Insignificant Correlation Research Articles

Zonulin and copeptin relation to some metabolic markers in school-aged obese children

BackgroundUsing Zonulin and Copeptin as potential obesity markers in children, hasn’t yet been focused.AimTo evaluate the association between serum levels of both Zonulin and Copeptin with the obesity markers, and to assess their role as metabolic disturbance predictors in obese children.MethodsA case-control study comprised 111 Egyptian children (45 males and 66 females); aged 6–10 years to avoid the effect of puberty (prepubertal). They were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) percentiles into: 72 obese (BMI ≥ 95th ), and 39 control ones (BMI > 15th - <85th ), based on the Egyptian Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured, and body composition analysis, lipid profile, Zonulin, and Copeptin levels were assessed.ResultsThe obese group showed a significantly higher value of Copeptin and a lower value of Zonulin than the control one Also, the obese group showed significant negative correlations between Zonulin and both anthropometric obesity markers and body composition, whereas Copeptin showed significant positive ones. Moreover, significant positive correlations were found between Copeptin and both body weight and fat distribution. Insignificant correlations were observed between both serum Zonulin and Copeptin levels and blood pressure and lipid profile.ConclusionZonulin and Copeptin cannot be used as metabolic disturbance predictors, among Egyptian children, as they were insignificantly correlated with lipid profile or blood pressure.

Implementation of a GEOAI model to assess the impact of agricultural land on the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentration

Air pollution is considered one of the major environmental risks to health worldwide. Researchers are making significant efforts to study it, thanks to state-of-art technologies in data collection and processing, and to mitigate its effect. In this context, while a lot is known about the role of urbanization, industries, and transport, the impact of agricultural activities on the spatial distribution of pollution is less studied, despite knowledge about emissions suggest it is not a secondary factor. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess this impact, and to compare it with that of traditional polluting sources, harvesting the capabilities of GEOAI (Geomatics and Earth Observation Artificial Intelligence). The analysis targeted the highly polluted territory of Lombardy, Italy, considering fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 data were obtained from the Copernicus-Atmosphere-Monitoring-Service and processed to infer time-invariant spatial parameters (frequency, intensity and exposure) of concentration across the whole period. An ensemble architecture was implemented, with three blocks: correlation-based features selection, Multiscale-Geographically-Weighted-Regression for spatial enhancement, and a final random forest classifier. Finally, the SHapley Additive exPlanation algorithm was applied to compute the relevance of the different land-use classes on the model. The impact of land-use classes was found significantly higher compared to other published models, showing that the insignificant correlations found in the literature are probably due to an unfit experimental setup. The impact of agricultural activities on the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentration was comparable to the other considered sources, even when focusing only on the most densely inhabited urban areas. In particular, the agriculture's contribution resulted in pollution spikes rather than in a baseline increase. These results allow to state that public policymakers should consider also agricultural activities for evidence-based decision-making about pollution mitigation.

Preliminary Indications on an Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Rainwater Chemistry in Colombo, Sri Lanka: A Study During Southwestern Monsoon

The atmospheric cleansing nature of rainfall, specifically in the removal of particulate matter, is a determinant of rainwater quality. This study investigated the relationship between atmospheric particulate matter (PM10) concentration and rainwater quality in Colombo during the southwest monsoon period in 2023. The rainwater samples were collected using a manually prepared high- density polyethylene collector and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and NH4+), and anions (Cl-, NO3–, and SO42–). The concentration of atmospheric PM10 was obtained from the ambient air quality monitoring station (AQMS) at Battaramulla. The measured data were analysed using multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis, to identify relationships between the concentration of atmospheric PM10 and rainwater quality. The atmospheric PM10 showed an insignificant positive correlation with southwest monsoon rainfall (r=0.14, p&gt;0.05). The concentration of atmospheric PM10 increased the total concentration of water-soluble ions (r=0.30) and decreased the pH (r=-0.42) and electrical conductivity (r=0.07) of rainwater samples. The concentration of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ displayed moderate positive correlation, while Mg2+, NH4+, Cl-,&#x0D; NO3- and SO42- showed a weak positive correlation of rainwater samples in the atmospheric PM10.&#x0D; This study contributes valuable insights into the variations of PM10 in the atmosphere and its potential implications on rainwater quality in southwest monsoon, underscoring the importance of comprehensive analyses for a more nuanced understanding of the intricate relationships between atmospheric components and rainwater chemistry.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Atmospheric chemistry, Correlation analysis, Particulate matter, Rainwater quality, Southwest monsoon&#x0D;

THE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PRODUCT-MARKET FIT IN APPAREL SECTOR

In this highly competitive market, ensuring that apparel products fit customers well is crucial for success. This abstract examines various strategies employed by companies to achieve optimal product market fit, taking into account factors such as garment design, size charts, and consumer feedback. Additionally, it investigates the importance of inclusive sizing and customization options in catering to diverse body types and individual preferences. The findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between value proposition for both product fit and market fit. Additionally, user experience demonstrates a substantial correlation with both product fit and market fit. Nevertheless, the feature set exhibits no statistically significant correlation with product fit and only a marginally insignificant correlation with market fit. This abstract aims to provide insights into how apparel brands can enhance their product market fit strategies to differentiate themselves, drive customer satisfaction, improve conversions, and ultimately boost revenue in todays increasingly discerning consumer market. KEYWORDS: User Experience, Feature Set, Value Proposition, Product Fit, Market Fit.

Hubungan Gaya Manajemen Konflik Dengan Kinerja Pengurus Hmj Pgmi Uin Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Organizations consist of individuals who have different characters so that they can trigger a conflict that will interfere with the effectiveness of individuals in doing their jobs, therefore it is necessary to have a conflict management style that is used in dealing with conflict. This study aims to determine the correlation of conflict management styles (integration, willingness to help, dominating, avoiding, compromising) to the performance of the management of the department's student association. This research uses a quantitative approach with a descriptive-correlational design. The population of this study were all administrators of the student association majoring in PGMI UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung with overall sampling of 48 people. Data collection techniques using a questionnaire. Research data analysis using descriptive analysis techniques Pearson Product Moment correlation. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation in the conflict management style of integration and willingness to help on the performance of the management board of the PGMI student association (HMJ) PGMI UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, for the conflict management style dominating and avoiding showed that there was no positive correlation to the performance of the management board of the student association, while the compromise conflict management style showed a positive but insignificant correlation.

Multi-model exploration of groundwater quality and potential health risk assessment in Jajpur district, Eastern India.

The presence of fluoride and nitrate is a serious groundwater quality issue in India impacting human health. In the present study, 14 different hydrochemical parameters for 76 groundwater samples collected from the Jajpur district of Odisha, India, were evaluated. Entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI), fixed-weight groundwater quality index (GWQI), principal component analysis (PCA), and rotated factor loading-based water quality index (PCWQI) were employed to assess groundwater quality. About 65.79 ± 4.68%, 33.55 ± 3.95%, and 0.66 ± 0.76% of the samples were rated as "excellent," "good," or "medium" quality, respectively, across the four different water quality indices, with a nominal rating discrepancy of 13.15%. Though 86% of samples consistently received excellent or good ratings across all WQI frameworks, concentrations of F- and NO3- in 36.8% and 11.84% of the samples exceeded the WHO permissible limit. In health risk assessment, about 38.15% of samples surpassed the F- hazard quotient (HQ > 1) posing non-carcinogenic health risks for children. The non-carcinogenic health risks due to NO3- were evident in 55.26% and 11.84% of samples for children and adults, respectively. The higher concentration of NO3- in some of the water samples, together with its positive correlation with HCO3-, may worsen groundwater pollution. The moderate correlation between Ca2+ and HCO3- (r = 0.410) and the insignificant correlation between Mg2+ and HCO3- (r = 0.234) suggests calcite dissolutionis far more common than dolomite.

Correlation Between Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings at 3 to 6 Weeks and Functional Outcome at 3 Months Following Acute Ischaemic Stroke Due to Extracranial Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Disease

ABSTRACT We wanted to evaluate if optical coherence tomography angiography OCTA findings could predict the functional outcome in extracranial carotid artery atherosclerotic disease (ECAD) associated stroke. This exploratory study was performed on adults with acute ischaemic stroke due to ECAD at 3–6 weeks following stroke onset with risk factor matched controls without carotid artery stenosis. Twenty-three stroke patients (cases) and 23 controls were enrolled. There was significant difference between cases and controls in deep vessel density at the macula (p = .0007) and in radial peripapillary capillary perfusion density (RPCPD) at the optic nerve head (ONH) (p = .0007). Statistically significant difference was noted in the total superficial vessel density (SVD) at the macula (SVD within 1 standard deviation [SD] versus SVD beyond 1 SD of control data) in the ipsilateral eye and functional outcome at 3 months (poor versus very good outcome, modified Rankin scale [mRS] 0–1 versus mRS 2–6, respectively; p = .0361). There was statistically insignificant correlation between the RPCPD at the ONH and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, mRS at discharge, and mRS at 3 months following stroke onset (r = .33, r = .35, r = .39; p = .11, p = .09, p = .06, respectively). The findings of this exploratory study suggested that OCTA findings may predict 3 month outcomes in cases of ECAD-related stroke and could be useful in decision making in future intervention studies as to whether intervene or not in patients having critical or non-critical ECAD for preventing stroke.

The effect of Renin Aldosterone Angiotensin II System on adrenal glands and glomerular filtration rate in renal failure patients

Renin Aldosterone Angiotensin-2 Systems: Among the most important hormone structures, it controls blood sugar levels, potassium and salt equilibrium, the amount of fluid, and the activities of the urinary tract, the adrenals, and the heart and arteries. The purpose of this investigation is to look at how Renin Aldosterone Angiotensin II affects the glands that produce adrenaline and how it relates to the rate of glomerular filtration in people with persistent kidney disease. The Ibn Sina Centre at Baquba University Hospital is home to 100 Iraqi patients with chronic kidney failure, ranging in age from 35 to 67. The formula was used to get a glomerular filtration rate (GFR). All individuals' blood levels of the hormones renin, testosterone, and angiotensin-2 are measured using a readily accessible ELISA Micro water sources kit from LDN, Germany. The findings demonstrate the relationship among variations in GFR and activity a hormone called ; in the cautious category, the average GFR was substantially inversely correlated with the average activity a hormone called (r=-0.40, p&lt;0.01). The findings demonstrated a relationship among ANGII, aldosterone, and cortisol variations in serum-activated renin, or The average blood activated a hormone called level and the average aldosterone level exhibited an important positive connection in the control group (r=0.33, p&lt;0.05). In contrast, the hemodialysis group (r=-0.12, p&gt;0.05) and the two categories (r=-0.02, p&gt;0.05) showed insignificant negative correlations. In the more cautious group, there was a strong positive correlation (r=0.55, p&lt;0.01) between the mean blood angiotensin level and mean cortisone. In individuals with chronic renal failure, glomerular filtration rate has a detrimental impact on active renin, which in turn has an impact on the adrenal cortex function

Fibroblast growth factor-21 and Visfatin as potential predictors for metabolic risk factors in obese children

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and Visfatin are associated with obesity. However; reviewing the literature; no studies were found to assess their role as potential markers for the metabolic disorders related to obesity in children. Assess the relations between serum FGF-21 and Visfatin with obesity and its metabolic disorders, and their use as potential predictors for metabolic risk factors in a sample of Egyptian obese children. This cross-sectional study included 111 Egyptian children (45 males and 66 females); aged 6–10 years to avoid the effect of puberty (prepubertal). The exclusion criteria (by full History taking and clinical examination) were the presence of any sign of puberty according to Tanner stage, the presence of identified causes of obesity (genetic syndromes, chromosomal or endocrinal disorders), chronic diseases (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory), or drug use like steroids; that would interfere with the type of obesity and affect the normal growth of the children. Also, any child with a BMI between 85 and 95th percentiles (overweight) was excluded from the study. All participating obese children were suffering from exogenous simple obesity. They were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) percentiles into 72 obese (BMI ≥ 95th), and 39 control non-obese ones (BMI > 15th to < 85th), based on the Egyptian Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Ethical approvals were granted from both the Ethics Committee of the “National Research Centre” and the “Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies” (Approval No. 17/125). Also, informed written consent was taken from either of the parents and assent from the participating children. They were subjected to blood pressure assessment, anthropometric measurements (weight [Wt], height [Ht], BMI, waist [WC], and hip [HC] circumferences), and laboratory evaluation (Visfatin, FGF-21, LDL, HDL, TG, cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, and calculation of HOMA-IR). Mann–Whitney test and Spearman’s correlation test were applied. Obese children had significantly higher values than control ones regarding all the studied clinical (SBP, DBP), anthropometric parameters (Wt, Ht, BMI, WC, and HC), FBG, Insulin, HOMA-IR, Visfatin, and FGF-21, and had significantly lower values regarding HDL and Cholesterol. Among obese children, both FGF-21 and Visfatin had significant negative correlations with BMI and HC. At the same time, serum FGF-21 had a highly significant positive correlation with HDL. Visfatin and FGF-21 had highly significant positive correlations with each other. In the control group, both serum Visfatin or FGF-21 had insignificant correlations with each other and with all the studied clinical and anthropometric parameters. FGF-21 and Visfatin are related to the obesity markers, but they cannot be used as potential predictors for metabolic disturbance in obese prepubertal children; both had insignificant correlations with the metabolic risk factors.

Implementing a deep learning model for automatic tongue tumour segmentation in ex-vivo 3-dimensional ultrasound volumes

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound can assess the margins of resected tongue carcinoma during surgery. Manual segmentation (MS) is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and subject to operator variability. This study aims to investigate use of a 3D deep learning model for fast intraoperative segmentation of tongue carcinoma in 3D ultrasound volumes. Additionally, it investigates the clinical effect of automatic segmentation. A 3D No New U-Net (nnUNet) was trained on 113 manually annotated ultrasound volumes of resected tongue carcinoma. The model was implemented on a mobile workstation and clinically validated on 16 prospectively included tongue carcinoma patients. Different prediction settings were investigated. Automatic segmentations with multiple islands were adjusted by selecting the best-representing island. The final margin status (FMS) based on automatic, semi-automatic, and manual segmentation was computed and compared with the histopathological margin. The standard 3D nnUNet resulted in the best-performing automatic segmentation with a mean (SD) Dice volumetric score of 0.65 (0.30), Dice surface score of 0.73 (0.26), average surface distance of 0.44 (0.61) mm, Hausdorff distance of 6.65 (8.84) mm, and prediction time of 8 seconds. FMS based on automatic segmentation had a low correlation with histopathology (r = 0.12, p = 0.67); MS resulted in a moderate but insignificant correlation with histopathology (r = 0.4, p = 0.12, n = 16).Implementing the 3D nnUNet yielded fast, automatic segmentation of tongue carcinoma in 3D ultrasound volumes. Correlation between FMS and histopathology obtained from these segmentations was lower than the moderate correlation between MS and histopathology.

Brain Diffusion in Brainstem Infarctions and Lesion Segmentation using Fluidattenuation Inversion Recovery: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: Diffusion can efficiently detect infratentorial and brainstem infarctions. Fluid-attenuation Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) is a widely used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique for the segmentation of brain lesions and strokes. Aim: To investigate the sensitivity of the Lesion Prediction Algorithm (LPA) within the Lesion Segmentation Tool (LST) in the automated segmentation of acute and subacute brainstem infarctions. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study where 24 patients with brainstem infarctions were referred from the Emergency Department to the Department of Radiodiagnosis at Kasr Alainy Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. The study was conducted from September 2016 to June 2023. It included 24 patients (14 males and 10 females) with acute and subacute brainstem infarctions. MRI of the brain and diffusion were performed on all patients. Automated segmentation of brainstem infarctions using FLAIR was conducted in all cases. Manual and segmented volumes of brainstem infarctions were calculated. Sensitivity and accuracy of the LPA within the LST in automated segmentation of acute and subacute brainstem infarctions were evaluated. Pearson correlation was used to correlate volumes of White Matter Lesion (WML) burden in patients with brainstem infarctions and patients’ age. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.75±11.95 years. The sensitivity of the LPA in automated segmentation of acute and subacute brainstem infarctions was 63.6% and 76.9%, respectively. An insignificant correlation (r=0.08; p-value=0.68) between the volumes of WML burden in patients with brainstem infarctions and patients’ age was noted. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the automated method in the segmentation of subacute brainstem infarctions was higher than that in acute brainstem infarctions.

Exploring the Mobile Mindscape: An investigation into the nexus of nomophobia, social appearance anxiety, and academic performance in physiotherapy students

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the 21st century, nomophobia (NMP) is a growing problem as it results in various physical and mental health issues. NMP, or smartphone separation anxiety, has drawn greater attention because of its negative consequences. This study aims to investigate NMP’s correlation with social appearance anxiety and assess its influence on academic performance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a validated NMP and Social Appearance Anxiety Scale questionnaire on the Google Forms platform. Two hundred forty-nine physiotherapy students participated in the survey. RESULTS: The participant’s mean age was 20.38 ± 2.32, with 43.4% of females and 56.6% of males. Among physiotherapy students, the prevalence of NMP was 99.6%. The total mean score of NMP was 79.51 ± 27.93, which suggests a moderate case of NMP. Social appearance anxiety and NMP were positively correlated (r = 0.266, P ≤ 0.001). The results showed a weak negative, insignificant correlation (r = -0.073, P = 0.251) between academic performance and NMP. CONCLUSION: Nomophobia is common in physiotherapy students with a major prevalence of moderate level, and it is positively correlated with social appearance anxiety.

Prevalence and morphological characteristics of anemia in young children in Albaha, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To assess the anemia among children in Albaha and to recognize the morphological and hematological features of anemia in them. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted in Albaha region, Saudi Arabia using the existing data since 2020. The study included data on children aged 0-69 months. Morphological criteria included high RDW, and low RBCs, Hgb, Hct, MCV, and MCHC. The data were analyzed by the SPSS, version 24. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied including averages, independent t-tests, and univariate and bivariate binary logistic regression. Results: Average age of children was 46.4 months, representing both genders. The prevalence of anemia was 16.7%, 14.7%, and 14.1% for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, respectively. The predominant type of anemia was microcytic hypochromic anemia, affecting 81.4% of males and 14.1% of females. There were insignificant correlations between age, or gender, with anemia status. Conclusion: Microcytic hypochromic anemia was the most prevalent type among young children in this study. It also emerges the necessity for further assessment to confirm the predominance of microcytic hypochromic anemia among young children in Saudi Arabia in regional contexts.

Analyzing the improvement of estate governance and management in Jordan using blockchain

The potential for transforming the estate management industry through the resolution of common inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and security concerns is presented by the use of blockchain technology into estate governance. The purpose of this article is to clarify how incorporating blockchain technology would affect estate operations and governance. This study is based on quantitative information that was collected from 317 estate management professionals using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. SmartPLS4 analysis demonstrates that blockchain governance has a statistically significant and robust influence on estate governance in Jordan. The impact of Blockchain Governance on Jordanian Estate Management appears to be negligible and unimportant. Furthermore, there appears to be a negligible and insignificant correlation between Jordanian estate management and estate planning methods. In-depth analysis of these theories is done in this article, which also offers insights into how blockchain technology affects estate governance dynamics and how it can affect Jordan's estate management procedures. The consequences go beyond theoretical understandings; they promote the use of blockchain technology in estate governance frameworks as a game-changing means of ensuring the safe, transparent, and effective administration of frozen estates in Jordan and elsewhere.

Impact of Cachexia on Chemotherapy Efficacy and Survival in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, with limited curative options and high rates of cachexia, a debilitating syndrome associated with poor prognosis. While previous research has linked sarcopenia to poor outcomes in PC, the correlation between cachexia and treatment outcomes remains underexplored. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the association between cachexia and overall survival and time to treatment failure in advanced PC patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies compared cachexic and non-cachexic PC patients, reporting outcomes of observed survival or time to treatment failure. Data extraction and analysis were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.3, employing random-effects models and sensitivity analyses to assess heterogeneity and bias. Seven observational studies involving 2834 PC patients were included. The incidence of cachexia was 45% (95% CI: 0.27-0.65), with a higher prevalence in East Asian populations. Cachexic patients experienced significantly earlier treatment failure (SDM: -2.22, 95% CI: -2.6 to -1.7, P = 0.0001) and higher mortality risk (HR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.17-3.48, P = 0.011) compared to non-cachexic patients. Overall survival was lower in cachexic patients (SDM: -2.34, 95% CI: -3.7 to -0.90, P = 0.001), with considerable heterogeneity across studies. Meta-regression analysis revealed significant differences between countries but insignificant correlations with age. Cachexia is associated with reduced overall survival, early chemotherapy failure, and elevated mortality in advanced PC patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy. Recognition and management of cachexia are crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and improving patient survival. Future research should focus on prospective studies to better understand the impact of cachexia on treatment response and develop tailored interventions to mitigate its adverse effects.

Estimation of plasma growth differentiation factor 15 level in de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a diversified disorder, characterized by clonal proliferation of myeloid precursors in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM). Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a member of transforming growth factor-β superfamily that has an important role in cancer prognosis and pathophysiology and it can induce apoptosis and inhibit growth and invasion of tumor. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the GDF15 plasma levels in patients with de novo AML and their association with patients’ survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-section samples from 60 adult patients who were newly diagnosed with de novo AML from September 2022 to September 2023 were included. Other 30 healthy adult individuals were involved as controls. The measurement of plasma GDF15 level was established by the ELISA technique using the human GDF15 ELISA kit. RESULTS: Plasma (GDF15) was higher in AML patients, and it was associated with inferior overall survival (OS). Plasma (GDF15) level shows positive correlation with age, hemoglobin level, and insignificant correlation with the BM and PB blast percentages, total white blood cell count, sex, and platelets. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma GDF15 levels in AML patients were high at the diagnosis and were associated with inferior OS.

Association between pain threshold and manifested pain assessed using a PD-specific pain scale in Parkinson's disease.

The neurodegenerative process in Parkinson's disease (PD) affects both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic structures, which determine the wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS), including different types of pain. Diverse mechanisms contribute to pain in PD. Abnormal nociceptive processing is considered a distinctive feature of the disease. In the present study, we used a validated PD-specific pain assessment tool to investigate self-reported pain in PD patients and to analyze the association with the objective pain threshold. The RIII component of the nociceptive flexor reflex was assessed in 35 patients with PD and was compared to 40 healthy controls. Self-reported pain was measured using the Bulgarian version of the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS-BG). A correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the objective nociceptive threshold and PD pain as assessed by KPPS-BG. PD patients had a significantly lower RIII threshold than control individuals (the mean SD value was 6.24 ± 1.39 vs. 10.33 ± 1.64) when assessed in the "off" state. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) fairly negative Spearman's correlation was observed between the decreased spinal nociceptive threshold and fluctuation-related pain (-0.31). Domain 4, "nocturnal pain" (-0.21), and the KPPS-BG total score (-0.21) showed a weak negative correlation. An insignificant positive correlation was found between domain 6-"discoloration, edema/swelling"-and the RIII threshold. A higher Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III score and modified Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale are associated with a decreased nociceptive flexor reflex threshold. The results of the present study demonstrate the important role of increased spinal nociception in the occurrence of pain, which is associated with fluctuations and, to a lesser extent, nocturnal pain.

Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance of Oil and Gas Companies Listed in Nigeria

“Financial performance (FP) is a subjective measure of how well a firm can use assets from its primary mode of business and generate revenues. The term is also used as a general measure of a firm’s overall financial health over a given period.” A company’s financial performance refers to its health as a whole and the money it makes from its operations. Allocating resources effectively to meet objectives and boost profits is at the heart of this practice. The integrity of Nigeria’s oil and gas data relies on it completely. The sustainability of oil and gas in Nigeria is becoming questionable due to environmental factors that were not properly accounted for, and this prompted the researcher of this study to zero in on the effect of corporate social responsibility on the bottom lines of Nigeria’s publicly traded oil and gas firms. This study used an ex-post facto method for its research, using data from secondary sources such as annual reports and the Nigerian stock market. Inadequate CSR reporting and a failure to adequately reflect the financial performance of listed oil and gas firms have been noted in numerous works of literature. Using panel data analysis, the research correlated CSR reporting with the profitability indicators return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and return on capital employed (ROCE) of publicly traded oil and gas firms. This study looks at 10 Nigerian oil and gas firms that are traded on public markets. A filter was used with a census sampling strategy. Firms that (1) were permitted to trade before January 1, 2010, or (2) are still listed as of December 31, 2020 are eligible for review. In addition, the organization must publicly disclose yearly reports pertinent to the time under investigation. As a result of not meeting these criteria, four of the original eight firms were eliminated. Secondary sources were consulted to get the data needed. EViews 10, a statistical programme, was used to analyze the data for this research. The regression analysis showed that CSR reporting increases ROA by a small but favourable amount. The return on equity, however, was shown to be positively correlated with environmental sustainability. Finally, a statistically insignificant positive correlation was found between social sustainability and return on investment (ROI). Therefore, this study concludes, based on the data provided, that sustainability reporting significantly affects the company’s financial performance for listed oil and gas businesses in Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, oil and gas companies in Nigeria should make public disclosure of their sustainability efforts a top priority if they want to improve their bottom lines. Compliance in the industry as a whole can be improved if policymakers and standard-setting organizations work together to make it easier for industries to design and execute sector-specific reporting regulations.

Impact of acetabular roof's angle on precision of cup center of rotation reproduction and placement in total hip arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is nowadays considered as the most effective treatment option for end-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA) and one of the most successful orthopedic procedures. Precise reproduction of the center of rotation (COR) is among the most important aspects of recreating native hip biomechanics after THA as it is strictly related to muscle tension and force distribution within the hip joint. Both vertical and horizontal shift in cup positioning and COR restoration are commonly observed radiological signs corresponding with lesser functional outcome. The aim of this study was to assess whether the superior border of the native acetabulum morphology has an impact on cup positioning and COR restoration in patients undergoing THA as treatment of primary OA of the hip. A cohort of 150 consecutive patients with diagnosis of end-stage primary hip OA who underwent THA via an anterolateral approach with the same implant in 2021 was analyzed retrospectively. Standard standing pelvic X-rays were performed pre- and postoperatively and appropriate measurements were taken. Several radiological parameters on obtained X-rays were assessed. Statistical analysis of all the measurements was performed. There was a statistically significant positive weak correlation between cup offset and acetabular roof angle (rs = 0.25, p = 0.002). There were statistically insignificant positive correlations between acetabular roof angle and COR restoration (rs = 0.14, p = 0.097), acetabular roof angle and total offset (rs = 0.087, p = 0.29) and a negative correlation between acetabular roof angle and femoral offset (rs = 0.071, p = 0.39). The present study revealed that preoperative acetabular roof angle influences the positioning of the prosthetic cup in the transverse axis. There also seems to be a correlation between the acetabular roof angle and COR restoration, but its significance needs further evaluation. Surgeons could use this knowledge to preoperatively assess the risk of cup malposition and adjust their technique during the THA procedure with probable improvement of hip function.

Assessment of Tissue Eosinophilic Infiltration in Invasive Mammary Carcinoma.

Background: Stromal inflammatory cells in malignant tissue have recently gained increasing interest. Unlike the extensive research on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, published data about tumor-infiltrating eosinophils in breast cancer are scarce. Furthermore, similar studies have yet to be conducted in Iraq. Aims: The objective of this study is to examine the presence of eosinophilic infiltration by direct visualization using light microscopy and to analyze its relationship with other histological parameters in a group of Iraqi women diagnosed with invasive mammary cancer. Methods and material: A retrospective study enrolled 90 histological samples of invasive mammary carcinoma provided by core needle biopsy from a single center, together with their immunohistochemical results for ER and HER2-NEU. Data reviewing, direct morphological visualizations, and counting eosinophilic infiltration in tissue sections were done by two independent pathologists using light microscopy. The results were statistically correlated with the grade, ER, HER2-NEU, calcification, and axillary lymph node status at presentation. Results: Out of the entire sample size (90), 40 (44%) showed the presence of eosinophilic infiltration in the tissue, both intratumoral and stromal. Further analysis revealed that most eosinophilic infiltrates had an intermediate score (4-19) per 10 consecutive high-power fields. A strong and meaningful statistical relationship was seen between tissue eosinophilic infiltration and HER2/NEU status. A statistically insignificant correlation was seen between tissue eosinophilic infiltration and histological grade, ER receptor status, calcification, and axillary lymph node status at presentation. Conclusions: Eosinophils are tumor-infiltrating cells in breast cancer, both intratumoral and stromal. The presence of tissue eosinophilic infiltration can predict HER2/NEU negativity in breast cancer.