Shorter Treatment Time Research Articles

ALIGNERS IN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY: A REVIEW

Aim and Background: Clear aligners are gaining popularity, particularly among adults, who often prefer them over traditional fixed appliances due to aesthetic concerns. This review explores the evolution of clear aligner technology, their benefits and drawbacks, limitations, patient comfort and acceptance, as well as their effectiveness in treating different types of malocclusions in comparison to braces. Methods: Databases like Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were employed to conduct a comprehensive literature search up until April 2024. The collected data was then systematically organized and integrated narratively to emphasize the main findings. Results: The early literature revealed differing outcomes compared to more recent articles. This disparity was particularly evident in advancements in treating various malocclusions. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that aligners still lack the capability to achieve a wide range of movements in comparison to traditional braces. Conclusion: Despite numerous claims, evidence supporting the effectiveness of clear aligners remains limited. Current research suggests that for mild to moderate cases, the primary advantages of transparent aligners over traditional systems are shorter treatment times and reduced chair time. Other reported benefits of clear aligner therapy include improved aesthetics, initial comfort, easier maintenance of oral hygiene, and better periodontal health. Clinical Significance: According to the available evidence, clear aligner therapy is effective for treating minor malocclusions and yields satisfactory outcomes for moderate malocclusions.

Efficacy and Safety of Four Weeks of Moderately Hypofractionated Chemoradiation for Unresectable, Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Shortening treatment time with moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy benefits patients by reducing inconvenience and costs, but its use in the definitive treatment of unresectable Stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer is controversial due to lack of level one evidence and toxicity concerns. Pivotal systemic therapy trials utilize conventionally fractionated chemoradiation at 2Gy per fraction given over 6weeks. In practice, 4weeks of chemoradiation at 2.75Gy per fraction is sometimes employed to reduce the treatment burden for selected patients, especially those who are older or have comorbidities. It is uncertain if the two fractionation regimens are similar in biologically effectiveness, especially with varying systemic therapy. This systematic review aimed to collate the survival and toxicity outcomes for 4weeks of moderately hypofractionated chemoradiation, using >50-60Gy in 20 fractions. Eight studies met the eligibility criteria; seven studies were from a database search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science and one study was added later. Two studies were prospective randomized trials and six were retrospective cohort studies. No study included immunotherapy. The historical evidence has been limited, but emerging data is promising, especially when compared to outcomes of standard chemoradiation. Thus, further investigation of this strategy is justified.

Film characteristics of atmospheric pressure plasma-treated chitosan solution

Chitosan (Cs) is a biopolymer that can be used to create films with high swelling capacity. Its application, however, is restricted by its weak mechanical strength. To address this limitation, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment was integrated into the Cs film synthesis. This was done by exposing the Cs solution to air plasma at varying times—2, 4, and 6 min. Improved dissolution of Cs was observed in the scanning electron microscope images where no traces of excess Cs particles were found on the surface. Spectroscopic techniques such as optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy suggested that chain scission and cross-linking synergistically occurred to establish the network of the Cs films. This possible reaction mechanism of film formation was manifested as changes in the peak intensities of the different Cs attributes such as the pyranose ring, –OH, the C–O–C glycosidic, and the amide linkages. Shorter treatment time (2 min) resulted in the dominance of degradation where scission occurred to open the Cs rings. When using a longer treatment time (>4 min), cross-linking reactions occurred along the scission sites, which acted as initiation points. As a result, the hydrophilicity and swelling behavior of the Cs films were influenced by the APP treatment. The fabricated Cs films were generally hydrophilic. However, utilizing a longer treatment time decreased the hydrophilic nature of the film. A decreased swelling capacity for APP-treated Cs films also accompanied the decreased hydrophilicity. This observed phenomenon was attributed to the addition of Cs chains possibly caused by cross-linking. The study revealed that the water absorption ability of the Cs films was based on the relaxation of the Cs chains upon interaction with water. The integration of APP treatment for film synthesis may provide easier processing of Cs films.

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of EarWell ear orthotics on elderly children with congenital ear deformities within 98 days.

To observe the efficacy of EarWell ear orthotics in treating congenital ear deformities in older children (≥7 weeks) within 98 days. A retrospective study was conducted on 58 infants (69 ears) aged 7-14 weeks after birth. Divided into three groups: A (7-9 weeks old, 26 ears), B (10-12 weeks old, 23 ears), and C (13-14 weeks old, 20 ears). Analyze the differences in treatment time, effective rate, six-month recurrence rate, and incidence of complications among three age groups. Age group A had the shortest treatment time (25.13±3.28d) and the highest effective rate (84.61%), while age group C had the longest treatment time (48.35±7.64d) and the lowest effective rate (60.00%), with statistically significant differences (p<0.05); The six-month recurrence rate and incidence of complications in the A age group were lower than the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05); The recurrence cases in the three age groups are mainly concentrated in the cup ear and the prominent ear. EarWell ear orthotics can still be chosen for morphological correction of congenital ear deformities in children aged 7-14 weeks. However, the effectiveness of treatment may be affected by the age of treatment and the type of malformation. The older the age of treatment, the lower the effectiveness of orthosis treatment, the longer the treatment time, and the higher the probability of complications. Cup ears and prominent ear over 7 weeks old have a higher recurrence rate after treatment, and it is recommended to correct them as soon as possible.

Corona Poling Enabling Gravure Printing of Electroactive Flexible PVDF-TrFE Devices

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based materials are the most researched polymers in the field of energy harvesting. Their production in thin-film form through printing technologies can potentially offer several manufacturing and performance advantages, such as low-cost, low-temperature processing, use of flexible substrates, custom design, low thermal inertia and surface-scaling performance. However, solution-based processes, like printing, miss fine control of the microstructure during film-forming, making it difficult to achieve a high level of polarization, necessary for PVDF to exhibit electroactive characteristics. Here, corona treatment is investigated for the poling of gravure-printed polyvinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) films, as a particularly suitable poling method for printing since it is rapid, contactless and scalable, and no metal electrodes are required. Effects of corona conditioning on the functional properties of the printed films were examined and discussed. Electroactive properties of corona-poled printed films improved manyfold when they were treated at 9 kV, near room temperature (30 °C) and using very short treatment time (30 s). In particular, piezoelectric and pyroelectric coefficients improved tenfold and by two orders of magnitude, respectively. Considering the upscaling potential of roll-to-roll gravure printing and corona poling, combined with the area-scaling performance of thin-film-based generators, our results can enable the corona-printing process for mass production of future electroactive flexible PVDF-based devices.

Optimizing conditions for microwave-assisted solvent extraction of polar compounds from Carissa carandas.

The present investigation aimed to optimize the solvent combination and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) conditions for extracting polar phyto-components from Carissa carandas, which is an underutilized fruit rich in various bioactive compounds. Initially, an augmented simplex centroid design was used to investigate the influence of four polar solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water) on the extraction of phyto-compounds, including total sugars, reducing sugars, total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the extract. The desirability function determined that a solvent combination of ethanol-water (49:51, v/v) was the most effective for extracting polar components from C. carandas, and this combination was used for further MAE optimization. During MAE, the effects of different microwave powers (180, 360, and 450W), time intervals (3 and 6min), and acidity levels (0% and 1% HCl, w/v) were studied for the phyto-compounds. The results showed that microwave treatment at a low power level (180W), shorter treatment time (3min), and acidified solvents promoted the extraction of total and reducing sugars, as well as enhanced total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The extraction solvent's acidity positively impacts TPC and TFC in reflux systems but negatively affects extraction yields in MAE. The antioxidant activities were also significantly influenced by the extraction solvent's microwave power, treatment time, and acidity. These findings emphasize the importance of MAE for efficiently extracting polar phyto-components from C. carandas, which can be further utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Optimized MAE conditions enhance bioactive compound extraction from C. carandas, benefiting nutraceuticals, functional foods, and the development of functional packaging materials. Owing to their rich profile of bioactive compounds, it can be utilized in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The extracts can also be used to synthesize various nano-compounds aiding in green and sustainable chemistry principles.

Comparison of Conventional Palliative Radiotherapy Fractionation Schedule with Quad Shot Regimen in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Introduction: Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) accounts for 14.3% of all cancers in India and 4.8% of all cancers worldwide. In India, the most common sites are the lip and oral cavity (&gt;80%), which are more prevalent in men than in women. Histologically, most cases are Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC). The majority of patients present with locally advanced stages, where surgery and definitive chemoradiation therapy are not possible and palliative Radiotherapy (RT) is considered a treatment option for better symptomatic relief and improved Quality of Life (QoL). The Quad Shot (QS) palliative regimen has shortened treatment time, reduced toxicity and increased compliance. Aim: To compare the QS regimen administered over two consecutive days versus the Conventional Palliative Regimen in the treatment of locally advanced HNC, in terms of treatment response, acute toxicities and QoL. Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomised clinical trial conducted from May 2023 to July 2024 in the Department of Radiation Oncology at King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, patients with biopsyproven locally advanced carcinoma of the head and neck were recruited, with a sample size of 50 in each of the study Group B and control Group A arms. Patients in the control arm received 30 Gray (Gy) in 10 fractions, 5 fractions per week over two weeks (Conventional palliative arm). In the study arm, patients received 14 Gy in 4 fractions delivered in two daily sessions, six to eight hours apart, for two consecutive days over three cycles (QS arm). The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) Criteria 1.1 was used to assess the tumour response objectively three months post-RT. Health-related QoL was assessed using questionnaires developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), specifically the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ). Continuous data were compared using the t-test for nominal data and the Mann-Whitney U test was used otherwise. Results: The mean age was 39.66±12.05 years in Group A and 42.76±11.65 years in Group B. The QS and conventional palliative arms each had 47 and 49 patients recruited, respectively. The QS arm exhibited fewer instances of skin toxicity, with 25 (53.2%) experiencing Grade I and 7 (14.9%) experiencing Grade II toxicity, compared to the conventional palliative arm, where 30 (61.2%) had Grade I and 12 (24.5%) had Grade II toxicity. Mucositis in the QS arm included 22 (46.9%) cases, with 14 (29.7%) classified as Grade I and Grade II, whereas the conventional arm had 12 (24.5%) Grade I cases, 29 (59.5%) Grade II cases and 3 (6.1%) Grade III cases. The treatment response, in terms of partial and stable disease combined, was observed in 61.2% of the conventional arm compared to 78.7% in the QS arm. QoL was reported to be better in the QS regimen post-treatment. Conclusion: Given the total number of patients recruited, the QS arm, with its shorter treatment time, demonstrated better benefits in terms of reduced toxicities and improved treatment response, as well as enhanced QoL compared to the conventional palliative arm.

High-yield hydrogen peroxide treatment of refined softwood in recyclable deep eutectic solvent to produce moisture-tolerant wood nanofiber films

In this study, a novel hydrogen peroxide treatment of refined softwood (thermomechanical pulp) in urea-LiCl-based deep eutectic solvent with negligible material loss (<2 %) was studied as a pre-treatment in the production of wood nanofibers (WNF). A short treatment time (2 min) was shown to slightly alter the structure of wood by increasing the oxygen content at the surface of the fibers and increasing the fine fiber fraction content due to the mild oxidation of surface of fibers potentially via hydrogen peroxide mediated formation of lithium hypochlorite. The mild alteration of the fiber structure resulted in the formation of a WNF film with 33 % higher tensile index compared to films obtained from WNF produced without hydrogen peroxide treatment. Furthermore, deep eutectic solvent recyclability was successfully demonstrated for five consequent treatments. In addition, hot pressing of the WNF films was investigated to improve the water tolerance (wet tensile strength) of the films. By studying various pressing conditions (time, temperature, and pressure), the wet tensile strength of films was increased from 1.0 kNm/kg to almost 20 kNm/kg with only ten minutes pressing time. The increase in wet tensile strength was effectively correlated to a decrease in the water uptake of the films during submersion in water. Simultaneously to the increased water tolerance, the dry tensile properties of the films decreased, but always remained above 40 kNm/kg.

Synthesis and Anti-bacterial Activity of New Substituted 2-trifluoromethyl-4-quinolinylhydrazone Analogs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that still affects humanity, despite being old, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The emergence of drug-resistant strains has alarmed governments and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). The need for research on new drugs that are effective in a shorter treatment time and active against resistant strains still persists. The objective of this study is to synthesize and evaluate forty-four substituted 2-trifluoromethyl-4-quinolinylhydrazone analogs, as probable inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth. The anti-mycobacterial activities of all tested compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, as well as the cytotoxicity test, were evaluated using the in vitro microplate procedure with broth microdilution assay. Thirteen compounds exhibited some activity against sensitive strain ATCC 27294, six of which were the most active: 4a, 4c, 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6g; with MIC around 7 - 8 μM, close to that presented by ethambutol (15.9 μM), a drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis. These same compounds also were active against a resistant strain of Mtb (T113), with MIC around 7 - 8 μM. Three of these compounds 4a, 6a, and 6c were not cytotoxic against Vero cells at concentrations near the MIC. This study indicates the importance of the hydrazone function to obtain promising anti-TB compounds and open new perspectives for drug development.

Enhanced Remediation of Textile Dyes via Nonmetal-Modified Layered Graphitic Carbon Nitride: Influence of Various Oxygen Precursors

Layered two-dimensional (2D) graphitic carbon nitride (gCN)) doped with nonmetals has been extensively utilized as a photo-electrocatalyst. Herein, gCN doped with Oxygen was synthesized through a thermal polymerization process. The effect of various oxygen forerunners, namely citric acid (CA), oxalic acid (OX), and lactic acid (LA) on the photocatalytic ability of the gCN was analyzed. The proposed O-doped gCN samples basic characteristics were characterized by different analytical analyses. Indeed, the O-gCN has formed a sheet-like nature with a nanometre range, so often called a nanosheet. Superior photocatalytic performance was measured when the gCN was prepared by the CA as the O-precursor; 95% malachite green (MG) removal was attained within a short treatment time of 40min by adding a 20mg photocatalyst. The influences of different parameters of catalyst concentration, different precursors, and initial pH of MG degradation were also studied. The generation of active radicals played a major part in the degradation of the MG dye solution. These findings offer fundamental insight into utilizing the O-gCN for the remediation of textile effluents in water resources. The preparation of enormous metal-free catalysts via non-metal doping toward the environmental clean-up.

To Evaluate Anti-Ulcer Activity of Nux Vomica for the Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

This study aimed to determine the anti-ulcer activity of Nux Vomica for the Treatment of Gastric Ulcer. Present study was clinical study with simple randomized single blind drug evaluation method. As per study design and methodology all patients were treated with homoeopathic treatment only. Hence control study or comparison with modern medicine is out of framework of the present study. To evaluate curative efficacy of Nux Vomica and to show that is better than modern line of treatment in Gastric ulcer it has been used for comparison. After this research work it has been seen that lot many gastric ulcer patient got cured and healed by Nux Vomica. The conclusion is that patient compliance, trust economic status is indeed an important strategy in the used of any medicine system benefits with correct dose. Homeopathy and Allopathic medicines continue potentially impacting on the attainment of 'health' as a society in its entirety. No doubt, in cases of short and long time treatments of illness both medicine systems have their own importance and earlier have done more than the miracles and have proven life saving for everybody.

Minimally invasive approaches for implant-supported overdentures in the atrophied mandible.

The study compares three minimally invasive approaches for the retention of implant supported mandibular complete dentures, particularly focusing on patient satisfaction. The McGill Consensus Statement recommends restoration of the edentulous mandible with an overdenture retained on two implants. Alternatively, less invasive treatment concepts with shorter treatment times have been developed for critical cases. Thirty-nine patients (with a total of 78 implants) with advanced mandibular bone atrophy were randomly assigned to three groups: "single standard implant-retained overdentures" (SSO) and "mini-implant-retained overdentures" (MO), which was further subdivided into "two mini-implant-retained overdentures" (TMO) and "four mini-implant-retained overdentures" (FMO). The technical and biological parameters and oral health-related quality of life were evaluated over a 10-year period. Data were analysed for group comparisons and longitudinal trend analysis. Sixteen patients (42%) dropped out during the study period. At the time of follow-up, 98.4% of the implants were insitu. The first need for technical intervention occurred after 3.8 ± 1.1, 4.2 ± 0.9, and 4.6 ± 1.3 years in the TMO, SSO, and FMO groups, respectively. Attachment exchange (39%) was the most frequently performed intervention in all groups. Healthy peri-implant and mucosal conditions were observed in 74% and 40% of patients after 1 and 10 years, respectively. The OHIP-G14 score was 22.6 before implantation, 7.6 at 1 year (effect size [ES]: 1.1), and 5.4 at 10 years (ES: 2.3). Irrespective of the minimal concept selected, complete mandibular dentures retained on implants improved the subjective perception of the quality of life. Application of these alternative minimal concepts may be practical in clinical practice.

Enhanced steam-sanitizer strategies for eliminating Listeria biofilms on food-contact surfaces

Food processing equipment contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes is a major cause of listeriosis outbreaks implicated in various fresh produce, highlighting the need for effective surface sanitization strategies to eliminate this pathogen from food-contact surfaces. This study evaluated the effectiveness of steam treatments at temperatures ranging from 100 to 142 °C, with or without chemical sanitizers, against Listeriainnocua (a surrogate for L. monocytogenes) biofilms on stainless steel (SS), polyester (PET), and rubber surfaces. Seven-day-old L. innocua biofilms on these surfaces were subjected to short-time steam treatments at 100, 125, and 142 °C, either alone or in combination with 10 ppm peroxyacetic acid (PAA) or quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). Culturable L.innocua cells were then detached and enumerated. Results showed that steam treatments exhibited quick killing efficacy during the come-up time (CUT, 8–12 s), regardless of steam temperatures or surface materials. For example, steam CUT at 100–142 °C led to reductions of culturable L. innocua by 3.0–4.2 log10 CFU/coupon on SS, 2.5–2.9 log10 CFU/coupon on PET, and 2.4–2.8 log10 CFU/coupon on rubber, respectively. However, killing rates decreased beyond the CUT and with extended steam exposure, showing more pronounced survival tails on PET and rubber compared to SS. To enhance the eradication of L. innocua biofilms, PAA or QAC at 10 ppm was applied for 1 min, followed by a short (CUT + 6 s) steam treatment at 125 °C, which resulted in ≥4.9 log10 CFU/coupon reductions of culturable L. innocua on all surfaces. Rubber surfaces showed the greatest resistance to these hurdle treatments compared to SS and PET. The findings from this study provide effective surface sanitization strategies for the food industry to control L. monocytogenes in processing facilities.

Abstract 329: Mobile Stroke Unit and Mechanical Thrombectomy Workflow: A Single Center 5‐Year Experience.

Background and purpose: Mobile Stroke Units have been demonstrated to significantly reduce time to treatment and increase the chances of early intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with positive effect on clinical outcomes. The evidence of its impact on the treatment time metrics and outcomes in endovascular treatment (EVT)‐eligible patients outside of large clinical trials is limited. Method Retrospective review of a single‐center prospectively maintained mechanical thrombectomy database spanning June 2018‐November 2023. Patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) for large‐vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes were divided in two groups: MSU‐transported and EMS‐transported (mothership) presenting within MSU operating days/hours. Treatment time metrics and clinical outcomes were compared. Results Among patients undergoing EVT during MSU operating days/hours, 565 were included (66 were in MSU and 499 in EMS groups). Median overall age was 66 years, 55% were male. Median baseline ASPECTS and NIHSS were comparable between the groups. Witnessed onset of stroke was more common in the MSU group (42% vs 27%, p=0.007) while time from symptom recognition to ED door was shorter for EMS‐transported patients (84 vs 103 min, p=0.001). More patients in MSU group were within IVT window and received alteplase or tenecteplase (45% vs 24%, p&lt;0.001). MSU patients were more likely to bypass further imaging and go direct to angio upon hospital arrival (12% vs 2.2%, p&lt;0.001), and more patients in the EMS group had multimodal imaging before EVT (95% vs 83%, p=0.001). The LKW‐to‐puncture times were shorter in the MSU group (237 vs 389 min, p=0.021), which also had significantly faster times from ED door to CT and multimodal imaging completion (9 vs 17 min, and 17 vs 27 min, respectively, p&lt;0.001). Regarding the EVT procedure, all time metrics favored MSU‐ transported patients, including door‐to‐angio (41 vs 62min, p&lt;0.001), door‐to puncture (58 vs 82 min, p&lt;0.001) and door‐to‐reperfusion (96 vs 127 min, p&lt;0.001). A sensitivity analysis excluding DTA patients indicated that all time metrics, except for LKW‐to‐puncture time, remained faster in the MSU group. Results were unchanged after adjustment for witnessed symptom onset (yes/no), and time from last known normal to symptom recognition. Mediation analyses showed that the association between MSU and lower door‐to‐puncture time was substantially explained by a difference in rates and time to completion of multimodal imaging, which was responsible for 49% (95% CI: 28% to 75%) of the difference between MSU and EMS. Functional outcomes at 90 days and rates of intracerebral hemorrhage were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In this single center analysis, MSU‐transported patients demonstrated improved EVT time metrics, with shorter treatment times when compared to EMS‐transported patients. Outcomes and safety parameters did not differ between the two groups.

Financial Toxicity and Quality-of-Life Outcomes on a Phase 1 5-fraction Stereotactic Partial Breast Irradiation Protocol for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

PurposeWe report the financial toxicity and quality-of-life outcomes of our prospective phase 1 dose-escalation study of 5-fraction stereotactic partial breast irradiation (S-PBI) for early-stage breast cancer. Materials and MethodsWomen with unifocal in situ or invasive epithelial histologies, clinical stages 0, I, or II with tumor size < 3 cm treated with lumpectomy were enrolled in our phase 1 5-fraction S-PBI dose-escalation trial. Our institutionally generated questionnaire on the “Patient Perspective Cost and Convenience of Care” and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-level questionnaire were administered to patients treated at follow-up. ResultsBetween 2010 and 2015, 68 of the 75 patients who enrolled and completed treatment on trial completed at least some component of either the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-level questionnaire or the “Patient Perspective Cost and Convenience of Care” questionnaire. Nearly all patients reported very high satisfaction with their treatment overall, particularly the shortened length of treatment. Over half of the patients reported some level of financial toxicity (FT) despite a significantly shortened treatment time. Patients who reported any FT were significantly younger than patients with no financial burden of treatment (means 59.2 and 63.7, respectively, P = .03). There was no difference in those who reported any level of FT based on patient race, ethnicity, marital, or employment status. This S-PBI regimen did not significantly affect quality of life over a 4-year follow-up. ConclusionsThese patient-reported outcomes suggest that the use of accelerated partial breast irradiation may offer low FT rates in breast cancer care, particularly for disadvantaged patient groups.

Assessment of Quality of Life, Tumour Control and Adverse Effects Observed in Patients Treated with Palliative Radiotherapy for Unresectable Gallbladder Cancer: A Prospective Interventional Study

Introduction: Treating advanced Gallbladder Cancer (GBC) poses a substantial therapeutic challenge. Palliative chemotherapy is the primary treatment for patients with unresectable tumours. The effectiveness of this treatment in extending lifespan is limited, usually quantified in a few months, and its accompanying harmful effects can significantly impair overall well-being. As a viable alternative, palliative radiation offers the benefits of shorter treatment duration and a potentially lower risk of harmful side-effects. Its potential in the treatment of advanced GBC has not been fully explored, and the existing medical literature on this topic is scarce. However, the promising aspects of palliative Radiotherapy (RT) suggest a hopeful future for its application in treating unresectable GBC. Aim: To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL), treatment-related toxicities and tumour response to palliative RT in unresectable GBC. Materials and Methods: A single-arm prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology Outpatient Department (OPD), Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, from September 2022 to May 2024. The present study included all patients with unresectable advanced GBC reported to OPD. Patients who had been previously treated or had ascites or duodenal infiltration were excluded. Twenty-four patients were recruited to receive RT alone (30 Gy in 10 fractions, D1-D10 over two weeks, five fractions per week). Treatment planning was Computed Tomography (CT) scan-guided. Quality of life assessment was based on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and BIL-21 questionnaires, and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was applied to compare variables. Tumour response was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, and a paired t-test was applied to compare pre and post-treatment values. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5) was used to monitor toxicity. Descriptive statistics were used to examine patient demographics, baseline characteristics, treatment details and toxicity profiles. Results: Initially, 24 patients were enrolled in the present study, out of which four defaulted before treatment began. The mean age was 49.48±5.2 years. There was a female predominance, with 17 (70.8%) female patients and 7 (29.2%) male patients. The most common stage of the disease was stage IV A, affecting 16 (66.6%) of the patients. The overall QoL score pretreatment was 37.50±21.54, the mid-treatment score was 45.85±11.18, and the post-treatment score was 54.65±16.11. The scores showed improvement but were not statistically significant. A combined tumour response (complete+partial) was achieved in 10 (50%) patients. Treatment-related toxicities were within tolerable limits, with two patients developing cholangitis grade 2. Conclusion: Improvement was observed in the QoL score. Adverse effects were minimal, with a tumour response observed in 50% of patients. Hence, palliative RT showed promising results with the advantage of a short treatment time. However, a study with a larger sample size in different institutes is needed for a clearer picture.

Insight into the effect of ultrasonic treatment on surface properties and flotation behavior of chalcopyrite after galvanic corrosion of grinding media and chalcopyrite

Ultrasonic treatment is an effective means to promote chalcopyrite flotation. Chalcopyrite needs to be grinded before flotation production. During the grinding process, galvanic corrosion occurs between chalcopyrite and iron grinding media. Galvanic corrosion significantly affects the efficacy of ultrasonic treatment on chalcopyrite flotation. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of research on ultrasonic treatment of chalcopyrite after galvanic corrosion. In this study, micro-flotation tests, SEM-EDS, TOF-SIMS, XPS, ICP-OES and electrochemical tests were used to study the effects of ultrasonic treatment on the surface properties and flotation behavior of chalcopyrite before and after galvanic corrosion under different ultrasonic conditions and galvanic corrosion conditions. The results show that in the absence of galvanic corrosion, short time and low power ultrasonic treatment can improve chalcopyrite floatability. However, when the chalcopyrite after strong galvanic corrosion is subjected to ultrasonic treatment, the increase of galvanic corrosion temperature, galvanic corrosion time, ultrasound power and ultrasound time result in a marked reduction of the flotation recovery of chalcopyrite. The synergistic effect of ultrasonic and galvanic corrosion significantly inhibits the flotation recovery of chalcopyrite, which may provide a new potential way for the inhibition of sulfide ore in flotation production. The research results are helpful to expand the use range of ultrasonic processing for sulfide mineral pretreatment and flotation, and provide a theoretical reference for the application of ultrasonic treatment in sulfide minerals with galvanic corrosion.

Ameliorating the microstructure and properties of a Cu[sbnd]Cr alloy by introducing a high-temperature short-time treatment into the thermo-mechanical process

The optimization of process is essential for improving the overall properties of high-strength and high-conductivity Cu alloys. This study introduces a high-temperature short-time treatment (HTSTT, 850 °C/5 min) into the thermo-mechanical process of a CuCr alloy. Following the process of “solid solution - cold rolling - HTSTT - cold rolling - aging”, the tensile strength of the alloy increases from 450 MPa to 508 MPa, with the electrical conductivity increasing from 82.2 %IACS to 86.4 %IACS when compared to the conventional process of “solid solution - cold rolling - aging” under the same total deformation condition. The reasons for the improvement in the comprehensive properties of the alloy after introducing HTSTT are analyzed through microstructural characterization. The results indicate that the HTSTT promotes the occurrence of recrystallization, leading to grain refinement, which results in smaller grain sizes during subsequent processing. Additionally, the introduction of HTSTT changes the main texture of the alloy from 〈100〉//X to 〈111〉//X during the process, which is beneficial to enhancing the alloy's strength and electrical conductivity. More importantly, the HTSTT facilitates the precipitation of solute Cr atoms, leading to the formation of a significant quantity of nanoscale Cr particles, most of which are spherical with an average size of 27 nm. During the subsequent cold rolling process, these Cr particles effectively pin dislocations and promote their proliferation, leading to the precipitation of a large number of smaller Cr particles during the aging process, with an average size of 4.8 nm. These finer Cr particles are crucial for precipitation strengthening. This paper offers valuable insights into the microstructural optimization and performance enhancement of high-strength and high-conductivity Cu alloys.

In situ synthesis and structural morphology analysis of 3D porous hierarchical V2O5 films for transmissive-to-black all-solid-state electrochromic devices

3D, porous, low-dimensional, and nanostructured V2O5 films have significant potential for application in ECDs, but their development is still in its nascency. This paper reports a facile strategy of using PEG as a structure-directing agent and short-time heat treatments to obtain 3D, porous, and hierarchical V2O5 films comprising interpenetrating stacked ultra-long nanowire surfaces and nanorod/nanosheet mixed interiors deposited on ITO-glass substrates. The mechanism of morphological transformation was studied in detail, and the analysis shows that the formation of such special structured films is a synergetic result of the guided intercalation of PEG, atomic rearrangement, Ostwald ripening, anisotropy of crystal growth, and orientation attachment mechanism. Among them, the preferred PEG addition amount of 25 % for the 350-3-V2O5 film was applied in two types of all-solid-state ECDs: one using a gel quasi-solid electrolyte and the other using a solid-film electrolyte. The 350-3-V2O5 film served as an ion storage coating and WO3 was the electrochromic layer. These devices achieved ideal reversible switching of transmissive-to-black electrochromic characteristics. Notably, the ‘Integrated-Type’ ECD, composed of inorganic all-solid-state films, has a large optical modulation range ΔT = 72.0 %, rapid switching responses (colouration 25.4 s and bleaching 20.8 s), and sustained electrochromic performance.

ANALYZING THE EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS ON HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND UTILIZATION

The acceptability of an electronic medical record (EMR) system as determined by the individual who uses it is critical to its effective adoption. EMRs increase public care as well as safety by shortening treatment times and eliminating medical mistakes. The primary goal is to examine how healthcare quality and utilization are affected by electronic health records (EHRs). This work presents evidence of EMR implementation and uptake by healthcare service providers. Survey responses from professionals and medical officials from the selected hospitals in Delhi were gathered and examined employing exploratory factor analysis and modeling of structural equations approaches to test our research model. Results of the study showed that system compatibility, perceived security, information quality, and adequate IT infrastructure favorably impact the quality and use of healthcare, but perceived usefulness unfavorably impacts the quality and use of healthcare. As a result of the research, the hospital ought to promote and preserve the EHR system.