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Introduction: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality affecting 5-10% of pregnancies. PIH is more frequently associated with elevated TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone). Thyroid dysfunction plays an important role in the development of gestational hypertension. However, this relationship remains unclear. The study was performed to evaluate the thyroid status in pregnant women with PIH and normal pregnant women. Methodology: This was a hospital based observational case control study done in Dr M K Shah Medical College, Ahmedabad. Total 100 pregnant women were included, out of them 50 PIH women were included in the case study group and 50 normotensive healthy pregnant women were included in the control group. After taking written consent, thyroid profile (TSH, free T3 and free T4) were measured in all 100 subjects. Results: Women with PIH had higher TSH levels and lower free T3 and free T4 as compared to normotensive pregnant women. There was a significant association between hypothyroidism and PIH cases. There was a significant positive correlation between TSH and systolic BP (r=0.42) and diastolic BP (r=0.52). Conclusion: PIH women are at greater risk of decreased thyroid function. Therefore, PIH women should be monitored for thyroid levels regularly.

BACKGROUND: In gait analysis, calculation of the ankle joint centre is a difficult task. The conventional way to calculate the ankle joint centre is using the Vicon Plug-in-Gait model. The present study proposes a new model, which calculates the joint centre from two markers positioned over the medial and lateral malleoli (i.e. Two-marker-model). METHODS: In order to compare the proposed model with Plug-in-Gait model, gait data from healthy and patient subjects were captured using a motion capture system. The ankle joint centres were calculated by the two models. A test-retest experiment was carried out to check reliability and repeatability for Two-marker-model. FINDINGS: Two ankle joint centres produced by two models were significantly different. The distances between two ankle joint centres were approximately 16.8 (mm), and the differences in the posterior-anterior, medial-lateral and inferior-superior directions were approximately 6.3, 7.7 and 8.2 (mm). Further error analysis highlighted that the probability of producing errors in Two-marker-model is lower than that in Plug-in-Gait model due to the Two-marker-model's simple and reliable marker positioning. The reliability and repeatability coefficients for the new model were greater than 0.9. INTERPRETATION: In principle, the Plug-in-Gait model is more likely to produce errors than the Two-marker-model, because the former employs multiple markers from the pelvis to calf to define the ankle joint centre with marker positions being very user-dependent. The results suggest that the Two-marker-model can be considered an alternative to Plug-in-Gait model for calculating ankle joint centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of bone destruction in osteomyelitis, bacterial arthritis and orthopaedic implant failure. We have previously shown that gentle saline extraction of S. aureus has revealed the presence of an extremely potent stimulator of osteoclast activation in both the murine calvarial bone resorption assay and the isolated chick osteoclast resorption assay. In order to investigate the mechanism of action of this surface-associated material (SAM), we have investigated its capacity to recruit osteoclasts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Emerging data suggest a spectrum of pulmonary complications from COVID-19, ranging from dyspnea to difficult ventilator weaning and fibrotic lung damage. Prolonged hospitalization is known to significantly affect activity levels, impair muscle strength and reduce cardiopulmonary endurance., Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and to explore effects on functional capacity, physical performance, fatigue levels, and functional status., Design: A prospective feasibility study., Setting: Inpatient unit of a tertiary care hospital., Participants: Twenty-five hospitalized patients diagnosed with post-COVID-19 fibrosis referred for PR., Intervention: Individualized PR intervention including breathing exercises, positioning, strengthening, functional training, and ambulation twice a day for 6 days a week., Outcome Measures: One-minute sit-to-stand test (STST), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS)., Results: Twenty-five participants (19 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 54.2 ± 13.4 years were enrolled. Sixteen completed the two-point assessment after undergoing in-patient PR of mean duration 14.8 ± 9 days. PR led to a significant improvement in all functional outcomes that is, STST (from 7.1 ± 4.3 repetitions to 14.2 ± 2.1 repetitions, SPPB (from 5 ± 2.8 to 9.4 ± 1.5), FAS (from 33.3 ± 10.8 to 25.8 ± 4.7) at the p ≤ .001, and PCFS (from 3.6 ± 0.9 to 2.9 ± 1.2, p ≤ .05)., Conclusion: Early initiation of PR for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 fibrosis was safe, well tolerated, and feasible and may improve functional status., (© 2023 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides that are naturally produced by many bacteria. They hold great potential in the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens. Engineered live biotherapeutic products (eLBPs) that secrete bacteriocins can be created to deliver targeted bacteriocin production. Here we develop a modular bacteriocin secretion platform that can be used to express and secrete multiple bacteriocins from non-pathogenic Escherichia coli host strains. As a proof of concept we create Enterocin A (EntA) and Enterocin B (EntB) secreting strains that show strong antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in vitro, and characterise this activity in both solid culture and liquid co-culture. We then develop a Lotka-Volterra model that can be used to capture the interactions of these competitor strains. We show that simultaneous exposure to EntA and EntB can delay Enterococcus growth. Our system has the potential to be used as an eLBP to secrete additional bacteriocins for the targeted killing of pathogenic bacteria., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

There remains a large need for a greater understanding of the metastatic process within the prostate cancer field. Our research aims to understand the adaptive - ergo potentially metastatic - responses of cancer to changing microenvironments. Emerging evidence has implicated a role of the Polyaneuploid Cancer Cell (PACC) state in metastasis, positing the PACC state as capable of conferring metastatic competency. Mounting in vitro evidence supports increased metastatic potential of cells in the PACC state. Additionally, our recent retrospective study of prostate cancer patients revealed that PACC presence in the prostate at the time of radical prostatectomy was predictive of future metastatic progression. To test for a causative relationship between PACC state biology and metastasis, we leveraged a novel method designed for flow-cytometric detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in subcutaneous, caudal artery, and intracardiac mouse models of metastasis. This approach provides both quantitative and qualitative information about the number and PACC-status of recovered CTCs and DTCs. Collating data from all models, we found that 74% of recovered CTCs and DTCs were in the PACC state. In vivo colonization assays proved PACC populations can regain proliferative capacity at metastatic sites following dormancy. Additional direct and indirect mechanistic in vitro analyses revealed a PACC-specific partial Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal-Transition phenotype and a pro-metastatic secretory profile, together providing preliminary evidence that PACCs are mechanistically linked to metastasis., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: M.M.M. has no disclosures. L.T.A.R. has no disclosures. M.J.S has no disclosures. S.P.N. has no disclosures. ruA. J. Z. has no disclosures. P.K. discloses ownership in Epic Sciences. J.H discloses he is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board of Epic Sciences. K.J.P. discloses that he is a consultant to Cue Biopharma, Inc., an equity holder in PEEL therapeutics, and a founder and equity holder in Keystone Biopharma, Inc. and Kreftect, Inc. S.R.A. discloses that she is an equity holder in Keystone Biopharma, Inc.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Introduction: Health professions education is challenging in terms of developing ways to construct and assess the amalgamation of knowledge, skills and attitudes that result in novice graduates to be self-aware and confident to practice without supervision. Currently, the Physiotherapy internship program in India does not have a comprehensive competency-based framework. With the current batch of interns facing the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic during their undergraduate training, it is a matter of concern to ensure they have developed the required competencies to handle patients independently., Methods: This is a single-group interventional study using convenience sampling. A competency framework inclusive of a comprehensive assessment and training module was developed and introduced to 27 physiotherapy interns. Every intern underwent 10 training sessions along with 8 competency assessments during 6 months of internship training. A pre-post indigenous questionnaire was used to assess their self-perceived competency along with feedback questionnaire taken at the end of the module., Results: Implementation of the competency framework revealed a statistically significant difference in the self-perceived competency (pre=84.36±10.98, post=98.55±8.74, p≤0.000). Having uniformity in assessment techniques among the faculty, being exposed to challenging cases during assessment, having training module at the beginning of the internship were some of the suggestions given by the participants., Conclusion: Competency based education offers to be an effective technique in health professional program. Incorporating a competency-based training would help the learners to understand their strengths and weaknesses that would go a long way to develop competent health-care professionals. Developing such framework in curriculum will emphasize standardization of learning outcomes, thereby resulting in quality education, further enhancing patient care, and improving the health outcomes worldwide., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism.)

The clinical management of wounds is known to be a significant challenge: not only does the dressing need to ensure and provide the appropriate barrier and healing characteristics, but consideration of patient compliance concerning comfort, functionality, and practicality also needs to be included. The poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -4-hydroxubutyrate) (P(3HB- co -4HB)) copolymer, isolated from Cupriavidus malaysiensis USM1020 ( C. malaysiensis USM1020), was produced in the presence of excess carbon sources (1,4-butanediol and 1,6-hexanediol) using either a shake flask cultivation process or a bioreactor fermentation system. P(3HB- co -4HB) is widely known to be biodegradable and highly biocompatible and contains a tuneable 4HB monomer molar fraction, which is known to affect the final physicochemical properties of the intracellular copolymer. In this paper, we describe not only the fabrication of the polymeric gel but also its optimised profiling using a range of physical and mechanical techniques, i.e., SEM, FTIR, DMA, DSC, and WCA. The further enhancement of the gel through additional functionalisation with sol-gel-derived bioactive glass and liquid-exfoliated graphene was also investigated. The biocompatibility and biological characterisation of the substrates was assessed using murine osteoblasts (MC3T3), human primary dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), human fibroblast (BJ) cells, and standard cell culture assays (i.e., metabolic activity, LDH release, and live/dead staining). In short, P(3HB- co -4HB) was successfully isolated from the bacteria, with the defined physico-chemical profiles dependent on the culture substrate and culturing platform used. The additional enhancement of the copolymer with bioactive glass and/or graphene was also demonstrated by varying the combination loading of the materials, i.e., graphene resulted in an increase in tensile strength (~11 MPa) and the wettability increased following the incorporation of bioactive glass and 0.01 wt% graphene (WCA ~46.3°). No detrimental effects in terms of biocompatibility were noticed during the 7 days of culture in the primary and established cell lines. This study demonstrates the importance of optimising each of the individual components within the biocomposite and their relationship concerning the fine-tuning of the material's properties, thus targeting and impacting the endpoint application.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Residential aged-care facilities in Australia emerged as the high-risk setting the COVID-19 outbreaks due to community transmission. The vulnerable aged-care residents of these facilities suffered due to low hospital transfers and high mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to monitor and report the burden of COVID-19 in residential aged-care facilities across Australia and the impact of hospital transfer policies on resident hospitalisation during the first year of the pandemic., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by collecting data from weekly aged-care outbreak reports published by open sources and official government sources between 1st March and 20th November 2020. A comprehensive line list of outbreaks was created using open-source data. The line list included the name of the facility, location, COVID-19 cases among residents, & staff, resident hospitalisations, mode of transmission, number of resident deaths, and state policies involving resident hospitalisation. We also searched the websites of these facilities to collect data on their COVID-19 policies for the residents, staff, and visitors. Statistical analyses were performed on the data obtained., Results: 126 aged-care COVID-19 outbreaks were identified in Australia during the study period. The incidence rate of COVID-19 infections among aged-care residents in Australia was (1118.5 per 100,000 resident population) which is 10 times higher than the general population (107.6 per 100,000 population). The hospitalisation rate for aged-care residents in Australia was 0.93 per 100,000 population. The hospitalisation rate of aged-care residents in Victoria was 3.14 per 100,000 population despite having the highest COVID-19 cases. Excluding South Australia, all states followed ad-hoc case-by-case hospital transfer policies for aged-care residents., Conclusion: This study documented a higher risk of COVID-19 infection for aged-care residents and workers but found low hospitalisation rates among residents across Australia. The hospitalisation rates in Victoria were higher than the national average but low when considering the COVID-19 infection rates in the state. The hospitalisation rates could have been impacted due to the state hospital transfer policies at that time. Immediate transfer of infected residents to hospitals may improve their survival and reduce the risk of infection to the other residents, as healthcare settings have more advanced infection control measures and are well-equipped with trained staff and resources., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the gold standard for the evaluation of axilla in clinically node-negative early breast cancers. There is limited data on the role and efficacy of the same in the post lumpectomy scenario. This prospective interventional study was conducted over 1 year on 30 post lumpectomy pT1/2 cN0 patients. SLNB was performed by preoperative lymphoscintigram using technetium-labeled human serum albumin followed by intraoperative blue dye injection. Sentinel nodes were identified based on blue dye uptake and gamma probe and sent for intra operative frozen section. Completion axillary nodal dissection was performed in all cases. The primary end point was sentinel node identification rate and accuracy of nodal frozen section. Sentinel node identification rate was 86.7% ( n  = 26/30) for scintigraphy alone and 96.7% ( n  = 29/30) using combined method. Average sentinel nodal yield/patient was 3.6 (range 0-7). Maximum yield was seen for hot and blue nodes (1.86). Sensitivity ( n  = 9/9) and specificity ( n  = 19/19) of frozen section were 100% with a false negative rate of 0% (0/19). Demographic factors such as age, body mass index, laterality, quadrant, biology, grade, and pathological T stage had no impact on the identification rate. Sentinel lymph node using dual tracer has a high identification rate and a low false negative rate post lumpectomy. Age, body mass index, laterality, quadrant, grade, biology, and pathological T size had no impact on the identification rate., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2020.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Clinicopathologic classification of endometrial cancer imperfectly reflects the tumor biology. Pathologic categorization - especially in high-grade tumors - results in an imprecise estimation of the risk of disease, recurrence, and death. Molecular subtyping is emerging as the standard of care in diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancers. Molecular markers are important prognostic factors in tumor dissemination and early recurrence of endometrial cancers. TP53 mutation is an important prognostic factor for both serous and endometrioid cancers. The study aims to compare the clinical profile and overall survival of endometrial cancers with and without p53 mutation. Sixty-three patients who underwent surgical staging for carcinoma endometrium were included in the study.TP53 mutation status was determined based on p53 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a p53 wild or p53 mutant type. Data were analyzed for the clinical profile, p53 mutation status on IHC, histological pattern, tumor grade, stage of the disease, lymph node spread, recurrence pattern, treatment received, 2-year disease-free survival, and overall survival. Recurrence was noted in 12.7% patients after 2-year follow-up, of which 75% patients had p53 mutation. Significant association was seen between p53 expression and high-grade tumors, stage, cervical involvement, and adnexal involvement. The 2-year overall survival of the p53 wild type was 97.2% and the p53 mutant type was 91.7%. The 2-year disease-free survival for the p53 wild type was 94.3% and the disease-free survival of the p53 mutant variety was 83.5%. The 2-year disease-free survival for endometrioid carcinoma with p53 wild type was 100% and p53 mutant variety was 86.2% ( p value 0.033). About 15.9% (10) patients were reassigned to the high-risk group needing chemotherapy and radiation according to the ESGO ESTRO 2021 consensus classification, due to their p53 mutation status. IHC to assess somatic p53 mutation may be done in endometrial biopsies irrespective of their histology. This may help to identify that the aggressive tumors thereby help in tailoring surgery, planning adjuvant treatment, and follow-up., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2022.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: By studying the odds of developing idiopathic subglottic stenosis in the isolated and genetically unique Hutterite population, this study sought to strengthen the hypothesis that an underlying genetic predisposition may exist for its development., Methods: A retrospective chart review examined the medical records of all adult patients treated for idiopathic subglottic stenosis in Saskatchewan between 2008 and 2018. Cases were segregated into Hutterite and non-Hutterite., Results: Four out of 36 cases of idiopathic subglottic stenosis occurred among Hutterites. The odds of a Hutterite developing idiopathic subglottic stenosis are 21.89 times higher than for non-Hutterites. Positive family history was only observed in the Hutterite population., Conclusion: The study strengthens the hypothesis that genetics may play a role in the aetiology of idiopathic subglottic stenosis by demonstrating that the genetically and socially unique Hutterites are more likely to develop this rare disease. This study is the first to demonstrate that a specific subpopulation is at a higher risk for developing idiopathic subglottic stenosis.

Long-term liver outcome in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-negative kidney recipients who acquired HCV infection from viremic donors is of intense interest in the transplant community. We evaluated the incidence of fibrosis in liver biopsy specimens of recipients who were transplanted with HCV-infected grafts., Methods: Patients were evaluated in the hepatology clinic, and 29 patients agreed to undergo liver biopsy. The liver histology was scored by the meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis scoring system and was assessed by hepatopathologists. The fibrosis score was compared between patients who initiated direct-acting antiviral (DAA) within 6 wk (n = 6) and after 6 wk (n = 29)., Results: Eighty-nine aviremic patients were transplanted with HCV-infected grafts between March 2018 and October 2019. All patients developed HCV infection and were treated with DAA treatment after kidney transplantation (median, 70 d; interquartile range, 55-85 d). All patients (n = 89) achieved sustained virologic response with DAA. The median follow-up time from kidney transplant to liver biopsy was 28 mo (interquartile range, 26-30 mo). Twenty-five patients (86%) had F0, and 4 patients (14%) had F1 fibrosis. No patient had advanced fibrosis (F3-F4). Grade 1 inflammation was present in 6 (21%) patients, whereas 26 (90%) patients had iron accumulation in the hepatocytes and reticuloendothelial cells. There was no difference in the fibrosis score between patients who received treatment within 6 wk versus after 6 wk ( P = 0.55)., Conclusions: Kidney transplantation of HCV-infected graft to HCV-negative recipients is safe and has no long-term liver-related complications with successful eradication of HCV. In our cohort, delayed treatment did not affect sustained virologic response or liver histology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no funding or conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Transplantation Direct. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Dental education is considered a challenging and taxing program as on successful completion one is required to attain unique and diverse competencies. There is an established perception that students do not enjoy their experiences in the dental institution and they always demand for certain amendments. Therefore, a dental education perceptions and metacognition assessment tool (DEPMAT) was developed for Indian undergraduate and postgraduate dental students for assessing their learning in Deemed University versus Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in Pune, Maharashtra., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of four dental colleges of two types of universities in Pune, India, using a 31-item DEPMAT based on Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure and metacognition awareness inventory using five subscales. Psychometric properties were also tested for this new tool. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software., Results: Of 512 participants, 498 (96.88%) students had duly returned the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient value for reliability was found to be 0.87 which indicated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability was found to be k w = 0.76, which indicated substantial agreement. Significant difference was found among undergraduates in domains regarding their perception toward academics, infrastructure and learning environment, and health and stress., Conclusion: This study suggested that the general perception toward learning among final year postgraduate students was positive in both the universities. However, the perception of final year undergraduates toward learning was negative and students have suggested certain amendments in both the universities. This study also suggested the new tool was effective in assessing the attitude of practice of both undergraduate and postgraduate students., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Aim of the Study: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy encompasses systolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), and conduction abnormalities. This study aims to investigate the impact of LVDD on mortality in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT)., Material and Methods: A retrospective review of 400 consecutive patients who underwent LT at our institution was performed. Patient demographics, clinical data, and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) were reviewed to identify LVDD. The total cohort consisted of 266 patients after excluding patients with insufficient TTE data ( n = 56), patients with indeterminate LVDD ( n = 71), and patients with ejection fraction (EF) < 55% ( n = 7). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Cox regressions with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were applied to predict 5-year all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to understand the impact of LVDD on 5-year all-cause mortality., Results: Patients with LVDD have higher incidence of hyperlipidemia (36% vs. 17%, p = 0.003), hypertension (50% vs. 27%, p = 0.001) and diabetes (52% vs. 30%, p = 0.003). In addition, patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were more likely to have LVDD (48% vs. 24%, p = 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with age, body mass index (BMI), NASH, alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis C, history of diabetes, history of hyperlipidemia, and history of hypertension. In this multivariate logistic regression analysis, NASH (odds ratio [OR] = 4.43 [1.10-17.8], p = 0.04), and history of hypertension (OR = 2.33 [1.16-4.66], p = 0.01) were independent predictors of LVDD. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that the presence of LVDD had no impact on 5-year all-cause mortality (log-rank test nonsignificant)., Conclusions: This study indicates that LVDD in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients does not affect immediate post-transplant outcomes or 5-year all-cause mortality., (Copyright © 2021 Clinical and Experimental Hepatology.)

Background: The virologic and histologic outcomes of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver graft into an HCV-negative recipient are not well understood. We aimed to evaluate the sustained virologic response (SVR) rate and the liver histology at 1 year post-Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with an HCV-infected graft., Methods: A total of 33 patients received the HCV antibody (Ab)+/nucleic acid amplification test (NAT)+ graft. Of these patients, 23 were HCV-negative recipients and 10 were HCV-positive recipients. The 1-year biopsy data were available for 24 patients: 15 patients in HCV-negative group who received an HCV Ab+/NAT+graft and 9 patients in HCV-positive group who received an HCV Ab+/NAT+ graft. Patients with (+) HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) were started on direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment approximately 107 days after OLT using either a Glecaprevir-Pibrentasvir or Sofosbuvir-Velpatasvir or Sofosbuvir-Ledipasvir., Results: All patients (n = 33) were treated with DAA and achieved SVR. The 1-year post-OLT liver biopsies were available in 24 patients: 9 patients had F1 and F2 fibrosis and 17 patients had minimal to moderate inflammation. There was no statistical difference in fibrosis and inflammation between the HCV-negative vs. HCV-positive recipients. All patients who received the NAT+ graft developed viremia and subsequently achieved SVR with treatment., Conclusion: At 1 year protocol liver biopsy, patients had inflammation consistent with viral hepatitis despite the successful eradication of HCV., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We explore a series of Zn and N codoped TiO 2 thin films grown using chemical vapor deposition. Films were prepared with various concentrations of Zn (0.4-2.9 at. % Zn vs Ti), and their impact on superoxide formation, photocatalytic activity, and bactericidal properties were determined. Superoxide (O 2 •- ) formation was assessed using a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2 H -tetrazolium sodium salt (XTT) as an indicator, photocatalytic activity was determined from the degradation of stearic acid under UVA light, and bactericidal activity was assessed using a Gram-negative bacterium E. coli under both UVA and fluorescent light (similar to what is found in a clinical environment). The 0.4% Zn,N:TiO 2 thin film demonstrated the highest formal quantum efficiency in degrading stearic acid (3.3 × 10 -5 molecules·photon -1 ), while the 1.0% Zn,N:TiO 2 film showed the highest bactericidal activity under both UVA and fluorescent light conditions (>3 log kill). The enhanced efficiency of the films was correlated with increased charge carrier lifetime, supported by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) measurements.

Biofilms which are self-organized communities can contaminate various infrastructural systems. Preventing bacterial adhesion on surfaces is more desirable than cleaning or disinfection of bacteria-contaminated surfaces. In this study, a 24 h bacterial adhesion test showed that "slippery surfaces" had increased resistance to bacterial contamination compared to polydimethylsiloxane and superhydrophobic surfaces. However, it did not completely inhibit bacterial attachment, indicating that it only retards surface contamination by bacteria. Hence, a strategy of killing bacteria with minimal bacterial adhesion was developed. A crystal violet-impregnated slippery (CVIS) surface with bactericidal and slippery features was produced through a simple dipping process. The CVIS surface had a very smooth and lubricated surface that was highly repellent to water and blood contamination. Bactericidal tests against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed that the CVIS surface exhibited bactericidal activity in dark and also showed significantly enhanced bactericidal activity (>3 log reduction in bacteria number) in white light.

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and best research evidence into the decision-making process for patient care. Identification of barriers that refutes the use of EBP in day-to-day practice will go a long way in designing programs for inculcating EBP among physiotherapy students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify perceived barriers to EBP among physiotherapy students., Methods: A convenience sample of 429 participants were recruited from physiotherapy colleges affiliated to a State Health Science University as per the inclusion criteria. Participants were asked to fill the self-reported questionnaire that was developed by researchers based on possible items from previously developed surveys. Data collected were tabulated and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Response frequencies for the survey questions were determined and displayed in graphical formats., Results: The study comprised of 182 final year students, 112 interns, and 135 postgraduate students having a mean age of 21.29 (0.85), 22.30 (0.77), and 24.34 (1.45) years, respectively. Majority of participants reported insufficient time, poor understanding of statistical analysis, lack of research skills, lack of formal training, lack of access to paid article, poor ability to critically appraise articles, and inadequate infrastructure facilities as barriers towards practicing EBP., Conclusion: Physiotherapy students perceived various organizational, training-related, and personal barriers toward the use of EBP. Effective education could prove to be the most powerful tool to overcome these barriers toward the use of EBP., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Background: Alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) is a rapidly growing indication for liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to examine various clinical, demographic, and behavioral factors to predict post-LT alcohol relapse and graft survival., Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 241 LT recipients with AALD as either a primary or secondary indication for LT (2006-2015)., Results: Patients with <6 months of alcohol abstinence had significantly increased cumulative incidence for alcohol relapse compared to those with >6 months of abstinence (P = .0041, Log-Rank). We identified four variables to predict harmful alcohol relapse post-LT: age at LT, non-alcohol-related criminal history, pre-LT abstinence period (Ref >6 months of alcohol abstinence), and drinks per day (Ref <10 drinks/day). Area under the curve (AUC) for the final model was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91). Our multivariable model was evaluated with internal cross-validation; random sampling of the study subjects 100 times yielded a median C statistic of 75 (±SD 0.097) and accuracy of 91 (±SD 0.026). The four-variable model served to form the harmful alcohol use post-LT (HALT) score. Graft survival remained significantly lower in patients with <6 months of pre-LT alcohol abstinence and those with blue-collar jobs., Conclusion: The HALT score identifies LT candidates with AALD at significant risk for alcohol relapse, potentially guiding transplant centers for pre- and post-LT interventions for improved patient outcomes., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Operating room (OR) efficiency is related to minutes spared from surgical time and has been linked to the make up of surgical teams and operating room workplace. The research on the efficiency of surgical nursing staff members is scant. The current study evaluates the effect of ENT trained OR resource nurses on the efficiency of operating time during ENT procedures., Methods: Five hundred seventy-three ENT surgery cases from 4 surgeons were retrospectively reviewed. Two hundred forty-two cases had ENT OR nursing staff and 331 cases had non-ENT OR nursing staff. Requested operative times (ROT) and true operative times (TOT) were analyzed. The difference between the TOT and ROT was used to measure operating time efficiency., Results: Cases with ROT < 30 min (M = -1.19, SD = 5.01) required 3.34 min less than planned for when an ENT nurse was present compared to those with non-ENT nursing staff which required on average 2.15 min (M = 2.15, SD = 5.68) longer than ROT. Furthermore, cases with ROT > 30 min (M = -4.32, SD = 10.85) required 10.85 min less than planned for when an ENT nurse was present. Conversely with non-ENT nursing staff cases with a ROT > 30 min required on average 6.53 min (M = 6.53, SD = 11.85) longer than ROT., Conclusion: ENT resource nurses were shown to improve OR efficiency in cases less than 30 min and greater than 30 min. Cases that were greater than 30 min showed the largest increase in efficiency. Specialized ENT nursing staff improved efficiency during common ENT surgeries.