Post-treatment Effects Research Articles

Fatigue performance of U-notched additively manufactured AlSi10Mg parts: The effects of chemical and thermal post-treatments

Fatigue performance of U-notched additively manufactured AlSi10Mg parts: The effects of chemical and thermal post-treatments

Understanding the Trap Characteristics of Perovskite Solar Cells via Drive-Level Capacitance Profiling.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are gaining significant interest as the future of photovoltaics owing to their superior performance and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, traps in PSCs have emerged as issues that adversely affect the efficiency and stability of the devices. In this study, the methylammonium chloride (MACl) additive and phenyltrimethylammonium iodide (PTMAI) posttreatment were applied to passivate bulk and surface defects. Furthermore, variations of the traps' quantitative spatial arrangement have been monitored by using the drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP) analysis. A similar magnitude of trap reduction was observed for the bulk perovskite layer and two interfaces (electron transport layer (ETL)/perovskite and hole transport layer (HTL)/perovskite) with an optimal concentration of the MACl additive. However, the effect of perovskite posttreatment in reducing the trap density was much more noticeable at the HTL/perovskite interface compared to the bulk and ETL/perovskite regions. This observation was reinforced by the outcomes of the 500 h thermal stability tests at 60 °C from seven independent batches, which demonstrated a substantial suppression of trap accumulation, particularly at the HTL/perovskite interface, by an order of magnitude.

NIMG-03. IMPACT OF CONCURRENT IMMUNOTHERAPY AND STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY ON METASTATIC BRAIN DISEASE: A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE FINGERPRINTING RADIOMIC ANALYSIS

Abstract BACKGROUND Unlike traditional chemotherapy (limited by the blood-brain barrier), the central nervous system penetrance of immunotherapy allows for synergy with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), the standard-of-care management of limited brain metastases. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a novel technology allowing for simultaneous imaging quantification of multiple tissue properties. We present the first serial MRF results in concomitant SRS/immunotherapy for metastatic brain disease. METHODS A patient with known history of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) presented with a seizure. MRI revealed a solitary 1 cm right occipital metastasis, subsequently receiving SRS rather than whole-brain radiation therapy to optimize cognition preservation. Durvalumab (with carboplatin/etoposide) was given one week before SRS (22 Gy single-fraction). Pre-SRS MRF scans were obtained with the Gamma Knife stereotactic headframe in place. Post-SRS MRF scans were obtained at 1, 3, and 5 months. MRF data was processed and region of interest analysis was performed to measure T1 and T2 values within the lesion using MATLAB. RESULTS The mean T1 and T2 values of the solid tumor (ST) in precontrast MRF maps decreased over time with a slight increase at final follow-up. Specifically, the T1 values decreased from 2131 ms (Pre-SRS) to 1018 ms, then 996 ms followed by a slight increase to 1296 ms. Similarly, the T2 values progressively decreased from 143 ms (Pre-SRS) to 45 ms (first follow-up) to 43 ms (3-month follow-up), with an increase (51 ms) at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS In this first report of MRF in concomitant immunotherapy/Gamma Knife SRS (and the first in a SCLC patient). MRF demonstrated serial drop in T1 and T2 over time followed by slight increase at 5 months follow-up. The alterations observed in T1 and T2 MRF are compatible with post-treatment effects in the tumor's tissue characteristics, including decreased cellularity, water content, and presence of paramagnetic substances.

Anthelmintic efficacy of febantel against a monogenean parasite, Gyrodactylus kobayashii

Monogenean parasites pose a significant challenge to aquaculture, leading to adverse effects on fish health and yields. Current anthelmintic treatments for monogeneans have demonstrated limited efficacy and are further complicated by potential issues, which emphasize the necessity for effective and safe therapeutic strategies to manage monogeneans in aquaculture. In this study, in vivo and in vitro anthelmintic activity of febantel against Gyrodactylus kobayashii on goldfish (Carassius auratus), as well as its toxicity to goldfish were evaluated. In vivo assays indicated that febantel exhibited potent anthelmintic activity against G. kobayashii with an EC50 value of 0.03 mg/L and 100 % anthelmintic efficacy at 0.1 mg/L after 48 h of exposure. Moreover, in vivo trials also revealed a notable post-treatment effect of febantel, where infected goldfish transferred to drug-free water after short 6-h exposure could still result in full eradication of the worms, indicating febantel might induce persistent perturbations in parasite physiology. In vitro assays showed a negative correlation between febantel concentrations and the survival of G. kobayashii. However, increasing the febantel concentration to 2.0 mg/L did not result in the complete death of all worms. Oral administration of febantel demonstrated limited anthelmintic activity, with only 49 % efficacy at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight daily over five days. Acute toxicity assays revealed the 48-h LC50 value of febantel was 5.47 mg/L, which was 182.23 times higher than the 48-h EC50 value, indicating that febantel has a favorable safety profile. However, febantel exposure potentially interfered with hepatic metabolism and oxidative status, as indicated by variations in SOD, GST, and P450 gene expression. In conclusion, treatment with 0.1 mg/L febantel for 24 h completely eradicated G. kobayashii infection on goldfish, demonstrating febantel’s potent anthelmintic activity. Coupled with its safety profile and extended post-treatment effectiveness, febantel is a promising candidate for controlling Gyrodactylus infections in aquaculture.

Comparative growth performance of backgrounded beef heifers treated with an injectable fixed-dose combination (0.2 mg/kg doramectin + 6.0 mg/kg levamisole hydrochloride) or single-active (0.2 mg/kg ivermectin) endectocide

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) can negatively impact all production classes of cattle, particularly growing cattle. A global decline in efficacy of broad-spectrum single-active anthelmintics requires alternative GIN control methods without the aid of novel drug classes. Here, we present a new fixed-dose combination injectable (FDCI) endectocide for cattle that combines doramectin (5 mg/ml) and levamisole hydrochloride (150 mg/ml). A 56-day comparative performance confinement backgrounding trial was conducted in stocker beef heifers (n = 1548) with confirmed GIN infections to (1) compare the Day 14 post-treatment effectiveness of the new FDCI endectocide to pen mates treated with the injectable single-active endectocide ivermectin, as evidenced by fecal egg counts (FECs) conducted for a randomly selected subset (10%) of both treatment groups, and (2) determine if the greater GIN control by the FDCI evidenced in the subsample improved growth performance in all FDCI-treated heifers. Heifers were procured in four cohorts, with a 10-week timeframe between enrollment of the first and last cohort. Treatment groups were comingled within dirt-floor pens (n = 31; 7–8 per cohort) and offered a standard backgrounding diet ad libitum for the study duration. Heifers with enrollment FEC ≥ 30 eggs per gram (EPG) were randomly allocated to receive the FDCI (n = 773) or ivermectin (n = 775) on Day 0. Day 0 FECs conducted on 10% of enrolled heifers (FDCI, n = 78; ivermectin, n = 79) were not different between treatment groups (p = 0.491). Day 14 FECs for the same heifers were reduced compared to Day 0 within each treatment group. Heifers given the FDCI had lower Day 14 AM FECs and higher FEC reduction test (FECRT) result (0.07 EPG; 0.999) than ivermectin-treated heifers (21.58 EPG; FECRT = 0.850). Mean body weight (BW) was not different between treatment groups on Day 0 (p = 0.2762) and Day 14 (p = 0.2010) but was significantly greater (p = 0.0007) for FDCI-treated heifers compared to ivermectin-treated heifers on Day 56. Compared to ivermectin-treated heifers, overall average daily gain from all evaluation periods (Day 0–14, Day 14–56, and Day 0–56) was greater (p ≤ 0.0052) in FDCI-treated heifers, and FDCI-treated heifers had 4.223 kg greater total weight gain over the 56-day study. The FDCI (0.2 mg/kg doramectin + 6.0 mg/kg levamisole hydrochloride) was highly effective in reducing GIN infections and thus promoted improved growth performance in beef heifers over a 56-day backgrounding period.

The potential role of upregulated PARP-1/RIPK1 expressions in amikacin-induced oxidative damage and nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.

This study aimed to investigate the gene expression levels associated with nephrotoxic action of amikacin, as well as the post-treatment effect of diuretics on its nephrotoxic effects. Sixty male rats were divided equally into six groups, including the control group receiving saline intra-peritoneally (ip), and the five treated groups including therapeutic and double therapeutic dose groups, injected ip (15 and 30mg/kg b.wt./day) respectively for seven days, and another two rat groups treated as therapeutic and double therapeutic dose groups then administered the diuretic orally for seven days and the last group received amikacin ip at a rate of 15mg/kg/day for seven days, then given free access to water without diuretics for another seven days and was kept as a self-recovery group. Amikacin caused kidney injury, which was exacerbated by the double therapeutic dose, as evidenced by abnormal serum renal injury biomarkers, elevated renal MDA levels, inhibition of renal catalase and SOD enzyme activities, with renal degenerative and necrotic changes. Moreover, comet assays also revealed renal DNA damage. Interestingly, amikacin administration markedly elevated expression levels of the PARP-1, RIP1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS genes as compared to the control group. However, compared to the self-recovery group, post-amikacin diuretic treatment modulates amikacin-induced altered findings and alleviates amikacin nephrotoxic effects more efficiently. Our findings suggested the potential role of PARP-1 and RIPK1 expressions that influence the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α by exaggerating oxidative stress which may contribute to the pathogenesis of amikacin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Risk Factors Associated with Development of Peritumoral Edema Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy for Intracranial Meningioma

Peritumoral edema (PTE) is a potential adverse effect following radiotherapy for intracranial meningioma. The purpose of this study is to identify which baseline factors may increase risk for PTE. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 431 patients who underwent primary radiotherapy to 480 radiographically-defined intracranial meningiomas between January 2008 and December 2021 within an integrated health care system. Patients with prior surgical management were excluded. Patients were treated with frameless LINAC-based image-guided single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (32.9%), 5 fraction SRS (FSRS) (30.8%), or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) (36.3%). Pre- and post-radiotherapy MRI studies were reviewed to evaluate for PTE following treatment. An event was defined as new or worsening PTE compared to pre-radiotherapy imaging or development of new symptoms post-radiotherapy. Univariate and stepwise logistics regression analyses were performed to compare the risk of PTE between groups. Median follow-up was 85.8 months (IQR: 49.4-125.4). Median patient age was 66 years (IQR: 56-73). Patients treated with SRS (median age: 61 years) were younger than those treated with FSRS/FSRT (median age: 68 years) (p<0.001). Lesions treated with SRS (median volume: 1.33cc) were smaller than those treated with FSRS/FSRT (median volume: 6.36cc) (p<0.001). For all-comers, 68 (14.2%) lesions developed any PTE, and 27 (5.6%) developed symptomatic PTE (SPTE). Of these, 4 patients developed symptoms post-treatment without radiographic evidence of new or worsening PTE. Incidence of PTE/SPTE by site was as follows: base of skull (BOS): 10.3%/6.1%, convexity: 22.7%/7.6%, falcine: 17.6%/4.1%, parasagittal: 27.8%/8.3%, posterior fossa/tentorium 7.0%/0.0%. Incidence of PTE/SPTE by technique was as follows: SRS: 6.3%/3.8%, FSRS: 20.9%/7.4%, FSRT: 15.5%/5.7%. On univariate analysis, age >65 (OR = 2.17 (95% CI: 1.26-3.77) p = 0.006), tumor volume (OR = 1.05 (1.02-1.08), p = 0.003), pre-treatment PTE (OR = 6.82 (95% CI: 3.59-12.94) p<0.001), and convexity/falcine/parasagittal (CFPS) location (OR = 2.52 (95% CI: 1.49-4.23) p<0.001) were associated with increased incidence of PTE. On multivariate analysis, age >65 (OR = 1.91 (95% CI: 1.05-3.45) p<0.03), tumor volume (OR = 1.04 (95% CI: 1.00-1.08) p = 0.03), pre-treatment PTE (OR = 4.64 (95% CI: 2.33-9.24) p<0.001), and CFPS location (OR = 2.53 (95% CI: 1.41-4.52) p = 0.002) were associated with increased incidence of PTE. Two patients with PTE underwent resection for local failure which revealed atypical meningioma. Age >65, larger tumor volume, presence of pre-treatment PTE, and CFPS location were associated with increased incidence of PTE following radiotherapy. Patients with these risk factors should be counseled regarding post-treatment effects. Infrequently, PTE following treatment may be an indicator of higher-grade meningioma.

Dexmedetomidine as a cardioprotective drug: a narrative review.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective alpha2-adrenoceptors agonist, is not only a sedative drug used during mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit but also a cardio-protective drug against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Numerous preclinical in vivo and ex vivo studies, mostly evaluating the effect of DEX pretreatment in healthy rodents, have shown the efficacy of DEX in protecting the hearts from IRI. However, whether DEX can maintain its cardio-protective effect in hearts with comorbidities such as diabetes has not been fully elucidated. Multiple clinical trials have reported promising results, showing that pretreatment with DEX can attenuate cardiac damage in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, evidence of the post-treatment effects of DEX in clinical practice remains limited. In this narrative review, we summarize the previously reported evidence of DEX-induced cardio-protection against IRI and clarify the condition of the hearts and the timing of DEX administration that has not been tested. With further investigations evaluating these knowledge gaps, the use of DEX as a cardio-protective drug could be further facilitated in the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and might be considered in a broader area of clinical settings beyond cardiac surgery, including patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Efficacy of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Treating Depression in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials.

This meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)-comprising repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-for depression in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 28 January 2023. Random-effects models assessed the treatment effects, and heterogeneity was evaluated through I2 statistics and funnel plot inspection. From 10 trials (234 participants; 8 rTMS, 2 tDCS), NIBS was found significantly more effective than sham in alleviating depressive symptoms (SMD: 0.588, 95% CI: 0.264-0.912; p < 0.001). rTMS, specifically, showed higher efficacy (SMD: 0.707, 95% CI: 0.306-1.108; p = 0.001) compared to sham, whereas tDCS outcomes were inconclusive (SMD: 0.271, 95% CI: -0.230 to 0.771; p = 0.289). Meta-regression found no correlation with the number of sessions, treatment intensity, or total dose. Notably, while post-treatment effects were significant, they diminished 1-2 months post intervention. Adverse events associated with NIBS were minimal, with no severe outcomes like seizures and suicide reported. rTMS emerged as a potent short-term intervention for depression in TBI patients, while tDCS findings remained equivocal. The long-term efficacy of NIBS is yet to be established, warranting further studies. The low adverse event rate reaffirms NIBS's potential safety.

Effects of Virtual Reality Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Low back pain is a common health problem globally. Based on the duration of pain, it is classified as acute, subacute, or chronic low back pain. Different treatment strategies are available to reduce chronic low back pain. Virtual reality (VR) is a novel approach in back pain rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare the effects of VR games on chronic low back pain. This quasi-experimental study was conducted among 40 patients with chronic low back pain. The data were collected using a nonprobability, convenient sampling technique. Patients visiting the Department of Physiotherapy, Government Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, were recruited and equally divided into 4 groups. Group A received the Reflex Ridge game; group B received the Body Ball game; group C combined the 2 games without back-strengthening exercises; and group D combined the 2 games with back-strengthening exercises. The participants received 8 treatment sessions, with 3 sessions/wk. The outcomes were pre- and posttest measurements of pain intensity, low back disability, and lumbar range of motion. The repeated measurement ANOVA was used for inter- and intragroup comparison, with significance at P≤.05. The study comprised a sample of 40 patients with low back pain; 12 (40%) were female and 28 (60%) were male, with a mean age of 37.85 (SD 12.15) years. The pre- and posttest mean pain scores were 7.60 (SD 1.84) and 4.20 (SD 1.62) in group A, 6.60 (SD 1.776) and 5.90 (SD 1.73) in group B, 6.90 (SD 1.73) and 5.40 (SD 1.07) in group C, and 7.10 (SD 1.53) and 3.60 (SD 0.97) in group D, respectively. The mean pain score differences of group D (combining the Reflex Ridge and Body Ball games with back-strengthening exercises) compared to groups A, B, and C were -.60 (P=.76), -2.30 (P<.001), and -1.80 (P=.03), respectively. Regarding the range of motion, the forward lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 3.80 (P=.21), 4.80 (P=.07), and 7.40 (P<.001), respectively. Similarly, the right lateral lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 2.80 (P=.04), 5.20 (P<.001), and 4.80 (P<.001), respectively. The left lateral lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 2.80 (P<.001), 4.80 (P=.02), and 2.20 (P<.001). respectively, showing significant pre- and posttreatment effects. VR exercises had statistically significant effects on improving pain, low back disability, and range of motion in all groups, but the combination of Reflex Ridge and Body Ball games with back-strengthening exercises had dominant effects compared to the other groups. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial IRCT20200330046895N1; https://en.irct.ir/trial/46916.

Effects of metal ratios and post treatments on energy storage ability of cobalt manganese metal organic frameworks

Metal organic framework (MOF) with large surface area and pore tunability has been intensively applied on energy storage. Tubular structure is one of promising configurations due to abundant contacts to electrolyte at inner/outer surface and straight charge transfer paths. Bimetallic compounds with multiple redox states are favorable for generating redox reactions. Possible conversions to oxides or sulfides can also induce additional active sites and enhance conductivity. In this study, cobalt and manganese bimetallic MOF (CoMn-MOF) tubular structures are firstly synthesized using polypyrrole nanotubes as the template. Effects of metal ratio on energy storage is investigated to understand contributions from Co and Mn. The CoMn-MOF derived oxide and sulfide are further synthesized to enhance energy storage ability. A larger specific capacitance (CF) of 670.1 F/g is attained for CoMn-MOF derived sulfide (S-CoMn-MOF) electrode, respectively compared to those of 247.0 and 426.7 F/g for the CoMn-MOF and oxidized CoMn-MOF electrodes, because of surface connected tubular structure and balanced components of MOF and sulfides for S-CoMn-MOF. An energy storage device with S-CoMn-MOF and graphene electrodes shows a maximum energy density of 17.9 Wh/kg at 785.7 W/kg. The CF retention of 78% and Coulombic efficiency of 97% after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles are also obtained.

Prevalence of Depression and Coping Strategies Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Hospital-Based Study.

Background The burden of cancer is increasing in all countries and so is inIndia. Among Indian males, lung, mouth, and tongue are very common cancers. Cancer is a life-threatening stressful condition, and cancer survivors report negative effects which decrease the quality of life because of long-term post-treatment effects. When cancer treatment is ongoing, patients express mixed emotion which is happiness and relief. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of depression and assess the coping strategies among the same head and neck cancer patients. Material and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient level in the Department of Radiotherapy, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College (SDUMC), Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, for a period of three years. The sample size was calculated based on the previous study. Head and Neck cancer patientswho are more than 18 years old and histologically diagnosed with cancer were included in the study, and head and neck cancer patients with previously diagnosed mental illness or patients with mental health medications or chronically debilitated cancer were excluded. For sociodemographic details, a pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used. To assess depression Zung Depression Scale was used. To assess coping strategy the Cancer Coping Questionnaire was used. All data collected by interview technique which will last not less than 20 minutes. All data were entered in a Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS version 22 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). To compare between groups, t-test and ANOVA were used with a statistically significant p<0.05. Results Of 188 head and neck cancer patients, 117 (62.2%) aged 31-60 years, 136 (72.3%) were females, 121 (64.4%) belonged to rural background, 143 (76.1%) were illiterates,105 (55.9%) belonged to joint family, and 110 (58.5%) belonged to class IV modified BG Prasad classification. This study showed 16% of head and neck cancer patients had depression according to the Zung Depression Scale. With respect to the coping domain, cancer patients from rural backgrounds had higher coping scores, and illiterate had higher scores. With respect to the positive focus coping subdomain, male cancer patients had higher scores compared, to rural cancer patients, who had higher scores, and illiterate had higher scores. With respect to the diversion domain, rural cancer patients had higher scores, illiterate patients had higher scores, and this difference was statistically significant. With respect to the interpersonal scale domain, rural patients, patients belonging to joint families, patients aged more than 60 years, and illiterate patients had higher scores compared with literates, and these were statistically significant with p<0.05. This study demonstrated that the presence of depression had no impact on coping domains, and there was no significant correlation between depression and coping scores. Conclusion Mental health must be thoughtfully considered among cancer patients as cancer with depression may have a negative impact on their experience with cancer. Cancer keeps growing as a public health problem and all cancer-treating hospitals should work on various preventable measuresfor reducing the future burden ofvarious health dimensions affected by cancer.The very intention of treating cancer should be improving the survival of the diagnosed case and this needs targeted mental health intervention.

Updated Clinical Perspectives and Challenges of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy in Colorectal Cancer and Invasive Breast Cancer.

In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) has increased worldwide and caused a higher mortality rate due to the lack of selective anti-tumor therapies. Current chemotherapies and surgical interventions are significantly preferred modalities to treat CRC or BC in advanced stages but the prognosis for patients with advanced CRC and BC remains dismal. The immunotherapy technique of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has resulted in significant clinical outcomes when treating hematologic malignancies. The novel CAR-T therapy target antigens include GUCY2C, CLEC14A, CD26, TEM8/ANTXR1, PDPN, PTK7, PODXL, CD44, CD19, CD20, CD22, BCMA, GD2, Mesothelin, TAG-72, CEA, EGFR, B7H3, HER2, IL13Ra2, MUC1, EpCAM, PSMA, PSCA, NKG2D. The significant aim of this review is to explore the recently updated information pertinent to several novel targets of CAR-T for CRC, and BC. We vividly described the challenges of CAR-T therapies when treating CRC or BC. The immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid tumors, the shortage of tumor-specific antigens, and post-treatment side effects are the major hindrances to promoting the development of CAR-T cells. Several clinical trials related to CAR-T immunotherapy against CRC or BC have already been in progress. This review benefits academicians, clinicians, and clinical oncologists to explore more about the novel CAR-T targets and overcome the challenges during this therapy.

Somatropin for Growth Hormone Deficiency

&#x0D; We identified 2 evidence-based guidelines that provide recommendations for the clinical management of children and adults with growth hormone deficiency.&#x0D; The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology guideline provides recommendations on assessment, screening, diagnostic testing, treatment, and monitoring for a range of patients with different causes of adult growth hormone deficiency. The recommendations emphasize accurate diagnosis using appropriate growth hormone cut points for different growth hormone–stimulation tests and careful interpretation of serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone should be carried out with consideration of the benefits and risks specific to each individual patient.&#x0D; The Pediatric Endocrine Society guideline provides recommendations for the clinical management of children and adolescents with growth failure due to growth hormone deficiency. The guideline lists various conditions for which growth hormone deficiency can be diagnosed by conventional approaches without growth hormone–stimulation testing. The treatment dose of growth hormone should be calculated based on weight and body surface area and not on insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. The guideline highlights that the initial growth hormone dose, subsequent dosing, and discontinuation of pediatric doses should be assessed based on each individual patient.&#x0D; Both guidelines recognize the uncertainty of long-term safety (i.e., posttreatment effects) of growth hormone treatment, which is a limitation of both guidelines.&#x0D;

Comparison of preventive and therapeutic effects of continuous exercise on acute lung injury induced with methotrexate.

Methotrexate (Mtx) is used to treat various diseases, including cancer, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. However, it induces oxidative stress and pulmonary inflammation by stimulating production of reactive oxygen species and cytokines. Considering the positive effects of physical activity, our goal was to investigate the preventive and therapeutic role of continuous training (CT) on Mtx-induced lung injury in rats. The rats were divided into five groups of 14 animals: a control group (C); a continuous exercise training group (CT; healthy rats that experienced CT); an acute lung injury with Mtx group (ALI); a pretreatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT before ALI induction), and a post-treatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT after ALI induction). One dose of 20mg/kg Mtx intraperitoneal was administered in the Mtx and training groups. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session all rats were sacrificed. According to our results, the levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and caspase-3 in the ALI group significantly increased compared to the control group, and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), and T-bet decreased. In contrast, compared to the acute lung injury group, pretreatment and treatment with CT reduced TNF-α, MDA, MPO, GATA3 and caspase-3 and increased SOD, GPX, TAC, IL-10, FOXP3 and T-bet levels. The effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. Continuous exercise training effectively reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines and ameliorated Mtx-induced injury, and the effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Considering the high prevalence of lung injury in society, does exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention have ameliorating effects on lung injury? What is the main finding and its importance? Exercise can have healing effects on the lung after pulmonary injury through reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Considering the lower side effects of exercise compared to drug treatments, the results of this study may be useful in the future.

The efficacy of individual humanistic-experiential therapies for the treatment of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT Objective: Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of individual humanistic-experiential therapies (HEPs) for depression. Method: Database searches (Scopus, Medline, and PsycINFO) identified RCTs comparing any HEP intervention with a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control or active alternative intervention for the treatment of depression. Included studies were assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool and narratively synthesized. Post-treatment and follow-up effect sizes were aggregated using random-effects meta-analysis and moderators of treatment effect were explored (PROSPERO: CRD42021240485). Results: Seventeen RCTs, synthesized across four meta-analyzes, indicated HEP depression outcomes were significantly better than TAU controls at post-treatment (g = 0.41, 95% CI [0.18, 0.65], n = 735), but not significantly different at follow-up (g = 0.14, 95% CI [−0.30, 0.58], n = 631). HEP depression outcomes were comparable to active treatments at post-treatment (g = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.26, 0.08], n = 2131), but significantly favored non-HEP alternative interventions at follow-up (g = −0.21, 95% CI [−0.35, −0.07], n = 1196). Conclusion: Relative to usual care, HEPs are effective in the short-term and comparable to non-HEP alternative interventions at post-treatment, but not at follow-up. However, imprecision, inconsistency, and risk of bias concerns were identified as limitations of the evidence included. Future large-scale trials of HEPs with equipoise between comparator conditions are required.

Irreversible thermochromic ink in the identification of over- and under-processed product segments in microwave-assisted freeze drying

The formation of over- and under-processed product regions is an inherent drawback of microwave-assisted freeze drying (MWFD) of food attributed to the inhomogeneity of microwave energy distribution. To overcome limitations in the investigation of inhomogeneity effects, the scope of this study was the development and validation of a new method using an irreversible thermochromic colour-component (ITC) with a particular colour intensity profile as a function of temperature (40–70 °C). For validation, thermal images and spatially-resolved biomarker inactivation was compared to the colour intensity pattern resulting from the temperature-induced colour reaction of ITC in MWFD. The ITC method provides advantages over existing methods, as it visualises the spatial distribution of maximum processing temperature independently of post-treatment effects and existing dryer design. This easy-to-use method has the potential to eliminate or reduce preconceptions due to poorly known inhomogeneity of microwave applications and pave the way for energy-efficient and fast MWFD of food.

Diabetes remission in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes after dorzagliatin treatment: A prospective cohort study.

To investigate the post-treatment effect of dorzagliatin in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) regarding the achievement of stable glycaemic control and drug-free diabetes remission. Patients who completed dorzagliatin treatment in the SEED trial and achieved stable glycaemic control were enrolled in this 52-week study without any antidiabetic medication. The primary endpoint was the diabetes remission probability at week 52 using the Kaplan-Meier method. The potential factors that contribute to stable glycaemic control and diabetes remission based on the characteristics of patients before and after treatment with dorzagliatin were analysed. A post hoc sensitivity analysis of diabetes remission probability using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) definition was conducted. The Kaplan-Meier remission probability was 65.2% (95% CI: 52.0%, 75.6%) at week 52. Based on the ADA definition, the remission probability was 52.0% (95% CI: 31.2%, 69.2%) at week 12. The significant improvements in the insulin secretion index ΔC30/ΔG30 (41.46 ± 77.68, P = .0238), disposition index (1.22 ± 1.65, P = .0030), and steady-state variables of HOMA2-β (11.49 ± 14.58, P < .0001) and HOMA2-IR (-0.16 ± 0.36, P = .0130) during the SEED trial were important factors in achieving drug-free remission. A significant improvement in time in range (TIR), a measure of glucose homeostasis, in the SEED trial from 60% to more than 80% (estimated treatment difference, 23.8%; 95% CI: 7.3%, 40.2%; P = .0084) was observed. In drug-naïve patients with T2D, dorzagliatin treatment leads to stable glycaemic control and drug-free diabetes remission. Improvements in β-cell function and TIR in these patients are important contributors to diabetes remission.

Online cognitive behaviour therapy for maternal antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression in routine care

BackgroundPerinatal depression and anxiety are associated with significant adverse effects for the mother and child. Online cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) can provide scalable access to psychological interventions to improve perinatal depression and anxiety, however, few studies have examined the effectiveness of these interventions in routine care. This study investigated the uptake and treatment outcomes of women living in the Australian community who enrolled in a pregnancy or postnatal iCBT program for their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Methods1502 women commenced iCBT (529 pregnancy and 973 postnatal) and completed measures of anxiety and depression symptom severity, and psychological distress pre- and post-treatment. Results35.0 % of women in the pregnancy program and 41.6 % in the postnatal program completed all 3 lessons, with lower pre-treatment depression symptom severity significantly associated with increased likelihood of perinatal program completion. Both iCBT programs were associated with medium pre- to post-treatment effect size reductions in generalised anxiety symptom severity (gs = 0.63 and 0.71), depression symptom severity (gs = 0.58 and 0.64), and psychological distress (gs = 0.52 and 0.60). LimitationsLack of control group and long-term follow-up, as well as detailed information on nature of the sample (e.g., health status, relationship status). Additionally, the sample was limited to Australian residents. ConclusioniCBT for perinatal anxiety and depression was associated with significant symptom improvement. Current findings support the use of iCBT in perinatal populations and its integration within routine healthcare provision.

Efficacy of repeated intravenous esketamine in adolescents with anxious versus non-anxious depression

BackgroundPatients with anxious major depressive disorder (MDD) are more likely to have poorer outcomes than those with non-anxious MDD. However, the effect of esketamine on adolescents with anxious versus non-anxious...