Statistical Difference In Terms Research Articles

Effectiveness of the full digital flow in the confection of implant-supported single prostheses and comparative analysis between two techniques: with an abutment or direct. Cross-sectional cohort.

With technological advances in Dentistry, the search for more predictable, integrated, and agile planning and treatments increases. In Implantology, despite the digital flow being greatly encouraged, doubts remain about its technical success. Therefore, the aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the full digital flow using two techniques for the fabrication of implant prostheses: with an abutment or direct to the implant, comparatively evaluating the time required for interproximal adjustment to adapt the crowns, occlusal adjustment, and the need to return to the laboratory for corrections. The sample consisted of 46 patients who underwent the installation of 75 implants, treated at the ILAPEO School of Dentistry surgical clinic. They were all over 18, of both sexes and received implants in single edentulous spaces that required rehabilitation with crowns. These patients were divided into two groups, with Group I (G1), comprising 27 patients (38 implants) who had received abutments at the time of surgery, and Group II (G2) comprising 28 patients (37 implants) who had received healing caps, with 9 patients in common in both groups. In G1, scan bodies adapted to the abutments were used. In G2, they were directly adapted to the implants. The cases were scanned and sent to the laboratory. When the crowns were installed, the prosthesis adjustment data was recorded (in seconds), as well as the need to return to the laboratory for adjustments and corrections. The data from the groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test. There were no statistical differences in terms of occlusal and proximal adjustment time. The need to return prosthetic work to the laboratory was compared between the groups using the chi-squared test. The GraphPad Prism 8 software (San Diego, CA, USA) was used for the statistical analysis, and all tests were applied at a significance level of 5%. Data analysis leads to the conclusion that digital flow made it possible to obtain satisfactory implant-supported single crowns in both groups. No differences were found between the two techniques regarding the time taken to adapt to the mouth and the need to return to the laboratory.

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: A Multicentric Case Series of 65 Spanish Patients

IntroductionPRP is a rare entity of unknown etiopathogenesis. Lack of management guidelines makes it a challenge for clinicians. ObjectiveTo add our experience to increase evidence about PRP. MethodsWe performed a retrospective, descriptive and multicentric study of 65 patients with PRP, being the largest European case series of patients with PRP. ResultsPRP was more frequent in male patients with an average age of 51 years, but erythrodermic forms presented in older patients (average age 61 years).Six (75%) paediatric patients and ten (60%) non-erythrodermic adults controlled their disease with topical corticosteroids. On the contrary, 26 (68%) erythrodermic patients required biologic therapy as last and effective therapy line requiring an average of 6.5 months to achieve complete response. ConclusionOur study showed a statistical difference in terms of outcome and response to treatment between children or patients with limited disease and patients who develop erythroderma.

Quality of Life and Sexual Function after Laparoscopic Posterior Vaginal Plication Plus Sacral Colpopexy for Severe Posterior Vaginal Prolapse.

Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy (LSC) is the gold standard treatment for women with apical/anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP). For isolated posterior vaginal prolapse, instead, the literature suggests fascial native tissue repair. This is a retrospective 2-year quality-of-life follow-up study after laparoscopic posterior plication (LPP) combined with LSC in patients with anterior/apical prolapse combined with severe posterior colpocele. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the subjective outcomes quality of life (QoL), sexual function, and patient satisfaction rate. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate perioperative and anatomical outcomes at the 2-year follow-up. A total of 139 consecutive patients with anterior and/or apical prolapse (POP-Q stage ≥ II) and severe posterior vaginal prolapse (posterior POP-Q stage ≥ III) were retrospectively selected from our database among women who underwent, from November 2018 to February 2021, a "two-meshes" LSC. The patients were classified into Group A (81 patients; LSC plus LPP) and Group B (67 patients; LSC alone). The primary endpoint was evaluated using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI-6), the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and the EuroQol (EQ-5D). The secondary endpoint was studied using the POP-Q study and an intra-, peri-, and post-operative complications assessment. Two-year follow-up data were analyzed for the study. At 2 years, all women showed a statistically significant amelioration of their symptoms on the QoL questionnaires. We found a statistical difference in favor of posterior plication in terms of the PGI-I successful outcome rate (Group A versus B: 85.3% versus 67.1%), FSDS (median 11 versus 21), and PISQ-12 (median 89 versus 62) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). A significant improvement of all EQ-5D values was observed from baseline to 2-year follow-up, and only for the "pain/discomfort" domains did we observe a significant improvement in LSC plus LPP patients versus LSC alone (p < 0.05). LSC plus LPP women showed, at 2 years, a significant amelioration of their Ap and GH POP-Q points. We observed no statistical differences in terms of intra-post-operative complications or anatomic failure rate between groups. Our LPP approach to LSC appears to be a safe, feasible, and effective treatment for advanced pelvic organ prolapse with a significant impact on the patient's general health and sexual quality of life. Adding laparoscopic posterior vaginal plication to "two-meshes" sacral colpopexy is recommended in patients with apical/anterior prolapse and concomitant severe posterior colpocele. This surgical approach, in addition to improving the anatomical results of these patients, is associated with a significant improvement in sexual and quality of life indexes.

Accidental ingestion of multiple magnetic beads by children and their impact on the gastrointestinal tract: a single-center study

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to enhance the treatment protocols and help understand the harm caused by the accidental ingestion of magnetic beads by children.MethodsData were collected from 72 children with multiple gastrointestinal perforations or gastrointestinal obstructions. The 72 pediatric patients were divided into a perforation and a non-perforation group. The data collected for the analysis included the gender, age, medical history, place of residence (rural or urban), and symptoms along with the educational background of the caregiver, the location and quantity of any foreign bodies discovered during the procedure, whether perforation was confirmed during the procedure, and the number of times magnetic beads had been accidentally ingested.ResultsThe accuracy rate of preoperative gastrointestinal perforation diagnosis via ultrasound was 71%, while that of the upright abdominal X-ray method was only 46%. In terms of symptoms, the risk of perforation was 13.844 and 12.703 times greater in pediatric patients who experienced vomiting and abdominal pain with vomiting and abdominal distension, respectively, compared to patients in an asymptomatic state. There were no statistical differences between the perforation and the non-perforation groups in terms of age, gender, medical history, and the number of magnetic beads ingested (P > 0.05); however, there were statistical differences in terms of white blood cell count (P = 0.048) and c-reactive protein levels (P = 0.033). A total of 56% of cases underwent a laparotomy along with perforation repair and 19% underwent gastroscopy along with laparotomy. All pediatric patients recovered without complications following surgery.ConclusionAbdominal ultrasonography and/or upright abdominal X-ray analyses should be carried out as soon as possible in case of suspicion of accidental ingestion of magnetic beads by children. In most cases, immediate surgical intervention is required. Given the serious consequences of ingesting this type of foreign body, it is essential to inform parents and/or caregivers about the importance of preventing young children from using such products.

Clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods and results of surgically treated histologically benign cardiac myxomas.

Myxomas are primary cardiac tumours that may be detected incidentally due to embolic events, intracardiac obstructive features or non-specific structural symptoms. The aim of this study was to share our experience of clinical features, diagnostic methods, surgical procedures and postoperative follow up of surgically treated cardiac myxomas. Data of 34 patients who underwent surgery for a cardiac myxoma between January 2006 and June 2022 were retrospectively analysed. Group 1 (n = 19) consisted of patients who were symptomatic and group 2 ( n = 15) patients were asymptomatic. The medical records of the patients, their clinical status, diagnostic methods, operation information and postoperative course data were collected and recorded. A total of 34 patients (16 female; mean age 54.5 ± 8.8 years) underwent cardiac myxoma resection with cardiopulmonary bypass. Fifteen (44.1%) patients were diagnosed incidentally with asymptomatic myxoma. An additional cardiac surgical procedure was performed in six patients (17.7%). The 34 cardiac myxomas that were surgically resected were localised in the left atrium in 25 patients (73.5%) and in the right atrium in nine patients (26.5%). Patients' most common symptoms were dyspnoea (42.1%), palpitations (21.1%), ischaemic stroke (15.8%) and syncope (10.5%). There was no incident of 30-day mortality and no recurrence was observed in any patient during the follow-up period. The duration of surgical intervention in symptomatic patients was significantly shorter than in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.0001), but there was no statistical difference in terms of characteristics. Myxomas are benign tumours, but they are serious pathologies that require early treatment because of signs of obstruction, embolic complications and confusion, with left atrial thrombus in the differential diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Predictive Role of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Mean Platelet Volume in Preterm Deliveries: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Preterm birth is associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality. Identifying women at risk for preterm labour early in pregnancy may improve pregnancy outcomes. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) can be helpful in predicting preterm labour, as infection is an important factor in early preterm deliveries, with immunity playing a key role in preterm labour. Aim: To evaluate the predictive role of the NLR and MPV in preterm deliveries. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care and research hospital from August 2022 to October 2023. Haematological and clinical data were retrieved for preterm deliveries (n=79, group I) and term deliveries (n=151, group II). The two groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, obstetric and laboratory findings, including maternal age, gravida, parity, birth weight, NLR, MPV, and haemoglobin levels. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean values among different groups. Categorical values were evaluated with Pearson’s Chi-square test. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic properties of the tests. Results: The two groups showed no statistical difference in terms of demographic parameters such as the mother’s age (p-value=0.611), parity (p-value=0.798), and gravida (p-value=0.583). The NLR was higher in group I (5.8±5.01) compared to group II (4.3±1.75), and this difference was statistically significant with a p-value of &lt;0.001. MPV was observed to be lower in group II (8.7±0.96) compared to group I (8.9±1.07); however, this difference was not statistically significant (p-value=0.128). The mean baby weight and mean maternal haemoglobin in group I were significantly lower compared to group II. Conclusion: In this study, the NLR value was significantly higher in patients with preterm deliveries compared to term deliveries. This study highlights the role of NLR as an emerging predictor of preterm deliveries and emphasises that NLR, obtained from an inexpensive and routinely conducted haemogram, has the potential to be used as an early indicator of preterm deliveries.

Comparison of menstrual cycle irregularities among young women based on coronavirus disease 2019 infection status: a cross-sectional study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that has emerged recently has significantly affected and continues to affect our lives. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 virus has significant effects on women's health due to gender-related physiological differences. The aim of this study was to compare the menstrual cycle status of young women according to their status of having had coronavirus disease 2019. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 young women aged between 18 and 25 years who received at least one dose of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. The study data were collected as a survey on the online platform. The descriptive characteristics of young women who had had and had not had coronavirus disease 2019 were distributed homogeneously between the groups (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in terms of menstrual cycle patterns (p>0.05). The mean scores from the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and its subscales and the mean scores from the COVID Stress Scale and its subscales were similar in both groups, and no statistically significant difference was identified (p>0.05). Although menstrual cycle irregularities due to coronavirus disease 2019 have been reported, these effects are usually observed during the pandemic. A decrease in stress and anxiety with the end of the pandemic may explain the return of the menstrual cycle to normal.

A Comparative Study of the Toxicities and Local Recurrence of Conventional External Beam Radiotherapy versus Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women, which is treated by a multi-modality approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Objective: The aim of the study is to compare the early and late treatment toxicities and the local recurrence following Conventional and Hypofractionated External Beam Radiotherapy in breast cancer patients after surgery. Methods: A randomized study was conducted for two years including 150 patients. The patients were divided into two arms, with Arm-A receiving a total dose of 50Gy/25# and the Arm-B receiving 40Gy/16#. Results: Early and late treatment toxicities were comparable in both the arms, except for skin toxicity which was more in the hypofractionated arm (Arm-B). Local Recurrence was observed in Arm-A in 1 patient at Month 17 of follow-up, and in Arm-B at Month 13 in 1 patient and at Month 21 in 1 patient. Conclusion: Hypofractionated radiotherapy given over a short period of time is comparable to Conventional fractionation radiotherapy without any significant statistical difference in terms of toxicities or local recurrence; with an added advantage of reduced treatment time, reduced duration of hospital stays, better patients’ compliance and reduced cost of treatment.

Abstract C058: Clinical relevance of telomerase upregulation via TERT promoter mutation or TERC amplification in high-grade ovarian cancer

Abstract Background: Increased telomerase activity confers a survival advantage to cancer cells and is considered one of the cancer hallmarks. The two main molecular mechanisms responsible for telomerase upregulation are the amplification of the telomerase RNA component gene (TERCamp) which serves as the template for telomeric repeats, and mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptasegene promoter (TERTm), which encored the catalytic unit of telomerase. Increased telomerase activity has been detected in more than 90% of ovarian cancer (OC) but the clinical impact of this phenotype remains understudied. Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients (pts) with high grade OC who underwent large-panel sequencing (Foundation Medicine) from National University Cancer Institute, Singapore and Institut Gustave Roussy, France. TERTm and TERCamp were correlated with clinical, pathological and molecular features as well as progression-free survival (PFS, calculated from histological diagnosis to first progression). Results: Out of the 503 pts with OC analyzed, 15 pts (3.0%) presented TERT mutation and 39 pts (7.8%) had TERC amplification. In the TERTm subgroup, only one hotspot mutation was detected (c.-124C&amp;gt;T). Compared to the wild-type (WT) group, there was significantly higher frequency of FIGO I/II diseases (57% vs 17%, p=0.001) and clear-cell histology (80% vs 14%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Consequently, there were more ARID1A and PIK3CA mutations and median loss of heterozygosity (LOH) score was significantly lower (5.3% vs 16.4%, p=0.006). Interestingly, TERTm were exclusive to P53 and BRCA1/2 mutations. With a follow-up of 64 months, the median PFS was 8.1 months, 18.7 months and 25.5 months for the TERTm, P53m and WT subgroups respectively (p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, TERTm emerged as an independent negative prognostic biomarker. In the TERCamp subgroup, compared to WT, there was no difference in term of stage (74% of advanced stages vs 82%), or histologic type (77% of high-grade serous vs 71%). TERCamp was associated with a significantly higher tumor mutational load (6.2 mut/mbase vs 4.2, p&amp;lt;0.001), more P53 mutations (90% vs 72%, p=0.014), more BRCA1/2 mutations (33% vs 17%, p=0.016) and higher LOH (22% vs 15%, p=0.023). There were no statistical differences in terms of PFS. Conclusion: This study highlights intriguing heterogeneity in high-grade OC pts with telomerase upregulation. TERTm are associated with a clear-cell phenotype and TERTm and P53m define three prognostic subgroups among OC patients. On the other hand, TERCamp are detected in genomically unstable tumors presenting a higher mutational burden and copy-number alterations. These results emphasize the critical importance of the molecular mechanism underlying increased telomerase activity, which may impact the efficacy of telomerase-targeted therapy. Citation Format: Felix Blanc-Durand, Natalie Ngoi, Damien Vasseur, Patricia Pautier, Judith Michels, Kaissa Ouali, Catherine Genestie, Sophie Cotteret, Etenne Rouleau, Yi Wan Lim, Siew Eng Lim, Diana Lim, Silvana Talisa Wijaya, Alexandra Leary, David SP Tan. Clinical relevance of telomerase upregulation via TERT promoter mutation or TERC amplification in high-grade ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C058.

Evaluation of the knowledge level of pediatricians on dental trauma and their awareness of the ToothSOS mobileapplication: A cross sectional study.

Pediatricians play an essential role in managing pediatric oral emergencies; hence, they should have accurate information on dental injuries. This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of pediatricians regarding traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and their awareness of the ToothSOS mobile application. A survey comprising 10 questions was created on Google forms, and the links were sent to the participants via electronic mail and a mobile application. The demographic characteristics and the knowledge level of pediatricians about TDI and their awareness of the ToothSOS mobile application were evaluated. The questions were prepared by following similar studies and the current guidelines of the International Association of Dental Traumatology. A total of 229 pediatricians (74.2% female) participated in this study. The correct answer rates revealed statistical differences in terms of profession and experience on the following issues: the most frequently traumatized tooth, the preference of the antibiotic agent, and the management of avulsed primary tooth (p < .05). The decision to consult a dentist revealed statistical differences in the profession (p = .001). The correct answers on the correlation between the age group and dental trauma accompanied by soft tissue injuries showed statistical differences in experience (p = .005). Although none of the participants knew the ToothSOS application, 91.7% of them preferred using this tool in future practices. This rate was statistically higher in participants with an experience of more than 10 years (p = .013). The knowledge level of pediatricians regarding dental trauma was found to be sufficient, except for the questions on avulsion injuries. However, the fact that the participants were unaware of the ToothSOS mobile application was the most considerable result of the study, and this finding highlighted the importance of informing pediatricians dealing with oral injuries regarding the latest updates on dental traumatology.

Skinfolds compressibility and digital caliper's time response in skinfold measurement in male and female young adults.

The skinfold caliper reading of the skinfold thickness depends on its dynamic compressibility. This has led to the fact that, while it is indicated that skinfold readings should be taken when the reading is stable, there is no consensus on at what second the reading should be taken after the application of the skinfold caliper. The new Lipowise PRO digital skinfold caliper was used to analyze the evolution of skinfold readings under skinfold caliper pressure. The aim of the present investigation were: a) to analyze the evolution of the reading time of individual skinfolds when subjected to skinfold caliper pressure and when the skinfold reading reaches stability; b) to describe the physical behavior of skinfold tissues' time response to skinfold caliper pressure, and to explore differences between sites and subjects' skinfolds compressibility; and c) to analyze the sex differences in both the reading and the evolution of the skinfold over time. A descriptive cross-sectional design was followed with a convenience sample of 165 healthy young adults (79 males and 86 females), with eight skinfolds measured using the Lipowise PRO skinfold caliper. The Lipowise PRO skinfold caliper uses a programmable reading time allowing for the measurement of the skinfold's thickness at a rate of 100 times per second, and monitoring skinfold behavior over the 3-second measurement period, thereby enabling the assessment of the tissue response to the constant force exerted by the skinfold caliper jaws. All skinfolds showed statistical differences in terms of compressibility characteristics (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found between measurement time points for individual skinfolds and sum of skinfolds (p < 0.001-0.025). Stabilization being found depending on the skinfold measured from 1.5 seconds for biceps, subscapular, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal, and thigh skinfolds; 2.0 seconds for ∑6 and ∑8 skinfolds; and 2.5 seconds for triceps and calf skinfolds. It was observed an effect of sex on this issue (p < 0.001-0.030). More specifically, in the case of males, the supraspinale and abdominal skinfolds stabilized after 1.5 seconds; the calf skinfold and ∑6 and ∑8 skinfolds stabilized after 2 seconds; while the rest of the skinfolds did not stabilize until 3 seconds. In the case of females, no stabilization of the triceps skinfold was found, while the rest of the individual skinfolds and the ∑6 and ∑8 skinfolds stabilized from 1.5 seconds. A regression analysis indicated that skinfold thickness could be predicted based on measurement time in 50-77% of the cases (p = 0.001). A skinfold caliper application, using the digital caliper Lipowise PRO, of three seconds may be sufficient for achieving stability in the measurement and for obtaining the minimum value for most individual and sum of skinfolds. However, there are certain skinfolds that may require more time when performed on certain individuals, which vary according to sex.

A Study of Sensing (S) and Intuition (N) Personality Characteristics in Selected Business School Students in Gujarat State

Personality is one of the utmost important assets of an individual which aids in categorizing the bounds of success, happiness and achievement in our life[1]. The study explores the sensing and intuitive personality dimensions of selected business school students across Gujarat state. Further, the study explores statistical differences in terms of various demographic aspects. NERIS Type Explorer® Scale was used to check the personality type of a total of 1067 management students. 69.5 per cent (742) of the respondents have a Sensing (S) personality dimension compared to 30.5 per cent (325) Intuition (N) personality dimension as dominating type. The conclusions of this research study are also reinforced by past research work which confirms that there are noteworthy differences between Sensing (S) and Intuitive (N) personality dimensions regarding selected demographic variables.

Effectiveness and Safety of Eliglustat Treatment in Gaucher Disease: Real-life Unicentric Experience

PurposeThe therapy and management of Gaucher disease (GD) have radically changed with the use of substrate reduction therapy, of which eliglustat is the most widely known drug, allowing it to overcome the limits of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). The rarity of GD and the limited use of eliglustat outside clinical trials require further study of its strengths and weaknesses. MethodsIn this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of eliglustat in a cohort of 12 patients with GD followed up in our center, reporting a reduction in both chitotriosidase (394.3 vs 181.1 nmol/h/mL, P = 0.027) and glucosylsphingosine values (45.1 vs 18.9 ng/mL, P <0.001) after at least 12 months of therapy compared with baseline, regardless of patient demographic characteristics and GD characteristics. FindingsThere were no drug-related serious adverse effects and no drug-related cardiac events. Most adverse events were mild and transient, mainly dyspepsia and abdominal pain. Of interest, we reported an absence of statistical difference in terms of response regarding glucosylsphingosine reduction in relation to naive or prior exposure to ERT (P = 0.296), which was confirmed also when patients were placed in naive and treated groups for <5 vs >5 years (P = 0.667). ImplicationsThe use of eliglustat immediately after diagnosis may guarantee the best treatment for patients with milder phenotypes or with aggressive disease after an initial stabilization with ERT compared with ERT, which cannot adequately remove the disease burden despite the apparent response, thus potentially reducing future complications caused by substrate deposits.

Microlumbar Discectomy vs Minimally Invasive Tubular Microdiscectomy: A Prospective Comparative Analysis

Background and Aim: Lumbar disc prolapse is a common cause of backache and radicular symptoms in lower limbs. Different surgical options have been described to compare the functional outcome, complications, and recurrence following surgery for lumbar disc prolapse by classical microlumbar discectomy (MLD) and minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy. The advantages of one procedure over the other were also analyzed. Methods and Materials/Patients: A prospective, observational study conducted over a period of 1 year in the Department of Neurosurgery, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, among patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation by either microlumbar discectomy or minimally invasive surgery using a tubular retractor system. Ninety-nine patients who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed and tabulated for the outcome. Results: The two groups did not show a statistical difference in terms of functional outcome, complications, or recurrence rate. However, the need for post-operative analgesics, blood loss, and hence hospitalization was less in the tubular discectomy group. Conclusion: Both procedures are equally effective in terms of surgical results. However, the advantages and the subtle tendency of the patients to adopt “keyhole” make the tube an attractive option.

Parenchymal microcalcifications in the thyroid gland: Clinical significance and management strategy.

This study is firstly, to investigate the presence of microcalcification among the patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound and biopsy and to evaluate the incidence of intrathyroid lymphatic spread and cervical lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer with thyroid microcalcifications. Also, we compared the diagnostic performance between fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) for assessing parenchymal microcalcifications in the thyroid gland. We retrospectively assessed total 66 patients with thyroid microcalcifications on ultrasound. The histopathologic characteristics of the surgical specimens considered as the gold standard for diagnosing malignancy. Patients with surgically proven malignancy were evaluated for multifocality, intrathyroid lymphatic spread in the opposite lobe, or cervical lymph node metastasis. Among the 66 confirmed patients, 53 patients had malignant lesions (80.3%) and 13 patients had benign lesions (19.7%). The pathologic results of the 44 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. Among them, 33 patients (75%) showed multifocality, 30 patients (68.2%) showed intrathyroid lymphatic tumor spread. CNB was performed on 41 patients, and FNA was performed on 54 patients. Both CNB and FNA were performed on 29 patients. There were no statistical differences in terms of diagnostic performance between CNB and FNA. Thyroid microcalcifications demonstrate a high prevalence of malignancy. Both CNB and FNA demonstrate similar diagnostic accuracies.

Surgical and functional outcomes of Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy versus conventional robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy in patients with biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer. Are outcomes worth it? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Radical prostatectomy is the standard of care for prostate cancer. Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) is being widely adopted due to positive functional outcomes compared to conventional robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (c-RARP). Concerns regarding potency, oncological outcomes, and learning curve are still a matter of debate. Following Preferred Instrument for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines and PROSPERO registration CRD42023398724, a systematic review was performed in February 2023 on RS-RARP compared to conventional c-RARP. Outcomes of interest were continence recovery, potency, positive surgical margins (PSM), biochemical recurrence (BCR), estimated blood loss (EBL), length of stay (LOS), operation time and complications. Data were analyzed using R version 4.2.2. A total of 17 studies were included, totaling 2751 patients, out of which 1221 underwent RS-RARP and 1530 underwent c-RARP. Continence was analyzed using two definitions: zero pad and one safety pad. Cumulative analysis showed with both definitions statistical difference in terms of continence recovery at 1 month (0 pad odds ratio [OR] = 4.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.32-15.77]; Safety pad OR = 13.19; 95% CI = [8.92-19.49]), as well as at 3 months (0 pad OR, 2.93; 95% CI = [1.57-5.46]; Safety pad OR = 5.31; 95% CI = [1.33-21.13]). Continence recovery at 12 months was higher in the one safety pad group after RS-RARP (OR = 4.37; 95% CI = [1.97-9.73]). The meta-analysis revealed that overall PSM rates without pathologic stage classification were not different following RS-RARP (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = [0.96-1.33]. Analysis according to the tumor stage revealed PSM rates in pT2 and pT3 tumors are not different following RS-RARP compared to c-RARP (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = [0.84-2.55]) and (OR = 1.41; 95% CI = [0.93-2.13]), respectively. No difference in potency at 12 months (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = [0.69-1.41], BCR at 12 months (OR = 0.99; 95% CI = [0.46-2.16]), EBL (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.01; 95% CI = [-0.31 to 0.29]), LOS (SMD = -0.01; 95% CI = [-0.48 to 0.45]), operation time (SMD = -0.14; 95% CI = [-0.41 to 0.12]) or complications (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = [0.62-1.29]) were observed. Our analysis suggests that RS-RARP is safe and feasible. Faster continence recovery rate is seen after RS-RARP. Potency outcomes appear to be similar. PSM rates are not different following RS-RARP regardless of pathologic stage. Further quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effects of Different Levels of Surgical Separation on Neck Bulge and Swallowing Disorders during Endoscopic Thyroidectomy.

Our study aims to compare the effects of different levels of access on postoperative neck bulge and swallowing disorder and provide a better level for endoscopic thyroidectomy. The patients were selected retrospectively between March 2021 to September 2021 by the Department of Thyroid Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. They were divided into two groups according to the level of the free flap during surgery: group A (the superficial cervical fascial level) and group B (the superficial deep cervical fascial level). Age, sex, body mass index, diameter of the primary lesion, postoperative neck bulge, and swallowing disorders and other complications were compared between the two groups. A total of 40 patients who underwent endoscopic unilateral lobectomy plus central region lymph node dissection were enrolled in our study. Twenty in group A and 20 in group B. The age, gender, body mass index, diameter, and the proportion of benign and malignant primary lesions were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05), and there was also no difference in thyroid function between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in terms of bleeding and operation time during the operation (P>0.05). There were also no statistical differences in terms of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or hypoparathyroidism (P>0.05). However, patients in group B were superior to those in group A in the occurrence of neck bulge and swallowing disorders (P<0.05). These symptoms were most evident one month after surgery. Six months after the operation, only 4 patients in group B still complained of neck "swelling" and uncomfortable straining which did not resolve until 1 year after the operation. No statistical significance between long-term results and complication rates could be observed in either group. In endoscopic thyroidectomy, the superficial cervical fascial level may be a better option for reducing postoperative neck bulge and swallowing disorders, which needs further validation by conducting a large sample study.

Effect of Viusid Agro® on the Growth of Banana (Musa Spp.) Seedlings Under Nursery Conditions

The commercial production of plantains and bananas (Musa spp.) involves several aspects to overcome, including those ones related to abiotic and biotic factors. Catalysis, S. L. Agroveterinary Division has developed the product VIUSID agro® as a plant growth promoter in agriculture. Research centers from several countries have shown field studies that reveal the product efficacy. Studies conducted on this topic support the importance of the use of this product in crops, such as cassava, papaya, pumpkin, cucumber, bean, chickpea, garlic, among others at the Research Institute of Tropical Roots and Tuber Crops (INIVIT). This research is carried out with the aim of determining the effect of VIUSID agro® on the growth of banana seedlings. The experimental design was conducted in February 2020, using banana Musa AAA seedlings, Cavendish subgroup, 'Gran enano' cultivar of six months of age from meristem cultures, transplanted to polyethylene bags with a mixture of red soil and organic matter (70:30%), located at the Center for Accelerated Seed Reproduction (CRAS). VIUSID agro® (0,2 mL L-1) was applied as foliar application during the first, third and fifth weeks after transplanting. The treated seedlings showed significant statistical differences in terms of: basal diameter (mm), height (cm), number of leaves, foliar area (cm2), radial length of emerged roots directly from the corm (cm), biomass of the foliar and belowground area with respect to the control treatment. VIUSID agro® is an excellent biostimulant, which allows the farmer to take to his farms more vigorous and better adapted seedlings to adverse conditions.

Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Versus Warfarin in Adult Cancer Patients as a Precision Medicine for Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a conditionoften seen in patients diagnosed with cancer and is recognized as a predictor of poor outcomes in these patients. The probability ofVTE recurringis generally higher in people with cancer than in those without; hence, addressing this issue is essential when making healthcare decisions. Therefore, our systematic review was primarily designed to compare low-weight- molecular heparin (LMWH) to warfarin in reducing recurrent VTE among cancer patients. However, other outcomes were also evaluated, such as mortality and bleeding events observed more in cancer patients. The selection of relevant articles was carried out using a database search and a manual search, which involved reviewing reference lists of articles eligible for inclusion in the current review. The methodological quality of each included study was then assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool in the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). Additionally, pooled results were examined using the Review Manager software and presented as forest plots. Our search of electronic databases elicited a total of 2163 articles, of which only six were deemed eligible for inclusion and analysis. Data pooled from the six studies demonstrated the effectiveness of LMWH in minimizing the reoccurrence of VTE over warfarin [risk ratio (RR): 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.95; p = 0.03]. However, LMWH had a similar effect statisticallyas warfarin on the major bleeding events (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.62 - 1.77; p = 0.85), minor bleeding events (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.54 - 1.20; p = 0.28), and all-cause mortality (RR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.88 - 1.13; p = 0.99). While LMWH demonstrated its effectiveness in minimizing the incidence of VTE recurrence over warfarin in cancer patients, it had no statistical difference in terms of mortality or bleeding events when compared to warfarin. Based on our findings, we recommend that LMWH continues to be usedas a first-line treatment regimen to mitigate recurrent VTE in cancer patients.

Impact of COVID-19 on poisoning-related mortality in Iran: An interrupted time series study.

The COVID-19 pandemic had many negative effects worldwide. These effects involved mental health status issues such as suicide, depression, and the pattern of death associated with drug/poisonings. One of the major concerns of the healthcare community during the pandemic was mortality from poisonings. This study aimed to investigate the trends of mortality from different types of poisonings before and after COVID-19. The patients who died from six different categories of drugs or poisons were identified by forensic analysis of body fluids/tissues in Tehran, Iran. The pandemic was separated into the pre-COVID-19 period (April 2018 to January 2020), and the COVID pandemic (February 2020-April 2022). Demographic characteristics were collected from each victim, and comparisons of death trends before and after the pandemic were conducted using the interrupted time series analysis. The absolute number of deaths and proportion of deaths from each type of drug/poisoning were used for the analyses. A total of 6,316 deaths from drugs/poisoning were identified between April 2018-Mar 2022). During this period, 2,485 deaths occurred pre-COVID, and 3,831 were during the COVID-19 era. There were no statistical differences in terms of demographic characteristics before and after the pandemic, except for job status. There was a sharp increase in proportion of methanol death among all poisonings after the start of the pandemic (16.5%, p-value=0.025), while there was a decreasing trend during the pandemic (-0.915 deaths monthly, p-value=0.027). The trends for opioids, stimulants, and drug-related deaths changed from decreasing to increasing. No change was seen in the trends for ethanol and volatile substance deaths. This pattern was mirrored in the proportion of each type of poisoning relative to the total number. Changes in poisoning-related mortality patterns showed dramatic changes after the start of the pandemic, especially deaths from methanol. Other poisonings such as opioids, stimulants, and drugs should also be addressed as there was an increasing trend during the COVID-19 period, compared to the pre-COVID data.