S quantum dots with high photocatalytic activity for dye removal: Experimental and DFT insights

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) were developed by carrying out the cocktail solution of Template ((Salata, 2004)-Gingerol), monomer, crosslinker, and Ag2S Quantum Dots (QDs) by ex-situ dissolved in an appropriate solvent, resulting in an efficient crosslinked polymer composite. Degradation of Alizarin red S (ARS) dye and yellowish sunset (SY) azo dye under visible light irradiation was reported first time by the introduction of prepared MIPs composite. In this research, the result shows efficient photocatalyt activity of Ag2S-MIPs composite for the degradation of AR and SY dye with degradation% (80%) and (84%) in the aqueous wastewater. The degradation efficiency of the Ag2S-MIPs composite and the Ag2S QD associated with non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) (i.e.Ag2S-NIPs composite) were calculated by using different parameters such as catalyst dose, pH value, optimum time and concentration variation and the observations are evocative. Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) approach was also used to analyze the structural, stability/energetics, and electronic features of the organic-inorganic hybrid composites of the Ag2S QD with the MIPs based on (Salata, 2004)-gingerol extract. The proposed QD and MIPs (EGDMA and (Salata, 2004)-Gingerol) composite model has been detected to be the most stable because it shows the largest binding energy (BE) among the three chosen composite models. It was found out that imprinted polymers were superior in enhancing the degradation of dyes when compared to non imprinted polymers. Introducing MIPs into the valence band accelerates the catalysis properties to stabilize newly fashioned excitons that are basically generated as a result of light excitation in presence of Ag2S Quantum Dots (QDs) and molecular imprinted polymer (MIPs). Motivation behind this work is to address the challenges related to environmental pollution causing by organic dyes. These toxins are known to cause diverse symptoms (e.g., skin irritation, eye infection, respiratory disorders, and even cancer) once exposed through ingestion and inhalation. Through incorporation of Ag2S QD into MIP,the purpose of this research is to enhance the selectivity, specificity and photocatalytic activity for dyes and that work holds a potential towards environmental remediation by developing a cost effective and sustainable method for controlling pollution in water.

Epidemiological Features of Leptospirosis and Identification of Leptospira wolffii as a Persistently Prevailing Species in North-Central Bangladesh.

Leptospirosis is considered to be the most widespread, yet neglected, re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by infection with a pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira. Although this disease is prevalent in Bangladesh, the recent epidemiological status has not yet been well documented. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis among febrile patients using different diagnostic methods and to characterize the epidemiological features and species of Leptospira in Mymensingh, north-central Bangladesh. Among the blood samples of 186 patients with suspected leptospirosis who met the inclusion criteria, including having a fever for more than 5 days (November 2021-June 2022), 88 samples (47%) were Leptospira-positive according to IgM LAT, IgM ELISA, or nested PCR (positivity rates: 38%, 37%, and 42%, respectively). Nested PCR showed a significantly higher positivity rate (54%) in patients with a short fever (5-10 day) than the other methods did, with lower rates among those with a longer fever. Leptospirosis cases were more common in males (68%), those 16-45 years of age (70%), residents of rural areas (81%), and farmers (41%). In addition to a fever, myalgia and jaundice were found in more than 70% of the patients, while variable symptoms were observed. The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the Leptospira species in all the 22 samples tested were L. wolffii, belonging to the pathogenic subclade P2. This study showed the recent epidemiological features of leptospirosis in Bangladesh, indicating the presumptive predominance of L. wolffii since 2019.

MGB-Unet: An Improved Multiscale Unet with Bottleneck Transformer for Myositis Segmentation from Ultrasound Images.

Myositis is the inflammation of the muscles that can arise from various sources with diverse symptoms and require different treatments. For treatment to achieve optimal results, it is essential to obtain an accurate diagnosis promptly. This paper presents a new supervised segmentation architecture that can efficiently perform precise segmentation and classification of myositis from ultrasound images with few computational resources. The architecture of our model includes a unique encoder-decoder structure that integrates the Bottleneck Transformer (BOT) with a newly developed Residual block named Multi-Conv Ghost switchable bottleneck Residual Block (MCG_RB). This block effectively captures and analyzes ultrasound image input inside the encoder segment at several resolutions. Moreover, the BOT module is a transformer-style attention module designed to bridge the feature gap between the encoding and decoding stages. Furthermore, multi-level features are retrieved using the MCG-RB module, which combines multi-convolution with ghost switchable residual connections of convolutions for both the encoding and decoding stages. The suggested method attains state-of-the-art performance on a benchmark set of myositis ultrasound images across all parameters, including accuracy, precision, recall, dice coefficient, and Jaccard index. Despite its limited training data, the suggested approach demonstrates remarkable generalizability by yielding exceptional results. The proposed model showed a substantial enhancement in accuracy when compared to segmentation state-of-the-art methods such as Unet++, DeepLabV3, and the Duck-Net. The dice coefficient and Jaccard index obtained improvements of up to 3%, 6%, and 7%, respectively, surpassing the other methods.