Assessment of appropriate utilization of out-of-office diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of hypertension.

Background: Out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurement devices, such as ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM), enhance the accuracy and reliability of BP readings, detecting white-coat and masked hypertension. The American Heart Association (AHA) advises confirming hypertension diagnoses with ABPM to prevent overdiagnosis, emphasizing the importance of precise out-of-office diagnostic tools. This study aimed to 1) explore the prevalence of ABPM and HBPM use prior to hypertension diagnosis; 2) assess the adherence to AHA recommendations regarding ABPM utilization; and 3) investigate the association between patient characteristics and out-of-office BP monitoring practices.

Safety and effectiveness of ataluren in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: single-center experience from Saudi Arabia.

Objective: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare X-linked neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene. This study examined the efficacy and safety of ataluren, the first oral treatment for DMD with nonsense mutations (nmDMD), in patients in the Middle East.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study assessed the outcomes of seven boys with nmDMD who received treatment with ataluren and follow-up at a single center since 2016.

Extended Reality Gaming for Exercise and Mindfulness Throughout Pediatric Cancer Rehabilitation: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pediatric patients with cancer have limited options to self-manage their health while they are undergoing treatments in the hospital and after they are discharged to their homes. Extended reality (ER) using head-mounted displays has emerged as an immersive method of improving pain and mental health and promoting health-enhancing physical activity among a variety of clinical groups, but there is currently no established protocol for improving both physical and mental health in pediatric cancer rehabilitation.

Objective: This phase I, pilot, feasibility randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the potential effects of a 14-week ER program on physical activity participation and indicators of health among pediatric patients with cancer who undergo bone marrow transplantation.

aqueous leaf extract modulates metformin pharmacokinetics, inhibits CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objectives: Del. leaves are used in traditional Southeast Asia and Africa medicinal practices. Metformin is used for diabetes management.

Dual-energy CT for differentiation of hypodense liver lesions in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of CT spectral HU curve assessment of hypodense liver lesions.

Methods: In this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study (January 2016 through May 2023), patients with biopsy-proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma and a biopsied indeterminate liver lesion underwent a DECT abdominal CT scan. Spectral HU curves were provided for each hypodense liver lesion, and slopes were calculated.

Investigating the optimistic and therapeutic effects of wild grape: R. Parker.

R. Parker is a wild grape traditionally used by indigenous people as a substitute for cultivated grapes. However, its therapeutic effects have not been extensively studied.

The Management of Osteoporosis in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has shown a growing association with osteoporosis, comprising part of the broader CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). CKD-MBD is marked by alterations in calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D metabolism, significantly elevating fracture risk. While traditional osteoporosis treatments such as bisphosphonates, denosumab, and teriparatide have been adapted for CKD patients, recent innovations have introduced agents aimed at enhancing bone mass and reducing fracture incidence.

Spontaneous Intrathoracic Rupture of Abdominal Neuroblastoma in a 2-year-old Child: A Rare Case Report.

Neuroblastoma (NB) tumor rupture, typically intra-abdominal, is a rare and life-threatening condition with a poor prognosis, often associated with large aggressive tumors. Intrathoracic ruptures, rarely reported, may result from thoracic NB or malignant invasion. We present the first case of spontaneous intrathoracic rupture in a 2-year-old boy with abdominal NB.

From Harmless to Harmful: A Case Series of Hepatic Abscess Induced by Gut Microbiota Due to Fish Bone.

Accidental ingestion of fish bones can lead to serious complications, such as gastrointestinal perforation and hepatic abscesses. This case series presents three instances where fish bone ingestion led to secondary GI tract perforation and the development of hepatic abscesses. It also emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention to prevent serious consequences.

Dynamic regulation of ion transport through a bis(1,3-propanediol)-based channel allosteric azobenzene photoswitching.

The transportation of ions across cell membranes is vital in biological functions and is frequently controlled by external triggers like light, ligands, and voltage. Synthetic ion transport systems, particularly those featuring gating mechanisms, have attracted considerable interest. In this research, we engineered self-assembled barrel rosette ion channels using a photoresponsive azobenzene integrated at an allosteric site.

The Relationship Between the Type of ST-Segment Elevation in Acute Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction and Left Ventricular Ejection Function.

Introduction: Acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI), when presenting with ST-segment elevation on an electrocardiogram (ECG), represents a form of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by a significant reduction in coronary blood flow to the heart muscle. The shape of the ST-segment elevation, whether it is concave, convex, or straight, has been associated with different levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is an important indicator of cardiac function and prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the type of ST-segment elevation on ECG and LVEF measured 48 hours after the onset of myocardial infarction in patients with AWMI.

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain and Anhidrosis With Orthopedic and Self-Injury Complications in a 5-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder because of NTRK1 gene mutations, leading to an inability to perceive pain and temperature and lack of sweating. Its rarity and unique clinical challenges, such as severe injuries from the inability to sense pain, make reporting cases critical. A 5-year-old boy, the third child of consanguineous parents, was referred for a fractured femur.

Fabrication of Porous MXene/Cellulose Nanofibers Composite Membrane for Maximum Osmotic Energy Harvesting.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanofluidic channels are emerging as potential candidates for harnessing osmotic energy from salinity gradients. However, conventional 2D nanofluidic membranes suffer from high transport resistance and low ion selectivity, leading to inefficient transport dynamics and limiting energy conversion performance. In this study, we present a novel composite membrane consisting of porous MXene (PMXene) nanosheets featuring etched nanopores, in conjunction with cellulose nanofibers (CNF), yielding enhancement in ion flux and ion selectivity.

Effects of Sizing Agents and Resin-Formulated Matrices with Varying Stiffness-Toughness Ratios on the Properties of Carbon Fiber Epoxy Resin Composites.

Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and compressive strength are two of the most critical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). In this report, three types of epoxy resins-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane epoxy resin (AG-80), bisphenol A epoxy resin (E-1NT), and novolac epoxy (EPN)-were studied. E-1NT is characterized by low viscosity and low cost but exhibits poor mechanical properties, while AG-80 offers better wetting with carbon fiber.

Broad ligament ectopic pregnancy with full-term live birth: a rare case report from Syria.

Ectopic pregnancy, the implantation of a fertilized zygote outside the uterine cavity, presents with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs, and treatment involves surgery or methotrexate in selected cases. A 24-year-old woman at 37 weeks of gestation underwent elective cesarean delivery under general anesthesia, revealing an unexpected broad ligament ectopic pregnancy.

Relationship of screen time with anxiety, depression, and sleep quality among adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: In the current digital age, people's use of electronic devices has significantly increased screen time, which may have an impact on different aspects of their lives. Adolescents today are exposed to excessive screen time, which may affect their sleep and contribute to anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between screen time with sleep quality, anxiety and depression, among adolescents in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Vagal nerve stimulation for the management of long COVID symptoms.

This review investigates the therapeutic potential of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) in managing long COVID, a condition marked by persistent symptoms following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID manifests as ongoing fatigue, cognitive impairment, and autonomic dysfunction, hypothesized to arise from sustained inflammatory and neurological dysregulation. The vagus nerve, central to modulating systemic inflammation and autonomic homeostasis, represents a promising therapeutic target for symptom alleviation through VNS.

Rectal Cancer Surgery in a District Hospital: Our Experience.

Introduction Rectal cancer forms a significant proportion of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer. Treatment of rectal cancer is multi-modal, but surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment of rectal cancer and has undergone significant changes in the last three decades. The advent of minimally invasive techniques has revolutionised the landscape of surgery of the rectum.

Biochemical, Radiographic, or Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Resected Pancreatic Cancer: Which is Best?

Objective: To examine the optimal method of assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in operable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.

Summary Of Background Data: PDAC response to NAT is measured with biochemical, radiographic and pathologic parameters, which can often be discordant with each other.

Methods: PDAC patients undergoing resection after NAT at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed.

Genetic analysis of chlorantraniliprole resistance in the non-target bio-control agent Trichogrammachilonis.

Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), a widely used egg parasitoid of lepidopteran pests in various crops, has developed very high levels of resistance when treated with chlorantraniliprole under laboratory conditions. This study assessed and characterized its mode of inheritance, degree of dominance, realized heritability (h), and cross-resistance. Toxicity bioassays were performed on T.

Quantitative correlation of serum and salivary trace elements in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders: An institution-based biochemical analysis.

Background: Trace elements are the important components that play a crucial role in various functions of the human body at cellular and molecular levels. Considering the role of the trace elements in precancerous and cancerous conditions, estimation of their levels in these conditions could aid in understanding the disease process and progression. The purpose of this study is to determine the alteration in salivary electrolyte concentration of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients to correlate the variations with the severity and biological behaviour.

Implantable continuous-flow total artificial heart for newborns and small pediatric patients: First report of working model.

Objective: The need for safe and reliable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for smaller children with severe heart failure (HF) is well defined. More specifically, in pediatric patients with advanced congenital HF, there is no implantable total artificial heart (TAH) device available for small patients. Herein, we report the development of the infant continuous-flow total artificial heart (I-CFTAH), a fully implantable in infants and newborns.