A qualitative description of HIV testing and healthcare experiences among trans women in Ghanaian urban slums BSGH-012.

Achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets hinges on identifying and engaging individuals with HIV in care, requiring 90% of those infected to be diagnosed, initiated on ART, and achieving viral suppression. Despite this imperative, HIV testing services as well as research in Ghana often overlook the unique experiences of transgender women in urban slums, impacting their engagement with care. Using the gender affirmative model lens, this study reports the HIV testing experiences of trans women in Ghanaian slums, highlighting how the healthcare environment, counseling, and healthcare provider attitudes shape these experiences.

Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma: Epidemiology and surgical challenges; a single tertiary center experience.

Introduction: Despite being less common in recent years, recurrent pleomorphic adenoma still poses a surgical challenge, especially after improper surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited all patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma and Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma from February 2007 to April 2024 who were operated upon in a tertiary cancer center. Epidemiological, radiological, and pathological data, risk factors, details of surgical treatment, and surgical/oncological outcomes were analyzed.

Assessment of malaria transmission in Kenya using multilevel logistic regression.

Background: Kenya has a lower malaria incidence in comparison to other African malaria-endemic nations. Malaria is a significant public health concern in the country. The malaria indicator survey (MIS) data were analyzed using the logistic regression model.

Beyond Conventional Treatments: Exploring CAR-T Cell Therapy for Cancer Stem Cell Eradication.

Background: For decades cancer remained the center of attention in the scientific community as its survival rates are low. Researchers from all around the world wanted to know the core of the problem as to what initiates cancer in a patient and helps with its progression. Many postulations came to light, but Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) was the most appealing and convincing.

A case report of metformin-associated lactic acidosis.

Key Clinical Message: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those with multiple health conditions. Prompt recognition and treatment, including potential renal replacement therapy, are crucial for managing severe acidosis and improving patient outcomes.

Abstract: Metformin (MTF) is commonly prescribed as a first-line treatment for diabetes, effectively preventing microvascular and macrovascular complications.

The Value and Safety of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy After Radical Cystectomy in Locally Advanced Urothelial Bladder Cancer: A Controlled Randomized Study.

Purpose: Adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) after radical cystectomy in locally advanced bladder cancer was revived after the advancement in precise radiation therapy that decreased the normal pelvic tissue radiation hazards. However, there are still scarce controlled randomized studies addressing this issue.

Methods And Materials: One hundred thirty-one cystectomized urothelial bladder cancer patients were enrolled; 122 were randomized to receive ART of 50 Gy/25 fractions 4 weeks after cystectomy or cystectomy alone (CY).

Copper/Tin Nanocomposites-Loaded Exosomes Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest at G0/G1 Phase in Skin Cancer Cell Line.

This study aims to explore the efficacy of Copper/Tin (CuS/SnS) nanocomposites loaded into exosomes against skin cancer A431 cell line. CuS/SnS nanocomposites (S1, S2, S3) were synthesized and characterized, then loaded into exosomes (Exo) (S1-Exo, S2-Exo and S3-Exo) and characterized. After that, the loaded samples were investigated in vitro against A431 using cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays.

Effects of intravenous single-bolus lidocaine infusion versus intravenous single-bolus magnesium sulfate infusion on postoperative pain, emotional status, and quality of life in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery: a randomized study.

Background: We assessed the efficiency of intravenous adjuvants in decreasing opioid intake and pain scores after spine fusion surgery.

Methods: This study included 120 patients aged 18-60 listed for spine fusion surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups: Group (Lidocaine): received IV lidocaine 4 mg/kg in 50 mL volume over 30 min.

Stem cells derived exosomes as biological nano carriers for VCR sulfate for treating breast cancer stem cells.

Due to vincristine sulfate's (VCR sulfate) toxicity and non-specific targeting, which might adversely damage healthy cells, its clinical application is restricted. In this study, we loaded VCR sulfate on exosomes generated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to enhance its targeted distribution. Exosomes are able to deliver molecules to specific cells and tissues and have therapeutic potential.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A single cancer center experience.

Objectives: Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) was challenging to most surgeons due to the two-dimensional view, difficult manipulations of the instruments, ergonomic discomfort, and the associated muscular spasm and effort. Technological advances with improved surgical experience, have made LG a more feasible and favorable approach for gastric cancer (GC) patients.

Material And Methods: LG was performed in 44 patients with GC between July 2015 to June 2022, in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt, and we assessed the surgical outcomes of this approach as an initial experience of a single cancer center.

Epidemiology, microbiological, clinical characteristics, and outcome of complex infections in non-cystic fibrosis adult patients from Qatar.

Objectives: species infections are associated with diverse and challenging clinical presentations because of distinct virulence and antimicrobial resistance factors. The study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, microbiological, and clinical outcomes of complex (Bcc) infections in non-cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from Qatar.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on adult patients across all hospitals at Hamad Medical Corporation between January 2012 and December 2018 to evaluate clinically relevant Bcc in non-CF adult patients.

Impact of age on central lymph nodes involvement in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Total thyroidectomy is the main line of treatment for papillary thyroid cancer. Central lymph node dissection (CLND) is still debatable. In this study, we aimed to correlate the central lymph node status with the age of patients.

Effect of dietary electrolyte balance and arginine to lysine ratio on hematological, antioxidant and immunological traits in dual-purpose breeding hens under cyclic heat stress condition.

A total of 245 hens and 35 cocks (32 weeks age) were assigned to seven treatment groups (five replicates with seven hens and one cock) to investigate the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and arginine to lysine ratio (Arg/Lys) on birds' physiological and biochemical traits under cyclic heat stress (CHS) condition. Birds were housed in an environmentally controlled facility having four sectors. The first group (positive control, PC) was kept under thermoneutral conditions and fed diet with DEB of 180 mEq and Arg/Lys of 1.

Bioactive compounds from nature: Antioxidants targeting cellular transformation in response to epigenetic perturbations induced by oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress results from a persistent imbalance in oxidation levels that promotes oxidants, playing a crucial role in the early and sustained phases of DNA damage and genomic and epigenetic instability, both of which are intricately linked to the development of tumors. The molecular pathways contributing to carcinogenesis in this context, particularly those related to double-strand and single-strand breaks in DNA, serve as indicators of DNA damage due to oxidation in cancer cases, as well as factors contributing to epigenetic instability through ectopic expressions. Oxidative stress has been considered a therapeutic target for many years, and an increasing number of studies have highlighted the promising effectiveness of natural products in cancer treatment.

Comparison between stem cell therapy and stem cell derived exosomes on induced multiple sclerosis in dogs.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that primarily manifests as demyelination of neuronal axons in the central nervous system, due to the loss or attack of oligodendroglia cells that form myelin. Stem cell therapy has shown promising results for the treatment of MS due to its capability to halt the immune attack, stop apoptosis and axonal degeneration, and differentiate into oligodendrocytes. Stem cell-derived Exosomes (Exosomes) have shown great capabilities for neuronal diseases as they have growth factors, complex sets of miRNA, enzymes, proteins, major peptides, lipids, and macromolecules with anti-inflammatory, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis activities.

Endoscopic Thyroidectomy for Large-Sized Goiters: Merits of the Axillo-Breast Approach with Gas Insufflation.

Background: Several minimal access approaches to the thyroid gland have been widely applied; nevertheless, such approaches are still challenging when dealing with large-sized thyroid nodules or goiters. We hereby evaluated the outcomes and highlighted the merits of endoscopic axillo-breast hemithyroidectomy (EABH) for large-sized unilateral goiters.

Methods: Patients underwent EABH for unilateral large thyroid nodules ≥6 cm in its greatest dimension or unilateral large goiter (≥60 ml sonographic volume) whatever the size of its contained nodules were identified from a prospectively maintained database.

Recent developments on the removal of zinc from electric arc furnace dust by using microwave heating.

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is a hazardous by-product of steel production. As global steel output increases, substantial amounts of EAFD are produced, which causes significant environmental issues. EAFD contains quantities of Fe and Zn, which could be reused as raw materials in the steelmaking process.

Multicenter Study to Validate a Hospitalization Risk Assessment Tool in Hemodialysis Patients.

Introduction Protein-energy wasting is a prevalent condition in patients with chronic kidney disease. Our goal was to validate the risk assessment tool (Hashmi's tool) in multiple centers, developed in 2018, as it was easily applicable and cost-effective. Methods The following variables were scored as 0, 1, 2, or 3 as per severity: body mass index, HD vintage in years, functional capacity, serum albumin, serum ferritin, and the number of co-morbid conditions (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease).

Arabic gum/chitosan/Zn-NPs composite film maintains the quality of Hass avocado fruit by delaying ripening and activating enzymatic defense mechanisms.

Avocado fruit is a climacteric fruit that has a short life after harvest. Chitosan (Ch) and Arabic gum (AG) have a pronounced effect on the storability of fruits. This investigation aimed to determine the effect of individual or combined use of Ch and AG as well as Ch/AG enriched with 2, 4, 8% Zn-NPs on physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidant capacity of Hass avocado fruit during cold storage (7 °C).

Towards enhancing security of IoT-Enabled healthcare system.

The Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based healthcare systems are comprised of a large number of networked medical devices, wearables, and sensors that collect and transmit data to improve patient care. However, the enormous number of networked devices renders these systems vulnerable to assaults. To address these challenges, researchers advocated reducing execution time, leveraging cryptographic protocols to improve security and avoid assaults, and utilizing energy-efficient algorithms to minimize energy consumption during computation.

Role of Enhancing Aerobic Capacity in Countering COVID-19-induced Liver Injury in Elderlies.

COVID-19 is still a world disaster; however, its vaccination is globally available. Liver and gastrointestinal disturbances occur in patients infected with COVID-19 at varying incidences. Aging decreases the functions of the liver.

Unlocking the Power of Onion Peel Extracts: Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects Improve Wound Healing through Repressing Notch-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling.

Onion peels are often discarded, representing an unlimited amount of food by-products; however, they are a valuable source of bioactive phenolics. Thus, we utilized UPLC-MS/MS to analyze the metabolomic profiles of red (RO) and yellow (YO) onion peel extracts. The cytotoxic (SRB assay), anti-inflammatory (Griess assay), and antimicrobial (sensitivity test, MIC, antibiofilm, and SP-SDS tests) properties were assessed in vitro.

Surgical Management of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules across Different World Regions: Results from a Retrospective Multicentric (the MAIN-NODE) Study.

Indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) are characterized by an expected malignancy ranging from 5% to 30%, with most patients undergoing a diagnostic, rather than therapeutic, operation. The aim of our study was to compare the approach to ITNs across different regions of the world. In this retrospective, multicentric, international study, according to the WHO classification, we identified the South East Asian Region (SEAR), the Americas Region (AMR), the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), the Europe Region (EUR), and the Western Pacific Region (WPR).