Asymmetric natural wound dressing based on porous chitosan-alginate hydrogel/electrospun PCL-silk sericin loaded by 10-HDA for skin wound healing: In vitro and in vivo studies.

An asymmetric wound dressing introduced, inspired by the skin structure made of chitosan and alginate hydrogel as the bottom layer and electrospun PCL-silk sericin (PCL-SS) as the top layer. In addition, an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and immunomodulatory substance, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10-HDA), known as queen bee acid, was loaded in inner layer. The wound dressing was thoroughly characterized and confirmed to meet the criteria of a standard wound dressing through in vitro and in vivo studies.

Premorbid Incidence of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders in Facial Trauma Patients.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: Facial trauma is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality with increasing incidence over recent decades. Few studies have examined the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse disorders at the time of diagnosis.

Modeling the Contribution of Grit, Enjoyment, and Boredom to Predict English as a Foreign Language Students' Willingness to Communicate in a Blended Learning Environment.

The complex relationships between emotions experienced by learners and learners' personality traits, such as grit, that influence students' willingness to communicate in a second language (L2 WTC) have come under increasing attention. To date, investigators have focused primarily on WTC and the role of emotions in traditional face-to-face settings rather than in blended learning environments. To expand this research, we examined whether grit, foreign language enjoyment (FLE), and foreign language boredom (FLB) among university-level EFL students would be predictive of L2 WTC in a hybrid online and face-to-face learning setting.

Visual and Demographic Risk Factors for Falls and the Impact of Cataract Surgery in Elderly Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of cataract surgery and visual impairment and the associated risk factors on the frequency of falls among older adults in northeast Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between 2019 and 2020, analyzed the potential risk factors of falling in older adults over 50 years of age. To this end, 380 patients were randomly selected by convenience sampling and classified into two groups: those who had undergone cataract surgery in the last 12 months (surgery group) and those who had not (cataract group).

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Nasal Valve Repair and Nasal Obstruction.

Although no gold-standard test exists for measuring the success of surgery in functional rhinoplasty, the patient's own subjective experience of their nasal airway obstruction and its impact on quality of life is paramount in outcomes assessment. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are questionnaires designed to evaluate both disease-specific nasal functional and esthetic domains and global health-related quality of life domains. Ideal PROMs are derived from patient input, psychometrically validated, reliable, and responsive.

Macular choroidal thickness in keratoconus.

Clinical Relevance: Expanding practitioner knowledge regarding potential changes in ocular structure of keratoconic eyes will improve the eye care practice and patient management.

Background: This study aimed to compare the difference in choroidal thickness between keratoconus patients and two control groups of myopic-astigmatism and emmetropic subjects.

Methods: A case-control study was undertaken which included 50 patients with keratoconus, 50 with myopic-astigmatism, 30 with emmetropia aged between 18 and 39 years.

The Interrelationships Between Chinese English-as-a-Foreign-Language Teachers' Immediacy and Clarity with Learners' Boredom.

Since boredom significantly contributes to diminished motivation among learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), there is a need to identify factors that influence boredom. Amidst various elements that can precipitate students' boredom, educational-related concepts have garnered particular attention, with the learning environment emerging as a chief focal point due to its consequential importance to learners. Specifically, the role of teachers' clarity and immediacy in manipulating learners' performance, enthusiasm, and involvement has been widely recognized.

Defining Gestational Thyroid Dysfunction Through Modified Nonpregnancy Reference Intervals: An Individual Participant Meta-analysis.

Background: Establishing local trimester-specific reference intervals for gestational TSH and free T4 (FT4) is often not feasible, necessitating alternative strategies. We aimed to systematically quantify the diagnostic performance of standardized modifications of center-specific nonpregnancy reference intervals as compared to trimester-specific reference intervals.

Methods: We included prospective cohorts participating in the Consortium on Thyroid and Pregnancy.

Use of piezoelectric instrumentation in craniofacial surgery.

Purpose Of Review: The use of piezoelectric instrumentation is increasingly recognized as an alternative to traditional bone-cutting techniques across a wide array of surgeries. Here, we provide an overview of the technique, including device principles, benefits, and drawbacks. We also review its use in craniofacial surgery.

Development, comparison, and internal validation of prediction models to determine the visual prognosis of patients with open globe injuries using machine learning approaches.

Introduction: Open globe injuries (OGI) represent a main preventable reason for blindness and visual impairment, particularly in developing countries. The goal of this study is evaluating key variables affecting the prognosis of open globe injuries and validating internally and comparing different machine learning models to estimate final visual acuity.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed three hundred patients with open globe injuries receiving treatment at Khatam-Al-Anbia Hospital in Iran from 2020 to 2022.

Ergonomics in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Purpose Of Review: Understanding effective ergonomic interventions is crucial for enhancing occupational health and career longevity. There is a paucity of clear ergonomics guidelines in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS), placing practitioners at high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and their consequences.

Recent Findings: There is mounting evidence that FPRS specialists are at increased risk of WMSDs as compared with the public and other surgical specialties.

: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential in Persian Medicine and Modern Pharmacology.

Background: Spinach is a widely cultivated dark leafy vegetable highly regarded for its medicinal properties in traditional Persian medicine. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds, and this review aims to explore the historical applications of spinach in Persian medicine and juxtapose them with current scientific evidence. Despite its historical significance, there remains a need to comprehensively evaluate and integrate traditional knowledge with modern research on the therapeutic benefits of spinach.

Wire Osteosynthesis in the Treatment of Mandible Fractures in Low Resource Settings: A Force Study.

Study Design: Cadaveric investigation.

Objective: Rigid internal fixation (RIF) using plates and screws is often not feasible in low and middle-income countries due to limited resources. Interosseous wiring to achieve semi-rigid fixation is often used, but lacks biomechanical force data.

On the Role of Academic Buoyancy and Self-Efficacy in Predicting Teachers' Work Engagement: A Case of Chinese English as a Foreign Language Teachers.

A plethora of scientific evidence has pinpointed that teaching English as a foreign or second language (EFL) is difficult, challenging, and emotionally burdensome. Nevertheless, most English language teachers remain committed to the teaching profession and actively engage in the instructional environment. This has inspired several scholars worldwide to explore what personal, emotional, and psychological factors motivate English language teachers to engage enthusiastically in their workplace.

Adherence to Immunosuppressants among Adult Patients after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation (Allo-HSCT): A Cross-Sectional Study.

The level of adherence to drug therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) can affect the patient's outcome, and poor adherence is one of the factors in first-year mortality after HSCT. This study assessed adherence to cyclosporine and prednisolone as the immunosuppressant regimen in 110 post-HSCT patients (> 18 years). Demographic characteristics, clinical information, and cyclosporine levels were obtained.

Accelerating Full-Thickness Wound Healing with Bacterial Cellulose-Based Multilayer Composites.

Materials that speed up wound healing can be of great benefit to patients and healthcare providers. One-layer dressings, however, have unsatisfactory healing efficacy since it is impossible to use materials with different properties simultaneously, and drug delivery is limited by the depth of penetration. The present study utilized a multilayer wound dressing composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) hydrogel, gelatin/alginate (Gel/Alg) hydrogel, and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers loaded with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to promote the healing process in vivo.

The optimal healthy ranges of thyroid function defined by the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Reference intervals of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT) are statistically defined by the 2·5-97·5th percentiles, without accounting for potential risk of clinical outcomes. We aimed to define the optimal healthy ranges of TSH and FT based on the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Methods: This systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis identified eligible prospective cohorts through the Thyroid Studies Collaboration, supplemented with a systematic search via Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar from Jan 1, 2011, to Feb 12, 2017 with an updated search to Oct 13, 2022 (cohorts found in the second search were not included in the IPD).

Identification of a Missense Mutation in Gene in an Iranian Family with Autosomal Dominant Congenital Cataract.

Purpose: To identify the causative mutations of autosomal dominant (AD) congenital cataracts in a large Iranian family.

Methods: The complete and accurate family history and clinical information of participants were collected. A total of 51 family members, including 22 affected and 29 unaffected individuals, were recruited in this study.

Quantifying Facial Distortion in Modern Digital Photography.

Background: Advancements in digital cameras and the advent of smartphones have magnified the importance of clinical photography in facial plastic surgery. Here, we aim to examine the effect of different camera types, focal lengths, and distances from subjects on facial distortion.

Methods: Twelve subjects underwent a series of frontal photographs using a smartphone camera and a full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera.

Relationship between infection and some other risk factors in the incidence and recurrence of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children.

Background: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is one of the chronic diseases in children and it is important to identify its related factors. The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between infection and the incidence and recurrence of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children.

Methods: The total number of case participants was 40 and the total number of control participants was 41.

Association of endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure with human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations in pregnancy.

Background: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the placenta and plays an essential role in the maintenance of pregnancy. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to interfere with functions related to the production and secretion of hCG; however associations between exposure to EDCs and hCG concentrations in humans remain to be elucidated.

Objectives: To investigate the association of urinary, serum and plasma concentrations of EDCs during pregnancy with serum hCG concentrations.