Medical Research Articles

Exploring the impact of medical lexicon use and social capital in online health communities

Exploring the impact of medical lexicon use and social capital in online health communities

СОРНЫЕ РАСТЕНИЯ С ЛЕКАРСТВЕННЫМИ СВОЙСТВАМИ В ОКРЕСТНОСТЯХ ГОРОДА ОРЕНБУРГА

The purpose of the study is to analyze the species composition of wild weeds with medicinal properties as a ground to assess the resource base of the source of medicines. The material for research was a route-field study of the population of wild weeds in the flora of the Orenburg District of the Orenburg Region. For the study, reference areas for various economic purposes were identified: area № 1 – shelterbelt, № 2 – five-year fallow land, № 3 – agrocenosis, № 4 – field roadsides, № 5 – steppe areas adjacent to agrophytocenoses. As a result, 45 species of weeds with medicinal properties were identified, belonging to two systematic groups: horsetails (1 species) and angiosperms (44 species), of which monocotyledons – 6 species, dicotyledons – 38 species; 42.2 % of the total number of species are included in the state pharmacopoeia and 57.8 % are used in folk and scientific medicine. There are 17 families in total, the number of families with one genus is 10, the rest are 2 or more. The predominant species in terms of number of species are representatives of the families, % of the total number of species: Asteraceae Dumort. (Compositae Giseke) (Asteraceae, Asteraceae) – 31.1; Poaceae Barnh. (Gramineae Juss.) (Poagrass, Grasses – 13.3; Fabaceae Lindl. (Leguminosae Juss., Papilionaceae Giseke) (Leguminaceae, Papilionaceae Giseke) – 8.9. In relation to moisture, the most numerous groups are mesoxerophytes (35.6 % of total number of species) and xerophytes (31.1 % of the total number of species), the smallest is hygromesophytes (2.2 % of the total number of species), which characterizes the zonal nature of the flora. The data obtained as a result of the study require further study, as they show the importance of weeds as a source of valuable medicinal raw materials.

Body Stalk Anomalies in Pigs: Current Trends and Future Directions in Classification

Body stalk anomaly (BSA) is a complex congenital condition characterized by defects in the body wall, skeletal abnormalities, and an absent or abnormal umbilical cord (UC). A classification system for BSA, based on wall and skeletal abnormalities, is proposed and includes eight types observed in porcine models. These classifications consider combinations of thoracoabdominoschisis, abdominoschisis, anal atresia, genitourinary anomalies, and skeletal defects, including extreme retroflexion, scoliosis, vertebral agenesis, hemivertebrae, and thoracic or limb anomalies. While previous studies often treat limb-body wall complex (LBWC) as a separate condition, this study includes cases with co-occurring limb and spinal defects in a new classification, spinal-limb-body wall complex (SPLBWC). Additional skeletal classifications—spine-body wall complex (SPBWC), sternal-body wall complex (STBWC), and sternal-spinal-body wall complex (SSBWC)—are introduced to account for variations in structural anomalies. Nonstructural skeletal anomalies such as deformities, amputations, and arthrogryposis are excluded from the structural classifications. This comprehensive system, based on existing human and porcine models, provides a framework for the systematic categorization of BSA variations. Such an approach supports accurate diagnosis, enhances understanding of developmental defects, and improves clinical management and research outcomes in both veterinary and human medicine.

Medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and motivation towards antimicrobial resistance efforts in Eastern Uganda.

Learning beyond the classroom is important for holistic engagement in antimicrobial resistance(AMR) mitigation. Extracurricular interventions can catalyze multidisciplinary engagement and inspire innovative solutions. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and motivations influencing medical students' engagement in AMR Club initiatives at Busitema University, Uganda. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Busitema University among undergraduate students pursuing Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Anesthesia and Critical care. Data collection was performed using a semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire and administered to the participants The Bloom's cut-off method was used to analyse the knowledge of the participants, while bivariate analysis was conducted using the chi square test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with students' engagement in AMR club activities. Of the 193 study participants, 71.5%(n) demonstrated sufficient knowledge about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as determined using Bloom's cutoff categories (≥60% classified as sufficient, <60% as insufficient), with an average knowledge score of 68.18% (SD ±16.12). Additionally, 90% of participants acknowledged the significance of incorporating AMR topics into their curriculum, while 87.5% emphasized the need for AMR training using a One Health approach. The major motivations for students to engage in extracurricular activities addressing AMR were peer influence (n = 42), university support (n = 35), and inspiration drawn from peer mentors' work (n = 35). The students demonstrated a high level of knowledge and positive attitudes towards AMR but highlighted the need for further in-depth training. Participation in extra-curricular activities such as involvement in an AMR Club, was found to significantly influence students' engagement in AMR related interventions.

Differential Expression of miR-223-3p and miR-26-5p According to Different Stages of Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Mastitis is the leading cause of economic losses in dairy farming, significantly impairing animal welfare and the quality and quantity of milk production. MicroRNAs are increasingly gaining attention, in both human and veterinary medicine, as biomarkers for various diseases. This study evaluated the diagnostic potential of four circulating microRNAs (miR-26-5p, miR-142-5p, miR-146a, and miR-223-3p) by examining changes in their expression in milk samples from dairy cows at different immune-cell subpopulations correlated to different stage of mastitis with a validated method. Additionally, this study has analyzed the possible source of these circulating microRNAs by the measurement of their secretion from activated immune cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils). miR-223-3p has been significantly expressed in an acute stage of mastitis (p &lt; 0.01) but not in the chronic or susceptible stages. Conversely, mir-26-5p has been significantly reduced in acute, chronic, and susceptible groups of animals. In immune-cell cultures, miR-26 has been shown to be down-regulated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophils, while miR-223 has been shown to be up-regulated in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes. The differential expression of miR-223-3p and miR-26-5p, combined with differential and total somatic cell count, could serve as a useful tool for identifying the evolutionary stage of mastitis-related inflammatory pathology.

The first morphological and molecular identification of Quilonia sp. (Nematoda: Strongylidae) from wild Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in China.

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In China, approximately 300 individuals remain in the wild. Parasitic infections are significant concerns both human and animal medicine, especially within wildlife. However, there are currently no photomicrographs and genetic data available for parasites from wild Asian elephants in China. In order to preliminarily investigate parasitic infections of the wild Asian elephants in China, we collected faecal samples from a wild, vagrant male elephant for this study. Here, we provided photomicrographs with larval Quilonia sp.. Concurrently, the partial ITS (internal transcribed spacer) gene of Quilonia sp. was cloned, sequenced using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique, and subjected to bioinformatic analysis. Morphological identification of Quilonia sp. was conducted, revealing a rod-like anterior structure, short esophagus, tapered tail, thick cuticle, and a length exceeding 500μm. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that BND-ITS (ITS gene of the specimen) belongs to the Quilonia sp.. The present study also will enhance the current understanding of the taxonomy of Quilonia sp., support long-term health monitoring of Asian elephants in China, and contribute to future genomic studies.

Hypnosis applications to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

ABSTRACT Current evidence-based therapies considered efficacious for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and medication treatments. Hypnosis, one of the first mind-body therapies known to Western medicine, has been used for mind-body problems such as conversion reactions, medication-less anesthesia, and wound healing. Because PTSD is a mind-body problem, hypnosis seems especially suited for its treatment. Hypnosis is a state-based treatment that can move PTSD patients into a state of calm, downregulate their emotional reactivity, and facilitate altering maladaptive beliefs. Combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches, hypnosis may magnify their effects. In this article, we present hypnotic techniques applicable to PTSD based on the PTSD symptom clusters they treat. We describe the goals, similarities, and differences between hypnosis and mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. We describe how adding hypnosis to PTSD treatment protocols such as PE and CPT boosts their impact. We encourage the use of hypnotic techniques which can enhance the therapeutic palette of the CBT practitioner treating PTSD.

Musk and Ambergris Aphrodisiacs in the Premodern Intercultural Origins of Endocrine Pharmacy.

This article explores the historical uses of two animal medicines that are understood in current biomedicine to have potential endocrine activity: deer musk and whale ambergris, which were prized as aphrodisiacs in the early-modern world. It diverges from the focus in existing scholarship on nineteenth-century gonadal organotherapy as the precursor for the modern discovery of the sex-steroid hormones, looking instead at the older examples of deer musk and whale ambergris that were commonly prescribed both in medieval Islamicate and early-modern European Christianate medical sources. The early-modern Latin, French, German and English description of these substances as fertility, aphrodisiac, and rejuvenative remedies indicates a direct exchange of pharmacological concepts and substances relating to the human sexual and reproductive systems between Europe and the Middle East from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The article explores how musk and ambergris were used in early-modern Western medicine, and how knowledge of them circulated across cultures. I argue that musk and ambergris, which were both thought to have effects on vitality, fertility, and potency in medieval Middle Eastern and early-modern European traditions, trouble the view of the origins of sex-steroid hormone endocrinology as deriving purely from modern European gonadal opotherapy. The valuing of these substances as fertility, vitality, and aphrodisiac remedies in the work of early-modern European physicians was indicative of both the globalization of medical knowledge, and an increased commercial trade in pharmacological material goods, confirming the view of medical globalization as a multi-directional historical process constituted in both conceptual and material terms.

Vasorelaxant effects and its mechanisms of the rhizome of Acorus gramineus on isolated rat thoracic aorta

In conventional medicine, the rhizome of Acorus gramineus Solander (AGR) is used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Decoctions containing AGR exert vasorelaxant effects. Therefore, this research aimed to delve deeper into the vasorelaxant effects and underlying mechanisms of AGR and its constituents (α-asarone and β-asarone). We assessed the vasorelaxant effect of a 50% ethanol extract of AGR (AGRE) using aortic rings from Sprague–Dawley rats pre-constricted with phenylephrine (PE) and potassium chloride (KCl). The findings suggested that the mechanism of this effect was independent of endothelial cells and was associated with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Since vasodilatory mechanisms associated with VSMC are predominantly influenced by K+ and Ca2+ channels, we explored various channels, including calcium-activated K+, voltage-dependent (delayed rectifier) K+, ATP-sensitive K+, inwardly rectifying K+, receptor-operated Ca2+ (ROCC), and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCC). Selective blockers were used to examine K+ channels, which inhibited vasorelaxant effect of AGRE. These findings suggest that AGRE-induced vasorelaxation is facilitated through K+ channels. In addition, the blockage of Ca2+ influx was observed in both groups treated with PE and KCl. Therefore, AGR appears to block Ca2+ influx through ROCC and VDCC. In conclusion, AGR demonstrates vasorelaxant effects by acting on VSMC.

What competences do medical students acquire in asurgical internship?-Curriculum mapping with the National Competence-based Catalogue of Learning Objectives in Medicine (NKLM)1.0

Curriculum mapping describes the process indexing acurriculum to identify academic gaps. The first version of the National Competence-based Catalogue of Learning Objectives in Medicine (NKLM1.0) was created to catalogue the content of medical studies and to promote the implementation of competence-oriented learning objectives. It is unclear and not transparent to what extent learning objectives are achieved in existing courses, particularly in clinical internships that cannot be standardized. The aim of the work was to map the achieved learning objectives of the NKLM1.0. within asurgical internship from the students' perspectives. Medical students mapped their achieved learning objectives after a2-week internship with an online questionnaire. In addition, sociodemographic data, the type of teaching hospital and the surgical specialty were recorded. A total of 81 students participated in the mapping. After the internship 8.78 ± 5.10% (min. = 1.01%; max. = 29.84%) of all learning objectives were achieved by the students. Most of the learning objectives come from section1 "medical roles" with 29.92 ± 15.22% (min. = 0.00%; max. = 63.10%). From section2 "medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes", learning objectives from chapters14b "clinical practical skills" (15.49 ± 7.78%, min. = 0.00%; max. = 41.30%) and 14c "medical counseling technique" (22.98 ± 16.47%, min. = 0.00%; max. = 70.69%) were primarily named. There were no significant differences between the sexes, the surgical specialty or the size of the teaching hospital. Students state that they mainly achieve learning objectives in the area of medical roles and clinical practical skills during an internship. Additional teaching formats seem to be necessary to teach specific surgical skills, diagnostics and treatment.

Management of genetically determined kidney stone disease: consensus from a panel of urologists and nephrologists.

Available evidence suggests that monogenic causes of kidney stones are likely under-diagnosed, particularly in young adults, needing expert multidisciplinary recommendations to improve diagnosis, management and therapeutic outcomes. To increase the awareness among the medical community on the recognition of the signs and symptoms of genetically determined kidney stone disease in adult patients, with a special focus on primary hyperoxaluria (PH), a group of nephrologists and urologists started a consensus process through the Delphi method. A list of 40 statements (23 regarding genetically determined stone disease and 17 regarding primary hyperoxaluria) was defined by the authors and included in an online Delphi survey, which was sent to 16 urologists and 22 nephrologists with expertise in managing patients with kidney stone disease. An agreement threshold of 75% was established for consensus. After two rounds of Delphi voting, consensus was reached for 33 statements, 18 regarding genetically determined stone disease and 15 regarding PH. The Delphi process highlighted several areas of agreement with regard to the characteristic or anamnestic data suggesting diagnostic investigation, optimal diagnostic patterns, treatment strategies and management of patients with genetically determined nephrolithiasis. The process also highlighted some grey areas, which deserve further investigation and highlight the need for educational initiatives focused on rare diseases in the field of kidney stones.

Analysis for Fabrication Conditions of Scalpel with Ti&lt;sub&gt;47&lt;/sub&gt;Cu&lt;sub&gt;38&lt;/sub&gt;Zr&lt;sub&gt;7.5&lt;/sub&gt;Fe&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;Sn&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;Si&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;Ag&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; Bulk Metallic Glass Alloys

This study investigated the manufacturing conditions and properties of Ti&lt;sub&gt;47&lt;/sub&gt;Cu&lt;sub&gt;38&lt;/sub&gt;Zr&lt;sub&gt;7.5&lt;/sub&gt;Fe&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;Sn&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;Si&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;Ag&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; amorphous bulk metallic glass (BMG) to examine its applicability for scalpels for medical use. Ti-base BMG alloys have excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, making them a suitable scalpel material. In this study, a vacuum suction casting method was used to manufacture a BMG alloy scalpel. After examining various manufacturing conditions, to successfully suppress the occurrence of pores and manufacture a BMG with excellent shape the optimal conditions were determined to be 236 A of arc current, 20 s of melting time, 2 s of suction time, 10°C of coolant temperature, and -0.1 MPa of suction pressure. XRD analysis confirmed that the Ti-base BMG had a completely amorphous structure. Vickers hardness measurements showed that the Ti&lt;sub&gt;47&lt;/sub&gt;Cu&lt;sub&gt;38&lt;/sub&gt;Zr&lt;sub&gt;7.5&lt;/sub&gt;Fe&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;Sn&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;Si&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;Ag&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; amorphous bulk metal material (BMG) scalpel had a hardness of 781 Hv, and was superior to a commercial stainless steel (SUS) scalpel in terms of durability. In the pork skin cutting tests, the Ti-base BMG scalpel maintained its edge without chipping, while the SUS scalpel showed chipping and an uneven cutting surface. These research results suggest that Ti-based BMG can provide better high-strength performance and durability than commercial SUS scalpels, and demonstrate its potential for application as a medical tool. However, bulk amorphous alloys with excellent glass formability (GFA) still require a detailed study of the optimal fabrication conditions to avoid pores and defects.

Switching Roles─Exploring Concentration-Dependent Agonistic versus Antagonistic Behavior of Integrin Ligands.

Identification of integrins as cancer targets has stimulated the development of specific inhibitory ligands. However, following cilengitide's unexpected clinical failure by promoting angiogenesis at low concentrations, pure ligand antagonism was soon scrutinized. We evaluated αvβ3, αvβ6, or α5β1 ligands for concentration-dependent functional switches in respective integrin subtype-overexpressing cancer cells. Cilengitide (L2) or L1 provoked minor transient changes in (p)-FAK and (p)-p44/42(erk-1/2) predominantly at low concentrations and antagonized cell migration at high concentrations, while agonistically accelerating it at low concentrations. L5 (α5β1) showed bell-shaped FAK activation at both concentrations, blocking cell migration at high concentrations only in α5β1+ OV-MZ-6 cells, not acting agonistically. L3 (αvβ6) did not alter signaling upon long exposure but transiently and early activated FAK in αvβ6+ HN cells at both concentrations, with neither antagonistic nor agonistic consequences on cell motility. These data underscore the need for in-depth evaluation of ligand actions to ensure their most promising medical use.

Maternal Knowledge and Care Ethics in Navigating the Stances on Abortion Taken by Young Catholic Mothers in Poland

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we explore young Polish Catholic mothers' moral reasoning on abortion. We draw on the concept of maternal knowledge and theoretical insights developed within the ethics of care to shed light on the complexities and contradictions experienced by Catholic mothers in the context of reproductive choices. The narratives we gathered through in‐depth interviews illustrate how mothers evoke embodied, experience‐based maternal knowledge to challenge hegemonic frameworks associated with legal, medical, and religious authoritative knowledges. We show how mothers engage critically with ideologized notions of sacrifice and suffering by placing these concepts in the context of relational maternal care work and argue that mothers adopt a position on the moral permissibility of abortion by reinterpreting religious norms and ideas, such as the protection of the family and vocation of care.

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation associated with neurocognitive impairment among U.S. Latinos living with HIV.

Examine the association between markers of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neurocognitive impairment (NCI) among diverse persons with HIV (PWH). Latino PWH are at higher risk for NCI than non-Latino White PWH (NLW). Evidence of inflammation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be higher among racial and ethnic minority PWH and has been linked to NCI. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 363 PWH who identified as Latinos or NLW. Neurocognitive performance was measured by a comprehensive battery. A focused panel of biomarkers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble CD14 (sCD14), interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), neurofilament light chain (NFL)] was measured in CSF by immunoassay. Covariates included demographic, HIV disease, medical, psychiatric, and substance use characteristics. The cohort consisted of 126 Latinos and 237 NLW (age: M = 42.5, SD = 11.0, 88% male, 51.5% AIDS history; 64% on antiretroviral therapy). Latinos had significantly higher NFL levels than NLW (P < 0.0001, adjusted Cohen's d 1.15), but not among virally-suppressed PWH. In the entire cohort, higher sCD14 was associated with NCI (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.6, confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-6.5] after adjusting for statistically significant covariates. We did not identify a relationship between ethnicity, inflammation and NCI in this cohort. Future studies might examine sociocultural factors leading to increased inflammation in the CSF in diverse PWH.

Building healthier communities: the role of health educational programs in enhancing health literacy in Prairie View, Texas.

Increasing health literacy, the ability to understand and process health information, within underserved communities can improve health outcomes. We hypothesized that educational programs tailored by age group would effectively improve an individual's health literacy in underserved communities. Our study examined the implication of a health-related education program among different age groups in Prairie View, Texas. The study aimed to (i) improve health literacy within the Prairie View, Texas community; (ii) encourage healthy lifestyles in study participants; and (iii) provide an educational experience for medical and pre-medical students. Monthly educational modules were presented for 5 months to three groups (high school students, college students, and older adults). The improvement in health literacy after the study was evaluated based on the average of correct responses on the pre- and post-monthly assessments. We also assessed the change in pre-med and medical students' willingness to work within underserved communities. The average percentage of correct answers increased. By the end of the study, high school students answered 96% of the questions correctly, college students answered 95% correctly, and older adult participants answered 90% correctly. Medical student and pre-med student willingness to practice medicine in underserved communities increased. Programs to increase health literacy within underserved communities can lead to improved medical knowledge competency, positive health outcomes, and informed decision making. Students exposed to the research were more willing to practice medicine in underserved communities.

Rise and fall of the Myth of the Good Pathogen in Evolutionary Biology and Medicine.

The history of the conceptions of evolution of virulence is well known. However, in this period following the Covid-19 pandemic, it may be useful to recap such a current topic. In the public debate, it has often been heard that the Covid-19 was destined to evolve into a less virulent form, because it would be in the virus's interest to coexist with the human population. This concept can be defined as the "Myth of the good pathogen" and originated from Smith's "law of declining virulence". The successes achieved thanks to vaccinations and antibiotics led the medical community, between the 1940s and 1970s, to argue that the battle against infectious diseases had been won. However, the AIDS pandemic brought back down to earth the scientific community in their speculations about plagues. Since 1970s, biologists have advanced the "virulence transmission trade-offs theory", a new model according to which intermediate virulence maximizes pathogenicity as a result of a trade-off between virulence and transmission. The introduction of trade-off models represented a crucial change that replaced the binary logic according to which natural selection shaped adaptations, while maladaptation escaped selection. This change was fundamental for the introduction of a new perspective in medicine, namely Evolutionary Medicine, which might be an essential tool not only for understanding the dynamics of epidemics, but also for preventing and curing infectious diseases.

Medicinal plants in the treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases (review)

Introduction. The aim of the review is to summaries information on medicinal plants used in the prevention of respiratory diseases.Text. According to Rosstat data, respiratory diseases occupy leading positions in the Russian Federation from year to year. For the treatment of acute respiratory diseases plant medicines are used, including Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Mentha spicata L., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Citrus sinensis (L.) Pers., Cinnamomum camphora J. Presl.Conclusion. The given extracts of medicinal plants have a long experience of application in traditional and scientific medicine, contain a complex of biologically active substances such as essential oils, saponins, polyphenols and polysaccharides with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and other effects that will allow in the complex therapy of acute tonsillopharyngitis, relieve the symptoms of the disease.

Laser-Micro-Annealing of Microcrystalline Ni-Rich NCM Oxide: Towards Micro-Cathodes Integrated on Polyethylene Terephthalate Flexible Substrates

Here in this work, we report on micro-Raman spectroscopy investigations performed on freestanding Ni-rich NCM (LixNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2) microcrystals transferred to flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) host substrates. This technological procedure introduces a first building block for future on-chip-integrated micro-accumulators for applications in flexible optoelectronics, sensors, microbiology, and human medicine. An after-synthesis thermal treatment was used to help improve the material homogeneity and perfection of the cathode material. To this end, a local laser micro-annealing process was applied to the freestanding Ni-rich NCM microcrystals. The thermally initialized structural processes in the singular micro-cathode units were characterized and determined by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Micro-Raman mapping images revealed the evolution of a recrystallization process after the local annealing procedure. Furthermore, laser micro-annealing led to the suppression of the pristine “polycrystalline morphology” of the investigated micro-cathode regions. Besides the dominant characteristic Raman mode at ~1085 cm−1, most likely ascribed to lithium carbonate, metal oxides with Raman modes around ~550 cm−1 were identified. This highly efficient transfer and integration technology represents a basic building block towards micrometer-sized accumulators for a large range of emerging applications.

CAN THE LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY BENEFITS THE CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT TO THE BELL’S PALSY? REPORT OF A SUCCESSFUL CASE

Bell's Palsy (BP) is a peripheral facial nerve disorder that causes unilateral facial muscle paralysis. As a complementary effect to physiotherapy exercises, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is considered a conservative treatment option due to its positive impact on cell and tissue recovery. This study aims to report a successful case of LLLT in treating BP in a child, discussing its benefits in optimizing the recovery process. A 7-year-old girl, without special healthcare needs, was brought to the medical office with the complaint of a "paralyzed face," and was diagnosed with BP. The treatment involved physiotherapy (twice weekly) combined with laser therapy. Fifteen sessions of photobiomodulation were conducted using a low-level laser (Laser Duo, Mmoptics, energy of 780mJ, 100mW). The applications were on alternate days for 10 seconds at marked points. Improvement in facial expression and symmetry was observed, with complete restoration of normalcy after one month, suggesting that LLLT could be a promising alternative to conventional BP treatment.