Search

Objective: To assess the impact of photoacoustic imaging (PAI) on the assessment of ovarian/adnexal lesion(s) of different risk categories using the sonographic ovarian‐adnexal imaging‐reporting‐data system (O‐RADS) in women undergoing planned oophorectomy. Method: This prospective study enrolled women with ovarian/adnexal lesion(s) suggestive of malignancy referred for oophorectomy. Participants underwent clinical ultrasound (US) examination followed by coregistered US and PAI prior to oophorectomy. Each ovarian/adnexal lesion was graded by two radiologists using the US O‐RADS scale. PAI was used to compute relative total hemoglobin concentration (rHbT) and blood oxygenation saturation (%sO2) colormaps in the region of interest. Lesions were categorized by histopathology into malignant ovarian/adnexal lesion, malignant Fallopian tube only and several benign categories, in order to assess the impact of incorporating PAI in the assessment of risk of malignancy with O‐RADS. Malignant and benign histologic groups were compared with respect to rHbT and %sO2 and logistic regression models were developed based on tumor marker CA125 alone, US‐based O‐RADS alone, PAI‐based rHbT with %sO2, and the combination of CA125, O‐RADS, rHbT and %sO2. Areas under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curve (AUC) were used to compare the diagnostic performance of the models. Results: There were 93 lesions identified on imaging among 68 women (mean age, 52 (range, 21–79) years). Surgical pathology revealed 14 patients with malignant ovarian/adnexal lesion, two with malignant Fallopian tube only and 52 with benign findings. rHbT was significantly higher in malignant compared with benign lesions. %sO2 was lower in malignant lesions, but the difference was not statistically significant for all benign categories. Feature analysis revealed that rHbT, CA125, O‐RADS and %sO2 were the most important predictors of malignancy. Logistic regression models revealed an AUC of 0.789 (95% CI, 0.626–0.953) for CA125 alone, AUC of 0.857 (95% CI, 0.733–0.981) for O‐RADS only, AUC of 0.883 (95% CI, 0.760–1) for CA125 and O‐RADS and an AUC of 0.900 (95% CI, 0.815–0.985) for rHbT and %sO2 in the prediction of malignancy. A model utilizing all four predictors (CA125, O‐RADS, rHbT and %sO2) achieved superior performance, with an AUC of 0.970 (95% CI, 0.932–1), sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 82%. Conclusions: Incorporating the additional information provided by PAI‐derived rHbT and %sO2 improves significantly the performance of US‐based O‐RADS in the diagnosis of adnexal lesions. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism. Graphical abstract

Background:Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a well-established treatment modality for patients with vestibular problems.Hypothesis:Performing vestibular rehabilitation therapy in a closely monitored setting may result in a better outcome than a home exercise programme.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of patients undergoing vestibular rehabilitation therapy between June 2005 and November 2012 in a tertiary university hospital. The Dynamic Gait Index, the main outcome measure, was utilised before and after the rehabilitation programme. The magnitude of improvement for all patients was analysed, mainly to compare the home exercise group with the closely monitored therapy group.Results:Only 32 patients underwent the vestibular rehabilitation therapy programme. In all patients, there was significant improvement in the mean Dynamic Gait Index score (from 11.75 to 17.38; p < 0.01). Dynamic Gait Index improvement was significantly higher with closely monitored therapy (mean improvement of 7.83 vs 2.79; p < 0.01).Conclusion:The small sample size is a major limitation; nevertheless, closely monitored vestibular rehabilitation therapy resulted in improved performance status. More studies are needed to establish the efficiency of vestibular rehabilitation therapy and compare closely monitored therapy with tailored home exercise rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalia Khalife,1 Ali Khalil,1 Mohamad N Itani,2 Fatin Khalifeh,1 Sara Faour,1 Anastasia Salame,1 Ghina Ghazeeri11Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon; 2Department of Dentistry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonBackground: Periodontal disease can lead to bacteremia with release of cytokines, affecting implantation in women trying to conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF). A potential association between maternal periodontal disease and poor IVF outcomes has been described.Objective: The aim of the study is to assess whether pre-existing periodontal disease has any effect on IVF parameters.Method: A pilot study composed of 34 women was conducted at a tertiary care center. Prior to IVF, dental examination, IVF parameters were collected.Results: Thirty-four women participated in the study. The outcomes of 28 women (82.3%) were analyzed. Out of the 28 patients, 17 patients had a positive pregnancy test (60.7%) with a total of 13 live births (46.4%) and 4 pregnancy losses (14.3%). Plaque and bleeding index scores were both lower in patients who achieved pregnancy after IVF yet did not reach statistical significance (p=0.309 and 0.422). Comparison of mean values for the different infertility parameters showed no significant differences among women with different IVF outcomes (p>0.05). Different degrees of inflammation of the gingiva did not have an effect on the different clinical parameters and the live birth rates.Conclusion: The evidence provided by the present study does not support the hypothesis. Addressing the status of oral health before any infertility treatment remains to be elucidated.Keywords: periodontal disease, in vitro fertilization, infertility, inflammation, live birth