Pretreatment Phase Research Articles

Microaerobic biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures: strategies for efficient nitrate and oxygen dosage

The biodegradation of organic aromatic compounds in subsurface environments is often hindered by limited dissolved oxygen. While oxygen supplementation can enhance in situ biodegradation, it poses financial and technical challenges. This study explores introducing low-oxygen concentrations in anaerobic environments for efficient contaminant removal, particularly in scenarios where coexisting pollutants are present. An innovative strategy of alternating nitrate-reducing and microaerobic conditions to stimulate biodegradation is proposed, utilizing nitrate initially to degrade easily-degradable compounds, and potentially reducing the need for additional oxygen. Batch experiments were conducted to assess the biodegradation of a BTEX, indene, indane, and naphthalene mixture using groundwater and sediments from an anaerobic contaminated aquifer. Two set-ups were incubated for 98 days to assess the redox transitions between microaerobic (oxygen concentrations < 0.5 mg O2 L−1) and nitrate-reducing conditions, aiming to minimize external electron acceptor usage while maximizing degradation. Comparative experiments under fully aerobic and fully anaerobic (nitrate-reducing) conditions were conducted, revealing that under microaerobic conditions, all compounds were completely degraded, achieving removal efficiencies comparable to fully aerobic conditions. A pre-treatment phase involving nitrate-reducing conditions followed by microaerobic conditions showed more effective utilization of oxygen specifically for contaminant degradation compared to fully aerobic conditions. Contrarily, under fully anaerobic conditions, without oxygen addition, partial degradation of ethylbenzene was observed after 400 days, while other compounds remained. The outcomes of this study can provide valuable insights for refining strategies involving oxygen and nitrate dosages, thereby enhancing the efficacy of in situ bioremediation approaches targeting complex hydrocarbon mixtures within anaerobic subsurface environments.Key points• BTEX, indene, indane, and naphthalene mix biodegraded under microaerobic conditions• Subsurface microorganisms swiftly adapt from nitrate to microaerobic conditions• More oxygen directed to hydrocarbon biodegradation via a pre-anaerobic treatment

Effect of Short Duration Heat Stress on the Physiological and Production Parameters of Holstein-Friesian Crossbred Dairy Cows in Bangladesh

Heat stress is a major concern for lactating dairy cows. This study evaluated the effects of heat stress on six Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows exposed to three thermal conditions represented by the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). These conditions included a baseline pre-treatment phase at THI-72, a heat stress treatment phase at THI-75 and THI-80, and a post-treatment recovery phase at THI-72. The duration of the heat stress treatment phase was 24 h. A total of four trials, each involving three cows, were conducted in an IoT-based climatic chamber to assess various physiological, hematological, biochemical, and production parameters across these phases. Compared to the baseline (THI-72), cows showed significant increases (p &lt; 0.05) in rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and water intake (WI) at both THI-75 and THI-80, with the highest elevations observed at THI-80 (RT: 5.1%, HR: 8.6%, RR: 23.5%, and WI: 19.1%). Feed intake declined significantly (p &lt; 0.05) by 6.5% and 14.0%, and milk yield dropped by 5.3% and 14.7% at THI-75 and THI-80, respectively; milk fat and protein percentages decreased by 1.1-fold and 1.2-fold. Hemoglobin, platelet, and lymphocyte counts, along with biochemical parameters (excluding serum creatinine) also decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05). The different levels of THI influenced pairwise correlation patterns, with THI-75 showing intense interactions and THI-80 exhibiting greater variability. The findings highlight that Holstein-Friesian crossbreed dairy cows are particularly vulnerable to heat stress, even with short-term exposure. This vulnerability can lead to economic losses for Bangladeshi dairy farmers rearing Holstein-Friesian crossbreed cows.

Assessment of Clinical Predictability of Overbite Reduction and Curve of Spee Levelling in Clear Aligner Treatment.

This retrospective study aims to assess the predictability of Overbite (OVB) reduction and Curve of Spee (COS) levelling in patients with deep bite malocclusion treated with Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT). The research evaluates the accuracy of the prescribed movements in growing and non-growing patients. Thirty-six patients treated with Invisalign from January 2018 using SmartTrack were included. Digital models at pre-treatment, virtual plan and post-treatment phases were collected and analysed using Geomagic Control X. Accuracy was assessed for COS levelling, OVB reduction and individual tooth movements. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests and linear regression between accuracy of the movements and the age of the patient. The study found that the prescribed movements in ClinCheck often overestimated the achieved outcomes. The mean accuracy for COS levelling was 62%, and for OVB reduction, it was 61%. No significant association was observed between the accuracy and the age of the patient. Clear Aligner Therapy demonstrated moderate accuracy in achieving prescribed movements for COS levelling and OVB reduction. Clinicians should exercise caution in virtual treatment planning and may need to consider potential modifications to software projections to enhance desired outcomes. Further research comparing different aligner protocols and brands is warranted to advance understanding and improve treatment predictability.

Effects of 0.024% latanoprostene bunod on intraocular pressure and pupil diameter in normal cats and cats with congenital glaucoma.

To evaluate the effects of latanoprostene bunod on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in normal cats and cats with feline congenital glaucoma (FCG). Five normal and 5 FCG cats. This masked, controlled crossover study comprised a 1-day Pre-treatment phase followed by two 10-day Treatment phases, each followed by a 10-day Recovery phase. During treatment, all cats received twice daily 0.005% latanoprost (LAT) or 0.024% latanoprostene bunod (LBN) in a randomized eye. Following Recovery, the same eye was treated with the opposite drug. Contralateral eyes served as saline-treated controls. Intraocular pressure and PD measurements were performed three times daily during all study phases. Data were analyzed via constrained longitudinal data analysis models. Neither drug significantly reduced IOP in normal cats. In FCG cats, statistically significant reductions in mean (95% CI) IOP were observed relative to controls 4 h after LAT and LBN treatment (-5.5 mmHg [-8.4, -2.5], p < .001, -7.2 mmHg [-10.2, -4.3], p < .001, respectively). These differences represented 28.4% and 37.9% IOP reductions, respectively. Mean IOP reduction after 4 h was significantly greater with LBN treatment compared to LAT (-1.8 mmHg [-3.2, -0.4], p = .012). However, these IOP reductions were not considered clinically significant. Both drugs similarly reduced PD in normal and FCG cats. Transient IOP reduction was observed after topical administration of LAT and LBN in FCG cats; and mean IOP difference was statistically significantly greater in LBN-treated eyes. However, the apparent enhanced hypotensive effect of LBN is not clinically significant.

Relationship between patient-reported health-related quality of life as measured with the SF-36 or SF-12 and their mortality risk in patients with diverse cancer type: a meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) or Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and mortality risk in patients with diverse types of cancer. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to collect articles published before December 2022. Of these, observational studies that examined the association between HRQOL and mortality risk in patients with various cancer types were extracted. A subgroup analysis with a focus on the timing when HRQOL assessment was performed. Nineteen studies were included in the final analysis. Through overall analysis of the timing of HRQOL measurements, most domains were found to be significantly associated with the mortality risk, irrespective of the timing of assessment, but HRQOL assessed in pre-treatment and palliative phases had particularly strong association. In the present review, the physical functioning domain of HRQOL was found to be associated with mortality risk in a diverse group of cancer patients. This suggests the need for supportive care to improve HRQOL in cancer patients.

Olive mill wastewater treatment using vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs)

The study explores a synergistic two-phase system to treat olive mill wastewater (OMW), comprising a multilayer adsorbent filter (pretreatment) and a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). The pretreatment phase includes layers of commercial granular activated carbon (CGAC) and volcanic tuff (VT), while the VFCW phase consists of planted tank with Phragmites australis reeds and unplanted tanks. Initially, municipal wastewater is introduced into the VFCW to establish the required microbial community. Then, pre-treated OMW is passed through the VFCW. The removal rates of various pollutants were assessed. The planted VFCW showed superior removal efficiencies, averaging 97.82% for total chemical oxygen demand (CODT), 92.78% for dissolved oxygen demand (CODd), 99.61% for total phenolic compounds (TPC), 98.94% for total nitrogen (TN), 96.96% for ammonium, and 95.83% for nitrate. In contrast, the unplanted VFCW displayed lower removal efficiencies, averaging 91.47% for CODT, 77.82% for CODd, 98.53% for TPC, 97.51% for TN, 92.04% for ammonium, and 90.82% for nitrate. These findings highlight the significant potential of VFCWs, which offer an integrated approach to OMW treatment by incorporating physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms within a single treatment system.Graphical

Community Pop-Up Clinic: Cascade of Care and HCV Treatment of Vancouver's Inner-City PWID Populations.

Elimination of HCV infection as a public health concern by the end of this decade will require a concerted effort in all target populations, including drug-users in the inner-city. Several strategies have been proposed to identify, engage and provide HCV-infected residents with antiviral therapy and maximise treatment and cure achievement. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach in delivering HCV treatment to people who inject drugs (PWID) within Vancouver's inner city. We have evaluated a novel approach, the Community Pop-Up Clinic, for its ability to promote access to care and uptake of HCV therapy, with additional analyses of HCV reinfection and opioid-related mortality. From January 2021 to August 2023, we evaluated 1968 individuals. 620 (31.5%) were found to carry HCV antibodies and of these, 474 (76.5%) were found to be viremic. Treatment engagement has been secured in 387 (81.6%). 326 (84.2%) have started treatment, 60 in the pre-treatment phase and 1 died of an overdose in pre-treatment. Of 326, 302 completed treatments, 18 are currently on treatment and 1 died of an overdose. Of 302 who completed treatment, 286 confirmed as cured (SVR 12), 16 are awaiting SVR 4, 2 had documented virologic relapse and 1 was reinfected. Three patients withdrew from treatment. By mITT, the cure rate is 286/288 (99.3%). We documented 2 overdose deaths over 326 PY. The data presented validates multidisciplinary programs such as ours aimed at treating HCV in inner-cities and highlights societal benefits that could be achieved including lower overdose death rates.

LCA analysis for assessing environmenstal sustainability of new biobased chemicals by valorising citrus waste

The global shift towards using biomass for biofuels and chemicals is accelerating due to increasing environmental concerns and geopolitical strategies. This study investigates a biorefinery model using citrus-processing-waste, specifically citrus pulp, to produce high-value products for various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flavours, fragrances, and food packaging. In Italy, particularly Sicily region, citrus processing generates significant amounts of waste, often improperly disposed of, contributing to environmental problems. Researchers have demonstrated that citrus waste can yield commercially valuable compounds. This study specifically focuses on orange peel waste (OPW), which constitutes about half of the fruit's weight, aiming to extract pectin and limonene through a combined process. The extraction process was carried out on a laboratory scale, and its sustainability was evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) with SimaPro 8.1 software and the Impact 2002 + method. The functional unit adopted for this study is 300 g of OPW, obtained after the pre-treatment phase, from which 0.14 g of limonene and 8.22 g of pectin were extracted. The LCA results revealed that pectin extraction has a significantly higher environmental impact compared to limonene extraction, primarily due to the use of ethanol as a solvent, followed by electricity consumption. To mitigate this impact, the LCA assessed alternative, more sustainable solvents, resulting in a 73.4% reduction in the environmental footprint of the pectin extraction process. These findings underscore the critical role of LCA, even at the laboratory scale, in identifying environmental hotspots and providing insights for improving and optimizing processes for potential industrial-scale applications.

Development of an accelerated ageing protocol for the study of phytocannabinoid stability in Cannabis sativa L.

Cannabis sativa L. is a plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family known primarily for its recreational use due to the psychoactive properties of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Despite this, several compounds belonging to the category of phytocannabinoids have shown in recent years a number of potentially promising therapeutic effects that have increased the interest in the pharmaceutical field towards this plant. However, the content of these compounds is very variable and influenced by different factors, such as growing conditions and time of the year. An indication of the status and age of Cannabis samples is provided by the content of CBN, a minor phytocannabinoid and degradation product of other phytocannabinoids, including THC. In this research work an innovative, solid state analytical approach has been developed to observe and evaluate the variations in the content of two phytocannabinoids (CBN and CBD) in Cannabis-derived products over time. In order to simulate the ageing of the Cannabis samples, an artificially accelerated ageing procedure has been developed and optimised by using high temperatures. The analyses were carried out using an innovative ATR-FTIR method for solid state analysis, enabling direct analysis of a solid sample without any pretreatment phase. This study has allowed the development of an innovative analytical approach for the evaluation of the age and state of conservation of Cannabis samples and may be a useful tool both in the industrial, pharmaceutical and forensic fields.

Neurophysiological effects of cognitive behavioral therapy in social anxiety: An ERP study using a dot-probe task

BackgroundSocial anxious individuals show attention bias towards emotional stimuli, this phenomenon is considered to be an important cause of anxiety generation and maintenance. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a standard psychotherapy for social anxiety disorder. CBT decreases attention biases by correcting the maladaptive beliefs of socially anxious individuals, but it is not clear whether CBT alters neurophysiological features of socially anxious individuals at early automatic and/or late cognitive strategy stage of attentional processing. MethodTo address this knowledge gap, we collected pre-treatment event-related potential data of 22 socially anxious individuals while they performed a dot-probe task. These participants then received eight weeks of CBT, and post-treatment ERP data were collected after completion of CBT treatment. We also included 29 healthy controls and compared them with individuals with social anxiety to determine the neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of CBT. ResultsParticipants’ social anxiety level was significantly alleviated with CBT. ERP results revealed that (1) compared to pre-treatment phase, P1 amplitudes induced by probes significantly decreased at post-treatment phase, whereas P3 amplitudes increased at post-treatment phase; the P1 amplitudes induced by probes following happy-neutral face pairs in socially anxious individuals after treatment was significantly different with that in healthy controls; (2) amplitude of components elicited by face pairs did not change significantly between pre-treatment and post-treatment phases; (3) changes of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale were positively correlated with changes of P1 amplitude, and negatively correlated with changes of N1 amplitude. LimitationsOur sample was university students and lacked randomization, which limits the generalizability of the results. ConclusionThe present results demonstrated that CBT may adjust cognitive strategies in the later stage of attentional processing, indicating by changed ERPs appeared in probe-presenting stage for social anxiety.

STANDARD AND BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL OSTEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH NON-SPECIFIC LOW BACK PAIN (THE OSCAR STUDY): A SINGLE-CASE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Purpose and BackgroundGuidelines recommend biopsychosocial care for chronic, complex musculoskeletal conditions, including non-specific low back pain. The aims were: 1/ to assess how patients with low back pain respond to osteopathic treatment, both before and after an osteopath has completed a Biopsychosocial Pain Management (BPM) course; and 2/ to assess if it is feasible and acceptable for osteopath participants to receive weekly SCED data and use it to guide patient management.Methods and ResultsA multiple baseline single case experimental design trial (clinicaltrials.gov, on 18/10/2021, ID number NCT05120921) with 11 UK osteopaths was conducted. Patients were randomised to early, middle or late treatment start dates. Statistical analysis assessed the change between baseline, intervention and follow-up periods. Primary outcomes were the Numeric Pain Rating (NPR) and Patient Specific Function Scales (PSFS), measured during the baseline, the 6-week intervention, and during a 12-week follow-up period.At baseline, the osteopaths reported stronger biopsychosocial attitudes to pain, compared to biomedical beliefs (PABS: 34 behavioural scale; 29 biomedical scale). Overall, patient participants showed daily increases in symptoms during the pre-treatment phase (+0.24/day, p&lt;0.001), and daily decreases during treatment (−2.94 over the treatment phase, p&lt;0.001), which continued post-treatment (−3.36 over 12 weeks, p=0.04). Similar improvements were observed for function.ConclusionOsteopathic care was shown to help patients with persistent low back pain. Patient recruitment was challenging because of the randomisation. With further development, the method shows feasibility as a means of enhancing research activity among practising clinicians.Previous presentations or publications of the workThe protocol was published (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2023.100660) and presented at SBPR in 2022. The results were presented to an osteopathic conference in October 2023.Ethics approval was received from the University College of Osteopathy Research Ethics Committee.Conflicts of interestsJerry Draper-Rodi receives fees from the sales of the e-learning course on the biopsychosocial management on the UCO CPD platform.Sources of fundingThe research was funded by the Osteopathic Foundation.

Integrated aerobic-anaerobic digestion of highly solids-loaded corn stover and swine manure under dynamic aeration: Temperature rise, physicochemical characteristics, and methane production

This research aimed to design an integrated aerobic-anaerobic reactor with dynamic aeration that was automatically regulated based on real-time oxygen concentration and investigate the aerobic pretreatment and subsequent dry co-anaerobic digestion (co-AD) characteristics of highly solids-loaded corn stover and swine manure in terms of temperature rise, physiochemical characteristics, and methane production. The high-temperature feedstocks from the aerobic pretreatment phase rapidly entered the AD phase without transportation and effectively improved the start-up and methane production of the co-AD. Oxygen concentration range, aeration rate, and pretreatment time affected the cumulative aeration time, temperature rise, and organic matter removal interactively during aerobic pretreatment, and a low aeration rate was relatively preferable. Although the lignocellulose removal increased with the increase in pretreatment duration, the maximal lignin elimination efficiency only reached 1.30%. The inoculum injection in the transition phase from aerobic pretreatment to co-AD and the leachate reflux during co-AD were also critical for producing methane steadily apart from aerobic pretreatment. The cold air weakened the temperature rise of aerobic pretreatment, and the low-temperature leachate reduced the methane production in the co-AD process. An oxygen concentration range of 13%–17%, aeration rate of 0.10 m3/(min·m3), pretreatment time of 84 h, inoculum loading of 40%, leachate refluxing thrice per day, and double-layer inoculation were optimum for improving the integrated aerobic-anaerobic digestion system's ability to resist low temperatures and achieving high methane production. The maximal cumulative and volatile solids (VS) methane yields of corn stover and swine manure reached 444.58 L and 266.30 L/kg VS.

Evaluation of Caries Risk Using Cariogram Among Orthodontic Patients Before and During Treatment: A Comparative Study.

Objective The primary objective was to examine the Cariogram parameters among orthodontic patients with fixed appliances and evaluate the impact of preventive measures on mitigating the risk of dental caries during orthodontic therapy. Materials and methods Patients visiting the representative orthodontic clinics across 14 districts of Kerala participated in the comparative cross-sectional study from January 2023 to January 2024. The sampling method employed in this study was convenience quota sampling, where study subjects were allocated from each of the low, moderate, and high caries risk profiles until the sample size reached the minimal requirement within each group. The baseline Cariogram scores were used to divide the consented participants into two distinct groups. The intervention group was provided with preventive initiatives, including toothpaste comprising 1,450 ppm fluoride, 0.2% NaF mouthwash, pre-cut strands of SuperFloss, an orthodontic toothbrush designed for orthodontic braces, and an interdental flexible brush, as well as videos, pamphlets, and brochures that promoted oral health habits. In contrast, the control group received normal oral health education solely through the use of pamphlets and brochures. After six months, the Cariogram elements were re-evaluated for individuals in both groups. The independent sample t-test and paired t-test were applied to evaluate statistically significant differences between and within the two groups, respectively, using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). The distribution of patients based on their caries risk profiles was compared between groups at the commencement of the study and six months later using the Chi-square test. Results While the intervention group had 20 males and 22 females, the control group consisted of 21 males and 21 females. The average age in the intervention and control groups was 20.7±3.56 years and 21.2±3.12 years, respectively. Between the two groups, age (t=-0.68; p=0.50) and gender differences (λ2=0.05; p=0.83) were statistically insignificant. The percentage mean of the "Chance to avoid caries" associated with the intervention group increased significantly from 46.15±0.96 to 57.88±1.91, (p<0.001). On the other hand, the chance to avoid caries in the control group at the commencement of the treatment and six months later was found to be statistically insignificant. A statistically highly significant differences for all the Cariogram parameters were found when contrasted between the groups after six months of orthodontic treatment. The distribution of caries risk categorization between the control and intervention groups after six months of orthodontic treatment was found to be statistically significant (λ2=20.16;p<0.0001). Further, a statistically significant difference was observed during the pre-treatment phase and six months later in the intervention group (λ2=13.02; p=0.001). Conclusion The study findings reveal that it would be prudent to utilize 0.2% sodium fluoride mouth rinse, SuperFloss, an orthodontic toothbrush designed for orthodontic braces, and an interdental flexible brush, along with toothpaste containing 1450 ppm fluoride daily, to mitigate the risk of dental cavities during orthodontic treatment, in comparison to the control group.

Therapeutic Apheresis Using a β2-Microglobulin Removal Column Reduces Circulating Tumor Cell Count.

An elevated serum β2-microglobulin (β2M) level is indicative of impaired glomerular filtration and prerenal diseases, such as malignant tumors, autoimmune disorders, and liver diseases. An elevated serum β2M level has been shown to promote metastasis via the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells. However, the therapeutic potential of targeting β2M remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Filtor, a small polymethyl methacrylate fiber-based β2M removal column, in reducing the β2M level and suppressing cancer cell-induced EMT and metastasis. We assessed the effects of Filtor on the changes in metastasis based on the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which reflects the post-EMT cancer cell population. We performed therapeutic apheresis using Filtor on a male patient with sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma, a female patient with a history of colorectal cancer, and another female patient with a history of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Significantly low serum β2M levels and CTC counts were observed immediately and 4 weeks after treatment compared with those in the pretreatment phase. Moreover, the CTC count immediately after therapeutic intervention was markedly reduced, likely because Filtor had trapped CTCs directly. These findings suggest that therapeutic apheresis with Filtor can prevent cancer metastasis and recurrence by directly removing CTCs.

A new framework to enhance healthcare monitoring using patient-centric predictive analysis

In the contemporary healthcare landscape, various intelligent automated approaches are revolutionizing healthcare tasks. Learning concepts are pivotal for activities like comprehending acquired data and monitoring patient behavior. Among patient-centric concerns, addressing data heterogeneity, extraction, and prediction challenges is crucial. To enhance patient monitoring using care indicators like cost and length of stay at healthcare centers, many researchers found a model for automated tools, but do not have the artificial intelligence (AI) based models as of now. Therefore, this research study will propose an AI and internet of things (IoT) integrated automated approach with smart sensors called the “PatientE” framework with heterogeneity and patient data. Employing certain rules for data extraction to form a distinct representation, our model integrates pre-treatment information and employs a modified combined random forest, long-short term memory (LSTM), and bidirectional long-short term memory (BiLSTM) algorithm for predictive post-treatment monitoring. This framework, synergizing AI, IoT, and advanced neural networks, facilitates real-time health monitoring, especially focusing on breast cancer patients. Embracing pre-treatment, in-treatment, and post-treatment phases, our model aims for accurate diagnosis, improved cost-efficiency, and extended stays. The evaluation underscores scalability, reliability enhancement, and validates the framework's efficacy in transforming healthcare practices.

Global quality of life and mortality risk in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of global quality of life (QOL) on mortality risk in patients with cancer, considering cancer type and timepoint of QOL assessment. A systematic search was conducted using Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases from inception to December 2022. Observational studies that assessed QOL and examined mortality risk in patients with cancer were extracted. Subgroup analyses were performed for cancer types and timepoints of QOL assessment. Overall, global QOL was significantly associated with mortality risk (hazard ratio: 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.07; p < 0.00001). A subgroup analysis based on cancer type demonstrated that lung, head and neck, breast, esophagus, colon, prostate, hematologic, liver, gynecologic, stomach, brain, bladder, bone and soft tissue, and mixed type cancers were significantly associated with mortality risk; however, melanoma and pancreatic cancer were not significantly associated with mortality risk. Additionally, global QOL was associated with mortality risk at all timepoints (pretreatment, posttreatment, and palliative phase); pretreatment QOL had the largest impact, followed by posttreatment QOL. These findings provide evidence that QOL is associated with mortality risk in patients with cancer at any timepoint. These results indicate the importance of evaluating the QOL and supportive interventions to improve QOL in any phase.

Impact of Semantic Cueing of Verb and Its Thematic Role on Discourse Skills of Persons with Aphasia

Abstract Introduction Understanding the relationship between word retrieval treatment and discourse skills is deemed pivotal, as it gives the individuals a more naturalistic linguistic performance. Objective The aim of this study was to unravel the impact of word retrieval treatment on discourse skills. Method and Materials Semantic cueing of verbs and its thematic role (SCVTr) treatment were rendered to 11 persons with aphasia (PWAs). Subsequent to therapy, discourse skills were evaluated in the pretreatment, midtreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up phases using both qualitative (discourse analysis scale) and quantitative (T-unit analysis) measures. The follow-up phase in the study began after 1 month of cessation of treatment. Results The outcome of the study evinced statistical differences in the discourse skills in both qualitative and quantitative measures of discourse between pre-, mid-, and posttreatment phases. However, no statistical difference was found between the posttreatment and follow-up phases across qualitative and quantitative measures. This signifies there are no differences in discourse skills after the cessation of treatment. Conclusion The study findings seemed to be novel, as the study explored the impact of word retrieval treatment on discourse skills. It also sheds light on the importance of discourse analysis and the ways of measuring it in PWAs. Overall, the study finding seems conducive as it posits positive outcomes in both qualitative and quantitative measures of discourse skills following word retrieval treatment.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting heterotopic ossification following spinal cord injury

ObjectiveHeterotopic ossification (HO) following spinal cord injury (SCI) can severely compromise patient mobility and quality of life. Precise identification of SCI patients at an elevated risk for HO is crucial for implementing early clinical interventions. While the literature presents diverse correlations between HO onset and purported risk factors, the development of a predictive model to quantify these risks is likely to bolster preventive approaches. This study is designed to develop and validate a nomogram-based predictive model that estimates the likelihood of HO in SCI patients, utilizing recognized risk factors to expedite clinical decision-making processes. MethodsWe recruited a total of 145 patients with SCI and presenting with HO who were hospitalized at the China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing Boai Hospital, from June 2016 to December 2022. Additionally, 337 patients with SCI without HO were included as controls. Comprehensive data were collected for all study participants, and subsequently, the dataset was randomly partitioned into training and validation groups. Using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression, variables were meticulously screened during the pretreatment phase to formulate the predictive model. The efficacy of the model was then assessed using metrics including receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, calibration assessment, and decision curve analysis. ResultsThe final prediction model incorporated age, sex, complete spinal cord injury status, spasm occurrence, and presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Notably, the model exhibited commendable performance in both the training and validation groups, as evidenced by areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.756 and 0.738, respectively. These values surpassed the AUCs obtained for single variables, namely age (0.636), sex (0.589), complete spinal cord injury (0.681), spasm occurrence (0.563), and DVT presence (0.590). Furthermore, the calibration curve illustrated a congruence between the predicted and actual outcomes, indicating the high accuracy of the model. The decision curve analysis indicated substantial net benefits associated with the application of the model, thereby underscoring its practical utility. ConclusionsHO following SCI correlates with several identifiable risk factors, including male gender, youthful age, complete SCI, spasm occurrence and DVT. Our predictive model effectively estimates the likelihood of HO development by leveraging these factors, assisting physicians in identifying patients at high risk. Subsequently, correct positioning to prevent spasm-related deformities and educating healthcare providers on safe lower limb mobilization techniques are crucial to minimize muscle injury risks from rapid iliopsoas muscle extension. Additionally, the importance of early DVT prevention through routine screening and anticoagulation is emphasized to further reduce the incidence of HO.

Transfer effects of recursive self-feedback on connected speech production in patients with chronic nonfluent aphasia: Preliminary results

ABSTRACT Background Persons with nonfluent aphasia (PWNA) have deficits with online feedback for speech error detection and correction which have debilitating effects on language relearning in learned and novel contexts. Previous studies have shown that aphasia treatments that combine PWNA’s offline self-feedback and external feedback from speech-language pathologists (SLPs) improve language production in learned and novel contexts. However, it remains unclear whether PWNA can use their offline self-feedback alone during treatments that generalizes to improvement in connected speech production. Here, we examine generalization effects of recursive self-feedback on PWNA’s connected speech production. Recursive self-feedback utilizes offline self-feedback loops alone to help PWNA optimize their error monitoring and correction abilities for language production in learned and novel contexts. Method A crossover design was used to investigate generalization effects of two treatments on connected speech production in four PWNA. These treatments comprised script production with recursive self-feedback and script production with external feedback. Employing a mobile health approach, treatments were remotely administered to participants within the comfort of their homes. Practice of both treatment blocks occurred intensively over two hours per day, five days per week, spanning two to three weeks. Each treatment block featured pretreatment and posttreatment assessment phases, with the sequencing of treatment blocks evenly counterbalanced across all participants. Following the initial treatment block, a two-week period devoid of treatment preceded the commencement of the second treatment block. Untrained narrative elicitation tasks were utilized to prompt connected speech production samples from all participants during the assessment phases of each treatment block. Effect sizes per participant were computed using within-case standard mean difference analysis. Results PWNA exhibited variability in performance, showing improvement in microlinguistic measures of connected speech following both script production with recursive self-feedback and script production with external feedback. Particularly, script production with recursive self-feedback demonstrated marginally superior enhancement in connected speech measures compared to its counterpart. Conclusion The study provides preliminary evidence for generalization effects of recursive self-feedback training and external feedback training on PWNA’s connected speech production. Further research is required to corroborate the findings and to implement recursive self-feedback procedures optimized specifically for spontaneous speech.

Polyurethane-Encapsulated Biomass Films Based on MXene@Loofah Sponge for Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor Applications.

Multifunctional wearable electronic sensors exhibit significant potential for applications in health management, motion tracking, intelligent healthcare, etc. In this study, we developed a novel assembly method for a polymeric silver nanowire (Ag NW)/transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) @Loofah device using a facile solution dip-coating technique. During the pretreatment phase, the loofah was conditioned with polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDAC), promoting the self-assembly of MXene layers and bolstering device stability. Then, the Ag NWs/MXene@Loofah was packaged with polyurethane to form a piezoresistive pressure sensor, which demonstrated superior pressure-sensing capabilities and was adept at registering movements of human joints and even subtle pulses. The design strategy presents a novel and rational approach to developing efficient pressure sensors.