High-Q Emission from Colloidal Quantum Dots Embedded in Polymer Quasi-BIC Metasurfaces.

Metasurfaces supporting narrowband resonances are of significant interest in photonics for molecular sensing, quantum light source engineering, and nonlinear photonics. However, many device architectures rely on large refractive index dielectric materials and lengthy fabrication processes. In this work, we demonstrate quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BICs) using a polymer metasurface exhibiting experimental quality factors of 305 at visible wavelengths.

Increased ferritin with contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol drospirenone in polycystic ovary syndrome: a paradox of iron storage and iron deficiency.

Objectives: The relationship between elevated ferritin levels and metabolic abnormalities in PCOS patients, and whether ferritin is a cause or a consequence, is still debated. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of the fourth generation combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone (EE 30 mcg/DRSP 3 mg), known for its favorable metabolic profile and lower side effect risk, on iron metabolism in PCOS patients, while also exploring the potential relationship between metabolic parameters and iron status.

Methods: The retrospective analysis was conducted on 81 women aged 18-45, diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria and treated with EE/DRSP for six months.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma During Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) during pregnancy is an extremely rare neurological emergency, often presenting with sudden neck pain and progressive limb weakness. This report describes a 26-year-old pregnant woman at 26 weeks of gestation who developed paraplegia and severe muscle weakness without prior trauma. MRI revealed a cervical epidural hematoma, leading to an emergency C6 and C7 laminectomy.

Efficacy of levothyroxine monotherapy in achieving clinical euthyroidism and its impact on weight loss in women with hypothyroidism and obesity.

In light of research indicating that normal TSH levels do not necessarily reflect clinical euthyroidism in hypothyroid patients, and given the patient dissatisfaction with levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy, we evaluate the response to weight loss treatment in patients with obesity and primary hypothyroidism who are euthyroid under LT4 therapy, with a focus on weight and metabolic parameters. The retrospective study included 138 subjects with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m), 69 women with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine, and 69 age- and BMI-matched women without thyroid disease. Secondary causes of obesity, medications that may affect thyroid functions and metabolic parameters, chronic and oncological disease, pregnancy, TSH outside the reference range, follow-up periods of less than one year, and bariatric surgery were the exclusion criteria.

Improving speech intelligibility in noise and spatial perception: the critical role of hearing aid microphone position.

Introduction: Hearing aid (HA) manufacturers have introduced behind-the-ear (BTE) models where the microphone is positioned in the ear canal, which could impact auditory performance by distorting the pinna's acoustic cues. This study aimed to compare two different BTE HAs with varying microphone positions: the receiver in the ear (RITE) and the transducer in the ear (TIE).

Methods: The study involved 10 participants who had never used HAs before.