Post-treatment Effects Research Articles

Impact of Treatment Technique on Testicular Dose and Sexual Activity in Rectal Cancer Patients

Abstract Objective To estimate the incidental radiation dose delivered to the testicles in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in rectal cancer patients and its impact on sexual activity using a quality-of-life questionnaire. Materials and Methods The present study included 40 male patients, aged between 25 and 50 years. with locally-advanced rectal cancer, who would undergo neoadjuvant radiotherapy at a dose of 45 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions (fr) in the supine position. Planning was performed for three techniques: 3DCRT, IMRT, and VMAT. The testicular dose, testicular volume, planning target volume (PTV), the distance of the tumor from the anal verge, and tumor thickness and length in each plan were recorded. A quality-of-life questionnaire pertaining only to sexual activity by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Quality of Life in Colorectal (EORTC QLQ-CR29) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Colorectal (FACT-C) were used to assess the posttreatment effect on sexual life. Results The mean values for tumor length, thickness, and PTV were of 8.9 cm, 1.77 cm and 1,352 cm3 respectively. The mean dose to the right and left testicles (in centigray, cGy) were as follows: 3DCRT – 336.23 and 206.65; IMRT – 165.15 and 140.25; and VMAT – 209.2 and 229.2 respectively. A significant correlation was observed involving the PTV and testicular volume and the incidental testicular dose received. The questionnaire-based analysis of sexual activity included 31 patients who were alive, of whom 27 had resumed their normal sexual life 3 months after the treatment without difficulty (score 4). Conclusion The IMRT showed a significant reduction in the testicular dose when compared to 3DCRT and VMAT. The PTV and testicular volume presented a statistically significant impact on the testicular dose, and the main reason for abstinence was nervousness about disease recurrence.

Evaluating the impact of microstructure modifications on thin film photoelectric properties

Microstructure modifications on thin photoelectrical properties refers to changes in the microscopic structure of thin films that affect their ability to convert light into electricity. This study investigates the deposition and post-treatment effects in the electric and visual qualities of GZO, IZO, and ZnO thin layers, aiming to enhance their applicability in electronic and optoelectronic devices, according to the X-raydiffraction (XRD) examination. Thin films were deposited on glass substrates using magnetic sparking at thicknesses of 300 nm and 500 nm, followed by treatments like wet aging and annealing at 220 °C. The results showed significant improvements in crystallinity and optical characteristics, with ZnO films exhibiting a preferred (003) orientation. IZO films demonstrated notable mobility at 10.96 cm2/V-sec and resistivity of 2.49×10⁻3 ohm-cm. The novelty of this research is the novel integration of wet aging and low-temperature annealing, that notably improves thin film efficiency while maintaining structural integrity. The findings indicate that post-treatment significantly enhances the properties of these thin films, suggesting their potential for various electronic applications.

Recursive self-feedback improves spontaneous speech in chronic aphasia within real-world settings

ABSTRACT Background Spontaneous speech generation, often impaired in chronic nonfluent aphasia, is essential for natural communication. Treatments aiming to optimize spontaneous speech in real-world settings are critical for improving the quality of life for persons with nonfluent aphasia (PWNA). Traditional treatments frequently rely on models and feedback from external agents, which may not be sustainable in the long-term. Preliminary evidence suggests that PWNA can use self-feedback alone, through recursive self-feedback, to improve their production of scripted sentences. This study developed and examined the impact of spontaneous speech with recursive self-feedback on enabling PWNA to self-improve their spontaneous speech in real-world settings. Method Using a cross-over design, 3 participants received 2 treatments at their homes: spontaneous speech with recursive self-feedback and spontaneous speech with speech model. Recursive self-feedback treatment involved iterative self-monitoring and minimization/correction of errors during spontaneous speech response to narrative prompts. The speech model treatment provided corrective model responses to prompts from an external source which served as reference frames to help improve the participants’ responses. Participants utilized a mobile app to practice the treatments intensively at home for 2 hours each day over a period of 12 to 14 days, spanning 2 to 3 weeks. Direct and generalized treatment effects on microlinguistic measures of spontaneous speech were determined using general linear mixed effects model and standardized mean difference. Results Both treatments led to significant improvements in microlinguistic measures of spontaneous speech, with recursive self-feedback treatment showing broader post-treatment effects on treated prompts and generalization effects. to untreated prompts. Conclusion Recursive self-feedback is a promising procedure for enhancing spontaneous speech in PWNA, providing a simple and flexible self-directed treatment option. This procedure relies primarily on speech-auditory stimulations and self-feedback loops to improve spontaneous speech, suggesting its potential applicability across various spoken language cultures. To validate these findings and assess their broader relevance, further research is recommended.

Brief remote cognitive behaviour therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: An open trial.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a persistent mental health condition that results in significant individual and economic burden. The uptake of evidence-based treatment is low, with many individuals with GAD citing cost as one of the key barriers. Brief treatments, which are typically more cost effective than standard length treatments, have the potential to make treatment more accessible to patients with GAD. Despite evidence demonstrating the efficacy of brief treatments for a range of anxiety disorders, there are currently no such studies examining brief Internet videoconferencing-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (VCBT) interventions for patients with diagnosed GAD. The current study aims to examine the preliminary efficacy and acceptability of brief VCBT for GAD. The authors adopted an open trial design with 36 participants (77.8% female; Mage = 36.81 years; SD = 12.25) to examine the preliminary efficacy of a brief five-session VCBT intervention delivered remotely. Large pre-treatment to post-treatment effects were seen on the primary outcome measure, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 item (GAD-7; d = 1.13; 95% CI: .62-1.61) and treatment effects increased at 3-month follow-up (d = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04-2.10). Participants rated the intervention as highly acceptable with 92% reporting that they were satisfied with the treatment. These results provide preliminary support for the viability of brief remotely delivered CBT treatment in managing GAD symptoms.

RAD52 and ERCC6L/PICH have a compensatory relationship for genome stability in mitosis.

Mammalian RAD52 is a DNA repair factor with strand annealing and recombination mediator activities that appear important in both interphase and mitotic cells. Nonetheless, RAD52 is dispensable for cell viability. To query RAD52 synthetic lethal relationships, we performed genome-wide CRISPR knock-out screens and identified hundreds of candidate synthetic lethal interactions. We then performed secondary screening and identified genes for which depletion causes reduced viability and elevated genome instability (increased 53BP1 nuclear foci) in RAD52-deficient cells. One such factor was ERCC6L, which marks DNA bridges during anaphase, and hence is important for genome stability in mitosis. Thus, we investigated the functional interrelationship between RAD52 and ERCC6L. We found that RAD52 deficiency increases ERCC6L-coated anaphase ultrafine bridges, and that ERCC6L depletion causes elevated RAD52 foci in prometaphase and interphase cells. These effects were enhanced with replication stress (i.e. hydroxyurea) and topoisomerase IIα inhibition (ICRF-193), where post-treatment effect timings were consistent with defects in addressing stress in mitosis. Altogether, we suggest that RAD52 and ERCC6L co-compensate to protect genome stability in mitosis.

Hybrid Intelligence approach to study post-processing impact on the mechanical performance of notched additively manufactured AlSi10Mg

This study introduces a Hybrid Intelligence approach to investigate the Process-Structure-Property-Performance (PSSP) relationship in additively manufactured (AM) materials, specifically focusing on V-notched laser powder bed fused (L-PBF) AlSi10Mg specimens. The Humen Intelligence (HI) component managed the design, manufacturing processes, post-processing, structural characterization, mechanical testing, and data collection. In parallel, Artificial Intelligence (AI), utilizing advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms, performed tasks related to prediction, sensitivity analysis, and parametric analysis. AI identified patterns and developed predictive models that provided deeper insights into how process parameters affect material properties and performance. This integration of HI and AI enabled a more thorough exploration of these relationships; data collected from our previous research were complemented with new experiments conducted to assess the effects of various heat treatments (HTs) and surface post-treatments (SPTs) on the fatigue behavior of the specimens. The techniques applied included stress relief (SR), T6 thermal treatments, sand blasting (SB), shot peening (SP), severe vibratory peening (SVP), laser shock peening (LSP), tumble finishing (TF), abrasive flow machining (AFM), chemical polishing (CP), electrochemical polishing (ECP), and chemical milling (CM), along with their combinations. A total of 54 different post-processing techniques were examined in this study. The experimental data, covering surface texture, microstructure, porosity, hardness, and residual stress, were used to develop an ML model that analyzed the fatigue behavior of the specimens. This approach represents a significant advancement toward integrated mechanistic and data-driven materials engineering, offering valuable insights for optimizing fatigue performance in practical applications.

Literature Review−Effect of Additives and Post-Treatments on Corrosion Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Products in Magnesium and Titanium

<p class="Abstract">Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) is a method of converting metal surfaces into an oxide layer with the help of plasma to improve the surface mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of metals. A PEO layer of about 10-50 μm is obtained quickly from 1 second-10 minutes at a voltage range of 150-500 V with AC or DC mode. Characteristics of the outer layer of PEO have pores and cracks, while the inner layer is relatively denser. Cracks and pores reduce the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the coating. In this study, a literature search was carried out on the effect of adding additives and post-treatment on the characteristics of PEO coatings grown on magnesium (Mg) and titanium (Ti) metals for biomedical applications. Mg and Ti metals have opposite chemical properties; Mg is a reactive metal, while Ti is an inert metal. Comparing the behavior of the PEO process and the coating produced by the two different metals is absorbing and necessary to understand the fundamentals of the PEO process. The results of a literature search show that the addition of additives increases the growth rate of the coating so that the coating is thicker and more wear resistant. The hardness of the coating also increases due to the additive particles trapped in the oxide layer filling the micro pores so that the surface becomes denser and more homogeneous. Therefore, corrosion resistance also increases, as indicated by a decrease in corrosion current as measured by the polarization test and an increase in the impedance modulus as measured by the electrochemical impedance test (EIS). The post-alkali treatment allows for increased surface bioactivity, as indicated by the rise in the Ca/P ratio after immersion in a physiological solution.</p>

The effects of photobiomodulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on chronic neck pain: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial

BackgroundPhotobiomodulation (PBM) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are used to reduce neck pain. ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate and 1-month post-treatment effects of 10 treatment sessions of PBM and TENS delivered over 2 weeks on pain intensity in individuals with neck pain. MethodsIndividuals with neck pain were randomized into four groups: PBM+TENS, PBM, TENS, and Sham. Primary outcome: pain intensity at rest. Secondary outcomes: pain intensity during movement, pressure pain threshold (PPT), temporal summation (TS), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), cervical range of motion (ROM), psychosocial factors, drug intake for neck pain, and global perceived effect (GPE). All outcome assessments were made pre- and post-treatment. Mean differences and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated for between-group comparisons. ResultsA total of 144 participants were recruited. No significant between-group difference was observed for pain intensity at rest, TS, CPM, ROM, psychosocial factors, and drug intake. The PBM+TENS showed a reduction in pain intensity during movement and GPE compared to the PBM (MD: 1.0 points; 95 % CI: 0.0, 2.0; MD: 2.0 points; 95 % CI: 1.0, 3.0) and Sham (MD: 2.0 points; 95 % CI: 1.0, 3.0; MD: 2.0 points; 95 % CI: 1.0, 3.0) groups. PBM+TENS presented a medium effect size to increase local PPT compared to PBM and Sham groups. TENS presented a medium effect size to increase local PPT compared to PBM and Sham groups. TENS presented a medium effect size to increase distant PPT compared to other groups. ConclusionsThe use of PBM or TENS was not effective for reducing pain intensity at rest. The combination of PBM and TENS was effective in improving pain intensity during movement, local hyperalgesia, and the GPE. TENS reduced local and distant hyperalgesia.

Residual stress release and corresponding microstructural changes in high-energy impact-modified GH4169 after aging at 425 °C and 650 °C

The nickel-based superalloy is a critical material in aero-engines, where enhanced durability and resistance to stress relaxation are essential. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a high-energy composite modification technique, applied through dual surface friction methods, to induce residual stress and examines the stability of this stress under medium-temperature aging conditions. GH4169 was selected and a foundational study was conducted to quantify residual stress relaxation under medium-temperature aging treatment. The surface strengthening method used was a high-energy composite modification known for its significant post-treatment effects. The specific temperatures for medium-temperature aging treatment were 425 °C and 650 °C. The test results of the residual stress field confirmed the phenomenon of residual stress relaxation under the influence of temperature. Correspondingly, the different degrees of stress relaxation caused by varying aging treatment conditions are closely related to the microstructural changes within the material. Areas with a higher number of annealing twins exhibited a more pronounced degree of residual stress relaxation. By elucidating the link between stress relaxation and microstructural changes, this research offers a theoretical foundation for optimizing surface-strengthening processes and setting optimal operational temperatures for advanced structural materials.

Initiation response, maximized therapeutic efficacy, and post-treatment effects of biological targeted therapies in myasthenia gravis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

As targeted drug development in myasthenia gravis (MG) continues to advance, it is important to compare the efficacy of these drugs for better clinical decision-making. However, due to the varied regimens and dosages used in clinical trials for different drugs, a standardized comparison between them is necessary. This study enrolled participants in phase II and III trials of innovative targeted drugs for MG. The primary outcome was the change in Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis score (MG-QMG) from baseline. The efficacy of all drugs at four time points was separately analyzed at four time points: initiation 1 week, initiation 4 weeks, maximized response, and post last dose 4 weeks. A network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the results of the different drugs. A total of 9 drugs, including Efgartigimod, Rozanolixizumab, Batoclimab, Eculizumab, Belimumab, Zilucoplan, Ravulizumab, Nipocalimab, Rituximab, derived from 12 studies were analyzed. At the initiation 1-week time point, three drugs exhibited significant improvement compared to the placebo effect: Efgartigimod, Zilucoplan, Rozanolixizumab. At the initiation 4-week time point, four drugs showed significant improvement compared to the placebo effect: Efgartigimod, Rozanolixizumab, Batoclimab, Zilucoplan. At the maximized response time point, six drugs achieved significant improvement compared to the placebo effect: Efgartigimod, Rozanolixizumab, Batoclimab, Eculizumab, Zilucoplan, Ravulizumab. At the post last dose 4-week point, all drugs statistically showed no significant difference from the placebo. Although the MG subtypes were not consistent across trials, within the regimen design of each trial, neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors-represented by Efgartigimod, Rozanolixizumab, and Batoclimab-exhibited the most effective response rates when compared to complement and B-cell inhibitor drugs.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a virtual peer-support exercise intervention for female older adults with cancer

BackgroundRegular exercise can mitigate side effects of cancer treatment. However, only a small proportion of adults with cancer meet exercise guidelines, and older adults (> 65 years) are underrepresented in cancer rehabilitation research. Peer support facilitates health-promoting behaviours in general populations, but interventions merging exercise and peer support for older adults with cancer are not examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a virtual partner-based peer support exercise intervention for older adult female cancer survivors.MethodsOlder adult female cancer survivors with internet access and currently participating in < 150 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week were included in this study. Participants were matched with a partner and given a peer support guide, exercise guidelines, and a Fitbit Inspire©. In addition, intervention group dyads (AgeMatchPLUS) had weekly 1-h virtual sessions with a qualified exercise professional for 10 weeks. Dyads randomized to the control group (AgeMatch) independently supported their partner around exercise for 10 weeks. The primary outcome was feasibility, measured using retention and adherence rates. Secondary outcomes included exercise volume, social support, quality of life, physical function, and physical activity enjoyment. Descriptive statistics were used to report feasibility and an ANCOVA was used to explore between group differences on secondary outcomes at post-intervention (10 weeks post baseline) and post-tapering timepoints (14 weeks post baseline).ResultsEighteen participants (9 dyads; mean age 72 years (SD: 5.7 years)) were included in the pilot trial. Retention and adherence rates to the AgeMatchPLUS intervention were 100% and 95% respectively. All but one participant was satisfied with the quality of their peer match. Preliminary effects were seen between group, favouring AgeMatchPLUS for exercise-related social support post-intervention (effect size (d) = 0.27, 95% CI = 0,0.54) and physical activity enjoyment at post-tapering (d = 0.25, 95% CI = 0,0.52) and favouring the AgeMatch group for 30 s sit-to-stand repetitions at post-tapering (d = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.004, 0.57). No other effects were found.ConclusionsA virtual partner-based exercise intervention for older adults with cancer is feasible and shows preliminary effect benefits. Findings inform future trials aimed at increasing exercise in older adults with cancer.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05549479, date: 22/09/22).

P18.42.B TAU AND AMYLOID BETA PATHOLOGY IN IDH-MUTANT GLIOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND With an aging population the incidence of brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases is increasing. Although biological associations between glioma and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been suggested, the frequency of comorbidity is insufficiently defined. We here screen tumor-adjacent cortex of a representative cohort of patients with low grade glioma for AD neuropathological changes (ADNC) specifically for phosphorylated tau (pTau) and amyloid beta (Abeta) deposition, microglial activation, amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, diffuse axonal injury, and cortical tumor cell infiltration. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 85 patients with astrocytoma, IDH mutant, CNS-WHO grade 2-3, (N=37, median age: 39) and oligodendroglioma, IDH mutant and 1p-19q co-deleted, CNS-WHO grades 2-3 (N=48 median age: 50) were included. 2µm sections were immunohistochemically stained for the markers b-A4, t-AT8, NeuN, APP and Iba1. Whole slide quantification was performed using Matlab and QuPath codes. For a subset of 15 patients, longitudinal samples were available for analysis of post-treatment effects. RESULTS The median cell density in the tumor-adjacent cortex was 1355/mm2 for astrocytoma and 1392/mm2 for oligodendroglioma, which was significantly higher than in non-tumor infiltrated cortex (median: 1030 cells/mm², p-value&amp;lt;0.0001). A total of 32 patients (38%) showed Abeta (14%, n=12/85) and/or pTau pathology (36%, n=31/85) in the tumor-adjacent cortex. No difference between astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma was reported. ADNC was mostly frequently observed in older patients but was also present in young individuals (median: 34 years, range: 17 to 77 years). pTau was significantly positively correlated with tumor cell infiltration (Kendall´s tau=0.13, p=0.002). Both Abeta and pTau deposits were frequently observed in the frontal cortex (30%, N=18/60). The tumor infiltration into the cortical regions was associated with neuronal loss (Kendall´s tau=-0.29, p&amp;lt;0.0001). Microglial activation depended on the degree of tumor infiltration (R=0.29), followed by increasing patient age (R=0.12). Diffuse axonal injury was associated with ADNC (Chi²=19.6, p&amp;lt;0.05). APP expression of tumor cells was highest in patients of old age (R=0.35). Longitudinal samples showed stable ANDC pathology in 15/15 subjects. CONCLUSION Our preliminary findings suggest presence of ADNC in roughly a third of patients with low-grade glioma, which increases with tumor cell infiltration into the cortex, microglial activation and patient age. Notably, isolated pTau pathology was more pronounced than Abeta pathology suggesting the acquisition of a secondary tauopathy.

The Body Advocacy Movement-Health: a pilot randomized trial of a novel intervention targeting weight stigma among health professional students

BackgroundWeight stigma among healthcare professionals is associated with negative health impacts on patients, yet there are few effective strategies to combat weight stigma among health professional learners. The Body Advocacy Movement-Health (BAM-Health) is a novel group-based, peer-led stigma reduction intervention for health professional students that targets weight stigma across intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural levels. The present study (1) assesses short-term impacts of BAM-Health participation on intrapersonal and interpersonal weight bias compared to an informational brochure control condition and (2) explores the feasibility and acceptability of BAM-Health among a sample of health professional students.MethodsSixty-seven health professional students participated in BAM-Health (n = 34) or received an informational brochure about weight stigma (n = 33). Participants completed validated self-report surveys assessing internalized weight/ appearance concerns and interpersonal weight stigma prior to their assigned intervention (baseline), immediately following intervention (post-intervention), and four weeks after intervention (follow-up). Baseline to post-intervention and baseline to follow-up effect sizes on each measure were calculated. At post-intervention, participants completed feedback surveys for thematic assessment.ResultsBAM-Health participation had a large baseline to post-intervention effect on internalized weight/ appearance concerns that diminished slightly at follow-up (Cohen’s d = -0.88; d = -0.62). Receipt of the informational brochure had a small effect on internalized weight/ appearance concerns (d = -0.27); however, these changes were not sustained at follow-up (d = 0.04). BAM-Health participation resulted in reductions in interpersonal obesity stigma and anti-fatness with small effect sizes (d = -0.32; d = -0.31). The effect on obesity stigma was slightly amplified at follow-up (d = -0.43); however, decreases in anti-fatness were not sustained (d = -0.13). The brochure condition failed to demonstrate effects on anti-fatness (d = 0.13, d = 0.14) or obesity stigma (d = -0.12; d = -0.12) at either time point. Between-session attrition rates of 4.5%, favorable quantitative ratings on post-session acceptability surveys, and free responses demonstrating appreciation of the virtual group environment and session activities reflect feasibility and acceptability of BAM-Health.ConclusionsBAM-Health is a novel peer-led intervention that aims to reduce weight stigma among health professional students. BAM-Health met feasibility benchmarks and received positive feedback from participants, demonstrating acceptability and indicating interest among health professional students in analyzing and reducing weight stigma in their personal lives and careers. The intervention led to promising decreases in internalized and interpersonal weight stigma at post-intervention, some of which were sustained at follow-up. However, lack of effect on internalized weight/ appearance concerns measures may indicate that BAM-Health participants are more likely to reject weight stigma directed toward others following intervention, while maintaining thin ideals for themselves. Further investigation of BAM-Health with a larger sample and continued program development is warranted.

Measuring Impairment-Specific Gains in Individual Cognitive Rehabilitation Through a Systematic Therapy Protocol.

This study investigated treatment-induced performance gains in memory function following therapy through the Intensive Cognitive Communication Rehabilitation (ICCR) program for young adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). We aimed to determine the utility of a novel approach to measuring memory performance improvement across semesters of therapy using (a) systematic treatment tasks called Individualized Quantitative Protocols (IQPs) as compared to (b) standardized measures of memory function. Retrospective IQP data spanning five consecutive ICCR semesters were collected from patients (N = 13) with ABI. Raw task-accuracy data were scaled to account for task difficulty gradation. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) were used to evaluate the degree of memory improvement-measured by scaled IQP scores-as a function of therapy duration, age, time postinjury, and aphasia; pre- to posttreatment effect sizes were also calculated. For comparison, similar LMMs were run using standardized metrics of memory abilities as the outcome measure. Results showed significant treatment-induced improvements, with gains at the session level (β = 2.76; t = 2.23; p = .047), when improvement was measured using IQP scaled scores. Standardized metrics did not show significant improvement as a function of therapy. Effect size analysis mirrored LMM results, with a large (d = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [0.35, 1.49]) pre- to posttreatment effect when change was measured using IQP scaled scores and a small effect for standardized measures. This preliminary study demonstrates the utility of a granular, individualized metric to index significant impairment-based performance gains following ICCR treatment. These results introduce promise for future analysis of complex treatment data. Additionally, they provide another lens with which to assess treatment progress and its significance. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27045937.

Bioactive surface modification of Ti–Nb alloy by alkaline treatment in potassium hydroxide solution

Abstract The aim of this work is to compare the responsive behaviour of titanium, niobium and titanium–niobium alloy during alkaline treatment in forming alkaline titanate layer and their resultant bioactive properties. Titanium and niobium powder mixture with composition in the beta region was pressed at 550 MPa and sintered at 1,200 °C for 2 h. The alloy was soaked in potassium hydroxide aqueous solution at 60 °C for 24 h with different concentrations of 0.5 M and 5 M. The effect of post sintering-heat treatment was investigated by annealing the treated alloy at 600 °C for 2 h. X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis were used to evaluate the chemical composition and the functional group of material on the treated alloy surface respectively. Immersion in Hanks solution for 1 day resulted in traces of calcium and phosphate on alloy surfaces treated in different concentrations of alkali as well as post-heat treatment. The cell viability evaluation using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay on the new beta-Ti alloy with potassium-based titanate layer demonstrated potassium hydroxide treatment with a 5 M concentration after post-heat treatment significantly improved cell proliferation, which is a prerequisite for bone mineral apatite deposition.

Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Doxorubicin-Induced Anxiety and Depression-like Behaviors and mRNA Expression of Inflammatory Markers in Rats.

Background: Post-treatment side effects of chemotherapy can include cognitive deficits commonly known as Chemo-brain. The treatment of patients with Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer, can induce depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa that has been identified as a possible therapeutic agent against many neurodegenerative disorders, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Tau-protein-induced neurodegeneration, and neuropathic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether oral CBD administration could reduce DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors and alter the expression of mRNA associated with neuroinflammation. Methods: Female Long Evans Hooded rats received intraperitoneal injections of DOX (6 mg/kg) or the vehicle (0.9% saline) once a week for four weeks, followed by oral administration of CBD (10 mg/kg) three times a week for the same period. Results: CBD was significantly protective against DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors, as measured by several behavioral tests. Furthermore, CBD improved DOX-induced alterations in the gene expression of biomarkers of neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Conclusions: This provides insights into future studies on possible mechanisms by which DOX-induced cognitive dysfunction could be alleviated by CBD.

Effectiveness of Message Framing Interventions on Improving Health Outcomes for Individuals in Diabetes Health Education Communication: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo identify the effects of message‐framing interventions on improving health outcomes of individuals in diabetes health education communication.MethodsFour electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were the search engines used. The period of literature search was from their inception until December 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi‐experimental trials reporting the effects of message‐framing interventions for diabetes were included.ResultsThe review included 10 studies. Many studies have investigated multiple health outcomes. Of the seven studies that evaluated behavioral health‐related outcomes, all studies (7/7, 100%) found a positive effect, and four studies (4/7, 57.1%) found that there was no significant difference between gain and loss framing. Of the seven studies that assessed nonbehavioral health‐related outcomes, six studies (6/7, 85.7%) reported a positive postintervention effect, whereas four studies (4/7, 57.1%) found that loss‐framed messages were more effective. One study (1/7, 14.3%) reported that there was no effect of the message framing on mental health‐related outcomes.ConclusionsIn diabetes health education communication, message framing of gain and loss framing has a positive effect on health outcomes for individuals. The advantage of the loss framing is more significant in improving nonbehavioral health‐related outcomes.Practice ImplicationsWhen constructing a message to promote health outcomes for patients with diabetes, the message framing is worth applying, and the advantages of loss framing can be considered more.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO registration ID: CRD42023445074. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=445074

Effect of Diffusion Annealing and Aging Post-Treatments on Scratch Properties of Boride Layers on CoCrMo Alloy

Effect of Diffusion Annealing and Aging Post-Treatments on Scratch Properties of Boride Layers on CoCrMo Alloy

Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment on Neural Noise: a Longitudinal Design.

Cognitive dysfunction has been observed consistently in a subset of breast cancer survivors. Yet the precise neurophysiological origins of cancer-related cognitive decline remain unknown. The current study assessed neural noise (1/f activity in electroencephalogram [EEG]) in breast cancer survivors as a potential contributor to observed cognitive dysfunction from pre- to post-treatment. We measured EEG in a longitudinal design during performance of the paired-click task and the revised Attention Network Test (ANT-R) to investigate pre- versus post-treatment effects of neural noise in breast cancer patients (n = 20 in paired click; n = 19 in ANT-R) compared with healthy controls (n = 32 in paired click; n = 29 in ANT-R). In both paradigms, one sensory (paired click) and one cognitive (ANT-R), we found that neural noise was significantly elevated after treatment in patients, remaining constant from pretest to posttest in controls. In the ANT-R, patients responded more slowly than controls on invalid cuing trials. Increased neural noise was associated with poorer alerting and poorer inhibitory control of attention (as measured by behavioral network scores), particularly for patients after treatment. The current study is the first to show a deleterious effect of breast cancer and/or cancer treatment on neural noise, pointing to alterations in the relative balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, while also suggesting promising approaches for cognitive rehabilitation.

The interplay between cytokines and stroke: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study

Stroke, the second leading cause of death and disability, causes massive cell death in the brain followed by secondary inflammatory injury initiated by disease associated molecular patterns released from dead cells. Nonetheless, the evidence regarding the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and stroke subtypes is obscure. To leverage large scale genetic association data to investigate the interplay between circulating cytokines and stroke, we adopted a two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Firstly, we performed a forward MR analysis to examine the associations of genetically determined 31 cytokines with 6 stroke subtypes. Secondly, we conducted a reverse MR analysis to check the associations of 6 stroke subtypes with 31 cytokines. In the forward MR analysis, genetic evidence suggests that 21 cytokines were significantly associated with certain stroke subtype risk with |β| ranging from 1.90 × 10−4 to 0.74. In the reverse MR analysis, our results found that five stroke subtypes (intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), large artery atherosclerosis ischemic stroke (LAAS), lacunar stroke (LS), cardioembolic ischemic stroke (CEI), small-vessel ischemic stroke (SV)) caused significantly changes in 16 cytokines with |β| ranging from 1.08 × 10−4 to 0.69. In particular, those five stroke subtypes were statistically significantly associated with C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition, ICH, LAAS, LS and SV were significantly correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while LAAS, LS, CEI and SV were significantly related to fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Moreover, integrated bi-directional MR analysis, these factors (IL-3Rα, IL-6R, IL-6Rα, IL-1Ra, insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), IL-12Rβ2) can be used as predictors of some specific stroke subtypes. As well as, IL-16 and C–C motif chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) can be used as prognostic factors of stroke. Our findings prognostic identify potential pharmacological opportunities, including perturbation of circulating cytokines for both predicting stroke risk and post stroke treatment effects. As we conducted a comprehensive search and analysis of stroke subtype and cytokines in the existing publicly available GWAS database, the results have good population-generalizability.