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This work presents the simple synthesis of a green and novel Palladium based magnetic nanocatalyst with effective catalytic properties and reusability. These heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by the anchoring of Pd(0) on the surface of ZrFe2O4 MNPs coated with a di-substituted adenine (Ade) compound as a green linker. The as-synthesized ZrFe2O4@SiO2@Ade-Pd MNPs were methodically characterized over different physicochemical measures like VSM, EDX, Map, SEM, TEM, ICP, and FT-IR analysis. The catalytic activity of ZrFe2O4@SiO2@Ade-Pd was carefully examined for the room-temperature Carbon–Carbon coupling reaction in acetonitrile as a solvent. It is worth noting that the synthesized solid catalyst can be easily recovered with a bar magnet and reused for five cycles without decrease of catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Larval source management (LSM) is re-emerging as a critical malaria intervention to address challenges associated with core vector control tools, such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and to accelerate progress towards elimination. Presently, LSM is not widely used in rural settings and is instead more commonly applied in urban and arid settings. A systematic entomological assessment was conducted in rural communities of southeastern Tanzania, where insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are widely used, to explore opportunities for deploying LSM to improve malaria control. Methods Aquatic habitat surveys were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to understand habitat usage by different mosquito vectors, covering five villages during the rainy season and seven villages during the dry season. Additionally, samples of adult mosquitoes were collected to assess the role of various Anopheles species in malaria transmission in the area, and to explore opportunities for species sanitation using targeted LSM. Results Adult mosquito surveys showed that in this area, the total entomological inoculation rates (EIR) for indoor collections were 20.1 and 6.5 infectious bites per person per year for outdoors. Anopheles funestus and Anopheles arabiensis were the only Anopheles vectors identified. Anopheles funestus was responsible for over 97.6% of the malaria transmission indoors and 95.4% outdoors. The concurrent larval surveys found that habitats with late instar An. arabiensis and An. funestus comprised only a small subset of 11.2%–16.5% of all water bodies in the rainy season, and 9.7%–15.2% in the dry season. In terms of size, these habitats covered 66.4%–68.2% of the total habitat areas in the wet season, reducing to 33.9%–40.6% in the dry season. From the rainy season to the dry season, the surface area of habitats occupied by An. arabiensis and An. funestus decreased by 92.0% to 97.5%, while the number of habitats occupied by An. arabiensis and An. funestus decreased by 38.0% to 57.3%. Anopheles funestus preferred large, permanent habitats with clear water and vegetation year-round, while An. arabiensis showed contrasting seasonal preferences, favouring sunlit still waters in the rainy season and larger, opaque habitats in the dry season. Conclusion These findings suggest that An. funestus, which is the dominant malaria vector in the area, mediating over 95% of malaria transmission, preferentially occupies only a small subset of uniquely identifiable aquatic habitats in both wet and dry seasons. This presents an opportunity to expand LSM in rural settings by carefully targeting An. funestus habitats, which might be effective and logistically feasible as a complementary approach alongside existing interventions. Further research should assess the impact of targeted LSM for species sanitation compared to blanket LSM.

We report an uncommon case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor/ Ewing's sarcoma of the lumbar and sacral nerve plexus in a 17years old boy who presented with an intense pain in the lower back radiating to legs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a soft tissue mass with thickening of lumbar and sacral spinal nerve roots (L5-S3 level), along with widening of the corresponding foramina. There was also posterior scalloping of L5/S1 vertebrae and invasion of the sacral bone. A Partial resection has been performed, and the ensuing histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of PNET/Ewing's sarcoma. MRI in conjunction with histopathology are the key to narrow down the differential diagnoses list. PNET of lumbosacral area remain scarce, and only few cases have been reported nowadays. Given to the aggressivity of these tumors, the prognosis is poor despite appropriate treatment.

Carotydinia, also called transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC) is a rare diagnostic entity related to an inflammation over the carotid bifurcation region. Despite the confusion about the definition of this term, neck pain remains the main symptom. Several articles revealed the relevance of imaging in the diagnosis of this disease. We report magnetic resonance and ultrasound images of a case with carotydinia, and also the elements that could eliminate differential diagnoses.

Twig-like or unfused middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly defined by the absence of the M1 segment. It can be found incidentally or can be revealed by cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. Although rare, neuroradiologists should be familiar with such findings in order to differentiate them from differential diagnoses such as Moyamoya disease and steno-occlusive disorders of the MCA.We report a case of a twig-like MCA revealed by intracranial bleeding in an 84-year-old woman.

In this paper, we first introduced the notion of $ \theta $-hyperbolic sine distance functions on a metric space and studied their properties. We investigated the existence and uniqueness of fixed points for some classes of single-valued mappings defined on a complete metric space and satisfying contractions involving the $ \theta $-hyperbolic sine distance function.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the leading cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) in men, with a histological prevalence that increases significantly with age. While extensive research on BPH has been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), limited information exists regarding its burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Understanding the prevalence, impact on quality of life, and management practices in these regions is crucial for developing effective healthcare policies and improving patient outcomes. Objectives: This scoping review aims to collate the existing literature on the burden of BPH in LMICs, focusing on prevalence rates, quality-of-life impact, and management practices. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview that informs healthcare strategies in resource-constrained settings. Methods: A scoping review methodology was employed, following the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. The review encompassed five stages: identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, and collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, was conducted using specific search terms related to BPH and LMICs. The inclusion criteria were studies conducted in LMICs (limited to SSA); reporting on the prevalence, impact, or management of BPH; and published in English. Results: The review included studies that reported the wide-ranging prevalence rates of BPH in LMICs, highlighting significant regional variations. The impact of BPH on quality of life was profound, with many men experiencing significant bother and reduced daily functioning due to LUTSs. The management practices in these regions often differed from those in HICs, with limited access to pharmacological treatments and surgical interventions. The economic burden of BPH in LMICs was also notable, with many patients facing financial barriers to accessing effective care. Conclusions: BPH poses a significant health and economic burden in LMICs, particularly in SSA. The prevalence of the condition is high, and its impact on quality of life is substantial. There is an urgent need for improved diagnostic and management strategies tailored to the resources available in these settings. Policymakers should consider integrating BPH management into broader healthcare initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and reduce the overall burden of the disease.

Craniocervical junction infections are considered a rare condition and can be associated with degradation of the odontoid ligaments and, the risk of a subsequent atlantoaxial subluxation or dislocation. Osteomyelitis at this level is often seen in immunocompromised patients with, intravenous drug use or infective endocarditis. Atlantoaxial subluxation associated with pharyngeal infection or its surrounding tissues is called Grisel's syndrome. We report the case of a 29-year-old man diagnosed with infectious cervico-occipital osteoarthritis complicated by atlantoaxial dislocation, abscesses located in the retropharyngeal space, and the prevertebral space as well as upper cervical epiduritis. Our purpose is to highlight the role of radiologists in diagnosing this rare yet deadly condition.

Abstract The t(14;19)(q32;q13) is a rare recurring translocation found in B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies, involving the Bcl-3 gene. This chromosomal translocation is often found in patients under the age of 50 and causes a more progressive disease. The Bcl-3 gene encodes a protein belonging to the IκB family of proteins, which tightly regulates NFκB signaling by acting as an activator or repressor of transcription. Previously, we developed a second-generation Bcl-3 inhibitor that could directly interfere with Bcl-3 signaling pathway, resulting in reduced melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a Bcl-3 inhibitor on B-cell lymphoma and leukemia cells. It was found that treatment of cells with this inhibitor caused a decrease in cell proliferation and cell survival. Furthermore, Bcl-3 inhibition in B-cell malignant cells resulted in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and functionality, as well as the increased expression of cleaved caspase 3, indicating that cell death occurs through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. This observation is further supported by reduced expression of cIAP1 protein 1 (cIAP1) upon treatment of cancer cells. Given the current lack of clinical advancements targeting Bcl-3 in oncology, this opens a novel avenue for the development and investigation of highly specific therapeutic interventions against B-cell malignancies.

Abstract Background Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is typically treated in infancy but often done late in many resource-limited countries, jeopardizing surgical outcomes. This study examined the early results of children undergoing primary complete TOF repair at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Tanzania, an emerging cardiac center in Eastern Africa. Methods A retrospective cohort study of children ≤ 18 years undergoing primary TOF complete repair between 2019 and 2021 was conducted. Patients with complex TOF and those with obvious genetic syndrome were excluded. Data on socio-demography, pre-and postoperative cardiac complications, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and in-hospital and 30-day mortality were analyzed. Logistic regressions were employed to find the factors for mortality, ICU, and hospital stays. Results The I02 children underwent primary TOF complete repair were majority male (65.7%; n = 67), with a median age of 3.0 years (IQR: 2–6), ranging from 3 months to 17 years.Only 20 patients (19.6%) were below one year of age. Almost all (90%; n = 92) were underweight, with a mean BMI of 14.6 + 3.1 kg/m2 Haematocrits were high, with a median of 48.7 (IQR: 37.4–59.0). The median oxygen saturation was 81% (IQR:72–93). Over a third of patients (38.2%; n = 39) needed Trans annular patch (TAP) during surgery. The median ICU stay was 72 h (IQR:48–120), with ICU duration exceeding three days for most patients. The median hospital stay was 8.5 days (IQR:7–11), with 70 patients (68.2%)experiencing an extended hospital stay of > 7 days. Bacterial sepsis was more common than surgical site infection (5.6%; n = 6 vs. 0.9%;n = 1). No patient needed re-operation for the period of follow up. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.9%, with no deaths occurring in children less than one year of age nor after discharge during the 30-day follow-up period. No statistically significant differences were observed in outcomes in relation to age, sex, levels of hematocrit and saturations, presence of medical illnesses, and placement of TAP. Conclusion TOF repairs in this African setting at a national cardiac referral hospital face challenges associated with patients’ older age and compromised nutritional status during the surgery. Perioperative mortality rates and morbidity for patients operated at an older age remain elevated. It’s important to address these issues to improve outcomes in these settings.

Abstract Background Spinal arachnoid web (AW) is a very rare entity, with a limited number of cases documented in the literature. Our manuscript represented a comprehensive general review, encompassing various aspects of the subject matter without focusing on any single element. The objective of this systematic review was to describe and analyze reported cases of surgically proven spinal arachnoid webs (AWs) to elucidate their imaging and clinical features, pathophysiology, and optimal management strategies, and to determine the total number of documented cases in the literature. Patterns and commonalities across reported cases were identified to provide a clearer framework for diagnosing and treating this elusive condition. A search of Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, respecting PRISMA guidelines, was conducted to include reported cases of surgically proven spinal AW. Our surgically proven case was included as well. Main body of the abstract The search yielded 196 cases of surgically confirmed spinal AWs in the literature. Adding our case, the total is 197. They are seen commonly in middle-aged patients, slightly more prevalent in males, and often without an evident cause. Sensation disturbances were the most frequently found clinical signs, followed by gait difficulties, weakness, and pain. Symptoms were predominantly located in the lower limbs and trunk. On imaging, an indentation to the rear aspect of the spinal cord was most frequently found at the mid-thorax followed by the upper thorax, often associated with a syrinx or a hyperintense T2 cord signal, usually extending rostrally. Excision was the most efficient treatment. Short conclusion The assessment found that AW cases are rare in the literature, indicating the disease's scarcity. It manifests insidiously, with the shortest latency reported being 2 weeks. Upper limb symptoms occur in a quarter of cases regardless of the AW's thoracic location, likely due to rostral syrinx and cerebrospinal fluid flow disturbances. Most pathology results revealed fibrous connective tissue, similar to findings in arachnoid cysts, suggesting that AW may result from a ruptured arachnoid cyst or its precursor. Using 3D SPACE STIR and CISS MRI sequences is recommended to visualize the arachnoid band directly.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem genetic disease with autosomal dominant inheritance, characterized by the development of benign tumors known as hamartomas that affect multiple organs. It is a condition with a wide phenotypic spectrum, and its clinical presentation varies over time within the same individual. Hence, the importance of early screening and rigorous monitoring of evolving clinical manifestations. Diagnosis can occur at any age. These tumors are generally benign, but their size and location can have a significant impact on the prognosis and, in some cases, even on life expectancy. Cardiac, neurological, and cutaneous manifestations are most common in childhood. The onset of early and severe epilepsy within the first year of life is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders that impact the quality of life for affected individuals and their families. We present a case of a 22-year-old female patient experiencing inaugural epileptic seizures in adulthood, with magnetic resonance imaging revealing subependymal hamartomas, cortical tubers and radial migration bands accompanied by polycystic kidney disease; the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex was established based on the association of these lesions, which constitute major and minor criteria.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiological syndrome that combines nonspecific neurological manifestations, sometimes severe (coma, status epilepticus), with typical brain imaging showing mostly bilateral, symmetrical abnormalities, predominantly affecting the white matter. Termed ''reversible,'' the norm is a return to the previous neurological state. However, this recovery is not always guaranteed, with potential neurological sequelae or even progression to death. PRES has multiple etiologies. The primary etiology associated with PRES is substance consumption. However, cases of PRES following cannabis consumption are rare. Here, we present the case of a 27-year-old man admitted for the management of a feverless altered state of consciousness, whose investigations eventually revealed PRES due to cannabis consumption.