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Objective: To investigate the risk factors affecting cancer-specific survival (CSS) in nonresponsive disease to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who were treated with NAC and radical cystectomy (RC)., Methods: Patients with MIBC who underwent NAC and RC were retrospectively examined. By comparing clinical and pathological stages, patients whose pathological stage was lower than clinical stage were categorized as "NAC-responsive" and the remainder as "NAC-non-responsive." Apart from pathologic staging, variables compared between groups included age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, clinical stages, NAC type and cycle number, durations between MIBC diagnosis and NAC initiation and RC, presence of hydronephrosis, number of lymph nodes removed, and variant histology of urothelial bladder cancer. CSS analysis was performed by construction of Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox regression was performed to identify the prognosticators in the NAC-non-responsive-group., Results: Ninety-two patients were included with a mean age was 61.5 ± 8.5 years, of whom 84.8% were men. The NAC regimen used was predominantly gemcitabine-cisplatin (88%) and the median cycle number was 4. Fifty-six (60.9%) patients were NAC-non-responsive. There was a significantly lower proportion of patients receiving ≥4 cycles (46.4% vs. 66.7%) and a higher rate of patients with ECOG score ˃1 (33.9% vs. 11.1%) in the NAC-non-responsive-group compared to the NAC-responsive-group (both P < 0.05). Other variables were similar between groups. In multivariable analysis, only ypN+ was found to be an independent prognosticator for CSS in NAC-non-responsive-group (HR: 2.725, CI95%:1.017-7.303)., Conclusion: Although higher ECOG scores and lower cycle numbers appears to be associated factors in NAC-non-responsive disease, only ypN(+) status was a prognosticator for CSS in this population., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to develop a novel nomogram to predict clinically significant prostate cancer in patients undergoing multi-parametric prostate MRI-assisted lesion biopsies, addressing the challenges in deciding on biopsy for patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions and follow-up strategies for patients with negative PI-RADS 4 or 5 lesions., Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted using the Turkish Urooncology Association Databases (UROCaD). The final dataset included 2428 lesion biopsy data. Univariate analysis, logistic regression, and validation were performed, with 1942 and 486 lesion biopsy data in the training and validation datasets, respectively., Results: Age, initial total PSA value, PSA density, prostate volume, lesion length, DRE findings, and PI-RADS score were significantly different between benign or non-significant cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer groups. The developed nomogram incorporated PSA density, age, PI-RADS score, lesion length, and DRE findings. The mean area under the curve for the 6-fold cross-validation was 0.836, while the area under the curve values for the training and validation datasets were 0.827 and 0.861, respectively. The nomogram demonstrated a sensitivity of 75.6% and a specificity of 74.8% at a cut-off score of 24.9, with positive and negative predictive values of 42.2% and 92.6%, respectively., Conclusion: The TUA nomogram, based on PSA density, age, PI-RADS score, lesion length, and DRE findings, provides a reliable and accurate prediction tool for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in patients undergoing multi-parametric prostate MRI-assisted lesion (fusion) biopsies, potentially improving patient management and reducing unnecessary biopsies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

pH reduction (Low pH), microplastic (MP), and lanthanum (La) are substantial stressors due to their increasing trends in marine ecosystems and having adverse effects on marine species. This study investigates the single and combined effects of those stressors (Low pH: 7.45, polyethylene MP: 26 μg L -1 , and La: 9 μg L -1 ) on the physiology and histology of sea urchin Arbacia lixula. Regarding physiological results, while the coelomocytes' quantity was slightly affected by stressors, their viability was significantly affected. The coelomocyte count and viability were suppressed most in Low pH-MP-La treatment. The stressors did not impact the respiration rate. According to the histological examination results, the crypt (villi-like structure) was shorter, and epithelial layers were thinner in single and dual stress treatments like MP, Low pH, Low pH-La, and MP-La. Overall, we suggest that the combination of variable types of those stressors causes negative effects on sea urchin's physiology and histology., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The prevalence and frequency of hypoxia events have increased worldwide over the past decade as a consequence of global climate change and coastal biological oxygen depletions. On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions of CO 2 and consequent accumulation in the sea surface result in a perturbation of the seawater carbonate system, including a decrease in pH, known as ocean acidification. While the effect of decreases in pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is better understood, their combined effects are still poorly resolved. Here, we exposed adult mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to two pHs (8.27 and 7.63) and DO concentrations (7.65 and 2.75 mg L -1 ) over 17 days in a full-factorial design. These levels correspond to extremes of the present natural variability and are relevant in the context of ocean acidification and hypoxia. No mortality was observed during the experiment. However, sublethal effects were observed for clearance and oxygen consumption rates, as well as total haemocytes count and haemocytes viability and gene expression in mussels exposed to the combination of low pH and low DO. Respiration and excretion rates were not significantly impacted by low pH and DO, alone or in combination. Overall, low pH alone led to a decrease in all tested physiological parameters while low DO alone led to a decline in clearance rate, haemocyte parameters and an increase in carbohydrate content. Both parameters led to up- or down-regulation of most of the selected genes. Not surprisingly, the combined effect of low pH and low DO could not be predicted by a simple arithmetic additive response at the effect level, highlighting more complex and non-linear effects., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the efficiency levels of oral and dental health centers (ODHCs) affiliated to the Ministry of Health from the perspective of the development levels in the regions., Methods: Within the framework of this study, the efficiencies of 127 ODHCs are evaluated with the data envelopment analysis based on Charnes, Cooper, Rhodes (CCR); Banker, Charnes, Cooper (BCC); and scale efficiency methods., Results: It is found that CCR, BCC, and scale efficiencies of the 42 ODHCs located in the first region, the highest development region, are efficient by 31%, 50%, and 38% whereas 13%, 26%, and 26% of other 85 ODHCs located in other regions are efficient, respectively. Additionally, the average efficiency scores of 42 ODHCs in the first region by CCR (0.82), BCC (0.89), and score efficiency (0.93) are much higher than the average efficiency scores of 85 ODHCs in other regions by CCR (0.73), BCC (0.80), and scale efficiency (0.92)., Conclusions: According to the findings, it is considered that the individuals from the first region use the oral and dental healthcare more than the individuals do in other regions because the access to oral and dental healthcare is higher in the first region and the individuals living in this region have better predisposing and enabling factors. The study results are thought to present evidence-based information to health policy makers regarding the regional planning of oral and dental healthcare., (Copyright © 2022 International Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Social networking sites such as Instagram have provided young people with unprecedented opportunities for social comparison, and such behaviour can have implications for identity development. Although initial evidence suggests that there may be developmental differences in terms of how such behaviour informs identity development during adolescence and emerging adulthood, all previous research has been conducted in highly individualistic cultural contexts (i.e., the UK and the US)., Method: To shed further light on these possible developmental differences and to determine whether results replicate amongst young people from more collectivist cultural contexts, cross-sectional survey data were collected from 1,085 (M age = 18.87, SD = 2.57; Female = 77.8%) adolescents and emerging adults in Romania and Serbia between December 2019 and March 2020. The relationships between social comparisons of ability and opinion on Instagram and three key identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) were then examined., Result: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified significant age differences in terms of how social comparisons of ability and opinion on Instagram associated with identity commitment and in-depth exploration. Furthermore, possible cultural differences were identified in terms of how social comparisons of opinion on Instagram associated with the identity processes., Conclusion: Overall, results suggest that whilst social comparisons on Instagram can elicit self-focus and prompt further exploration, developmental and cultural factors may influence how such behaviour informs identity development during adolescence and emerging adulthood., (Copyright © 2021 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the extent to which hospitals and managers take the hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) approach into account in their decision-making processes regarding medical device/equipment acquisition., Methods: The questionnaire was developed as a data collection tool and administered to a total of 186 administrators from 33 hospitals in Ankara., Results: All domains of HB-HTA are taken into consideration in both private and public hospitals but more in private hospitals than public hospitals (P<.001). The importance given to the domains of HB-HTA approach varies according to the characteristics of the hospitals and managers. In addition, it was seen that training hospitals were more likely to consider clinical effectiveness, and safety in specialty hospitals was more important. In addition, medical managers focus more on the clinical effectiveness, whereas administrative and financial managers are more concerned with cost/economic effectiveness. Moreover, the organizational aspects dimension of the HB-HTA was taken into account as the working duration of the managers in the health sector increased., Conclusions: Hospitals and managers with different characteristics benefit from the domains of the approach at different levels. To contribute to the use of HB-HTA approach in hospitals and to increase awareness, regional initiatives can be undertaken by encouraging hospitals., (Copyright © 2021 ISPOR--The professional society for health economics and outcomes research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) salamander, a urodele amphibian, has an exceptional regenerative capacity to fully restore an amputated limb throughout the life-long lasting neoteny. By contrast, when axolotls are experimentally induced to metamorphosis, attenuation of the limb's regenerative competence is noticeable. Here, we sought to discern the proteomic profiles of the early stages of blastema formation of neotenic and metamorphic axolotls after limb amputation by employing LC-MS/MS technology. We quantified a total of 714 proteins and qRT-PCR for selected genes was performed to validate the proteomics results and provide evidence for the putative link between immune system activity and regenerative potential. This study provides new insights for examination of common and distinct molecular mechanisms in regeneration-permissive neotenic and regeneration-deficient metamorphic stages at the proteome level., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The study utilizes monodisperse platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) biosynthesized from Punica granatum crusts as anti-tumor agents on the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The obtained Pt NPs were fully characterized using the UV-vis spectrum (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Effectiveness of the Pt NPs was determined by cell viability, propidium iodide staining test, flow cytometry and comet tests on the MCF-7 cancer cell line. Cell survival percentage was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The biosynthesized monodisperse platinum nanoparticles inhibited MCF-7 proliferation with an IC 50 of 17.84 μg/ml after 48 h of incubation. Propidium iodide staining demonstrated that the monodisperse Pt NPs induced apoptosis by means of molecular DNA fragmentation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

MR imaging studies in paediatric bipolar disorder have particularly focused on the amygdala and hippocampus, subcortical structures, and to a lesser extent on the thalamus. The purpose of this study was to perform structural analysis of the regions of interest (ROI) associated with mood regulation. In this study 18 children (between the ages of 12-18) were matched according to their age and sex and were divided into three groups. These were: a paediatric bipolar disorder group, risk group and a healthy control group. The structured diagnostic interviews were performed with children and their parents. T1 weighted MR images in the sagittal plane with a thickness of 1mm were taken from the subjects. Automatic structural brain analysis was performed, and the volume and volume fraction (VF) of the ROIs were obtained. Brain size in the patients with paediatric bipolar disorder (742.4 ± 110.1cm 3 ) was significantly smaller than the healthy control group (880.7 ± 73.8cm 3 ) (p≤0.05). MRI analysis between the paediatric bipolar disorder, risk group and healthy control group revealed no difference between them in terms of amygdala, thalamus or hippocampal volumes. In this study, there was no difference between the volumes of amygdala, thalamus or hippocampus., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this work, a novel amperometric biosensor of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was developed based on the immobilization of myoglobin (Mb) on the surface of the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) -Nafion-cysteamine (CA) modified gold electrode (Au) and its electrocatalytic activity was used for the determination of nitrite (NO2(-)). In the optimization studies, the best MWCNT and myoglobin amount were investigated. It was discovered at the experiments for the optimization of the working conditions that the buffer at this study as 50.0mM, pH7.0 phosphate buffer (PBS) and working temperature as 30°C for the H2O2 biosensor. It was determined at the characterization studies on the biosensor that linear results are obtained between the ranges of 0.1μM to 70.0μM for H2O2 concentration and 1-250μM for NO2(-). The reproducibility of the biosensor was determined both H2O2 and nitrite. From the experiments, average value, standard deviation (SD) and coefficients of variation (CV%) were calculated to be 10.02±0.43μM, and 4.29% for 10.0μM H2O2 (n=6) and 52.0±2.1μM, and 3.89% for 50.0μM nitrite (n=8), respectively. At the same time the sample was analyzed for NO2(-) in drinking and mineral waters., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)