Effective Rate Research Articles

The efficacy of diltiazem, glyceryl trinitrate, nifedipine, minoxidil, and lidocaine for the medical management of anal fissure: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Anal fissure (AF) is a common anorectal condition causing pain, bleeding, and other perianal discomfort. This study conducts a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and side effect profiles of pharmacological treatments for AF, including diltiazem, glyceryl trinitrate, nifedipine, minoxidil, and Lidocaine. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and network meta-analysis were performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing non-surgical treatments for AF were sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline. The primary outcome was AF healing, with secondary outcomes including recurrence rates, pain reduction (visual analog scale), and adverse effects. Statistical analysis utilized odds ratios and SUCRA (Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking) values for treatment ranking. Twenty-two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 1,770 participants were included in the analysis. Nifedipine demonstrated the highest healing rate, followed by diltiazem and minoxidil. Lidocaine exhibited the lowest healing rate. Diltiazem had the lowest recurrence rate and was the most effective in pain reduction, whereas lidocaine had the highest recurrence rate and was the least effective in alleviating pain. The incidence of adverse effects with minoxidil was relatively low, second only to lidocaine, while glyceryl trinitrate had the highest rate of adverse effects. Nifedipine had the highest healing rate and should be considered as a first-line non-surgical treatment for anal fissures. Given the elevated incidence of adverse reactions associated with nitroglycerin, its use should be avoided in order to minimize the risk of significant toxicities and side effects. Additionally, because of its outstanding analgesic properties, diltiazem is recommended as the preferred option for patients with heightened sensitivity to pain, but more studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy.

Natural radioactivity and concomitant radiological risks in sediments of the Padma river near Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant of Bangladesh: Pre-operational status

Abstract In this study, natural radioactivity levels in sediments of the Padma River and concomitant radiological risks were assessed. Sediment samples were collected from the Padma River near the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) of Bangladesh and analyzed for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radioactivity levels using a gamma-ray spectrometry system. The activity concentrations (Bq kg−1) of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in sediments of the Padma River varied from 45.6 ± 6.7 to 119 ± 11 with average 73.2 ± 17.4; 49.8 ± 6.9 to 137 ± 11 with average 86.6 ± 20.3, and 540 ± 23 to 1,032 ± 32 with average 782 ± 146, respectively. This study indicates that activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the Padma River sediments are relatively higher than the world average values. Among the seven radiological hazard indices determined, four of them: radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose rate, and external and internal hazard indices are within their international guideline values. However, values of absorbed dose rate, gamma representative level index, and excess lifetime cancer risk are considerably higher at all sampling points, suggesting radiological risks for the river environment. The statistical analyses revealed a strong correlation between 238U and 232Th radionuclides. The spatial distribution of activity concentrations and radiological hazard indices for the studied area will serve as a documented radiological reference for the Padma River near RNPP. This study recommends routine monitoring of the radionuclides in the surrounding regions of RNPP to assess any post-operational environmental impact due to radionuclide contamination.

Development and evaluation of a simplified Chinese version of the visually induced motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire

Objective: To simplify the Chinese version of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ), develop the simplified Chinese version of VIMSSQ, and evaluate its performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2023. The Chinese version of the VIMSSQ was distributed to 783 university students at North China University of Science and Technology. Items were selected on the basis of their coverage rates, item-total correlation coefficients, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and factor loadings, resulting in the simplified Chinese VIMSSQ. Eighty participants from the initial cohort were recruited to complete a virtual reality (VR) black-and-white checkerboard visual stimulation test, the simplified Chinese VIMSSQ, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, criterion validity, and discriminative ability of the simplified Chinese VIMSSQ were evaluated. Results: A total of 757 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective response rate of 96.68% (757/783). Among the 757 participants, 205 were male and 552 were female, with a median age (Q1, Q3) of 19 (18, 20) years. Smartphone usage showed the highest coverage rate [99.60% (754/757)]. The simplified Chinese VIMSSQ included three items, with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.909, the test-retest reliability of 0.908, and the criterion validity of 0.899. SSQ symptom scores were lower in mildly susceptible participants compared to moderately susceptible participants [30 (15, 63) vs 77 (53, 105), P=0.012], and significantly lower in moderately susceptible participants compared to severely susceptible participants [77 (53, 105) vs 137 (94, 164), P<0.001]. Conclusion: The simplified Chinese VIMSSQ demonstrates good reliability, validity, and discriminative ability.

Portable Video Otoscope for Intra-Tympanic Dexamethasone in ISSNHL Treatment: A Promising Method.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of portable ear endoscopic tympanic injection versus conventional ear endoscopic tympanic injection in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Methods: Clinical data of 128 patients with ISSNHL who did not respond to conventional treatment were collected from January 2019 to June 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 60) received portable ear endoscopic tympanic injection, while Group 2 (n = 68) received conventional ear endoscopic tympanic injection. The hearing improvement and total effective rate were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Both groups showed significant hearing improvement after treatment (P < .001). The total effective rate of the portable ear endoscopy group was higher than that of the conventional endoscopy group (71.67% vs 50.00%, P = .012). However, there was no significant difference in treatment effect between the 2 groups for patients with different degrees of hearing impairment. Conclusion: Both methods demonstrated efficacy in treating ISSNHL with dexamethasone tympanic injection. Portable ear endoscopy offers advantages such as convenience, high patient compliance, and potentially higher efficacy. It is beneficial for teaching and suitable for beginners, and its clinical application can be promoted.

Inflation Rate Determinants in Saudi Arabia: A Non-Linear ARDL Approach

Inflation across the globe after the COVID-19 pandemic has shown some persistence and followed an upward trend well above inflation targets and beyond normal historical movements. The Saudi inflation rate followed similar patterns of global trends, surging significantly and persisting well above the pre-pandemic levels. This paper examines determinants of inflation in Saudi Arabia, considering internal and external factors, and evaluates whether inflation responds to common global shocks or is largely influenced by macroeconomic variabilities within the economy. Findings and analyses in this paper are based on both conventional Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) and non-linear ARDL (NARDL) models using quarterly level data to capture short-run dynamics and long-run relationships between inflation rate and examined macroeconomics variables, namely oil prices real effective exchange rate, money supply, and government spending. Reported results reveal an asymmetrical relationship between oil price fluctuations and inflation rate volatilities in Saudi Arabia. Inclines in oil prices lead to higher inflation, while the decline in oil prices does not alleviate inflationary pressures, and these results are consistent both in the short-run and the long run. The influence of pass-through real effective exchange rate is also evident in transmitting global shocks to local consumer prices in the long run, where a depreciation in real effective exchange rate results in a higher cost of imported goods, exerting additional stresses on local inflation. For factors within the economy, findings indicate a substantial long-term inflationary effect of money supply on the inflation rate in Saudi Arabia, where a one percent increase in the money supply led to more than one-third increase in inflation in the long run. On the other hand, while the influence of government spending on inflation was statistically significant, its impact is less pronounced in explaining the inflation rate’s variations. The analysis reveals that the evaluated variables exert a stronger influence on inflation in the long run. This underscores the critical need for policymakers to consider the cumulative effects of these determinants when formulating effective long-term inflation stabilization policies.

Comparison of Radiation Levels in the Soil and Rocks in the Areas Surrounding Old Phosphate Mine, Russaifa, Jordan

Abstract The activity concentrations of the terrestrial naturally occurring radionuclides 214Pb, 214Bi (from 238U series), and 228Ac (from 232Th series) and 40K were measured in soil and rock samples obtained from three sites of the Russaifa mine and its surrounding in the Russaifa region using an HPGe-detector of 20 % relative efficiency. While the soil activity (in Bq/kg) was found to be: 408.63 ± 26, 383.9 ± 4.7, and 383.0 ± 4.0 for 238U, 214Bi, and 214Pb, respectively. The rock activity was found to be 225.4 ± 19, 180.36 ± 3.9, and 179.47 ± 3.1 for 238U, 214Bi, and 214Pb, respectively. Our results reveal that the average activity concentrations in the mine (site 1) are higher than worldwide average values [6] for 238U, 214Pb, and 214Bi. In contrast, the results show that the average absorbed dose rates in the other sites 2 and site 3 are lower than the world average for all radionuclides measured in this study. Also, the average activity concentrations in soil samples 238U, 214Pb, and 214Bi are higher than the average activity concentrations in rock samples in all sites. Furthermore, the average absorbed dose rate (in nGy h-1) was found to be 265.3 for 238U, 233.3 for 214Bi, and 13.3 for 214Pb, respectively, and the average absorbed dose rates for both 228Ac and 40K were below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). Moreover, the average annual effective dose rates in soil and rock samples were estimated. While it is found to be 366.90 µSv for 238U, 306.84 µSv for 214Bi, and 37.58 µSv for lead in soil samples, for the rock samples it is found to be 163.75 µSv for 238U, 105.83 µSv for 214Bi, 13.05 µSv for lead. However, the average annual effective dose rates for 214Bi and 40K in soil and rock samples are below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The results display that the average outdoor annual effective doses for both 238U and 214Bi are higher than the world average and the average outdoor annual effective dose equivalents for the other radionuclides are lower than the world average. They also show that the average outdoor annual effective doses in soil samples for 238U, 214Pb, and 214Bi are higher than the average outdoor annual effective doses in rock samples.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation, and laparoscopic hepatectomy for intra- and extrahepatic bile duct stones.

Intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones (BDSs) have a high rate of residual stones, a high risk of recurrence, and a high rate of reoperation. It is very important to take timely and effective surgical intervention for patients. To analyze the efficacy, postoperative rehabilitation, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with intra- and extrahepatic BDSs treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) + endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) + laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH). This study selected 114 cases of intra- and extrahepatic BDSs from April 2021 to April 2024, consisting of 55 cases in the control group receiving laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and LH and 59 cases in the observation group treated with ERCP + EPBD + LH. Efficacy, surgical indicators [operation time (OT) and intraoperative blood loss (IBL)], postoperative rehabilitation (time for body temperature to return to normal, time for pain relief, and time for drainage to reduce jaundice), hospital stay, medical expenses, and QoL [Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI)] were comparatively analyzed. Further, Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze factors influencing the QoL of patients with intra- and extrahepatic BDSs. The data demonstrated a higher overall effective rate in the observation group compared to the control group (P = 0.011), together with notably reduced OT, less IBL, shorter body temperature recovery time, pain relief time, time for drainage to reduce jaundice, and hospital stay (all P < 0.05). The postoperative GIQLI of the observation group was more significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The two groups demonstrated no marked difference in medical expenses (P > 0.05). The above indicates that ERCP + EPBD + LH is effective in treating patients with intra- and extrahepatic BDSs, which is conducive to postoperative rehabilitation and QoL improvement, with promising prospects for clinical promotion.

Do patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and healthy people differ in their opinions on placebo effects in routine medical care?

Placebo effects can relieve acute and chronic pain in both research and clinical treatments by learning mechanisms. However, the application of placebo-based treatment strategies in routine medical care is questioned. The current study investigated the opinions of patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls regarding learning of placebo effects and their practical applications. An online survey asked 158 age- and sex-matched adult patients and controls (79 per group) to rate the perceived influence of various placebo learning mechanisms on pain relief, and the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of placebo-based strategies (open-label, closed-label, dose-extending, and treatment-enhancing strategies). Respondents' knowledge about placebo effects was obtained through a 7-item quiz. The groups did not differ in the perceived influence of placebo learning mechanisms on pain relief (p = 0.217). Controls considered closed-label and treatment-enhancing strategies more acceptable than patients (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001), whereas controls perceived all strategies more effective. In both groups, closed-label strategies were significantly less acceptable than any other strategy (p-values < 0.001), and treatment-enhancing or dose-extending strategies were most acceptable. Higher acceptability was predicted by higher perceived effectiveness ratings (p < 0.001). Also, increased placebo knowledge was related to higher acceptability (p = 0.03) and perceived effectiveness (p < 0.001). This survey suggests that both the medical history of patients and knowledge about placebo effects affect the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of placebo-based strategies. Furthermore, strategies that are transparent, assumed effective, or combined with existing medical treatments are deemed most acceptable. Keeping these factors in mind is essential for the clinical implementation of placebo-based strategies in routine medical care.

Clinical observation on prognosis of mixed hemorrhoids treated with polidocanol injection combined with automatic elastic thread ligation operation.

A total of 100 patients diagnosed with mixed hemorrhoids from October 2022 to September 2023 in our hospital were randomly divided into groups by dice rolling and compared with the efficacy of different treatment options. To analyze the clinical effect and prognosis of mixed hemorrhoids treated with polidocanol injection combined with automatic elastic thread ligation operation (RPH). A total of 100 patients with mixed hemorrhoids who visited our hospital from October 2022 to September 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the control group (n = 50) and the treatment group (n = 50) by rolling the dice. The procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) was adopted in the control group, while polidocanol foam injection + RPH was adopted in the treatment group. The therapeutic effects, operation time, wound healing time, hospital stay, pain situation (24 hours post-operative pain score, first defecation pain score), quality of life (QOL), incidence of complications (post-operative hemorrhage, edema, infection), incidence of anal stenosis 3 months post-operatively and recurrence rate 1 year post-operatively of the two groups were compared. Compared with the control group, the total effective rate of treatment group was higher, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The operation time/wound healing time/hospital stay in the treatment group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The pain scores at 24 hours after operation/first defecation pain score of the treatment group was significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After surgery, the QOL scores of the two groups decreased, with the treatment group having higher scores than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment group was lower, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05); However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative bleeding between the two groups (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in the incidence of anal stenosis 3 months after operation and the recurrence rate 1 year after operation between the two groups (P > 0.05). For patients with mixed hemorrhoids, the therapeutic effect achieved by using polidocanol injection combined with RPH was better. The wounds of the patients healed faster, the postoperative pain was milder, QOL improved, and the incidence of complications was lower, and the short-term and long-term prognosis was good.

Comparison of efficacy between micro-osteoperforations and alveolar corticotomies on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Micro-osteoperforations and corticotomies are two surgical techniques commonly used to increase the rate of tooth movement. The aim of this systematic review was to respond to the question: Which method used for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement, micro-osteoperforations or alveolar corticotomy, produces a higher rate of tooth movement and present less adverse effects? Searches were performed in the electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, Lilacs and Science Direct, as well as grey literature (Opengrey), up to March 2024. All the included studies were controlled, randomized clinical trials, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and multicentre studies of patients treated with orthodontics and corticotomies or micro-osteoperforations. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was used for quality assessment. For the quantitative analysis, studies were analyzed with a mixed-effect (random effect) meta-regresion model, with beta coefficients and R2 values, with I2 index and with Q and Egger tests. 31 articles were included for the qualitative analysis and 17 for the quantitative analysis. The rate of tooth movement of the corticotomy was 0.539mm per month (CI95%: 0.117,0.961) higher than with micro-osteoperforations, being the values statistically significant (p=0.012) but in a context of strong heterogeneity (89.6%). Adverse effects such as pain, quality of life impact and swelling were reported to be longer and harder after corticotomies. After corticotomy a greater rate of tooth movement has been observed during canine retraction compared to micro-osteoperforations. However, more well-designed randomized clinical trials directly comparing both techniques are needed. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020156448.

A Simulation Analysis of the Coverage and Demand Suitability of the Firefighting Capacity in Complex Commercial Areas

The initial firefighting capacity of complex commercial areas depends on the service level and the location of micro firefighting facilities. In response to the issue of coverage by micro firefighting facilities in complex commercial areas, a graded progressive coverage model is established. This model includes distance-progressive coverage and firefighting service level attenuation coverage. The former integrates fairness and efficiency in fire planning, while the latter considers the adaptability between the demand points and the fire service levels. The objectives include maximizing the coverage matching degree, effective coverage rate, medium- and high-risk coverage rate, and overall coverage rate of the fire service point and the demand points. A genetic algorithm is designed to solve the model, where the construction level and the number of micro fire stations are varied to analyze changes in various indicators. Central Street, characterized by complex buildings and high pedestrian traffic, is selected as a case for the experiment. The results show that simply adjusting the construction level of micro fire stations increases the effective coverage rate by 2.5%. The graded progressive coverage model shows a turning point in the effective coverage rate and the overall coverage rate when the number of new micro fire stations is 14 or 10, with coverage rates of 76.1% and 93.2%, respectively. The maximum progressive coverage model shows a turning point in the overall coverage rate when 9 new stations are added, which is 10.5% lower than that of the graded coverage model; when 10 stations are added, the overall coverage rate is 11.2% lower. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the graded progressive coverage model.

Research on Integration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Resources Based on Embedded Neural Network Algorithm

With the comprehensive promotion of the national innovation-driven development strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship education has become the core battlefield for cultivating talents with innovative spirit, entrepreneurial ability, and social responsibility. This field is not only related to individual growth and career development, but also the core engine for promoting the transformation and upgrading of the national economy and achieving innovation-driven development. This paper introduces advanced embedded network technology to explore new paths for optimizing resource allocation. This paper constructs a multi-level innovation and entrepreneurship education resource integration model based on embedded network technology. Based on the clustering results of embedded networks, this paper further designs a targeted resource integration scheme. Several typical cases were selected for empirical analysis. By comparing and analyzing key indicators such as educational effectiveness, student satisfaction, and entrepreneurial success rate before and after implementing resource integration, the application effectiveness of embedded network technology in innovation and entrepreneurship education resource integration was evaluated. The practical results show that this model can significantly improve the efficiency and quality of educational resource utilization, providing strong support for the sustainable and healthy development of innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Dynamic analysis of SPAFIR epidemic model considering pseudoinfection and perturbations

In this paper, the “pseudoinfection phenomenon” and “individual behavioral responses” are taken into account in the SIR epidemic model, and the deterministic and stochastic models are analyzed dynamically. Through the exploration of the deterministic SPAFIR (Susceptible-Pseudoinfected-Alert-Fragile-Infected-Recovered) model, the conditions for the equilibrium points’ existence and stability are determined. With the assistance of the Pontryagin maximum principle, this paper introduces a Hamiltonian function with a penalty term and the optimal control strategy is obtained by comparing the three groups of strategies. The optimal control strategy requires multiple control measures to inhibit the infectious disease spread. Further considering the stochastic SPAFIR model, the existence of the uniqueness of a global positive solution and the existence of a stationary distribution for the stochastic model are proved, and the condition for disease extinction is also verified. Random perturbations of the effective contact rates can slow the pace of spreading the infectious diseases. Results of theoretical analysis and the system’s responsiveness to variations in effective contact rates are verified by numerical simulations, and the outcomes indicate that active prevention education and community encouragement can both inhibit infection spread.

Capecitabine enhances sensitivity to oxaliplatin in advanced gastric cancer and the effects on patients’ FOXP1 and GGT levels

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of capecitabine on the sensitivity of oxaliplatin and on the level of transcription factor forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in patients with intermediate and advanced gastric cancer.MethodsA total of 152 Patients with advanced gastric cancer who were continuously diagnosed and treated in our hospital were selected as the study objects. The general data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients in the control group received oxaliplatin, while the patients in the study group received capecitabine on the basis of the control group. The FOXP1 expression level was detected using immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of GGT were measured by chemiluminescence. Protein levels were detected by Western blot. The prognostic factors were analyzed by the COX regression model. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to analyze the survival of gastric cancer.ResultsThe effective rates (complete response, partial response, and stability) of the study group and the control group were 94.74% and 76.32%, respectively. Compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression level of FOXP1 in gastric cancer tissues was lower (P < 0.05). After treatment, the average expression level of FOXP1 in the gastric cancer tissue of the study group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, lower FOXP1 expression was associated with lower overall survival (OS) (1-year survival and 3-year survival were 75.76% and 53.03%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin down-regulated the expression of DNA repair related-proteins and up-regulated the expression of key molecules of the apoptosis pathway, thus enhancing the killing effect of oxaliplatin on gastric cancer cells (P < 0.05). Both the 1-year and 3-year survival rates of the study group were higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The 1-year survival rate of 152 patients with gastric cancer was 84.87% (129/152) and the 3-year survival rate was 63.17% (96/152). Age, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, lymph node metastasis, chemotherapy regimen, FOXP1, and GGT levels were important factors in determining OS.ConclusionCapecitabine effectively enhanced the sensitivity of intermediate and advanced gastric cancer to oxaliplatin, improved the therapeutic effect and ameliorated the prognosis of patients.Graphical

A Comprehensive Review of Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C: The Long Journey from Interferon to Pan-Genotypic Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs)

The treatment landscape for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has transformed over the past few decades, evolving from the limited efficacy of interferon (IFN) monotherapy to the highly successful pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) used today. Initially, alpha-interferon monotherapy, introduced in the 1990s, was the standard treatment, yet it provided low sustained virological response (SVR) rates and caused significant adverse effects, limiting its utility. The development of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) improved the pharmacokinetic profile of IFN, allowing for less frequent dosing and modestly improved response rates. When combined with ribavirin, peg-IFN achieved higher SVR rates, especially in non-genotype 1 HCV infections, but the combination also brought additional side effects, such as anemia and depression. The advent of the first-generation DAAs, such as telaprevir and boceprevir, marked a significant milestone. Combined with peg-IFN and ribavirin, these protease inhibitors boosted response rates in patients with genotype 1 HCV. However, high rates of adverse effects and drug resistance remained challenges. Second-generation DAAs, like sofosbuvir and ledipasvir, introduced IFN-free regimens with improved safety profiles and efficacy. The most recent advances are pan-genotypic DAAs, including glecaprevir-pibrentasvir and sofosbuvir-velpatasvir, which offer high SVR rates across all genotypes, shorter treatment durations, and fewer side effects. Current pan-genotypic regimens represent a cornerstone in HCV therapy, providing an accessible and effective solution globally.

Kraft-Based Femtosecond Laser-Induced Graphene for Electrochemical Dopamine Sensing.

In this work, laser-induced graphene from kraft paper (kraft paper-LIG) was employed for the nonenzymatic electrochemical sensing of dopamine (DA). We reported the fabrication and characterization of a disposable, cost-effective, kraft-based electrochemical dopamine sensor with the sensing electrode consisting of laser-induced graphene derived from kraft paper. Kraft paper-LIG was formed by the femtosecond laser modification of kraft paper into a three-dimensional (3D) graphene arrangement. Our study labeled that the electrochemical activity of kraft paper-LIG can be improved via a dual pass (defocused, followed by focused lasing). Kinetic analysis showed that the effective heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of kraft paper-LIG was 2.8 × 10-3 cm s-1 using Fe(CN)63-/4- as a redox probe. The kraft paper-LIG electrodes successfully detected and quantified dopamine in phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) within the 1-100 μM range. A linear response (R2 = 0.9986) was observed, with a sensitivity of 37.381 μA cm-2 μM-1. Furthermore, the kraft paper-LIG electrodes denoted sufficient selectivity for DA in electrolytes containing ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Kraft paper-LIG electrodes also had good stability at ordinary temperature.

One tube for all: 1-year outcomes after transition to Paul glaucoma implant at a tertiary centre.

To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect and success rate of Paul glaucoma implant (PGI) in refractory glaucoma after changing practice pattern from Ahmed and Baerveldt tubes to PGI. A prospective observational study of the first 50 consecutive PGI surgeries at a single Danish tertiary centre from January 2022 to October 2023. Primary endpoints were IOP and success rates after 12 months. Secondary endpoints were the use of IOP-lowering medications and complications. All cases had a risk of failure for traditional glaucoma surgery (neovascular glaucoma, oil-filled eye or uveitis). Preoperative IOP was 29.9 ± 8.6 mmHg and the mean number of topical IOP-lowering medications used was 3.4 ± 0.76 with 14 cases of systemic acetazolamide. Twelve months after surgery IOP was reduced to 11.4 ± 3.1 mmHg and complete success rate with (a) IOP≤21 mmHg was achieved in 43%, (b) IOP≤18 mmHg in 43%, (c) IOP≤15 mmHg in 41% and (d) IOP≤12 mmHg in 33%. Qualified success rate (on topical glaucoma medications) was achieved in (a) 96%, (b) 94%, (c) 86% and (d) 71% of the cases. The number of topical IOP-lowering medications was 0.9 ± 0.9 after surgery and 47% were medication free. Early (<3 months) and late (>3 months) complications were observed in 22% and 16% of patients respectively. This study indicates that PGI provides a good IOP-lowering effect after 12 months in a population with risk factors for failure for traditional glaucoma surgery.

Effects of autologous serum and artificial tears on corneal sensation and tear film stability in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of autologous serum plus artificial tears on corneal sensation and tear film stability in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery. A total of 150 patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after one-time cataract surgery from March 2022 to September 2023 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n = 75) and a study group (n = 75). The control group was treated with artificial tears (polyvinyl alcohol eye drops), while the study group was given autologous serum plus artificial tears. The treatment lasted for four weeks in both groups. The clinical efficacy was observed and adverse reactions were recorded. The clinical effective rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (96.00% versus 86.67%) (χ2 = 4.127, P < 0.05). After four weeks of treatment, the corneal sensation was superior to that before treatment in both groups, and it was better in the study group than that in the control group (Z = 2.053, P < 0.05). In comparison with the pre-treatment period, the tear film break-up time (BUT) increased, while the corneal fluorescein staining (FL) score and levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β dropped in both groups after treatment, and the study group had longer BUT and a lower FL score than those of the control group (t = 6.492, 7.033, 7.140, 4.709 and 3.059, P < 0.05). The incidence rates of adverse reactions were similar between the two groups (χ2 = 0.132, P > 0.05). Autologous serum plus artificial tears can improve the corneal sensation and tear film stability and alleviate inflammatory responses without increasing adverse reactions in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery.

Assessing the transmission of global market volatility to Moroccan food prices: a VECM-based analysis with forecast error variance decomposition

PurposeThis paper examines the transmission of global food (GF) and global energy (GE) volatilities to the Moroccan food market, focusing on both aggregated and specific commodities such as dairy, meat and oils and fats.Design/methodology/approachUsing monthly data from September 2009 to June 2024, a vector error correction model (VECM) was estimated to capture short-run and long-run dynamics. The analysis is complemented by impulse response functions (IRFs) and forecast error variance decomposition (FEVD) to provide insights into the transmission mechanisms.FindingsThe results indicate an increased sensitivity of the Moroccan food market, particularly following the 2021 price spikes. The study identifies energy input costs, particularly related to fertilizers and transportation, as primary transmission mechanisms. Additionally, the real effective exchange rate (REER) also significantly influences the Moroccan food market.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research could explore the transmission from oil derivatives, such as gasoline and fuel, which are directly used in agricultural activities, to provide a more comprehensive understanding.Social implicationsUnderstanding the transmission of global shocks to domestic markets can help in developing strategies to enhance food security and protect consumers from price volatility.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by comprehensively analyzing the direct and indirect transmission mechanisms from global food and energy markets to the Moroccan food market, with policy implications to enhance price stability.

Assessment of radioactivity in soil samples from Wolaita Sodo town, Ethiopia: implications for environmental and public health.

This study assesses the activity concentrations of the radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples collected from Wolaita Sodo town, located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) Region, Ethiopia. A gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with a NaI(Tl) detector was used for the measurements. The concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K varied from 3.25±1.5 to 13.84±2.2Bq.kg-1, 0.4±0.9 to 85.12±3.4Bq.kg-1, and 34.43±2.7 to 748.07±5.9Bq.kg-1, respectively. The average activity concentrations were 7.83±1.9Bq.kg-1, 40.74±2.7Bq.kg-1, and 161.63±3.9Bq.kg-1 for 238U, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The average radium equivalent activity was 192.25Bq.kg-1, well below the recommended safety limit of 370Bq.kg-1. The average gamma dose rate, and annual effective dose rate were 35.68 nGy.h-1, and 0.18mSv.y-1, respectively. The internal and external indexes are below the recommended limit set by UNSCEAR and ICRP. However, the estimated excess lifetime cancer risk and indoor radon concentrations are slightly higher. Despite this, the overall radiological impact on the environment and public health in the study area remains negligible. This study provides valuable baseline data for radiation protection and informs urban and environmental policy in the region.