Test Group Research Articles

Analysis of the effect of CICARE communication nursing on the improvement of serum IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2 and lung function in outpatients with acute bronchitis

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of CICARE communication nursing on the improvement of serum interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lung function in outpatients with acute bronchitis (AB). METHODS: One hundred and twenty suffers with AB who are treated in the outpatient department during Revised to 2021 to March 2023 are chosen and grouped according to the time of admission and different nursing practices. The control group consists of 60 patients from March 2021 to March 2022 who receive routine outpatient care; the experimental group consists of 60 patients from April 2022 to March 2023, and CICARE communication nursing is implemented additionally. Before and after intervention, the cognitive level of self-care knowledge, the level of peripheral blood inflammatory factors, and the improvement of lung function are compared. RESULTS: Before intervention, there were no remarkable differences in self-care knowledge cognition scores, peripheral blood inflammatory factors, and lung function levels between them (P > 0.05). After intervention, the cognitive scores of treatment coordination, medication method, daily attention, diet, and activity in experimental groups are superior to control group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 in test groups are inferior to control group (P < 0.05). Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, maximum air volume, and peak flow rate in test groups are superior to control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CICARE communication nursing can improve the cognition level of self-care knowledge of patients with AB, reduce the inflammatory response of the body, and promote the recovery of lung function.

Preformed customized healing abutments in a biologically oriented preparation technique procedure: a 3-year retrospective case-control study.

The objective of the present study was to determine the 3-year clinical and dimensional soft tissue change following implant placement in healed sites before and after loading with either customized or conventional healing abutments. Premolar/molar implants were immediately loaded with either provisional and customized abutments without finishing lines according to the principles of the biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT; test group) or conventional healing abutments (control group). Three months later, the definitive crowns were fabricated. Primary outcomes (soft tissue changes) and secondary outcomes (adverse events) were registered. A total of 50 of the 87 subjects who were originally included were finally selected for the present retrospective analysis: 23 in the test group and 27 in the control group. During the first days after surgery, two adverse events of mucositis occurred, one in each group. A few technical complications were recorded such as the unscrewing of four screw-retained crowns. A significant increase in the alveolar width was observed in both groups (test: +2.5 ± 0.5 mm; control: +1.0 ± 0.9 mm). The widths appeared unchanged from 3 months to 3 years in both groups. There were no significant differences regarding the width of the keratinized mucosa measured at baseline and after follow-up. The Jemt papilla index showed a higher increase in the test group compared with the control group. Within the 3-year follow-up period, the peri-implant soft tissue outcomes of single, immediately loaded implants with customized healing abutments showed better results in terms of thickness and width compared with those of the conventional group. The number of side effects (mucositis and dehiscence) appeared to be very similar for both groups. In addition, customized healing abutments led to significant augmentation of the alveolar width, which was more than twice of that registered in the conventional group.

The effect of table tennis combined with resistance training on the rehabilitation of patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of table tennis combined with resistance training on coronary heart disease (CHD) rehabilitation and to evaluate its potential in improving cardiopulmonary function, arterial stiffness, blood lipids, and psychological indicators in participants with CHD. METHODS: Seventy patients with confirmed CHD were chosen and randomly separated into two groups, 35 cases each. The test group performed table tennis combined with resistance training, and the reference group (RG) received standard resistance training as the control group. By comparing the differences in cardiopulmonary function, arterial stiffness, sleep and diet, psychological indicators, and blood lipids between the two groups of patients, the role of table tennis combined with resistance training in CHD rehabilitation was evaluated. RESULTS: Relative to the control group, participants in the table tennis exercise combined with the resistance training group had significant improvement in cardiopulmonary function (P < 0.05). In addition, table tennis combined with resistance training can reduce patients’ arterial stiffness, improve sleep and eating habits, and reduce blood lipid levels. Relative to the RG, the data possess the statistical significance (P < 0.05). Finally, the psychological quality of the two groups of patients was compared. The anxiety, depression, and confrontation ability of the patients in the test group were 7.15 ± 0.39, 7.03 ± 0.29, and 6.86 ± 0.46, respectively, which were superior to the RG. The comparison among the participants of data possesses the statistical significance (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: The research results show that table tennis combined with resistance training possesses an essential influence on CHD rehabilitation. It can significantly enhance patients’ cardiopulmonary function, reduce arterial stiffness, improve sleeping and eating habits, reduce blood lipid levels, and improve psychological indicators. As a low-intensity aerobic exercise, table tennis possesses an essential influence on facilitating the recovery of patients with CHD and is worthy of further promotion and application in clinical practice.

Failure resistance of single-implant crowns assembled from polyetheretherketone and lithium disilicate abutments and different crown materials after artificial aging.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of using different materials for the fabrication of implant abutments and crowns on the mechanical behavior of implant-supported single crowns after artificial aging. The materials were tested in different combinations to reveal whether using stiff or resilient materials as an abutment or a crown material might influence the fracture strength of the whole structure. A total of 40 implants (blueSKY) were restored with identical custom-made CAD/CAM abutments milled out of lithium disilicate or ceramic-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and divided into five test groups (n = 8). Forty crowns made of three different materials (zirconia, lithium disilicate, and ceramic-reinforced PEEK) were used to restore the abutments. Specimens were subjected to mechanical loading up to 1,200,000 cycles in a chewing simulator (Kausimulator) with additional thermal cycling. The surviving specimens were subjected to quasi-static loading using a universal testing machine (Z010). The PEEK abutments with zirconia crowns showed the highest median failure load (3890.5 N) while the PEEK abutments with lithium disilicate crowns exhibited the lowest (1920 N). Fracture and deformation occurred in both the crowns and abutments. The failure load of the restorations was influenced by the material of the abutment and crown. Restoring PEEK abutments with zirconia crowns showed a high failure load and no screw loosening.

Effectiveness of Ellis's Rational-Emotional Approach on Criminal Thinking and Law-Evasion in Male Prisoners.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Ellis's rational-emotional approach on criminal thinking and law-evasion in male prisoners. A quasi-experimental design utilizing pretest, post-test, and follow-up test and waiting-list control groups was conducted. Thirty male prisoners were selected by purposeful sampling and randomized into experimental and waiting list control groups. Participants of experimental group received 12 sessions of Ellis's rational-emotional approach intervention; and all participants answered to PICTS-L-SF and ABAWS as dependent variables at 3 time points (pretest, post-test, and 1 month follow-up). A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results showed criminal thinking and law-evasion in experimental group, as compared to control, at post-test phase was significantly decreased (p < .05); and improvement of dependent variables in the follow-up phase has also been continued (p < .05). Therefore, REBT can be beneficial for reducing criminal and illegal thoughts and behaviors among prisoners.

Clinical outcomes of using operating microscope for alveolar ridge preservation: A randomized controlled trial.

The use of the operating microscope (OM) for extraction and alveolar ridge augmentation (ARP) is increasing due to enhanced magnification and illumination. The primary objective was to compare the wound healing and crestal bone quality after the use of OM and dental loupes (DL) for ARP. Forty non-molar teeth with periapical lesions in need of extraction and ARP from 33 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: DL (control) or OM (test). All procedures were performed by 1 surgeon and assessments done by masked examiners. ARP was performed with an allograft and a resorbable collagen membrane. The presence of granulomatous tissue remnants after debridement was recorded. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and ultrasound (US) scans were taken during the healing phase up to 16-week visits. Bone cores were retrieved from implant osteotomies for histologic analysis. Patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) were assessed. All patients completed all study visits except 1 who dropped out before the last visit. After socket debridement, the test group exhibited significantly fewer sites with tissue remnants (p=0.01) and a better healing score at 2-week (p=0.04) and 4-week (p=0.01) time points. There were no significant differences in 12-week crestal bone healing by histology (p=0.1), US (p=0.85), and CBCT healing (p=0.64) at 12weeks, as well as PROMs (p>0.1). Within the limitation of the study, the use of OM for ARP resulted in significantly fewer tissue remnants and favorable early visual wound healing. CBCT and US-derived-crestal bone quality did not show a difference between the 2 groups. Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) by placing bone particulates in the extraction socket, covered by a wound dressing material, is commonly applied immediately after tooth extraction to reduce jawbone shrinkage in preparation for implant placement later. The jawbone healing varies, depending largely on the ability to remove the etiology, socket features, extent of surgical trauma, and wound stability. Healed jawbone with good quality is favorable for easiness of implant placement and could be related to maintenance of long-term implant health. The surgical microscope with high magnification (up to ∼25×) and co-axial illumination is ideal for assistance in the removal of granulomatous tissue that is believed to interfere with healing, performance of minimally invasive extraction, and stabilization of the wound with meticulous tissue management and fine sutures. This study compared the use of the surgical microscope to dental loupes for ARP in a randomized controlled design. The microscope-assisted ARP is associated with a significantly higher chance of removing granulomatous tissue, favorable early healing, and similar crestal bone quality. Removal of granulomatous tissue is significant for immediate implant placement. This study serves as a model for testing the benefits of the surgical microscope for encouraging early healing in more challenging intraoral surgical procedures.

Denture microbiome shift and changes of salivary inflammatory markers following insertion of 3D printed removable partial PMMA denture: a pilot study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the microbiome shift of denture biofilm formation, the incidence of Candida and changes of salivary inflammatory markers following insertion of 3-dimensional printed PMMA denture.MethodsThis was a pilot study of 6 patients provided with 3D printed (test group) or conventionally heat-cured (control group) removable partial acrylic dentures followed up for 6 weeks. 3 denture swabs were collected at week 1, 3 and 6; and saliva samples were collected at baseline, week 1, 3 and 6 following denture insertion. Microbial DNA was isolated, and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced to assess the denture microbiota. The presence of Candida was determined using PCR assay. The levels of salivary biomarkers lactoferrin (LTF) and histatin (HTN) were determined using ELISA.ResultsDenture microbiome of both groups exhibited similar microbial compositions at weeks 1, 3 and 6. However, the percentage of Streptococcus in the test group was significantly lower at week 1 (p < 0.05). Greater bacterial diversity was detected in the test group (p < 0.05; pairwise Wilcoxon) after 6 weeks. The presence of Candida was only detected in one sample of the 3D printed denture (test group) after 6 weeks. The level of LTF biomarkers increased in both groups after 6 weeks, however, the level of HTN increased only in the control group.ConclusionsDenture microbiome of both groups demonstrated similar microbial compositions. After 6 weeks, 3D printed denture demonstrated higher diversity with delayed microbiome shift compared to conventional heat cure dentures. 3D printed denture may be a viable alternative to conventional denture and it has a potential to delay microbial dysbiosis.Clinical RelevanceAmong wearers, 3D printed denture can potentially reduce the risk of denture stomatitis. A greater diversity may delay or slow the transition of denture microbiome to dysbiosis.

MVD and LWC prediction in icing environment based on genetic algorithm optimized neural network

Mean volumetric diameter (MVD) and liquid water content (LWC) are two important meteorological parameters that affect aircraft icing, but they are difficult to measure accurately in practice. If these two parameters can be obtained in real time and accurately, it can provide some guidance for ice accumulation prediction and the establishment of aircraft airworthiness certification standards. This paper proposes a prediction model for icing meteorological parameters based on genetic algorithm optimized neural network. With ice thickness and icing rate of different measurement point combinations, ambient temperature, flight speed and wing angle of attack as input parameters, and icing meteorological parameters MVD and LWC as output parameters, the genetic algorithm optimized icing meteorological parameter prediction model is constructed, and the prediction model is used to predict the icing meteorological parameters of the numerical calculation test group data and the icing wind tunnel experimental data. The results show that the prediction model based on genetic algorithm optimized Elman neural network predicts the icing meteorological parameters of the test group within the relative error of the test group 10%, and the relative error of the experimental data is within the relative error of the experimental data 20%. This method has certain feasibility.

Transplantation of fecal microbiota from different breed improved intestinal barrier condition and modulated ileal microflora of recipient pigs.

In this study, we investigated the effects of transplanting Ningxiang pig fecal bacteria on ileum microflora and intestinal barrier of Duroc × Landrace × Large White (DLY) pigs. Thirty-two DLY pigs at 90-d-old were equally assigned to either control groups (fed the basal diet) or test group (fed the basal diet + 10ml fecal microbiota suspension from Ningxiang pig). Results showed that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) did not influence the growth performance, but increased the number of ileum goblet cells and the expression level of mucin-2. Additionally, the mucosal levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines interlukin-4 and interlukin-10 were upregulated, but the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ was downregulated by FMT. Moreover, FMT increased the expression level of porcine β defensin-114 in ileum mucus. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of ileal digesta showed that FMT modulated the diversity and composition of ileal microbiota of DLY pigs by increasing the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria, while decreasing the abundance of the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus. Taken together, the study showed that FMT of Ningxiang pigs could improve intestinal barrier condition of DLY pigs by improving intestinal microflora and promoting intestinal health.

Multifactorial Analysis of the Effect of Applied Gamma-Polyglutamic Acid on Soil Infiltration Characteristics

To investigate the mechanism and influence of applying gamma-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) on soil water infiltration, laboratory experiments and numerical simulations were conducted using Hydrus-1D. These studies assessed the impact of various application rates of γ-PGA on soil water characteristic parameters. Orthogonal simulation experiments on soil bulk density, γ-PGA application rates, and burial depths were performed utilizing predefined soil water characteristic values (twelve groups: nine groups of numerical simulation experiments and three groups of laboratory verification tests), and the soil infiltration characteristics were analyzed. Concurrently, an empirical model was developed to elucidate the relationships between the empirical model parameters and influencing factors, as well as to examine the sensitivity of these factors to changes in soil infiltration rate. The relationship between cumulative infiltration and the distance of wetting front movement, based on the water balance equation, was refined. The results indicated that γ-PGA significantly affected soil water characteristic parameters, where the saturated water content and the reciprocal of soil intake suction increased with rising γ-PGA applications (p &lt; 0.01), while the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the parameter n decreased (p &lt; 0.01), with no notable changes in the retained water content (p &gt; 0.05). The trend in cumulative infiltration influenced by various factors could be modeled by a capacitive charging model function, which yielded a superior fit. A negative correlation existed between the sensitivity index and all the influencing factors (p &lt; 0.05), with the order of influence being soil bulk density, γ-PGA application rate, and γ-PGA burial depth, respectively. Utilizing the modified water balance equation, the ratio of cumulative infiltration to wetting front migration distance corresponded more closely with a power function. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further studies on the effects of γ-PGA on crop growth characteristics in fields and the optimization of γ-PGA technical element combinations.

Anticancer Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich (Annonaceae) Dried Fruits on Breast Adenocarcinoma: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidences.

Breast cancer incidence and mortality rate in Cameroonian women is incredibly high, thus there is need for more effective therapy. Xylopia aethiopica dry fruits are traditionally used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes, including the management of diverse ailments such as cancer. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo anti-mammary cancer potential of X. aethiopica. The cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract of X. aethiopica dry fruits was assessed at different concentrations against MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cells using the MTT assay. Additionally, clone formation, apoptosis/necrosis, cell adhesion, cell migration, and chemotaxis were examined. Furthermore, the chemo-preventive potential of X. aethiopica dry fruit extract (XAE) was evaluated on breast tumors induced by DMBA in 42 female rats of age 45-55 days (~80 g). The normal (NOR) and negative (DMBA) control groups were daily treated with the vehicle, while the positive (Tamox) and test (XAE) groups were administered tamoxifen (3.3 mg/kg) and X. aethiopica extract (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg BW), respectively for 20 weeks. Parameters such as tumor volume and burden, tumor incidence, CA 15-3 serum level, inflammatory status, antioxidant and histopathology were evaluated. X. aethiopica significantly (p < 0.05) decreased ER+ (MCF-7) and ER- (MDA-MB 231) breast adenocarcinoma cell growth from 12.5 to 100 μg/mL after 72 h. At the 100 μg/mL concentration, clone formation, cell proliferation, and migration were notably decreased in MDA-MB 231 cells after 48 h, while there was an observed rise in cell adhesion to the collagen extracellular matrix. Additionally, there was a rise in apoptotic cell count (p < 0.01) and caspase-3 activity (p < 0.05) observed in MDA-MB 231 cells following exposure to XAE at 100 μg/mL. XAE, across all tested doses, demonstrated significant reductions in tumor incidence, burden, and volume, akin to tamoxifen, compared to untreated rats (DMBA). Furthermore, there was an elevation in antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GSH) and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-12, and IL-6) observed at all tested doses. Overall, X. aethiopica dry fruit displays anticancer potential through caspase-3-dependent apoptosis pathways, alongside antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Agmatine Improves Oxidative Stress Profiles in Rat Brain Tissues Induced by Sodium Azide

Introduction: The brain is highly susceptible to oxidative damage due to excessive oxygen tension, a high concentration of oxidizable substrates, and low antioxidant capacity. Consequently, oxidative stress is linked to several brain disorders and neurodegeneration. Sodium azide is a cytochrome oxidase inhibitor that promotes neurodegeneration by enhancing the release of excitotoxins and inducing oxidative stress through the peroxidation of membrane lipids. This process results in the release of intra-mitochondrial Ca+2 and H2O2 (ROS Dependent-Ca+2 release). Agmatine, a biogenic amine, is also referred to as a free radical scavenger, protecting the brain from membrane collapse, apoptosis, and mitochondrial swelling. Objective: This study was designed to identify the antioxidative effects of agmatine on sodium azide- induced oxidative stress in brain tissues. Methodology: Twenty-four male albino Wistar rats were allocated into two groups: a control group receiving water and a test group administered sodium azide (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for a duration of 14 days. Subsequently, the animals were further subdivided and treated for an additional two weeks with either water or agmatine (100 mg/kg). Behavioral assessments were performed onehour post-agmatine administration, and brain homogenates were prepared for biochemical analyses. Results: The agmatine-treated group exhibited a significant increase (P&lt;0.01) in both the number of entries and the time spent in the light box and the open arms of the light/dark transition box and elevated plus maze tests, respectively. Additionally, agmatine administration significantly enhanced (P&lt;0.01) the total number of squares crossed in the open field test. Biochemical assessments revealed that agmatine treatment significantly reduced (P&lt;0.01) the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. Moreover, it significantly increased (P&lt;0.01) the levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione compared to the control group. Conclusion: The present study revealed that agmatine has substantial effects on oxidative and antioxidant enzyme levels in sodium azide-induced oxidative stress. Agmatine-treated rats exhibited decreased reactive oxygen species levels and improvements in behavioral impairments resulting from sodium azide administration.

Daily Probiotic Ayran Intake Reduces Gingival Inflammation: An Experimental Gingivitis Study.

This study investigates the effects of daily consumption of a probiotic ayran drink on gingival inflammation and the development of experimental gingivitis. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 54 volunteer students. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group received regular ayran for 42 days, while the test group received probiotic enriched ayran (including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) for 42 days twice a day. After 42 days, mechanical plaque control was stopped for 5 days. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing bleeding (BOP), and probing depth (PPD) were measured at baseline, day 42, and day 47. At the same time, gingival crevicular fluid was taken for matrix metalloproteinase-8 examination. The mean scores of BOP, GI, PI, and MMP-8 levels increases in both groups following the 5-day experimental gingivitis period compared to baseline and day 42. Patients using probiotic ayran had significantly less PI, GI, BOP scores and MPP-8 values (p &#61; 0.002; p 0.001; p 0.001; p &#61; 0.001; p &#61; 0.001, respectively) at day 47 compared to the control group. No statistically significant differences in probing pocket depth (PPD) were observed at any time point. The present study suggests that daily consumption of a probiotic ayran drink containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum statistically significantly lowers clinical and immunological markers of gingival inflammation.

An anti-erosion cylindrical surface incorporating two bionic elements

Abstract Erosive is an inevitable and persistent form of wear, which predominantly occurs on curved surfaces within the realm of fluid machinery. To address this issue, we have developed a novel model incorporating two bionic elements, namely bionic arrangement and bionic morphology, and applied it to explore the erosion resistance of cylindrical surfaces. Specifically, the bionic arrangement is inspired by the phyllotaxis arrangement observed in plants, while the bionic morphology involves the incorporation of convex unit morphology found in desert organisms. Employing a comprehensive approach encompassing erosion testing and numerical analysis, we established two comparative test groups that differed in terms of arrangement and distribution density. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the erosion resistance mechanism inherent in the combined bionic model. The findings of this study hold significant theoretical implications for the advancement of bionic anti-erosion technology and its practical applications in engineering.

Study of Effectiveness of Spiritual Therapy on Life Satisfaction According to Coping Strategies in Patient with Cancer in Tehran

Encounter to Chronic diseases destroy the physical, psychic, economic, communicational, emotional balance of patient and his/her primary care and create new problems for the family members. The person is taken cancer diagnosis tolerate more physical and psychic pain than her/his family members. In this situation Existence of social protection like to give psychological interventions to patient and his/her primary care is need to increase positive emotions and decrease negative emotions. Spiritual therapy can be useful to arrive the goal. The aim of current study is comparsion of effectiveness of spiritual therapy on life satisfaction according to coping strategies in patient with cancer. The study population included patients with cancer were hospitalized for treatment in tehran in octobr 2015. Sampling method was Accessible and voluntary. 20 person participate as sample in this study. The current study was Semi-pilot with pre test and post test and control group. There were one pilot group and one control group such that experimental group member Received spiritual therapy in period of staying in hospital. control groups member received no intervention. All persons participated in two groups filled out the life satisfaction questionnaire as pre test and post test. To determine Intermediate effect of coping strategy filled out Lazarus and Folkman coping strategies questionnaire. Proposed 2 hypotesis based on this study and data analized with ANOVA and Multivariate covariance. Based on multivariate covariance resultes hipotesis two rejected. Based on Anova hipotesis one accepted. This means that spiritual therapy directly increased life satisfaction in patient with cancer but the mediated effectiveness of it was not meaningful. According to effectiveness of narrative therapy on life satisfaction in patient with cancer it is necessary clinical psychologies presence in Oncology ward.

Effects of Alanyl-Glutamine Dipeptide Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Immunity, and Antioxidant Status in Growing Laying Hens.

Alanyl-glutamine (Aln-Gln), a highly soluble and stable Glutamine-dipeptide, is known to improve the performance of poultry birds. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Aln-Gln during the rearing period on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, immunity, antioxidant status and relative gene expression of Hy-Line brown hens. A total of 480 healthy day-old Hy-line brown chicks with similar body weights were randomly divided into four dietary groups (8 replicates/group and 15 birds/replicate). Groups A, B, C and D were fed diets containing 0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% Aln-Gln, respectively, for 6 weeks. The body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were higher in hens fed test diets compared with the control (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in test groups as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The ADFI showed no significant difference between the groups. Dietary treatments had no effect on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude fiber (CF) digestibility. The Aln-Gln also improved gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) digestibility (p < 0.05). It has also increased IgG levels in groups C and D. IgM levels were similar to the control in B, C and D. The Aln-Gln increased IL-1 in B and C, IL-2 in C and D, and IL-6 in all test groups (p < 0.05). The supplementation of Aln-Gln had no effect on serum antioxidant indices like CAT, MDA, GSH-PX, GSH, and SOD in 42-day-old growing hens. Aln-Gln supplementation had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the activity of amylase and lipase, however, a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin was observed in the test groups. Supplemented Aln-Gln levels in the birds' diets led to an increase in the expression of genes related to growth factors (IGF-1, IGFBP-5), immune markers (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6) and antioxidant status (GSH-Px1), as compared to control group. Aln-Gln supplementation in Hy-Line brown hens during their growing period improved growth, nutrient digestibility, immunity and digestive enzymes activity. These findings suggest that Aln-Gln is a promising dietary additive for enhancing poultry performance.

Influences of Cr(VI) on SOD Activity, MDA, and MT Content in the Hepatopancreas and Gill of Portunus trituberculatus

The toxic effect and differences of Cr(VI) on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, MDA, and metallothionein (MT) content in the hepatopancreas and gill of Portunus trituberculatus were investigated during Cr(VI) enrichment (15 days) and release experiments (15 days). Results showed that the 1.50 and 0.30 mg/L test groups significantly exhibited higher SOD, MDA, and MT content in the hepatopancreas and gill compared with the control group after 15 days of enrichment (p &lt; 0.05). After 15 days of Cr release, the SOD, MDA, and MT content in the hepatopancreas and gill of both test groups recovered to the normal level of the control group (p &gt; 0.05). The gill of P. trituberculatus achieved the highest SOD activity, MDA, and MT content earlier than the hepatopancreas, but the highest values were lower. The gill showed a shorter recovery time than the hepatopancreas. We concluded that the gill of P. trituberculatus exhibited a more rapid response to, and recovery from, Cr(VI) exposure compared to the hepatopancreas, making it a more sensitive tissue for assessing Cr(VI) toxicity, though both tissues showed a capacity for recovery after the removal of the contaminant.

Predicting 3-month poor functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in young patients using machine learning

BackgroundPrediction of short-term outcomes in young patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may assist in making therapy decisions. Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used in healthcare due to its high accuracy. This study aims to use a ML-based predictive model for poor 3-month functional outcomes in young AIS patients and to compare the predictive performance of ML models with the logistic regression model.MethodsWe enrolled AIS patients aged between 18 and 50 years from the Third Chinese National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III), collected between 2015 and 2018. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≥ 3 was a poor functional outcome at 3 months. Four ML tree models were developed: The extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosted Machine (lightGBM), Random Forest (RF), and The Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT), compared with logistic regression. We assess the model performance based on both discrimination and calibration.ResultsA total of 2268 young patients with a mean age of 44.3 ± 5.5 years were included. Among them, (9%) had poor functional outcomes. The mRS at admission, living alone conditions, and high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at discharge remained independent predictors of poor 3-month outcomes. The best AUC in the test group was XGBoost (AUC = 0.801), followed by GBDT, RF, and lightGBM (AUCs of 0.795, 0, 794, and 0.792, respectively). The XGBoost, RF, and lightGBM models were significantly better than logistic regression (P < 0.05).ConclusionsML outperformed logistic regression, where XGBoost the boost was the best model for predicting poor functional outcomes in young AIS patients. It is important to consider living alone conditions with high severity scores to improve stroke prognosis.

Influence of Endodontic Cavity Design on Interfacial Voids, Class II Resin Composites Sealing Ability and Tooth Fracture Resistance: An In Vitro Study.

Objective: The aim of this in vitro investigation is to study the effect of endodontic cavity design on interfacial voids, class II resin composite sealing ability, and fracture resistance in mandibular premolars. Methods: A total of 48 single-rooted mandibular premolars received compound class II preparations with either traditional flare access cavities (group A) or contracted endodontic cavity preparations (group B). Each study group was subdivided according to the coronal restoration into two sub-groups as α and β. In the α group, a microhybrid composite was used after etch-and-rinse bonding technique using an MDP-containing universal adhesive. In the β group, a self-adhesive composite was used as coronal restoration after endodontic treatment (n = 12) for each subgroup. A micro-CT analysis was performed to assess the obturation interfacial voids and tracing of class II cervical interfacial adaptation. The tooth fracture resistance testing was then performed adding an extra group of 12 sound non-prepared teeth, which were tested as the control for fracture strength testing. A one-way ANOVA and post-hoc testing were used together with descriptive statistics for an analysis of the mean values of obturation interfacial voids. A two-way ANOVA was used to assess the fracture resistance test results, and to find the influence of endodontic access design and the type of composite material on the fracture resistance testing. Chi-square testing was employed to analyze the cervical interfacial seal of the class II restorations. Results: A one-way ANOVA revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between test groups in the amount of obturation interfacial voids (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between test groups in terms of cervical interfacial sealing ability (p > 0.05). A two-way ANOVA revealed that no statistically significant differences between test groups including the control group existed in terms of the fracture resistance testing (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Although it does not improve tooth fracture resistance, the contracted endodontic access cavity does not deteriorate the quality of obturation in terms of the interfacial porosity. The self-adhesive composite does not improve the efficiency of cervical interfacial adaptation or tooth fracture resistance regardless of the endodontic access cavity shape, yet it revealed a substantial load-bearing capacity.

Cardiac Histomorphological Alterations in Adult Wistar Rats Following Exposure to 3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Pills

The Ecstasy pill sold with the trade name ‘molly’ which has 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as the active component, is one of the most popular recreational drugs in parts of Africa. This study was carried out to determine the histomorphological effects of molly on the heart using adult wistar rats as the mammalian model. The study was done on twenty-five adult albino wistar rats which were sacrificed after 21 days of molly administration, the rats were put under light chloroform anesthesia and the Heart harvested for histological processing. The experimental animals were separated into five groups. Each group contained five rats each using 5 big cages to house them. The administration of molly was given orally as follows: Group A (Control) received only normal feed (growers’ mash) and distilled water daily for 21days. Group B-E (Test groups) received growers mash and graded quantities of molly (B, 0.12 mg/kg body weight each; C, 0.18 mg/kg body weight each; D, 0.32 mg/kg body weight each and E, 0.4 mg/kg body weight each) and water was given ad libitum for 21 days. Heart sections were obtained from the rats and processed histologically. The results showed that the weight of the control increased during the period of the study. The mean weight of rats in all groups before the period of molly administration were significantly increased. Group A (Control), group B and C showed normal cardiac muscle, while Group D and E showed section of cardiac muscle showing fragmented myocytes with karyolysis of nuclei surrounded by eosinophilic cytoplasm and features of Myolysis. This study revealed that consumption of molly could result in the distortion and disruption of the microanatomy of the cardiac muscle showing fragmented myocytes with karyolysis of nuclei surrounded by eosinophilic cytoplasm. Molly consumption may be the cause of the various deleterious distortions which occurred in the heart and a necessary reduction in its consumption is required to avoid these effects.