Initial Stage Of Treatment Research Articles

Ranging sensor fusion in LISA data processing: Treatment of ambiguities, noise, and onboard delays in LISA ranging observables

Interspacecraft ranging is crucial for the suppression of laser frequency noise via time-delay interferometry (TDI). So far, the effects of onboard delays and ambiguities on the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) ranging observables were neglected in LISA modeling and data processing investigations. In reality, onboard delays cause offsets and timestamping delays in the LISA measurements, and pseudorandom noise (PRN) ranging is ambiguous, as it determines only the range up to an integer multiple of the PRN code length. In this article, we identify the four LISA ranging observables: PRN ranging, the sideband beat notes at the interspacecraft interferometer, TDI ranging, and ground-based observations. We derive their observation equations in the presence of onboard delays, noise, and ambiguities. We then propose a three-stage ranging sensor fusion to combine these observables in order to gain accurate and precise ranging estimates. We propose to calibrate the onboard delays on ground and to compensate the associated offsets and timestamping delays in an initial data treatment (stage 1). We identify the ranging-related routines, which need to run continuously during operation (stage 2) and implement them numerically. Essentially, this involves the reduction of ranging noise, for which we develop a Kalman filter combining the PRN ranging and the sideband beat notes. We further implement cross-checks for the PRN ranging ambiguities and offsets (stage 3). We show that both ground-based observations and TDI ranging can be used to resolve the PRN ranging ambiguities. Moreover, we apply TDI ranging to estimate the PRN ranging offsets. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Inactivation effect and kinetics of cathepsin L from white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by dense phase carbon dioxide

The effects of dense phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) pressure and temperature on the activity of cathepsin L in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were studied. Meanwhile the effects of DPCD and heat treatment on the activity of cathepsin L were compared. The results of inactivation kinetics showed that under the same treatment temperature, the inactivation effect of DPCD on cathepsin L increased gradually with the increase of pressure and time. The effect of DPCD pressure on the activity of cathepsin L accorded with the first-order kinetic model. Under the same treatment pressure, with the increase of temperature, the inactivation effect of cathepsin L was significant at the initial stage of DPCD treatment (rapid inactivation period), and decreased with the extension of time (stable inactivation period). The effect of DPCD treatment temperature on cathepsin L activity accorded with the first-order kinetic model at 35 °C, and two-stage kinetic model at 40–60 °C. The difference of relative enzyme activity between the two treatments showed that the dependence of DPCD on temperature was greater than that of heat. Ea, F and Ea, S of DPCD were higher than that of heat, which indicated that cathepsin L was more easily inactivated under DPCD treatment.

Dermatite de Contato Alérgica Ocupacional a múltiplos agentes num Canalizador

Introduction Contact dermatitis can have an irritating or allergic background and are the most frequently encountered occupational dermatosis. Allergic Contact Dermatitis can be of occupational origin and most often affects the hands, wrists, and forearms. The occupational and clinical history is critical for its diagnosis. The relationship between the symptoms and work, identifying substances that may cause the dermatosis is important to perform epicutaneous tests. The initial stage of treatment consists of evicting the agent, which may include removing the worker from his workplace. Early and appropriate treatment is important to prevent further deterioration and persistence of skin lesions. Case Report 47-year-old man, a plumber for thirty years, and no relevant personal background. About seventeen years ago, he started erythematous, scaly, and fissured lesions on the dorsum of both hands and in the interdigital spaces, which he associated with his professional activity. Initially, he did not wear gloves when working with plastic pipes, glues, sealants, and other rubber and steel materials. With the appearance of the injuries, he began to use them, without improvement. However, he kept the injuries. Dermatology followed it, where it performed the first epicutaneous tests with positivity for the agent Isopropyl-N-Phenyl 4 Phenylenediamine, present in rubbers. Due to continued exposure to the agent present in his workplace, with consequent worsening of the skin lesions, he returned to the consultation. He carried out new epicutaneous tests that revealed new positivities: Paraphenylenediamine, Mixture of Thiurans and Colophony. These agents are present in his work, and the diagnosis of Occupational Allergic Contact Dermatitis was assumed. Discussion/ Conclusion Occupational Allergic Contact Dermatitis is associated with high personal and professional suffering, loss of earning capacity and decreased productivity. Given the multiplicity of sensitized agents, this case was a challenge for Occupational Health, as it was present in various work materials and protective equipment. In this case, it was not possible to leave the workplace, which was not the option accepted by the worker, so the management of the case involved minimizing contact, giving preference to other types of materials, by reducing the time and intensity of exposure, using safer individual protection material, as well as using inner cotton gloves and outer vinyl gloves, in addition to concomitant pharmacological treatment. This case is also positive for other agents due to cross-reactivity, as well as the multiplicity of reactions that was partly caused by the continuous injury to the skin. Keywords: Allergic Contact Dermatitis; Isopropyl-N-Phenyl 4 Phenylenediamine; Paraphenylenediamine; Tiurans; Colophony.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINTS

Introduction. Osteoarthritis affects 7 % of the world’s population. The number of affected people worldwide increased by 48 % from 1990 to 2019. At the initial stages of knee osteoarthritis treatment, conservative treatment and corrective osteotomies are used. Corrective osteotomies in the area of the knee joint have shown excellent results for the treatment of limited arthrosis with a predominant lesion of the medial part of the joint in relatively young patients. However, despite the good results reported in the literature, patient satisfaction usually deteriorates over time, and some inevitably require further treatment with total knee arthroplasty in cases of progression of osteoarthritis.
 The aim of the study. On the basis of a retrospective analysis of surgical treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joints, justify the differentiated use of surgical interventions.
 Materials and methods. The article considers a differentiated approach to peri-articular osteotomies and primary endoprosthesis in gonarthrosis, in particular, in the focus of the endoprosthesis selection algorithm, based on related factors, such as the stage of the disease, the patient’s age, and the presence of concomitant complications, including the presence or absence of aseptic necrosis, contractures, instability ligamentous apparatus and defects of the condyles of the tibial bone. 391 knee joints were operated on in 383 patients.
 Results. In general, good results were obtained in 65 % (210 people) of endoprosthetics. The patients felt well, did not feel pain, did not limp, the range of motion was restored within normal limits, there was no deformation of the joint, the axis of the limb was correct, the joint was stable. Satisfactory results were obtained in 35 % (114 people), the patients felt well, did not feel pain, moderate lameness remained, range of motion was limited to no more than 800, there was no joint deformation, the axis of the limb was correct, the joint was stable. No unsatisfactory results were obtained.
 Conclusions. The developed differentiated approach to operative treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joints allowed to obtain 65 % good and 35 % satisfactory results.
 The prospect of further development in this direction continues due to the improvement of the design of endoprostheses and the technique of surgical intervention

‘Helper’ or ‘punisher’? A qualitative study exploring staff experiences of treating severe and complex eating disorder presentations in inpatient settings

BackgroundEating disorders have been described as challenging to treat, with the most severe cases requiring inpatient admission. Previous studies have explored staff’s perspectives on eating disorders and service provision. However, little is currently known about how staff experience working with severe and complex eating disorder presentations in inpatient settings and how they may be impacted by their work.AimsThis study aimed to explore the experiences of staff who contribute towards the treatment of severe and complex eating disorder presentations in inpatient settings.MethodsParticipants were recruited purposively via clinical contacts and a private hospital group in the UK. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed guided by the principles of reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsInterviews were completed with twelve staff members, including frontline nursing staff and multidisciplinary team (MDT) staff, from both private and public specialist settings. Participants expressed uncertainty about the treatment approach for service-users with severe and complex presentations. As service-users often resisted treatment, participants felt positioned as a ‘punisher’ rather than a ‘helper’ in initial treatment stages. Many had experienced physically and emotionally impactful events at work, including violence and aggression, as well as serious incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts. Participants generally found support in their colleagues, however considered organisational support insufficient.ConclusionsThis research highlights an urgent need to consider the wellbeing of staff who works in eating disorder inpatient settings, as well as their support needs. Retention and recruitment strategies should be reviewed to reduce staff turnover and improve patient care. Further research should investigate whether specialist inpatient staff are impacted by symptoms of vicarious or direct trauma, moral injury and compassion fatigue.

Metagenomic analysis of oral and intestinal microbiome of patients during the initial stage of orthodontic treatment

This prospective study analyzed changes in the oral and intestinal microbiomes in patients before and after fixed orthodontic treatment, elucidating the impacts of fixed orthodontic treatment on patient health and metabolism. Metagenomic analysis was conducted on stool, dental plaque, and saliva samples from 10 fixed orthodontic patients. All the samples were sequenced with Illumina NovaSeq 6000 with a paired-end sequencing length of 150 bp. Identification of taxa in metagenomes and functional annotation of genes of the microbiota were performed using the data after quality control. Clinical periodontal parameters, including the gingiva index, plaque index, and pocket probing depth, were examined at each time point in triplicates. Patients also received a table to record their oral hygiene habits of brushing, flossing, and dessert consumption frequency over 1 month. The brushing and flossing times per day of patients were significantly increased after treatment compared with baseline. The number of times a patient ate dessert daily was also fewer after treatment than at baseline. In addition, the plaque index decreased significantly, whereas the pH value of saliva, gingiva index, and pocket probing depth did not change. No significant differences were observed between the participants before and after orthodontic treatment regarding alpha-diversity analysis of the gut, dental plaque, or saliva microbiota. However, on closer analysis, periodontal disease-associated bacteria levels in the oral cavity remain elevated. Alterations in gut microbiota were also observed after orthodontic treatment. The richness and diversity of the microbiome did not change significantly during the initial stage of fixed orthodontic treatment. However, the levels of periodontal disease-associated bacteria increased.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapy in the treatment of traumatic lesions of the oral mucosa in orthodontic patients

Relevance. The problem of traumatization of the oral mucosa with fixed orthodontic structures, especially at the initial stage of treatment, is one of the most urgent in orthodontics. Prolonged use of such structures often leads to adverse reactions from the oral mucosa in the form of chronic mechanical injury, burning, soreness, etc. The effectiveness of the use of alginate plates of the drug «Superlimf» as a correction of side effects from non-removable orthodontic equipment has been studied.Objective. To study the effectiveness of the use of the domestic cytokine preparation «Superlimf» in the form of alginate plates in the treatment of traumatic lesions of the oral mucosa that occur in patients at the stages of orthodontic treatment with fixed equipment.Materials and methods. The study included 35 people aged 18 to 25 years, of which 17 people used alginate plates «Superlimf» and 18 people – the control group – used orthodontic wax to protect the mucosa from injury.Results. The use of alginate plates «Superlimf» showed a reduction in the duration of the inflammatory process, a significant reduction in painful manifestations and swelling.Conclusion. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of the drug «Superlimf» and allow us to recommend it for use in dental clinical practice.

Dynamic Thermal Treatments in Green Coconut Water Induce Dynamic Stress Adaptation of Listeria innocua That Increases Its Thermal Resistance.

The global coconut water market is projected to grow in the upcoming years, attributed to its numerous health benefits. However, due to its susceptibility to microbial contamination and the limitations of non-thermal decontamination methods, thermal treatments remain the primary approach to ensure the shelf-life stability and the microbiological safety of the product. In this study, the thermal inactivation of Listeria innocua, a Listeria monocytogenes surrogate, was evaluated in coconut water and in tryptone soy broth (TSB) under both isothermal (50-60 °C) and dynamic conditions (from 30 to 60 °C, with temperature increases of 0.5, 1 and 5 °C/min). Mathematical models were used to analyse the inactivation data. The Geeraerd model effectively described the thermal inactivation of L. innocua in both TSB and coconut water under isothermal conditions, with close agreement between experimental data and model fits. Parameter estimates and analysis revealed that acidified TSB is a suitable surrogate medium for studying the thermal inactivation of L. innocua in coconut water, despite minor differences observed in the shoulder length of inactivation curves, likely attributed to the media composition. The models fitted to the data obtained at isothermal conditions fail to predict L. innocua responses under dynamic conditions. This is attributed to the stress acclimation phenomenon that takes place under dynamic conditions, where bacterial cells adapt to initial sub-lethal treatment stages, leading to increased thermal resistance. Fitting the Bigelow model directly to dynamic data with fixed z-values reveals a three-fold increase in D-values with lower heating rates, supporting the role of stress acclimation. The findings of this study aid in designing pasteurization treatments targeting L. innocua in coconut water and enable the establishment of safe, mild heat treatments for refrigerated, high-quality coconut water.

Roles of crrAB two-component regulatory system in Klebsiella pneumoniae: growth yield, survival in initial colistin treatment stage, and virulence

Alternation of the colistin resistance-regulating two-component regulatory system (crrAB) is a colistin-resistance mechanism in Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), but its role in bacteria is not fully understood. Twelve colistin-susceptible K. pneumoniae clinical isolates were included in this study: six crrAB-positive and six crrAB-negative. We deleted the crrAB genes from two crrAB-positive isolates and complemented them. We measured the growth yields by determining growth curves in lysogeny broth and minimal media with or without Fe2+. In vitro selection rates for colistin resistance were determined by exposure to colistin, and survival rates against high concentrations of colistin (20 mg/L) at the early stage of growth (20 min) were investigated. Virulence was determined using a serum bactericidal assay and Galleria mellonella larval infection. The presence of crrAB was not associated with colistin resistance and did not increase the in vitro selection rate of colistin resistance after exposure. The growth yield of crrAB-positive isolates was higher in lysogeny broth media and increased when Fe2+ was added to minimal media. The crrAB-positive isolates showed higher survival rates in the early stages of exposure to high colistin concentrations. Decreased serum resistance was identified in the crrAB-deleted mutants. More G. mellonella larvae survived when infected by crrAB-deleted mutants, and higher survival rates of bacteria were identified within the larvae infected with wild-type than crrAB-deletant isolates. Through rapid response to external signals, crrAB would provide advantages for K. pneumoniae survival by increasing the final growth yield and initial survival against colistin treatment. This may partly contribute to the bacterial virulence.

Influence of different Wastewater Treatment Processes on the rate and characteristics of MPs released from WWTPs in Fiji, South Pacific

The global effects of MP (MP) pollution on the environment are concerning, and they are exacerbated by the multiple sources of pollution in aquatic environments such as urban runoff, waste mismanagement, industrial pollution, and so on. South pacific islands host a large diversity of aquatic flora and fauna and given its ecological significance it is necessary to identify the sources of MP pollution in the region. To date, very little attention has been given to identify whether effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are acting as a significant source of MP in the South Pacific region and its countries. Therefore, the present study analyzed and compared the treatment methods and fate of MPs in the country’s two main WWTPs: 1) the Kinoya WWTP (simple secondary clarifier and trickling filter) and 2) Natabua WWTP (secondary pond treatment system). Sampling locations were based on the different treatment stages, and samples were collected from each stage of treatment before effluents were released into the ocean. Kinoya WWTP had an average of 3.45 ± 0.3 particles/L in the inlet stage and released an average of 0.3 ± 0.26 particles/L of MP through the outlet with 91% removal efficiency (RE) with an output equivalent of 4500 particles per day. The initial stage of treatment from the anaerobic pond outlet at Natabua had an average of 2.9 ± 1.05 particles/L, and the maturation outlet had an average of 0.53 ± 0.42 particles/L, a removal efficiency of 81% and thus an output equivalent of 4558 particles/L of MP. Polymer analysis under FTIR confirmed that cellophane or semi-synthetic cellulose and polypropylene were common polymers in the final effluent in Kinoya WWTP, and Natabua plant has cellophane or semi-synthetic cellulose, polypropylene and polyethylene were observed as common polymers. Although there are numerous study that have compared wastewater treatment processes, this is the first study in Fiji that investigates the efficiency of the two methods of water treatment process in the context of microplastic pollution and emphasizes the effectiveness of the treatment stages in determining the concentration of MP released into the ocean.

Multivariate optimization of methylene blue dye degradation using electro-Fenton process with self-doped TiO2 nanotube anode

This paper reports the optimization of the electro-Fenton (EF) process using different anode materials for the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye as a model compound. The cathode used was an air-diffusion PTFE, while three different anode materials (Pt, DSA, and self-doped TiO2 nanotubes - SD-TNT) were tested individually. A full factorial design (FFD) with a central point combined with response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the experimental variables, including solution pH, applied current, and anode material. The optimized EF conditions involved a pH of 4.0, a current of 100 mA, and an SD-TNT anode for 120 min of electrolysis. Under these conditions, the MB solution achieved complete decolorization and 45% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal after 120 min of EF treatment. The findings indicate that the hydroxyl radical (•OH) plays a crucial role as the primary oxidizing agent in the EF process. The decay of MB followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, reflecting a consistent formation of •OH radicals that effectively attacked the MB dye and its subproducts during mineralization. Moreover, the EF process exhibited superior performance in terms of energy consumption (EC) and mineralization current efficiency (ECM) in the initial treatment stages, while the presence of recalcitrant by-products and loss of anode self-doping impacted performance in the later stages. The optimized EF conditions and the understanding gained from this study contribute to the advancement of sustainable wastewater treatment strategies for the removal of organic dyes.

The influence of deuterium on sodium mobility and viscosity of colloidal precursor suspensions yielding template-free nanosized zeolites

The isotopic substitution in chemistry is characterized by two main effects, i.e., the kinetic isotope effect (KIE), associated with differences in the reaction rates, and the geometric isotope effect (GIE) related to crystallographic features. In this work, considering the difference in the weight of deuterium (D) compared to the weight of hydrogen (H), we use the isotopic substitution to investigate the crystallisation mechanism of template-free nanosized faujasite (FAU) type zeolite in colloidal precursors. Тhe basic hydrothermal synthesis solvent - water (H2O), is substituted with heavy water (D2O), aiming to understand the isotopic influence and the effect of H-bond networks on the zeolite crystallisation. The crystallinity, viscosity, conductivity, chemical composition, morphology and local order of the FAU zeolites synthesized in both hydrated (H) and deuterated (D) medium are evaluated with X-ray diffraction, TEM microscopy, EDX and ICP analysis, FT-IR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The structural directing agent - Na+, exhibits a lower mobility in the deuterated medium, because of a characteristic higher viscosity compared to hydrated medium. This leads to a slower nucleation and crystallisation in the initial stages of hydrothermal treatment in the colloidal suspensions but also to a significant difference in the Al distribution.

Dental Occlusion Characteristics for Treatment Decision-Making Regarding Surgery-First Approach in Orthodontics.

The surgery-first approach (SFA) is conducted to decrease the difficulty and duration of orthodontic treatment by correcting the skeletal discrepancy at the initial stage of treatment. However, the indication of the SFA has not been well defined yet. This study explored the dental occlusion characteristics for treatment decision-making regarding the SFA. A total of 200 skeletal Class III patients were consecutively collected and divided into two groups: the orthodontic-first approach (OFA) group and the SFA group. The pretreatment digital dental models and lateral cephalograms were measured. Logistic regression was completed and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to predict the probability of the SFA. Results showed that the ROC model with L1-MP, upper and lower arch length discrepancy, overbite, and asymmetric tooth number as influencing factors revealed that the sensitivity and specificity for determining SFA were 83.0% and 65.0%, respectively; the accuracy of prediction was 75.0%. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the six measurements from digital dental models and lateral cephalograms can be effectively applied in treatment decision-making for the SFA with satisfactory accuracy.

Modification of Soft Wheat Protein for Improving Cake Quality by Superheated Steam Treatment of Wheat Grain.

Many varieties of soft wheat in China cannot fully satisfy the requirements of making high-quality cakes due to their undesirable protein properties, which leads to shortages of high-quality soft wheat flour. Therefore, a modification of soft wheat protein is essential for improving the quality of soft wheat and thus improving cake quality. In order to modify the protein properties of soft wheat used for cake production, superheated steam (SS) was used to treat soft wheat grains at 165 °C and 190 °C for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 min, respectively, followed by the milling of wheat grains to obtain refined wheat flour. The properties of proteins and cakes were analyzed using refined wheat flour as materials. First, changes in the structures of wheat proteins were analyzed by determining the solubility, molecular weight distribution and secondary structure of proteins in wheat flour. Secondly, changes in the functional properties of proteins were analyzed by determining the foaming properties and emulsifying properties of proteins in wheat flour. Finally, the specific volume and texture of cakes with wheat flour milled from SS-treated wheat were analyzed. At the initial stage of SS treatment, some of the gliadin and glutenin aggregated, and the gluten macro-polymer (GMP) contents increased. This allowed a more stable gluten network to form during dough kneading, leading to an improvement in dough elasticity. In addition, a short time period (1-3 min) of SS treatment improved the emulsifying properties and foaming ability of wheat protein, which helped to improve the specific volume and texture of cakes. Increasing the SS temperature from 165 °C to 190 °C reduced the optimal treatment time needed to improve cake quality from 3 min to 1 min. SS treatment for longer time (>3 min) periods led to severe protein aggregation and a decrease in the foaming ability and emulsifying properties of protein, which led to a deterioration in the cake quality. Thus, SS treatment at 165 °C for 1-3 min and 190 °C for 1 min could be a suitable method of improving the physicochemical properties of soft wheat used to make cakes with high specific volumes and good texture.

Effectiveness of pain treatment for patients with mine-blast wounds depending on the number of localizations in military mobile hospitals

Patients with gunshot wounds suffer from chronic pain in 70% of cases, and those with mine-blast wounds – in 83.3% of cases. Civilian patients, after serious injuries, in 11-40% of cases. Unfortunately, there is not enough data to study the causes of such a high frequency of pain chronicity. Therefore, the study of the results of pain treatment at the stage of treatment in military mobile hospitals may be able to reveal the reasons for such a high frequency of chronicity.
 Methods. The treatment of 280 patients with mine-blast wounds was analyzed. The intensity of pain was diagnosed using a visual analog scale. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the distribution of quantitative indicators for normality. The law of distribution differed from the normal one, the median value (Me) and interquartile range (QI-QIII) were given to present quantitative indicators, and the comparison of indicators in the two groups was performed by the Mann-Whitney test. To analyze the dynamics of indicators, the Friedman criterion for linked samples was used, and the posterior comparison was performed using the Bonferroni correction. For qualitative indicators, the absolute frequency of the trait and the relative frequency (%) are presented, and the chi-square test with the correction for continuity was used to compare the two groups. In all cases, the critical level of significance was set at 0.05.
 Results. The analysis of pain intensity according to the VAS, before anesthesia, upon admission to military mobile hospitals, showed that patients experienced high-intensity pain reaching 7 points. This indicates a lack of effective pain control both at the initial stage of treatment and during evacuation. After anesthesia, VAS data indicate the presence of moderate pain – 4 points. The intervals between analgesic treatments averaged 6 hours. Although the effectiveness of analgesia according to VAS was low.
 Conclusions. Patients with mine-blast injuries have a very high risk of chronic pain – 57.5% higher than in injured patients in civilian life. The study results point to ways to improve treatment outcomes for this category of patients. Achieving high-quality pain control at the stage of treatment in military mobile hospitals and maintaining the continuity of treatment during an evacuation can potentially reduce the incidence of pain chronicity.

Utilization of Sago Solid Waste for Bioethanol Production With Variation of Sago Solid Waste-Solvent Ratio and Pre-treatment Time

Sago solid waste is a lignocellulosic material that can be used as a raw material for making bioethanol. The lignin component of lignocellulose can slow saccharification by preventing cellulase enzymes from accessing cellulose. The pre-treatment stage is the first stage of the lignocellulose-to-bioethanol conversion process, and it is used to lower lignin levels in lignocellulose. Saccharification and fermentation are the next processes in turning lignocellulosic material to bioethanol. The pre-treatment stage was carried out in this study using a 10% NaOH solution at a 4 bar pressure reactor and a temperature of 140 °C, while the saccharification and fermentation stages were carried out simultaneously (SSF) using cellulase enzymes and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30 °C and pH 5. The ratio of sago solid waste to NaOH solution and the period of the pre-treatment process were varied in the study. The sago solid waste to solvent ratios were 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7, with processing times beginning at 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 40 minutes. The maximum lignin reduction results (60.11%) were obtained at a ratio of 1:7 and a pre-treatment time of 40 minutes, while the highest yield of sago solid waste mass (35.14%) was obtained at a ratio of 1:5 and a pre-treatment process duration of 20 minutes. The results of the initial treatment stage were then continued with SSF for 0 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours with the highest bioethanol content of 12% at 72 hours.

Clinical Value of Hepatitis B Virus RNA Detection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Objective: To study the clinical value of hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA (HBV-pgRNA) detection in the treatment of hepatitis B. Methods: 60 patients with hepatitis B were included in the study. Serum HBV-pgRNA and HBV DNA levels in different phases of infection and during treatment were detected, and serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) titer was detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay. DNA was extracted from liver biopsy tissue, and covalently closed circular DNA was detected to predict the therapeutic value in patients. Results: At the initial stage of treatment, the level of HBV-pgRNA in phase I, II, III, and IV showed a gradual decrease. Comparing the levels of HBV-pgRNA before and after treatment, we found that the level of HBV-pgRNA was significantly lower after treatment (P < 0.05). Among the indicators for predicting HBsAg seroconversion, the accuracy of HBV-pgRNA level was 85.0% (51/60). Conclusion: The clinical value of HBV-pgRNA detection in the treatment of hepatitis B is high.

Gaps in Parental Understanding of Sleep Disturbances During Maintenance Therapy for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in childhood, with survival rates approaching 90%. Sleep disturbance is common among ALL patients, often developing during the initial stages of chemotherapy treatment. While there have been significant efforts to understand and intervene in this issue during survivorship, there is far less research on children who are actively receiving treatment. In the current study, we sought to better understand the parent's experience in the sleep domain during maintenance therapy, including their perceptions of how their child's medical team had managed sleep disturbances, and recommendations for how to improve sleep management. Method: Fifteen parents of pediatric ALL patients (aged 4-12 years) completed semistructured interviews. Interview content was analyzed using a multistage thematic analysis. Results: Parents consistently expressed feeling unprepared to manage the sleep disruptions that arose during treatment, often reporting that they did not recall being told this would be a side effect. They were enthusiastic about learning how to improve their child's sleep, though they did not want pharmacotherapeutic interventions or additional medical/psychosocial appointments to address this. Conclusion: Despite consistent provider communication on sleep, parents report limited knowledge of the issue. This provides an obvious intervention target to improve treatment-related sleep disturbances. Clear messaging may help direct parents' attention and expectations regarding their child's treatment and potential for disturbed sleep, possibly in the form of a behavioral intervention that empowers parents with information about how to support their child's sleep health while they are undergoing treatment for ALL.

Exogenous Threonine-Induced Conversion of Threonine-Xylose Amadori Compound to Heyns Compound for Efficiently Promoting the Formation of Pyrazines.

The involvement of exogenous threonine during the degradation of l-threonine-d-xylose Amadori rearrangement product (Thr-ARP) was found to promote the formation of pyrazines. A model including Thr-ARP and 15N-labeled l-threonine was applied to reveal the role of free threonine in Thr-ARP conversion to pyrazines. Quantitative analyses of pyrazines in the model of Thr-ARP/15N-labeled threonine showed a precedence of the endogenous threonine (formed by the degradation of Thr-ARP) over the exogenous threonine in pyrazines formation, and the ratio of 15N to 14N content in pyrazines increased significantly over time. According to the observed occurrence of the Heyns rearrangement products (HRP) derived from 15N-threonine, as well as the sharp decrease of 15N-threonine content and a rapid increase of 14N endogenous threonine at the initial stage of heat treatment, it was proposed that aldimine condensation between exogenous threonine and Thr-ARP followed by the hydrolysis led to the endogenous threonine and the generation of HRP. Then, the HRP underwent dehydration followed by hydrolysis to form exogenous threonine and deoxyxyosones, and the dehydration and hydrolysis of deoxyxyosones to form organic acids was inhibited, but the retro-aldolization of deoxyxyosones was promoted, facilitating the generation of reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds. In this way, exogenous threonine accelerated the release of endogenous threonine and α-dicarbonyl compounds and the pH decline was slowed down, which was favorable for the formation of pyrazines.

Faster Rate of Correction with Distal Femoral Transphyseal Screws Versus Plates in Hemiepiphysiodesis for Coronal-Plane Knee Deformity: Age- and Sex-Matched Cohorts of Skeletally Immature Patients.

Hemiepiphysiodesis (guided-growth) procedures have become the primary method of treatment for coronal-plane knee deformities in skeletally immature patients. Two leading techniques involve the use of a transphyseal screw or a growth modulation plate. However, clinical references for the estimation of correction are lacking, and no consensus has been reached regarding the superiority of one technique over the other. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the rates of correction for distal femoral transphyseal screws and growth modulation plates in age- and sex-matched cohorts with coronal deformities. Thirty-one knees were included in each cohort on the basis of propensity scoring by chronological age and sex, and radiographic images were retrospectively reviewed preoperatively and postoperatively. Each case was measured for limb length, mechanical axis deviation (MAD), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA), and bone age. Both the MAD and LDFA rate of correction significantly differed between the screw and plate cohorts. The MAD rate of correction was observed to be 0.42 ± 0.37 mm/week (1.69 mm/month) in the plate cohort and 0.66 ± 0.51 mm/week (2.64 mm/month) in the screw cohort. The LDFA rate of correction was observed to be 0.12° ± 0.13°/week (0.50°/month) in the plate cohort and 0.19° ± 0.19°/week (0.77°/month) in the screw cohort. The current study provides simple clinical references for the rate of correction of MAD and the LDFA for 2 methods of hemiepiphysiodesis. The results suggest that transphyseal screws may correct coronal knee deformities during the initial treatment stage more quickly than growth modulation plates in distal femoral guided growth. Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.