Kidney function, bone health, and vascular calcifications in patients with CKD II - IV: A 2 - 3 year prospective study with bone biopsies.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have serum, bone, and vascular abnormalities presenting as chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) syndrome. This study sought to identify the parameters with the greatest relative impact on progression of CKD-MBD abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study measured 237 parameters including serum markers, clinical variables, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements, vascular calcifications, and histomorphometric results from bone samples obtained at baseline and after 2 - 3 years.

Histological evaluation of the regenerative potential of injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel or collagen with blood clot as scaffolds during revascularization of immature necrotic dog's teeth.

Background: Regenerative endodontics' primary objective is to establish a favorable environment in the root canal by removing infection, providing a sturdy scaffold, and sealing the apical end of the tooth tightly. These actions should promote pulp regeneration and root development.

Aim: This study evaluated histologically the regenerative potential of injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel or collagen with blood clot as scaffolds during revascularization of immature necrotic dog's teeth.

Ambulatory management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AmbUDiv study): a multicentre, propensity score matching study.

Introduction: Recent studies have suggested that ambulatory management is feasible for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD); however, there is still no consensus regarding the most appropriate management settings. This study presents a multi-centre experience of managing patients presenting with AUD, specifically focusing on clinical outcomes and comparing ambulatory treatment with in-patient management.

Methods: A retrospective multi-centre study was conducted across four hospitals in the UK and included all adult patients with computed tomography (CT) confirmed (Hinchey grade 1a) acute diverticulitis over a 12-month period (January - December 2022).

Influence of azathioprine on healing of exposed dogs' dental pulp capped with three different materials.

Background: Azathioprine is one of the earliest immunosuppressants prescribed for several autoimmune diseases. Yet there is a lack of research on the impact of azathioprine on pulp healing following the pulp capping procedure.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of azathioprine on the healing ability of mechanically exposed dogs' dental pulps following direct pulp capping with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), bio-aggregates (BA), and Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)).

On the speech envelope in the cortical tracking of speech.

The synchronization between the speech envelope and neural activity in auditory regions, referred to as cortical tracking of speech (CTS), plays a key role in speech processing. The method selected for extracting the envelope is a crucial step in CTS measurement, and the absence of a consensus on best practices among the various methods can influence analysis outcomes and interpretation. Here, we systematically compare five standard envelope extraction methods the absolute value of Hilbert transform (absHilbert), gammatone filterbanks, heuristic approach, Bark scale, and vocalic energy), analyzing their impact on the CTS.

Management of abdominal textilomas: A retrospective study.

Introduction: Textilomas are an infrequent but well-known surgical complication. The authors report a series of cases to describe the frequency of abdominal textilomas, the circumstances in which they occur, their clinical and morphological characteristics, and their management, to contextualise these data, which may serve as a basis for preventive measures.

Setting And Method: This was a monocentric, retrospective, descriptive study conducted over 10 years at a tertiary hospital.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Surgical Techniques.

Background: We aimed to evaluate outcomes of robotic versus conventional laparoscopic colorectal resections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD].

Methods: Comparative studies of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal resections in patients with IBD were included. The primary outcome was total post-operative complication rate.

Analysis of definitive chemo-radiation outcomes in anal cancer: insights from a tertiary cancer center in the MENA Region.

Background: Outcomes of chemo-radiation (CRT) for anal cancer in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are scarce. We aim to report treatment outcomes for anal cancer treated at tertiary cancer center, with a particular focus on patients managed with non-oncological surgery prior definitive CRT.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with locally advanced anal carcinoma, who underwent definitive CRT King Hussein Cancer Center, from January 2007 till January 2020.

Event-Related Spectral Perturbation, Inter Trial Coherence, and Functional Connectivity in motor execution: A comparative EEG study of old and young subjects.

Introduction: The motor-related bioelectric brain activity of healthy young and old subjects was studied to understand the effect of aging on motor execution. A visually cued finger tapping movement paradigm and high-density EEG were used to examine the time and frequency characteristics.

Methods: Twenty-two young and 22 healthy elderly adults participated in the study.

Heartbeat classification based on single lead-II ECG using deep learning.

The analysis and processing of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals is a vital step in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. ECG offers a non-invasive and risk-free method for monitoring the electrical activity of the heart that can assist in predicting and diagnosing heart diseases. The manual interpretation of the ECG signals, however, can be challenging and time-consuming even for experts.

A Comprehensive Research Schema for the Characterization of Aortic Aneurysms.

A robust, accurate, and standardized approach to measurement of the aorta is critical to improve the predictive accuracy of these aortic measurements, and to investigate other aortic imaging biomarkers. Developing a comprehensive and generic schema for characterization of the aorta to enable investigators to standardize data that are collected across all aorta research. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify and assess schemata of aortic measurement and description.

A case of prune belly syndrome: Experience from a regional hospital in Togo.

Introduction And Importance: Prune Belly syndrome is a rare congenital condition first reported in 1939. It is a malformative disease associated with high mortality. We report a neonatal case in a regional hospital in Togo.

Unusual form of inguinal hernia: A case report of Littré's hernia strangled.

Introduction: Littré's hernia is a rare condition related to Meckel's diverticulum. Its diagnosis is per operative and its treatment is surgical. We report a case of Littre's hernia strangled, discovered in a 67-year-old adult in Togo.

Surgical Management of Perforated Peptic Ulcer: A Comparative Meta-analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery.

Background: Despite the widescale success of proton pump inhibitors to reducing the incidence of peptic ulcer disease, perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remains a significant cause of severe complications and death. The implementation of open or surgical repair of PPU should be guided by reliable guidelines which are based on current systematic evidence.

Objectives: To assess the comparative efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and open repair of PPU.

Enhanced Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm for Parameter Estimation of PID Controller.

The Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is a key component in most engineering applications. The main disadvantage of PID is the selection of the best values for its parameters using traditional methods that do not achieve the best response. In this work, the recently released empirical identification algorithm that is the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) was used to determine the best values of the PID parameters.

Esophageal Schwannoma: An Important Differential Diagnosis for Esophageal Subepithelial Lesions.

Esophageal schwannoma is a rare tumor and is classified as one of the esophageal subepithelial lesions (SELs). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) evaluation is the gold standard for evaluating subepithelial lesions. Differentiation through EUS-guided fine needle aspiration is sometimes important to exclude lesions with malignant potential.

Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presenting With Persistent Vomiting.

Atypical presentations of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been commonly known to occur but are often excluded in the differential when other diagnoses seem more likely. Female gender, patients with diabetes, hypertension, age greater than 55, and a history of smoking are some of the risk factors that have been associated with noncharacteristic presentations of ACS. This often leads to misdiagnosis and overall increased mortality.

Pancreatic Plasmacytoma: A Case of Recurrent Disease.

Pancreatic plasmacytoma is a rare entity of extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP). It is important to consider pancreatic plasmacytoma in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) presenting with obstructive jaundice. We present a case of pancreatic plasmacytoma in a patient with previously diagnosed multiple myeloma and extramedullary plasmacytoma in remission.

Human Activity Recognition Based on Embedded Sensor Data Fusion for the Internet of Healthcare Things.

Nowadays, the emerging information technologies in smart handheld devices are motivating the research community to make use of embedded sensors in such devices for healthcare purposes. In particular, inertial measurement sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in smartphones and smartwatches can provide sensory data fusion for human activities and gestures. Thus, the concepts of the Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT) paradigm can be applied to handle such sensory data and maximize the benefits of collecting and analyzing them.

Low Turnover Renal Osteodystrophy With Abnormal Bone Quality and Vascular Calcification in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate CKD.

Introduction: Limited information is available on renal osteodystrophy (ROD) and vascular calcification (VC) during early chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study was designed to evaluate ROD and VC in 32 patients with CKD stages II to IV.

Methods: Patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS), thoracic computed tomography for VC scoring using the Agatston method, and anterior iliac crest bone biopsy for mineralized bone histology, histomorphometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Complete postsurgical left ventricular-aortic discontinuity and pseudoaneurysm formation.

Background: Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm is a rare but potentially fatal complication of aortic valve replacement, infective endocarditis (IE), and suture dehiscence. Left ventricular-aortic discontinuity is a severe and uncommon manifestation of IE. For patients who have a long-standing history of endocarditis, periannular lesions in the aortic valve may rupture, leading to the rare occurrence of complete, or total, left ventricular-aortic discontinuity.

Sickle Cell Intrahepatic Cholestasis: Extremely Rare but Fatal Complication of Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), with high mortality, observed mainly in patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia. Herein, we have reported a case of severe SCIC with a poor outcome despite aggressive measures including exchange transfusion and use of vasopressors. The patient was admitted with generalized weakness, confusion, rigors, chills, and signs of hepatic failure, such as hyperbilirubinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and coagulopathy.

Predictors of type-2 diabetes remission following bariatric surgery after a two-year follow-up.

Purpose: Bariatric surgery is evolving as a successful tool for managing morbid obesity and T2DM. This study aimed to identify predictors of diabetes remission after two types of bariatric procedures.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 172 patients with morbid obesity associated with T2DM scheduled for bariatric surgery.

Negative Appendicectomy Rate: Incidence and Predictors.

Introduction Acute appendicitis is a common emergency surgical presentation. The gold standard treatment is surgery. Like any surgical procedure, appendicectomy is associated with complications.

Swiss cheese interventricular septum presenting with catastrophic stroke: the potential role of ECG-gated CTA.

Ventricular septal defect is a common congenital cardiac condition that presents in a variety of morphologies. Less commonly, when an individual patient is found to have multiple ventricular septal defects, the term "Swiss cheese ventricular septal defect" is applied. Although not routinely utilized in clinical practice, electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has been shown to provide utility in detecting intracardiac shunts, demonstrating promise in preventing acute strokes secondary to a paradoxical embolus from occurring; this is especially important when atypical cardiac septa are suspected.