Reverse Technique Research Articles

Assessment of Women’s Awareness of the Possible Risk of Stroke Associated with the Use of Oral Contraceptives Pills in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: One of the most widely used reversible contraceptive techniques among women of reproductive age worldwide is oral contraceptives (OCPs). Despite their widespread use, OCPs are associated with increased risks of stroke, yet the extent of awareness of these risks among women remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness among women resident in Saudi Arabia regarding the potential risk of stroke linked to the use of OCPs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted targeting women of reproductive age (18–49 years). Data was collected through an online self-administrated questionnaire distributed via social media platforms, encompassing sociodemographic characteristics, OCP usage patterns, and awareness of stroke risks, perceived side effects of OCPs, symptoms of stroke, and methods to reduce stroke incidence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, with descriptive statistics for categorical data and chi-square tests to assess associations. Results: A total of 516 women participated in the study. Of these, 148, or over a quarter (28.7%), of the participants reported using oral contraceptive pills; 86, or more than half (58%), who use OCPs are not sure what type of OCPs they use; 60, or over half of the participants (40.5%), have been using for less than a year. Over two thirds of the participants (350, 67.8%) are not aware that using OCP increases the risk of stroke. The most recognized side effect of OCPs use was weight gain (38.2%), while awareness of stroke as a side effect was significantly lower (24.6%). Additionally, 62.8% of respondents identified selecting the appropriate type of contraceptive as the best way to prevent stroke while taking OCPs. Conclusions: this study highlights the need for increased awareness and education about the potential risk of cerebral thrombosis associated with OCP use among Saudi women. Addressing this knowledge gap through targeted educational initiatives could help mitigate the risks and improve overall public health outcomes.

Pre-folding purification procedures for inclusion body-derived non-tagged cationic recombinant proteins with multiple disulfide bonds for efficient refolding.

The production of disulfide-containing recombinant proteins often requires refolding of inclusion bodies before purification. A pre-refolding purification step is crucial for effective refolding because impurities in the inclusion bodies interfere with refolding and subsequent purification. This study presents a new pre-refolding procedure using a reversible S-cationization technique for protein solubilization and purification by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. This pre-folding purification step improves refolding yield by effectively removing the refolding inhibitors from contaminates from bacterial inclusion bodies, and reducing proteolytically degraded products. Because this procedure does not require a peptide tag for affinity purification, it is a superior technique to subsequently perform a simplified downstream process wherein the affinity tag needs to be removed. This study reports improved refolding and purification procedure to obtain the highly cationic (pI = 9.25) mouse vascular endothelial cell growth factor (188 amino acids form) that is used as a model protein in our study; this protein shows a homodimeric conformation and possesses multiple disulfides.

Enhancing the Performance of Nanocrystalline Nickel Cathodes via Electrodeposition for Use in Ni-Zn Batteries: Morphological and Crystallographic Structure Optimization

Abstract Rechargeable Ni-Zn batteries are gaining interest owing to their adequate performance for achieving net-zero carbon goals, low cost, and safety. However, the nickel electrode still faces significant challenges due to its limited stability and low capacity. This study investigates the development and comparison of different nickel morphologies using electrodeposition techniques. Ni nanostructures with different surface morphologies have been successfully electrodeposited by using direct (DC), pulsed (PC), and pulsed reverse (PRC) current techniques. The physical and electrochemical properties of these structures were investigated. Notably, the electrodeposition method significantly impacted the morphology and electrochemical performance of the prepared Ni nanostructures. Among the obtained structures, the PRC-deposited coating displayed a unique nano-rod morphology, exceptional uniformity, highest surface oxygen content (61.51%), and lowest surface roughness (5.12 nm). Furthermore, electrochemical measurements revealed that this structure possesses the lowest coating resistance (459.6 Ω.cm-1), minimal corrosion potential (5 mV vs SCE), enhanced oxidation/reduction peaks, the longest charge/discharge time, and highest discharge (26.2 mF.cm-2) areal capacity. These findings suggest that the Ni nanorod structure exhibits superior surface and electrochemical properties. This work offers valuable insights into how morphology and structure affect the electrochemical performance and capacity of nickel electrodes, advancing battery technologies.

Effectiveness of Reverse Pressure Softening Technique on Level of Breast Engorgement among Post-Partum Mothers at Selected Hospitals of Bagalkot

Effectiveness of Reverse Pressure Softening Technique on Level of Breast Engorgement among Post-Partum Mothers at Selected Hospitals of Bagalkot

Reversal of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Multi-Centric Analysis of Indications, Techniques, and Surgical Outcomes.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may present long-term complications that require revisional surgery or even reversal to normal anatomy. Data on the indications, surgical technique, and outcomes of RYGB reversal remain scarce. We identified 48 cases of RYGB reversals with complete 90-day follow-up within a multi-centric international retrospective database of elective secondary bariatric surgery. The operations were performed between 2010 and 2024 in high-volume referral centers in Europe and USA. Data were collected on body weight, associated diseases, and on surgical outcomes up to 1-year postoperatively. Patients were mainly female (81.3%) with a median age of 50 years (IQR 39-56). RYGB reversal was performed 7 years (median) after primary RYGB in patients with a BMI of 23.9 kg/m2 (IQR 20-27). Half of the patients underwent at least 1 bariatric revision before the reversal. Main indications for reversal were dumping syndrome (33.3%), excessive weight loss (29.2%), marginal ulcer (14.6%), malabsorption (12.5%), and abdominal pain (10.4%). Rate of conversion to open surgery was 8.3%, and the postoperative complications during the first year reached 50%, including 31.3% Clavien-Dindo grade I-II, 16.7% grade III-IV complications, and one death. At 1 year, the mean BMI of the cohort increased by 18% to 28.25 kg/m2; only 1 patient reached pre-RYGB BMI. Although RYGB is a theoretically reversible procedure, normal anatomy is re-established only in selected cases which are refractory to medical therapy and often also to revisional bariatric surgery. RYGB reversals entail high morbidity, while the extent of recurrent weight gain at 1-year post-reversal seems to allow patients to remain below the threshold of severe obesity.

Various Sizes and Shapes of Mixed-Anion Fe(NH2trz)3(BF4)2-x(SiF6)x/2@SiO2 Nanohybrid Particles Undergoing Spin Crossover Just Above Room Temperature.

Spin crossover (SCO) iron (II) coordination compounds in the form of nanohybrid SCO@SiO2 particles were prepared using a reverse micelles technique based on the TritonX-100/cyclohexane/water ternary system. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) acts as precursor of both the SiF62- counter-anion and SiO2 to obtain Fe(NH2trz)3(BF4)2-x(SiF6)x/2@SiO2 nanoparticles with different sizes and morphologies while modifying the TEOS concentration and reaction time. The adjustable mixed-anion strategy leads to a range of quite scarce abrupt spin crossover behaviors with hysteresis just above room temperature (ca. 293 K), which is very promising for the integration of these materials into functional devices.

Full-arch implant-supported rehabilitation using reverse scan technique: A case report.

The reverse scan technique offers several advantages, such as improvements of accuracy and visibility of critical anatomical structures, minimizing chair time, and providing better patient comfort. This was a case report successfully employing the reverse scan technique. A 72-year-old male patient desired to restore his teeth in both jaws, as he experienced difficulty eating and had never worn dentures. Clinical examination revealed the presence of several remaining teeth with poor prognosis due to significant bone loss and mobility. The treatment plan involved extracting these teeth, placing four implants in both the maxilla and mandible, and fitting an interim immediate-loading prosthesis. Impressions were taken during the first appointment, and clear acrylic dentures, simulating the future prostheses, were fabricated. During surgery, full-thickness flaps were raised, and the remaining teeth were extracted. Implants and multi-unit abutments were placed, followed by impressions and the recording of the inter-jaw relationship using index dentures. After six months of osseointegration, the reverse scan technique was employed, involving the use of light silicone, reverse scan bodies, and extra-oral scanning to capture implant positions, soft tissue profiles, and prosthesis shapes. A resin jig was created to ensure a passive fit, and titanium frames were machined for the final prostheses-monolithic zirconia for the maxilla and zirconia crowns with composite gingiva for the mandible. These were delivered after confirming the fit, aesthetics, and occlusion. The technique enhanced patient comfort, minimized chair time, and ensured the quality of the prosthetic outcome.

A new vaccination approach for Salmonellosis employing a multi-epitope vaccine based on live microbial cell factory from Lactococcus lactis.

A major health and financial burden in the chicken sector is salmonella infection. It is difficult to create an oral vaccination that can provide strong intestinal mucosal immunity in birds, particularly cross-protection against several Salmonella serotypes. As a result, the poultry industry needs a powerful oral vaccination platform that uses live bacterial vectors to prevent various Salmonella serotypes. The genetically engineered L. lactis was given orally to birds as a vaccine after a multi-epitope vector was created using a reverse vaccinology technique. After the plasmid was digested, the target group produced a 72 kDa protein called multi-epitop. Birds that received the L. lactis/pNZ8121-Multi epitope vaccination showed increased levels of interferon (IFN-γ) and NFkB1α, increased transcription rates of cytokines, and a significant presence of IgY antibodies specific to the multi epitope gene in their serum. Salmonella infection is a severe health and economic burden in the poultry industry, according to spleen sections from the L. lactis/pNZ8121-Multi epitope. Developing an oral vaccine that can provide birds robust intestinal mucosal immunity-specifically, cross-protection against many Salmonella serotypes-is challenging. The results provide a fresh method for creating new immunological candidate multi-epitome genes by using the food-grade, non-pathogenic Lactococcus lactis as a protein cell factory. This method provides a unique technique to assess the long-term sustainability, cost, safety, and usefulness of experimental pharmaceutical products.

Carbamazepine Inhibits Lung Cancer Metastasis by Suppressing Chemokine Receptor 4 Expression.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with treatment failure resulting from metastasis. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) plays a crucial role in tumor cell migration and metastasis. Recent studies have suggested that the commonly used antiepileptic drug, carbamazepine (CBZ), may impede tumor metastasis; however, its specific mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CBZ on the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells through in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models. The regulatory effect of CBZ on CXCR4 expression was analyzed using western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques. To further validate whether CBZ's anti-metastatic effect is mediated through CXCR4, we used the CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390 and overexpression of the CXCR4 gene in lung cancer cell lines. The results demonstrated that CBZ significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells (*p < 0.001). In animal experiments, CBZ treatment significantly reduced the extent of metastasis in the lungs (*p < 0.01). Moreover, CBZ downregulated the expression of CXCR4 (*p < 0.001). When NUCC-390 was used or CXCR4 was overexpressed, the anticancer effect of CBZ was reversed, indicating the anti-metastatic effect of CBZ is closely associated with its inhibition of CXCR4 expression. This study reveals, for the first time, a novel mechanism by which CBZ inhibits lung cancer metastasis through the suppression of CXCR4 expression. These findings offer a new avenue for the treatment of lung cancer using CBZ as a potential agent against lung cancer metastasis. Further research is warranted to explore the clinical potential of CBZ and to offer more treatment options for lung cancer patients.

Immunization and challenge trials in a murine model using different inactivated recombinant vaccines against H1N1 swine influenza virus circulating in Brazil.

In Brazil, at least four lineages of influenza A virus circulate pig population: 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic (pH1N1), human-seasonal origin H3N2, H1N1 and H1N2 (huH1 lineages) viruses. Studies related to the occurrence of swine influenza A virus (SIAV) in Brazilian herds have been detecting an increase of occurrence of huH1 lineages. This study aimed to construct recombinant vaccines against the huH1N1 virus and test the immunogens in a murine model. The virus was constructed by reverse genetics using plasmids encoding the HA and NA sequences from a wild huH1N1 virus isolated from an infected pig. Amplified virus was inactivated, and oil-in-water (OW) and gel polymer (GP) adjuvants were used to formulate the vaccines. C57Bl6 mice received two doses with 3weeks interval by the intramuscular route. Animals were randomly divided into 8 groups (G1-G8): G1 received OW vaccine and G2 PBS plus OW adjuvant; G3 received GP vaccine and G4 PBS plus GP adjuvant; G5 received the live virus by the intranasal route while G6 only PBS; G7 and G8 did not receive any treatment. Serum samples were collected before vaccination and after the first and second dose. Except for G8, three weeks post boost animals were challenged with a wild huH1N1 virus and observed for weight changes. After infection, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were collected from animals of each group for viral titers and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, respectively. After booster, vaccinated groups seroconverted and the vaccines induced protection upon challenge. Reverse Genetics technique can be used to produce new and quickly updated swine influenza vaccines which is promising to control the virus in Brazilian herds. Future studies may focus on using the technology to produce multivalent recombinant vaccines against distinct strains of SIAVs circulating in Brazilian pig herds.

Focal volume reduction in transcranial focused ultrasound using spherical wave expansions.

Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has been gaining increased attention as a non-invasive modality for treating brain diseases. However, accurately focusing on brain structures remains a challenge as the ultrasound is severely distorted by the presence of the skull. In this article, we propose a promising distortion correction method based on spherical wave expansions. It is demonstrated that the focal gain is directly related to the zero-order spherical harmonic coefficient, and suppressing higher-order coefficients significantly reduces the focal volume. Simulation results show that this method can correct distortion and effectively balance focal gain and volume, achieving a smaller focal spot with lower grating lobes compared to the commonly used time reversal technique. We also verified the capability of shifting the focal position in real time without additional simulations. This work provides an effective approach for tFUS treatments, offering enhanced precision and reduced focal volume.

Laparoscopic Reversal of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass with Hand-Sewn Gastro-Gastrostomy and Resection of the Alimentary Limb.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) reversal might be necessary to alleviate refractory surgical or nutritional complications, such as postprandial hypoglycemia, malnutrition, marginal ulceration, malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, chronic pain, or excessive weight loss. The surgical technique of RYGB reversal is not standardized; potential strategies include the following: (1) gastro-gastrostomy: hand-sewn technique, linear stapler, circular stapler; (2) handling of the Roux limb: reconnection or resection (if remaining intestinal length ≥ 4 m). We demonstrate the surgical technique of a laparoscopic reversal of RYGB with hand-sewn gastro-gastrostomy and resection of the alimentary limb with the aim of improving the patient's quality of life. The gastric pouch is horizontally divided proximal to the previous staple line. A hand-sewn end to end anastomosis is created between the distal gastric pouch and the horizontal part of the gastric remnant adjacent to the lesser curve. The posterior wall is sutured in two layers. The anterior layer is closed with continuous 3-0 PDS full-thickness stitches over a 36-French oro-gastric calibration bougie. After evaluation of intestinal limbs and ruling out of hernial defects, the alimentary limb is divided just above the jejuno-jejunal Roux-anastomosis and is resected. Reversal of RYGB is a precious treatment option for otherwise unmanageable postbariatric complications in well-selected cases. The operation should be performed in high volume bariatric centers after multidisciplinary patient preparation. The early and late complications of the reversal are higher than the rates seen in primary MBS; therefore, patients should be informed and monitored accordingly to ensure the best achievable outcomes.

RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for Simultaneous Estimation of Pravastatin and Bempedoic acid in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Formulation

A simple, rapid, accurate and precise reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic technique has been progressed for the determination of Pravastatin and Bempedoic acid in absolute form and tablet. Separation of drug peaks were achieved on a Gemini C18 1μ10 Å, LC Ea 150mm x 4.6mm; 5μm column using a mixture of 0.025mM KH2PO4 PH 2.5 and Acetonitrile (60:40) as the mobile phase at rate of flow 1.0ml/min, the recognition was accomplished at 272nm. The retention time of the Pravastatin and Bempedoic caid was 2.398 and 4.801min correspondingly. The approach generates linear reaction in the concentration series of 6-30µg/ml of Pravastatin and 36-270µg/ml of Bempedoic acid. The precision for the assay was below 2.0% RSD. The %recovery for the accuracy was in between 99-101%. The method will be useful in the quality check assessment of Pravastatin and Bempedoic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations.

Intranasal influenza-vectored vaccine expressing pneumococcal surface protein A protects against Influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A virus (IAV) are significant agents of pneumonia cases and severe respiratory infections globally. Secondary bacterial infections, particularly by Streptococcus pneumoniae, are common in IAV-infected individuals, leading to critical outcomes. Despite reducing mortality, pneumococcal vaccines have high production costs and are serotype specific. The emergence of new circulating serotypes has led to the search for new prevention strategies that provide a broad spectrum of protection. In this context, vaccination using antigens present in all serotypes, such as Pneumococcal Surface Protein A (PspA), can offer broad coverage regardless of serotype. Employing the reverse genetics technique, our research group developed a recombinant influenza A H1N1 virus that expresses PspA (Flu-PspA), through the replacement of neuraminidase by PspA. This virus was evaluated as a bivalent vaccine against infections caused by influenza A and S. pneumoniae in mice. Initially, we evaluated the Flu-PspA virus’s ability to infect cells and express PspA in vitro, its capacity to multiply in embryonated chicken eggs, and its safety when inoculated in mice. Subsequently, the protective effect against influenza A and Streptococcus pneumoniae lethal challenge infections in mice was assessed using different immunization protocols. Analysis of the production of antibodies against PspA4 protein and influenza, and the binding capacity of anti-PspA4 antibodies/complement deposition to different strains of S. pneumoniae were also evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the Flu-PspA virus vaccine efficiently induces PspA protein expression in vitro, and that it was able to multiply in embryonated chicken eggs even without exogenous neuraminidase. The Flu-PspA-based bivalent vaccine was demonstrated to be safe, stimulated high titers of anti-PspA and anti-influenza antibodies, and protected mice against homosubtypic and heterosubtypic influenza A and S. pneumoniae challenge. Moreover, an efficient binding of antibodies and complement deposition on the surface of pneumococcal strains ascribes the broad-spectrum vaccine response in vivo. In summary, this innovative approach holds promise for developing a dual-protective vaccine against two major respiratory pathogens.

Rattle from Szadek

Ceramic sound tools using clay as a raw material have been produced since the very beginning of human history. This was also the case for the cultures that inhabited the area comprised by pre­sent-day Poland. So far, over 1,200 ceramic rattles or their fragments have been discovered in this area. They are the subject of interdisciplinary research, using various methods from archaeology, musicology, acoustics, and even mechanical engineering. The state of preservation of the artefacts is often unsatisfactory, and thus important information about their original behavior has been lost. Traditional reconstructions of ceramic rattles restored their appearance only, without recon­structing the basic function of sound production. In order for the sound to be reliably recon­structed, the shape of the rattle, the material from which it was originally made, as well as the entire technological process must be precisely recreated. This is an extremely difficult task, espe­cially in the case of poorly preserved objects. In these cases, reverse engineering methods using numerical modeling are often of use, because they allow the determination of the frequency struc­ture of the rattle sound spectrum. Using reverse engineering techniques, it is possible to build a model that will allow us to recreate at least some of the sound characteristics of the reconstructed ceramic rattles.

Comparing the effectiveness of c-mac video laryngoscope™ and reverse sellick's techniques to the blind method for nasogastric tube insertion in anesthetized, intubated patients: A randomized controlled trial

Comparing the effectiveness of c-mac video laryngoscope™ and reverse sellick's techniques to the blind method for nasogastric tube insertion in anesthetized, intubated patients: A randomized controlled trial

Improving recovery in sublevel top coal caving mining by using partially reverse drawing technique

Improving recovery in sublevel top coal caving mining by using partially reverse drawing technique

A new image compression method based on comparative thresholding

In recent years, image compression methods are the important research topics, these methods are classified into reversible and irreversiblet techniques. The irreversible techniques or called transformation techniques are the most widely used today. In fact, the transformation methods decompose the image into an orthonormal basis, such as a great number of the coefficients be equal to zero, without significantly impairing the visual aspect of the original image. Decades ago, the wavelet theory has given high contributions in the transformation methods by its nice mathematical properties and using the traditional thresholding as Hard and soft thresholding. However, if the image has a large singularity, we will be obliged to increase the number of non-zero wavelet coefficients in the reconstructed image. So, this situation costs us a lot, especially with color images. Therefore, we can pose the following problem to answer: are there thresholding operators can reduce the wavelet coefficients number independently on the singularity contained in the image?. In this paper, we propose a new method for image compression, called Comparative Thresholding (CT), which is based on constructing new thresholding operators that solve the imposed compression problem. These solution operators can enhance the traditional thresholding in terms of the visual quality of the compressed image. Experiments on a grayscale image using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) with our proposed method (CT), show that CT method provides better performance compared to traditional thresholding in terms of the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Compression Ratio (CR).

Uniform blue emitting carbon nanodots synthesized from fig fruit using reverse diffusion purification

In this investigation, blue-emitting carbon nanodots (B.CNDs) with exceptional color purity were successfully synthesized from fresh fig fruit using a one-step pyrolysis method. These B.CNDs are small and spherical (3.7 nm) with an amorphous carbon core encapsulated inside a passivated layer primarily composed of oxygen-related functional groups. They demonstrated an emission property that is independent of excitation, showing the highest emission intensity in the deep blue region at 450 nm with a narrow full-width at half maximum (FWHM) at 44 nm and a quantum yield of 15.5%. This exceptional value of FWHM is attributed to the remarkable uniformity in both morphological and chemical composition that was achieved through the utilization of the reverse diffusion technique combined with the dialysis method for purification and separation of B.CNDs. This work not only contributes to the expanding field of carbon nanomaterials but also introduces a novel and sustainable approach to fabricate CDs with unparalleled color purity and optical performance.

Broadband VHF lightning radiation sources localization by ESPRIT algorithm

Fast and fine radiation source localization algorithm is of vital importance to lightning warning and protection. Current high-accuracy localization techniques, such as the time reversal technique (TR) and the multiple signal classification (MUSIC), are based on traversal search mechanism, which takes a long time. In this paper, the estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance technique (ESPRIT) is applied to lightning radiation source localization, and the direction of arrival (DOA) can be directly solved through the covariance matrix, so it is very efficient. For the broadband VHF signal, the incoherent signal method (ISM) is combined with ESPRIT. Two classical structures of uniform L-shaped array and uniform circular array are studied and applied to ESPRIT algorithm. As for the uniform circular array, the fourth order cumulant matrix is constructed to find the translation invariant subarrays. To unwrap the phase ambiguity caused by the calculated phase angle of ESPRIT algorithm, the total least difference of slope (TLDS) principle is proposed. The proposed ESPRIT algorithm is more than 1400 times faster than MUSIC while its localization accuracy is still pretty high, which is able to detect the radiation source under -8 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) according to the result of numerical simulations, and can map continuous and fine lightning development channel in the experiments on the measured lightning data.