Impact of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumor Treatments on Working Memory Tracts Using Resting-State fMRI and Tractography.

Background And Purpose: Working memory, a primary cognitive domain, is often impaired in pediatric brain tumor survivors, affecting their attention and processing speed. This study investigated the long-term effects of treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CT), on working memory tracts in children with posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion MRI tractography.

Methods: This study included 16 medulloblastoma (MB) survivors treated with postoperative RT and CT, 14 pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) survivors treated with surgery alone, and 16 healthy controls from the Imaging Memory after Pediatric Cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults study (NCT04324450).

Improved activity and stability of cellulase by immobilization on FeO nanoparticles functionalized with Reactive Red 120.

Cellulase is extensively used in the biorefinery of cellulosic materials to fermentable sugars in bioethanol production. Application of cellulase in the free form has disadvantages in enzyme wastage and low stability. The results of the present work showed these drawbacks can be solved by cellulase immobilization on functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with reactive red 120 (RR120) as the affinity ligands.

Isolation and characterization of thermotolerant hydrocarbon degrading bacteria which sustained the activity at extreme salinity and high osmotic conditions.

The bioremediation method is considered an economical and environmentally friendly strategy for the remediation of oil-contaminated soils. However, some oil field areas have extreme environmental conditions that make it difficult to establish microbes for bioreme-diation. In this study, bacteria were isolated from oil-contaminated soils of the Dehloran oil fields, which have very harsh soil and weather conditions.

Designing and implementation of a mobile application for teaching population oral health needs assessment for dental students; a non-randomized trial.

Objective: This study investigates the effectiveness of a newly developed smartphone-based application for teaching population oral health needs assessment to undergraduate dental students.

Methods: Target population in this study consisted of all students of Shahid Beheshti School of dentistry in the 7 and 8 semesters in the year 2023. The intervention group (7 semester) received teaching about population oral health needs assessment based on the book "Oral health surveys; basic methods", by means of an application, while the control group (8 semester) received the same content through self-learning activity.

A Readmission Risk Assessment Tool Is Not Predictive of 90-Day Readmission After Total Joint Arthroplasty at an Urban Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Introduction: Readmission within 90 days of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) via an emergency department (ED) encounter represents a significant economic burden to the healthcare system. We aimed to determine the utility of a previously described readmission risk assessment tool (RRAT) in predicting readmission after presentation to the ED within 90 days of primary TJA.

Methods: At a single academic tertiary referral medical center, a retrospective chart review was used to collect demographic data, surgery type, medical history, reason for presentation in the ED, and ED disposition for the 1,576 patients who underwent TJA between April 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018.

Are Patients' Relationships to Their Primary Contacts Associated With Postoperative Outcomes After Total Joint Arthroplasty?

Background: Social determinants strongly influence overall health, including recovery after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The modern electronic health record includes a list of individuals identified by patients as their primary contacts. We aimed to assess whether the relationship between patients and their documented primary contacts was associated with outcomes after TJA.

Diesel-degradation by indigenous bacteria of petroleum-contaminated soils.

Relying on native microorganisms is crucial for bioremediating petroleum-contaminated soils within this oil field. This study aimed to isolate native bacteria and investigate their ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils. Flame ionization detector gas chromatography analyzed the capacity of Indigenous bacterial isolates to break down diesel fuel in an aquatic environment.

Modulation of inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus through gut microbiome-targeted interventions: An umbrella review on meta-analyses.

Background & Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant global health challenge due to various lifestyle factors contributing to its prevalence and associated complications. Chronic low-grade inflammation, characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Modulation of the gut microbiota through microbiome-targeted therapy (MTT), including probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, has emerged as a potential strategy to mitigate inflammation and improve metabolic outcomes in T2DM.

Roseomonas aestuarii, as a Potential In Situ Surfactin Producer During Hydrocarbon Biodegradation.

In situ biosurfactant production by hydrocarbon degrader microorganisms is an attractive approach in the bioremediation of oil contamination because of their compatibility, biodegradability, environmental safety, and stability under extreme environmental conditions. Given the high efficiency of bacteria in degrading petroleum hydrocarbons, the present work studied the detection and characterization of a biosurfactant-producing hydrocarbon degrader, Roseomonas aestuarii NB833. This strain was able to synthesize a biosurfactant during the biodegradation of crude oil, which reduced the surface tension of the aqueous system from 70 to 34 mN m, with a critical micelle concentration of 200 mg L.

Utilization of preoperative EOS imaging to prevent adverse events following total hip arthroplasty.

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated the use of technology in total hip arthroplasty (THA) provided favorable outcomes. This study sought to describe the effect preoperative two-dimensional low-dose (2DLD) full-body radiographs had on the prevention of adverse outcomes following THA.

Methods: We reviewed 11,814 cases of patients who underwent primary, elective THA from 2016 to 2021.

Drought and heat stress interactions: Unveiling the molecular and physiological responses of Persian walnut.

While numerous studies explored the response of walnut plants to drought stress (DS), there remains a significant gap in the knowledge regarding the impact of heat stress (HS) and the combined effects of DS and HS on the recovery capacity of walnut trees. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of Persian walnut (cv. Chandler) response to the combined DS and HS, focusing on various aspects including photosynthesis, water relations, and osmotic regulation.

Cold water immersion regulates NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in the rat skeletal muscle after eccentric exercise by regulating the ubiquitin proteasome related proteins.

Background: Eccentric exercise (ECC) can induce NLRP3-related inflammation in skeletal muscle tissue. Limited available data have shown that Cold water immersion (CWI) after ECC can suppress skeletal muscle inflammation. This study aims to investigate the effect of CWI after ECC on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, and the expression of ubiquitin-proteasome-related proteins (UPPs) in the skeletal muscle of rats.

Fetal Hemoglobin Decrease During Voxelotor Treatment.

Voxelotor modifies hemoglobin-oxygen affinity improving anemia and reducing hemolysis in sickle cell patients. However, the impact of Voxelotor on fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels is unknown. We describe here variations of percentage of HbF measured by high performance liquid chromatography and mean corpuscular fetal Hb in a cohort of sickle cell patients treated with Voxelotor at Henri Mondor Sickle Cell Referral Center.

Synthesis of bisnitroepoxides and their applications in the synthesis of bis(thiazolidine-2-thiones), bis(dithiocarbamates), bis(xanthates) and bis(thiazoles).

Novel bis(nitroepoxides) were prepared based on terephthaldehyde and isophthaladehyde and their reactions with diversities of nucleophiles such as primary and secondary amine-based dithiocarbamic acids, xanthates, and ammonia-based dithiocarbmamates were investigated for the synthesis of bis(thiazolidine-2-thiones), bis(dithiocarbamates), bis(xanthates) and bis(thiazoles), respectively. It provides simple access to complex molecules in one step in high to excellent yields.

A novel LL-37@NH2@Fe3O4 inhibits the proliferation of the leukemia K562 cells: in-vitro study.

LL-37 can inhibit the growth of K562 cancer cells when it is conjugated with iron oxide nanoparticles. In this study, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using the co-precipitation method and then modified with the LL-37 peptide through an NH2 bridge. The accuracy of the synthesis process was confirmed through various analytical tests, including FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and EDX.

The role of MRI in the diagnosis of aseptic loosening following total hip arthroplasty.

Introduction: The role of advanced imaging in diagnosing aseptic implant loosening following total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting aseptic loosening.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 342 consecutive patients who underwent revision THA between July 2011 and April 2023 and had a pelvis MRI as part of the preoperative diagnostic evaluation.

Sexual function of overweight pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Overweight and obesity are on the rise worldwide and may affect female sexual function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual function in normal and overweight pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in overweight and normal-weight pregnant women with GDM in Sari, Iran.

Cataract and diabetes: review of the literature.

Cataracts can cause visual impairment in diabetic patients. Diabetes mellitus affects different parts of the eye and causes many complications and problems before, during, and after intraocular surgeries. In this review, we will discuss the effects of diabetes on different aspects of cataract surgery and review the current management of diabetic cataracts.

Molecular identification of rhamnolipids produced by during biodegradation of crude oil.

Introduction: The ability to produce biosurfactants plays a meaningful role in the bioavailability of crude oil hydrocarbons and the bioremediation efficiency of crude oil-degrading bacteria. This study aimed to characterize the produced biosurfactants by during the biodegradation of crude oil hydrocarbons.

Methods: The biosurfactants were isolated and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analyses.

A Coproduced Family Reporting Intervention to Improve Safety Surveillance and Reduce Disparities.

Objectives: Examine family safety-reporting after implementing a parent-nurse-physician-leader coproduced, health literacy-informed, family safety-reporting intervention for hospitalized families of children with medical complexity.

Methods: We implemented an English and Spanish mobile family-safety-reporting tool, staff and family education, and process for sharing comments with unit leaders on a dedicated inpatient complex care service at a pediatric hospital. Families shared safety concerns via predischarge surveys (baseline and intervention) and mobile tool (intervention).

Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients Who Have Ostomies Have an Increased Risk of Revisions for Periprosthetic Joint Infection, but Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients Do Not.

Background: Patient comorbidities can lead to worse outcomes and increase the risk of revisions after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sparse research is available on the effects of ostomies on postoperative outcomes. Our study aimed to assess whether patients who have ostomies, who underwent TKA or THA, have worse outcomes and increased rates of all-cause and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)-related revisions.