Can a Cochlear Implant Be Used as an Electrical Impedance Tomography Device?

The imaging of the live cochlea is a challenging task. Regardless of the quality of images obtained from modern clinical imaging techniques, the internal structures of the cochlea mainly remain obscured. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a safe, low-cost alternative medical imaging technique with applications in various clinical scenarios.

Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Moulage Authenticity Rating Scale and Proposed Adaptations.

Moulage plays an important part in enhancing simulation-based learning experience fidelity; however, limited tools exist to measure the fidelity of moulage. The original Moulage Authenticity Rating Scale (MARS) is a possible tool to determine moulage's physical and conceptual fidelity in simulation. Although the MARS was proven reliable and valid in the original context, the authors sought to validate it in South Africa.

Addressing Factors that Impact Sexual Well-Being and Intimacy in IBD Patients.

Purpose Of Review: This review details the pathophysiologic mechanisms from medical, surgical to psychosocial factors that illustrate how and why sexual health and intimacy are impacted in IBD.

Recent Findings: Recent clinical surveys of practicing gastroenterologists document that clinicians should routinely address sexual health when addressing patient reported outcomes but very few actually make direct inquiry or suggest management into this important aspect of human life. Example 'patter' are suggested to clinicians to demonstrate how to introduce the subject of sexual intimacy and well-being and engender patient trust on this sensitive topic.

More Anastomotic Ulcers, Less Dumping, and Equal Weight Loss in Long vs. Short Gastric Pouch in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

Background: Anastomotic ulcers (AU) at the gastroenterostomy are a common postoperative complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Possible risk factors for ulcer formation include active smoking, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, increased tension or ischemia at the anastomosis, or factors that increase the acid secretion of the gastric pouch. Therefore, a longer gastric pouch may increase risk of AU formation after LRYGB.

Determination of Calcium and Phosphorus Digestibility of Individual Feed Ingredients as Affected by Limestone, in the Presence and Absence of Phytase in Broilers.

To begin formulating broiler diets on a digestible calcium (Ca) basis, robust Ca digestibility values for ingredients and factors affecting this digestibility are needed. This study had three main objectives: (1) determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Ca and phosphorus (P) for seven plant-based feed ingredients in broilers, (2) assess the impact of phytate source on SID Ca from limestone (LS), and (3) evaluate the effect of phytase on SID Ca and P for the different ingredients. Two experiments were conducted to satisfy these objectives.

Tocilizumab does not ameliorate inflammation-induced left ventricular dysfunction in a collagen-induced arthritis rat model.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an attractive therapeutic target due to its diverse roles in the pathogenesis of conditions characterized by systemic inflammation. IL-6 has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the impact of IL-6 receptor blockade with tocilizumab on the molecular pathways underlying systemic inflammation-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model.

Genetic counseling in South Africa: A growing profession.

The Genetic Counseling profession in South Africa (SA) was established 35 years ago when the first degree program was initiated at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1989. A second program was developed at the University of Cape Town in 2004. This article aims to describe the development of the profession in SA, with a focus on the last decade.

Impact of COVID-19 on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study explored and described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa. National research shows that nurses had poor nurse outcomes prior to the pandemic, amidst these issues the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, with nurses having to play a key role in the public health response. International studies have shown that although nurses were willing to serve in this manner, they experienced moderate to high burnout, anxiety, depression, fear and exhaustion.

Integration of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services for pregnant and breastfeeding women in eight primary care clinics: results of an implementation science study.

Background: Although HIV vertical transmission has declined significantly in sub-Saharan Africa, incident HIV infection in pregnant and postpartum women is estimated to account for over one-third of HIV vertical transmission. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBFW) is included in South African PrEP guidelines since 2021; however, integration of PrEP services within ante- and postnatal care remains limited.

Methods: Between March 2022 and September 2023, we evaluated the integration of PrEP for PBFW in eight antenatal clinics in Cape Town, South Africa, following training and mentorship of providers.

Unexpected XPS Binding Energy Observations Further Highlighted by DFT Calculations of Ruthenocene-Containing [Ir(ppy)(RCOCHCORc)] Complexes: Cytotoxicity and Crystal Structure of [Ir(ppy)(FcCOCHCORc)].

The series of iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(ppy)(RCOCHCOR')], with R = CH and R' = CH (), Rc (), and Fc (), as well as R = Rc and R' = Rc () or Fc (), and R = R' = Fc (), ppy = 2-phenylpyridinyl, Fc = Fe(η-CH)(η-CH), and Rc = Ru(η-CH)(η-CH), has been investigated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) supplemented by DFT calculations. Here, in the range of 3.74 ≤ Σχ ≤ 4.

Functionalization of Nanodiamond Surfaces with Metal β-Diketonato Complexes with Possible Application in Cancer Treatment.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are used more frequently as drug carriers through absorption or chemical modification. In this report, we describe the chemical binding of metal β-diketonato complexes onto the ND surface using an aminosilane linker. The metals used were iron(III) and copper(II), with β-diketones, acetylacetone, trifluoroacetylacetone, and the naturally occurring curcumin, which is known for its biological activity.

USING SPUTUM AND TONGUE SWAB SPECIMENS FOR IN-HOME POINT-OF-CARE TARGETED UNIVERSAL TESTING FOR TB OF HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS: AN ACCEPTABILITY AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.

Introduction: Effective strategies are needed to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The overreliance on passive case detection, symptom screening, and collection of sputum, results in delayed or undiagnosed TB, which directly contributes to on-going TB transmission. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of in-home, Targeted Universal TB Testing (TUTT) of household contacts using GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra at point-of-care (POC) during household contact investigations (HCIs) and compared the feasibility of using sputum vs.

Targeting treatment resistance in cervical cancer: A new avenue for senolytic therapies.

Cervical cancer poses a significant global health challenge, particularly impacting women in economically developing nations. This disparity stems from a combination of factors, including inadequate screening infrastructure and resource limitations. However, the foremost contributor is the widespread lack of awareness and limited accessibility to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, which is a key preventative measure against cervical cancer development.

Co-designing transport models as a heuristic planning tool.

Recently the transportation sector has witnessed several new technologically driven disruptions that have amplified the complexity of city planning and policymaking. Traditional well-established processes of decision-making in urban planning and transportation are proving insufficient to deal with this degree of complexity and uncertainty. This paper proposes an alternative approach, combining qualitative and normative urban design, with quantitative and predictive transport modelling.

Definition and Predictors of Early Recurrence in Neoadjuvantly Treated Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: a Dual-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstarct: BACKGROUND: Early recurrence after esophagectomy is often used as a surrogate for aggressive tumor biology and treatment failure. However, there is no standardized definition of early recurrence, and predictors for early recurrence are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to define an evidence-based cutoff to discriminate early and late recurrence and assess the influence of neoadjuvant treatment modalities for patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal-junction adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Sputum and tongue swab molecular testing for the in-home diagnosis of tuberculosis in unselected household contacts: a cost and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Delayed and missed diagnosis are a persistent barrier to tuberculosis control, partly driven by limitations associated with sputum collection and an unmet need for decentralized testing. Household contact investigation with point-of-care testing of non-invasive specimens like tongue swabs are hitherto undescribed and may be a cost-effective solution to enable community-based active case finding.

Methods: In-home, molecular point-of-care testing was conducted using sputum and tongue specimens collected from all household contacts of confirmed tuberculosis cases.

PTB airway compression complicated by vascular abnormalities and cardiac involvement: A case series demonstrating diagnosis and management.

Introduction: Lymphobronchial tuberculosis (LBTB) is a tuberculous lymphadenopathy causing airway compression in young children. While it can occur in older children due to factors such as airway size, wall weakness, and immune reconstitutions, severe airway obstruction is more common in younger children.

Methods: Chest X-rays show airway compression, while bronchoscopy is the gold standard for confirming TB-induced airway compression.

How preoperative upper gastrointestinal investigations affect the management of bariatric patients: results of a cohort study of 897 patients.

Introduction: Preoperative diagnostic protocols vary worldwide, some prioritizing safety while others question routine procedures. Building on prior research, this study explores the impact of diverse preoperative findings on bariatric management and procedure selection.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis of prospective data of over 1000 bariatric surgery patients from January 2017 to December 2022 undergoing primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were analyzed.

Inflammation and thrombotic risk in late-stage cervical cancer: An exploratory study of coagulation and cytokine profiles in a South African cohort.

Purpose: This exploratory study investigates the possible relationship between inflammation and thrombosis in cervical cancer patients in South Africa, highlighting the need for improved thrombotic risk profiling.

Methods: Thromboelastography (TEG) was used to assess coagulation parameters in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) from a small cohort of late-stage (III and IV) cervical cancer patients (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 15). Parameters assessed included clotting time, clot formation speed, and clot strength.

Heat Attainment and Retention in Surfers with and without a Land-Based Warm-Up and Accompanying Passive Heat Retention.

Surfing is a growing, high-participation recreational and competitive activity. It is relatively unique, being performed on, in, and through water with a range of temperatures. In other sports, warm-up and heat retention have proved useful at augmenting performance and ameliorating injury risk.

Low-dose clonidine infusion to improve sleep in postoperative patients in the high-dependency unit. A randomised placebo-controlled single-centre trial.

Purpose: Dexmedetomidine increases sleep and reduces delirium in postoperative patients, but it is expensive and requires a monitored environment. Clonidine, another 2-agonist, is cheaper and is used safely for other purposes in wards. We assessed whether clonidine would improve sleep in postoperative high-dependency unit (HDU) patients.

The effects of irrigation on the survival of in the phyllosphere and soil environments of lettuce.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to address the gap in knowledge regarding the fate of foodborne pathogens within agro-ecosystems. It specifically focused on the surrogate microorganism , which was introduced into lettuce-producing environments via surface and spray irrigation methods, respectively. The concentration of in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and non-rhizosphere soil was quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) over a 42-day trial.