Values Of Width Research Articles

Predicting incident radiographic knee osteoarthritis through quantitative meniscal lesion parameters: data from the osteoarthritis initiative

BackgroundThis study investigates the potential of novel meniscal parameters as predictive factors for incident radiographic knee osteoarthritis (ROA) over a span of four years, as part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) study.ObjectivesQuantitative measurements of meniscal parameters alteration could serve as predictors of OA’s occurrence and progression.Methods and materialsA nested matched case-control study design was used to select participants from OAI study. Case knees (n = 178) were defined as those with incident ROA (Kellgren Lawrence Grade (KLG) 0 or 1 at baseline (BL), evolving into KLG 2 or above by year 4). Control knees were matched one-to-one by sex, age and radiographic status with case knees. The mean distance from medial-to-lateral meniscal lesions [Mean(MLD)], mean value of tibial plateau width [Mean(TPW)] and the mean of the relative percentage of the medial-to-lateral meniscal lesions distance [Mean(RMLD)] were evaluated through coronal T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) MRI at P-0 (visit when incident ROA was found on radiograph), P-1(one year prior to P-0) and baseline, respectively. Using the imaging data of one patient, the mechanism was investigated by finite element analysis.ResultsParticipants were on average 60.22 years old, predominantly female (66.7%) and overweight (mean BMI: 28.15). Mean(MLD) and Mean(RMLD) were significantly greater for incident knees compared to no incident knees at baseline, P-1 and P-0. [Mean(MLD), Mean(RMLD); (42.56–49.73) mean ± (7.70–9.52) mm SD vs. (38.14–40.78) mean ± (5.51–7.05)mm SD; (58.61–68.95) mean ± (8.52–11.40) mm SD vs. (52.52–56.35) mean ± (6.53–7.85)mm SD, respectively]. Baseline Mean(MLD) and Mean(RMLD), [Adjusted OR, 95%CI: 1.11(1.07 to 1.16) and 1.13(1.09 to 1.17), respectively], were associated with incident ROA during 4 years, However, Mean(TPW) [Adjusted OR, 95%CI: 0.98(0.94 to 1.02)] was not associated with incident ROA during 4 years. While Mean(TPW) at P-1 and P-0 was not associated with the risk of incident ROA, Mean(MLD) and Mean(RMLD) at P-1 and P-0 were significantly positively associated with the risk of incident ROA.ConclusionsThe meniscal parameters alteration could be an important imaging biomarker to predict the occurrence of ROA.

Research on countermeasures for safety prevention of muscle injury in sports under the background of big data and smart medicine

With the deepening of quality-oriented education and the implementation of new curriculum standards, the forms and contents of school sports activities are increasingly diversified. In this regard, special attention must be paid to sports safety. Sports is a sport to improve physical and mental health, but it is easy to cause physical injury in sports. Big data can effectively monitor the normalization of movement in the process of exercise, so as to take timely safety precautions and reduce the probability of muscle injury. Therefore, by analyzing the causes and influencing factors of muscle injury in sports, this paper puts forward some safety precautions to avoid muscle injury accidents during sports. Through the neural network algorithm, it can be seen that with the increase of time, the function width and prevention index of security are constantly rising, and the average value of function width is about 0.83. The seventh day is 0.15 higher than the first day, the average value of prevention index is 1.31, and the seventh day is 0.19 higher than the first day. The effect of the optimized safety prevention strategy is better than that of the traditional safety prevention strategy, and the probability of muscle injury of athletes is also greatly reduced by 11% compared with the traditional one; However, the rehabilitation effect has improved a lot, 9% higher than the traditional one.

A Real-World Study on the Short-Term Efficacy of Amlodipine in Treating Hypertension Among Inpatients.

Hospitalized hypertensive patients rely on blood pressure medication, yet there is limited research on the sole use of amlodipine, despite its proven efficacy in protecting target organs and reducing mortality. This study aims to identify key indicators influencing the efficacy of amlodipine, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes. In this multicenter retrospective study, 870 hospitalized patients with primary hypertension exclusively received amlodipine for the first 5 days after admission, and their medical records contained comprehensive blood pressure records. They were categorized into success (n=479) and failure (n=391) groups based on average blood pressure control efficacy. Predictive models were constructed using six machine learning algorithms. Evaluation metrics encompassed the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis assessed feature contributions to efficacy. All six machine learning models demonstrated superior predictive performance. Following variable reduction, the model predicting amlodipine efficacy was reconstructed using these algorithms, with the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) model achieving the highest overall performance (AUC = 0.803). Notably, amlodipine showed enhanced efficacy in patients with low platelet distribution width (PDW) values, as well as high hematocrit (HCT) and thrombin time (TT) values. This study utilized machine learning to predict amlodipine's effectiveness in hypertension treatment, pinpointing key factors: HCT, PDW, and TT levels. Lower PDW, along with higher HCT and TT, correlated with enhanced treatment outcomes. This facilitates personalized treatment, particularly for hospitalized hypertensive patients undergoing amlodipine monotherapy.

Keyhole critical failure criteria and variation rule under different thicknesses and multiple materials in K-TIG welding

The stability of keyhole was important to determine both the process and welding quality in keyhole tungsten inert gas (K-TIG) welding. In this study, the welding experiments were conducted on three kinds of materials (TC4 alloy, 304 stainless steel, Q235 carbon steel) with four kinds of thicknesses (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm). The keyhole critical failure criteria of K-TIG welding for different materials and thicknesses was established based on Gibbsian surface thermodynamics and regression analysis. Critical stability coefficient Kc was calculated by the values of upper width (Wf) of fusion zone and lower width (Wr) of fusion zone. When Kc>G/WfWr, the keyhole collapse failure would occur. Otherwise, a stable penetration could be obtained. On the other hand, the values of Kc increase with the increase of plate thickness, which meant the keyhole stable range would be smaller. The Kc values of TC4 alloy were smallest and the corresponding stable penetration range was largest. While the values and range of Q235 carbon steel were the largest. This was consistent with the rule reflected by the fitting curves of critical heat input. Furthermore, the difference in criteria variation rule of different materials and different thicknesses were discussed.

Investigation of Thermal and Spectroscopic Properties of Tellurite-Based Glasses Doped with Rare-Earth Oxides for Infrared Solid-State Lasers.

The thermal and optical properties of 60TeO2-20K2TeO3-10WO3-10Nb2O5 (in mol%) glasses doped with Ho2O3, Er2O3, and Tm2O3 were explored in the present work. The thermal stability, refractive index n, extinction coefficient k, absorption coefficient α, and optical band gap of the glasses were evaluated. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra, the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameter, the spectroscopic quality factor, and the emission and absorption cross-sections were calculated to investigate the effects of Er3+ and Tm3+, respectively, on the band spectroscopic properties of Ho3+ ions. The results showed that the maximum emission cross-section was approximately 8×10-21 cm2, and the values of the full width at half maximum (FWHM), quality factor (σe×FWHM), and gain coefficient of Ho3+: 5I7→5I8 were also reported. The value of the FWHM×σe was 1200×10-28 cm3, which showed greater gain characteristics than earlier study results. For 2 μm mid-infrared solid-state lasers, the glasses that were examined might be a good host material.

Dispersion frequency technique to explain the charge transfer process involved in cadmium detection using aniline, N-phenylglycine and graphene oxide based electrochemical sensor

A new technique, termed as dispersion frequency (DF) technique, based on Maxwell Wagner dispersion frequency, was proposed for the first time in an electrochemical sensor to explain the charge transfer mechanism involved, behind the sensing process. Dispersion frequency can be characterized by the maximum dispersion in capacitance, which is an interfacial relaxation effect, and occurs in systems where electric current passes through the electrode electrolyte interface across the double layer. In this work, this technique was used to explain the reason behind the improvement in the selectivity by varying the film thickness and amount of graphene oxide (GO), in composite (from aniline, N-phenylglycine and GO) films. For that purpose, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were conducted, and the DF values were evaluated. It was found that the DF values decrease with film thickness and increase with the GO content when detecting Cd2+ in buffer. Also, the DF value changed (decreased) in presence of interfering species. Thus, it was demonstrated that the DF values could be used to predict and explain the interference effect. The behavior of the DF values was opposite to that of the barrier width (BW) values as studied in a previous work which too were a function of the film thickness and the GO content. Both explain independent physical phenomena which are related to the same charge transfer process. In this work, a correlation coefficient relating the barrier width and dispersion frequency values with respect to film thicknesses at any specific amount of GO content was evaluated. This correlation coefficient can be used to evaluate one parameter if the other is known for a series of film thicknesses by doing lesser number of EIS experiments.

Comparison of probe tone and click stimulus at 226 Hz frequency on acoustic ımmittance measurement in normal hearing adults: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesAcoustic immittancemetry measurement is made using a probe tone or click stimulus at a frequency of 226 Hz, which is included in the audiological test battery. This study aims to compare tympanometric peak pressure (TPP), static acoustic admittance (Ytm), equivalent external ear canal volume (Vea) and tympanometric width (TW) values measured with probe tone and click stimulus at 226 Hz frequency.DesignMeasurements were made with a probe tone and click stimulus at frequency of 226 Hz in 60 ears of 30 adult individuals with normal hearing between the ages of 18–26. In the measurements TPP, Ytm, Vea and TW values were determined for both ears.ResultsIn two different tympanogram measurement results using 226 Hz click stimulus and 226 Hz probe tone were a statistically significant difference was found between Ytm, Vea and TW values in the left ear (p < 0.05) and a statistically significant difference was found between Ytm and Vea values in the right ear (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the right ear TPP and TW values, left ear TPP value (p > 0.05).ConclusıonThe current findings show that the comment of right and left ear tympanogram results should be evaluated according to two different measurement results using 226 Hz click stimulus and 226 Hz probe tone.

Dental Prediction Factors of Schizophrenia: A Pilot Case-Control Study in Morocco

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Introduction: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study suggests that some dental or skeletal characteristics may be potentially associated with schizophrenia. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Method: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;A case control study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among 30 schizophrenia patients and 30 control patients. Data was collected through a clinical exam and radiographs for each patient. Different variables were assessed including teeth dimensions, maxillary and mandibular width, occlusal characteristics and cephalometric values: SNB, IMPA, and FMA. Proportions and mean with standard deviations were used as descriptive measures. Only variables with p-values &amp;lt; 0,05 were considered as statistically significant and associated with schizophrenia. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results:&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; The mean ages of schizophrenia patients and controls were 34.0 +/- 9,12 and 17,3 +/- 2.0 years respectively. The results reported a statistically significant difference, between the two groups, at maxillar and mandibular arch depth [p &amp;lt; 0,001 and p=0,036 respectively], SNB [p = 0,013], overbite [p &amp;lt; 0,001], overjet [p = 0,002] and spee curve [p = 0,006]. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;According to these study findings, some dental, skeletal and occlusal characteristics may be related to schizophrenia. However, further studies with larger sample sized and long-term follow-up may be needed to confirm these findings.

Association of TyG index with aortic valve calcification in valvular heart disease patients.

In recent years, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, as a popular metabolic index, has been proposed as an alternative index of insulin resistance, and it has been proved to be associated with many cardiovascular diseases, but the relationship between it and aortic valve calcification is still unknown. A total of 450 aortic valve disease patients were enrolled in this study, including 361 patients with aortic valve calcification (AVC) (calcification group) and 89 patients without (control group). According to the severity of AVC, patients with AVC included severe calcification, moderate calcification and low calcification. The TyG index was calculated based on fasting triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels. The TyG index in the calcification group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05), and with the increase of the degree of calcification, the TyG index showed an increasing trend. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed TyG index has a high predictive value for the presence of AVC (OR (95% CI): 1.743 (1.036-2.933)) and severe AVC (OR (95% CI): 1.608 (1.143-2.262)). In assessing the predictive value of the TyG index distribution width for AVC, with the first quartile as a reference, the last quartile of the TyG index had significant predictive value for the presence of AVC and severe AVC. TyG index was significantly associated with the presence and severity of AVC, suggesting that TyG index may be a valid predictor of AVC.

A global springback compensation method for manufacturing metallic seal ring with complex cross-section and submillimeter precision

The fabrication of complex thin-walled components with irregular cross-sectional geometries often necessitates multi-pass forming processes. The springback phenomena at the microscale level contribute significantly difficulty to the precise control of geometrical accuracy for such components. To achieve submillimeter precision control of micro features in metal seal rings, this research proposed a global springback compensation method to facilitate the attainment of the optimized surfaces of dies. Through the analysis of changes in cross-sectional shape, stress distribution and bending moment in the multiple stages, several partition points were set up to divide the cross-section into four zones. For a partitional control of the manufactured surface, the compensation magnitudes for each segment are determined by iteratively refining the compensation factors using the secant method. The iteration of compensation factors is based on the deviation of dimensions measured by finite element simulation, which greatly saves experimental costs. The experimental results indicate that the predictive dimensional alterations by the global compensation agree with the experimental ones exhibiting a maximum error of less than 3 %. Furthermore, the springback behavior during the unloading and trimming stages coupling caused a dimensional error of 14.9 % for the wave width and 8.3 % for the peak width. Following the application of coupled compensation through two iterations, a distinct decrease in the relative average errors of springback values for both part width and peak width, achieving reductions to 2.4 % and 0.6 %, respectively. Compared to the traditional single springback compensation technique, the global compensation strategy effectively mitigates the out-of-tolerance issues induced by the trimming process.

Impact of step width on trunk motion and gait adaptation in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.

Step width during walking can provide important information about aging and pathology. Although knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease in elderly women, little is known about how different step widths influence gait parameters in patients with knee OA. To address this, we investigated the differences between narrower and wider step width on the center of mass (CoM) and gait biomechanics of elderly women with knee OA. Gait and CoM data were measured using a three-dimensional motion capture system and anthropometric data were acquired via standing full-limb radiography. Thirty elderly women with knee OA were divided into two groups depending on the average step width value (0.16 m). Specifically, the narrower step width group included those with a below average step width (n= 15) and the wider step width group included those with an above average step width (n= 15). The differences between the two groups were analyzed using an independentt-test. Walking speed, step length, knee and ankle sagittal excursion, and medial-lateral CoM range were significantly greater in the narrower group. In contrast, the medial-lateral CoM velocity, medial-lateral ground reaction force (GRF), and foot progression angle were significantly higher in wider group. The external knee adduction moment, vertical GRF, and vertical CoM did not differ between the groups. Our data indicate that step width in women with knee OA is associated with trunk motion and gait patterns. People with a narrower step might improve their gait function by increasing trunk frontal control to maintain gait stability. In contrast, in those with a wider step, greater toe out angle and shorter step length might be a compensatory adaptation to reduce knee loading.

Concentric Elliptical Antenna Array Synthesis using Sine Cosine Algorithm for Reducing the Sidelobe level

This paper employs the Sine Cosine Algorithm, a recent meta-heuristic method, to enhance the radiation properties of concentric elliptical antenna arrays in far-field applications, such as smart grid wireless communication and the Internet of Things. It focuses on minimizing the Sidelobe Level, a key parameter in antenna radiation, to mitigate unwanted signals and interference. The proposed method, known for its global optimization effectiveness, tackles the challenge of designing sparse multiple concentric elliptical arrays. By using the Sine Cosine Algorithm, the inter-element spacing and optimal determination of amplitude coefficients are achieved, resulting in a radiation pattern with reduced sidelobe level. To showcase the adaptability and superior performance of our proposed algorithm, we systematically evaluated its effectiveness across four distinct sets of concentric elliptical antenna arrays. These arrays comprise varying numbers of elements: (6, 12, 18 elements, 6, 12, 18, 24 elements, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 elements and 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 elements) with and without a central element. Using the sine cosine algorithm, we synthesize arrays and compare their sidelobe level and First Null Beam Width values with those from recent methods. Our findings consistently shows that the proposed algorithm consistently outperforms alternatives, yielding significantly lower sidelobe level values in all comparisons.

Screening, genotyping and haematological analysis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the blood donors of Wuxi City, China.

To investigate the prevalence, genotype and haematological characteristics of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in the blood donor population of Wuxi area (Jiangsu Province, China) and to assess the impact of their red blood cell (RBC) units on clinical transfusion. We conducted genotyping and large-scale screening for G6PD enzyme activity in the blood donors of Wuxi City. In addition, we assessed the haematological parameters of G6PD-deficient and non-deficient blood donors, and investigated the adverse transfusion reactions in patients transfused with G6PD-deficient blood. We investigated 17,113 blood donors, among whom 44 (0.26%) were tested positive for G6PD deficiency. We identified 40 G6PD gene variants, among which c.1388G>A, c.1376G>T, c.1024C>T and c.95A>G were common. In addition, we identified two novel G6PD gene variants, c.1312G>A and c.1316G>A. The G6PD-deficient and non-deficient blood samples showed a significant difference in the RBC, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), RBC distribution width, total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) values. However, the two samples showed no significant difference in the haemolysis rate at the end of the storage period. Finally, transfusion with G6PD-deficient RBC units did not lead to any adverse transfusion reactions. The positive rate of G6PD deficiency in the blood donor population of Wuxi City is 0.26%, and the genetic variants identified in this population are consistent with the common genetic variants observed in the Chinese population. Blood centres can establish a database on G6PD-deficient blood donors and mark their RBC units to avoid their use for special clinical patients.

Monocyte distribution width as a promising biomarker for differential diagnosis of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

We aimed to investigate the association and diagnostic value of monocyte distribution width (MDW) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MDW levels were measured in 483 individuals (103 CHB, 77 LC, 153 HCC, and 150 controls). MDW was detected using UniCel Dx900 for specific cell volume parameters and the distribution of cell volumes. Our findings revealed a dynamic upward change in MDW levels across different stages of chronic liver disease, from CHB to LC and HCC. In CHB, MDW levels were highest among HBeAg-positive CHB patients and exhibited a negative correlation with HBV markers while positively correlating with ALT levels. In LC, MDW showed a positive association with the pathological progression of LC, demonstrating consistency with CP scores. MDW proved to be equally effective as traditional detection for diagnosing LC. In HCC, MDW was positively correlated with HCC occurrence and development, with higher levels observed in the high MDW group, which also exhibited elevated AFP levels, MELD scores, and 90-day mortality rates. MDW surpassed predictive models in its effectiveness for diagnosing HCC, as well as CHB and LC, with respective areas under the curve of 0.882, 0.978, and 0.973. Furthermore, MDW emerged as an independent predictor of HCC. MDW holds significant diagnostic efficacy in identifying CHB, LC, and HCC. These findings suggest that MDW could serve as a promising biomarker for predicting the severity of liver diseases and aid in rational clinical treatment strategies.

Effect of Sacubitril / Valsartan Combination on Abnormal ECG Findings in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction

Abstract Background The mortality rate of patients suffering from choronic heart failure is still high despite advantages in diagnosis and treatment. A new therapeutic class of agents acting on the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and neutral endopeptidase system has been developed, known as angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI). Recently, promising data from its administration have demonstrated a decrease in the mortality rate as compared to angiotensin receptor blocker alone. Aim of the Work The aim of this study is to asses effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan combination on abnormal ECG and ECHO parameters in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction as a marker of reverse cardiac remodeling. Patients and Methods Our study was conducted at Ain Shams university hospitals and our target population was heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction planned to initiate Sacubitril \ Valsartan combination therapy. 100 patients were collected from February 2022 to August 2022. It was an interventional study to follow up the effects of the drug on ECG parameters besides ECHO parameters 6 months after drug initiation. Results We found that in Sacubitril/Valsartan combination therapy there was significant decrease in HR, QRS width and QTc values which reflects the role of this combination to reduce ventricular arrhythmias and preventing SCD. There was significant increase in the EF which was correlated to the significant decrease in QRS width. There was significant improvement in diastolic dysfunction. There was significant decrease in the LA and LV dimensions giving an explanation of the role of the drug in reverse cardiac remodeling. There was significant improvement in NYHA class reflecting the role of the drug in improving quality of life. Conclusion HR, QRS width and QTc were significantly decreased with Sacubitril/Valsartan combination therapy through the follow up period reflecting the effect of the drug on ECG. EF, LA dimension and LVID were improving with Sacubitril/Valsartan combination therapy through the follow up period which give an explanation of the combination therapy for its role in reverse cardiac remodeling. NYHA class of our patients was improving through follow up period which means this drug improves quality of life and reduces hospitalization.

Understanding the value of monocyte distribution width (MDW) in acutely ill medical patients presenting to the emergency department: a prospective single center evaluation

The monocyte distribution width (MDW) has emerged as a promising biomarker for accurate and early identification of patients with potentially life-threatening infections. Here we tested the diagnostic performance of MDW in adult patients requiring hospital admission for community-acquired infections and sepsis, evaluated sources of heterogeneity in the estimates of diagnostic accuracy, and assessed the meaning of MDW in a patient population presenting to the emergency department (ED) for acute non-infectious conditions. 1925 consecutive patients were categorized into three groups: non-infection (n = 1507), infection (n = 316), and sepsis/septic shock (n = 102). Diagnostic performance for infection or sepsis of MDW alone or in combination with components of SOFA was tested using AUC of ROC curves, sensitivity, and specificity. The relationship between MDW and different pathogens as well as the impact of non-infectious conditions on MDW values were explored. For the prediction of infection, the AUC/ROC of MDW (0.84) was nearly overlapping that of procalcitonin (0.83), and C-reactive protein (0.89). Statistical optimal cut-off value for MDW was 21 for predicting infection (sensitivity 73%, specificity 82%) and 22 for predicting sepsis (sensitivity 79%, specificity 83%). The best threshold to rule out infection was MDW ≤ 17 (NPV 96.9, 95% CI 88.3–100.0), and ≤ 18 (NPV 99.5, 95% CI 98.3–100.0) to rule out sepsis. The combination of MDW with markers of organ dysfunction (creatinine, bilirubin, platelets) substantially improved the AUC (0.96 (95% CI 0.94–0.97); specificity and sensitivity of 88% and 94%, respectively). In conclusion, MDW has a good diagnostic performance in diagnosing infection and sepsis in patients presenting in ED. Its use as an infection marker even increases when combined with other markers of organ dysfunction. Understanding the impact of interactions of non-infectious conditions and comorbidities on MDW and its diagnostic accuracy requires further elucidation.

Calculation of Shear Stress in New-Type Composite Box Girder with Corrugated Steel Webs under Restrained Torsion

The objective of this paper is to outline a method for the systematic analysis and calculation of the constrained torsional shear stress in corrugated steel web composite box girders. Initially, leveraging Umansky’s secondary theory, the calculation formula for the constrained torsional shear stress within the composite girder is derived from the conditions of cross-sectional torque equilibrium and continuity in warping displacement. Subsequently, a torsion test is conducted using a scaled model of an actual girder. Finally, the constrained torsional shear stress of the corrugated steel web composite girder is examined based on theoretical analyses and the results of torsion testing. The influence of wing plate length and web thickness on the torsional shear stress of the composite girder is also investigated. The findings reveal a strong agreement between the experimental results obtained from model testing and the theoretical calculations. Notably, under torsional constraint, it is observed that the shear stress in the web is maximal and evenly distributed, followed by the bottom plate and then the top plate, with no discernible shear stress observed at the free end of the cantilever plate. Numerical analysis indicates that an increase in the relative width of the cantilever plate initially leads to an increase in shear stress for both the cantilever plate and roof plate, followed by a decrease until reaching a relative width value around 0.6, where the changes tend to stabilize. Moreover, an increase in web thickness results in a monotonic decrease in web shear stress. Additionally, the shear stress of the roof and bottom plate decreases initially before subsequently increasing.

The Value of Red Cell Distribution Width and Its Correlation with Other Parameters in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Background: The red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the range of variation in the red blood cell size. It reflects red blood cell volume heterogeneity and is a part of the whole blood cell count. The use of the RDW in the diagnosis of malignant tumors has recently attracted much attention. Related research has mainly focused on endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer. Aim of the Study: This study investigated the correlation between the RDW and ovarian cancer by observing changes in the RDW in patients with different stages of ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods: A case–control study involving 50 females with ovarian cancer and 50 healthy females conducted at Baghdad Oncology Teaching Hospital, and Al-Imamian Al-Kadhimiyain Medical City from January 1, 2022, to December 30, 2022. Data collection included demographic data, complete blood count with the calculation of platelets to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), transferrin saturation, and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125). Adult females with histologically proven ovarian cancer were included in this research. Patients with conditions that affect red blood cells were excluded from the study. Results: The mean age was 52.6 ± 10.4 years old for the cases and 50.0 ± 11.4 years for the control group. Platelets count (PLT), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), PLR, NLR, RDW, and CA-125 were significantly higher in the women with ovarian cancer in comparison to the control group (P &lt; 0.001). RDW values were found to be positively correlated with white blood cell, PLT, ANC, NLR, PLR, and CA-125 values (P &lt; 0.001). RDW values were also positively associated with cancer stage; thus, higher values of RDW are to be expected with a higher stage of cancer (P &lt; 0.001). The optimal cutoff point for RDW was found to be 14.6% with a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 90%, and an area under the curve of 96%. Conclusion: The RDW is increased with ovarian cancer, and a clear cutoff point for the prediction of ovarian cancer has been observed. Furthermore, RDW was positively correlated with cancer stage and inflammatory markers including PLT, ANC, PLR, NLR, and a tumor marker CA-125.

Association of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width with Poor Outcome in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery - A Retrospective Observational Study.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a valuable indicator for evaluating inflammatory response and red blood cell distribution width (RBDW), a routinely available biomarker of likely erythropoietic dysfunction, which may be associated with adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery. This study aimed to investigate the association between these two readily available haematological parameters, with the poor outcomes in paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A comprehensive review of medical records for paediatric patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our tertiary care centre between April 2022 and June 2023 was carried out. RBDW and NLR values were collected from complete blood count reports obtained on admission to the ICU. Demographic data, surgical details, and postoperative complications were also recorded. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariable logistic regression were applied to identify the prognosis performance of preoperative NLR and RBDW for poor outcomes. The study included 219 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of which a total of 90 (41%) children experienced at least one of the poor outcomes. Preoperative NLR (AUC=0.88, 95%CI 0.36-0.70, cut off- 4.2) and RBDW (AUC=0.88, 95%CI 0.39-0.73, cut off- 18.5%) showed prognostic significance in the perioperative period. This retrospective observational study highlights a significant association between elevated Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RBDW) and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) values and poor outcomes in paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. These readily available haematological parameters could serve as potential prognostic indicators for identifying patients at risk of poor outcomes.

Evaluation of Symmetry of Ventrodorsal Pelvic Radiographs in Dogs; A Retrospective Study

Pelvic radiographs in dogs have been used for assessments of pelvic bone, hip joint, and sacral bone in orthopaedic examinations. Thus, symmetric radiographs must be a goal to minimise medical errors. Despite the importance of symmetric radiographs, ventrodorsally pelvic radiographs are routinely evaluated using the symmetric appearance of the obturator foramen and wing of the ilium. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the symmetry of pelvic radiographs in dogs. For this purpose, 100 pelvic radiographs were reevaluated by linear, area, and circumference measurements. The differences in percentages were remarkable for width and area values for both the ilium and obturator foramen between the left and right sides. In terms of the difference in the percentage of iliac wing width, two-thirds of radiographs showed asymmetry up to 20% and higher in the remaining one-third of radiographs. The findings of this research indicate that completely symmetrical positioning on pelvic radiographs is often not obtained.