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Background This study was designed to identify factors that influence outcomes in a large group of well-defined Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) patients with a 3-month follow-up period. Sixty-two cases of GBS with a mean age of 37.15 ± 17.60 years (33 males and 29 females) were recruited in the first 2 weeks after onset. Clinical history, examination, and a variety of rating scales including Medial Research Council sum score (MRC), Erasmus Guillain-Barré respiratory insufficiency score (EGRIS), at admission and 10 days later were performed. Follow-up investigations at 3 months included the Hughes Disability Scale (HDS), and Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale (ONLS). Results 64.5% of participants had cranial nerve deficits, 45% had neck muscle weakness, 30.6% had dysautonomia, and 8.1% were mechanically ventilated. C-reactive protein was elevated in 38.7%, and hyponatremia was recorded in 30.6% of patients. Older age, antecedent events particularly diarrhea, neck muscles weakness, low MRC sum score, impaired cough reflex, dysautonomia, and hyponatremia, were all significantly associated with poor outcomes at 3 months using HDS and ONLS. Regression analysis with dependent variables of HDS outcome showed that the presence of an antecedent event particularly diarrhea, neck muscle weakness, hyponatremia and the presence cytoalbuminous dissociation of CSF at onset, and low MRC sum score at 10th day after treatment, were predictors of poor outcome. Conclusion Clinical and laboratory predictors of poor outcome were older age, the presence of an antecedent event particularly diarrhea, low MRC sum score at the 10th day, elevated CRP, hyponatremia and the presence cytoalbuminous dissociation.

Additional file 1: eTable 1. Unadjusted logistic regression model of propensity matched analysis of COVID-19 associated MOSC between AC and Control groups.

In aortoiliac occlusive disease, atherosclerotic plaques can occlude the distal aortic bifurcation and proximal bilateral iliac artery and thus cause ischemia in the lower extremity. This is typically treated by restoring patency with balloon expandable stents. Stents are typically deployed in a “kissing stent” configuration into the bilateral iliac arteries and into the distal aortic bifurcation lumen to restore antegrade arterial flow. However, these stents typically become re-occluded by plaques. To understand the reasons for this and look for solutions, we simulated flow dynamics in the aortic bifurcation in the presence and absence of stents using computational fluid dynamics. Results demonstrated that the kissing stent configuration was associated with high levels of vorticity and flow constriction. These prothrombotic variables were alleviated in an alternative, aortoiliac fenestrated (AIFEN), tapered, and balloon-expandable stent design. Our findings suggest that stent design can be tailored to improve flow fields for aortoiliac stenting.

PurposeThe PEVAR Trial demonstrated that compared to open femoral exposure, elective percutaneous endovascular AAA repair (ePEVAR) is associated with decreased perioperative morbidity and access site complications. We hypothesized that PEVAR for ruptured AAA (rPEVAR) may also improve perioperative morbidity compared to open femoral exposure (rEVAR). There are currently no reports that evaluate the utility and outcomes of rPEVAR.Materials and methodsFrom 2015 to 2021, all patients who underwent an endovascular repair of a ruptured AAA at a single institution were included in the study and grouped into rPEVAR and rEVAR. Demographics, procedural details (successful preclose technique, conversion to femoral cutdown), postoperative variables (blood transfusion, ICU and hospital length of stay) and short-term outcomes (30-day major adverse events (30-day MAE) and 30-day femoral access-site complications (30-day FAAC)) were collected and compared with 50 historical ePEVAR patients from the PEVAR Trial. Statistical significance was determined using χ2 or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and Mann–Whitney U-test for continuous variables.Results35 patients were identified (21 rPEVAR; 14 rEVAR), 86% were male with a mean age of 72 ± 9 years. All patients underwent emergent endovascular aortic repair with 100% technical success. Seventeen patients (49%) presented with evidence of hemorrhagic shock and 22 patients (63%) had blood transfusion. 30-day MAE occurred in 12 patients (34%) (7 rPEVAR; 5 rEVAR). There was no difference in demographic, perioperative outcomes and 30-day MAE rate between rPEVAR and rEVAR patients. Compared to ePEVAR patient (from PEVAR trial), rPEVAR patients had higher rate of 30-day MAE (34% vs. 6%; p p = 0.54). The success rate of the preclose technique was higher in ePEVAR compared to rPEVAR (96% vs. 76%; p = 0.02), but the rate of conversion to femoral cutdown was similar between the two groups (10% vs. 4%; p = 0.57).ConclusionEmergent rPEVAR appears to have similar outcomes when compared to rEVAR. Although patients undergoing rPEVAR have higher 30-day major adverse events rate compared to ePEVAR, the method of percutaneous femoral cannulation does not appear to increase the overall procedural or 30-day femoral artery access-site complications.

This study aimed at developing phosphoric acids modified with different polyphenol-rich plant extracts and to verify their effect on the 24h shear bond strength (SBS) to non-eroded and eroded dentine. In this view, the groups contained experimental phosphoric acid (PA), either plain or modified with polyphenol-rich plant extracts, and a commercially available phosphoric acid was used as positive control. The groups were: 1) LabPA (37% phosphoric acid prepared in the laboratory); 2) PA-GSE (LabPA+2% Grape seed extract); 3) PA-Blueberry (LabPA+2% Blueberry extract); 4) PA-Cranberry (LabPA+2% Cranberry extract); 5) PA-GT (LabPA+2% Green tea extract); 6) CommPA (commercial PA, Kerr Gel Etchant, 37.5% phosphoric acid). For SBS, a total of 192 dentine specimens were prepared from sound extracted permanent human molars, by grounding the teeth until the mid-coronal dentine. All specimens underwent a standard smear layer, half of them were straight restored (non-eroded dentine, n=96) and the other half underwent erosion challenge (eroded dentine, n=96; 10 cycles of 1h exposure to human saliva followed by 5 min immersion in 1% citric acid). Consequently, 96 non-eroded and 96 eroded specimens were etched (15s) with the PAs, according to the experimental groups (n=16 specimens/group) and subjected to an etch-and-rinse adhesive system, followed by standardized restoration with a composite resin. After 24 h incubation in humid chamber, the specimens were subjected to SBS using a universal testing machine. The failure mode of each specimen was determined under a stereomicroscope and described qualitatively. Data was analysed with Q-Q plots, Shapiro-Wilk and Levene’s tests for normality and equality of variances, and General Linear Model (GLM) with SBScalc as outcome variable, and “Acid Group” and “Presence of Erosion” as factors. Both factors individually caused an effect to the outcome (p

Introduction: Voodoo is a mixture of herbs and spices that are sprayed with a synthetic compound that mimics the effects of Cannabis. The widespread over-the-counter availability of these products made these compounds the 2nd most common frequently used recreational drug after marijuana in teenagers and young adults. This study aimed to investigate the sub chronic toxic effects of Voodoo (Voodoo abuse) on the central nervous system (CNS) in adult male albino rats. Methodology: thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three equal groups; negative control group, positive control group, and Voodoo extract treated group. Behavioral tests, neurotransmitter concentration in brain tissues and histopathological examination of brain tissues were performed. Results: general activity changes, significant decrease in food intake, feces formation and weight gain were reported between control and Voodoo treated group. The behavioral Y maze test revealed significant inhibition of the spontaneous alternation while, locomotor activity and rotarod test revealed significant inhibition of the neuromuscular coordinative function. The neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline) assaying in the brain tissues of Voodoo treated group revealed significant decrease. These neurological changes were supported by the histopathological findings in the form of shrunken cells with dense nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm in addition to the positive cytoplasmic immunoreaction for caspase -3 in the brain tissues. Conclusion: Voodoo extract was found to have a functional and structural deleterious CNS effect with sub chronic exposure in adult male albino rats.

Currently, NASA uses several methods to replicate a "microgravity" environment on earth. The two most popular include reduced-gravity aircraft and drop facilities. A reduced-gravity aircraft is a plane that flies in a parabolic path. On the negative sloping arcs of the flight path, the contents of the plane will be in free fall for approximately 20 seconds. Drop facilities are like giant vacuum tubes. The air will be pumped out of the shaft. This provides a low-pressure environment for which to drop test packages, and achieves approximately 2 seconds of free fall. Our goal is simple. We want to provide an additional earth-based method for which to simulate microgravity. We are using a weather balloon to tow a test package to 100,000 feet. Once the package is at 100,000 feet, we will detach the package from the weather balloon and allow it to fall for 20 seconds before deploying a parachute for recovery. At this height, the air resistance is so low that an object in free fall will fall extremely close to the acceleration of gravity. This is the goal of every earth based microgravity project, and one we will meet. The data acquisition and communication team is responsible for building a system for just that. This system allows us to communicate with that package via radio. The system includes instruments to measure GPS location, temperature, acceleration, and pressure. This data transmits to a team on the ground. The communication system also allows us to issue commands to drop the test package and deploy the parachute.

Supplemental material, Supplemental_Figure_1 for Canagliflozin impedes ischemic hind-limb recovery in the setting of diabetes by Margaret Nalugo, Nikolai Harroun, Chenglong Li, Larisa Belaygorod, Clay F Semenkovich and Mohamed A Zayed in Vascular Medicine

A new peroxy fatty acid, tagetnoic acid (5) [4-((3S,6S)-6-((3E,8E)-octadeca-3,8-dien-1-yl)-3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxin-3-yl)butanoic acid] and four known metabolites: ecliptal (5-formyl-α-terthiophene) (1), 5-(4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (2), 22,23-dihydrospinasterone (3), and stigmasterol (4) were separated from the n-hexane fraction of the aerial parts of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae). Their chemical structures were verified using IR, UV, 2D and 1D NMR, and HRMS. Compounds 3–5 displayed potent lipoxygenase inhibitory potential with IC50s 2.26, 1.83, and 1.17 μM, respectively compared to indomethacin (IC50 0.89 μM). Moreover, molecular docking study revealed that the potent activity of 5 is due to H-bonding and hydrophobic interaction. The results of this study suggested that Tagetes minuta dietary consumption would be useful for the individuals at risk of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders.

Supplemental material, Supplemental_Figure_2 for Canagliflozin impedes ischemic hind-limb recovery in the setting of diabetes by Margaret Nalugo, Nikolai Harroun, Chenglong Li, Larisa Belaygorod, Clay F Semenkovich and Mohamed A Zayed in Vascular Medicine

Plastination process is a modern safe preservation process of biological tissues and succeeded in providing semi-original anatomical specimens for teaching medical students, but it relatively cost. In our previous study by Satte et al, in 2017, we used gum Arabic solutions as safe and inexpensive for the preservation of biological tissues, and the produced specimens were maintained their original anatomical features for the long-term. The current study aimed to estimate the shrinkage and weight loss of tissues preserved by gum Arabic solutions compared with the same tissues preserved by silicone-S10, which serve as a control. This study was conducted on 144 specimens obtained from adult sheep, divided into eleven experimental groups and one control group, each group contains twelve specimens of four halves of kidney, heart, and brain. The test groups were preserved in eleven different concentrations of gum Arabic solutions, and the control group was preserved in silicone-S10 as a control. The shrinkage and weight loss of preserved tissues were measured during the preservation process. During gum Arabic preservation process, no significant (p≤ 0.05) showed between test groups 1 to 10 and control, and the produced specimens relatively normal in shape and size. Group 11 specimens were presented a significant (p>0.05), which have the highest level of shrinkage and weight loss among all groups. To conclude: The specimens preserved by gum Arabic solutions (1-10) are realistic, maintained their general shape and size and can be used for teaching anatomy for medical students instead of relatively costive silicone-S10 plastinated tissues.

This thesis is at the crossing point of dierent elds: Quantum Magnetism which studies the collective properties of low spin systems, Neutron Scattering a powerful technique that enables to probe the microscopic properties of matter, and High Pressure where the use of ultra hard materials allows discoveries in a previously unexplored range. Combining these, we shall search for novel states in magnetic materials under extreme conditions. The extreme conditions are the quantum spin s=1/2, the low dimensionality, the low temperatures, and the high pressures. The material is the Shastry-Sutherland compound SrCu2(BO3)2, a model quantum magnet which has attracted considerable interest over the last decade.