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IntroductionGrape is a major horticultural crop with a high nutritional value in the world. The optimal geographic and climatic conditions in Iran have positioned it as one of the most important regions for grape cultivation in the world. Black rot, caused by Aspergillus niger, is a highly destructive fungal disease that affects the grapes by targeting wounded areas. It causes crushing of the grapes, the falling of berries, and reduces transportation and storage properties (Ponsone et al., 2011). Various methods, such as fumigating bunches with sulfur dioxide and storing them in a modified atmosphere, have been used to control fungal rot and prolong the shelf life of grapes. However, each method has its limitations. Grape fumigation with sulfur gas is harmful to human health (Duarte-Sierra et al., 2016) and the efficiency of modified atmospheric storage on rot control and maintaining the quality of grapes depends on the type of variety, storage temperature, and especially gas concentration (Himelrick, 2003).Given the lack of efficiency in traditional methods, it is imperative to introduce modern techniques that can effectively disinfect microorganisms. These advanced methods offer several advantages, including the preservation of crop quality, an increase in crop shelf life, the promotion of good health, and substantial economic benefits. A technique of this type includes using non-thermal (cold) plasma (NTP) technology to eliminate food microorganisms (Bourke et al., 2018). The effect of cold plasma at atmospheric pressure on the reduction of bacterial populations in food products such as lettuce, tomato, strawberry, and cherry tomato has been reported (Bermúdez-Aguirre et al., 2013; Pasquali et al., 2016; Ziuzina et al., 2014). Research has shown that cold plasma can effectively inactivate Aspergillus in various orchard and agricultural products (Butscher et al., 2016; Ghorashi et al., 2020; Selcuk et al., 2008). The effect of cold plasma on the quality characteristics of the product during the post-harvest period has also been investigated. Blueberries treated with cold plasma for less than 15 minutes showed remarkable results: after 10 days, the fruit exhibited reduced lipid peroxidation and darkening, with no impact on the total anthocyanin content, pH, or firmness of the product (Hu et al., 2021). In a study by Rana et al. (2020), it was found that subjecting strawberries to 15 minutes of cold plasma with packaging after 5 days of storage at 25°C had no significant impact on pH, TSS, and moisture content of the fruit.The review of the literature reveals the absence of research on fungal disease control and grape quality evaluation following the use of NTP. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of plasma treatment in reducing the infection with Aspergillus fungi, along with examining the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of Fakhri grape.Materials and MethodsThis research was conducted as a completely randomized design in a factorial experiment at four plasma levels (0, 10, 20, and 40 s) and five storage periods (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks) with three replications at 4°C. A plasma generator was first designed and manufactured in this study. A specifically designed and fabricated plasma application probe was also developed for grape berries. The individual grape berries were then sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite under a laminar hood for 2 minutes. Afterward, they were rinsed three times with sterile distilled water to remove any remaining disinfectant residue from their surfaces. Sterilized berries were immersed in Aspergillus spore suspension with 105 spores.ml-1 concentration. Finally, all samples were dried on paper filters and prepared for different plasma treatment durations (0, 10, 20, and 40 s). The treated samples were stored at 4°C, and the infection percentage and microbial load were measured on a weekly basis. To assess the preservation quality, chemical parameters such as pH, TSS, and TA, physical parameters (color change and weight loss), and mechanical properties were measured every week. Additionally, thermal imaging was performed weekly.Results and DiscussionPlasma application during storage significantly reduced the infection percentage and microbial load in Aspergillus-inoculated samples. At the end of the storage period, the infection percentage and microbial load in the 40-second plasma treatment were 5% and 2.5 CFU g-1 respectively, while in the control group, the infection percentage was 100% and the microbial load was 4 CFU g-1. At the end of the storage period, the lowest pH level in the plasma was observed for 40 s plasma. This could be attributed to effective contamination control, as fungal contamination leads to alkalization of the environment. The highest amount of TSS was also observed in control and 40 s plasma. But in the 10 and 20 s plasma treatment, the process of changes was gradual and not significant. The higher TSS level of control and 40 s plasma can be due to the weight loss caused by the spread of contamination and moisture leakage caused by damage to the tissue. This decrease in moisture leads to an apparent increase in the TSS index. Research has shown that plasma primarily affects the surface characteristics of products, and when applied with the appropriate voltage and duration, it does not alter the internal chemical properties (Hu et al., 2021). Over time, weight loss increased in all treatments. This increasing trend during the storage period is higher in control and 40 s plasma compared to 10 and 20 s plasma. Therefore, the weight loss in the control can be due to the spread of contamination and aging of the product over time. However, the weight loss in the 40-second plasma treatment can be due to the destruction of the fruit tissue caused by longer duration of the plasma application.In the current research, by increasing the duration of plasma application to 40 s, a significant decrease in L*, a*, and b* indices and an overall change in the color of the product was observed. Research shows that in blueberries, inappropriate duration of plasma treatment causes the loss of wax on the fruit surface and leads to darkening of the product (Hu et al., 2021). The highest and lowest changes in temperature drop were observed in the control treatment (5°C) and 10 and 20 s plasma (3 and 3.5°C, respectively). According to research, an increase in fungal contamination leads to a decrease in humidity, increases weight loss, and subsequently a decrease in product temperature. A decline in mechanical characteristics was noted for the control and plasma treated samples during the storage period. The lowest value for indicators was observed in the 40 s plasma treatment. However, no significant difference was observed in samples treated with plasma for less than 20 seconds compared to the control group up to the middle of the storage period. According to a report by Misra et al. (2014), plasma application can reduce tissue softness. Therefore, optimizing its plasma duration and intensity is very important (Pan et al., 2021). ConclusionOur experiments aimed to investigate the effect of NTP treatment on controlling Aspergillus infections while preserving the quality properties of Fakhri grapes. The obtained results are important for two main reasons. Firstly, an innovative probe was designed for plasma applications, specifically tailored to the shape and size of individual grapes in order to thoroughly cover them with plasma. Secondly, application of plasma was carried out for the first time and yielded valuable results, indicating that this technique can control fungal infections and preserve the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of grapes.

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework for optical trapping that integrates nonlinear polarization within the dipole approximation. This theory represents the most comprehensive analytic model to date capable of resolving the discrepancies between the observed and simulated trapping of plasmonic nanoparticles. Our theory elucidates how two-photon absorption can account for the stable trapping of gold nanoparticles, including their longitudinal stability, especially near their plasmon resonance. Furthermore, the experimentally observed split potential wells in the transverse plane, which are attributed to two-photon absorption, are in close agreement with our model’s predictions. Finally, this study provides new insights into the mechanism of optical trapping under conditions of intense light–matter interactions.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different levels of copper–methionine chelates and alfalfa powder on egg yolk cholesterol content, egg quality, and performance in laying hens. In this experiment, a total of 100 laying hens (Nick Chick strain, from 109 to 117 weeks of age) were arranged into five experimental treatments, consisting of 2 different dietary alfalfa powder and 2 different copper chelate levels in a (2x2) factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The treat-ments groups included: T1 Control (Corn and soybean meal), treatments T2 (3% alfalfa powder+50 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate), T3 (3% alfalfa powder+100 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate), T4 (6% alfalfa powder+50 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate) and T5 (6% alfalfa powder+100 mg/kg cop-per-methionine chelate). The results of this study have shown that, different levels of alfalfa powder and copper-methionine chelate in laying hens diet except feed conversion ratio and shell-less eggs, oth-er performance parameters were not substantially affected by the level of 3% alfalfa powder through-out of experimental period (P>0.05). Moreover, different levels of alfalfa powder and copper-methionine chelate except egg yolk color had no significant effect on internal and external egg quality traits during the whole experimental period (P>0.05). As well as, the egg yolk color index was signifi-cantly increased by increasing the level of alfalfa powder in the laying hens’ diet (P

Satellite-based precipitation missions can be used to estimate precipitation distribution, especially in areas where there are no rain gauging stations. Nevertheless, these products are still less used because of the lack of accuracy evaluation. This study evaluates the monthly rainfall values of five satellite precipitation products, including ERA5, GPM, CHIRPS, TRMM 3B43, and PERSIANN-CDR, at eight rain gauge networks over the Utah, United States using Google Earth Engine platform (GEE). For this purpose, different validating indices such as R2, RMSE, and MAE were used to evaluate the accuracy of mentioned products from 2009 to 2019. The results showed that CHIRPS outperformed other rainfall products in this region with an R2 value of 0.63. ERA5 ranked second with an R2 of 0.6, and GPM, TRMM, and PERSIANN-CDR were in the subsequent ranks with R2 values of 0.53, 0.52, and 0.32, respectively. The results also indicated that spatial resolution is directly related to the accuracy of the results. CHIRPS rainfall product had the highest spatial resolution (0.05°) among all studied products, which led to the most reliable results. On the other hand, the lowest spatial resolutions belonged to TRMM and PERSIANN-CDR (0.25°), which resulted in the weakest results. The results also revealed that the ERA5 precipitation product was more influenced by elevation, longitude, and rainfall factors than other products.

Due to climate change, drought events will probably occur more frequently and be more intense. Therefore, effective drought monitoring and assessment is vital in developing knowledge of drought, drought adaptation, and mitigatory actions. Remote sensing has been widely used for monitoring drought in recent years. In the current research, three groups of remote sensing indices, i.e. vegetation, thermal and moisture indices, were applied to determine the correlation between them and the standardized precipitation index (SPI) as drought index for the growing season (April to September) from 1999 to 2005 for rangeland areas in the Alborz province of Iran. The results indicated that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (with a correlation coefficient of 0.74) and land surface temperature (LST) (with a correlation coefficient of 0.67) had the highest correlations with rainfall. Therefore, it concluded that the assumed indices are suitable for drought monitoring for this land use. Temporal analysis of the results showed that the best correlations of remote sensing indices belonged to the 6- and 9-month SPI and indicated the effect of long-term rainfall on plant growth.

Additively manufactured multi-metal hybrid structures can be designed as functionally graded materials providing an optimized response at specific positions for particular applications. In this study, liquid dispersed metal powder bed fusion is used to synthesize a multi-metal structure based on Inconel 625 (IN625) and stainless steel 316L (S316L) stainless steel regions, built on a S316L base plate. Both alloys alternate several times along the build direction as well as within the individual sublayers. The multi-metal sample was investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness measurements, nanoindentation and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Cross-sectional synchrotron X-ray micro-diffraction 2D mapping was carried out at the high-energy material science beamline of the storage ring PETRAIII in Hamburg. Sharp morphological S316L-to-IN625 interfaces along the sample's build direction are observed on the micro- and nanoscale. A gradual phase transition encompassing about 1 mm is revealed in the transverse direction. Mechanical properties change gradually following abrupt or smooth phase transitions between the alloys where a higher strength is determined for the superalloy. The two-dimensional distribution of phases can be assessed indirectly as S316L and IN625 in this multi-metal sample possess a and a fiber crystallographic texture, respectively. Tensile residual stresses of ∼900 and ∼800 MPa in build direction and perpendicular to it, respectively, are evaluated from measured residual X-ray elastic strains. Generally, the study indicates possibilities and limitations of liquid dispersed metal powder bed fusion for additive manufacturing of functionally graded materials with unique synergetic properties and contributes to the understanding of optimization of structurally and functionally advanced composites.

Abstract Background This study assesses the value of image fusion using 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for examining patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and a suspicion of metastasis of the liver. Methods Eleven patients (five women and six men aged between 20 and 81, with a mean age of 54.6 years) were included in the study. All patients underwent whole-body 18F-DOPA PET examinations and contrast-enhanced MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences (DWS). Image fusion was performed using a semiautomatic voxel-based algorithm. Images obtained using PET and MRI were assessed separately. Side-by-side evaluations of fused PET/MRI images were also performed. Results In total, 55 liver lesions (52 liver metastases and 3 benign lesions) were detected in the 11 patients. Sensitivity detection for liver lesions was higher when using PET/CT than when using contrast-enhanced MRI without DWSs and lower than using MRI with DWSs. The sensitivity of PET/MRI image fusion in the detection of liver metastasis was significantly higher than that of MRI with DWSs (P

In the present research, rapidly solidified Fe85.3B11P3Cu0.7 ribbons were prepared by melt spinning process. The microstructural variation as well as magnetic properties of the as-spun and annealed ribbons were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy and alternating gradient field magnetometer (AGFM). The results show two separated distinct exothermic peaks during heating resulting from the phase transition from amorphous to α-Fe and then to Fe3B, respectively. The study of magnetic properties in the amorphous and nanocrystalline states revealed that annealing the amorphous ribbons at 440˚C for 10 minutes gives rise to a significant increase in saturation magnetization (220 emu/g) which makes this alloy a good candidate for power applications.

Introduction The prevalence of mental disorders plays an important role in identifying the state of mental health of the community and estimate the required facilities at any time. Objectives Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of psychological disorders in caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities and motor disabilities in Shiraz. Methods The research was descriptive and cross-sectional survey. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with disabilities who were admitted to welfare centers and clinics of Shiraz in 2019. Of these families, 35 mothers with children with intellectual disability and 35 mothers with children with motor disability were selected as the sample group. SCL-90-R (1976) was used to collect of data. For analyze the data, MANOVA test was used. Results The results of this study showed that the most common psychological disorders in caregivers of children with intellectual disability were aggression (hostility), hypersensitivity to interpersonal relationships, anxiety and depression, and in caregivers of children with motor disabilities were physical complaints, sensitivity to interpersonal relationships, paranoid thoughts and anxiety. Conclusions According to the findings of this research, it can be concluded that caregivers of children with special needs in terms of mental health are not in a favorable situation, which is due to the lack of proper adaptation with the disability of their child and the failure to meet their needs. Disclosure No significant relationships.

This study investigated the effects of various force moulting methods on egg physical and mechanical characteristics, plasma metabolites and performance of Japanese quails from 26 to 36 weeks of age. The treatments were: T1 (control), T2 (feed restriction), T3 (alfalfa powder), T4 (wheat screening powder, a by-product obtained after harvesting and processing of wheat). Egg production ceased completely with feed restriction and alfalfa treatments by days 4 and 3. Also, birds under feed restriction and alfalfa treatments returned to first egg at day 4 of post-moulting period. No significant differences were found in feed intake, egg mass, egg production, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality of quails in response to experimental treatments after moulting (P>0.05). Feed restriction led to significantly higher egg weight in comparison to control and wheat screening treatments (P0.05). The calcium concentration was higher (P

Purpose: In this work we present a handheld, solid-state detector based gamma camera system. We validated the camera physically and demonstrated the usefulness of the device for intra-operative detection of radiolabeled tissue. Methods: We measured the intrinsic uniformity, the intrinsic energy resolution, the system uniformity, the spatial resolution without scatter, the system planar uniformity, the detector shielding and the peak deviation according to the NEMA NU1-2001 standard. Results: The gamma camera can be used for isotopes with an energy range between 50-250 keV. A standard laptop is used to control of the camera and to visualize Preliminary clinical data show that the devices can be used successfully for a number of clinical applications. Conclusion: The performance evaluation of a novel handheld gamma camera shows good spatial resolution, sensitivity and energy resolution. Due to the small size and weight the portable device can be used for untraoperative acquisitions.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different levels of copper-methionine chelates and alfalfa powder on egg yolk cholesterol content, egg quality, and performance in laying hens. In this experiment, a total of 100 laying hens (Nick Chick strain, from 109 to 117 weeks of age) were arranged into five experimental treatments, consisting of 2 different dietary alfalfa powder and 2 different copper chelate levels in a (2x2) factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments groups included: T1 Control (Corn and soybean meal), treatments T2 (3% alfalfa powder+50 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate), T3 (3% alfalfa powder+100 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate), T4 (6% alfalfa powder+50 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate) and T5 (6% alfalfa powder+100 mg/kg copper-methionine chelate). The results of this study have shown that, different levels of alfalfa powder and copper-methionine chelate in laying hens diet except feed conversion ratio and shell-less eggs, other performance parameters were not substantially affected by the level of 3% alfalfa powder throughout of experimental period (P>0.05). Moreover, different levels of alfalfa powder and coppermethionine chelate except egg yolk color had no significant effect on internal and external egg quality traits during the whole experimental period (P>0.05). As well as, the egg yolk color index was significantly increased by increasing the level of alfalfa powder in the laying hens' diet (P<0.001). The highest egg yolk color index was observed in treatment 5 which (containing 6% alfalfa powder+ 100 mg / kg copper-methionine chelate in per kg of diet). Meanwhile, the treatment group that received (6% alfalfa powder+100mg/kg copper-methionine chelate) the egg yolk cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased compared to the control group (P<0.001). Therefore, addition of alfalfa powder and copper methionine chelate to the diet of laying hens reduced egg yolk cholesterol and increased egg yolk color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is associated with polymorphisms of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO). This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of the rs9930506 FTO gene polymorphism and obesity. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first metaanalysis to evaluate the relation between FTO rs9930506 polymorphism and obesity. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to identify studies investigating the relations between the rs9930506 FTO gene polymorphism and obesity risk. We pooled adjusted odds ratios (OR) as overall and in continent subgroups. A Fixed-effects model was used to analyze the results of these studies in dominant and recessive models. By examining 3337 obesity cases and 3159 healthy controls, we identified 8 eligible case-control studies. Considering the dominant model of inheritance, there was a relationship between the rs9939506 polymorphism and obesity (OR=1.34 [1.03- 1.74]). The association remained significant in the European subgroup (OR=1.68 [1.2-2.36]), but not in the Asian subgroup. Using the recessive model, we also found a significant relationship when the overall association was investigated (OR=2.47; 95% CI 1.56-3.91). In conclusion, this study identified that the carriers of the risk allele of FTO rs9930506 polymorphism are at higher risk for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, different doses of Zataria multiflora (ZM) and Eucalyptus globolus (EG) essential oils (EOs) (0, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 µg/mL) and a mixture of them were added to alfalfa hay incubated with buffered rumen liquor of Merghoz goat to assess in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation and protozoa population. In all treatments the asymptotic gas volume (B) and the rate constant (c) were decreased while the lag phase was increased. There were no effects of ZM and EG on pH, but in high doses of ZE pH was higher than that of control (P<0.001). The ammonia-N concentration was decreased due to addition of combination of EOs (P<0.01) and volatile fatty acid concentration was reduced (P<0.01) following incorporation of EOs. Gas production and organic matter digestibility were decreased (P<0.01) 24 h after incubation, whereas the partitioning factor was increased. Metabolizable energy was decreased, (P<0.05). By inclusion of EOs, total protozoa population and individual genera reduced (P<0.001). The results revealed that EOs of ZM and EG could be potentially used to modulate rumen fermentation, but using them at high level doses have anti-protozoal effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obviously, improving the road safety and the efficient allocation of limited resources to the provinces according to their ranking should be done. This paper presents a hybrid method of multivariate statistical analysis-decision making to evaluate Iran road traffic safety. In order to solve the problems of road traffic safety, a macroscopic evaluation and traffic safety level classification in Iran was carried out. An index system which consists of 14 relative indexes for road traffic safety evaluation was established. The principal component analysis method was used to reduce the dimensions of the multi-index data. Based on this, 2 components were extracted. The Index of Road Traffic Safety (IRTS) was calculated to rank the provinces of the country. A K-means method was applied to classify the provinces. A TOPSIS technique was used to examine the status of each cluster in terms of safety levels. Results showed that there are 4 safety levels entitled good, average, weak and very weak. The levels are approximately similar to result of the rankings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Endotracheal suctioning in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting and under mechanical ventilation can be performed to remove endotracheal secretions with two open and closed methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of open and closed endotracheal suctioning on hemodynamic factors of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting under mechanical ventilation. Materials & Methods This study is a single-blind clinical trial which was done in the intensive care unit of open heart surgery of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad on 130 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting under mechanical ventilation who met the criteria of the study in 2013. Subjects were randomly divided into two open and closed suctioning groups with two-stage method after convenience samplingmethod. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were compared at baseline, immediately after suctioning, and at one minute interval after suctioning for five minutes between the two groups. For data analysis, repeated measures ANOVA, independent T and paired T tests were used through SPSS 16 software. Findings Heart rate and mean arterial pressure did not change significantly between the two groups during and after open and closed suction system. No significant difference observed with regards to heart rhythm in both suction system groups as well. Conclusion Changes in mean arterial pressure, heart rate and heart rhythm in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting under open and closed suctioning are the same and one system could not be preferred over the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positron-emission-tomography (PET) with fludeoxyglucose F-18 ([(18)F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose, FDG) has become an established imaging modality in patients with lung cancer for mediastinal lymph node staging and the detection of extrathoracic metastases. However, tracer accumulations are not limited to malignant tissue but are also found in muscles and benign inflammatory processes. We report on two patients with lung cancer in whom FDG-PET revealed suspicious tracer accumulations in the buttock. Ultrasound (US) revealed a hyperechogenic nodule with poorly defined margins in both patients. On specific inquiry both patients reported on repeated "intramuscular" gluteal injections. Histology after US guided biopsy showed an accumulation of macrophages within fibrous tissue, compatible with injection site granulomas. The reported cases underline that (18)F-FDG may accumulate in benign, ancillary processes that have to be distinguished from distant metastases. Tracer accumulation in the buttocks may be highly suggestive of injection site granulomas, especially if the patient reports on "intramuscular" injections. In this setting, US is a widely available modality to distinguish metastasis from adipose tissue necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a triple anti-Helicobacter therapy using omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (OAC) in dogs. A total of 15 healthy adult stray dogs with naturally acquired Helicobacter infection were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and rapid urease test. Subsequently, they received a 21-day triple regimen. One day after the discontinuation of treatment, a second molecular analysis of gastric biopsies revealed complete eradication of Helicobacter DNA with negative quantitative urease testing in all 15 dogs. Our results confirmed the high prevalence of gastric Helicobacter-like organisms (GHLOs) in the stray dog population of Shiraz, Iran, and the effectiveness of our therapeutic regimen for the complete eradication of these microorganisms in stray dogs. In conclusion, for the complete elimination of non-pylori Helicobacter spp. from the gastric mucosa of dogs, a 21-day three-drug regimen with omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin is suggested.

Structural, half-metallic, magneto-optic, and thermoelectric properties of CrTiZ (Z = As, P) half-Heusleres compounds are investigated based on density functional theory. These compounds have mechanical stability in the ferromagnetic state with a high bulk modulus. They are often half-metallic with a large and integer magnetic moment and are very attractive in spintronics, magneto-optics applications. The magnetic moments of CrTiAs and CrTiP were 2.9865 μ _B and 3.00 μ _B , respectively, which were attributed to their ferromagnetic phase. Additionally, the positive sign of the phonon branches indicates the dynamic stability of these compounds. Applying both GGA and mBJ approximations, CrTiAs and CrTiP compounds exhibited a half-metallic nature by 100% spin polarization. The Kerr angle obtained from magneto-optic results demonstrated a high-intense peak for these compounds in the visible edge with a negative sign. Eventually, a figure of merit with a value above the room temperature was found for both compounds in which the holes are charge carriers.

Background: Patient privacy is important as one of the most principle components of quality healthcare and safe care. In teaching hospital emergency rooms, it is a challenge for staff to respect for privacy., Research Aim: Recognizing the importance of this issue, this study aims to assess the privacy status of patients in emergency departments., Research Design: This study employs a cross-sectional design., Participants and Research Context: This study was conducted in patients of the four emergency departments of the teaching hospitals. 426 patients completed the demographic and clinical profile, as well as a privacy questionnaire, in four teaching hospitals selected based on quota sampling after obtaining informed consent. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26 and independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA., Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the ethical committee and the designated authority within hospitals., Findings: According to the findings, the majority of the respondents were married (65.05%), with a diploma level (30.25%), self-employed (37.5%), and female (50/50%). The most frequent hospitalizations were also for internal emergencies (45.1%), night shifts (42.3%), and workdays (63.8%), with mean age of 41.78 (years and a duration of hospitalization of 6.34 hours). The patient privacy score in the emergency department was 67.61 ± 13.30 and in the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual/religious dimensions was reported as 3.31 ± 15.37, 6.97 ± 36.72, and 6.18 ± 15.50, respectively. The patient privacy showed a significant difference by type of emergency, number of beds, and nurses to bed ratio ( p = .001)., Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, as the level of patient privacy was average for patients, in order to increase patient trust and improve the services provided, it is suggested that more focus be placed on structural changes, the development of guidelines, training in medical and nursing ethics, and the establishment of hospital ethics committees., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The primary objective of this study was to perform a psychometric evaluation of the Persian adaptation of the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (P-AITCS-II). This methodological study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the AITCS-II for practitioners within the Iranian healthcare context. Data were collected from a sample of 230 Iranian healthcare providers between May and June 2024. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good model fit indices (χ2 = 540.20, df = 224, χ2/df = 2.41, CFI = 0.917, IFI = 0.918, TLI = 0.907, PNFI = 0.768, PCFI = 0.812, and RMSEA = 0.079 [CI90% 0.070-0.087]). These results confirm the validity of the P-AITCS-II model. Additionally, the internal consistency and composite reliability of the three factors were higher than 0.7. Convergent validity was considered acceptable for the P-AITCS-II, as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) was greater than 0.5. The Persian adaptation of the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale II (P-AITC-II), consisting of 23 items within three factors-partnership, cooperation, and coordination-demonstrated good validity and reliability. However, further research is needed to confirm its robustness and usefulness for improving interprofessional team collaboration., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and it received ethical approval from the Alborz University of Medical Sciences' ethical committee, with the assigned ethics code [IR.ABZUMS.REC.1403.033]. On the first page of the online questionnaire, participants were provided with information about the study's aim, assurances of voluntary participation, as well as guarantees of confidentiality and anonymity of the provided information. Participants' voluntary completion of the questionnaire served as their willingness to contribute to the research and their informed consent to take part in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Many studies have explored the association between food intake and metabolic health. However, research on the association of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and metabolic health in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the relation between UPFs consumption and metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity., Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we selected a sample of 203 adolescents (101 boys and 102 girls) with a mean age of 13.98 ± 1.61 who were chosen using a multistage cluster random sampling method. We collected data on their dietary patterns using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, we measured anthropometric indices, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. Participants were categorized to either metabolically healthy or unhealthy overweight/obesity (MHO and MUO) based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/ Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria., Results: Our findings revealed that every 10 g/d increase in UPFs consumption was related to an elevated odds of MUO as defined by the IDF (OR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.08-1.19) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 1.14; 95%CI; 1.08-1.19) criteria, after controlling all confounders. The severity of this association varied among girls and boys and also among those with overweight and obesity according to the applied definitions. Moreover, each 10 g/d increase in daily UPFs intake was associated with increased odds of metabolic factors including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, and high insulin resistance levels., Conclusion: These findings highlighted a direct association between higher UPFs consumption and MUO status among adolescents., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The study procedure was performed according to declaration of Helsinki and STROBE checklist. All participants provided informed written consent. The study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cancer is one of the primary causes of human disease and death, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Chemotherapy, one of the most common therapeutic techniques, functions through a variety of mechanisms, including the production of apoptosis and the prevention of tumor development. Herbal medicine has been the subject of numerous investigations due to its potential as a valuable source of innovative anti-cancer products that target multiple protein targets and cancer cell genomes. Curcumin, a polyphenol that is the major bioactive ingredient of turmeric, exhibits pharmacological and biological efficacy with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and hypoglycemic activity in humans and animals. Recent research suggests that curcumin changes noncoding RNA (ncRNA), such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in various types of cancers. Both circRNAs and lncRNAs are ncRNAs that can epigenetically modulate the expression of multiple genes via post-transcriptional regulation. In this study, we outline curcumin's activities in modulating signaling pathways and ncRNAs in various malignancies. We also described curcumin's regulatory function, which involves blocking carcinogenic lncRNAs and circRNAs while increasing tumor-suppressive ones. Furthermore, we intend to demonstrate how ncRNAs and signaling pathways interact with each other across regulatory boundaries to gain a better understanding of how curcumin fights cancer and create a framework for its potential future therapeutic uses., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Federación de Sociedades Españolas de Oncología (FESEO).)

Glioma is a highly lethal brain cancer in humans. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for patients remains unfavorable. Epigenetic factors, along with their interactions and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are crucial in glioma cells' development and aggressive characteristics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that modulate the expression of various genes by binding to target mRNA molecules. They play a critical role in regulating essential biological mechanisms such as cell proliferation and differentiation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. MiR-146a/miR-146b is a significant and prevalent miRNA whose expression alterations are linked to various pathological changes in cancer cells, as well as the modulation of several cellular signaling pathways, including NF-κB, TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, and Notch-1. Scientists may identify novel targets in clinical settings by studying the complicated link between Mir-146a/mir-146b, drug resistance, molecular pathways, and pharmacological intervention in gliomas. Additionally, its interactions with other ncRNAs, such as circular RNA and long non-coding RNA, contribute to the pathogenesis of glioma. As well as miR-146 holds potential as both a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for patients with this condition. In the current review, we investigate the significance of miRNAs in the context of glioma, with a particular focus on the critical role of Mir-146a/mir-146b in glioma tumors. Additionally, we examined the clinical relevance of this miRNA, highlighting its potential implications for diagnosis and treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The field of nanohoops is mature enough that synthetic protocols exists to tune their size, composition (incorporation of heteroaromatic building blocks), connectivity ( para versus meta linkages), and solubility in different media (hydrophobic versus hydrophilic). Here, we report an additional dimension incorporating the concept of fullerene tweezers into a nanohoop. The resulting hybrid nanohoop is highly strained at 77 kcal mol -1 , possesses a quantum yield of 0.12, emits at 584 nm, and displays a positive cooperative binding for C 60 (4 K 2 ≫ K 1 ).

Background: Different countries, including Iran, have implemented various policies to address substance use disorder. This study aims to describe the policies related to substance use disorder treatment and identify challenges related to these policies in Iran since the beginning of the Iranian Revolution in 1979., Methods: This qualitative study utilized document analysis and interviews with policymakers and implementers. We reviewed a total of 22 documents related to substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction. The results from document analysis complemented and validated the interview data. The research population comprised policymakers and implementers, including individuals directly involved in formulating and implementing substance use disorder treatment policies. Purposive sampling was employed, with a snowball strategy utilized to maximize diversity. Data saturation was achieved after conducting 32 semi-structured interviews. Conventional content analysis was used for data analysis., Results: In general, the policy landscape for substance use disorder treatment in the Islamic Republic of Iran can be divided into two periods: the "Moral Model" era (1979-1993) and the "Disease Model" era (1993-present). Challenges within the content of substance use disorder treatment policies in Iran encompass the lack of law revisions, existence of contradictions in laws and nature of disease, the absence of evidence-based policymaking, and an inadequate comprehensive perspective on the phenomenon of substance use disorder., Conclusions: The presence of multiple authorities with different perspectives on substance use disorder and its treatment, coupled with the application of personal preferences in policymaking and the absence of evidence-based policymaking, have contributed to weaknesses in decision-making and policy formulation. The true philosophy of Disease Model appears not to have been fully grasped by health policymakers in Iran, as all Disease Model policies have been pursued with an emphasis on abstinence and quitting. Iran and other nations facing similar challenges should place more reliance on evidence-based approaches and shift away from the "Moral Model" paradigm to develop more effective substance use disorder treatment policies., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This paper was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bam University of Medical Sciences, Iran. All participants provided written informed consent. Authors are responsible for correctness of the statements provided in the manuscript. Authors has consented to the submission of the manuscript to the journal. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The gold standard for ruling out distant metastases as part of primary staging in lung cancer is whole-body 18 F-FDG-PET/CT, but this method is resource-intensive. Recent evidence suggests that examining only the thorax and upper abdomen may be sufficient 1 2 3. If a limited 18 F-FDG-PET/CT approach proves effective for proper staging, it could lead to quicker examinations and reduced radiation exposure. This study aimed to determine whether limited 18 F-FDG-PET/CT is adequate for the primary staging of lung cancer.In this study, a retrospective analysis of 161 patients (87 men, 74 women; age range 31-88 y) with recent or suspected lung cancer who had undergone a whole-body 18 F-FDG-PET/CT examination for primary staging at our clinic between 2018 and 2022 was conducted. None of these patients showed evidence of extrathoracic metastases before the 18 F-FDG-PET/CT examination. The images were divided into three regions: "head-neck" (HN), "thorax-upper abdomen" (TUA), and "lower abdomen-hip" (LAH). TNM staging based on the HN plus TUA region was compared with TNM staging based on the whole body.Among the 161 subjects, 7 (4%) showed malignancy-suspect lesions in HN, 110 (68%) in TUA and 7 (4%) had suspected distant metastases in LAH. The TNM staging based on HN plus TUA corresponded to TNM staging based on the whole body in 161 (100%) examinations. This finding aligns with similar results in previous literature. 18 F-FDG-PET/CT limited to HN and TUA yielded accurate staging in all cases. Adopting this method could facilitate the examination and correct staging of more individuals, reducing exam waiting times and physician reporting time and minimising radiation exposure., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Controlled environment agriculture is a promising solution to address climate change and resource limitations. Light, the primary energy source driving photosynthesis and regulating plant growth, is critical in optimizing produce quality. However, the impact of specific light spectra during night interruption on improving phytochemical content and produce quality remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of red (peak wavelength at 660 nm) and far-red night interruption (peak wavelength at 730 nm) on photosynthetic efficiency, biomass distribution, and phytochemical production in Italian basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.). Treatments included red light, far-red light, a combination of both, and a control without night interruption. Red light significantly increased chlorophyll a by 16.8%, chlorophyll b by 20.6%, and carotenoids by 11%, improving photosynthetic efficiency and nutritional quality. Red light also elevated anthocyanin levels by 15.5%, while far-red light promoted flavonoid production by 43.56%. Although red light enhanced biomass, the primary benefit was improved leaf quality, with more biomass directed to leaves over roots. Far-red light reduced transpiration, enhancing post-harvest water retention and shelf life. These findings demonstrate that red and far-red night interruption can optimize phytochemical content, produce quality, and post-harvest durability, offering valuable insights for controlled environment agriculture. Future research should focus on refining night interruption light strategies across a broader range of crops to enhance produce quality and shelf life in controlled environment agriculture.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the therapeutic effects of acyclovir nanofiber and acyclovir-clobetasol nanofiber formulations with their non-nano formulations (cream formulation) on recurrent labial herpes., Materials and Methods: Eighty patients with labial herpes lesions were divided into four groups, each receiving one of the following treatments: acyclovir-clobetasol nano patch, acyclovir-clobetasol cream, acyclovir nano patch, or acyclovir cream. Pain levels and recovery times were assessed. The Wilcoxon test compared pain levels, while the log-rank test compared healing and scabbing times., Results: Acyclovir-clobetasol nanofiber and cream, along with acyclovir nanofiber, significantly reduced symptoms compared to the acyclovir cream. The recovery and scabbing times were shorter in patients who received acyclovir-clobetasol formulations compared to those receiving acyclovir alone., Conclusion: Acyclovir-clobetasol combinations accelerated recovery times compared to acyclovir alone. Additionally, nanofiber formulations demonstrated enhanced healing efficacy over cream formulations., Trial Registration: This trial was retrospectively registered by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) at 14/11/2023., Trial Registration Number: IRCT20230926059521N1., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Few studies investigated the association between Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and metabolic health status, particularly among adolescents. The present study was designed to investigate the association of MIND diet with metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity. This cross-sectional study was done among 203 adolescents with overweight/obesity (12-18 years) in Isfahan, Iran. A validated FFQ was applied to collect dietary intakes. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure were also measured by standard procedures. Fasting blood samples were obtained to determine serum insulin, glucose and lipid profile. To categorise participants as being with metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO) or metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO), two methods including International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and IDF plus Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were applied. Participants had a mean age of 13·98 years and 50·2 % of them were girls. In fully adjusted models, participants with highest MIND diet adherence had lower odds of MUO status based on IDF (OR = 0·20; 95 % CI 0·08, 0·51) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 0·22; 95 % CI 0·08, 0·59) criteria. Stratified analyses revealed that this association was stronger among girls and was only significant among individuals with overweight. An inverse association was also found between MIND diet score and odds of hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance (IR). Higher MIND diet adherence was associated with lower odds MUO in adolescents with overweight/obesity. Inverse associations were also found between MIND diet and odds of hyperglycaemia and IR. Future longitudinal prospective studies are necessary to confirm our results.

Introduction: Colpocephaly, a midline anomaly, may be associated with agenesis of the corpus callosum. While prenatal diagnosis is possible, this malformation is rarely detected in adults and may be asymptomatic., Case Presentation: We present a case of a 54-year-old male with Colpocephaly and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, incidentally diagnosed during an emergency department visit. Computed tomography imaging revealed bilateral dilation of the posterior horns of the lateral ventricles and the absence of the corpus callosum., Clinical Discussion: Although some adults with Colpocephaly may show clinical symptoms, this anomaly can often be an incidental finding in asymptomatic individuals. Medical imaging plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of this anomaly. Prenatal ultrasound can also detect midline anomalies, including Colpocephaly., Conclusion: Awareness of this anomaly can prevent unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic interventions., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Exposure to metal(loid)s can cause adverse health effects. This study evaluated the concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in particulate matter <10 μm (PM 10 ) and in the urine of 100 participants from urban residential areas in Iran. A total of 100 residential buildings (one adult from each household) in six cities across Iran were recruited for this study. The levels of metal(loid)s in PM 10 and the urine of participants were measured using acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average (±SE) PM 10 concentration in the buildings was 51.7 ± 3.46 μg/m 3 . Aluminum and cadmium had the highest and lowest concentrations among the metal(loid)s, averaging 3.74 ± 1.26 μg/m 3 and 0.01 ± 0.001 μg/m 3 , respectively. In 85 % of the samples, the concentration of metal(loid)s in indoor air exceeded WHO air quality standards. Cadmium and lead had the highest and lowest numbers of indoor air samples exceeding the recommended standards, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the concentration of metal(loid)s in urine samples and indoor PM 10 levels, as well as the wealth index of participants. There was also a significant direct relationship between the concentrations of nickel, arsenic, lead, and mercury in urine and the age of participants. Factors such as building location, type of cooling systems, use of printers at home, and natural ventilation influenced the concentration and types of metal(loid)s in the indoor air., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Bad news refers to any information that create negative changes in a person's understanding or expectations of in present and future. Breaking Bad News (BBN) is a stressful task that may have disturbing effects on the professional performance and general health of the medical staff. Pre-hospital emergency staff often needs to deliver bad news to the patient or his family. This study was conducted to determine the effect of guided group reflection training on the ability and comfort of BBN in pre-hospital emergency staff., Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 95 staff of the pre-hospital emergency, in the test and the control groups. For the test group, a 4-hour training workshop on BBN was held, and then a group was formed in virtual space to discuss and exchange opinions about the scenarios of BBN and reflecting on it. Data collection tools were SPIKES Questionnaire and the Visual Analogue Mood Scale. The data were analyzed with SPSS V.18 ., Results: The mean score of the ability to BBN after the intervention was 44.01 ± 6.21 in the test group and 31.40 ± 4.51 in the control group, and a significant difference was found using the independent t-test (P = 0.0001). Besides, the mean scores of the convenience of BBN in post-test was 5.52 ± 1.64 in the test group and 3.50 ± 1.28 in the control group using the independent t-test with a significant difference (P = 0.0001)., Conclusion: According to the findings, training in guided group reflection improved the ability to BBN and its convenience in pre-hospital emergency staff. Therefore, it is suggested the use of this method in training for health care providers. Relating to BBN., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Over 60 % of U.S. adults report adverse childhood experience (ACE), which correlate with risky health behaviors and lower utilization of healthcare preventive measures, potentially leading to chronic diseases in later life., Objective: This study investigates the relationship between ACEs and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a national U.S. adult sample., Participants and Setting: We used data from selected states from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collected in years 2019 (Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee), 2020 (Georgia, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina), 2021 (Mississippi), and 2022 (Arkansas) (N = 3578, 4392, 904, and 810, respectively)., Methods: We conducted descriptive, univariate, and multivariable regression analysis using SAS 9.4. Independent and dependent variables were ACEs and HPV vaccination, respectively., Results: Individuals with ≥4 ACEs, versus no ACEs, were significantly more likely to report HPV vaccination in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (OR = 1.40, 1.77, 2.80, all p < 0.05 respectively), except in 2022 (OR = 1.54, p = 0.165). In 2019, specific ACE types, emotional abuse, and household mental illness were associated with HPV vaccination, whereas in 2021, emotional abuse, household mental illness, incarcerated household member, and substance abuse in household, and in 2022, emotional abuse was associated with HPV vaccination., Conclusions: We found mostly positive association between ACEs and HPV vaccination, particularly in initial three years. However, findings in 2022 were not significant, except for emotional abuse. Diverse patterns in relationship between ACEs and HPV vaccination was observed overtime, highlighting the need for consistency in ACEs and HPV vaccination data collection, including vaccination timing, to better understand the underlying mechanisms and plan for interventions to prevent HPV-related cancers among these populations., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Patient activation describes a willingness to take action to manage health and is associated with health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to characterize patient activation and its association with psychological outcomes and health behaviors in childhood cancer survivors., Methods: Participants were from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE). Activation levels (1-4, 4 = highest activation) were measured with the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Psychological outcomes and health behaviors were obtained via self-report. Cognitive function was assessed by trained examiners. ANOVA or chi-squared tests were utilized to assess group-level differences in activation. Multivariable regression models were used to assess associations between PAM scores and outcomes of interest., Results: Among 2708 survivors and 303 controls, more survivors endorsed lower activation levels than the controls (11.3 vs. 4.7% in level 1) and fewer survivors endorsed the highest level of activation than the controls (45.3 vs. 61.5% in level 4). Not endorsing depression (OR: 2.37, 95% CI 1.87-2.99), anxiety (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.73-2.83), and somatization symptoms (OR: 1.99, 95% CI 1.59-2.50), general fear (OR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.23-1.71) and body-focused (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.83-2.66), cancer-related worry, and physical (OR: 2.57, 95% CI 2.06-3.20) and mental (OR: 2.08, 95% CI 1.72-2.52) HRQOL was associated with higher levels of activation. Lower activation was associated with not meeting physical activity guidelines (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.53-2.80)., Conclusions: Survivors endorsed lower activation levels than peers. Interventions to improve physical and psychological health outcomes could leverage these results to identify survivors who benefit from support in patient activation.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer and its treatment represent a significant global cancer burden for health care systems and patients. Rhenium skin cancer therapy (Rhenium SCT) is a novel noninvasive radionuclide nonmelanoma skin cancer treatment, which can be provided in a single outpatient session. The aim of this prospective, multicenter, single-arm, international, phase IV study (EPIC-Skin) is to assess clinic- and patient-reported outcomes of Rhenium SCT as a treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: Eligible patients had biopsy-proven stage I or stage II BCC or SCC lesions no more than 3 mm deep and no larger than 8 cm 2 in area. Rhenium SCT resin was applied to an adhesive foil affixed to the target lesion in a single session. Interim efficacy and safety analysis were planned once 50% of target patients had recorded a 6-mo follow-up visit. Primary outcome is the proportion of lesions achieving complete response using modified RECIST. Secondary and other outcome measures include patient-reported quality of life (QoL), treatment comfort, and cosmesis. Results: A total of 182 patients was enrolled and administered Rhenium SCT (50 Gy dose to deepest point of target) to at least 1 BCC or SCC. Of 81 patients who reached the 6-mo posttreatment follow-up, it was found that 97.2% (103/106) of lesions showed complete responses and 2.8% (3/106) had partial responses. Improvements in QoL were also reported, whereas no patients reported any pain or discomfort during treatment. Adverse events were reported in 15.9% (29/182) of patients and were rated grade 1 ( n = 19), grade 2 ( n = 9), or grade 3 ( n = 1). Conclusion: This preliminary analysis of the EPIC-Skin study indicates that Rhenium SCT is safe and effective for the treatment of BCC and SCC and is associated with significant QoL improvements. It will be particularly beneficial for lesions that are difficult to treat surgically because of size and location. It is also beneficial for patients with comorbidities or those unable to receive conventional fractionated radiotherapy., (© 2024 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Objectives: This paper discusses methodological challenges in epidemiological association analysis of a time-to-event outcome and hypothesized risk factors, where age/time at the onset of the outcome may be missing in some cases, a condition commonly encountered when the outcome is self-reported., Study Design and Setting: A cohort study with long-term follow-up for outcome ascertainment such as the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), a large cohort study of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed in 1970-1999 in which occurrences and age at onset of various chronic health conditions (CHCs) are self-reported in surveys. Simple methods for handling missing onset age and their potential bias in the exposure-outcome association inference are discussed. The interval-censored method is discussed as a remedy for handling this problem. The finite sample performance of these approaches is compared through Monte Carlo simulations. Examples from the CCSS include four CHCs (diabetes, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis/osteopenia, and growth hormone deficiency)., Results: The interval-censored method is useable in practice using the standard statistical software. The simulation study showed that the regression coefficient estimates from the 'Interval censored' method consistently displayed reduced bias and, in most cases, smaller standard deviations, resulting in smaller mean square errors, compared to those from the simple approaches, regardless of the proportion of subjects with an event of interest, the proportion of missing onset age, and the sample size., Conclusion: The interval-censored method is a statistically valid and practical approach to the association analysis of self-reported time-to-event data when onset age may be missing. While the simpler approaches that force such data into complete data may enable the standard analytic methods to be applicable, there is considerable loss in both accuracy and precision relative to the interval-censored method., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no competing interests for any author., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. The risk factors for cervical cancer include human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, age, smoking, number of pregnancies, use of oral contraceptives, and diet. However, long-term HPV infection appears to be the main risk factor for developing cervical cancer. This in-silico analysis aims to identify the expression network of proteins and the miRNAs that play a role in the development of HPV-induced cervical cancer., Methods: The critical proteins and miRNAs were extracted using the DisGeNET and miRBase databases. String and Gephi were applied to the network analysis. The GTEx web tool was utilized to Identify tissue expression levels. The Enrichr website was used to explore the molecular function and pathways of found genes., Results: Ten proteins, TP53, MYC, AKT1, TNF, IL6, EGFR, STAT3, CTNNB1, ESR1, and JUN, were identified as the most critical shared gene network among cervical cancer and HPV. Seven miRNAs were found, including hsa-mir-146a, hsa-mir-27, hsa-mir-203, hsa-mir-126, hsa-mir-145, hsa-mir-944, and hsa-mir-93, which have a common expression in cervical cancer and HPV., Conclusion: Overall, the gene network, including TP53, MYC, AKT1, TNF, IL6, EGFR, STAT3, CTNNB1, ESR1, and JUN, and Also, hsa-mir-145, hsa-mir-93, hsa-mir-203, and hsa-mir-126 can be regarded as a gene expression pathway in HPV-induced cervical cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)