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Objective: This study evaluated the association between serum albumin levels and preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in geriatric hip fractures. Methods: Older adult patients with hip fractures were screened between January 2015 and September 2019. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected. Multivariate binary logistic regression and generalized additive model were used to identify the linear and nonlinear association between albumin levels and preoperative DVT. Analyses were performed using EmpowerStats and the R software. Results: A total of 1819 patients were included in this study. The average age was 79.37 ± 6.88 years. There were 550 males and 1269 females. The preoperative albumin was 38.19 ± 4.07 g/L. There were 580 (31.89%) preoperative DVTs. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that albumin level was associated with preoperative DVT (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91–0.97, P = 0.0002) after adjusting for confounding factors. The fully adjusted model showed a DVT risk decrease of 6% when albumin concentration increased by one g/L after controlling for confounding factors. In addition, the trend test and propensity score matching also showed a stable linear correlation between albumin level and preoperative DVT. Conclusion: Serum albumin is associated with preoperative DVT in geriatric patients with hip fractures, and it could be considered a predictor for the risk of DVT. Registration ID: ChiCTR2200057323. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the content and quality of YouTube videos of zygomatic implants. Methods: According to Google Trends (2021), "zygomatic implant" was the most preferred keyword related to the topic. Therefore, in this study "zygomatic implant" was used as a keyword for the video search. Demographic characteristics such as the number of views, likes/dislikes, comments, video duration, number of days after upload, uploaders, and target audiences of the videos were evaluated. To evaluate the accuracy and content quality of videos (available from YouTube), the video information and quality index (VIQI) and global quality scale (GQS) were used. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi‐square test, Fisher's exact chi‐square test, Yates continuity correction, and Spearman correlation analysis (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 151 videos were searched; 90 met all inclusion criteria. According to the video content score, 78.9% of the videos were identified as low content, 20% as moderate, and 1.1% as high content. There was no statistical difference between the groups in video demographic characteristics (p > 0.001). Conversely, information flow, accuracy of information, video quality and precision, and total VIQI scores were statistically different between the groups. The moderate‐content group had a higher GQS score than the low‐content group (p < 0.001). The videos were mainly uploaded (40%) from hospitals and universities. Most videos were targeted toward professionals (46.75%). Low‐content videos had higher ratings than the moderate‐ and high‐content videos. Conclusions: Most YouTube videos on zygomatic implants showed low‐content quality. This implies that YouTube is not a reliable source of information on zygomatic implants. Dentists, prosthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be aware of the content of video‐sharing platforms and take responsibility for enriching video content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Glaucoma is a chronic disease that requires lifelong treatment, whereas, discomfort caused by frequent medication may affect the quality of life. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of traditional local administration was unsatisfactory due to the rapid ocular clearance mechanism and the ocular barrier. Herein, a triple crosslinked micelle-hydrogel lacrimal implant with low polymer content was fabricated for localized and prolonged therapy of glaucoma. Latanoprost and timolol were simultaneously entrapped in the PEG-PLA micelles with high encapsulation efficiency and further loaded into the triple crosslinked hydrogel, facilitating a double sustained release of drugs. Subsequently, the implant was constructed by a unique molecular orientation fixation technology, which enables the implant to be fixed in the lacrimal duct. The triple crosslinked micelle-hydrogel lacrimal implant manifested a distinguished physicochemical characterization to sustain the release of latanoprost and timolol. In vitro release experiment demonstrated the duration of two drugs was extended for up to 28 days. The in vivo test of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in a rabbit model revealed that the IOP-lowering effects were sustained longer than 28 days as expected. The relative pharmacological availability (PA) of lacrimal implants was 5.7 times greater than that of the eye drops. The results of the studies on ocular irritation and histological examination demonstrated the good safety of the lacrimal implant. In conclusion, the triple crosslinked micelle-hydrogel lacrimal implant could effectively lower the IOP with splendid compatibility, demonstrating the promising prospect in the long-term noninvasive treatment of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral corneal blindness with severe dry eye disease (DED), total limbal stem cell deficiency with underlying corneal stromal scarring and vascularization, combined with adnexal complications secondary to chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis is a highly complex situation to treat. In such eyes, procedures such as penetrating keratoplasty alone or combined with limbal stem cell transplantation are doomed to fail. In these eyes, keratoprosthesis (Kpro) or an artificial cornea is the most viable option, eliminating corneal blindness even in eyes with autoimmune disorders such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome, ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid, Sjogren’s syndrome, and nonautoimmune disorders such as chemical/thermal ocular burns, all of which are complex pathologies. Performing a Kpro in these eyes also eliminates the need for systemic immunosuppression and may provide relatively early visual recovery. In such eyes, the donor cornea around the central cylinder of the Kpro needs to be covered with a second layer of protection to avoid desiccation and progressive stromal melt of the underlying cornea, which is a common complication in eyes with severe DED. In this review, we will focus on Kpro designs that have been developed to survive in eyes with the hostile environment of severe DED. Their outcomes in such eyes will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Low-field MRI at 0.55 Tesla (T) with deep learning image reconstruction has recently become commercially available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the image quality and diagnostic reliability of knee MRI performed at 0.55T compared with 1.5T. Methods: A total of 20 volunteers (9 female, 11 male; mean age = 42 years) underwent knee MRI on a 0.55T system (MAGNETOM Free.Max, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany; 12-channel Contour M Coil) and a 1.5T scanner (MAGNETOM Sola, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany; 18-channel transmit/receive knee coil). Standard two-dimensional (2D) turbo spin echo (TSE), fat-suppressed (fs) proton density-weighted (PDw), T1w TSE, and T2w TSE sequences were acquired in approximately 15 min. In total, 2 radiologists blinded to the field strength subjectively assessed all MRI sequences (overall image quality, image noise, and diagnostic quality) using a 5-point Likert scale (1–5; 5 = best). Additionally, both radiologists evaluated the possible pathologies of menisci, ligaments, and cartilage. Contrast ratios (CRs) of different tissues (bone, cartilage, and menisci) were determined on coronal PDw fs TSE images. The statistical analysis included Cohen's kappa and the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: The overall image quality of the 0.55T T2w, T1w, and PDw fs TSE sequences was diagnostic and rated similar for T1w (p > 0.05), but lower for PDw fs TSE and T2w TSE compared with 1.5T (p < 0.05). The diagnostic accordance of meniscal and cartilage pathologies at 0.55T was similar to 1.5T. The CRs of the tissues were not significantly different between 1.5T and 0.55T (p > 0.05). The inter-observer agreement of the subjective image quality was generally fair between both readers and almost perfect for the pathologies. Conclusions: Deep learning-reconstructed TSE imaging at 0.55T yielded diagnostic image quality for knee MRI compared with standard 1.5T MRI. The diagnostic performance of meniscal and cartilage pathologies was equal for 0.55T and 1.5T without a significant loss of diagnostic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on pharmacotherapy for the management of obesity. Topics include discussing the etiology of obesity and hormonal control of hunger; and the importance of medications that suppress hunger or increase satiety, early in weight management, for maintenance with medications for weight management, including GLP-1 agonists, phentermine, orlistat, and naltrexone/bupropion.

(1) Background: There have been many attempts to predict the weight-bearing line (WBL) ratio using simple knee radiographs. Using a convolutional neural network (CNN), we focused on predicting the WBL ratio quantitatively. (2) Methods: From March 2003 to December 2021, 2410 patients with 4790 knee AP radiographs were randomly selected using stratified random sampling. Our dataset was cropped by four points annotated by a specialist with a 10-pixel margin. The model predicted our interest points, which were both plateau points, i.e., starting WBL point and exit WBL point. The resulting value of the model was analyzed in two ways: pixel units and WBL error values. (3) Results: The mean accuracy (MA) was increased from around 0.5 using a 2-pixel unit to around 0.8 using 6 pixels in both the validation and the test sets. When the tibial plateau length was taken as 100%, the MA was increased from approximately 0.1, using 1%, to approximately 0.5, using 5% in both the validation and the test sets. (4) Conclusions: The DL-based key-point detection algorithm for predicting lower limb alignment through labeling using simple knee AP radiographs demonstrated comparable accuracy to that of the direct measurement using whole leg radiographs. Using this algorithm, the WBL ratio prediction with simple knee AP radiographs could be useful to diagnose lower limb alignment in osteoarthritis patients in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate all-cause mortality in ViV-TAVI versus redo SAVR in patients with failed bioprostheses. Study-level meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data from Kaplan-Meier curves of non-randomized studies published by September 30, 2021. Ten studies met our eligibility criteria and included a total of 3345 patients (1676 patients underwent ViV-TAVI and 1669 patients underwent redo SAVR). Pooling all the studies, ViV-TAVI showed a lower risk of all-cause mortality in the first 44 days [hazard ratio (HR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.93, P = 0.017], with an HR reversal after 197 days favoring redo SAVR (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.22–1.93; P < 0.001). Pooling only the matched populations (1143 pairs), ViV-TAVI showed a lower risk of all-cause mortality in the first 55 days [hazard ratio (HR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45–0.89, P < 0.001], with a reversal HR after 212 days favoring redo SAVR (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.22–2.03; P < 0.001). The Cox regression model showed a statistically significant association of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) with all-cause mortality during follow-up for ViV-TAVI (HR 1.03 per percentage increase in the study- and treatment arm-level proportion of PPM, 95% 1.02–1.05, P < 0.001). ViV-TAVI is associated with a strong protective effect immediately after the procedure in comparison with redo SAVR, however, this initial advantage reverses over time and redo SAVR seems to be a protective factor for all-cause mortality after 6 months. Considering that these results are the fruit of pooling data from observational studies, they should be interpreted with caution and trials are warranted. [Display omitted] • Structural valve degeneration of bioprosthetic heart valves is a concerning issue. • Redo surgical intervention is burdened by higher risk of death especially immediately after the procedure. • ViV-TAVI offers an excellent alternative to treat patients with failed bioprostheses, however, redo surgical intervention is associated with better survival over time. • Prosthesis-patient mismatch may play a major role in this scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the feasibility and potential impacts of utilizing a Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie-European Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (GEC ESTRO) recommended surgical margin-based planning margin in permanent breast seed implant (PBSI) brachytherapy. Seventy-nine patients were included in this retrospective study. Three margin selections were used for PTV construction: (1) 1.25 or 1.5 cm isotropic margin (PTV PBSI), (2) 2 cm minus surgical margin in each direction as recommended by GEC ESTRO (PTV aniso), and (3) 2 cm minus minimum surgical margin isotropically (PTV iso). PTV volume and dose coverage using clinical PBSI plans were compared across three groups. New PBSI plans were constructed on PTV aniso for 20 patients and planning parameters were compared to original plans constructed on PTV PBSI. Twenty patients had surgical margins in six directions reported, with a median value of 8 mm anteriorly, and 10 mm in all other directions. PTV aniso (36.3 ± 15.0 cc) was overall smaller than PTV PBSI (55.6 ± 14.3 cc), p value < 0.05. PBSI clinical plans showed satisfactory coverage on PTV aniso , with a median (range) V100 of 97.9% (85.8%–100.0%). Comparing to original treatment plans, new plans constructed on PTV aniso reduced the number of implant seeds and skin dose. Clinical PBSI plans provide satisfactory coverage of GEC ESTRO recommended PTVs. In this patient cohort, GEC ESTRO planning margin resulted in smaller target volumes, and therefore, new plans constructed on PTV aniso required fewer implanted seeds and lower skin doses were achieved. However, given PBSI delivery uncertainties, further investigations are required to determine if the GEC ESTRO planning margin will be sufficiently robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both inhalation injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are risk factors that predict mortality in severely burned patients. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is widely used to rescue these patients; however, its efficacy and safety in this critical population have not been well defined. We report our experience of using ECLS for the treatment of severely burned patients with concurrent inhalation injury and ARDS. This was a retrospective analysis of 14 patients collected from a single medical burn center from 2012 to 2019. All patients suffered from major burns with inhalation injury and ARDS, and were treated with ECLS. The median total body surface area of deep dermal or full thickness burns was 94.5%, ranging 47.7-99.0 %. The median revised Baux score was 122.0, ranging 90.0-155.0. All patients developed ARDS with a median partial pressure of arterial oxygen to a fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of 61.5, ranging 49.0-99.0. Indications for ECLS included sustained hypoxemia and unstable hemodynamics. The median interval for initiating ECLS was 2.5 days, ranging 1.0-156.0 days. The median duration of ECLS was 2.9 days, ranging 0.3-16.7 days. The overall survival to discharge was 42.8%. Causes of death included sepsis and multiple organ failure. ECLS-related complications included cannulation bleeding, catheter-related infection, and hemolysis. The incidence of risk factors reported in literature were higher in non-survivors, including Baux>120, albumin < 3.0 g/dL, and lactate > 8 mmol/L. For severely burned patients with concurrent inhalation injury and ARDS, ECLS could be a salvage treatment to improve sustained hypoxemia. However, the efficacy of hemodynamic support was limited. Identifying definite ECLS indications and rigorous patient selection would contribute to better clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion criteria: male and female patients affected by unilateral symptomatic knee OA with a history of chronic pain or swelling (at least 4 months); aged between 18 and 80 years; imaging findings of knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3); and failed results after at least 2 months of non-operative treatment). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a well-established form of OA and accounts for nearly 4/5 of global OA burden [[1]]. As of 29 December 2022, only one ongoing clinical trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (search terms: "knee osteoarthritis" and "Platelet-rich Plasma" or "leukocyte-rich Platelet-rich Plasma" or "leukocyte-poor Platelet-rich Plasma") that directly compares the efficacy of LR-PRP with LP-PRP. Based on these findings, some studies have recommended the utilization of leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) for the treatment of knee OA. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; artificial sweat; cosmetic pigments; metals EN allergic contact dermatitis artificial sweat cosmetic pigments metals 550 553 4 11/11/22 20221201 NES 221201 Both nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are common skin sensitizers known to cause contact allergy,1 not only existing in alloys but also in different consumer products, such as cosmetics,2 even though not intentionally added. The ASW-soluble fractions of Ni were lower than the total contents and were only observed for three pigments (yellow (ID 1), pink (ID 3) and purple (ID 4)), in amounts ranging from 2.4 to 5.5 g Ni/g pigment. All coloured pigments (IDs 1-5), and one of the white pigments (ID 6), contained detectable amounts of Ni, whereas only the yellow, purple and black pigments (IDs 1, 4, 5) also contained Co. [Extracted from the article]

Rhubarb is a mountain plant that contains many antioxidants and various vitamins, including A, B1, B2 and C, and is an extremely healthy product and a rich source of antioxidants and dietary fibers. Today, it is important to dry medicinal plants and agricultural products in order to achieve better product quality, so that minimal physical, chemical and biological changes made in the product. In this research, the drying kinetics of rhubarb medicinal plant with an infrared dryer conducted at three temperature levels of 50, 60, and 70 °C in the skin and without skin for 2 and 5 cm pieces of the product. By increasing the drying temperature and reducing the length of the parts and removing the skin of the samples, the drying speed and mass transfer increased and the drying time decreased. The values of activation energy ranged from 32.18 to 45.09 kJ/mol and the values of moisture diffusion coefficient ranged from 2.45 x 10-9 to 5.97 x 10-10 square meters per second. The overall color change of the product at all three temperatures was insignificant and the color of the rhubarb product changed little during the drying process. Using the intensity of low infrared radiations kept the color characteristics of rhubarb samples .Due to the low cost and high speed of drying, infrared dryer recommended as an economic method with high productivity for drying rhubarb medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-zingiberene is a phytochemical of the sesquiterpenes class, the major constituent of the essential oil from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris, a plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, tumours, and bacterial infections. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of daily administration of α-zingiberene (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μg diluted in 10 μl of 0.5% DMSO) on the inflammatory, angiogenic, and fibrogenic components, induced by subcutaneous sponge implants in an animal model. Treatment with sesquiterpene resulted in a reduction in macrophage activation, as well as in mean blood vessels and in the activity of metalloproteinases 2 and 9. Furthermore, it resulted in an increase in collagen deposition near the implants. These results show the therapeutic potential of α-zingiberene in the treatment of pathologies, in which processes such as inflammation and angiogenesis are exacerbated, or even for the treatment of chronic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and prostate seed implant (PSI) is efficacious in treating intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer at the cost of increased genitourinary toxicity. Accurate combined dosimetry remains elusive due to lack of registration between treatment plans and different biological effect. The current work proposes a method to convert physical dose to biological effective dose (BED) and spatially register the dose distributions for more accurate combined dosimetry. A PSI phantom was CT scanned with and without seeds under rigid and deformed transformations. The resulting CTs were registered using image-based rigid registration (RI), fiducial-based rigid registration (RF), or b-spline deformable image registration (DIR) to determine which was most accurate. Physical EBRT and PSI dose distributions from a sample of 91 previously-treated combined-modality prostate cancer patients were converted to BED and registered using RI, RF, and DIR. Forty-eight (48) previously-treated patients whose PSI occurred before EBRT were included as a "control" group due to inherent registration. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters were compared for RI, RF, DIR, DICOM, and scalar addition of DVH parameters using ANOVA or independent Student's t tests (α = 0.05). In the phantom study, DIR was the most accurate registration algorithm, especially in the case of deformation. In the patient study, dosimetry from RI was significantly different than the other registration algorithms, including the control group. Dosimetry from RF and DIR were not significantly different from the control group or each other. Combined dosimetry with BED and image registration is feasible. Future work will utilize this method to correlate dosimetry with clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing of modern scaffolds with customized geometry and personalization has become possible due to the three‐dimensional (3D) printing technique. A novel type of 3D‐printed scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) filled with nanocrystalline cellulose modified by poly(glutamic acid) (PGlu‐NCC) has been proposed in this study. The 3D printing set‐ups were optimized in order to obtain homogeneous porous scaffolds. Both polymer composites and manufactured 3D scaffolds have demonstrated mechanical properties suitable for a human trabecular bone. Compression moduli were in the range of 334–396 MPa for non‐porous PCL and PCL‐based composites, and 101–122 MPa for porous scaffolds made of the same materials. In vitro mineralization study with the use of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) revealed the larger Ca deposits on the surface of PCL/PGlu‐NCC composite scaffolds. Implantation of the developed 3D scaffolds into femur of the rabbits was carried out to observe close and delayed effects. The histological analysis showed the lowest content of immune cells and thin fibrous capsule, revealing low toxicity of the PCL/PGlu‐NCC scaffolds seeded with rabbit MSCs (rMSCs) to the surrounding tissues. The most pronounced result on the generation of new bone tissue after implantation of PCL/PGlu‐NCC + rMSCs scaffolds was detected by both microcomputed tomography and histological analysis. Around 33% and 55% of bone coverage were detected for composite 3D scaffolds with adhered rMSCs after 1 and 3 months of implantation, respectively. This achievement can be a result of synergistic effect of PGlu, which attracts calcium ions, and stem cells with osteogenic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that mechanical prosthetic heart valve (MPHV) patients may develop thrombocytopenia, but its association with clinical outcomes has not been investigated. We enrolled 1,663 patients with available platelet count from the multicenter nationwide retrospective PLECTRUM registry to investigate the association of thrombocytopenia with all-cause mortality and major bleeding (MB) in patients implanted with MPHV. Thrombocytopenia was defined by platelet count <150 × 109/L. Overall, 44.9% of patients were women and the mean age was 56.7 years. At baseline, 184 (11.1%) patients had thrombocytopenia. Patients with thrombocytopenia were more frequently men and elderly. Platelet count showed an age-dependent decline in men but not in women. We found an increased risk of death in patients with age ≥ 65 years, with a low anticoagulation quality, concomitant arterial hypertension, heart failure, a higher INR range, or with thrombocytopenia (OR 1.739, 95%CI 1.048–2.886, p =.032). At multivariable logistic regression, patients with age ≥65 years, concomitant AF and thrombocytopenia (OR 1.907, 95%CI 1.219–2.983, p =.005) had an increased risk of MBs. In MPHV patients, thrombocytopenia is associated with an increased risk of death and MB. There is a growing need for a sex- and age-specific threshold to define platelet count in adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among different categories, FLWs from lower SES (vegetable vendors and I swachh i workers) had higher seropositivity than other higher SES categories put together. Sir, Given the possibility of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially given the emergence of newer variants, frontline workers (FLWs) are at a higher risk of contracting the infection as well as transmitting it to others. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, the simultaneous significance of the crystallographic texture and nanostructuring on the cytocompatibility of as‐cast (Ti55Zr25Nb10Ta10)98.5‐Ag1.5 alloy (at. %, TZNT‐Ag1.5), subjected to cold rolling up to 90% reduction, along with the changes of Young's modulus and hardness under cold rolling were investigated. For this purpose, the as‐cast and cold‐rolled TZNT‐Ag1.5 alloy test specimens were analyzed by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, SEM, contact angle, nanoindentation, and OM techniques. Moreover, to evaluate the effect of severe cold deformation on the biocompatibility, MG‐63 osteoblastic cell was cultured on the surface of 90% cold‐rolled and as‐cast test specimens of TZNT‐Ag1.5 alloy. The results showed that severe cold deformation was led to fast grain refinement of β grains of the as‐cast TZNT‐Ag1.5 alloy in the range of 50–100 nm. In addition to the nanostructuring, upon severe cold deformation, the ‐fiber (<111>// normal direction) texture was formed and after 90% reduction, the (111)<1 1¯0> γ‐fiber component was strengthened. The micro‐hardness and reduced Young's modulus are 235 ± 5.29, 246 ± 1.73, 271 ± 4.0, and 283 ± 6.25 (HV); and 73.725 ± 1.70, 83.98 ± 5.10, 81.26 ± 6.55, and 88.66 ± 7.16 (GPa) for TZNT‐Ag1.5 (as‐cast), TZNT‐Ag1.5 (20%CR), TZNT‐Ag1.5 (50%CR), and TZNT‐Ag1.5 (90%CR) test specimens, respectively. Further, with increasing the cold deformation degree, the dislocation density of TZNT‐Ag1.5 alloy increased as this parameter is 2.79 × 1015 (m−2) for the 90%CR test specimen. On the other hand, the values of the contact angle for the 90%CR test specimen (46.2 ± 3.5°) exhibit a higher hydrophilic and wettable surface as compared to the other studied test specimens. After 5 days of incubation, osteoblastic cells on the surface of the 90% cold‐rolled TZNT‐Ag1.5 test specimens revealed significant differences in cell proliferation and differentiation as compared to the as‐cast alloy test specimens and/or CP‐Ti. Finally, because the maximum orientation intensities were generally <3, it was deduced that grain refinement rather than the crystallographic texture plays a significant role in improving the surface biocompatibility of the new TZNT‐Ag1.5 alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of unidirectional and cross rolling on the corrosion rate, texture, tensile properties and hemolysis of the Mg‐0.375Ga and Mg‐0.750Ga alloys was evaluated. Pure Mg and as‐cast alloys were processed by unidirectional and cross rolling at 400°C to obtain a total thickness reduction of 50%. The corrosion rate was measured by the weight loss method in simulated body fluid. Determination of the hemolysis percentage was carried out by direct contact of specimens with diluted blood. After hot rolling, the mechanical properties of the alloys were improved. The cross‐rolled Mg‐0.750Ga alloy showed the highest grain refinement (55 μm) and the highest ultimate tensile strength (240 MPa), however, lower elongation (13.9%) than the rolled Mg‐0.375Ga alloy. While unidirectional rolling creates a strong basal texture, cross rolling weakens considerably this texture. The Ga addition weakens the basal texture. Corrosion rate of the Mg‐Ga alloys was significantly reduced (<1 mm/yr) after heat treatment and hot rolling due the homogenization of the microstructure and the presence of gallium as alloying element. The cross‐rolled samples showed higher corrosion than the heat‐treated and unidirectionally rolled samples. After rolling, alloys showed hemolysis percentages between 7.1 and 9.3%, values lower than those presented by pure magnesium (>22.7%) and as‐cast alloys (>24.2%); however, the alloys are still hemolytic (>5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Despite the widespread use of resin cements in cementing dental restorations, their bond strength to CAD/CAM base metal alloys is not widely studied. This study aimed to evaluate the microshear bond strength (μSBS) between cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr) alloys fabricated using casting or CAD/CAM methods with three types of resin cements. Materials and Methods. Fifty Co-Cr blocks were prepared with CAD/CAM or casting technique. Specimens were divided using primer or not and bonded to three types of resin cements: Panavia F2, RelyX Unicem, and Duo-Link. The differences between the mean μSBS values were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA test and Tukey analysis (α = 0.05). The mode of failure was evaluated using a stereomicroscope. In addition, the specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based on two received signals: backscattered electrons (SEB) and secondary electrons (SEs). One intact alloy specimen in each group was analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results. Most of the specimens in the no-primer group were prematurely debonded. Statistical analyses showed that the interaction between the alloy substrate and cement type was significant (p = 0.001). The bond strength of Panavia F2 was significantly higher than Duo-Link in the CAD/CAM group (p = 0.001). SEM evaluation confirmed the difference in grain structures, while EDX showed no remarkable difference in the chemical composition of the alloy substrates. Conclusion. Alloy fabrication technique may influence the bond strength of resin cements. In the CAD/CAM group, cement containing MDP molecules exhibited higher strength than the etch-and-rinse one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy and dosimetry of 3D-printing non-coplanar template (3D-PNCT)-assisted computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (125I-SI) for recurrent chest wall cancer (rCWC). Material and methods: This was a retrospective study of 19 patients with 22 rCWC treated with 3D-PNCT-assisted CT-guided 125I-SI, from Mar 2017 to Mar 2020 in our institute. Results: Mean needle entrance deviation was 4.50 ±2.70 mm, mean angular deviation was 3.40 ±3.10 degrees, and mean depth deviation was 5.20 ±5.20 mm. No significant difference was found for dosimetric parameters (except conformity index) between pre-plan and post-plan; D90, D100, V100, V150, and V200 were 157.74 ±24.23 and 151.71 ±33.62 (p = 0.228), 85.36 ±34.09 and 70.46 ±23.48 (p = 0.067), 0.93 ±0.04 and 0.90 ±0.07 (p = 0.068), 0.64 ±0.16 and 0.64 ±0.16 (p = 0.984), and 0.35 ±0.17 and 0.37 ±0.18 (p = 0.382) for pre-plan and post-plan, respectively. Conformity index, external index, and homogeneity index were 0.57 ±0.16 and 0.52 ±0.15 (p = 0.007), 0.73 ±0.55 and 0.79 ±0.53 (p = 0.096), and 0.31 ±0.15 and 0.30 ±0.14 (p = 0.504) for pre-plan and post-plan, respectively. Median follow-up time was 8 months (range, 3-30 months). Complete response was observed in 4/22 (18.1%), partial response in 13/22 (59.1%), stable disease in 4/22 (18.1%), and progression disease in 1/22 (4.5%) of the cancers. Among patients with pain before 125I-SI, pain relief rate was 87.5% (7/8). No peri-operative complications of more than grade 2 were observed. Conclusions: 3D-PNCT-assisted CT-guided 125I-SI may be safe and feasible as palliative therapy for non-surgical candidates and painful patients with rCWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most promising areas for additive manufacturing (AM) adoption is in the healthcare industry, through its ability to produce customized medical devices with personalized fit, feel and functionality. The shift from conventional manufacturing systems to AM implies several changes throughout the medical product's life cycle phases, from workforce qualification to the relationship with customers. This study investigates the social impact of adopting AM in the medical devices industry. To this end, two case studies related to medical devices were developed: a prosthesis and an orthosis, by applying a social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodology. The methodology measures and compares performance and impact of developing, producing, and using the two devices produced by AM, and by conventional processes. The results show how the different stakeholders along the product life cycle stages are affected by the change in the manufacturing technology. Evidence of positive social impacts were found in the 'Customers', 'Local community' and 'Society' stakeholders. A negative social impact was found for the stakeholder 'Value chain actors'. Furthermore, this study illustrates the suitability of the S-LCA methodology to pinpoint the benefits and negative impacts of AM in each case under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, fresh fruits are popular sources of healthy diets with low energy density. Since they are consumed raw, it may act as a source of foodborne disease and a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant organisms. This study aimed to determine microbial prevalence among the fruits sold outside Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) along with their antimicrobial profiles and to detect antimicrobial resistance genes among the resistant organisms. Thirty-five different types of fruits were bought from around DMCH and analyzed for the presence of bacteria. Antibiotic sensitivity was done and extended-spectrum β- lactamase (ESBL), AmpC β-lactamase, and Metallo β-lactamase (MBL) positive strains were identified by standard methods followed by PCR to detect ESBL, AmpC β-lactamase, and MBL genes. Twenty-seven different organisms were isolated and identified which were Klebsiella spp (33‧33%), Citrobacter spp (29‧64%), Enterobacter spp (22‧22%), Escherichia coli (11‧11%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3‧70%). Among them, 48‧15% of organisms were resistant to different antibiotics. Only one organism (Citrobacter spp) produced ESBL phenotypically (7‧69%). Two (15‧38%) were positive for AmpC β-lactamase and one of these (Enterobacter spp) possessed both SHV and CTX-M15A genes by PCR. Imipenem resistance was 84‧62% of the antibiotic-resistant organisms, and 10 (90‧91%) were phenotypically MBL positive by combined disc (CD) test, double disc synergy (DDS), and modified Hodge test (MHT). By PCR, one Enterobacter spp had MBL encoding gene OXA-48. Microbiological and molecular findings observed in this study emphasized the fact that fresh fruits contaminated with pathogenic organisms can act as a transmission vehicle for human diseases. It can cause a lot of patients suffering, like a prolonged hospital stay, which ultimately inflects the treatment cost of the patients. Fresh fruits, contaminated with pathogens, might be a source of resistant organisms transmission and contribute to public health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was a comparison of the acute toxicity of two popular prostheses used in the reconstruction of the bones of the skull. For the tests, the following materials were used: a polypropylene-polyester knitted Codubix S cranial bone prosthesis, made by TRICOMED SA, and polymethyl methacrylate Mendec Cranio resin. The tests were carried out in accordance with the following standards - PN-EN ISO 10993-11:2009 Biological evaluation of medical devices - Part 11: Tests for systemic toxicity, and PN-EN ISO 10993- 12:2012 Biological evaluation of medical devices - Part 12: Sample preparation and reference materials. During the evaluation, adult male and female Balb/c mice were used. The animals were injected intravenously using extracts of both materials in 0.9% NaCl and intraperitoneally with the same extracts in sesame oil. The tests lasted 7 days, during which the health of the animals and their behavior were assessed. Both in the control and test groups, there was no mortality of the animals, and the health and behaviour of mice were unchanged when compared with the normal. After 7 days the internal organs of the chest and abdominal cavity of the animals were subjected to macroscopic pathomorphological examination, during which no changes indicating the toxic action of Codubix S and Mednec Cranio resin were found. Before the acute systemic toxicity tests, the chemical purity of both implants was assessed. The chemical purity of a product is one of the factors determining its biological properties. A product which is characterised by a higher degree of chemical purity contains fewer substances which may have a negative impact on biological reactions. Both prostheses meet the requirements of purity for medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the relationship of dosimetry parameters and efficacy of 3D-printing template assisted 125I seeds implantation for recurrent cervical cancer (RCC). A retrospective analysis was made on 13 RCC patients from Mar 2016 to Dec 2018 who were applied with 3D-printing template assisted 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy in HeBei General Hospital were included in this study. Postoperative plans were made to evaluate the dosimetric parameters. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate local progression free survival (LPFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate, and Log-rank test and Cox regression were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. The 1-year LPFS rate was 38.5%.The 1-year OS rate was 46.2%. LPFS time would be longer while D90≥115 Gy or D100≥65 Gy or V100≥92% (all P<0.05). D100 was significantly related to LPFS (P<0.05). But these dosimetry parameters got no effect on OS. 3D-printing template assisted 125I seeds implantation for recurrent cervical cancer could ensure the accuracy and consistency. D100 is an independent factor related to LPFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The materials used to manufacture prosthetic components must meet the conditions of biocompatibility imposed by the human body, to be mechanically resistant, to present a good resistance to corrosion, to be resistant to aging process and not to generate flows of attrition particles. This paper aims the selection and analising of some biocompatible metallic materials (the austenitic stainless steel and titanium alloys). Thus, various prosthetic elements made by rapid prototyping (RP) technologies from Ti6Al4V alloys obtained using laser selective melting (SLS Technology) have a major advantage in the special geometric form for medicine, creating a personalized implant for each patient and with superior properties on the quality of the material used. Studies in recent years have led to the conclusion that the biocompatibility of an implant depends on many factors such as: the general health status of the patient, age, tissue permeability, immunological factors, but also the implant characteristics (roughness and porosity of the material, chemical composition, corrosion properties, toxicity, etc.). For this reason, samples of 316L stainless steel and Ti6Al4V titanium alloy were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Shakespeare; King Lear; blindness; madness; performance; embodiment; literary disability studies EN Shakespeare King Lear blindness madness performance embodiment literary disability studies N.PAG N.PAG 1 06/22/23 20230701 NES 230701 Charles Lamb, with the crotchety elitism only nineteenth-century England could engender, famously declared Lear "essentially impossible to be represented on a stage" (para. Early modern disability studies attends to embodiedness through analysis of disability's physical components, such as illness and impairment, as well as analysis of its constructedness, through the social and cultural conditions that shape impaired bodies' experiences of disability. If drama needs bodies to stage disability, and embodying disability changes the way disability functions in a play, what of how audiences receive and interpret those bodies? Borrowing Merri Lisa Johnson and Robert McRuer's definition of " I being with and near i disability, thinking through disabled sensations and situations", she argues that I Lear i 's characters, and by extension the audience, gain disability knowledge through their proximities to disability ("'Known and Feeling Sorrows'" 164, italics original). A number of impairments and disabilities manifest audibly, such as a stutter or vocal tics, and more broadly, as Lear and Edgar demonstrate, those with mental illness or intellectual impairment may not always speak rationally or within conventional social scripts. [Extracted from the article]