One-way ANOVA Research Articles

Effect of obstructive sleep apnea risk on sialorrhea in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Our aim was to determine the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) risk on sialorrhea in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 75 patients with PD (mean age 66.36 ± 8.07) were included. Sialorrhoea was evaluated using the "Sialorrhoea Clinical Scale for Parkinson's Disease" and OSAS risk was determined using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Diurnal and nocturnal sialorrhoea, drooling severity, speech impairment, eating impairment frequency of drooling, and social discomfort were evaluated. Patients were classified as having low, moderate, or high risk of OSAS. One-way analysis of variance, Tukey's multiple comparison test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Bonferroni-Dunn tests, and Fischer's exact test were used to compare groups according to the normality of the data. Patients were classified as low risk (n = 10), intermediate risk (n = 29) and high risk (n = 36). The clinical characteristics were similar in all risk groups. The highest rate of nocturnal sialorrhea was observed in all risk groups. The lowest-risk group scored 4.30 ± 3.09, whereas the intermediate- and high-risk groups scored 4.21 ± 4.46, 6.94 ± 4.81 respectively for sialorrhea (p = 0.034). A significant difference in sialorrhea between the groups was found in the intermediate and high-risk groups (p = 0.034). This study showed that sialorrhea changes were significant in patients with PD in the intermediate-and high-risk OSAS groups. It may be suggested that sialorrhoea be assessed and included in the treatment program in patients at high risk of OSAS or that PD patients with high levels of sialorrhoea should be tested for OSAS. Patients may benefit from treatment methods that address both conditions.

Сhanges of the functional phenotype of circulating monocytes during pregnancy

Rearrangement of the immune system during pregnancy is a strictly controlled, dynamic process in which the first and third trimesters are, respectively, pro-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory periods. However, monocyte involvement in regulating the pro/anti-inflammatory balance remains poorly understood. The functional phenotype of monocytes is known to depend on their subsets assessed by CD14 and CD16 expression, and is associated with expression of M1(CCR2)- and M2(CD206) molecules, associated with pro- and anti-inflammatory activity, respectively. Here we have investigated the expression of CCR2 and CD206 in classical (CD14++CD16- , cMo), intermediate (CD14++CD16+, iMo), and non-classical monocytes (CD14+CD16++, nMo) in pregnant women at different gestational ages in comparison with nonpregnant women. The study included 14 pregnant women in the first trimester, 20 in the second trimester, 26 in the third trimester, and 29 fertile non-pregnant women. One-way analysis of variance in these groups revealed significant differences CCR2 and CD206 expression (more pronounced in classical and intermediate monocytes and stronger in relation to CD206 expression). Overall, monocytes from pregnant women had decreased CCR2- and increased CD206 expression, suggesting a shift towards an anti-inflammatory profile. These changes appeared in the first trimester (increased CD206 mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] in cMo and iMo, p < 0.05) and reached their maximum in the second trimester, manifested by significant increase in CD206 and decrease in CCR2 expression (% of cells, MFI) in all monocyte subsets. In the third trimester, CD206+ cMo decreased, as compared to the second trimester (p < 0.05), and the percentage of CCR2+ cMo and iMo increased. Of note, these changes in the first and third trimesters were combined with increased pro-inflammatory expression profile of non-classical monocytes which was restricted by the non-classical monocyte subpopulation in the first trimester, then being mediated by intermediate and non-classical monocytes in the third trimester. The data obtained suggest involvement of monocytes in regulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance during pregnancy, with predominant development of the M2 profile in classical monocytes during the first and third trimesters, and in all monocyte subsets over second trimester, along with increase in the M1 proinflammatory profile of intermediate and non-classical monocytes in the first and third trimesters.

The Role of Quercetin and Exercise in Modulating Apoptosis and Cardiomyopathy via PI3K/AKT/FOXO3 Pathways in Diabetic Obese Rats.

Quercetin and exercise both have antidiabetic effects through decreasing blood glucose while increasing insulin sensitivity. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) exercises along with quercetin administration on apoptosis and cardiomyopathy in diabetic obese rats. In this experimental study, 35 male Wistar rats [diabetic rats for experimental groups and normal rats for healthy control (HC)] were divided into seven groups (for each group n=5): HC, diabetic control (DC), diabetic quercetin control (DQC), diabetic HIIT (DHT), diabetic MICT (DMT), DHT with quercetin (DQHT) and DMT with quercetin (DQMT). The rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) was administered to create a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Eight weeks of HIIT and MICT with or without quercetin treatment were performed. Quercetin was used at 15 mg/kg, as a suspension in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at a concentration of 0.5%. One-way analysis of variance with LSD's post-hoc test with a significant level of P≤0.05 was used to analyze data. Just 8 weeks of HIIT and MICT protected the protein content of PI3K, AKT, and FOXO3 and caspase-8 (Casp- 8) gene expression in heart tissues (P<0.05). Quercetin and both training protocols decreased blood glucose, while improving inflammatory markers and the lipid profile (P<0.05). Reduction in blood glucose along with improvements in the inflammatory markers and the lipid profile by quercetin injection may be a promising approach for the development of new antidiabetic medications. In addition, both training protocols showed potentially successful diabetic cardiomyopathy treatments through modulating the FOXO3 and PI3K/AKT pathways.

Effect of changing the internal structure on the mechanical properties of three-dimensional-printed custom tray material: An in vitro study.

The main challenges to the widespread clinical application of three-dimensional (3D)-printed customized trays include cost and time limitations. This study examined how changing the internal structure of 3D-printed materials used for customized trays affects flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM), manufacturing time, and material weight. Specimens (64×10×3.3mm) were printed using a light-sensitive liquid resin. The internal structures of control specimens were completely filled, whereas the internal structures of test groups comprised vertical bars spaced 1 mm (Test 1) or 2 mm (Test 2) apart. Specimens were weighed and then subjected to a three-point bending test to evaluate their FS and FM. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test, with Weibull analysis applied to FS values. Control specimens had the highestFS (106±4 MPa), while Test 2 specimens demonstrated the highest FM (6101±1407 MPa). No significant differences were found between Test 1 and Test 2 specimens in FS or FM. Test 2 specimens had the lowest mean weight (1440±42 mg). Manufacturing times were 80min for control and Test 1 specimens and 60min for Test 2 specimens. Including spaces in the internal structure of 3D-printed customtray material saves material and manufacturing time while maintaining mechanical properties.

Effect of Repeated Autoclave on Hardness and Tensile Strength of Polypropylene/Natural Rubber Developed for Rubber Dam Clamp.

In this study, we aimed to explore the feasibility of utilizing polypropylene (PP) and natural rubber (NR) blends as alternative materials for rubber dam clamps in dentistry. The hardness of various PP/NR blend ratios was compared to the commercial product SoftClampTM. Selected blend ratios exhibiting hardness values resembling rigid plastic were further evaluated for hardness and tensile strength after undergoing 1, 5, and 10 autoclave cycles. One-way ANOVA test results found that the PP/NR blends exhibited significantly lower hardness (p < 0.001) than the commercial SoftClampTM. PP/NR ratios of 100/0, 90/10, and 80/20 exhibited hardness levels equivalent to 82%, 80%, and 75% of SoftClampTM, respectively. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant reductions in hardness (p < 0.001) and tensile strength (p < 0.001) with increasing NR content across all autoclave cycles. However, post-autoclave assessments at 1, 5, and 10 cycles demonstrated no statistically significant differences in tensile strength (p = 0.058) and hardness (p = 0.52) for PP/NR ratios of 100/0, 90/10, and 80/20 compared to their pre-autoclave states. The NR content within the PP/NR blends decreased hardness and tensile strength, while autoclaving did not significantly affect the hardness and tensile strength of the PP/NR blends.

The use of individualised, media-based sleep hygiene education for professional female footballers.

Sleep hygiene can be defined as practicing habits that facilitate sleep; poor sleep hygiene is common among elite athletes, and improving this can be one way to enhance sleep indices. Given the large inter-individual variability of sleep, there is a need for further investigation into individualised sleep hygiene for elite female athletes, with consideration for the practical application of the method. Using a self-controlled time series design with repeated measures, n=16 professional female footballers completed a 9-week study during mid-season. Monitoring of sleep (actigraphy, self-report) occurred at week 1, 4, 7 and 9-a control period occurred at week 2 and 3, and a subsequent intervention period occurred at weeks 5 and 6. Based on baseline sleep monitoring, media-based messages were designed with the purpose of giving a singular sleep hygiene message; all participants received these individualised messages daily across the 2-week intervention period at a standardised time of 8.00p.m., with the intention of them actioning the sleep hygiene point. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was conducted to assess the differences between control period, intervention period and follow-up for each measured variable. Significant differences were observed post-intervention for sleep efficiency (p<0.001) and sleep latency (p<0.001), whereas the athlete sleep behaviour questionnaire score significantly improved in the follow-up period (week 9) post intervention (p=0.039). This is the first study to present this novel method of individualised sleep hygiene education for elite female athletes and is also the first study to demonstrate the use of sleep hygiene interventions to improve sleep factors for female athletes' mid-season. This demonstrates a promising, time-efficient approach to sleep hygiene education, with a potentially wide scope of application, as well as demonstrating there is indeed potential for elite female athletes to gain sleep improvements mid-season.

Loss-of-function mutations of microRNA-142-3p promote ASH1L expression to induce immune evasion and hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been a pervasive malignancy throughout the world with elevated mortality. Efficient therapeutic targets are beneficial to treat and predict the disease. Currently, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to the progression of HCC are still unclear. Research has shown that the microRNA-142-3p level decreases in HCC, whereas bioinformatics analysis of the cancer genome atlas database shows the ASH1L expression increased among liver tumor tissues. In this paper, we will explore the effects and mechanisms of microRNA-142-3p and ASH1L affect the prognosis of HCC patients and HCC cell bioactivity, and the association between them. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of microRNA-142-3p and ASH1L on the HCC cell bioactivity and prognosis of HCC patients. In this study, we grouped HCC patients according to their immunohistochemistry results of ASH1L with pathological tissues, and retrospectively analyzed the prognosis of HCC patients. Furthermore, explored the roles and mechanisms of microRNA-142-3p and ASH1L by cellular and animal experiments, which involved the following experimental methods: Immunohistochemical staining, western blot, quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometric analysis, tumor xenografts in nude mice, etc. The statistical methods involved in this study contained t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the χ 2 test, the Kaplan-Meier approach and the log-rank test. In this study, we found that HCC patients with high expression of ASH1L possess a more recurrence rate as well as a decreased overall survival rate. ASH1L promotes the tumorigenicity of HCC and microRNA-142-3p exhibits reduced expression in HCC tissues and interacts with ASH1L through targeting the ASH1L 3'untranslated region. Furthermore, microRNA-142-3p promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines in vitro via ASH1L. For the exploration mechanism, we found ASH1L may promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment in HCC and ASH1L affects the expression of the cell junction protein zonula occludens-1, which is potentially relevant to the immune system. Loss function of microRNA-142-3p induces cancer progression and immune evasion through upregulation of ASH1L in HCC. Both microRNA-142-3p and ASH1L can feature as new biomarker for HCC in the future.

Fracture resistance and behavior of endodontically treated maxillary premolars with varying ferrule heights and post numbers: A laboratory study.

To investigate how varying ferrule heights and the number of glass fiber posts affect fracture resistance and behavior of endodontically treated maxillary first premolars with substantial loss of tooth structure. Twenty-four extracted endodontically treated human maxillary first premolars were divided into three groups (n=8) based on ferrule height and post number. The groups were as follows: premolars of 2mm ferrule height that were restored with single posts (control group), premolars of 0.5mm ferrule height that were restored with single posts in palatal canals (single-post group), and premolars of 0.5mm ferrule height that were restored with double posts in palatal and buccal canals (double-post group). All groups were then restored with composite core and metal-ceramic crowns cemented with zinc phosphate cement. All specimens were subjected to 10,000 thermal cycles at temperatures of 5°C and 55°C, as well as 1.2 million cyclic loadings of 49N load at 1.2Hz using a chewing simulator. The specimens were loaded to fracture in a universal testing machine and fracture behavior was examined under stereomicroscope and divided into restorable and unrestorable fracture modes. Fracture loads and modes were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test, and Fisher's exact probability test (p≤0.05). The control group showed the highest mean fracture load (1127±172) of all groups (p<0.001). The specimens in the single-post group showed numerically higher mean fracture load (522±171) but with no significant difference compared to the ones in the double-post group (518±157; p>0.967). In the control group, 75% of specimens showed unrestorable fractures compared to 50% and 12.5% in single-post and double-post groups. The specimens in the control group had similar unrestorable fractures, starting from the coronal part and extending obliquely to the cervical third of the root below resin level. Two specimens in the control group showed unrestorable fractures in the middle third of the root. No middle-third root fractures were observed in single-post and double-post groups, and unrestorable fractures in both groups were similar to those of the control group. The single-post group had two specimens with core-post crown complex restorable fractures, while the control and double-post groups had one specimen each. The remaining specimens showed cervical-third root restorable fractures above resin level. The ferrule height significantly influences the fracture resistance of endodontically treated premolars compared to the number of placed posts. Nonetheless, more restorable fractures are seen in endodontically treated premolars restored with double posts than single posts regardless of ferrule height.

Contrast sensitivity before and after refractive error correction among refractive error patients in Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia 2023

BackgroundContrast sensitivity is an important measure of vision quality. Risk of falling injury is strongly associated with poor contrast sensitivity compared with poor near- and distance visual acuity. Since good visual acuity is not necessarily associated with good visual performance in the “real world” it is important to consider contrast sensitivity when prescribing corrective lenses. There is limited evidence on how refractive error and its correction affect contrast sensitivity in the study area. Therefore, this study is important to understand how refractive correction affects contrast sensitivity, which is important baseline information for prescribing refractive error correction.Objective of this studyThis study aimed to measure the mean difference in contrast sensitivity with and without corrective lenses in patients with refractive error.MethodsObjective and subjective refractions were done for each patient, then Pelli- Robson contrast sensitivity was measured for them using computer based Pelli-Robson chart at 1 m. Pelli- Robson contrast sensitivity value (Log CS) with and without corrective lenses were recorded for each study participant. The collected data were checked for completeness and analyzed using SPSS 26. Descriptive analyses, independent sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were performed to compare CS means; the findings are presented using tables and pie charts. A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance.ResultsOne hundred sixty-two patients attending refraction clinics participated in this study with response rate 98.19% of which 51.9% were male. The mean age of the participants was 34.28 ± 12.79 (SD). The mean contrast sensitivity increased from 1.29 ± 0.35 (SD) to1.51 ± 0.28 (SD) LogCS units with refractive correction (p = 0.000). There is no significant difference in contrast sensitivity between the types of refractive errors.Conclusion and recommendationUncorrected refractive can affect contrast sensitivity; therefore, proper refractive correction is essential to improve visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Distal augmentation in unstable distal clavicle fractures: a retrospective cohort study of 101 cases.

The optimal management strategy for unstable distal clavicular fractures remains controversial. Recent studies on plate techniques have reported good-to-excellent outcomes with no serious complications. The questions are that: (1) Does the use of wire augmentation with locking plate in distal part (distal wire augmentation) reduce radiographic loss of reduction (RLOR) and get earlier bony union in distal clavicular fractures? (2) Which fixation methods are associated with a higher incidence of acromioclavicular (AC) joints arthritis or subluxation? We collected and analyzed clinical studies on different plate fixation methods for unstable fractures to identify the best surgical modality. This retrospective case-control study included 101 patients with Neer types IIB and V unstable distal clavicle fractures treated using plate techniques. The patients were divided into four groups according to the surgical procedure: hook plate (HP group) (n = 13), lateral locking plate alone (LP group) (n = 41), locking plate with coracoclavicular (CC) ligament suture repair (LPC group) (n = 26), and locking plate with distal wire augmentation (LPA group) without CC repair (n = 21). The clinical outcomes of shoulder function were the mean Constant score and the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale. The bony union time, loss of CC distance reduction, and AC joint condition were used to evaluate the radiographic results. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and chi-square test were performed to compare differences between groups. Multiple p-value comparison corrections were calculated using the Bonferroni method. There were no significant differences in the mean Constant and UCLA scores among the groups after 1 year of follow-up. All fractures healed. The LPA and HP groups achieved earlier bone union (LPA 8.4 weeks, HP 8.9 weeks, LP 12.6 weeks, and LPC 13.4 weeks, P = 0.000); however, the HP group had the highest complication rate and required bone removal (LPA 4.0%, HP 23.1%, LP 0.0%, LPC 0.0%, P = 0.003). A low rate of RLOR was observed in the LPA group (LPA 9.5%, HP 23.1%, LP 22.0%, LPC 30.8%, P = 0.362). The incidence of AC joint subluxation was higher in the Neer type V group and was unrelated to surgical methods. Hook plate and locking plate with distal wire augmentation in distal clavicle fractures result in an earlier time to bone union when compared with CC suture repair or non-CC suture repair techniques. However, HP may have the higher complication rate and require subsequent implant removal. The incorporation of distal wire augmentation appears to be beneficial in maintaining fracture reduction. In the future, larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings. Level III, therapeutic study.

A Novel Isotropic Optical Fiber: Antimicrobial Effect of Blue Light on Drug Resistant Organisms.

Drug-resistant organisms (DROs) necessitate the development of new therapies. Antimicrobial blue light (ABL) is a promising option, utilizing photoexcitation of endogenous bacterial components to generate reactive oxygen species, leading to bacterial death. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a novel isotropic optical fiber under in-vitro conditions on multidrug-resistant gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-Pa) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Time-to-kill assays were conducted in tubes containing 10 mL of 0.9% NaCl solution with an inoculum of 1 × 10⁵ CFU/mL for MDR-Pa or MRSA. The experiments were repeated at least three times per strain. Experimental tubes had either one (low power, LP) or two (high power, HP) optical fibers delivering five ABL wavelengths (405, 415, 435, 450, and 475 nm) over 60 min. Control tubes lacked optical fibers. Samples were taken at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min, streaked on agar, and incubated to determine CFU/mL. Bactericidal reduction was defined as a ≥ 99.9% (≥ 3 log10) reduction in CFU/mL. One-way ANOVA were conducted. The novel isotropic optical fiber was able to exhibit bactericidal effects for MDR-Pa only under HP-ABL with a log10CFU/mL ± SD difference of -3.71 ± 0.01 at 60 min (p = 0.03). Conversely, the optical fiber exhibited bactericidal effects on MRSA under both LP-ABL and HP-ABL with a log10CFU/mL±SD difference of -3.73 ± 0.08 at 60 min (p = 0.03) and -3.07 ± 0.28 at 20 min (p = 0.02), respectively. The isotropic optical fiber demonstrated bactericidal effects on MRSA and MDR-Pa in in-vitro studies and shows potential as a therapeutic option for DROs.

Work conditions and determinants of health status among industrial shift workers: a cross-sectional study.

This study investigated potential health status differences among forging, manufacturing, and logistics workers. We included 403 participants (age: 41 ± 12 years) from a medium-sized steel company (forge: 64, manufacturing: 299, logistics: 99). Health status was multifactorial assessed: (1) Frequency of musculoskeletal complaints (German Pain Questionnaire). (2) Pain intensity, physical and psychological load [visual analog scales (VAS) 0-100 points]. (3) Occupational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total MVPA, and sedentary behavior [Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)]. (4) Quality of life [Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)]. Between-group effects were analyzed via one-way ANOVAs with post-hoc Tukey correction. 308 workers (76.4%) reported at least one musculoskeletal issue. A significant between-group difference was revealed for left shoulder [F(2,40) = 5.40; p = 0.008; ω2 = 0.17], occupational MVPA [F(2,368) = 9.49; p < 0.001; ω2 = 0.04] and total MVPA [F(2,368) = 6.90; p = 0.001; ω2 = 0.03]. Post-hoc tests revealed a difference (p ≤ 0.007) between manufacturing (left shoulder: n = 22; 42.5 ± 24.8; occupational MVPA: n = 219; 6,978 ± 5,137 METs min/week; total MVPA: n = 219; 8,471 ± 5,390 METs min/week) and logistics workers (left shoulder: n = 14; 70.4 ± 26.3 au; occupational MVPA: n = 96; 9,640 ± 4,605 METs min/week; total MVPA: n = 96; 10,856 ± 4,680 METs min/week). No other between-group differences were observed. Variations in health disparities across work conditions were observed. Yet, clear distinctions between work conditions and health outcomes remain a challenge. Effective interventions should be focused on job-specific and personalized health profiles rather than a stratification of work conditions to enhance health, productivity, and workforce sustainability.

Neonatal and Home-Based PT Improves Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Investigate the effect of structured neonatal physical therapy program (SNP) on neurodevelopmental outcomes of moderate and late preterm (MLP) infants. Sixty MLP infants were randomly allocated to usual care (UC) or SNP. A previous publication reported the effect of neonatal component of SNP at hospital discharge. This paper examined SNP's effect on motor, cognitive and language outcomes at 3 and 6months using a 2-way mixed design ANOVA. Both groups were similar at baseline for motor scores. Infants receiving SNP significantly outperformed UC at all subsequent time points. At 3 and 6months, SNP significantly outscored UC in cognitive and language outcomes. SNP is effective in improving neurodevelopmental outcomes of MLP infants. However, caution is suggested in interpreting its effect on cognition and language as we lacked baseline scores to compare the longitudinal trajectory.

Effect of extrinsic pigmentation and multiple firing cycles on the properties of a zirconia-containing lithium silicate ceramic.

To assess the impact of staining and multiple firings on the mechanical, optical, and surface characteristics of zirconia-containing lithium silicate ceramics (ZLS). Ninety ZLS discs (Suprinity, VITA Zahnfabrick) were divided according to the "Number of firings" protocol: Ctr-control, no characterization; SC-single firing cycle (for characterization, crystallization and staining simultaneously); and DC-double firing cycle (crystallization firing cycle was performed separately from the staining firing). Extrinsic pigmentation was performed to replicate the characterization of a monolithic restoration. A layer of stain and glaze was applied with a fine brush to the ceramic surface. Specimens were fired two or four cycles, designed to simulate additional staining firings for potential characterization adjustments, but without applying new stain, resulting in six groups (n = 15): CtrII, CtrIV, SCII, SCIV, DCII, and DCIV. X-ray diffraction, color, translucency, and surface roughness analysis were also performed, and the samples were subjected to the biaxial flexural strength test. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA, Tukey's test (α = 0.05), and Weibull analysis. No changes in the diffractogram pattern were found, irrespective of the number of firings. The translucency (p = 0.02) and roughness (p < 0.01) of DCIV were significantly reduced compared to DCII. DCIV also showed the highest flexural strength (325.52AMPa), followed by SCII (271.64BMPa). Repeated firings increased the flexural strength of ZLS, where the double-step characterization technique demonstrated better statistical results than the other groups. Moreover, despite the ceramic showing good color stability, repeated firings significantly compromised its translucency.

Endoscopic surgery affects the gut microbiota and its metabolism in breast cancer patients.

Despite the advantages of endoscopic surgery in reducing trauma and enhancing recovery for breast cancer patients, its impact on gut microbiota, which is crucial for health and estrogen metabolism, remains unclear. Further investigation is necessary to fully understand this impact and its implications. Between June and December 2022, fecal samples were collected from 20 patients who underwent endoscopic surgery. The gut microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA sequencing, while the metabolites were analyzed through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics and statistical analyses were employed to identify significant alterations in microbial taxa abundance and to assess intergroup differences. These analyses included t-tests for pairwise comparisons, one-way ANOVA for multiple group comparisons, and chi-square tests for categorical data analysis. Endoscopic surgery in breast cancer patients subtly changed gut microbiota diversity and composition. Post-surgery, there was a reduction in Lachnospiraceae, Monoglobaceae and Firmicutes to Bacteroides ratios. Shifts in metabolites were also observed, the changed metabolites impacted pathways such as primary bile biosynthesis and Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, with PE(PGD1/18:1(9Z)) identified as a key differential metabolite that increased post-surgery. Azasetron, tyramine glucuronide, DL-DOPA, phthalide, acetophenazine, aciclovir, creatinine bicarbonate, and 4-oxo-L-proline being associated with distinct bacterial taxa. Breast cancer patients undergoing endoscopic surgery experience a shift in their gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. Therefore, postoperative management, with a particular focus on the adjustment of the gut microbiota, is crucial for enhancing patient recovery and health outcomes.

Comparative Evaluation of Plaque Removal Potential of Manual Electrical and Chewable Toothbrushes in Children: A Clinical Trial.

To evaluate and compare the efficiency of a manual, electrical, and chewable toothbrush for plaque removal in children. A total of 58 children aged 8-14 years who reported to the Department of Pedodontics. The children and guardians were familiarized with the disclosing agent, manual toothbrush, electrical toothbrush, and chewable toothbrush before the commencement of the study with the help of video and verbal demonstrations. Thirty children who were interested in participating in the study were included. The study consisted of 30 participants who were divided into three groups of 10 each-group A: manual toothbrush, group B: electrical toothbrush, and group C: chewable toothbrush. A disclosing agent was applied, and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) and Toothbrush Quality and Hygiene Index (TQHI) scores were recorded at baseline and after 1 week. The data was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Intragroup comparisons, that is, between baseline and 1 week, were performed using the paired samples t-test. Intergroup comparisons between the three groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by post hoc Tukey test (pairwise comparisons). A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The plaque removal efficiency of electric toothbrushes is the highest, followed by the chewable toothbrush group, while the manual toothbrush group is the least. The chewable toothbrush highly surpasses the manual toothbrush group as it contains xylitol substances, which reduce Mutans Streptococcus in the plaque. Mareddy AR, Reddy VN, Done V, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Plaque Removal Potential of Manual Electrical and Chewable Toothbrushes in Children: A Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(12):1388-1393.

Age-related variations in physical activity, happiness, and psychological well-being: Evidence from Iran

Background Physical activity (PA) is associated with higher levels of PWB and happiness. The high prevalence of physical inactivity among the Iranian population is concerning. Moreover, according to the Happiness Report 2024, Iran is ranked 100th out of 143 countries. Thus, this research aimed to study the PWB, happiness, and PA in Iranian age groups. Methods The study sampled 1,050 participants, equally divided into young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, using randomized cluster sampling from urban areas across five geographic regions in Iran. The study utilized four questionnaires: a Demographic Information Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Ryff’s Scales of PWB (18-item form), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ). Descriptive statistics were used for summarizing data, and inferential analyses included Pearson’s correlation coefficient, one-way ANOVA, the Bonferroni test, and multivariate regression, all with a significance level set at P&lt;0.05. Results Middle-aged individuals had the highest PA (1015.69±730.63 MET-minutes per week) and reported the highest happiness (111.97±24.08) and PWB (63.75±11.17) levels. The elderly had the lowest levels of PA (677.78±592.50 MET-minutes per week), happiness (107.63±24.01), and PWB (60.05±10.02). Statistical tests showed significant differences in PA, happiness, and PWB between the age groups (P&lt;0.05), with no significant difference between young and elderly in PA (P&gt;0.05). Physical activity positively correlated with happiness and PWB, especially in the elderly. Multivariate regression revealed that PA significantly predicts happiness (F = 30.993, t = 6.96, B = 0.211) and PWB (F = 86.85, t = 9.32, B = 0.004), explaining 4.4% and 8.0% of their variances, respectively. Conclusions The study concludes that increasing PA enhances happiness and PWB. Practical applications include promoting PA to improve mental health and PWB. Future research should investigate the effects of specific types of PA and explore longitudinal impacts on PWB to provide a deeper understanding of these relationships.

Diadochokinetic rate in Thai adults using between auditory-perceptual and instrumental methods

Background: Diadochokinetic (DDK) rate refers to the time taken to execute rapid repetitive movements of articulators during speech. DDK rate assessment has been used to screen or as part of an assessment to diagnose and plan treatment for motor speech disorders. It contained alternating motion rate (AMR) and sequential motion rate (SMR) assessments. There were two main methods for DDK assessment: perceptual speech assessment and instrumental speech assessment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the DDK rate measured by auditoryperceptual and instrumental methods and investigate the effects of age and gender on the DDK rate in normal Thai adults. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were Thai adults aged 21-78. Sixty participants were divided equally into three age groups: young adult, middle-aged adult, and older adult group. All participants were asked to repeat four speech tasks as rapidly as possible, namely, AMR as [ph a:], [th a:], [kh a:], and SMR as [ph a:-th a:-kh a:]. DDK rates were measured using two methods, namely, the auditory-perceptual method and the instrumental method, which used the Praat program. The paired sample t-test examined the difference in average DDK rates between the two methods. The one-way ANOVA was utilized to analyze the average rate differences among three age groups, while gender differences were analyzed through an independent sample t-test. Results: The averages of SMR between the auditory-perceptual method and thePraat program were significantly different (p&lt;0.05), whereas the averages of AMRwere not significantly different. The findings also found that averages of SMR hadsignificant differences (p&lt;0.05) between three age groups and two genders. The young adult group had a higher average of SMR than middle-aged adult and olderadult groups. Males had a higher average of SMR than females. Conclusion: This result indicates that different assessment methods result in different DDK rates, especially SMR. Therefore, choosing the DDK rate assessment method should be careful and consider its accuracy. Moreover, the SMR task may be more sensitive than the AMR task to age-related change and gender factors.

The effect of heating therapy on the blood profile of white rats (Rattus norvegicus)

A decrease in the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin levels was one of the complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). One of the treatments for DM patients used Heating Therapy (HT). Heating Therapy is a treatment in the form of heat exposure which can cause increased expression of heat shock protein (HSP), improve glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity and improve insulin signaling. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of heating therapy on the blood profile of mice. This research used a Complete Random Plan, which had five treatments and six replications. Rats without treatment (K-), diabetic rats (K+), rats given HT at 37°C for 10 minutes (P1), HT at 37°C for 20 minutes (P2) and HT at 37°C for 30 minutes (P3)). Heating Therapy was given every day for 3 weeks. One-way ANOVA test was used to analyze research data. If there was a significant difference (P &lt;0.05), then proceed with the Duncan post-hoc test. The results showed that the control group and the treated group of mice given HT had significant differences (P &lt;0.05). By giving HT at a temperature of 37°C for 10 minutes was effective in increasing hemoglobin levels and improving the number of platelet cells in diabetic mice.

The colour stability of nanofilled composite resin after immersion in pomegranate juice: a laboratory experimental study

Introduction: Composite resin is highly valued for its aesthetic appeal, as its colour closely resembles that of natural teeth. Nanofilled composite resins, in particular, offer impressive colour stability. However, restorative materials can undergo colour changes due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. One such extrinsic factor is fruit pigments, like those found in pomegranates. This study aims to analyze the colour stability of nanofilled composite resin after immersion in pomegranate juice. Methods: This laboratory experiment utilized a pre-test and post-test control group design. A total sample of forty nanofilled composite resins (Filtek Z350 XT), each with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, was divided into four groups. Each sample in the two treatment groups was immersed in 10 mL of commercial pomegranate juice for one day and seven days, respectively. Meanwhile, each sample in the two control groups was immersed in 10 mL of distilled water for the same duration. Colour measurements were carried out before and after immersion using a spectrophotometer. The data were statistically analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test to assess distribution. For normally distributed data, a one-way ANOVA was conducted, followed by the Tukey HSD post-hoc test for significant differences. For non-normally distributed data, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied, followed by the Mann-Whitney post-hoc test if significant differences were observed. Results: The one-way ANOVA test for the L parameter yielded a p-value of 0.067 (p&gt;0.05), indicating no significant changes after immersion in both pomegranate juice and distilled water. The Kruskal-Wallis test yielded p-values of 0.000 for E, 0.001 for C, and 0.000 for H (p&lt;0.05), demonstrating substantial differences after immersion in both pomegranate juice and distilled water. Conclusion: The nanofilled composite resin exhibited minimal discolouration after immersion in pomegranate juice, as evidenced by changes in E, C, and H. No significant change was observed in L.