Feasibility of on-site CT-FFR analysis on cardiac photon-counting CT in evaluation of hemodynamically significant stenosis in comparison to invasive catheter angiography.

Objectives: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is an excellent tool in ruling out coronary artery disease (CAD) but tends to overestimate especially highly calcified plaques. To reduce diagnostic invasive catheter angiographies (ICA), current guidelines recommend CT-FFR to determine the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. Photon-Counting Detector CT (PCCT) revolutionized CCTA and may improve CT-FFR analysis in guiding patients.

Efficacy of tranilast in preventing exacerbating cardiac function and death from heart failure in muscular dystrophy patients with advanced-stage heart failure: a single-arm, open-label, multicenter study.

Background: Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 2 (TRPV2) functions as a stretch-sensitive calcium channel, with overexpression in the sarcolemma of skeletal and cardiac myocytes leading to detrimental calcium influx and triggering muscle degeneration. In our previous pilot study, we showed that tranilast, a TRPV2 inhibitor, reduced brain natriuretic peptide levels in two patients with muscular dystrophy and advanced heart failure. Building on this, we performed a single-arm, open-label, multicenter study herein to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tranilast in the treatment of advanced heart failure in patients with muscular dystrophy.

Association of the immunogenicity of intramuscular SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination with computed tomography muscle images in patients with muscular disorders.

Backgrounds: Intramuscular mRNA vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have a low intensity and latency of antibody response in patients with muscular disorders (MDs). However, the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of the low immunogenicity of intramuscular SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in patients with MDs.

Evaluation of the bone regenerative effect of glycogen synthase kinase 3 antagonist Tideglusib carried by different scaffolds on rat calvarial defects.

The aim was to explore the efficiency of Tideglusib in bone tissue healing by carrying it with different scaffolds on rat calvarial lesions. Twentyfour male Dawley rats were utilized. Two bone defects of 5 mm in diameter were formed (n = 8).

Short-Term Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy Is Still Based on Patients' Age, Nerve-Sparing Approach, and Surgical-Experience, Despite the Higher-Use of Robotic Surgery in 2022 Compared to 2016 Real-World Results of a Large Rehabilitation Center in Germany.

Background: Despite constant improvements, incontinence is one of the most relevant and quality-of-life-reducing side effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) and, in addition to patient-specific factors such as age, the experience of the surgeon/center and the surgical technique used play an important role.

Aims: To present current real-world data on short-term incontinence after RP from one of the largest German rehabilitation centers in 2022 and to compare it to the results from the same institution in 2016.

Methods And Results: Retrospective, unicentric, univariate analysis of data from 1394 men after RP in 2022 on admission and discharge from the rehabilitation clinic.

Medical education videos - comparative analysis of sonography vs. clinical examination videos: user perception and educational value.

Background: Video content has become an increasingly valuable tool in medical education, particularly for teaching hands-on skills like sonography and clinical examination. This study evaluates the satisfaction and content of sonography and clinical examination videos on the AMBOSS platform, a prominent medical education resource in Germany.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare how effective and well-received sonography and clinical examination videos are on the AMBOSS platform.

Physicochemical properties of stingless bees (Meliponula beccarii) honey in Dandi and Meta Robi districts of West Shewa zone, Ethiopia.

The study was conducted to characterize the physicochemical properties of honey produced from underground nesting stingless bees (Meliponula beccarii) in the Dandi and Meta Robi districts of the West Shewa zone, Ethiopia. A total of 27 honey samples, including 24 samples collected through careful investigation and excavation of natural nests and 3 samples purchased from the market, were analyzed in the laboratory. The evaluated physicochemical properties showed an overall mean of 306.

Unusual synchronous and metachronous association of hematologic neoplasms with gynecologic neoplasms: A case series and literature review.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of synchronous or metachronous hematologic and gynecologic malignancies. The medical database of the pathology department at a tertiary center was searched from 2016 to 2024 for cases involving both hematologic and gynecologic tumors. A literature search using Google Scholar and PubMed was also conducted between May and June 2024.

Histopathological Comparison of Various Tongue Base Reduction Processes.

Background And Aim: Tongue base reduction surgery is the only minimally invasive technique that can be performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, especially to treat obstructive sleep apnea caused by hypopharyngeal obstruction. Studies reported that various devices could be used for tongue base reduction, but comparisons of these methods are limited in the literature. Our study aimed to compare the histological effects of tongue base reduction methods performed with the Celon radiofrequency, monopolar cautery, Coblator, and Sutter devices on the tissue.

Urinary titin reflects the severity of walking ability, muscle strength, and muscle and cardiac damage in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy.

Background: Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a dystrophinopathy caused by a pathological variant of the DMD gene. Urinary titin, a degradation product of the giant protein titin present in muscle sarcomeres, has been used as a biomarker to reflect muscle degradation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a more severe dystrophinopathy. However, the clinical significance of urinary titin levels in BMD remains unclear.

Dentinal tubule occlusion effects of dipotassium oxalate and diode laser combination: a single-blind in vitro study.

Background: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) affects many patients. Various therapeutic options have been devised to alleviate this condition by achieving dentinal tubules (DT) occlusion. This research aimed to investigate the effects of dipotassium oxalate-containing mouthwash, diode laser and their combination on DT occlusion.

Evolutionary history of calcium-sensing receptors unveils hyper/hypocalcemia-causing mutations.

Despite advancements in understanding the structure and functions of the Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR), gaps persist in our knowledge of the specific functions of its residues. In this study, we used phylogeny-based techniques to identify functionally equivalent orthologs of CaSR, predict residue significance, and compute specificity-determining position (SDP) scores to understand its evolutionary basis. The analysis revealed exceptional conservation of the CaSR subfamily, emphasizing the critical role of residues with high SDP scores in receptor activation and pathogenicity.

Evaluation of the teratogenic effects of pregabalin usage during pregnancy: A multicenter case-control study.

Objective: Information regarding pregabalin use is limited. We aimed to assess the outcome of the patients who have taken pregabalin at a certain time during their pregnancies.

Methods: 31 patients used pregabalin treatment during pregnancy and 93 control patients were included in the study who applied to hospital between the years 2013-2022.

Exploring Alternative Health Facebook Groups in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Automated Content Analysis Through Structural Topic Modeling.

Alternative health (AH) has an important role in public health across cultures, as the World Health Organization acknowledges. Using structural topic modeling, we analyzed 25,561 posts from public Facebook groups that contained AH-related content during the COVID-19 pandemic over 3 years. Thirty-one topics emerged, and they were categorized into six major themes, including (1) sharing information regarding AH treatment for COVID-19, (2) spiritual and mental healing in the pandemic, (3) news and information about COVID-19, (4) commercial content related to AH treatment, (5) COVID-19 precautions suggestions, and (6) caution against treating AH as a cure-all.

Effect of birth type and sex on growth performance, wither height, humerus-radius bone dimensions, humerus-ulna growth plate width and selected hormone profile in growing Gurcu goat kids.

Objectives: In this study, the effects of sex and birth type on growth performance, withers height (WH), radiographic measurements and selected hormone profiles in Gurcu goat kids were investigated.

Methods: Twenty kids (single female = 5, single male = 5, twin female = 5, twin male = 5) were included in the study. Body weight (BW), WH, radiographic measurements (humerus length [HL], radius length [RL], proximal humerus epiphyseal plate width [HEP] and distal ulna epiphyseal plate width [UEP]) and biochemical analysis (for serum calcitonin, free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], growth hormone [GH] and insulin-like growth factor-I [IGF-I]) were performed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 months of age.

Virtual goniometric measurement of the forearm, wrist, and hand: A double-blind psychometric study of a digital goniometer.

Background: Various virtual goniometers have been used for photographic measurements. However, there is no single method that is both reliable and valid for measuring the forearm, wrist, and finger joints.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the criterion validity and intra- and inter-rater reliability of a virtual goniometer for assessing forearm, wrist, and finger joints using screenshots from video recordings and to calculate the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC).