Control Values Research Articles

Utilization of Afara Saw Dust Ash as Partial Replacement for Cement in a C30 Concrete Design

In order to lessen the negative impact of high cement use on the environment, partial replacements for cement in concrete are being investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine how the fresh and hardened properties of a normal C30 concrete design were affected by the partial replacement of cement with Afara wood Saw Dust Ash (SDA). Different concrete mixes were created with a constant water-to-binder ratio of 0.45 for this reason. Cement was substituted with SDA at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% concentrations. A series of compressive strength tests, including the rebound hammer test, tensile test, and flexural strength test, were carried out. When more SDA was substituted for cement in the concrete, the workability and compressive strength of the SDA concrete were reduced. After 28 days, the sample with 5% replacement had an optimal compressive strength of 34.09 N/mm2 for the amended concrete, which was higher than the control value of 31.17 N/mm2, indicating an increase in compressive strength of 2.92 N/mm2. Likewise, the optimum flexural strength and tensile strength of the modified concrete achieved were 5.349 MPa and 3.62 MPa, respectively, after 28 days of curing for the sample with 5% replacement. The work's experimental findings demonstrated that the SDA can be effectively used to replace up to 5% of the cement in C-30 concrete as its properties are in accordance with well-established ASTM principles for a normal C30 concrete design.

Curcumin as a Modulator of Osteogenic Potential in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Human Periodontal Ligament Cells: An In Vitro Study.

Background Periodontal diseases cause alveolar bone destruction driven by anaerobic bacteria. Their virulence factors disrupt the osteogenic potential of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLCs). Curcumin, a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory and osteogenic properties, holds promise for periodontal regeneration Aim This study evaluated the effects of curcumin on the osteogenic potential of hPDLCs under LPS-induced inflammatory conditions by assessing the expression of osteogenic markers, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and osteopontin (OPN). Materials and methods hPDLCs were isolated from premolars and cultured in the presence of LPS (10 µg/mL) to simulate inflammation. Cells were treated with curcumin at 2.5 µM and 5 µM, with and without LPS exposure. Gene expression of BMP-2 and OPN was quantified using qRT-PCR after 21 days of culture. Results LPS significantly suppressed BMP-2 and OPN expression (p < 0.05). Curcumin treatment restored BMP-2 and OPN expression in a dose-dependent manner, with 5 µM curcumin demonstrating the most substantial effects, nearly restoring OPN levels to control values. Conclusion Curcumin mitigates LPS-induced inflammation and enhances hPDLCs' osteogenic differentiation, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic adjunct for periodontal tissue regeneration.

Molluscicidal assessment of certain toxicants: Impact on biochemical alterations and electrophoretic protein patterns in Massylaea vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774) snails.

Massylaea vermiculata snails are a significant gastropod pest in Egypt, threatening agriculture. Due to increasing concerns about conventional pesticides, it is imperative to find effective alternatives that are less harmful. We assessed the molluscicidal activity of abamectin, methoxyfenozide, and spinosad using the leaf-dipping method in vitro and the effect of LC50 of these compounds on biochemical aspects and protein electrophoresis. Results showed that these compounds exhibited molluscicidal activity, with LC50 values of 0.21, 0.63, and 0.65 mg/l for abamectin, methoxyfenozide and spinosad, respectively. Biochemical assays on treated snails showed increased aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and reduced total protein compared to controls. For the most effective compound (abamectin), these values were 195.36, 105.82, 276.76, and 2.49, compared to control values of 88.00, 47.67, 124.67, and 5.52, after 10 days post-treatment. Protein electrophoresis revealed variations in protein bands. Thus, these compounds can be effective within integrated control programs.

Evaluation of latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein, dopamine and serotonin in patients with chronic epilepsy according to disease type and body mass index

The study aimed to evaluate some biochemical, immunological, physiological and neurotransmitter variables in chronic epilepsy patients. The study comprised 60 patients with epilepsy and a control group of 30 healthy persons, aged between 15 and 60 years. The investigation involved quantifying the amounts of dopamine, serotonin, latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The findings of the present investigation indicated the following: A notable reduction (p≤0.01) in the levels of latent transforming growth factor binding proteins (LTBP1) relative to the control group. A notable elevation (p≤0.01) in the levels of dopamine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was observed in comparison to the control values. A substantial elevation (p≤0.05) in serotonin levels was observed relative to the control data. This study indicated a reduction in the levels of LTBP1. The concentration of dopamine, serotonin, AST, ALT, and ALP is elevated in patients with persistent epilepsy compared to healthy individuals.

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Thermal Treatment Influence on Elastic Engineering Parameters of Poplar

Twelve elastic constants (Young&amp;rsquo;s modulus (EL, ER, and ET,), shear modulus (GLR, GLT, and GRT) and Poisson&amp;rsquo;s ratios (&amp;nu;LR, &amp;nu;LT, &amp;nu;RT, &amp;nu;TR, &amp;nu;RL, and &amp;nu;TL)) of Populus canadensis M. were determined by ultrasonic testing and evaluation, and the effect of thermal treatment on these constants was figured out. Samples were modified at 110, 160, and 210 &amp;deg;C for 3 and 6 h. The 2.25 MHz pressure and 1 MHz shear waves were propagated to calculate ultrasonic wave velocities, which were used to dynamically predict the constants. The control values for EL, ER, ET, GLR, GLT, GRT, &amp;nu;LR, &amp;nu;LT, &amp;nu;RT, &amp;nu;TR, &amp;nu;RL, and &amp;nu;TL were 4361 MPa, 1438 MPa, 476 MPa, 771 MPa, 480 MPa, 107 MPa, 0.795, 0.296, 0.863, 0.335, 0.19, and 0.027, respectively. Yet, no data for full elastic constants were reported, and some remarkable differences were observed for moduli and Poisson ratios when compared to other poplar species. Elasticity and shear moduli reached their highest at 160 &amp;deg;C 3h and 110 &amp;deg;C 3h conditions, respectively. The common point of the treatment on moduli was that intense application caused the highest adverse effect, particularly for ET and GRT. Contrary to moduli, apart from &amp;nu;RT and &amp;nu;TR, the lowest values for Poisson&amp;rsquo;s ratios were not obtained at the intense application. In general, none of the properties presented linear-like advancement or worsening by the increase in treatment conditions. Furthermore, not all the properties were significantly influenced by the treatment. Therefore, defining an optimum thermal treatment condition for improving the wood elastic constants is not easy when considering that the response to thermal treatment changes not only between the species but also within the species. Anyhow, preventing extended duration to elevated temperatures provides considerable advances.

Performance analysis on an integrated three-area thermal AGC system with various wind velocities considering HCSA-optimized PI-TIDN Controller

This article investigates the impact of a high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) link and a wind turbine system (WTS) on the dynamics of a three-area thermal automatic generation control (AGC) system. A novel controller, the cascade of proportional-integral (PI) and tiltintegralderivative (TID) with filter coefficient (N) (PI-TIDN) controller is projected. The WTS units are subjected to various wind velocity scenarios, including fixed and random wind velocities. The controller parameters are concurrently enhanced using the hybrid crowsearch algorithm (HCSA). The system dynamics corresponding to the PI-TIDN controller are superior to those of PIDN and TIDN controllers. Additionally, studies with different wind velocities demonstrate that responses with fixed wind velocities are better than those with random wind velocities. Moreover, integrating WTS units with the thermal system improves dynamics compared to the thermal system alone. It is also apparent that the parallel AC-HVDC system enhances dynamics. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis exposes that the PI-TIDN controller values at nominal settings are vigorous and do not require retuning.

Obesity as factor of development of metabolic deviations in gestational diabetes

Objective — to evaluate the pathophysiological role of obesity in the development of metabolic disorders in women with gestational diabetes (GD). Materials and methods. 125 pregnant women were examined, including 33 obese patients, 32 pregnant women with GD, and 37 women with comorbidity of GD and obesity. The control group was represented by 23 practically healthy pregnant women. The content of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin1b (IL‑1b), IL‑6, IL‑17, tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa)), C‑reactive protein (CRP) and glucometabolic profile were determined. Results. An integral analysis of the incidence structure of degrees of obesity by group established a statistically significant increase in degrees of obesity in women with combined pathology. The HOMA‑IR insulin resistance index was statistically significantly higher in obese patients by 1.1 times (p &lt;0.05) compared with isolated GDM and by 2.5 times (p &lt;0.001) compared with the control group, with a combined course of GDM and obesity — by 1.2 times (p &lt;0.001) and 2.7 times (p &lt;0.001), respectively. The indicators of the obesity group and the comorbidity group differed by 1.1 times (p &lt;0.001). The median CRP content in pregnant women with GD and obesity was 8.12 mg/l, in obese patients — 6.95 mg/l, and in patients with GD — 4.47 mg/l. These results exceeded the control values (2.67 mg/l) by 3.04 (p &lt;0.001), 2.6 (p &lt;0.001) and 1.7 (p &lt;0.001) times, respectively. The results of studying the activity of proinflammatory cytokines showed their significant overexpression in all study groups, but the deviations were more pronounced in women with comorbidities of GD and obesity. Correlations were revealed between parameters of the glucometabolic profile and markers of inflammation, as well as strong positive correlations between body mass index and levels of IL‑17 (r=0.91; p &lt;0.01), IL‑6 (r=0.89; p &lt;0.01), IL‑1b (r=0.94; p &lt;0.01), TNF‑α (r=0.88; p &lt;0.01) and CRP (r=0.86; p &lt;0.01) in women with comorbid pathology. Conclusions. The presence of concomitant obesity in women with GD is characterized by the intensification of the meta‑inflammatory phenotype, which is manifested by significantly more pronounced expression of pro‑inflammatory biomarkers — cytokines IL‑1b, IL‑6, IL‑17, TNF‑α, and CRP, and is associated with statistically deeper deviations of the glucometabolic profile, progression of insulin resistance and deterioration of the course of GD compared to isolated pathology.

Sympathetic Nerve Activity following Acute Type B Aortic Dissection: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Control of blood pressure following acute type B aortic dissection usually requires sympatholytic antihypertensive medication. Although sympathetic nerve activity is central to blood pressure control, its role in the hypertensive response to acute aortic dissection has not been assessed. Methods: A prospective pilot study was performed over an 18-month period. Patients presenting with acute type B aortic dissection confirmed on computed tomographic angiography were recruited. We measured blood pressure, heart rate, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and plasma catecholamine levels in patients following acute type B dissection and controls. Comparisons between groups were made 1 week (acute phase) and 3 months after dissection (recovery phase). Results: Five patients and four controls were recruited in the study. MSNA was higher in patients than controls during the acute phase of aortic dissection: 62 (60–62) versus 46 (29–60) bursts/min (effect size 0.88) and 88 (54–96) versus 71 (44–101) bursts/100 beats (effect size 0.60). Plasma normetanephrines were also increased acutely: 821.0 (489.0–884.0) versus 417.0 (348.5–561.5) pmol/L (effect size 0.85). Conclusion: Sympathetic nerve activity is increased acutely during the first week after type B aortic dissection, resolving towards control values after 3 months. Immediate sympatholytic drug treatment is likely to be crucial in order to prevent the acute and chronic complications of this response. This may confer benefits over and above simply lowering the blood pressure to protect the aorta in the acute phase.

Comparison of ZnS(Ag) Scintillator and Proportional Counter Tube for Alpha Detection in Thin-Layer Chromatography.

(1) Background: Targeted alpha therapy is an emerging field in nuclear medicine driven by two advantages: overcoming resistance in cancer-suffering patients to beta therapies and the practical application of lower activities of 212Pb- and 225Ac-labelled peptides to achieve the same doses compared to beta therapy due to the highly cytotoxic nature of alpha particles. However, quality control of the 212Pb/225Ac-radiopharmaceuticals remains a challenge due to the low activity levels used for therapy (100 kBq/kg) and the formation of several free daughter nuclides immediately after the formulation of patient doses; (2) Methods: The routine alpha detection on thin-layer chromatograms (TLC) of 212Pb- and 225Ac-labelled peptides using a MiniScanPRO+ scanner combined with an alpha detector head was compared with detection using an AR-2000 scanner equipped with an open proportional counter tube. Measurement time, resolution and validity were compared for both scanners; (3) Results: For 225Ac, the quality control values of the radiochemical purity (RCP) were within the acceptance criteria 2 h after TLC development, regardless of when the TLC probe was taken. That is, if the TLC probe was taken 24 h after radiosynthesis, the true value of the RCP was not measured until 5 h after TLC development. For 212Pb-labelled peptides, the probe sampling did not have a high impact on the value of the RCP for the MiniScanPRO+ and AR-2000. A difference was observed when measuring TLC with the AR-2000 in different modes; (4) Conclusions: The MiniScanPRO+ is fast, does not require additional equipment and can also measure the gamma spectrum, which may be important for some radiopharmaceutical production sites and regulatory authorities. The AR-2000 has a better signal-to-noise ratio, and this eliminates the need for additional waiting time after TLC development.

REACTION OF THE LOCAL PROTECTIVE BARRIER IN THE DUODENAL MUCOSA OF RATS TO A COMPLEX OF FOOD ADDITIVES

Introduction: The use of food additives continues to be a topic of significant debate, primarily due to the limited research on their effects on the human body, especially in conditions involving combined exposure. Commonly used additives in the food industry include monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, and Ponceau-4R. These substances, widely incorporated into food products, enter the body as haptens and, when binding to proteins such as serum albumin, form complete antigens, which can trigger the synthesis of antibodies. Objective: To investigate the dynamics of quantitative changes in lymphoid cell populations in the lamina propria of the duodenal mucosa under normal conditions and following combined exposure to the food additives monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, and Ponceau-4R. Materials and Methods. The study involved 84 mature male rats. The animals in the experimental group, with free access to water, were administered 0.6 mg/kg of sodium nitrite, 20 mg/kg of monosodium glutamate, and 5 mg/kg of Ponceau 4R in 0.5 ml of distilled water orally once daily. These doses were twice lower than the permissible norm. The animals were euthanized after 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Histological sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, were studied under a light microscope. Quantitative parameters of lymphoid cells in the lamina propria of the duodenal mucosa were evaluated using a Levenhuk D740T digital microscope with microphotography attachment and specialized software adapted for the study. Results. The average number of lymphocytes in the lamina propria of the duodenal mucosa in rats at the 16th week of the experiment was 5.02±0.09 per field of view, which was 5.02 times significantly higher than in the control group (p&lt;0.05). Prolonged intake of the additive complex led to an increase in plasma cells, reaching 20.04±0.17 per field of view at week 16, remaining 5.04 times higher than control values (p&lt;0.05). The average number of macrophages was 8.96±0.17 per field of view, 4.48 times higher than in the control group (p&lt;0.05). The number of granulocytes increased significantly, being 6.12 times higher than the control value at 3.98±0.09 per field of view (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion. The complex of food additives monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, and Ponceau - 4R activates both nonspecific immune response processes and antigen-dependent cell differentiation in a wave-like manner.

Relationship Between Hepatic Iron Concentration and Glycemic Metabolism, Prediabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.

Emerging research has suggested a potential link between high iron levels, indicated by serum ferritin levels, and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the role of hepatic iron concentration (HIC) on T2D development and progression is not well understood. This study aims to systematically review the literature on HIC and/or the degree of hepatic iron overload (HIO) in individuals with prediabetes and/or diagnosed T2D, and to analyze associations between HIC and markers of glucose metabolism. The databases Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Knowledge were searched for studies published in English from 1999 to March 2024. This review followed the Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Data were extracted following the established eligibility criteria. Study characteristics and biomarkers related to prediabetes, T2D, and HIO were extracted. The risk of bias was analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were stratified by the exposure and analyzed in subgroups according to the outcome. Data regarding the HIC values in controls, individuals with prediabetes, and individuals with T2D and the association estimates between HIC or HIO and markers of glycemic metabolism, prediabetes, or T2D were extracted. A total of 12 studies were identified, and data from 4110 individuals were analyzed. HIO was not consistently observed in prediabetic/T2D populations; however, elevated HIC was frequently observed in prediabetic and T2D individuals, and was associated with the disruption of certain glycemic markers in some cases. The extent of iron overload, as indicated by hepatic iron load, varied among the prediabetic and T2D populations studied. Further research is needed to understand the distribution and regulation of iron in T2D pathology.

BIOMEDICAL RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREECLAMPSIA OF VARYING SEVERITY IN PREGNANT WOMEN

The aim of this study was to identify biomedical risk factors for the development of preeclampsia of varying severity in the group of examined pregnant women. Material and methods. 70 women whose pregnancy was complicated by the development of preeclampsia were under observation. The first group included 46 (65.7%) patients with moderate preeclampsia; the second group included 24 (34.2%) women with severe preeclampsia. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the patient's complaints, clinical examination, somatic, obstetric and gynecological anamnesis, analysis of the course of the present pregnancy, ultrasound fetometry and Dopplerometry findings. The patients who participated in the study had an assessment of clinical and anamnestic parameters, somatic status, obstetric and gynecological anamnesis. Data from 45 pregnant women with an unencumbered obstetric and gynecological history and a physiologically occurring pregnancy were used as control values. Results. The prognostic risk factors for the development of moderate and severe preeclampsia were analyzed based on the calculation of relative risk indicators (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). In the group of pregnant women with both severe and moderate preeclampsia, strong prognostic risk factors were: place of residence in the regions, extragenital pathology in the anamnesis, gynecological diseases in the anamnesis, the number of pregnancies in the anamnesis, birth parity, and arterial hypertension. The early identification of risk factors for moderate and severe preeclampsia enables timely preventive measures, thereby improving patient outcomes and prognosis. Conclusion. The analysis revealed that preeclampsia was more prevalent among pregnant women with a history of various extragenital diseases, a complicated obstetric and gynecological history, and concomitant hypertension.

Optimization of Video Surveillance System Deployment Based on Space Syntax and Deep Reinforcement Learning

With the widespread deployment of video surveillance devices, a large number of indoor and outdoor places are under the coverage of cameras, which plays a significant role in enhancing regional safety management and hazard detection. However, a vast number of cameras lead to high installation, maintenance, and analysis costs. At the same time, low-quality images and potential blind spots in key areas prevent the full utilization of the video system’s effectiveness. This paper proposes an optimization method for video surveillance system deployment based on space syntax analysis and deep reinforcement learning. First, space syntax is used to calculate the connectivity value, control value, depth value, and integration of the surveillance area. Combined with visibility and axial analysis results, a weighted index grid map of the area’s surveillance importance is constructed. This index describes the importance of video coverage at a given point in the area. Based on this index map, a deep reinforcement learning network based on DQN (Deep Q-Network) is proposed to optimize the best placement positions and angles for a given number of cameras in the area. Experiments show that the proposed framework, integrating space syntax and deep reinforcement learning, effectively improves video system coverage efficiency and allows for quick adjustment and refinement of camera placement by manually setting parameters for specific areas. Compared to existing coverage-first or experience-based optimization, the proposed method demonstrates significant performance and efficiency advantages.

АГРОХИМИЧЕСКИЕ СВОЙСТВА СЕРОЙ ЛЕСНОЙ ПОЧВЫ И СТРУКТУРА УРОЖАЯ ЗЕРНОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР ПОД ДЕЙСТВИЕМ КРЕМНИЙСОДЕРЖАЩЕГО ОРГАНОМИНЕРАЛЬНОГО УДОБРЕНИЯ

The aim of the research was to study the effect of silicon-containing organomineral fertilizer (OMF) on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of spring wheat of the Yoldyz variety and buckwheat of the Nikolskaya variety, as well as the main agrochemical parameters of gray forest soil. The work was carried out in a pot experiment, the scheme of which involved the study of the following options: without fertilizers (control); N60P60K60 - background; OMF 2 t/ha; OMF 3 t/ha; background + OMF 2 t/ha; background + OMF 3 t/ha./ha. OMF was obtained by mixing heat-treated organic (chicken manure) at a temperature of 60...70°C and mineral (zeolite from the Tatarsko-Shatrashansky deposit of the Republic of Tatarstan) components in a ratio of 1:1. Soil and plant samples were analyzed using conventional methods. Agrochemical characteristics of the soil before the experiment: gray forest medium loamy soil with an organic matter content of 2.9%, pHKCl of 5.86 units, hydrolytic acidity of 2.16 mg/100 g, the sum of absorbed bases of 20.2 mg/100 g, the content of alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen is 77.0 mg/kg, mobile phosphorus and potassium - 238.0 and 180 mg/kg accordingly. Under the influence of OMF, the agrochemical properties of the soil under wheat and buckwheat crops are improved: the indicators of metabolic and hydrolytic acidity decrease by 0.03...0.20 mg-eq./100 g, the amount of absorbed bases increases to 22.0...22.6 mg-eq./100 g, and the content of macronutrients increases. The use of OMF in doses of 2 and 3 t/ha both separately and in combination with mineral fertilizers improves the crop structure and increases the yield and quality of wheat grain: plant height increases by 5.7...15.8 cm, ear length - by 0.8...2.6 cm, biomass - by 5.5...9.5 g, grain yield - by 0.9...3.5 g/l compared to the control. The protein content increases by 7.03...8.38%. An improvement in buckwheat indicators has been established under the influence of OMF and mineral fertilizers relative to control values - plant height increases by 1.1...14.8 cm, biomass - by 1.0...11.3 g, yield - by 0.3...2.5 g/l. The protein content in buckwheat grain increases by 0.21...1.18%.

Profile of Lipid and Antioxidant Activity Lipids Extracted from Pangasius pangasius: Complementary Analysis

Extraction of lipids from Pangasius pangasius employed a unique simple route such as the solvent extraction method which is better useful for extract lipids from fish, cost effective and comparatively easier than others process where ethanol is a diluent and chloroform acts as a solvent. The prime objective of this manuscript is to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of lipids from Pangasius pangasius. The chemical composition determination by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The most abundant lipid components were Dodecanoic acid 1,2,3 Propanetriyl ester 86.67% found in GC-MS which have strong bactericidal properties. It is utilized as an algal and plant metabolite and possesses antimicrobial qualities. For determination of the antioxidant activity, the Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometer (UV) was introduced. The degree of hydrolysis, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity the antioxidant activity can be estimated. The control value of the UV is 1.297 a. u. and the absorption value by sample minimum value is 1.168 a. u. and the maximum value is 1.208 a. u. The inhibition rate maximum of 0.0995% and a minimum of 0.0686% by the human body. The absorption of UV light by the sample is near the control value which indicates lipids contain a little percentage of antioxidant activity. The sample contains a small percentage of 0.33 of L (+) ascorbic acid 2,6 di-hexa-decanoate which is an antioxidant agent that reduces free radicals in the human body. This outcome highlighted its possibility as an origin of bioactive chemicals and expanded our knowledge of its nutritive and therapeutic properties.

Enhancement of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses with TIGIT Blockade Involves Trogocytosis.

Natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cell function is compromised in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by increased expression of inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains). Blocking inhibitory receptors or their ligands with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) has potential to improve antiviral immunity in general and facilitate HIV eradication strategies. We assessed the impact of TIGIT engagement and blockade on cytotoxicity, degranulation, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by CD8+ T cells from persons living with HIV (PLWH). The effect of TIGIT engagement on non-specific anti-CD3-redirected cytotoxicity was assessed in redirected cytotoxicity assays, and the effect of TIGIT blockade on HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses was assessed by flow cytometry. In 14/19 cases where peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mediated >10% redirected cytotoxicity, TIGIT engagement reduced the level of cytotoxicity to <90% of control values. We selected PLWH with >1000 HIV Gag or Nef-specific IFN-γ spot forming cells per million PBMC to quantify the effects of TIGIT blockade on HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses by flow cytometry. Cell surface TIGIT expression decreased on CD8+ T cells from 23/40 PLWH following TIGIT blockade and this loss was associated with increased anti-TIGIT mAb fluorescence on monocytes. In total, 6 of these 23 PLWH had enhanced HIV-specific CD8+ T cell degranulation and IFN-γ production with TIGIT blockade, compared to 0/17 with no decrease in cell surface TIGIT expression. Reduced CD8+ T cell TIGIT expression with TIGIT blockade involved trogocytosis by circulating monocytes, suggesting that an effector monocyte population and intact fragment crystallizable (Fc) functions are required for mAb-based TIGIT blockade to effectively enhance HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses.

Predicting early stage lung cancer recurrence and survival from combined tumor motion amplitude and radiomics on free-breathing 4D-CT.

Cancer control outcomes of lung cancer are hypothesized to be affected by several confounding factors, including tumor heterogeneity and patient history, which have been hypothesized to mitigate the dose delivery effectiveness when treated with radiation therapy. Providing an accurate predictive model to identify patients at risk would enable tailored follow-up strategies duringtreatment. Our goal is to demonstrate the added prognostic value of including tumor displacement amplitude in a predictive model that combines clinical features and computed tomography (CT) radiomics for 2-year recurrence and survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with curative-intent stereotactic body radiationtherapy. A cohort of 381 patients treated for primary lung cancer with radiotherapy was collected, each including a planning CT with a dosimetry plan, 4D-CT, and clinical information. From this cohort, 101 patients (26.5%) experienced cancer progression (locoregional/distant metastasis) or death within 2 years of the end of treatment. Imaging data was analyzed for radiomics features from the tumor segmented image, as well as tumor motion amplitude measured on 4D-CT. A random forest (RF) model was developed to predict the overall outcomes, which was compared to three other approaches - logistic regression, support vector machine, and convolutional neuralnetworks. A 6-fold cross-validation study yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 72% for progression-free survival when combining clinical data with radiomics features and tumor motion using a RF model (72% sensitivity and 81% specificity). The combined model showed significant improvement compared to standard clinical data. Model performances for loco-regional recurrence and overall survival sub-outcomes were established at 73% and 70%, respectively. No comparative methods reached statistical significance in any dataconfiguration. Combined tumor respiratory motion and radiomics features from planning CT showed promising predictive value for 2-year tumor control and survival, indicating the potential need for improving motion management strategies in future studies using machine learning-based prognosismodels.

Local Myoelectric Sensing During Human Colonic Tissue Perfusion.

Objectives: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most devastating complications after colorectal surgery. The verification of the adequate perfusion of the anastomosis is essential to ensuring anastomosis integrity following colonic resections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of measuring the electrical activity of the colonic muscularis externa at an anastomosis site for perfusion analysis following colorectal surgery. Methods: Strips of human isolated colon were maintained in a horizontal tissue bath to record spontaneous contractions and myoelectric activity and spike potentials (using a bipolar electrode array for the wireless transmission of myoelectric data-the xBar system) from the circular muscle. Intraoperative myoelectric signal assessment was performed by placing the electrode array on the colon prior to and following mesenteric artery ligation, just prior to colonic resection. Results: In human isolated colon, the amplitude, duration, and frequency of contractions were inhibited during hypoxia by >80% for each measurement, compared to control values and time-matched oxygenated muscle. Intraoperative (N = 5; mean age, 64.8 years; range, 54-74 years; 60% females) myoelectric signal assessment revealed a decline in spike rate following arterial ligation, with a mean reduction of 112.64 to 51.13 spikes/min (p < 0.0008). No adverse events were observed during the study, and the device did not substantially alter the surgical procedure. Conclusions: The electrical and contraction force of the human colon was reduced by ischemia, both in vitro and in vivo. These preliminary findings also suggest the potential of the xBar system to measure such changes during intraoperative and possibly postoperative periods to predict the risk of anastomotic viability as a surrogate of evolving dehiscence.

Effect of transcutaneous electro-stimulation in postoperative rehabilitation pain treatment in thoracic surgery: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundChest pain is one of the most difficult problems to solve after thoracic surgery. Its correct control is often quite difficult, which can cause complications due to an ineffective cough and superficial respiratory movements.MethodsThis study has been designed with the purpose of studying the value of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) in the postoperative pain rehabilitation of thoracotomy. A prospective and randomized study has been developed. The patients (n = 109) have been treated after hospital discharge with physiotherapy for 3 weeks. Three groups have been established: experimental (n = 37), control (n = 35), and placebo (n = 37), experimental and placebo including the application of TENS during the physiotherapy protocol. Postoperative pain (McGill test) and spirometry have been studied before and after treatment.ResultsThe largest between-group discrepancy occurred between the experimental and control groups, 16.77 points (p < 0.001). Spirometry has shown an improvement in FVC (27.11%) and FEV1 (28.68%) (p < 0.001) in the experimental group, which was statistically significant compared to the other groups.ConclusionThe use of TENS, as an adjunctive treatment to physiotherapy, leads to an improvement in pain control and spirometry values in patients after thoracic surgery, without producing side effects with the technique. These findings provide physiological evidence for the use of TENS in post-pulmonary surgery and may form the basis for the development of pain managed-based programs in clinics and hospitals.Trial registrationNCT04964973 (ClinicalTrials.gov). First registration: July 16, 2021.Protocol: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04964973.

The effects of morning versus evening high-intensity interval exercise on the magnitude of the morning blood pressure surge.

Blood pressure (BP) follows a circadian rhythm, dipping during sleep and surging in the morning. A larger morning BP surge is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. Acute exercise can produce sustained periods of post-exercise hypotension that last up to 24h; however, the timing of exercise (morning vs. evening) may influence this response. Whether the timing of exercise influences the morning BP surge remains unknown. The current study investigated the effects of a bout of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performed in the morning versus evening on the magnitude of the morning BP surge in young healthy adults. Twenty-six young, otherwise healthy adults (23±4 years; 15 females) completed a randomized crossover trial where, on different days, they completed a no exercise control visit or performed either morning (0800-1000h) or evening (1700-1900h) HIIE. Following each visit, ambulatory BP was assessed in 30 min intervals for 24hrs. HIIE at either time did not alter the magnitude of the morning BP surge compared to control values (control: 22 ± 5 mmHg; morning exercise: 20 ± 8mmHg; evening exercise: 22 ± 10mmHg, P=0.40) or when grouped separately by sex (visit × sex P=0.42). A positive correlation existed between Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire score and the change in nighttime BP following both exercise times (both r=0.42 and P=0.04). These findings suggest that HIIE does not attenuate the morning BP surge in young healthy adults and that chronotype can predict nighttime BP responses following HIIE, irrespective of exercise time of day. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06702930).