Intergroup Comparison Research Articles

Risk of renal dysfunction in patients with dengue fever: a case-control study

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection, is typically caused by the Dengue virus, leading to various illnesses, including dengue fever and severe dengue fever. This study aims to investigate the outcome of dengue fever severity as renal dysfunction in patients. For this case-control study, blood samples of the patients (N=66), including 31 D-W (Dengue without warning signs), 20 D+W (Dengue with warning signs), and 15 SDF (Severe dengue fever), as well as controls (N=45) of same age groups, were obtained. The renal parameters were determined and statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and chi-square/Fisher exact test. The intergroup comparison showed that phosphorous, calcium, and sodium presented a marked decrease (P < 0.001) in dengue patient groups compared to controls. However, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in chloride was indicated in dengue patient groups. Moreover, a prominent potassium reduction (P = 0.036) was observed in the dengue subjects group compared to controls. Among the renal parameters, creatinine presented a significant elevation (P < 0.002) while uric acid was significantly (P = 0.004) dropped in dengue patients groups as compared to controls. This study's results suggest that dengue infection's severity may be associated with aberrant electrolyte imbalance and renal impairment. This study indicates that dengue affects normal kidney functions and harms the patients' health. Keywords: electrolytes; renal profile; dengue fever; severe dengue fever

The Effect of Stoma Care Teaching Based on the ARCS Motivation Model on Nursing Students' Learning Motivation, Self-Efficacy and Knowledge Levels

AimThis study aims to examine the effect of stoma care education based on the ARCS (Attention-Relationship-Confidence-Satisfaction) motivation model on nursing students' learning motivation, self-efficacy and knowledge levels. BackgroundNursing education is pivotal in ensuring that students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide quality care. Motivation and academic self-efficacy are key factors in student success. DesignThe study employed a randomized controlled pre-test-post-test experimental design. MethodsThis study, conducted between May and July 2024 at Atatürk University Faculty of Nursing, included 46 students attending the Fundamentals of Nursing course. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups, both receiving traditional stoma care training. The experimental group additionally received training based on the ARCS motivation model, designed to enhance attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction. Data were collected using the "Introductory Information Form," "Motivation Scale for Instructional Material," the "Academic Self-Efficacy Scale," "Stoma Care Practice Knowledge Level Assessment Form." Pre-tests and post-tests covered motivation, knowledge and academic self-efficacy. ResultsStudents in the experimental group showed significant increases in post-test scores for "Attention," "Relevance," "Confidence," "Satisfaction," "Academic Self-Efficacy," and "Knowledge Test"(p<0.05). In the inter-group comparison, the post-test scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group across all these dimensions (p<0.05). The most notable difference was observed in the "Knowledge Test" results (ES=4.786, p=0.001), where the experimental group outperformed the control group. ConclusionsAs a result, it was concluded that stoma care teaching based on the ARCS motivation model increased nursing students' nursing students' learning motivation, self-efficacy and knowledge levels.

Controlling root canal infection in oncological patients with apical periodontitis

This study evaluated the effectiveness of chemomechanical preparation associated with intracanal medication in reducing the total bacterial load of infected root canals in cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment. The prevalence, levels and response to treatment of Streptococcus and Actinobacteria species were also assessed. The root canals of teeth with apical periodontitis from oncological and control patients were treated using rotary instrumentation, 2.5% NaOCl irrigation and 1-week calcium hydroxide medication (n=23/group). Bacteriological root canal samples were taken before (S1) and after chemomechanical preparation (S2), and after intracanal medication (S3). DNA extracted from the samples was subjected to 16S rRNA gene-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for evaluation of the treatment effects on total bacteria, Streptococcus species, and members of the Actinobacteria phylum. All S1 samples were positive for bacteria. S1-to-S2 and S1-to-S3 bacterial reduction values were highly significant (p<0.01). Although bacterial counts were reduced from S2 to S3, the decrease was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences in S1, S2 and S3 counts (p>0.05). In the oncological group, 77% of the cases were positive for bacteria in S2, and 68% in S3. In the control group, corresponding figures were 65% for both S2 and S3. There were no significant differences between groups as for streptococci and actinobacteria prevalence, levels and response to treatment (p>0.05). Root canal treatment using rotary instruments, NaOCl irrigation and calcium hydroxide medication was highly effective in reducing the bacterial populations in infected teeth with apical periodontitis from cancer patients, with no significant differences to controls.

Intracanal antibacterial effects of a bioceramic medication compared with calcium hydroxide pastes in different vehicles

The intracanal antibacterial effectiveness of a bioceramic medication was compared with calcium hydroxide pastes in different vehicles. Extracted mandibular incisors with a single long oval canal were selected and distributed into 5 groups based on anatomically paired micro-computed tomographic analyses. The root canals were prepared up to an instrument size 35/04 and contaminated for 30 days with a mixed bacterial culture from subgingival biofilm added with Enterococcus faecalis. The canals were medicated with Bio-C Temp (Angelus Indústria de Produtos Odontológicos, Londrina, PR, Brazil) or a calcium hydroxide paste in glycerin (CHG), camphorated paramonochlorophenol/ glycerin (CHPG), or 2% chlorhexidine (CHCX). Control specimens were filled with sterile saline. After 7 days, the medication was removed by using rotary instruments and saline irrigation. A supplementary approach was conducted, which consisted of 2.5% NaOCl irrigation and agitation with XP-endo Finisher. Bacteriological samples were taken before application (S1) and after removal (S2) of the intracanal medication, and after the supplementary approach (S3). Bacterial DNA extracted from the samples was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bacterial counts were significantly reduced from S1 to S2 in all groups, except for the control group. As for S1-to-S3 changes, all groups (control included) showed significant bacterial reduction. S2-to-S3 changes were only significant in the CHPG and CHCX groups (p<0.05). Intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences in S2 (p>0.05), with all medications significantly better than the control (p<0.05). In S3, only the CHPG and CHCX groups showed further significant bacterial reductions. Categorical data analysis showed no intergroup differences (p>0.05). All tested medications significantly reduced the intracanal bacterial counts, with no significant differences between them. Final NaOCl irrigation and agitation using XP-endo Finisher further enhanced disinfection in the CHCX and CHPG groups.

Yoga for Psychophysiological Wellbeing during Menstrual Phases in Eumenorrheic Females.

Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle (MC) cause autonomic imbalances and psycho-physiological distress in eumenorrheic females. This present study reveals that yoga proactively improves the overall psychophysiological health and wellness in eumenorrheic female college students during different phases of MC. Healthy eumenorrheic female college students (Mage= 20.11 ± 5.39 years, n = 82) were randomized to a control and yoga group (n = 41). A well-conceptualized yoga module (CYM) for 5 days/week for 3 months (1h daily in the morning) was practiced by the yoga group volunteers. Intra and intergroup comparisons were performed for the estimation of mindfulness awareness scale (MAAS), menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), cardiometabolic risk factors, heart rate variability (HRV), and endurance fitness during the luteal (LP) and follicular (FP) phases. Psychophysiological discomforts before CYM practice were mostly observed during LP compared to FP due to significant changes in mindfulness, pain, concentration, autonomic reactivity, negative affect, double product (DoP), rate pressure product (RPP), and HRV values. CYM practice influenced HRV parameters for an increase in parasympathetic activity and a decrease in sympathetic balance for better cardiac-autonomic functioning, with significant improvement in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and physical work capacity (PWC170). Accordingly, MAAS and MDQ scores also improved significantly after yogic practice. The intra-group and inter-group significant improvements in psychophysiological parameters through CYM practice are relevant in eumenorrheic females to perform effectively throughout their MC period, by improving MC distress and sympathovagal (LF/HF) balance.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Host Defense Peptides in Saliva of Patients with Periodontitis

Background: Smoking cigarettes is linked to a number of diseases (systemic and oral), and affect both innate and adaptive immunity. Host defense peptides, often known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are a component of the innate immune system and regarded as a group of chemically active oligopeptides that are poisonous to harmful microbes. Aims: The goal of this research was to shed light on the effect of cigarette smoking on the production of host defense peptides in periodontitis patients. Methods and Materials: Eighty-five participants were included in this study. Periodontal health assessed by: PLI, GI, BOP, PPD and CAL. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects. ELISA was carried out to estimate the levels of beta defensin and cathelicidin. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. The ANOVA parametric test was used to determine and detect the differences between independent study groups, and the Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD)/post hoc test was performed to determine if there is any statistical connection between two data sets (intergroup comparison). Results: The study findings showed both smokers and non smokers with periodontitis had considerably greater levels of beta defensin and cathelicidin than healthy controls. There was statistically significant reduction in beta defensin between smokers and non smokers (p&lt;0.001); whereas no significant differences found between smokers and non smokers regarding cathelicidin level. Conclusions: These findings suggested that, in the context of periodontal diseases, smoking can affect the protein levels of beta defensin but not the levels of cathelicidin

Efficacy of Scaling and Root Planing with and without Adjunctive Use of Diode Laser or 1% Ornidazole Gel as Local Drug Delivery in the Management of Chronic Periodontitis: An Experimental Study

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease affecting the supporting structures of the teeth. Scaling and root planing (SRP) is a conventional non-surgical therapy. However, adjunctive treatments like diode lasers and local drug delivery systems (e.g., 1% Ornidazole gel) have been proposed to enhance treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of SRP alone and combined with diode laser or 1% Ornidazole gel as adjunctive therapies for managing chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: This experimental study included forty five individuals of both gender aged between 27 and 60 years diagnosed with chronic periodontitis and having pocket depths &gt;4 mm in different quadrants of the mouth were selected and divided equally into three groups as Group-I (treated with SRP only), Group-II (treated with SRP and diode Laser application of 1.5 w, 980nm,30sec continuous wave), Group-III (treated with SRP and Application of 1% Ornidazole gel, as local drug delivery). Clinical parameters including gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and after 1 month of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the outcomes among the three groups.Results: All groups exhibited significant improvement in periodontal health, with reductions in GI, PPD and improvements in CAL. The intra-group comparison of all three groups from baseline to one month showed a statistically significant reduction in GI, PPD and CAL. In contrast, the intergroup comparison between Group I (SRP only) and Group II (SRP+Diode laser) showed statistically non-significant results in PPD and CAL. A statistically significant reduction in PPD and CAL was observed in Group III (SRP+ 1% Ornidazole gel) compared to Group I and Group II.Conclusion: Adjunctive use of diode laser and 1% Ornidazole gel enhances the efficacy of SRP in treating chronic periodontitis. Both modalities offer clinical benefits over SRP alone, with the 1% ornidazole showing marginally better results. when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in non-surgical periodontal therapy of patients with chronic periodontitis. Further research with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is needed to validate these findings.

Mobile Health to Improve Efficacy of Interdental Brushing Among Periodontitis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Compliance with plaque control measures in open interdental spaces, an essential element in management of periodontitis, is reported to be poor. Mobile health (mHealth) approach is an effective approach for behavior change. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of mHealth in improving plaque control in type 2 embrasures. Stage II or III, grade B periodontitis patients (n = 76) with type 2 embrasures were enrolled. Phase I therapy was provided in both groups. In the control group, interdental brushing instructions were given only at baseline and follow-up appointments. In the test group, interdental brushing was also reinforced by regular text messages for 3 months. Clinical parameters including plaque index (PI), papillary bleeding index (PBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and interdental papillary height (IPH) were measured at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. Intergroup comparison from baseline to 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between groups in all parameters with more reduction in mean values in test group. Intergroup comparison from 3 to 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in mean values of PI, PBI, GI, PPD, CAL, and IPH with higher reduction in test group. Intragroup comparison from 3 to 6 months showed statistically significant reduction in mean values in PI, PBI, PPD, CAL, and IPH only in test group (p < 0.05). Cue to action through mobile text messages effectively augments compliance with the use of interdental brush, improves plaque control, and manages stage II or stage III periodontitis following subgingival instrumentation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05565404.

Immediate Effects of the Mandibular Muscle Energy Technique in Adults with Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders affect the muscles used for chewing, the temporomandibular joint, and other related tissues, resulting in pain, limited mobility, and dysfunction of the masticatory muscles. Physical therapy plays a critical role in treatment. Manual therapy can trigger neurophysiological mechanisms that contribute to pain relief and a reduction in muscle activation. Evaluations of different manual therapy techniques are needed on this topic. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a specific manual therapy technique (the mandibular muscle energy technique) in adults with temporomandibular disorders. Methods: A randomized, parallel clinical trial was conducted, and 31 participants were recruited into an experimental group and 30 were recruited into a control group in order to analyze its effects on outcomes such as pain, pain threshold to pressure, mandibular mobility, and kinesiophobia. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were performed, followed by statistical analyses to verify the intra- and intergroup changes. Results: The results showed that the mandibular muscle energy technique produced positive effects with significant differences in the intra- and intergroup comparisons for pain threshold to pressure, mandibular mobility, and kinesiophobia, demonstrating its efficacy and safety as a treatment option for adults with temporomandibular disorders, with proven effects in the short term. Conclusions: The effects obtained and the absence of side effects showed that this technique can be integrated into multimodal treatment along with other types of interventions in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Evaluation of condylar dimension and position following rapid maxillary expansion with tooth- or tooth-bone-borne appliances.

To assess and compare changes in the dimension and position of the mandibular condyle after tooth-borne (Hyrax) and tooth-bone-borne (Hybrid Hyrax) expansion. Twenty-five patients who underwent expansion with either tooth-borne appliances (8 girls, 5 boys; mean age 14.3 ± 2.3 years) or tooth-bone-borne appliances (6 girls, 6 boys; mean age 13.8 ± 2.2 years) were examined. Condylar and glenoid fossa morphology before (T0) and 3 months after (T1) expansion were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Condylar measurements (anterior, posterior, and superior joint spaces; condylar height, length, and width), along with sagittal and vertical skeletal and maxillary transversal measurements, were analyzed using Dolphin Imaging software. Wilcoxon and Paired t tests were used for T0 and T1 evaluations, and the Mann-Whitney U test for intergroup comparisons. At both T0 and T1, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of condylar dimensions or the position of the condyle within the glenoid fossa. Maxillary transversal measurements increased after expansion in both groups (P < 0.01), with a significantly greater increase in first premolar width in the Hyrax group (P < 0.05). The vertical position of the posterior teeth showed no noteworthy changes (P > 0.05), except for the right second premolar. Temporomandibular joint measurements did not significantly change in either group after treatment (P > 0.05). Neither tooth-borne nor tooth-bone-borne expansion caused significant changes in the condylar dimensions and position at the end of treatment.

Development and Validation of a Machine Learning-Based Early Warning Model for Lichenoid Vulvar Disease: Prediction Model Development Study.

Given the complexity and diversity of lichenoid vulvar disease (LVD) risk factors, it is crucial to actively explore these factors and construct personalized warning models using relevant clinical variables to assess disease risk in patients. Yet, to date, there has been insufficient research, both nationwide and internationally, on risk factors and warning models for LVD. In light of these gaps, this study represents the first systematic exploration of the risk factors associated with LVD. The risk factors of LVD in women were explored and a medically evidence-based warning model was constructed to provide an early alert tool for the high-risk target population. The model can be applied in the clinic to identify high-risk patients and evaluate its accuracy and practicality in predicting LVD in women. Simultaneously, it can also enhance the diagnostic and treatment proficiency of medical personnel in primary community health service centers, which is of great significance in reducing overall health care spending and disease burden. A total of 2990 patients who attended West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2013 to December 2017 were selected as the study candidates and were divided into 1218 cases in the normal vulvovagina group (group 0) and 1772 cases in the lichenoid vulvar disease group (group 1) according to the results of the case examination. We investigated and collected routine examination data from patients for intergroup comparisons, included factors with significant differences in multifactorial analysis, and constructed logistic regression, random forests, gradient boosting machine (GBM), adaboost, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and Categorical Boosting analysis models. The predictive efficacy of these six models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve. Univariate analysis revealed that vaginitis, urinary incontinence, humidity of the long-term residential environment, spicy dietary habits, regular intake of coffee or caffeinated beverages, daily sleep duration, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, presence of autoimmune diseases, menopausal status, and hypertension were all significant risk factors affecting female LVD. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and F1-score of the GBM warning model were notably higher than the other 5 predictive analysis models. The GBM analysis model indicated that menopausal status had the strongest impact on female LVD, showing a positive correlation, followed by the presence of autoimmune diseases, which also displayed a positive dependency. In accordance with evidence-based medicine, the construction of a predictive warning model for female LVD can be used to identify high-risk populations at an early stage, aiding in the formulation of effective preventive measures, which is of paramount importance for reducing the incidence of LVD in women.

Dexmedetomidine for Less Invasive Surfactant Administration: A Pilot Study.

Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) involves delivering surfactant to a spontaneously breathing infant by passing a thin catheter through the vocal cords and has become the preferred method for surfactant delivery. However, the role of pre-LISA sedation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the use of dexmedetomidine for LISA in preterm and early-term infants. This retrospective study evaluated preterm and early-term infants who received intravenous dexmedetomidine for LISA between December 2022 and March 2024. Primary outcomes included safety parameters such as the absence of bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, or respiratory depression, and the success rate of LISA, determined by the lack of endotracheal intubation within 72 h. Intergroup comparison based on a cutoff of 32 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) was performed. Thirty-seven infants were included. The mean ± SD PMA at birth, birth weight, and age at LISA were 32.2 ± 2.7 weeks, 1879 ± 698g, and 13.9 ± 12.4 h, respectively. Mean dexmedetomidine dosage was 0.66 ± 0.26μg/kg. Six patients (16.2%) developed mild hypothermia, and 10 (27%) experienced apnea/bradycardia within 24 h. The success rate of the procedure was 89.2%. Infants born before 32 weeks received lower doses of dexmedetomidine than those born at 32 weeks and above (0.54 ± 0.24 versus 0.76 ± 0.24μg/kg, p<0.01). Safety and success rates of LISA were similar across groups. This is the first report on dexmedetomidine as pre-LISA sedation, demonstrating its feasibility with comparable success rates regardless of PMA. These findings may inform future studies on sedation strategies for LISA.

Effects of Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorine Dioxide on Human Root Canal Dentine: An ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Study

Background: It is very important to assess the effects of NaOCl and ClO2 on dentine deproteination because these solutions are in contact with dentine during endodontic treatment and may affect the physical and chemical structure of dentine. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of sodium-hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorine-- dioxide (ClO2) on the chemical structure of human dentine by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Method: Fifteen human maxillary incisor roots were cut longitudinally into two parallel dentin discs being approximately 4x4x2 mm in size. 30 samples were randomly allocated to 6 groups treated with 5.25% NaOCl or 0.014% ClO2 (1, 5, or 10 minutes); self-control was used. The effect of solutions on the organic and inorganic components of the radicular dentine surface was analyzed using the amide:phosphate ratio and carbonate:phosphate ratio. The intragroup differences (paired t-test) and intergroup differences (one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s posthoc test) were analyzed. Result: The intragroup comparisons showed the amide:phosphate ratio to be higher at all times at ClO2. NaOCl caused a decrease in the amide:phosphate ratio at 10 minutes (p&lt;0.05). The intergroup comparison showed that NaOCl caused a greater decrease in amide:phosphate at all times compared to ClO2 (p&lt;0.05). All comparisons demonstrated no significant difference in the carbonate: phosphate ratio (p˃0.05). Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure to minimize NaOCl-induced dentine deproteination. It should also be taken into account that ClO2 increases the amide:phosphate ratio in radicular dentine, and this effect is advantageous in clinical use for collagen structure, contrary to the negative impact of NaOCl.

Development of a prediction model for recurrent parathyroid carcinoma lesions based on 3D-EnCT and ultrasound imaging features.

This study aimed to analyze the three-dimensional enhanced computed tomography (3D-EnCT) and ultrasound imaging features of recurrent parathyroid carcinoma lesions and develop a prediction model based on these features. The clinical data of 34 patients (48 cases) with recurrent parathyroid carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital's Thyroid and Neck Surgery Department between January 2017 and April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 103 suspicious lesions were identified through a combination of preoperative 3D-EnCT and ultrasound examinations. Patients admitted prior to 1 January 2023 were included in the training set, and those admitted after 1 January 2023 were included in the validation set. In the training set, lesions were categorized as positive or negative based on pathological analysis. Statistically significant imaging features were identified via intergroup comparisons. An imaging prediction model was developed based on the 3D-EnCT and ultrasound features, and the predictive performance of the model was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic curves in the validation set. Arterial- and venous-phase CT values, lesion boundaries, and blood flow signals were associated with pathological positivity. The 3D-EnCT prediction model based on these features achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.9 and 0.714 in the training and validation sets, respectively, whereas the ultrasound prediction model achieved AUCs of 0.601 and 0.621, respectively. The 3D-EnCT model demonstrated superior predictive performance. The 3D-EnCT prediction model demonstrated superior predictive performance for recurrent parathyroid carcinoma lesions.

Interventional effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation with different doses of X-ray irradiation induced hepatic injury in mice

Objective: To investigate the interventional effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) transplantation with different doses of X-ray irradiation induced hepatic injury in mice. Methods: Eighteen female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 0, 2, and 3 Gy irradiation groups and 0, 2, and 3 Gy transplantation groups. The irradiation group was used as the control and injected with an equal volume of culture medium. The mice in the transplantation group were irradiated with different doses of X-ray irradiation, and BMMSCs were intravenously infused into the bone marrow. The mice were sacrificed for sampling at the end of the 21st day. Mice body weight changes were recorded daily. The changes in the content of peripheral blood lymphocytes, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin were detected by an automatic blood tester. The morphological changes in mice liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected by a biochemical analyzer. The reduced glutathione contents in liver tissue were detected by the microplate method. The malondialdehyde content in liver tissue was detected by thiobarbituric acid. The content of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in liver tissue was detected by the hydroxylamine method. The expression of the F4/80 protein in liver tissue was detected by the immunohistochemistry method. The protein expression of nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in liver tissue was determined by the western blotting method. The mRNA expression of NLRP3, IL-6, and Nrf2 in liver tissue was detected by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The multiple-group comparisons were analyzed by factorial analysis of variance. The inter-group comparisons were analyzed by the LSD method for statistical analysis. Results: The contents of peripheral blood lymphocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin were significantly decreased in the 3 Gy irradiation group than the 0 Gy irradiation group (P<0.05), while the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly increased (P<0.05). The malondialdehyde content, F4/80 protein expression level, nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeats, nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and interleukin 6 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in liver tissue, while the contents of T-SOD and glutathione, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels, and Nrf2 mRNA expression level in liver tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The contents of peripheral blood lymphocytes, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin were significantly increased in the 3 Gy transplantation group than the 3 Gy irradiation group (P<0.05), while the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The malondialdehyde content, F4/80 protein expression level, NLRP3 and interleukin-6 mRNA expression levels in liver tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the content of T-SOD and glutathione, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels, and Nrf2 mRNA expression level in liver tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: X-ray irradiation at a dose of 3 Gy can induce liver oxidative damage in mice. BMMSC transplantation can improve X-ray irradiation-induced liver oxidative damage in mice, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The eagle-wing finding in FP-CIT SPECT, as a characteristic finding in patients with DESH- type iNPH.

Although dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging has been reported to be useful for differentiating idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) from its mimics, the radiological findings of DAT imaging in iNPH have not been established. We investigated [123I] N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (FP-CIT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images from patients with disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid-space hydrocephalus (DESH)-type iNPH to understand the characteristics of DAT images of iNPH. We retrospectively collected 11 DESH-type iNPH patients without comorbidities who underwent FP-CIT SPECT imaging. The patients' FP-CIT SPECT were examined using both visual and quantitative evaluations. Visual assessment used Kahraman et al.'s five-step grading, and quantitative assessment used DaTView and MIM software to calculate specific binding ratios (SBRs) for four volumes of interest (VOIs): the entire striatum, caudate nucleus, anterior putamen, and posterior putamen. Intergroup comparisons were made between the DESH group and a normal control (NC) group adjusted for age and sex. The visual assessment classified 91% of DESH patients as showing grade 4 'eagle-wing' on FP-CIT SPECT, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.601. The median SBR was lower in the DESH group than in the NC group for all four VOIs, and significantly lower in the anterior and posterior putamen (p < 0.05). In DESH-type iNPH, FP-CIT SPECT imaging typically shows the 'eagle-wing' finding due to decreased DAT concentration in the putamen. Our results enhance the utility of FP-CIT SPECT in diagnosing iNPH and distinguishing it from mimics.

ITrace study on the Effects of Phacoemulsification with 90° Transparent Corneal Incision on Corneal Astigmatism and Visual Acuity in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery.

To investigate the effects of phacoemulsification with 90° transparent corneal incision on corneal astigmatism and visual acuity in patients undergoing cataract surgery. This was a retrospective study. Sixty patients with age-related cataract and corneal astigmatism value ≤ 0.75D admitted to Gaocheng Aier Shijia Eye Hospital from June 2023 to October 2023 were included and divided into the observation group(with-the-rule astigmatism) and the control group(against-the-rule astigmatism), with 30 eyes each. Both groups were given a 90° transparent corneal incision, and the general data of the two groups were compared before surgery, one week after surgery, one month after surgery, and three months after surgery. Before surgery, UCVA and BCVA were compared between the two groups (p> 0.05); no statistically significant difference was observed in corneal astigmatism between the two groups (p> 0.05); no statistically significant difference was observed in the axial direction of corneal astigmatism between the two groups before surgery(p> 0.05). Inter-group comparison: UCVA and BCVA in the two groups were significantly increased one week and one month after surgery, with those in the observation group being higher than those in the control group(p< 0.05); the corneal astigmatism in the observation group was lower than that in the control group at one week and one month after surgery (p< 0.05). A 90° transparent corneal incision may result in various benefits during phacoemulsification, such as correcting corneal astigmatism in patients with compliant cataracts, promoting early postoperative visual recovery, and stabilizing axial position after surgery.

Variational trend in disease characteristics of hepatitis B-related primary liver cancer populations in the past five years: a retrospective single-center cross-sectional study

Objective: To study the variational trend in disease characteristics of patients with hepatitis B-related primary liver cancer (HBV-HCC) in the past five years. Method: A single-center retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed to compare patients diagnosed with HBV-HCC from January 2012 to December 2016 (control group) and from January 2017 to December 2021 (observation group). The data of the study variables were extracted from the electronic medical record system of the hospital information system of the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. The 1:2 propensity score matching was used to adjust potential confounding factors such as gender and age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study the factors affecting changes in disease characteristics of the HBV-HCC population in the observation group. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software was used to draw forest plots to intuitively display the effect size of the study variables in the logistic regression analysis.The t-test was used to compare normally distributed data between groups. The χ2 test was used for inter-group comparison. Results: A total of 1 717 eligible cases were collected, including 510 in the control group and 1 207 in the observation group. Compared with the control group, the number of newly diagnosed cases in the observation group increased by 2.36 times, and males were still the main onset population (83.3% vs. 82.7%). The median age of onset increased (51.9 vs. 53.5 years, P<0.001). 79.4% of HBV-HCC patients had not received antiviral therapy, and the proportion of HBeAg-negative patients increased (56.4%). The factors affecting HBV-HCC patients included family history of HBV (OR=1.626, 95%CI: 1.181-2.238), family history of hepatocellular carcinoma (OR=1.388, 95%CI: 1.013-1.901), hypoviremia (OR=1.322, 95%CI: 1.046-1.671), abnormal alanine aminotransferase (OR=1.545, 95%CI: 1.231-1.940), liver fibrosis (OR=1.478, 95%CI: 1.153-1.894), liver cirrhosis (OR=1.431, 95%CI: 1.128-1.815), and metabolic-related fatty liver disease (OR=1.438, 95%CI: 1.116-1.815) after propensity score matching adjustment. The factors affecting HBeAg-positive patients were decreased (OR=0.390, 95%CI: 0.389-0.617); however, the number of early HBV-HCC diagnoses was increased (12.7% vs. 19.3%, P=0.001). Conclusion: The characteristics of patient disease and occurrence of HBV-HCC are changing over the past five years. The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in middle- to older male patients with chronic hepatitis B is increasing with familial history of HBV and hepatocellular carcinoma, HBeAg negativity, hypoviremia, abnormal alanine aminotransferase, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and metabolic-related fatty liver disease.

Efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan combined with dapagliflozin in treating patients with heart failure and diabetes after an acute myocardial infarction.

To investigate the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan combined with dapagliflozin in diabetic patients suffering from heart failure following an acute myocardial infarction. This retrospective study included 80 diabetic patients who had heart failure after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and were hospitalised at First Hospital of Qinhuangdao between January 2021 and January 2023. They were randomly divided into the control and observation groups (each group n = 40). In addition to fundamental anti-heart failure treatment, the control group was administered with sacubitril/valsartan, whereas the observation group received sacubitril/valsartan combined with dapagliflozin. The treatment lasted for six months, and the patient's glucose-associated targets and prognosis before and after treatment were compared in both groups. Six months after the treatment, the fasting blood glucose, 2-h postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c levels of patients from both groups significantly decreased. The decrease was more prominent in the observation group than in the control group, with significant differences (P < 0.05). Additionally, the LVEF, CO, CI and NT-proBNP levels considerably decreased in both groups after treatment, with the observation group exhibiting a more notable decrease that was significantly different (P < 0.05). An inter-group comparison showed that the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). In diabetic patients suffering from heart failure after an AMI, treatment with sacubitril/valsartan combined with dapagliflozin may effectively control blood glucose levels and improve cardiac functions without increasing adverse reactions, indicating high clinical safety.

Exfoliated Oral Mucosal Cell Micronucleus Frequency Evaluation in Healthy Individuals, Tobacco Users, and Patients with Potentially Malignant Disorders: An Analytical Comparative Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Assessing the prevalence of exfoliated oral mucosal cell micronuclei in tobacco smokers, healthy persons, and patients with potentially malignant diseases (PMDs). A critical comparative investigation. Materials and Procedures: The study included 80 participants divided into four groups: healthy persons, tobacco users without any clinically noticeable oral lesions, patients with leukoplakia, and patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Each group included 20 participants. Only cases with a verified histological diagnosis of PMDs were considered for evaluating micronuclei (MNi). This included non-smokers with mucosa that seems normal, smokers with mucosa that appears normal, and individuals with leukoplakia and OSMF who were histologically identified. Results: Compared to controls, smokers and patients with PMDs had much higher MN frequencies, with PMD patients having the highest MN frequency. There was a noticeable rise in MN frequency in the H and E and PAP stains from controls to tobacco users and then to PMD patients, showing a stepwise development. While the difference between tobacco users and PMD patients was only significant with the H and E stain, the inter-group comparisons show significant differences in MN frequency between controls and both tobacco users and PMD patients across both staining techniques. Additionally, the comparison of the H and E and PAP stains reveals that whereas MN frequencies in smokers and controls are typically similar, PMD patients have considerably higher MN frequencies in the H and E stains. Conclusion: In summary, the research indicates that tobacco users have a much higher MN frequency than controls, with an even more pronounced in individuals who have PMDs.