Significant Increase In Percentage Research Articles

The Potential Role of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Exosomes on Experimentally Induced Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint in Male Albino Rats. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder worldwide characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived Exosomes as a promising therapy for treating osteoarthritis. Aim of the Work to study the healing potential of BMSCs derived exosomes on experimentally induced knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods Forty adult male albino rats, weighing 200-250 gm, were used in this study, five rats used as a source of BM-MSCs derived exosomes. The other thirty-five rats were randomly divided into three main groups Group I: The control group (20 rats) in which rats were subdivided into four subgroups. Subgroups IA and IB were sacrificed 2 and 6 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Subgroup IC left for 2 weeks then were received intra-articular injection of 0.1ml Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) in right knee joint once weekly for 4 weeks Subgroup ID: left for 2 weeks then given intra-articular injection of purified exosome concentrate in the right knee joint once weekly for 4 weeks then the animals were sacrificed Group II:(15 rats) in which OA was induced by intra-articular injection of 2% formaldehyde solution in the right knee joints. The rats of group II were subdivided into two subgroups. Subgroups IIA and IIB were sacrificed 2 and 6 weeks after induction of OA respectively. Group III (5 rats), Osteoarthritis induced, as in group II and animals left for 2 weeks then treated by intra-articular injection of purified exosome concentrate in right knee joint once weekly for 4 weeks. The right joints from all groups were collected, decalcified and processed for histological studies. Morphometric and statistical measurements were done. Results Histological examination of the right knee joints of OA group (subgroups IIA and IIB) showed surface erosions, decrease cartilage thickness, chondrocytes with pyknotic nuclei and areas of chondrocytes loss with longitudinal clefts reaching the deep zone. Synovial membrane of group II showed increased thickness of the intima, mononuclear cellular infiltration with abundant collagen fibres deposition and dilated congested blood vessels in subintima, apparent increase in the number of iNOS positive intimal synovial cells. Meanwhile, group III showed smooth articular surface, with multiple colonies of chondrocytes and multiple cell nests, significant increase in the mean area percentage of PCNA positive chondrocytes in animals of group Ш when compared to all the other groups. Conclusion BMSCs derived exosomes improved OA induced damage of articular cartilage and synovial membrane. Therefore, it offers a cell-free treatment of OA and joint damage.

Hematoprotective Effect of Eugenol against Iron Overload in Male Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the hematoprotective effects of eugenol against iron overload in male rats. A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into six equal groups as follows: the control negative (C-) group I.P injection distal water. The control positive (C+) group received iron dextran (100 mg/kg-BW) I.P injection. The IE1 and IE2 groups received iron dextran 100 mg/kg-BW I.P and eugenol (50,100 mg/kg-BW) orally, respectively, and the E3 and E4 groups received eugenol (50,100 mg/kg-BW) orally. After 30 days of the experiment, the blood was collected to measure the experimental parameters. The results demonstrated a significant increase in RBCs, Hb percentage, WBCs, PCV, and PTL in the C+ group compared to the C- group. Also, there was a non-significant difference between IE1 and C+ in RBCs and Hb. Meanwhile, PCV decreased significantly in IE1 compared with C+. Conversely, the C+ group showed decreased MCV compared with IE1. Microscopic examination of blood smears indicated normal red blood cell morphology in the C- and iron dextran with eugenol-treated groups, while the C+ group exhibited microcytic hypochromic morphology. In conclusion, the ameliorative effect of eugenol against iron overload-induced hematotoxicity is achieved by restoring the hematological parameters near the normal control.

Novel ex-vivo calcification model for human aortic valves reveals patient-specific effect of compound

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Dekker grant Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening due to calcification and valve thickening. There are currently no pharmacological treatments for AS, and surgical interventions are the only therapies. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying AS and test new pharmacological agents, advanced calcification models are required. These models need to closely approach native tissue response to stimuli by maintaining the valvular interstitial cells within their native environment. We have recently developed an ex vivo culture model that fulfills this requirement and allows the induction of calcification in slices of human aortic valves. Purpose Our goal is to evaluate the applicability of our ex-vivo calcification model as a pre-clinical test system for potential therapies. Methods Diseased aortic valves were dissected, embedded in agarose, then cut into 300-500 um slices using a vibratome. The use of multiple slices from a single patient ensured proper internal controls. To induce calcification, slices were cultured with 3mM phosphate(n=12), and control slices without phosphate (n=11). To investigate molecular modulation of induced calcification, dexamethasone was added to phosphate cultures(n=9). The slices were assessed for calcification using Alizarin Red staining. ImageJ was used to quantify the percentage of alizarin red-positive area. The average thickness was determined using 3DHISTECH software. Results In the presence of phosphate, a significant increase in the calcification percentage was observed in cultured valve slices compared with cultures without phosphate (p<0.05). Interestingly, within the phosphate-treated group, two sub-groups could be distinguished, one sub-group exhibiting extensive calcification, while the other showed virtually no sign of calcification. Paired comparisons revealed strong effect of dexamethasone depending on the extent of calcification-inducing capability of phosphate in each patient-sample. More precisely, dexamethasone exhibited potent inhibitory effect on calcification in valvular slices from patients where calcification was stimulated in the presence of phosphate. Conversely, dexamethasone exhibited a stimulatory effect on calcification in slices that did not show a stimulation of calcification in the presence of phosphate. This differential effect was strongly correlated with valve thickness.(r=-0.884,p< 0.01). Conclusions Our novel ex-vivo calcification model for human aortic valves revealed potential presence of patient-specific effects of pharmacological agents. Dexamethasone can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on calcification levels, influenced by phosphate response and valve thickness. As thickness might be indicative of the disease stage, this correlation suggests that the direction of compound’s effect might depend on disease stage. Hence, proper understanding of potential opposite effects of compounds is crucial in developing novel therapies.

Iron parameters analysis in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired cardiovascular disease in small breed dogs. In contrast to human patients with heart failure (HF), iron deficiency (ID) prevalence in dogs with MMVD is weakly known. The study aimed to assess the usability of ID markers in serum and reticulocyte parameters from whole blood of dogs with MMVD to evaluate early ID symptoms. Sixty-eight dogs (43 male and 25 female) were included in the study. MMVD dogs were assigned according to the 2019 ACVIM guidelines for groups B1 (n = 9), B2 (n = 10), C (n = 27) and D (n = 10). Groups were also combined into B1 and B2 as non-symptomatic HF and C with D as symptomatic HF. Healthy controls were 12 dogs. Serum iron concentration below the reference range in dogs with MMVD was 12.5%. Other ID indices, such as %SAT, UIBC, and TIBC were similar in the MMVD groups and healthy controls (p > 0.05 for all parameters). Statistical comparison between control group and 4 groups of different stages of MMVD showed that significant differences occur only in serum transferrin. The assessment of ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors using Western Blotting did not show differences between control (n = 7) and MMVD (n = 33) dogs. Study has shown positive correlation between ID parameters and echocardiographic indices such as LA/Ao and LVIDdN, and some biochemical parameters. A significant increase in reticulocytes percentage, assessed manually, was observed in the HF group of animals (p = 0.027) compared to the control group. Studies have shown that ID parameters in serum are not significantly different in dogs with MMVD compared to healthy dogs. However, there is a clear correlation between atrial size and normalised left ventricular size to body size and some biochemical parameters, including ID parameters and therefore the severity of MMVD.

Effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on body fat: a retrospective case‒control study in Chinese transwomen

BackgroundThere is insufficient research on how gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) affects body fat modifications in transwomen from China. It is unclear whether hormone therapy affects the prevalence of obesity and blood lipid levels within this population. The current research aimed to assess how GAHT and treatment duration had an impact on the change in and redistribution of body fat in Chinese transwomen.MethodsThis study included 40 transwomen who had not received GAHT and 59 who had. Body fat, blood lipid, and blood glucose levels were measured. GAHT is mainly a pharmacologic (estrogen and anti-androgen) treatment. The study also stratified participants based on the duration of GAHT to assess its impact on body fat distribution. The duration of GAHT was within one year, one to two years, two to three years, or more than three years.ResultsAfter receiving GAHT, total body fat increased by 19.65%, and the percentage of body fat increased by 17.63%. The arm, corrected leg, and leg regions showed significant increases in fat content (+ 24.02%, + 50.69%, and + 41.47%, respectively) and percentage (+ 25.19%, + 34.90%, and + 30.39%, respectively). The total visceral fat content decreased (-37.49%). Based on the diagnostic standards for a body mass index ≥ 28 or total body fat percentage ≥ 25% or 30%, the chance of developing obesity did not change significantly. Blood glucose levels significantly increased (+ 12.31%). Total cholesterol levels (-10.45%) decreased significantly. Fat changes in those who received GAHT for one to two years were significantly different from those who did not receive GAHT.ConclusionAfter receiving GAHT, total body fat and regional fat increased in Chinese transwomen, and the body fat distribution changed from masculine to feminine, especially during the first two years. However, neither the increase in total body fat percentage nor the decrease in visceral fat content didn’t bring about significant changes in the incidence of obesity, nor did triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Investigating the synergistic effect of ZnO/GO nanocomposite films for methylene blue removal

AbstractThis study aims to reveal the growth kinetics of ZnO nanoflakes and ZnO/GO nanocomposite films obtained at different Zn precursor salt concentrations by electrochemical deposition method and to evaluate the catalytic performances of the obtained films. The films were grown on FTO substrate with Zn precursor salt concentrations of 0.1 M, 0.125 M, and 0.175 M. Characterization of the obtained films was performed by XRD, SEM, UV–vis–NIR, Raman, and XPS analyses. The strong photocatalytic capabilities of the synthesized ZnO nanoflakes and ZnO/GO nanocomposite films were demonstrated by comparative analyses with the existing literature. Accordingly, photocatalytic experiments carried out under UVA irradiation revealed the high performance of the synthesized samples in the degradation of MB dye. The reaction kinetics were investigated using the Langmuir‐Hinshelwood kinetic model, resulting in high kobs values and R2 coefficients. ZnO nanoparticles showed a kobs of 0.038 min−1 and an R2 value of 0.96, while ZnO/GO nanocomposite films showed a kobs of 0.055 min−1 and an R2 value of 0.92. The significant increase in the degradation percentage shows the significant improvement achieved by the integration of GO, despite a slightly lower R2 value for the ZnO/GO nanocomposite film compared with ZnO nanoflakes films.

Deletion of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Endothelial Cells Improves Ischemic Angiogenesis in Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a strong yet underappreciated risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that exacerbates disease progression and increases risk for limb amputation and cardiovascular mortality. An estimated 25-35% of CKD patients develop PAD, but mechanistic data linking these two pathologies is limited. Several tryptophan-derived uremic metabolites are retained in the blood and tissues as a consequence of CKD and are endogenous ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that has been shown to regulate angiogenesis. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that endothelial cell-specific conditional deletion of the AHR would enhance ischemic limb outcomes in mice with CKD and femoral artery ligation (FAL). Methods: Twelve-week-old male and female endothelium-specific AHR knockout mice (AHRecKO) and AHR floxed mice (AHRfl/fl, Cre-negative control) were fed 0.2% adenine to induce CKD or casein control diet (n=10/group/sex) prior to undergoing FAL to induce limb ischemia. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure limb perfusion. Isometric contraction of the tibialis anterior in-situ via nerve stimulus was performed to measure muscle function. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory function and H2O2 production were evaluated. Primary endothelial cells were isolated from male and female wildtype mice and treated with known AHR ligand indoxyl sulfate (IS) under hypoxic conditions to uncover sex-dependent differences in AHR activating potential. Results: In male mice with CKD, endothelium-specific ablation of the AHR resulted in significant increases in percentage of perfused capillaries within the ischemic limb (AHRecKO 73.41% ± 4.80% vs AHRfl/fl 64.75% ± 8.325%; p= 0.0074), improved laser Doppler perfusion recovery in the paw and gastrocnemius muscle, and larger myofiber cross-sectional area ( p=0.0258) compared to AHRfl/fl mice. However, these improvements did not translate to improved muscle contractile function. In contrast, deletion of the AHR in female mice with CKD had no significant impact on major outcome measures. Primary cells from male mice treated with IS had significantly higher expression of the AHR controlled gene Cyp1a1 ( p=0.026) compared to cells from female mice. Conclusion: Endothelium-specific deletion of the AHR improved ischemic angiogenesis in male, but not female, mice with CKD. These data reveal sex-dependent differences in AHR activating potential within endothelial cells that exist in the absence of sex hormones. This study was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01-HL149704 (T.E.R.). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Effects of UV-B Radiation Exposure on Transgenerational Plasticity in Grain Morphology and Proanthocyanidin Content in Yuanyang Red Rice.

The effect of UV-B radiation exposure on transgenerational plasticity, the phenomenon whereby the parental environment influences both the parent's and the offspring's phenotype, is poorly understood. To investigate the impact of exposing successive generations of rice plants to UV-B radiation on seed morphology and proanthocyanidin content, the local traditional rice variety 'Baijiaolaojing' was planted on terraces in Yuanyang county and subjected to enhanced UV-B radiation treatments. The radiation intensity that caused the maximum phenotypic plasticity (7.5 kJ·m-2) was selected for further study, and the rice crops were cultivated for four successive generations. The results show that in the same generation, enhanced UV-B radiation resulted in significant decreases in grain length, grain width, spike weight, and thousand-grain weight, as well as significant increases in empty grain percentage and proanthocyanidin content, compared with crops grown under natural light conditions. Proanthocyanidin content increased as the number of generations of rice exposed to radiation increased, but in generation G3, it decreased, along with the empty grain ratio. At the same time, biomass, tiller number, and thousand-grain weight increased, and rice growth returned to control levels. When the offspring's radiation memory and growth environment did not match, rice growth was negatively affected, and seed proanthocyanidin content was increased to maintain seed activity. The correlation analysis results show that phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) enzyme activity positively influenced proanthocyanidin content. Overall, UV-B radiation affected transgenerational plasticity in seed morphology and proanthocyanidin content, showing that rice was able to adapt to this stressor if previous generations had been continuously exposed to treatment.

An Evaluation of the Beneficial Effects of Polyamide 6's Thermal Stabilization by Ferric Chloride Complexation as a Novel Carbon Fiber Precursor

This study investigated the impact of stabilization time on pretreated polyamide 6 (PA6) fibers using various analytical techniques, including thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), tensile testing, and density measurements. The two-step atmospheric air-based stabilization process for pretreated PA6 multifilament bundles involved initial thermal stabilization at 170 °C in an air atmosphere after ferric chloride impregnation, followed by a second step of thermal stabilization at 245 °C. Ferric chloride impregnation followed by thermal stabilization in an air atmosphere resulted in crucial structural transformations. The density values of the samples increased following thermal stabilization, accompanied by a decrease in tensile values. Ferric chloride pretreated and thermally stabilized PA6 fibers were found to be fully stabilized after 120 min of stabilization before the carbonization stage. The findings obtained from the DSC, XRD, and IR spectroscopy methods indicated the occurrence of disordering phases due to the scission of hydrogen bonds. The TGA findings showed significant increases in carbon yield percentages at 500 °C and 850 °C, reaching 71.4% and 63.5%, respectively, for the sample heat treated at 245 °C for 120 min. The addition of ferric chloride is expected to potentially reduce processing costs for final carbon fiber production by decreasing the time required for the thermal stabilization of PA6.

Relationship Between Lung Volumes and Heterogeneity in the Response to Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Advanced Lung Disease

The effects of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) on respiratory outcomes for people with CF (pwCF) were demonstrated by several clinical trials, mainly based on simple spirometry. However, gains in lung function may vary greatly between patients, but predictors of FEV1 change after treatment are still missing. Which ventilatory parameters are involved in the heterogeneity of FEV1 change after 12-month ETI treatment in pwCF with advanced lung disease? AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study at two major CF centers in Italy. We enrolled 47 adults with CF and advanced lung disease (FEV1 <40% or actively listed for lung transplant) who started ETI treatment between December 2019 to December 2021. At treatment initiation and after 12 months, patients underwent body plethysmography. Values were compared at the two time points. To assess the relationship between baseline plethysmography measurements and treatment-induced changes in FEV1, we used the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r) and median quantile regressions. After 12 months of ETI treatment, there was a significant increase in percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV1) from a median (25th-75th percentiles) value of 36.0 (33 - 39) to 52 (43 - 61) (P<0.001). IC/TLC ratio also increased from 32.0 (28.6 - 36.9) to 36.3 (33.4 - 41.3) (P<0.001). sRaw decreased from 263 (182 - 405) to 207 (120 - 258) (P<0.001). FRC/TLC ratio decreased from 68.2 (63.3 - 71.9) to 63.9 (58.8 - 67.1) (P<0.001), and RV/TLC ratio decreased from 53.1 (48.3 - 59.4) to 45.6 (39.4 - 49.8) (P<0.001). Changes in ppFEV1 negatively correlated with baseline FRC/TLC ratio (r= -0.38, P= 0.009) and RV/TLC ratio (r= -0.42, P= 0.004). After adjustment for age at treatment initiation and CFTR genotype, we estimated that for each 10-unit increase in baseline RV/TLC ratio the expected median change in FEV1 decreased by 2.3 (95% CI: -5.8; -0.8). ETI was associated with improvements in both static and dynamic volumes in pwCF and advanced lung disease. Heterogeneity in ppFEV1 change after 12 months of treatment may be predicted by the severity of hyperinflation at baseline.

Rice Grains from Slightly Saline Field Exhibited Unchanged Starch Physicochemical Properties but Enhanced Nutritional Values

This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice (Pokkali, a salt-tolerant cultivar; RD73, a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali, and KDML105, a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar) grown under non-saline (0.04–0.87 dS/m) and slightly saline (1.08–4.83 dS/m) field conditions. The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains. Nevertheless, the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress. The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity. Interestingly, only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content, from 19.18% to 16.99%. Accordingly, parameters relating to starch gelatinization, retrogradation, and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity; only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy. In the saline field, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase, particularly in Pokkali. On average, essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%, 32%, 32%, 22%, 20%, 11%, and 10% increase in total P, N, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Ca content, respectively. Interestingly, total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105 (187%). Taken together, cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities, while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins, minerals, and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.

Urban–rural disparities in the association of nitrogen dioxide exposure with cardiovascular disease risk in China: effect size and economic burden

BackgroundTogether with rapid urbanization, ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure has become a growing health threat. However, little is known about the urban–rural disparities in the health implications of short-term NO2 exposure. This study aimed to compare the association between short-term NO2 exposure and hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among urban and rural residents in Shandong Province, China. Then, this study further explored the urban–rural disparities in the economic burden attributed to NO2 and the explanation for the disparities.MethodsDaily hospitalization data were obtained from an electronic medical records dataset covering a population of 5 million. In total, 303,217 hospital admissions for CVD were analyzed. A three-stage time-series analytic approach was used to estimate the county-level association and the attributed economic burden.ResultsFor every 10-μg/m3 increase in NO2 concentrations, this study observed a significant percentage increase in hospital admissions on the day of exposure of 1.42% (95% CI 0.92 to 1.92%) for CVD. The effect size was slightly higher in urban areas, while the urban–rural difference was not significant. However, a more pronounced displacement phenomenon was found in rural areas, and the economic burden attributed to NO2 was significantly higher in urban areas. At an annual average NO2 concentration of 10 μg/m3, total hospital days and expenses in urban areas were reduced by 81,801 (44,831 to 118,191) days and 60,121 (33,002 to 86,729) thousand CNY, respectively, almost twice as much as in rural areas. Due to disadvantages in socioeconomic status and medical resources, despite similar air pollution levels in the urban and rural areas of our sample sites, the rural population tended to spend less on hospitalization services.ConclusionsShort-term exposure to ambient NO2 could lead to considerable health impacts in either urban or rural areas of Shandong Province, China. Moreover, urban–rural differences in socioeconomic status and medical resources contributed to the urban–rural disparities in the economic burden attributed to NO2 exposure. The health implications of NO2 exposure are a social problem in addition to an environmental problem. Thus, this study suggests a coordinated intervention system that targets environmental and social inequality factors simultaneously.

(209) Four-Year Real-world Sexual Function Outcomes of Rezum Therapy in Patients With and Without Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract Introduction Multiple studies have demonstrated Rezum therapy to effectively alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia while preserving sexual function. However, long-term real-world outcomes on sexual function are lacking in patients with baseline erectile dysfunction (ED) following Rezum treatment. Objective To compare four-year sexual function outcomes after Rezum between patients with and without baseline ED. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients from a multiethnic population treated with Rezum between 2017-2019. Patients were stratified into one of two cohorts based on presence or absence of ED at baseline. Sexual function was assessed with the validated 15-question International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Those who completed the IIEF questionnaire at baseline and 6-, 12-, and/or 48-months postoperatively were included. Function domains were calculated based on IIEF guidelines on clinical application of the questionnaire, and included erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction. Results Ninety-one patients were included: 44% (40) with baseline ED and 56% (51) without baseline ED. At baseline, 50% of the ED cohort were taking ED medications. No significant differences were found in age, prostate volume, and past medical history of hypertension or dyslipidemia between the cohorts. The ED cohort had a significantly greater proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus when compared to non-ED cohort (35 vs 15.7%, p=0.048). At baseline, the ED cohort had significantly lower scores for the IIEF domains of erectile function (p=0.007), orgasmic function (p=0.034), intercourse satisfaction (p=0.033), and overall satisfaction (p=0.002) when compared to the no ED cohort. Between the cohorts, no significant differences in the number of injections utilized during treatment in the lateral or medial prostatic lobes were observed. Compared to baseline, there was no significance in any IIEF domains in either cohort at 6-months. At 12-months, the ED cohort had significant percent decreases in orgasmic function (-25%, p=0.018), sexual desire (-22.2%, p=0.039), and overall satisfaction (-33.3%, p=0.004), while the non-ED cohort had a significant percent increase in erectile function (5%, p=0.04) when compared to baseline. At 48-months, the non-ED cohort had no significant changes in any IIEF domains, while the ED cohort had significant percent increases in erectile function (30%, p=0.013), sexual desire (22.5%, p=0.023), intercourse satisfaction (20%, p=0.011), and overall satisfaction (58.3%, p=0.008). At 48-months, there were no cases of de novo ED in the non-ED cohort and no significant changes in ED medications in the ED cohort when compared to baseline (53.3 vs 46.7%, p=0.72). Conclusions At long-term, Rezum preserved sexual function in patients with no baseline ED and improved sexual function in patients with baseline ED. However, patients with baseline ED may experience temporary decreases in sexual function at 12-months postoperatively. Additional larger studies are warranted to further evaluate these real-world results. Disclosure No.

Effect of platelet rich plasma injection on bone formation in the expanded mid-palatal suture in rabbits: a randomized controlled animal study

BackgroundMid-Palatal suture expansion needs long retention period due to delayed bone formation in the expanded suture. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated source of growth factors which increase bone formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PRP injection on bone formation in expanded mid palatal suture in rabbits.MethodsIn this prospective randomized controlled animal study, Twenty male rabbits (8-weeks-old) were subjected to mid-palatal expansion for 5 days. Animals were afterwards randomly divided into control group A & study group B. PRP was prepared and injected in the mid-palatal suture in animals belonging to group B only. After 6 weeks of retention, all animals were euthanized, and premaxillae were prepared for histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Student t-test and paired t-test were used to compare the means of the two groups and within the same group respectively. Significance level set at p ≤ 0.05.ResultsHistomorphometric analysis revealed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the mean percentage of new bone in the study group (14.4%) compared to the control (1.4%). Suture width in study group was significantly wider than the control group (278.8 ± 9μms and 120.4 ± 3.4μms, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in vascular density in study group than control group (309 ± 65.34 and 243.86 ± 48.1, p = 0.021). Osteopontin immuno-expression revealed a significant increase in optical density in study group than control group (0.21 ± 0.02 & 0.12 ± 0.01, p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn rabbit model, PRP injection can accelerate new bone formation in the expanded mid-palatal suture when compared to the control. This could hopefully result in a more stable midpalatal expansion and a reduced retention period.

Comparing the effectiveness of different health education approaches for preventing tobacco use among school-going students in a government school of Dadra and Nagar Haveli district.

Four out of five people who use tobacco begin before they reach adulthood. Schools provide the opportunity to address the young population before they initiate tobacco use. Different health education approaches have their unique merits and demerits. The present study aims to assess the use of various approaches for effective communication with students regarding tobacco hazards. It was a health education intervention study done at a Government School in Dadra and Nagar Haveli district. The students of class IX and class XI of Government School were educated about the harmful effects of tobacco and government regulations against tobacco use using various methods of health education; chalk and talk, panel discussion, roleplay, pamphlet distribution, etc., The Student "t" test was used to compare scores obtained by students before and after the intervention. The Chi-square test was used to test associations between variables. Bonferroni post hoc test was used to test for significant differences between various methods of health education imparted to students. A total of 367 students participated in the study, with females comprising 53% of the sample. The mean age of the students was 15.7 years (±1.05). The study found the magnitude of a statistically significant increase in mean score percentages for knowledge through various health education methods: chalk and talk (37.0%, P < 0.0001), pamphlet (26.65%, P < 0.0001), roleplay (20.83%, P = 0.0003), panel discussion (14.7%, P = 0.0009), poster (12.6%, P = 0.0025), symposium (8.4%, P = 0.0221), and leaflet (-4.0%, P = 0.0382). Furthermore, the Bonferroni post hoc test demonstrated that the chalk-and-talk method was more effective in enhancing knowledge, while the leaflet method was more influential in shaping attitudes. The chalk-and-talk method is the most effective health education method for awareness of tobacco hazards among class IX and XI students. While planning for health education dissemination, the approach should be chosen wisely considering the content to be delivered.

تأثير زاوية الشفرة والسرعة الأمامية على أداء جزازة العشب MURRAY-15.5hp

A field experiment was conducted to design, implement, and test the effect of blade angle represented by cutting angle and foreword speed on the performance of a MURRAY-15.5hp lawn mower machine. Three types of blades with cutting angles of 20o, 25o, and a straight angle were used, as well as three forward speeds of 2.99, 4.32, and 5.60 km h-1. The slippage percentage, field productivity, material quantity and total costs were studied. The results indicated the following: decreasing the cutting angle from 25o to 20o and then to a straight angle considerably decreases the slippage percentage and a significant decrease in total costs .Also, a significant increase in the field and Material productivity. Increasing the foreword speed resulted in a significant increase in the slippage percentage and a significant increase in in the field and material productivity, and decrease in the total costs. The interaction between the straight blade type and the forward speed 2.99 km h-1 led to the lowest slippage at 8.34%, while the interaction between the straight blade type and forward speed 5.60 km h-1 resulted in the lowest total costs amounted to 12036 dinars*hectare-1 and the highest field productivity 0.360 ha h-1 while the highest material productivity was 121.25 kg h-1.

Increasing Amil and Nadzir’s Capasity through Manajement Tools Training in ZISWAF Management

Management Tools training for ZISWAF Management is used to assist performance, especially for ZISWAF Institution practitioners, namely amil and nadzir in managing their activities. This program focuses more on improving the skills of amil and nadzir in managing ZISWAF by using management tools tailored to the needs of the institution. Community Based Research is a PKM method by dividing training stages; Facilitation, communicating with adult learning, communicating with various experiences (experiential learning) and developing educational programs (educational program development). This training was effective as an effort to increase the capacity of Amil and Nadzir, seen from the conditions before and after the training practice which showed a quite significant percentage increase, namely seen from the indicators of implementing the training program from non-existent to existing, module socialization (50%), training (60%), awareness as well as community response (30%.). These results show that this activity has met the specified specifications (quality), within the specified cost (C), time (T) limits, and resource utilization can be carried out effectively and efficiently. The implication is that ZISWAF institutions need to be synergistic and sustainable.Management Tools training for ZISWAF Management is used to assist performance, especially for ZISWAF Institution practitioners, namely amil and nadzir in managing their activities. This program focuses more on improving the skills of amil and nadzir in managing ZISWAF by using management tools tailored to the needs of the institution. Community Based Research is a PKM method by dividing training stages; Facilitation, communicating with adult learning, communicating with various experiences (experiential learning) and developing educational programs (educational program development). This training was effective as an effort to increase the capacity of Amil and Nadzir, seen from the conditions before and after the training practice which showed a quite significant percentage increase, namely seen from the indicators of implementing the training program from non-existent to existing, module socialization (50%), training (60%), awareness as well as community response (30%.). These results show that this activity has met the specified specifications (quality), within the specified cost (C), time (T) limits, and resource utilization can be carried out effectively and efficiently. The implication is that ZISWAF institutions need to be synergistic and sustainable.

Unraveling the Role of Apoptosis in the Antiproliferative Activity of β-Glucan on A549 Cells

Previous studies have reported the anticancer properties of β-glucan on various cancer cells. The objective of this research was to investigate the involvement of apoptosis in the cytotoxic action of β-glucan on the A549 cells. The cytotoxic impact of this drug on A549 cells was examined by subjecting them to various quantities of the substance, and the XTT assay was utilized to determine cell survival. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate apoptosis. A statistically significant and dose-dependent cytotoxic impact on A549 cells was observed upon treatment with β-glucan. The calculated IC50 value of β-glucan for A549 cells after a 24-hour treatment period was discovered to be 82.16 μg/mL. Further investigations carried out using the IC50 dose of β-glucan revealed a significant increase in the late apoptotic cells percentage. The capacity of β-glucan to trigger apoptosis is thought to be the cause of its cytotoxic action on lung cancer. The revelation of this discovery emphasizes the promising possibilities of β-glucan as an effective therapeutic choice.

Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Extracted from Indoor Air of Coffee Shops on Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cell (KB/C152): An in Vitro Approach

Introduction: The two main causes of indoor air pollution (IAP) are cooking and smoking. Toxic substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), recognized as human carcinogens, are present in cooking and tobacco smoke. This study aims to determine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of PAHs collected from the indoor air of coffee shops on human cell line (KB/C152) in vitro approach.&#x0D; Materials and methods: Sampling pumps at a 2 l/min flow rate for 5 hours were applied to collect indoor air samples. Next, KB cells in cell culture medium were exposed to different concentrations of extracted PAHs using Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) test. Finally, terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) test and cell cycle assessments were both examined using flow cytometry.&#x0D; Results: The MTT test revealed a significant cytotoxic effect on KB cells depending on the PAHs concentrationas compared to the control cell line. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) value against KB cells was 100 ± 3.09 µg/ml. Accordingly, exposure to extracted PAHs resulted in an arrest in the cell cycle at the sub-G1 checkpoint. The extracted PAHs suppressed the cell cycle in the sub-G1 phase, damaged DNA, and arrested KB cells from proliferating. Additionally, a statistically significant increase in DNA cleavage percentages (p ≤ 0.05) was seen in the TUNEL test, which also showed a dose-dependent increase in DNA damage.&#x0D; Conclusion: Extracted PAHs caused DNA damage and arrested in the cell cycle in epidermoid carcinoma of the mouth cells (KB/C152) in vitro mechanisms. This evaluation highlights mechanisms of exposure to extracted PAHs and their detrimental health effects.

Iraqi Awassi Lambs Performance Fed Nano Clay Minerals

This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding natural and Nano clay minerals on the digestibility, rumen characteristics, blood parameters, and meat muscle in Iraqi Awassi lambs. The study was conducted at the animal farm of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, using 25 lambs aged between 3 and 4 months, with an average weight of 16 kg. The animals were divided into five groups, each containing five lambs. The first group served as the control group (T1) and did not receive any supplement to their food. The diets of the other groups (T2, T3, T4, and T5) contained clay minerals in proportions of 2% and 4% natural clay, and 2.4 g of nano-clay minerals per animal per day, respectively. To provide a balanced diet, alfalfa hay was introduced as a roughage feed, and concentrate feed was added at 3% of the lambs’ body weight. The feed intake was measured weekly for a duration of 90 days. The study showed significant differences in organic digestibility, no significant in the pH and concentration of ammonia. Volatile fatty acids showed significance (P≤0.05) in Group T3. Moreover, significant differences (P≤0.01) were found in glucose levels and (P≤0.05) in cholesterol and triglyceride levels (mg/dl). The chemical analysis of muscle indicated a significant increase (P≤0.01) in protein percentages.