Whitney Test Research Articles

Pain Decrement Using Radiofrequency Therapy After Knee Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Within First 72 h in Active Populations with Patellar Chondropathy

Objective: To determine whether 448 kHz capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency (CRMR) after platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections can further reduce pain sensation within the first 72 h in an active population with patellar chondropathy. Methods: One-hundred fifty-three active patients with patellar chondropathy grade II-III were followed for three days after PRP injections with and without CRMR under a control–placebo study. They were clinically evaluated for pain sensation using a visual analog scale ranging from zero (no pain sensation) to ten (highest pain sensation). Pain sensation was described using medians and analyzed through the Friedman and Conover test for within-group comparison (pre-intervention, and 24, 48, and 72 h post-intervention) and the Mann–Whitney test for between-group comparisons (Intervention vs. Placebo) with α = 5% and 1−β = 80%. Results: The placebo group showed statistical significance between pre-intervention and 24 h (Δ = −2.0 pts, p < 0.001), baseline and 48 h (Δ = −2.0 pts, p < 0.001), baseline and 72 h (Δ = −3.0 pts, p < 0.001), 24 h and 48 h (Δ = 0.0 pts, p < 0.016), and 24 h and 72 h (Δ = −1.0 pts, p < 0.001). The radiofrequency group showed statistical significance between baseline and 24 h (Δ = −7.0 pts, p < 0.001), baseline and 48 h (Δ = −7.0 pts, p < 0.001), baseline and 72 h (Δ = −8.0 pts, p < 0.001), 24 h and 72 h (Δ = −1.0 pts, p < 0.001), and 48 h and 72 h (Δ = −1.0 pts, p < 0.001). The placebo and radiofrequency groups were significantly different at 24 h (Δ = 4.0 pts, p < 0.001), 48 h (Δ = 4.0 pts, p < 0.001), and 72 h (Δ = 4.0 pts, p < 0.001). Conclusions: CRMR therapy administered after knee intra-articular injections of PRP within the first 72 h in active populations with patellar chondropathy reduces pain sensation with a median difference of 8.0 pts compared to baseline and 4.0 pts compared to placebo group.

Outcomes of Broader Genomic Profiling in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Portuguese Cohort Study

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite advancements, metastatic CRC (mCRC) has a five-year survival rate below 20%. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is recommended nowadays to guide mCRC treatment; however, its clinical utility when compared with traditional molecular testing in mCRC is debated due to limited survival improvement and cost-effectiveness concerns. Methods: This retrospective study included mCRC patients (≥18 years) treated at a single oncology centre who underwent NGS during treatment planning. Tumour samples were analysed using either a 52-gene Oncomine™ Focus Assay or a 500+-gene Oncomine™ Comprehensive Assay Plus. Variants were classified by clinical significance (ESMO ESCAT) and potential benefit (ESMO-MCBS and OncoKBTM). The Mann–Whitney and Chi square tests were used to compare characteristics of different groups, with significance at p < 0.05. Results: Eighty-six metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients were analysed, all being MMR proficient. Most cases (73.3%) underwent sequencing at diagnosis of metastatic disease, using primary tumour samples (74.4%) and a focused NGS assay (75.6%). A total of 206 somatic variants were detected in 86.0% of patients, 31.1% of which were classified as clinically significant, predominantly KRAS mutations (76.6%), with G12D and G12V variants as the most frequent. Among 33.7% RAS/BRAF wild-type patients, 65.5% received anti-EGFR therapies. Eleven patients (12.8%) had other actionable variants which were ESCAT level I-II, including four identified as TMB-high, four KRAS G12C, two BRAF V600E, and one HER2 amplification. Four received therapies classified as OncoKbTM level 1–2 and ESMO-MCBS score 4, leading to disease control in three cases. Conclusions: NGS enables the detection of rare variants, supports personalised treatments, and expands therapeutic options. As new drugs emerge and genomic data integration improves, NGS is poised to enhance real-world mCRC management.

Cardiac Hemodynamics, Tissue Oxygenation, and Functional Capacity in Post-COVID-19 Patients

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the functional capacity of post-COVID-19 patients with a control group and analyze cardiac hemodynamics and muscle tissue oxygenation responses during assessment protocols in both groups. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with COVID-19 and a control group who were all aged ≥18 years. Participants underwent two functional capacity tests: the one-minute sit–stand test (1-STS) and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Cardiac hemodynamic responses were evaluated using impedance during the 1-STS, and tissue perfusion responses in the oxygenation were recorded during and after both tests. The Friedman test was used for within-group and the Mann–Whitney test was used for between-group comparisons. Results: Thirty-six post-COVID-19 patients (median age 36 years, BMI 26.51 kg/m2) and eleven control subjects (median age 25 years, BMI 23.71 kg/m2) were enrolled. The post-COVID-19 group showed a 20% decrease in 6MWT distance (p = 0.0001) and a 28% decrease in 1-STS repetitions (p = 0.01) versus the control group. Cardiac hemodynamic differences were observed in the post-COVID-19 group during the 1-STS, with reductions in the stroke volume index (18%, p = 0.004), cardiac index (21%, p = 0.0009), Contractility Index (78%, p = 0.0001), and Ejection Fraction (29%, p = 0.0003) and increases in Systemic Vascular Resistance (25%, p = 0.03) and the Systemic Vascular Resistance Index (27%, p = 0.0007). Tissue oxygenation during the 6MWT and 1-STS showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: The post-COVID-19 subjects exhibited a reduction in functional capacity, changes in hemodynamic responses related to cardiac and systemic vascular resistance, and a similar pattern of muscle oxygen delivery and consumption in both tests

Are Electromyography Data a Fingerprint for Patients with Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

This study aimed to first investigate changes in electromyography (EMG) patterns after multilevel surgical treatment in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and then to assess the connection between the measure of EMG and motor control indices and surgery outcomes. We analyzed retrospective EMG and gait data from 167 patients with CP before and after surgery and from 117 typically developed individuals as a reference group. The patients underwent at least one soft tissue surgery on their shank and foot muscles. Using Repeated Measures ANOVA, we examined the norm-distance (ND) of the kinematics, kinetics, and EMG patterns, in addition to the Kerpape-Rennes EMG-based Gait Index (EDI), EMG Profile Score (EPS), and Walking Dynamic Motor Control Index (DMC) before and after surgery. Participants were divided into different response groups (poor, mild, and good gait quality) according to their pre- and post-treatment Gait Deviation Index (GDI), using the K-means-PSO clustering algorithm. The gait and EMG indices were compared between the responders using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test. The ND for all kinematics and kinetics parameters significantly improved (p-value < 0.05) after the surgery. Regarding EMG, a significant reduction was only observed in the ND of the rectus femoris (p-value < 0.001) and soleus (p-value = 0.006). Among the indices, DMC was not altered post-operatively (p-value = 0.88). Although EDI and EPS were consistent across responders with a similar pre-treatment gait, a higher DMC was significantly associated with a greater improvement, particularly in patients with poor gait (p-value < 0.05). These findings indicate systematic changes in the EMG of patients with CP following surgery, which can also be demonstrated through indices. DMC is a measure that can potentially serve as a partial predictor of outcomes, particularly in patients with poor pre-operative gait. Future research should investigate the effects of different surgical strategies on the improvement of these patients.

The Effect of The Mental Health Literacy Promotion Program on Emotion Regulation Strategies of Family Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Psychiatric Disorders in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Emotion regulation strategies help family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients to manage caring behaviors. However, evidence pointed out problems and therefore a need to execute respective programs to improve emotion regulation for caregivers. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mental health literacy promotion programs on emotion regulation strategies of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial study, with two-group pretest–post-test design with a follow-up period conducted in 2023. Sixty family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients were randomly allocated to intervention control groups. Data collection was done using a demographic characteristics questionnaire and Gross and John’s Emotion Regulation Scale. The mental health literacy promotion program was implemented for the intervention group in six sessions weekly. Immediately and 1 month after the last meeting, the questionnaires were completed. The data were analyzed using Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney test, and analysis of covariance by SPSS-22. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The results showed that the frequency distribution of demographic variables in the control and test groups had no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The intervention had significant effects on the mean score of emotion regulation strategies, and its subscales included re-evaluation and suppression of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients in both the post-test and follow-up periods (p < 0.001). Conclusions: According to improving the emotion regulation of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients through the mental health literacy promotion program, it is suggested to use this program to achieve the desired emotion regulation.

Analysis of high-temperature exposure to physical changes in Valplast®-based denture with acrylic element for human identification purpose

BackgroundIdentification of victims will be difficult due to exposure to high temperatures when fires occur. In some cases of fire, small pieces, such as teeth, can be detached and ignored as necessary evidence. Destroyed body parts or the number of victims in a disaster makes the identification of victims more complicated, and forensic odontology is hoped to help the identification process. In a fire disaster, it is possible that a victim used dentures. One of them is a Valplast®-based denture with an acrylic element. If a victim wearing dentures caught fire and was exposed to high-temperature flames, there may be remains of dentures that can be identified. This study aimed to determine the physical changes in Valplast®-based dentures with acrylic elements in shape, color, and weight due to high exposure temperature. In this article, Valplast®-based dentures with acrylic element samples of four groups (P1: 32–288 °C; P2: 32–319 °C; P3: 32–412 °C; P4: 32–800 °C) were observed in shape, weight, and color measurements before and after heating using an oven.ResultsThe result is a change in shape and weight after heating that is shown by the results of the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests with a p-value < 0.05, that is, the results of the one-way ANOVA test show that the average color change is not significantly different (p > 0.05).ConclusionValplast®-based dentures with acrylic elements experience changes in shape and weight after being heated at high temperatures. So, these results can be used as a reference in the forensic identification process for burn victims who use dentures.

Validation of AIA-360 for Determination of Presepsin: A Useful Tool for the Diagnosis of Sepsis at the Emergency Department

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, and clinicians should diagnose it as soon as possible to enable rapid intervention. The study aims to validate the AIA-360 Presepsin (PSEP) test for its use in determination in the diagnosis of septic patients after admission to emergency departments (ED). A total of 97 blood samples were collected from patients at the ED and from blood donors of Tor Vergata Hospital. Here, 15 samples were obtained from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of sepsis, and 44 samples with non-septic inflammatory condition. A control group of 38 samples from healthy subjects was also included. The non-septic inflammatory condition group and the confirmed sepsis group had a median of 874.40 pg/mL and 1467.10 pg/mL, respectively, while the control group showed a PSEP median value of 473.90 pg/mL, thus showing a significant statistical difference among all groups. The ROC curves highlighted a good sensitivity (93.33%) and specificity (76.19%) for PSEP values, suggesting the best cut-off point of 890 pg/mL. (p-value &lt; 0.001; Mann–Whitney test). The PSEP test can improve and speed up the diagnosis of sepsis after admission to the ED with respect to other biomarkers, mainly due to its early kinetics.

Podcasts impact on the listening skill development in a private school in a Latin American country

Podcasts are digital tools, which consist in audio files that can be downloaded from any technological devices connected to internet. There is some research that support the use of this tool in the processo of EFL classes, but there is a research gap in the field in our country. For this reason, this research analyzed the effectiveness of the use of podcasts as a didactic tool to improve the listening comprehension skill in English in eighth grade students. A population of 72 students was evaluated through a pre-test and post-test. This is a quasi-experimental design with quantitative data. Satistical analyses were used to measure the impact of the intervention. The Mass Whitney test was applied due to the lack of normality in the data. The results of the Mann Whitney U test revealed a significant difference in the development of the skill after the implementation. Likewise, the paired t-test results demonstrated a relevant variation in the English listening comprehension skills before and after the implementation of the podcast, with a p value less than the significance level of 0.05. The research findings suggest that the use of podcasts as a teaching tool is effective in improving listening comprehension skills. The results open the door for implications aimed at the use of podcasts in English classes to help students reach proficiency in the language.

Role of immature platelet fraction in etiological diagnosis of thrombocytopenia

Objectives: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a newer automated parameter that measures the ratio of reticulated platelets to a total number of platelets. A measure of reticulated platelets determines the rate of thrombopoiesis which can help in differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between IPF and causes of thrombocytopenia and establish its clinical utility. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective observational study conducted for 9 months. A total of 70 cases with an equal number of healthy age-matched controls were included in the study. Based on the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia, the cases were grouped into platelet hypoproduction, hyperdestruction, and megaloblastic anemia. The association between IPF values among control and different case groups was evaluated. Statistical analysis: Assuming a 95% confidence level, the sample size calculated is 61 subjects. Based on the etiopathogenesis of thrombocytopenia, cases were categorized into three groups. Qualitative variables were compared using the Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test. Quantitative variables were compared using unpaired t-test/Mann–Whitney test. P &lt; 0.05 was considered significant at a 95% confidence level. Results: The reference range of IPF among healthy controls was estimated to be 0.6–6.8%. The mean IPF was significantly higher in the hyperdestructive group (10.6%) as compared to the hypoproductive group (3.6%). The optimal cutoff value of IPF for differentiating hyperdestruction causes from hypoproduction causes was 8.20% with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 87.5%. Conclusions: IPF can be used as an initial tool in the diagnostic evaluation of thrombocytopenia.

The Effect of Access to Waterbodies and Parks on Walking and Cycling in Urban Areas

This pilot study investigated whether good and bad access to waterbodies and parks have different impacts on walking and cycling in neighborhoods in urban areas. Focusing on Paris, France, the neighborhoods were classified based on their access to the two natural environments through GIS analysis. Active mobility, past behavior, trip purpose, and subjective evaluation were collected through an online survey. The subjective evaluation included infrastructure satisfaction and the perception of transport mode choice, urban area aesthetic level, safety, health, and preference for active mobility over car use. Descriptive analyses, Mann–Whitney tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were conducted to compare between two access groups and between cycling and walking. Active mobility was mainly performed for utilitarian purposes. Weekly cycling frequency was found to be lower than walking. Access to natural environments mainly impacts walking. Contrary to general belief, cycling frequency is higher in neighborhoods with bad access to waterbodies than in ones with good access. Contrary to expectations, this study found little significant effect on active mobility in the accessibility to both natural environments. This study also highlights the influence of dominant active mobility purposes in urban areas with respect to access to natural environments, and provides a subjective evaluation for active mobility.

Reduction of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting with Spinal Anesthesia: Using Complementary Therapy Peppermint and Lavender Aromatherapy

Nausea and vomiting are common occurrences after surgery with spinal anesthesia, which can lead to complications and delay recovery. Hypotension associated with spinal, epidural, and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was a significant factor contributing to PONV. This study aimed to determine the difference in effectiveness between peppermint and lavender aromatherapy in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with spinal anesthesia. The study used a one-group pre-posttest design with a control group. The research sample consisted of at least 12 respondents in each group, resulting in 36 respondents, selected using a random sampling technique with a spinner wheel. Inclusion criteria were respondents who experienced moderate to severe nausea and vomiting (scores 9–24). This study utilized the Rhodes Index Nausea, Vomiting &amp; Retching (RINVR) instrument to measure the level of nausea and vomiting scores over 6 hours. Mann whitney test result, the P value of peppermint aromatherapy is smaller than alpha (0.003 &lt;0.05), the P value of lavender aromatherapy is smaller than alpha (0.017 &lt;0.05) and the P value of post aromatherapy peppermint and lavender is smaller than alpha (0.00 &lt;0.05), which means there is a difference in effectiveness between peppermint and lavender aromatherapy on reducing nausea and vomiting. Peppermint aromatherapy is more effective than lavender in reducing nausea vomiting because the refreshing effect of peppermint is preferred by respondents, making them more relaxed and reducing nausea vomiting.

A Convenience Sample Looking at Microbiome Differences Between Anxious and Non-Anxious Patients in a GI Clinic

Background: The gut–brain axis, significantly influenced by the gut microbiome, is a growing focus in mental health research. This study aimed to investigate gut microbiome differences between anxious and non-anxious participants. Methods: A convenience sample of 119 participants consisted of 56 participants with self-assessed low to zero levels of anxiety and 63 with self-assessed mild to severe levels of anxiety, using the self-rated Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) test. Fresh stool samples were collected for bacterial DNA extraction. DNA library preparation was performed using shotgun methodology, sequenced with the NextSeq 500/550 High Output v2.5 300 cycle kit, and mapped using minimap2. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted using One Codex. Results: The study participants were all of white race/ethnicity and the mean age, 54 (anxious group) vs. 55 (non-anxious) yr old, was not different between groups (p = 0.75). In the anxious group, 33% were females versus 25% in the non-anxious group, p = 0.46. Six percent of the anxious group reported a prior diagnosis of depression and 8% had irritable bowel syndrome, compared to none in the non-anxious group (p = 0.02, p = 0.006, respectively). Mann–Whitney tests revealed higher relative abundances of the genera Clostridioides (p = 0.011) and Bacteroides (p = 0.002) in the anxious group. Conversely, the anxious group had lower levels of the genera Bifidobacterium (p = 2.118 × 10−10), Faecalibacterium (p = 0.020), and the Phylum Actinobacteria (p = 1.516 × 10−8). Conclusions: Our findings corroborate previous studies, showing significant gut microbiome differences between anxious individuals and their non-anxious counterparts. These results support further exploration of microbiome-centric anxiety research.

An Investigation of Second-Year Medical Students’ Use of Outside Resources at Two Institutions

Abstract Introduction Medical students have an unprecedented number of study resources available to use. There is a shift in the frequency of student resource use, particularly outside resources not provided by the academic institution, as students progress through the curriculum. This may reflect how individual students develop as self-regulated learners. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate and compare medical student resource use at two institutions. Materials and Methods This is a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study that examines factors that are associated with outside resource use and frequency of resource use for second-year medical students across two institutions. A questionnaire was sent to second-year medical students at ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine and Eastern Virginia Medical School. Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare Likert-type responses between institutions. A thematic analysis was used to validate and expand on the qualitative dataset. Results Students across institutions are using outside resources frequently. We observed similar influence of factors for the use of outside resources such as preparing for licensing exams across institutions. EVMS students were more likely to be influenced by academic support staff and to use outside resources to prepare for course exams than ATSU students. Differences were noted when comparing the use of specific resources such as transcripts, self-generated student resources, and online resources generated by peers. Further, EVMS students more frequently used outside resources to study for disciplines such as physiology, microbiology, and pathology compared to ATSU students. Conclusions The observation that students across both institutions are influenced similarly to use outside resources to prepare for licensing exams is expected. However, we did observe some differences which could be explained by variations in curriculum and organizational features or programs at each institution. The results from the current study are consistent with what has been observed in previous studies. Establishing a better understanding of how students use outside resources will enable faculty and institutions to help students develop as self-regulated learners.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN SMOOTHIES PISANG (Musa paradisiaca) DAN KURMA (Phoenix dactylifera L.) SEBELUM LATIHAN TERHADAP KELELAHAN OTOT PADA ATLET BELA DIRI DI SKOI SAMARINDA

Muscle fatigue was very influential on the performance of athletes during training and competition. Muscle fatigue occured due to activities that require more energy in a short time. Bananas and dates contain carbohydrates and potassium are high enough to be used to provide energy quickly and store muscle glycogen reserves. This study aims to determine the impact of banana smoothies on the index of muscle fatigue in athletes. This study used Quasi-experimental design of pre-posttest control group design. The subjects were martial arts athletes SKOI Samarinda totaling 42 people. The treatment given was to give as much as of date banana smoothies as 200 ml 60 minutes before post-test testing. Measurement of muscle fatigue index using Test Running - based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). Giving date banana smoothies significantly affected the muscle fatigue index of martial arts athletes SKOI Samarinda (p&lt;0.05). The results of bivariate analysis using Mann - Whitney test showed that there was a significant difference in muscle fatigue index of martial arts athletes SKOI Samarinda between the water treatment group and the treatment group of date banana smoothies after treatment (p&lt;0.05). Intervention of date banana smoothies proved to be effective in preventing muscle fatigue in martial arts athletes.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ZINC, MOLYBDENUM, MANGANESE, CHROMIUMI CONTENT IN HAIR, BLOOD SERUM AND URINE OF STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL ASIA, MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL RUSSIA DURING THE PERIOD OF ADAPTATION TO STUDY

Introduction. The most popular education in Russian higher education institutions is among applicants from Central Asian countries, including Ka-zakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Students from this region make up more than half of all foreign citizens studying in Russian universities. Changed environmental conditions lead to the development of stressful situations, decreased learning ability and, in the future, the possible development of a number of diseases closely related to the presence of various elementoses. In this regard, in addition to the socio-cultural adaptation of students, it is very important to pay attention to the study of the elemental status of students in the process of their further adaptation to the changed living conditions. The aim of the study – a comparative analysis of the elemental status of first-year students from different climatic and geographical regions of the world who arrived to study in the Russian Federation and students living in the territory of the Russian Federation. Material and methods. From September 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023, a study of the elemental composition of hair was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 180 first-year students of RUDN University who had previously lived in the Middle East (60 people) and in the Moscow region (120 people). The age of the subjects was 18–26 years, the average age was 22.7 ± 4 years. Gender differences in the comparison groups were not taken into account. Differences in samples were determined using the Mann–Whitney test for independent samples (significance level p &lt; 0.05). Results. The presented results of a comparative analysis of the content of Zn, Mo, Mn, Cr elements in the hair of students who arrived from the coun-tries of the Middle East, Central Asia and regions of Central Russia during the adaptation period to training in 2023 are characterized by reliable differ-ences in the content of essential microelements in various biosubstrates. Conclusion. The established features of the elemental profiles of students showed that the hair of the subjects reflects the territorial climatic and ge-ographical features of the region of residence of the examined persons.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IRON, COPPER AND COBALT CONTENT IN HAIR, BLOOD SERUM AND URINE OF STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL ASIA, MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL RUSSIA DURING THE PERIOD OF ADAPTATION TO STUDY

Introduction. The most popular education in Russian higher education institutions is enjoyed by immigrants from Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. They account for more than half of all foreign citizens studying in Russian universities. Changed environmental conditions lead to the development of stressful situations, decreased learning ability and, in the future, the possible development of a number of diseases closely associated with the presence of various elementoses. In this regard, in addition to the socio-cultural adaptation of students, it is very important to pay attention to the study of the elemental status of students in the process of their further adaptation to the changed living conditions. The purpose of the study – comparative analysis of iron, copper, cobalt content in hair, blood serum and urine of students from Central Asian countries, the Middle East and Central Russian regions during the adaptation period to study. Material and methods. In the period from September 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023, a study of the elemental composition of hair was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 180 first-year students of RUDN University, who previously lived in the countries of Central Asia (170 people), the Middle East (60 people) and in the regions of Central Russia (120 people) aged 18–26 years. The average age of the subjects was 22.7 ± 4 years. Gender differences in the comparison groups were not taken into account. Differences in samples were determined using the Mann–Whitney test for independent samples (significance level p &lt; 0.05). Results. The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the content of iron, copper, chromium in the hair, urine and blood serum of students who arrived from the countries of the Middle East, Central Asia and the regions of Central Russia during the adaptation period to study in 2023. Features of the elemental profiles of students were established. Conclusions. It is shown that the hair of the subjects reflects the territorial climatic and geographical features of the region of residence of the examined persons. Despite statistically significant differences in the content of iron, copper, chromium in the examined students of different regions, their elemental profile did not affect the objective medical indicators (heart rate, saturation level, hemoglobin index).

The Effectiveness of Focus of Attention in Static Balance and Functional Ability of Chronic Ankle Instability: A Pilot Study

Objectives: The focus of patients’ attention during the physiotherapy program has been reported to affect the rehabilitation goals. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an external focus of attention (EFA) on static balance and functional ability in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods: Fourteen subjects with CAI, aged from 19 to 25 years, were randomly assigned to two groups: external and internal focus of attention (IFA) group. The outcome measures of the study were static balance and functional ability. A pre-intervention evaluation was performed. Following instructions to an external or an IFA, subjects practiced on a balance board 3 times per week for 4 weeks. At the end of each week, they performed evaluation tests, including a time balance test, foot lift test, side hop test, figure-8 test, and star excursion balance test (SEBT). Parametric (mixed analysis of variance) and non-parametric analysis (the Mann–Whitney and Friedman tests) were performed between measurements and groups. Results: The intervention program showed a statistically significant improvement in static balance and functional ability in both groups. The results indicated the main effect of time (F(2.488, 29.855)=43.880, P&lt;0.001). For the time in balance test, analysis of variance revealed a main effect of time (F(2.571, 30.855)=11.188, P&lt;0.001). Regarding the SEBT, every direction indicated a main effect of time for both groups. No significant differences between the two groups were found in static balance and functional ability. Discussion: Even though there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, both types of focus of attention contributed to the improvement of static balance and functional ability, which may reveal an increase in motor control and neuromuscular ability of the subjects with CAI.

Adhesion of Candida albicans on preformed crowns used to restore primary molars: An in vitro study

BackgroundAssessing microbial biofilm adhesion to the restorative material’s surface is a key factor in determining its success. This study aimed to compare the adhesion of Candida albicans (C. albicans) on stainless steel crowns (SSCs) versus zirconia crowns (ZCs) used for primary molars. Study designThis in vitro study involved 20 full-coverage crowns, with 10 SSCs and 10 ZCs. A fungal adhesion assay was performed to evaluate C. albicans adhesion, using colony-forming units (CFU) and cell proliferation assays. StatisticsThe Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test was applied to compare the groups, with statistical significance set at 5 %. ResultsThe study revealed that SSCs had a lower mean CFU value (28.28 ± 4.557 CFU/ml) and cell proliferation rate (49.74 ± 0.4367) compared to the ZC group (30.70 ± 11.0760 CFU/ml and 74.53 ± 0.7014, respectively). However, these differences were not statistically significant. ConclusionThe findings suggest that the selection of crowns for restoring primary molars may not be influenced by C. albicans adhesion.

Prognostic significance of soluble forms of the PD-1 receptor and its ligand PD-L1 in gastric cancer

Introduction. Despite advances in the diagnosis and drug therapy of some cancers over the past decade, solid tumors, particularly gastric cancer, still have a poor prognosis and remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Therefore, the development of methods for timely diagnosis, identification of new targets for therapy and biochemical prognosis factors is an urgent problem in clinical oncology. In recent years, the focus of clinical attention has been on immune checkpoint receptors and ligands that can identify patients for immunotherapy. The clinical and prognostic significance of the levels of soluble forms of the programmed cell death receptor PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 in the blood of patients with gastric cancer is currently not fully determined.Aim. Comparative study of the levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in the blood plasma of healthy donors and patients with gastric cancer, taking into account the prevalence of the tumor process and the prognosis of overall survival.Materials and methods. The study included 100 patients with stomach cancer aged from 25 to 81 years (57 men, 43 women), who underwent examination and treatment at the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology. The concentration of sPD-L1 and sPD-1 was determined in blood plasma obtained according to standard methods before the start of specific treatment, using reagent kits for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay “Human PD-L1 Platinum ELISA” and “Human PD-1 ELISA kit” (Affimetrix, eBioscience, USA) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The content of markers was expressed in picograms (pg) per 1 ml of blood plasma. To compare indicators and analyze their relationships, the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test was used. Overall survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. For all statistical tests, p values &lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results. The analysis did not reveal a connection at a threshold level of sPD-1 of 8.0 pg / ml in the blood plasma of patients with gastric cancer with overall survival rates (p = 0.59). However, an additional analysis conducted in a group of patients with gastric cancer with stages I–II demonstrated that a marker level ≥8.0 pg / ml is a favorable prognostic factor (p = 0.0039), while in advanced stages III–IV the disease it has no prognostic significance. There was no significant correlation between sPD-L1 concentrations in the blood plasma of patients with gastric cancer and overall survival rates (p = 0.35), however, the best long-term results were found at a threshold level of marker concentrations in blood plasma &lt;35 pg / ml.Conclusion. An sPD-1 level ≥8.0 pg / ml can serve as a favorable prognostic factor in stages I–II of gastric cancer, while in advanced stages III–IV of the disease it has no prognostic significance. The prognostic role of sPD-L1 in patients with gastric cancer has not been identified. The study needs to be continued in combination with additional predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer.

Asthma knowledge assessment of primary healthcare physicians in Iraq

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess knowledge among primary healthcare (PHC) physicians about asthma in Iraq. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Iraq. Data were collected from 400 physicians who completed the electronic asthma training course for four weeks starting in March 2023. This study used aconvenience sampling technique via email from participating physicians. A 15-item questionnaire based on the National Asthma Guideline for Primary Care Physicians was used to assess their knowledge about asthma. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare knowledge scores based on gender, prior training in chronic respiratory disorders, and a personal history of bronchial asthma. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare knowledge scores depending on the specialty and years of practice as a PHC doctor. Results: The mean age of the participating doctors was 32.5 years, 67.9% were female, and 32.1% were male. Overall, the participants’ knowledge score was poor at less than 70%. The Mann–Whitney test revealed no significant difference in the knowledge scores of the participating physicians depending on their gender, previous asthma training, or personal history of bronchial asthma. A significant difference was found when comparing the knowledge scores of participating physicians depending on their specialty and duration of practice as a PHC doctor. Conclusion: This study showed that PHC physicians’ knowledge about asthma based on the recommended national guidelines of Iraq was poor. Further research is required to examine the parameters associated with improving both understanding of asthma and compliance with the guidelines.