Impact of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease on the Prognosis of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radical Resection: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Although metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is becoming more common in individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is still unknown how this condition relates to postoperative complications of HCC. While hepatitis B/C virus (HBV/HCV) infection and alcohol use are primary risk factors, MAFLD has emerged as a significant contributor to HCC incidence. Understanding the prognostic impact of MAFLD on HCC outcomes, particularly post-radical resection, is essential.

Dual Influence of Size and Electric Field on Gold Nanoparticles: Insights into 2D Monolayer Assembly.

Self-assembled gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) possess distinctive properties that are highly desirable in diverse nanotechnological applications. This study meticulously explores the size-dependent behavior of Au-NPs under an electric field, specifically focusing on sizes ranging from 5 to 40 nm, and their subsequent assembly into 2D monolayers on an n-type silicon substrate. The primary objective is to refine the assembly process and augment the functional characteristics of the resultant nanostructures.

PhyImpute and UniFracImpute: two imputation approaches incorporating phylogeny information for microbial count data.

Sequencing-based microbial count data analysis is a challenging task due to the presence of numerous non-biological zeros, which can impede downstream analysis. To tackle this issue, we introduce two novel approaches, PhyImpute and UniFracImpute, which leverage similar microbial samples to identify and impute non-biological zeros in microbial count data. Our proposed methods utilize the probability of non-biological zeros and phylogenetic trees to estimate sample-to-sample similarity, thus addressing this challenge.

Assessing the Efficacy of Modified CT Severity Index Versus Conventional CT Severity Index in Determining Severity and Clinical Outcomes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the computed tomography severity index (CTSI) and the modified CTSI (MCTSI) and to assess their correlation with clinical outcome measures. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of these indices in predicting moderate to severe COPD, based on patient outcomes. Materials and methods In this prospective study, conducted between November 2023 and March 2024, two radiologists, blinded to clinical outcomes, independently assessed CTSI and MCTSI.

In-situ synthesis and integration of gold nanoparticles into 3D printed optical fiber probes.

This work uses the polymeric reduction method to explore the in-situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within 3D-printed optical fiber probes (OFPs). Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing is employed to fabricate the OFPs using a resin consisting of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). After printing, OFPs were immersed in a boiling gold precursor solution to facilitate the synthesis of AuNPs inside the polymer matrix.

Surface Engineering of Polymeric Colloidal Crystals by Temperature - Pressure Annealing.

Polymer colloidal crystals (PCCs) have been widely explored as acoustic and optical metamaterials and as templates for nanolithography. However, fabrication impurities and fragility of the self-assembled structures are critical bottlenecks for the device's efficiency and applications. We have demonstrated that temperature-assisted pressure [ annealing results in the mechanical strengthening of PCCs, which improves with the annealing temperature.

Effectiveness of 8-week TReatment with vortioxetine on depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder patients with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder in UAE (TRUE).

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and results in excessive utilization of healthcare resources worldwide. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region shows a high prevalence of depressive disorders. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and MDD have the highest rate of comorbidity of all mood and anxiety disorders, ranging from 40 to 98% in drug studies.

Gold on the horizon: unveiling the chemistry, applications and future prospects of 2D monolayers of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs).

Noble 2D monolayers of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) have garnered significant attention due to their unique physicochemical properties, which are instrumental in various technological applications. This review delves into the intricate physical chemistry underlying the formation of Au-NP monolayers, highlighting key interactions such as electrostatic forces, van der Waals attractions, and ligand-mediated stabilization. The discussion extends to the size- and shape-dependent assembly processes of these NP monolayers, elucidating how nanoparticle dimensions and morphologies influence monolayer formation and stability.

Vat photopolymerization of multifunctional fresnel lenses for ocular management.

In this study, multifunctional Fresnel lenses were explored as a potential solution for correcting vision in patients with color vision deficiency (CVD) and high myopia. Current studies have primarily focused on color vision correction through the 3D printing of glasses and contact lenses. However, the potential of 3D-printed multifunctional devices, such as Fresnel lenses, goes beyond addressing a single vision correction issue.

Biflavonoids and bi- and tricoumarins from Daphne mezereum and inhibition of TNF-α secretion.

Daphne mezereum L. (Thymelaeaceae) was an important medicinal plant in Norway during the 18th and 19th centuries and used against diseases such as diarrhea, swelling, stomach pain, and tuberculosis. Five previously undescribed phenolic compounds, including two biflavonoids with a catechin core structure, two tricoumarins, and one bicoumarin, together with ten known compounds were isolated from a 50% EtOH extract of the bark of D.

Silent stealth: painless aortic dissection masquerading as heart failure.

A male patient in his 50s presented to the emergency department with a three-day history of shortness of breath, New York Heart Association class IV, and oxygen desaturation. His physical examination revealed a large volume radial pulse with bibasal crepitation in the lungs and a soft diastolic murmur in the aortic area on auscultation of his heart. He was managed on the line of decompensated heart failure.

Synthetic directed evolution for targeted engineering of plant traits.

Improving crop traits requires genetic diversity, which allows breeders to select advantageous alleles of key genes. In species or loci that lack sufficient genetic diversity, synthetic directed evolution (SDE) can supplement natural variation, thus expanding the possibilities for trait engineering. In this review, we explore recent advances and applications of SDE for crop improvement, highlighting potential targets (coding sequences and -regulatory elements) and computational tools to enhance crop resilience and performance across diverse environments.

A sustainable approach to derive sheep corneal scaffolds from stored slaughterhouse waste.

The escalating demand for corneal transplants significantly surpasses the available supply. To bridge this gap, we concentrated on ethical and sustainable corneal grafting sources. Our objective was to create viable corneal scaffolds from preserved slaughterhouse waste.

Risk factors for long COVID syndrome in postmenopausal women with previously reported diagnosis of COVID-19.

Purpose: Long COVID-19 syndrome occurs in 10-20 % of people after a confirmed/probable SARS-COV-2 infection; new symptoms begin within three months of COVID-19 diagnosis and last > 8 weeks. Little is known about risk factors for long COVID, particularly in older people who are at greater risk of COVID complications.

Methods: Data are from Women's Health Initiative (WHI) postmenopausal women who completed COVID surveys that included questions on whether they had ever been diagnosed with COVID and length and nature of symptoms.

Surface-Templated Polymer Microparticle Synthesis Based on Droplet Microarrays.

Polymer microparticle synthesis based on the surface-templated method is a simple and environmentally friendly method to produce various microparticles. Unique particles with different compositions can be fabricated by simply annealing a polymer on a liquid-repellent surface. However, there are hurdles to producing particles of homogeneous sizes with large quantities and varying the shape of particles.

Gene therapies on the horizon for sickle cell disease: a clinician's perspective.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disorder that exerts several detrimental health effects on those affected, ultimately resulting in significant morbidity and early mortality. There are millions of individuals globally impacted by this disease. Research in gene therapy has been growing significantly over the past decade, now with two FDA approved products, aiming to find another cure for this complex disease.

Scrotal Migration of the Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is the most frequently used treatment for hydrocephalus. This procedure is not always free of complications, and patients may need additional surgeries to overcome these complications. We are presenting the case of a seven-month-old baby who underwent myelomeningocele repair and VP shunt placement 13 days ago and now presents with inguinal swelling extending into the scrotum.

Vat photopolymerization printing of functionalized hydrogels on commercial contact lenses.

Contact lenses are widely used for vision correction and cosmetic purposes. Smart contact lenses offer further opportunities as functionalized non-invasive devices capable of simultaneous vision correction, real-time health monitoring and patient specific drug delivery. Herein, a low-cost vat photopolymerization technique is developed for directly 3D printing functionalized structures on commercially available contact lenses.

How Charges Separate when Surfaces Are Dewetted.

Charge separation behind moving water drops occurs in nature and technology. Yet, the physical mechanism has remained obscure, as charge deposition is energetically unfavorable. Here, we analyze how a part of the electric double layer charge remains on the dewetted surface.

Impact of energy imports, renewable electricity production, alternative, and nuclear energy sources on natural gas resource rents.

The world faces several problems related to natural gas resource rents and energy production from renewable sources. One of the main problems is the influence of energy imports, manufacturing exports, and alternative energy sources on natural gas and electricity production from renewable sources. Energy imports, manufacturing exports, and alternative energy sources can impact natural gas and electricity production.