Search

Background/purpose: The design and materials of a prosthesis affect the loading of dental implants and deformation of the bone. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of prosthesis design and materials on the stress distribution of implant-supported prostheses. Materials and methods: A 3-dimensional finite element analysis method was selected to evaluate the stress distribution in the bone. Three different models were designed as follows: a 3-unit implant-supported fixed partial denture (FPD) composed of a metal framework and porcelain veneer with (M2) or without a cantilevered extension (M1) and an FPD composed of a fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) framework and a particulate composite veneer without a cantilevered extension (M3). In separate load cases, 300-N vertical, 150-N oblique, and 60-N horizontal forces were applied to the prostheses in the models. von Mises stress values in the cortical and cancellous bone were calculated. Results: In cortical bone, the highest von Mises stresses were noted in the M2 Model with a vertical load; whereas, higher stresses were observed in the M1 Model with horizontal and oblique loads. The lowest stress values were determined in the M3 Model for all loading conditions. In cancellous bone, decreased stress values were found with all 3 models under the applied loads. Conclusions: Prosthesis design and materials affect the load-transmission mechanism. Although additional experimental and clinical studies are needed, FRC FPDs can be considered a suitable alternative treatment choice for implant-supported prostheses. Within the limitations of the study, the 3-unit FPD supported by 2 implants with a cantilevered extension revealed acceptable stress distributions.

Background/purpose: A fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) resin system was introduced as an alternative for implant-retained fixed dental prostheses (FDPs); however, the stress distribution in the bone around the implants which support the FRC-FDP has so far not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical behavior of FRC-FDPs supported by implants with different collar geometries. Materials and methods: A 3-dimensional finite element analysis method was selected to evaluate the stress distribution. FRC-FDPs were supported by 2 different dental implant systems with 2 distinct collar geometries: a microthread collar structure (MCS) and a non-MCS (NMCS). In separate load cases, 300-N vertical, 150-N oblique, and 60-N horizontal forces were simulated. Tensile and compressive stress values in the cortical and cancellous bone and von Mises stresses in the fixture-abutment complex, the framework, and veneer material were calculated. Results: The MCS model revealed higher compression stresses at the cortical bone than did the NMCS model under all 3 load conditions. Moreover, higher tensile stresses under the oblique loads at the cortical bone were shown with the MCS model. In each model, stresses were much higher in the implant–abutment complex than in the cortical bone, and they were very low in the cancellous bone. Conclusion: Although additional experimental and clinical studies are needed, FRC-FDPs can be considered a suitable and alternative treatment choice for an implant-supported prosthesis. The implant design and geometry affect the load-transmission mechanisms. Implants with an MCS that supports FRC-FDPs were shown to be superior in terms of the stress distribution in the bone around the implant compared to implants with an NMCS.

We report auricular hematoma cases caused by mobile phones. A 32-year-old male and a 23-year-old female presented with auricular hematoma, having no significant histories of trauma. The patients underwent simple hematoma aspiration. Hematoma re-accumulated in the first case. Incision and drainage were performed, and then auricular skin was stabilized by suturing a gauze pad over the area. Both patients recovered without sequelae after treatment. Judging from these cases, we want to postulate that prolonged mobile phone use may cause auricular hematoma.

Abstract Introduction: Crooked or deviated nose is a deviation of the nose from the straight vertical position of the face. Extensive pneumatization of the middle turbinate, also called concha bullosa or bullous middle turbinate (BMT) is known to be one of the possible etiologic factors in nasal obstruction, recurrent sinusitis, and headache. There is no study concerning a link between BMT and crooked nose. Objective: To investigate the association between crooked nose and the presence of a BMT. Methods: A total of 199 patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative paranasal Computerized Tomography (CT) findings, preoperative photodocumentation, and anterior rhinoscopic examination findings were documented. Of the 199 patients, 169 were found to meet the criteria and were included in the study. CT scans were examined to note the presence of BMT, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and septum deviation (SD). SDs and crooked noses were classified. Results: Ninety-four of 169 patients (56%) presented a crooked nose deformity and seventy-five of 169 patients (44%) presented a straight nose. While 49 (52%) crooked nose patients had a bulbous and extensive BMT, 20 patients with straight nose (26.6%) had a BMT. A statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of crooked nose and BMT, regardless of the side of the disease (p = 0.011). Conclusion: This study revealed a link between crooked nose and BMT.

Noise is generally considered to have negative effects on information processing performance. However, it has also been proven that adding random noise or a certain level of stochastic (random) variability to a nonlinear system can increase its performance or sensitivity to weak signals. Despite the studies on this concept, called stochastic resonance in computational neuroscience, this phenomenon is still among the topics that need detailed research, especially in machine learning. In this study, the effect of noise arising from the intrinsic dynamics of the neurons forming the network in a spiking neural network consisting of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons on the image classification success of the network is investigated. In the first part of this two-part study, a practical neural network model consisting of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons is proposed and the network is tested in a 4-class real classification task. It is observed that the network consisting of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons has a classification performance at least as successful as the artificial neural network. In the second part of the study, the neurons in the network are replaced with stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neurons, which more realistically represent the biological neuron, and the classification performance of the network at different cell membrane sizes is examined. Findings reveal that a spiking network consisting of stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neurons, in which intrinsic noise dynamics are incorporated into the system, shows maximum classification performance at an optimal intrinsic noise level. It is called this reflection observed in the classification performance of a spiking network, which is referred to as stochastic resonance in computational neuroscience, as stochastic classification resonance in this study. This study also highlights the importance of bridging the gap between biological neuroscience and artificial neural networks for a better understanding of neurological structure., 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.)

Introduction: This study was aimed at understanding emergency department (ED) nurses' experiences of caring for people who attempted suicide. ED nurses provide care to a great number of patients who have attempted suicide. EDs are accepted as an important environment to prevent repeat suicidal behavior and the importance of initiating interventions to prevent repeated attempts is emphasized., Method: This study was a descriptive qualitative study. The study was conducted with 15 ED nurses who provided care to individuals who attempted suicide in two university hospitals in Turkey. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) were used to ensure the comprehensive reporting of this qualitative study protocol., Results: The data were categorized under the following four themes: elements of current care, barriers to effective care, dimensions that should be improved in providing care, and needs., Conclusion: Biomedical approaches constitute the basic elements of nurses' care provided to a suicidal patient, and nurses have difficulty in providing emotional support. Caring for a suicidal patient creates an emotional burden for nurses. Nurses stated that they were faced with barriers related to emotional burden, stigma, lack of time, knowledge gaps, and unsuitable physical environment., 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.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a longitudinal assessment of inter-twin growth and Doppler discordance, to identify possible distinct patterns, and to investigate the predictive value of longitudinal discordance patterns for adverse perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included twin pregnancies followed and delivered at a tertiary University Hospital in London (UK), between 2010 and 2023. We included pregnancies with at least three ultrasound assessments after 18 weeks and delivery after 34 weeks' gestation. Monoamniotic twin pregnancies, pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, genetic or structural abnormalities, or incomplete data were excluded. Data on chorionicity, biometry, Doppler indices, maternal characteristics, and obstetric as well as neonatal outcomes were extracted from electronic records. Doppler assessment included velocimetry of the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and cerebroplacental ratio. Inter-twin growth discordance was calculated for each scan. The primary outcome was a composite of perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity. Statistical analysis involved multilevel mixed-effects regression models and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, specifically k-means clustering, to identify distinct patterns of inter-twin discordance and their predictive value. Predictive models were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, calibration intercept, and slope, validated with repeated cross-validation. Analyses were performed using R, with significance set at p<0.05., Results: Data from a total of 823 twin pregnancies (647 dichorionic, 176 monochorionic) were analyzed. Five distinct patterns of inter-twin growth discordance-low-stable (n=204, 24.8%), mild-decreasing (n=171, 20.8%), low-increasing (n=173, 21.0%), mild-increasing (n=189, 23.0%), and high-stable (n=86, 10.4%)-were derived using an unsupervised learning algorithm that clustered twin pairs based on the progression and patterns of discordance over gestation. In the high-stable cluster, the rates of perinatal morbidity (46.5%, 40/86) and mortality (9.3%, 8/86) were significantly higher, compared to the low-stable (reference) cluster (p<0.001). High-stable growth pattern was also associated with a significantly higher risk of composite adverse perinatal outcomes (Odds ratio 70.19, 95% confidence interval 24.18-299.03, p<0.001; adjusted Odds ratio 76.44, 95% confidence interval 25.39-333.02, p<0.001). The model integrating discordance pattern with CPR discordance at the last ultrasound before delivery demonstrated superior predictive accuracy, evidenced by the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.802 (95% confidence interval 0.712 - 0.892 0.046, p<0.001), compared to only discordance patterns (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.785, 95% confidence interval 0.697 -0.873), intertwin weight discordance at the last ultrasound prior to delivery (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.677, 95% confidence interval 0.545 - 0.809), combination of single measurements of estimated fetal weight and CPR discordance at the last ultrasound prior to delivery (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.702, 95% confidence interval 0.586 -0.818) and single measurement of CPR discordance only at the last ultrasound (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.633, 95% confidence interval 0.515 - 0.751)., Conclusion: We identified five distinct trajectories of inter-twin fetal growth discordance using an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. Consistent high discordance is associated with increased rates of adverse perinatal outcomes, with a dose-response relationship. Additionally, a predictive model integrating discordance trajectory and CPR discordance at the last visit demonstrated superior predictive accuracy for the prediction of composite adverse perinatal outcomes, compared to either of these measurements alone or a single value of estimated fetal weight discordance at the last ultrasound prior to delivery., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Control of the family of systems that can be represented in the Euler Lagrange (EL) form is both challenging from a theoretical perspective and applicable to a broad spectrum of real systems. For this type of control problem, given that any parameter estimation error and disturbances are not directly addressed, the system performance deteriorates, and stability cannot be deduced in advance. Considering these issues, this work presents the design and the corresponding analysis of a saturation function based, model-free, continuous robust controller for mechanical systems represented in the EL form. In order to avoid chattering in controller input, which is a common problem in most robust and high-gain control designs, the proposed method makes use of continuously differentiable terms. The stability of the closed-loop system is ensured via rigorous Lyapunov-based arguments. To ease the tuning of the controller gain, an adaptive gain-tuning algorithm is proposed to be applied as an add-on. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated by a simulation study on a twin rotor multi-input-multi-output system (TRMS) model Furthermore, the feasibility of the proposed method is then tested on an in-house built, inherently unstable, and therefore extremely sensitive mobile robotic platform. In the experimental study, satisfactory performances are attained for both the controller and the gain-tuning algorithm where less than 0.5° error is obtained in roll and pitch angles and less than 1° error is achieved in the yaw direction., 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 International Society of Automation. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Maximal force plays a pivotal role in enhancing performance across various dynamic sports, particularly in sprinting biomechanics. However, muscle strength asymmetry among major muscle groups like the hamstrings and quadriceps may hinder sprint performance and raise injury risks. This study examines how intra- and inter-limb strength asymmetry relates to sprint kinematics and the power-force-velocity profile in youth athletes., Methods: Seventy-four youth athletes from football, volleyball, and handball completed two testing sessions, 48 h apart. Assessments included anthropometric measurements, sprint tests, and isokinetic dynamometer strength evaluations at 60°.s - 1 and 180°.s - 1. Sprint kinematics were analyzed using the Optojump Next system, and force-velocity profile variables were determined via Samozino's method. Asymmetry analysis used a standard percentage difference equation., Results: Weak to moderate correlations (r = -0.46 to 0.45) were found between strength asymmetry and sprint parameters, suggesting limited impact of asymmetry on sprint kinematics and kinetics. Although most participants showed asymmetry levels below the 15% threshold deemed functionally significant, outliers had asymmetry values up to 42%, indicating considerable variability., Conclusions: Lower extremity strength asymmetry moderately affects sprint kinematics and force-velocity profiles in young team athletes, challenging traditional views. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms between strength asymmetry and sprint performance, aiming to inform targeted training interventions that optimize performance and reduce injury risks in youth athletes., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of TRESK potassium channels in migraine, however, effects of TRESK activation on migraine-related mechanisms remain unclear. We explored effects of TRESK channel modulation on migraine-related behavioral and molecular markers in in-vivo and ex-vivo rat models of migraine., Main Methods: The selective TRESK activator cloxyquin at different doses, the TRESK inhibitor A2764, and the migraine drug sumatriptan were tested alone or in different combinations in nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced in-vivo model, and in ex-vivo meningeal, trigeminal ganglion and brainstem preparations in which CGRP release was induced by capsaicin. Mechanical allodynia, CGRP and c-fos levels in trigeminovascular structures and meningeal mast cells were evaluated., Key Findings: Cloxyquin attenuated NTG-induced mechanical allodynia, brainstem c-fos and CGRP levels, trigeminal ganglion CGRP levels and meningeal mast cell degranulation and number, in-vivo. It also diminished capsaicin-induced CGRP release from ex-vivo meningeal, trigeminal ganglion and brainstem preparations. Specific TRESK inhibitor A2764 abolished all effects of cloxyquin in in-vivo and ex-vivo. Combining cloxyquin and sumatriptan exerted a synergistic effect ex-vivo, but not in-vivo., Significance: Our findings provide the experimental evidence for the anti-migraine effect of TRESK activation in migraine-like conditions. The modulation of TRESK channels may therefore be an attractive alternative strategy to relieve migraine pain., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) technique is an effective analytical technique in which fingerprint information about analytes can be obtained, can provide detection limit performance at the single molecule level, and analyzes are performed in a single step without any intermediate steps. SERS technique offers additional benefits rather than other analytical techniques including high selectivity, ultrasensitive detection, uncomplicated protocols, in situ sampling, on-set capability and cost-effectiveness. As a result of the combination of developments in materials and nanotechnology science with the SERS analysis technique, this technique strengthens its use advantage day by day. The most important factor that limited the use of this technique was the fact that the solution containing the desired analyte(s) was dropped onto the SERS substrate and the same substrate could not be reused in subsequent analyses. To solve this problem, scientists have focused on developing reusable SERS substrates in recent years. In these studies, scientists basically used three SERS substrate cleaning applications (1) washing the SERS substrate with a suitable solvent that can elute the analyte from SERS surface after analysis, (2) cleaning the SERS substrate with catalytic degradation of analytes after analysis by modifying them with catalytic active materials and (3) Applying plasma cleaning procedure to SERS substrate after analysis and (4) applying adsorption and desorption procedure prior to SERS analysis. Herein, the aim of this review article is to evaluate the reusable SERS substrates-based methods based on their level of development and their potential to recycle. This review offers a coherent discussion on a wide range of sensing schemes employed in fabricating the SERS substrates. We utilized a critical approach in which elaborative examples were selected to highlight key shortcomings of various experimental configurations. In the same vein, there is a discussion of the advantages and limitations concerning the key instrumental advances and the expansion of the recent methods developed in this area., 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.)

Research Question: Does a short co-incubation of gametes in conventional IVF affect post-insemination outcomes and embryo morphokinetics?, Design: Sibling oocyte randomized pilot study conducted between December 2020 and March 2023. Eligible couples (n = 55) were women aged 18-43 years with BMI 35 km/m 2 or lower and male normal semen parameters. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) (six to 12) were randomized in a 1:1:2 proportion in long (16-18 h) or short (2 h) co-incubation IVF exposure and ICSI, respectively. All oocytes inseminated via IVF were monitored by time-lapse. Blastocysts graded BL3CC or higher underwent trophectoderm biopsy on days 5, 6 or 7, and were analysed by next-generation sequencing., Results: A total of 954 COC were distributed to long co-incubation (n = 235 [24.6%]), short co-incubation (n = 235 [24.6%]) and ICSI (n = 484 [50.7%]). In total, 202 were MII after long co-incubation, 209 after short co-incubation and 394 at ICSI. Regression analyses showed that short co-incubation groups (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.11, P = 0.139) and ICSI (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.15, P = 0.090) did not significantly affect normal fertilization rates (2PN) compared with long co-incubation. Usable blastocysts per MII, per 2PN, and euploid blastocysts per MII, per 2PN and per tested blastocysts were similar among the groups. The rate of embryo arrest (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.11, P = 0.183) and timings to reach morphokinetic milestones among embryos reaching blastulation were similar between IVF groups (P > 0.05 for all)., Conclusion: A short 2-h co-incubation of gametes in IVF yields comparable fertilization, blastocyst and euploidy rates without adverse embryo morphokinetic events, compared with standard overnight co-incubation., (Copyright © 2024 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aims to assess whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a clinically effective alternative for treating oral aphthous ulcers, contributing to the ongoing quest for methods to expedite their treatment process amidst the limited understanding of their etiology., Materials and Method: The study involved thirty volunteers with aphthous ulcers, split equally between a control group and a PDT group. Patients in the PDT group received laser treatment using Indocyanine green upon admission, while the control group received no intervention. Lesion diameter was measured at presentation and on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days for all patients, with wound healing assessed on the 7th day. Additionally, pain levels were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days for the PDT group, and on the corresponding days for the control group., Results: Lesion diameters in the PDT group showed a significant reduction over time (p = 0.001), particularly from preoperative to final measurements. The control group also exhibited a decrease, albeit slower (p = 0.001). The 7th-day healing scores favored the PDT group significantly (p = 0.012). VAS scores in the PDT group decreased significantly over time (p = 0.001), indicating pain reduction. A similar trend was observed in the control group, albeit slower. Between-group differences in healing data and pain data were statistically significant., Conclusion: PDT proves effective in reducing aphthous ulcer diameters and pain intensity, facilitating faster healing than the control group. These results advocate for PDT as a viable treatment option for aphthous lesions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: In early 2023, when Omicron was the variant of concern, we showed that vaccinating pregnant women decreased the risk for severe COVID-19-related complications and maternal morbidity and mortality., Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 during pregnancy on newborns and the effects of maternal COVID-19 vaccination on neonatal outcomes when Omicron was the variant of concern., Study Design: INTERCOVID-2022 was a large, prospective, observational study, conducted in 40 hospitals across 18 countries, from November 27, 2021 (the day after the World Health Organization declared Omicron the variant of concern) to June 30, 2022, to assess the effect of COVID-19 in pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes and to assess vaccine effectiveness. Women diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 during pregnancy were compared with 2 nondiagnosed, unmatched women recruited concomitantly and consecutively during pregnancy or at delivery. Mother-newborn dyads were followed until hospital discharge. The primary outcomes were a neonatal positive test for COVID-19, severe neonatal morbidity index, severe perinatal morbidity and mortality index, preterm birth, neonatal death, referral to neonatal intensive care unit, and diseases during the neonatal period. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated with adjustment for maternal risk profile., Results: We enrolled 4707 neonates born to 1577 (33.5%) mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 and 3130 (66.5%) nondiagnosed mothers. Among the diagnosed mothers, 642 (40.7%) were not vaccinated, 147 (9.3%) were partially vaccinated, 551 (34.9%) were completely vaccinated, and 237 (15.0%) also had a booster vaccine. Neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers had less than half (relative risk, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.91) the risk of being diagnosed with COVID-19 when compared with those of unvaccinated mothers; they also had the lowest rates of preterm birth, medically indicated preterm birth, respiratory distress syndrome, and number of days in the neonatal intensive care unit. Newborns of unvaccinated mothers had double the risk for neonatal death (relative risk, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.00) when compared with those of nondiagnosed mothers. Vaccination was not associated with any congenital malformations. Although all vaccines provided protection against neonatal test positivity, newborns of booster-vaccinated mothers had the highest vaccine effectiveness (64%; 95% confidence interval, 10%-86%). Vaccine effectiveness was not as high for messenger RNA vaccines only. Vaccine effectiveness against moderate or severe neonatal outcomes was much lower, namely 13% in the booster-vaccinated group (all vaccines) and 25% and 28% in the completely and booster-vaccinated groups, respectively (messenger RNA vaccines only). Vaccines were fairly effective in protecting neonates when given to pregnant women ≤100 days (14 weeks) before birth; thereafter, the risk increased and was much higher after 200 days (29 weeks). Finally, none of the neonatal practices studied, including skin-to-skin contact and direct breastfeeding, increased the risk for infecting newborns., Conclusion: When Omicron was the variant of concern, newborns of unvaccinated mothers had an increased risk for neonatal death. Neonates of vaccinated mothers had a decreased risk for preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. Because the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination decreases with time, to ensure that newborns are maximally protected against COVID-19, mothers should receive a vaccine or booster dose no more than 14 weeks before the expected date of delivery., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Long acquisition times limit the feasibility of established non-contrast-enhanced MRA (non-CE-MRA) techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a highly accelerated flow-independent sequence (Relaxation-Enhanced Angiography without Contrast and Triggering [REACT]) for imaging of the extracranial arteries in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)., Materials and Methods: Compressed SENSE (CS) accelerated (factor 7) 3D isotropic REACT (fixed scan time: 01:22 min, reconstructed voxel size 0.625 × 0.625 × 0.75 mm 3 ) and CE-MRA (CS factor 6, scan time: 1:08 min, reconstructed voxel size 0.5 mm 3 ) were acquired in 76 AIS patients (69.4 ± 14.3 years, 33 females) at 3 Tesla. Two radiologists assessed scans for the presence of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and stated their diagnostic confidence using a 5-point scale (5 = excellent). Vessel quality of cervical arteries as well as the impact of artifacts and image noise were scored on 5-point scales (5 = excellent/none). Apparent signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios (aSNR/aCNR) were measured for the common carotid artery (CCA) and ICA (C1-segment)., Results: REACT provided a sensitivity of 88.5% and specificity of 100% for clinically relevant (≥50%) ICA stenosis with substantial concordance to CE-MRA regarding stenosis grading (Cohen's kappa 0.778) and similar diagnostic confidence (REACT: mean 4.5 ± 0.4 vs. CE-MRA: 4.5 ± 0.6; P = 0.674). Presence of artifacts (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 3.5 ± 0.7; P = 0.985) and vessel quality (all segments: 3.6 ± 0.7 vs. 3.8 ± 0.7; P = 0.004) were comparable between both techniques with REACT showing higher scores at the CCA (4.3 ± 0.6 vs. 3.8 ± 0.9; P < 0.001) and CE-MRA at V2- (3.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8; P < 0.001) and V3-segments (3.3 ± 0.5 vs. 4.0 ± 0.8; P < 0.001). For all vessels, REACT showed a lower impact of image noise (3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.6 ± 0.7; P = 0.024) while yielding higher aSNR (52.5 ± 15.1 vs. 37.9 ± 12.5; P < 0.001) and aCNR (49.4 ± 15.0 vs. 34.7 ± 12.3; P < 0.001) for all vessels combined., Conclusions: In patients with acute ischemic stroke, highly accelerated REACT provides an accurate detection of ICA stenosis with vessel quality and scan time comparable to CE-MRA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Kilian Weiss: Employee, Philips Healthcare. Roman Johannes Gertz: Speakers bureau, Philips Healthcare. Speakers bureau, Guerbet GmbH. Supported by the Cologne Clinician Scientist Program (CCSP) / Faculty of Medicine / University of Cologne. Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) (Project No. 413543196). Jan-Peter Grunz: Speakers bureau, Siemens Healthineers. Payment for expert testimony, Siemens Healthineers. Jan Borggrefe: Speakers bureau, Philips Healthcare. Speakers bureau, Siemens Healthineers. Lenhard Pennig: Speakers bureau, Philips Healthcare. Speakers bureau, Guerbet GmbH., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Research Question: Does endometrial preparation using a natural cycle lead to higher live birth rates (LBR) in single euploid frozen embryo transfers (FET) compared with programmed cycles, for women who are normal weight, overweight and obese., Design: Retrospective study of 845 single euploid FETs from 688 couples. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal weight, overweight and obesity class I/II categories. Outcome was LBR., Results: After achieving covariate (female age, anti-Müllerian hormone, embryo quality and infertility type) balance in each stratum, the effective sample size was 481 and 262 for the programmed cycles and natural cycles, respectively. The programmed cycle approach (vaginal luteal phase support with 3 × 100 mg micronized vaginal progesterone per day) was associated with significantly lower LBR in the weighted regression analysis of the cohort (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.88, P < 0.001), compared with the natural cycle approach. The effect was significantly modified by BMI (P = 0.003 but was significant for all BMI categories. Reduction in live birth was less pronounced in patients with normal weight or who were overweight BMI (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.97, P = 0.014) compared with patients with class I/II obesity (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.75, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: A natural cycle endometrial preparation approach leads to overall better LBR in single euploid FET. The most significant difference is observed in women with higher BMI. Overweight or obese patients undergoing hormone replacement therapy may require a higher dosage of progesterone for luteal phase support., (Copyright © 2024 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been reported to cause substantial pain relief and improved quality of life (QoL) in patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS). Despite implantable pulse generator (IPG)-related inconveniences such as pain, shame, and discomfort affecting QoL and patient satisfaction, these are often neglected. Hence, the current study aims to determine the associations between patient satisfaction, IPG-related inconveniences, and preoperative counseling in a homogeneous group of patients with PSPS receiving SCS with IPG implantation in the gluteal or abdominal area., Materials and Methods: Retrospective data on sample characteristics were gathered from the EPIC (electronic health record software) digital patient data base. Prospective data on patient satisfaction were obtained with a questionnaire that covered various topics such as shame, pain, disturbances in daily/intense activities, night rest and/or sleep, discomfort caused by clothing, and preoperative counseling. The exact location of the IPG and its scar were determined with photo analysis. Thereafter, the site of IPG placement was classified into separate quadrants within the gluteal and abdominal area. Patient satisfaction was defined as accepting the current location of the IPG without having the wish to undergo revision surgery., Results: In total, 81 participants (50.9 ± 10 years) were included in this analysis, with patient satisfaction observed in 61 patients (75.3%). Among satisfied patients, more extensive preoperative counseling concerning IPG pain and discomfort was reported compared with patients who were not satisfied (p < 0.001). When comparing the two groups, significant differences were found in shame (8/81, 9.9%), IPG site pain (21/81, 25.9%), disturbance of activities (42/81, 51.9%), and clothing-related discomfort (42/81, 51.9%)., Conclusions: On the basis of the current results, shared decision-making and comprehensive preoperative provision of information are recommended to optimize patient satisfaction regarding IPG pain, discomfort, and inconveniences. Although many patients experience these disadvantages despite successful SCS for pain related to PSPS, most of them accept this if they have received adequate preoperative information about expectations., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors reported no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Azithromycin is used for children with cystic fibrosis (CF) for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action. This study investigated the short-term alterations in QTc interval associated with azithromycin prophylaxis in pediatric patients with CF., Methods: This study included 121 patients with mild CF, of whom 76 received azithromycin (patient group) and 45 did not receive azithromycin (control group). The patient and control groups were categorized according to age as under 12 years of age and over 12 years of age. The first presentation measured all the patient and control groups at basic QTc time intervals. The QTc intervals of all patients were then remeasured systemically at 1, 3, and 6 months. Age categories and QTc intervals that were calculated at each month in the patient and control groups were compared statistically., Results: A statistically significant difference was detected in the patient group between the initial QTc interval time and the electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in the first and third months after prophylaxis treatment (p < 0.001; p = 0.01). However, no statistically significant difference was detected in the sixth month (p > 0.05) in all groups. Almost all of the children's QTc intervals were within normal range and within the safety zone (under 0.44 s). No statistically significant difference was detected in the control group between the initial ECG and the QTc intervals measured at 1, 3, and 6 months., Conclusion: Short-term use of azithromycin prophylaxis in pediatric patients with mild CF slightly increased the QTc interval in the first and third months of follow-up. Nevertheless, all QTc interval changes fell within the safety zone. Notably, 1 month of follow-up treatment should be performed to check for any alteration in the QTc interval. If increased QTc interval duration is not detected in the first month, azithromycin prophylaxis can be safely prescribed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare there is no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To study pregnancy outcomes after single euploid embryo transfer (SEET) in patients who underwent prior uterine septum resection to those with uteri of normal contour, without Müllerian anomalies or uterine abnormalities including polyps or fibroids, and without a history of prior uterine surgeries., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Single academic affiliated center., Patients: 60 cycles of patients with prior hysteroscopic uterine septum resection who underwent an autologous SEET between 2012 and 2020 were used as the investigational cohort. A 3:1 ratio propensity score matched control cohort of 180 single euploid embryo transfer cycles from patients without a history of uterine septa were used as the control group., Interventions: No interventions administered., Measurements and Main Results: Pregnancy, clinical pregnancy loss, ongoing clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in patients with a history of uterine septum resection compared with matched patients without Müllerian anomalies or uterine surgeries. Patients with a prior uterine septum had significantly lower rates of chemical pregnancy (58.33% vs 77.2%, p = .004), implantation (41.67% vs 65.6%, p = .001), and live birth (33.33% vs 57.8%, p = .001) per transfer. No statistical difference in clinical pregnancy loss rates was found when comparing septum patients with controls (8.33% vs 7.8%, p = .89)., Conclusion: Patients with a history of hysteroscopic resection who undergo in vitro fertilization are more susceptible to suboptimal clinical outcomes compared with patients with normal uteri. Early pregnancy loss rates in patients with a uterine septum are higher than in those without; however, after resection, the rates are comparable. Patients born with septate uteri require assessment of surgical intervention prior to SEET, and to optimize their reproductive outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In esophageal cancer, histopathologic response following neoadjuvant therapy and transthoracic esophagectomy is a strong predictor of long-term survival. At the present, it is not known whether the initial tumor volume quantified by computed tomography (CT) correlates with the degree of pathologic regression., Methods: In a retrospective analysis of a consecutive patient cohort with esophageal adenocarcinoma, tumor volume in CT prior to chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy alone was quantified using manual segmentation. Primary tumor volume was correlated to the histomorphological regression based on vital residual tumor cells (VRTC) (Cologne regression scale, CRS: grade I, >50% VRTC; grade II, 10-50% VRTC; grade III, <10% VRTC and grade IV, complete response without VRTC)., Results: A total of 287 patients, 165 with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy according to the CROSS protocol and 122 with chemotherapy according to the FLOT regimen, were included. The initial tumor volume for patients following CROSS and FLOT therapy was measured (CROSS: median 24.8 ml, IQR 13.1-41.1 ml, FLOT: 23.4 ml, IQR 10.6-37.3 ml). All patients underwent an Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. 180 patients (62.7 %) were classified as minor (CRS I/II) and 107 patients (37.3 %) as major or complete responder (CRS III/IV). The median tumor volume was calculated as 24.2 ml (IQR 11.9-40.3 ml). Ordered logistic regression revealed no significant dependence of CRS from tumor volume (OR = 0.99, p-value = 0.99) irrespective of the type of multimodal treatment., Conclusion: The initial tumor volume on diagnostic CT does not aid to differentiate between potential histopathological responders and non-responders to neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer patients. The results emphasize the need to establish other biological markers of prediction., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest regarding our manuscript., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Purpose: This research evaluates the effectiveness of the Spot Vision Screener (SVS) before and after cycloplegia to detect amblyogenic refractive errors in children., Methods: Children ages 3 to 10 years old were screened by the SVS before and after cycloplegia. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, paired t-test, Bland-Altman plot and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve were evaluated by comparing the results of the SVS (v3.0.05) measurements with the results of the cycloplegic Topcon autorefractometer according to the 2021 guidelines of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus., Results: Both eyes of 211 patients aged 3 to 10 years old were included. Regarding the amblyopia risk factors, the noncycloplegic SVS had 65.7 % sensitivity, 94.9 % specificity, 81.2 % positive predictive value and 89.3 % negative predictive value. The SVS's sensitivity increased from 65.7 % to 81.9 % with cycloplegia compared to noncycloplegic SVS results. The sensitivity detection of hyperopia was improved from 4.2 % to 100 % after cycloplegia. Areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve for noncycloplegic SVS and cycloplegic SVS were 0.506 (95 % CI, 0.395 to 0.646, p = 0737) and 0.905 (95 % CI, 0.915 to 0.971, p < 0.001) for hyperopia, respectively. Using the +1.64 D revised cutoff criteria for hyperopia increased sensitivity from 4.2 % to 78 %., Conclusion: Noncycloplegic SVS measurements showed relatively high specificity in detecting amblyopia risk factors. The fact that noncycloplegic measurements have a very low sensitivity for hyperopia is an important weakness of the SVS, especially because hyperopia is the most frequently encountered refractive error in very young children. It should be noted that amblyogenic hyperopia may be overlooked by an SVS without cycloplegia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the following authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission. Erkan Bulut, Ozlem Dayi, Yusuf Çelik, Hatice Bulut, Emel Başar., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Research Question: Are basal FSH measurements, when elevated within its normal range, useful for assessing overall ovarian response and predicting unexpected poor or suboptimal ovarian response?, Design: Retrospective cohort study of ovarian stimulation cycles., Results: A total of 1058 ovarian stimulation cycles (891 first, 167 repeated) were included. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) values were categorized into four (0 to ≤0.6, >0.6 to ≤1.2, >1.2 to ≤3.0, >3.0 to ≤6.25 ng/ml) and basal FSH levels into four groups (<25th percentile: >3.5 to 6.1 IU/ml; 25-75th percentile: >6.1 to ≤8.5 IU/ml; >75-90th percentile: >8.5 to ≤9.9 IU/ml; >90th percentile: >9.9 to ≤12.5 IU/ml). Including only first cycles, a significant independent effect of basal FSH on retrieved cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) count was seen for all basal FSH categories (>90th, >75 to ≤90th, >25 to ≤75th compared with ≤25th percentile, P < 0.001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively), when adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), AMH, antral follicle count (AFC), starting dose and gonadotrophin type. Including only first cycles, patients aged 35 years or older with AFC of 5 or above and AMH 1.2 ng/ml or above, showed significantly higher odds of unexpected poor or suboptimal response if they had higher basal FSH values. Most prominently in the above 90th percentile group (OR 8.64, 95% CI 2.84 to 28.47 compared with <25th percentile) but lower categories (>25th to ≤75th percentile: OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.42 t 6.99; >75th to ≤90th percentile: OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.28 to 9.83 compared with ≤25th percentile) also showed a significant association after adjusting for age, AMH, BMI, AFC, dose, and gonadotrophin type. In patients with a second cycle, an increase in FSH levels in the second round compared with the first was associated with fewer retrieved COCs (estimate: -0.44, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.05, P = 0.027). This effect was adjusted for changes in age, FSH, AFC, starting dose, stimulation duration and change in medication type., Conclusions: Basal FSH is independently associated with overall ovarian response. Moreover, it is associated with unexpected poor or suboptimal response in patients, who would fulfill POSEIDON group 2 criteria after oocyte retrieval., (Copyright © 2023 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogels prepared with natural and synthetic polymers were found to be applicable for the development of resistance against some Gram positive and negative bacterial species. Numerous studies have shown that chitosan polymers can be advantageous to be used in medicine due to their high antibacterial activity. In this study, biocompatible yellow cantorone oil doped hydrogels (chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) based) with antimicrobial properties were synthesized. The structural, morphological, swelling and mechanical properties of these biocompatible hydrogels prepared by double crosslinking were investigated and characterized. FTIR spectroscopy showed the appearance of new imine and acetal bonds due to both covalent cross-linking. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that hydrogels showed weak cytotoxic effect. In the antimicrobial evaluation, it was determined that the hydrogel containing only chitosan showed better antimicrobial effect against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas auriginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis bacteria than the one containing St. John's Wort oil. The antibacterial effect of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan hydrogel was low. In our wound healing study, chitosan hydrogel loaded with yellow St. John's Wort oil was more effective in reducing wound size., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Research Question: Does the trigger to oocyte retrieval interval (TORI) affect oocyte maturation rates differently in progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist cycles?, Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. The interaction between the stimulation protocol and TORI was assessed in a linear mixed effects multivariable regression analysis with oocyte maturation rate as the dependent variable, and stimulation protocol (GnRH antagonist or PPOS), age (continuous), gonadotrophin type (FSH or human menopausal gonadotrophin), trigger (human chorionic gonadotrophin [HCG] or GnRH agonist), TORI (continuous) and days of stimulation (continuous) as the independent variables. Oocyte maturation rate was defined as number of metaphase II oocytes/number of cumulus-oocyte complexes retrieved. The maturation rate was calculated per cycle and treated as a continuous variable., Results: A total of 473 GnRH antagonist and 205 PPOS cycles (121 conventional PPOS and 84 flexible PPOS) were analysed. The median (quartiles) female age was 36 (32-40) years. Of these cycles, 493 were triggered with HCG and 185 with a GnRH agonist. The TORI ranged between 33.6 and 39.1 h, with a median (quartiles) of 36.2 (36-36.4) hours. Maturation rates were similar between fixed PPOS, flexible PPOS and antagonist cycles (median 80%, 75% and 75%, respectively, P = 0.15). There was no significant interaction between the stimulation protocols and TORI for oocyte maturation., Conclusions: PPOS cycles do not seem to require a longer TORI than GnRH antagonist cycles., (Copyright © 2023 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) is being increasingly used for ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology. Different progestins have been used with similar success. The available studies suggest a similar response to ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. Any differences in the duration of stimulation or gonadotrophin consumption are minor and clinically insignificant. PPOS has the advantage of oral administration and lower medication costs than GnRH analogues. As such it is clearly more cost-effective for fertility preservation and planned freeze-all cycles, but when fresh embryo transfer is intended PPOS can be less cost-effective depending on the local direct and indirect costs of the additional initial frozen embryo transfer cycle. Oocytes collected in PPOS cycles have similar developmental potential, including blastocyst euploidy rates. Frozen embryo transfer outcomes of PPOS and GnRH analogue cycles seem to be similar in terms of both ongoing pregnancy/live birth rates and obstetric and perinatal outcomes. While some studies have reported lower cumulative live birth rates with PPOS, they have methodological issues, including arbitrary definitions of the cumulative live birth rate. PPOS has been used in all patient types (except progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer patients) with consistent results and seems a patient friendly and cost-effective choice if a fresh embryo transfer is not intended., (Copyright © 2023 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Approximately one in every 1000 adults experiences cluster headache (CH). Although occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) appears encouraging in treatment for most patients with refractory CH, some patients do not reach adequate pain relief with ONS. A reason for failure of ONS might be anatomical variations and different surgical approaches. Therefore, an extensive literature analysis was performed, and cadaveric experimentation was combined with our clinical experience to provide a standardized proposal for ONS and obtain optimal management of patients with refractory CH., Materials and Methods: Data from 36 articles published between 1998 and 2023 were analyzed to retrieve information on the anatomical landmarks and surgical technique of ONS. For the cadaveric experimentation (N = 1), two electrodes were inserted from the region over the foramen magnum and projected toward the lower third of the mastoid process., Results: The existence of multiple approaches of ONS has been confirmed by the present analysis. Discrepancies have been found in the anatomical locations and corresponding landmarks of the greater and lesser occipital nerve. The surgical approaches differed in patient positioning, electrode placement, and imaging techniques, with an overall efficacy range of 35.7% to 90%., Conclusions: Reports on the surgical approach of ONS remain contradictory, hence emphasizing the need for standardization. Only if all implanting physicians perform the ONS surgery using a standardized protocol, can future data be combined and outcomes compared and analyzed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors reported no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Since the discovery of graphene, nano-sized two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , MoTe 2 , NbS 2 , NbSe 2 , WS 2 , WSe 2 , TaS 2 and TaSe 2 , which have been classified as next-generation nanomaterials resembling graphene (G) have complementary basic properties with those of graphene in terms of their practical applications. TMDs are attracting great attention due to their attractive physical, chemical and electronic properties. Despite being overshadowed by graphene in terms of frequency of use, TMDs have been used frequently in many areas in recent years instead of carbon-based materials such as graphene (G), graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanodiamonds (NDs). It is seen that the first and frequent uses of TMDs, which are classified as new generation materials, are in the fields of catalysis, electronic applications, hydrogen production processes and energy storage, but it has been used as an adsorbent in sample preparation techniques in recent years. Similar to graphene, layers of TMDs are held together by weak van der Waals interactions. The sandwiched layers of TMDs provide sufficient and effective interlayer spaces so that foreign molecules, ions and atoms can easily enter these spaces between the layers. Intermolecular interactions increase with the entry of different materials into these spaces, and thus, high activity, adsorption capacity and efficiency are obtained in adsorption-based analytical sample preparation methods. Although there are about 35 research articles using TMDs, which are classified as promising materials in analytical sample preparation techniques, no review studies have been found. This review, which was designed with this awareness, contains important informations on the properties of metal dichalcogenides, their production methods and their use in analytical sample preparation techniques., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited disease, leading to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) due to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Achieving LDL-C goals is extremely important for preventing the complications of this fatal disease. We evaluated the management of FH patients with ASCVD in cardiology practice., Methods: We analyzed patients with ASCVD from the nationwide EPHESUS registry, which was conducted in 40 cardiology outpatient clinics, and compared those with and without FH., Results: Of the 1482 consecutively enrolled patients with ASCVD, 618 (41.7%) had FH, among which 455 were categorized as 'Possible FH' and 163 as 'Probable or Definite FH'. Proposed LDL-C goals were not attained in more than 90% of the patients with FH. The proportion of those on statin therapy was 77% for possible and 91% for probable or definite FH, whereas 34.2 % and 59.4% were in use of high-intensity statins, respectively. None of the patients were on PCSK-9 inhibitors, and only 2 used ezetimibe. Adverse media coverage was the most common cause of statin discontinuation (32.5% in 'possible FH' and 45.7% in 'probable/definite FH'). The negative impact of media in the decision to stop lipid lowering therapy (LLT) was increasing with education level., Conclusions: In real life most of the FH patients with ASCVD are undertreated in cardiology practice regarding statin dosing and combined LLT. Drug discontinuation rates are notably high and are mostly media-related, and side effects very rarely cause cessation of LLT. Urgent measures are needed to increase the awareness of FH among healthcare providers and patients and to develop improved treatment strategies aimed at preventing the complications of FH., (Copyright © 2023 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a rare neurological condition characterized by abnormal calcification commonly in basal ganglia and multiple other brain regions, leading to neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and motor symptoms. SLC20A2, one of the known causative genes for PFBC, contains the highest number of variants directly associated with the disease. Here, we established an iPSC line (METUi002-A) from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a clinically diagnosed PFBC patient carrying a SLC20A2 mutation (c.687dupT) using the integration-free Sendai reprogramming. METUi002-A can serve as a valuable tool to generate cellular models to investigate the mechanistic effects of this mutation in PFBC., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: More frequent and/or longer hemodialysis (HD) has been associated with improvements in numerous clinical outcomes in patients on dialysis. Home HD (HHD), which allows more frequent and/or longer dialysis with lower cost and flexibility in treatment planning, is not widely used worldwide. Although, retrospective studies have indicated better survival with HHD, this issue remains controversial. In this multicenter study, we compared thrice-weekly extended HHD with in-center conventional HD (ICHD) in a large patient population with a long-term follow-up., Methods: We matched 349 patients starting HHD between 2010 and 2014 with 1047 concurrent patients on ICHD by using propensity scores. Patients were followed-up with from their respective baseline until September 30, 2018. The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes were technique survival; hospitalization; and changes in clinical, laboratory, and medication parameters., Results: The mean duration of dialysis session was 418 ± 54 minutes in HHD and 242 ± 10 minutes in patients on ICHD. All-cause mortality rate was 3.76 and 6.27 per 100 patient-years in the HHD and the ICHD groups, respectively. In the intention-to-treat analysis, HHD was associated with a 40% lower risk for all-cause mortality than ICHD (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45 to 0.80; P  < 0.001). In HHD, the 5-year technical survival was 86.5%. HHD treatment provided better phosphate and blood pressure (BP) control, improvements in nutrition and inflammation, and reduction in hospitalization days and medication requirement., Conclusion: These results indicate that extended HHD is associated with higher survival and better outcomes compared to ICHD., (© 2023 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: In 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended noninvasive prenatal testing be offered to all patients. However, current societal guidelines in the United States do not universally recommend a detailed first-trimester ultrasound., Objective: This study aimed to determine the additional findings identified through first-trimester ultrasound that would have otherwise been missed if noninvasive prenatal testing was used alone as a first-trimester screening method., Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 2158 pregnant patients and 2216 fetuses that were seen at a single medical center between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. All those included underwent both noninvasive prenatal testing and detailed first-trimester ultrasound between 11.0 and 13.6 weeks of gestation. Noninvasive prenatal testing results were categorized as low risk or high risk, and first-trimester ultrasound results were categorized as normal or abnormal. Abnormal first-trimester ultrasounds were further classified as first-trimester screening markers (increased nuchal translucency, absent nasal bone, tricuspid regurgitation, and ductus venosus reverse a-wave) or structural defects (the cranium, neck, heart, thorax, abdominal wall, stomach, kidneys, bladder, spine, and extremities). Descriptive statistics were used to report our findings., Results: Of 2216 fetuses, 65 (3.0%) had a high-risk noninvasive prenatal testing result, whereas 2151 (97.0%) had a low-risk noninvasive prenatal testing result. Of those with a low-risk noninvasive prenatal testing result, 2035 (94.6%) had a normal first-trimester ultrasound, whereas 116 (5.4%) had at least 1 abnormal finding on first-trimester ultrasound. The most common screening marker detected within the low-risk noninvasive prenatal testing group was absent nasal bone (52/2151 [2.4%]), followed by reversed a-wave of the ductus venosus (30/2151 [1.4%]). The most common structural defect in this group was cardiac abnormality (15/2151 [0.7%]). Overall, 181 fetuses were identified as having "abnormal screening" through either a high-risk noninvasive prenatal testing result (n=65) or through a low-risk noninvasive prenatal testing result but abnormal first-trimester ultrasound (n=116). In summary, the incorporation of first-trimester ultrasound screening identified 116 additional fetuses (5.4%) that required further follow-up and surveillance than noninvasive prenatal testing alone would have identified., Conclusion: Detailed first-trimester ultrasound identified more fetuses with a potential abnormality than noninvasive prenatal testing alone. Therefore, first-trimester ultrasound remains a valuable screening method that should be used in combination with noninvasive prenatal testing., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obesity is known to be a significant risk factor for many ocular diseases. In order to understand the mechanism of obesity-related ocular diseases, we examined the lamina cribrosa morphology, peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT), and macular choroidal thickness (MCT) in obese women using optical coherence tomography (OCT)., Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included the right eyes of 72 obese women and 63 healthy women classified based on body mass index (BMI). Each participant underwent a thorough ophthalmological examination and enhanced depth (EDI) OCT imaging, including measurements of PPCT from a total of 12 regions, MCT from a total of 7 regions, Bruch's membrane opening (BMO), lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT), lamina cribrosa depth (LCD), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT)., Results: The mean age and BMI of the obese group were 32.36±7.38 years and 35.11±4.39 kg/m², while those of the control group were 31.64±7.78 years and 20.88±1.72 kg/m² (p = 0.658, and p<0.001, respectively). PPCT N1000, PPCT N1500, PPCT S1500, and PPCT T1500 were statistically significantly thinner in the obese group than the control group (p values were 0.039, 0.012, 0.027, and 0.036, respectively). IOP and CCT were significantly higher in the obese group than the control group (p = 0.016, and p = 0.019, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of MCT, BMO, LCT, and LCD., Conclusion: We discovered thinning in the PPCT, which indicates microvascular abnormalities in the optic disc head. Microvascular alteration in the peripapillary region may be a potential initial event in the pathogenesis of several obesity-related ocular diseases, especially glaucoma., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Each author declared that there was no conflict of interest in this study., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To show dissection of sentinel lymph nodes., Design: A step-by-step demonstration of the technique with narration., Setting: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide. Sentinel lymph node biopsy with indocyanine green (ICG) has become more widely used and has been featured in recently published guidelines for EC [1]. Minimally invasive approaches with the sentinel lymph node concept (conventional laparoscopy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal surgeries or robotic) to EC staging have resulted in lower rates of peri- and postoperative complications than conventional staging procedures [2]., Interventions: No video article has been published in the literature about high pelvic, para-aortic sentinel lymph node dissection. An informed consent form was obtained from the patient. An institutional review board approval was not required. A 45-year-old female with gravidity 0, parity 0, and body mass index of 23.4 kg/m 2 presented with complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding (spotting). Increased endometrial thickness was detected on transvaginal ultrasound (10 mm) in the postmenstrual period. Endometrioid-type endometrial adenocancer with focal squamous differentiation International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade I was detected on endometrial biopsy. The patient had hepatitis B virus positivity and no other chronic disease. A laparotomic myomectomy had been performed in 2016. Laparoscopic high pelvic, low para-aortic sentinel lymph node dissection with ICG and hysterectomy (without uterine manipulator) + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed (Supplemental Video 1). The operation time for the procedure was 110 minutes and the estimated blood loss was <20 mL. No major complications occurred during or after the surgery. The patient stayed in the hospital for 1 day. The final pathology result showed an International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade I, endometrioid-type endometrial adenocancer with focal squamous differentiation, as a 1.5 × 1 cm tumorous mass invading less than one-half of the myometrium. Neither lymphovascular invasion nor sentinel lymph node metastasis was detected. A multicenter, prospective study showed that sentinel lymph node dissection with ICG in clinical stage 1 EC is feasible and has a high degree of diagnostic accuracy in detecting EC metastases. In that study, isolated para-aortic sentinel lymph node was detected in 3 of 340 patients (<1%) [2]. Another study reported the detection rate of isolated para-aortic sentinel lymph node to be 1.1% in patients with intermediate- and high-risk EC [3]., Conclusion: There are in some cases 2 distinct channels emanating from one side, and it is important to follow each and to acknowledge there may be more than one sentinel, one of which is lower in a typical location and one higher as in this case. This video article is the first video demonstration of bilateral isolated high pelvic, para-aortic sentinel lymph node dissection in EC., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Left atrial outpouching structures such as left atrial diverticula (LADs) and left-sided septal pouches (LSSPs) might be a source of cryptogenic stroke. This imaging study evaluates the association between pouch morphology, patient comorbidities and ischemic brain lesions (IBLs)., Methods: This is a retrospective single-center analysis of 195 patients who received both a cardiac CT and a cerebral MRI. LADs, LSSPs, and IBLs were retrospectively identified. Size measurements included pouch width, length and volume for LADs and circumference, area and volume for LSSPs. The association between LADs/LSSPs, IBLs and cardiovascular comorbidities was determined by univariate and bivariate regression analyses., Results: The prevalence and mean volume were 36.4% and 372 ± 569 mm 3 for LSSPs, and 40.5% and 415 ± 541 mm 3 for LADs. The IBL prevalence was 67.6% in the LSSP group and 48.1% in the LAD group. LSSPs had 2.9-fold increased hazards of IBLs (95%CI: 1.2-7.4, p = 0.024), and LADs showed no significant correlation with IBLs. Size measurements had no impact on IBLs. A co-existing LSSP was associated with an increased prevalence of IBLs in patients with coronary artery disease (HR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-1.9, p = 0.048), heart failure (HR: 3.7, 95%CI: 1.1-14.6, p = 0.032), arterial hypertension (HR: 1.9, 95%CI: 1.1-3.3, p = 0.017), and hyperlipidemia (HR: 2.2, 95%CI: 1.1-4.4, p = 0.018)., Conclusion: Co-existing LSSPs were associated with IBLs in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, however, pouch morphology did not correlate with the IBL rate. Upon confirmation by further studies, these findings might be considered in the treatment, risk stratification, and stroke prophylaxis of these patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest David Maintz has received speaker's honoraria from Philips Healthcare, unrelated to the presented work. Christoph Kabbasch serves as consultant for Acandis GmbH (Pforzheim, Germany) and as proctor for MicroVention Inc./Sequent Medical (Aliso Viejo, CA, USA), unrelated to the presented work. The other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There are many techniques used to treat lateral brow ptosis. This study compared two techniques that are used for lateral brow rejuvenation in terms of effectiveness and safety-namely, endoscope-assisted polypropylene mesh lift (EAML) and gliding brow lift (GBL)., Method: Eighty-six patients who underwent brow lift surgery between March 2018 and June 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Forty-four patients were operated on using the EAML technique, whereas 42 patients were operated on using the GBL technique. The measurement of defined distances in photographs was carried out using a software, and the Brow Positioning Grading Scale (BPGS) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were applied in the pre and postoperative periods., Results: The measurement results obtained in the postoperative period were better than those obtained in the preoperative period for both the techniques, whereas the results obtained at postoperative month 3 were found to be better than those obtained at month 12 (p < 0.05). The results were similar between the measurements at postoperative months 3 and 12 for both the techniques. The loss of brow height from postoperative months 3-12 was greater in the GBL group (p < 0.05). The postoperative scores on the BPGS were found to be better in both techniques than the preoperative scores (p < 0.05). The GAIS score at postoperative month 12 was found to be better in the EAML group. The two groups had similar rates of complications., Conclusion: The two techniques were found to have similar effectiveness and safety profiles for brow rejuvenation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation are key contributors to perinatal brain injuries. Capsaicin, an active ingredient of chili peppers, is a potent exogenous agonist for transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors. Although the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of capsaicin are well-documented, its effects on excitotoxic-induced neonatal brain injury and neuroinflammation have not previously been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of capsaicin on brain damage, brain mast cells, and inflammatory mediators in a model of ibotenate-induced excitotoxic brain injury in neonatal rats. P5 rat-pups were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle, 0.2-, 1-, and 5-mg/kg doses of capsaicin, or the NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine), 30 min before intracerebral injection of 10 μg ibotenate. The naive-control group received no substance administration. The rat pups were sacrificed one or five days after ibotenate injection. Levels of activin A and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in brain tissue were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Cortex and white matter thicknesses, white matter lesion size, and mast cells were evaluated in brain sections stained with cresyl-violet or toluidine-blue. Capsaicin improved ibotenate-induced white matter lesions and cerebral white and gray matter thicknesses in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, it suppressed the degranulation and increased number of brain mast cells induced by ibotenate. Capsaicin also reduced the excitotoxic-induced production of neuronal survival factor activin A and of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, and IL-6 in brain tissue. However, IL-10 levels were not altered by the treatments. MK-801, as a positive control, reversed all these ibotenate-induced changes, further confirming the success of the model. Our findings provide, for the first time, evidence for the therapeutic effects of capsaicin against excitotoxic-induced neonatal brain injury and brain mast cell-mediated neuroinflammation. Capsaicin may therefore be a promising candidate in the prevention and/or reduction of neonatal brain damage., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)