Advanced Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Is Independently Associated With Reduced Renal Function.

Background And Aims: The large global population of patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has recently been shown to have an association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to a host of proposed mechanisms, one of which being lipoprotein dysmetabolism. Furthermore, metabolic comorbidities have been concurrently prevalent in MASLD and CKD independently. This study aimed at analyzing risk and predictive traits among an obese population for both MASLD and CKD.

A Real-World Experience Utilizing the FAST Score to Identify Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Fibrosis.

Background And Aims: We aimed to test the performance of the Fibroscan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score, a noninvasive test, to identify nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and significant fibrosis (NASH + ≥F2) in a cohort of patients with a histological diagnosis of NASH, using a cutoff of ≥0.35 as a rule in factor. We also compared performance to liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥8 kPa and the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) ≥1.

Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from Raw Cow's Milk and Investigating the Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum Probiotic Cell Free Supernatant on Their Enterotoxins Genes Expression.

The present reserach aimed to detect and isolate the genes involved in the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) production in strains isolated from unprocessed cow's milk and to examine the impact of probiotic cell-free supernatant (CFS) on their expression. Standard techniques were used for isolation and identification of Staphylococci strains in unprocessed milk. The PCR was used to identify strains carrying enterotoxin genes.

Activating Ion Channels in Collapsed Hydrogel Derived Densified MXene Films with Cellulose Nanofibers to Overcome the Areal Versus Volumetric Capacitance Trade-Off.

Concomitant achievement of all three performance pillars of a supercapacitor device, namely gravimetric, areal, and volumetric capacitance is a grand challenge. Nevertheless, its fulfilment is indispensable for commercial usage. Although, high compactness is the fundamental requirement to achieve high volumetric performance, it severely affects ion transportation in thick electrodes.

Adverse effect of Tamarindus indica and tamoxifen combination on redox balance and genotoxicity of breast cancer cell.

Background: Breast cancer is the most significant threat to women worldwide. Most chemotherapeutic drugs cause cancer cell death and apoptosis by inducing oxidative stress and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cancer cells have a higher rate of metabolic activity than normal cells and thus produce more ROS.

Beyond the bones: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thigh.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is a rare malignant mesenchymal soft tissue tumor that usually arises in the lower extremities. It is typically a high-grade malignancy that represents only around 1%-2% of all soft tissue sarcomas and 2%-4% of all osteosarcomas. In this report, we describe a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with a 4-day history of a painless lump in her posterior right thigh.

Purification and biochemical characterization of two laccase isoenzymes isolated from Trichoderma harzianum S7113 and its application for bisphenol A degradation.

Two laccase isoenzymes (LacA and LacB) were isolated from a novel Trichoderma harzianum S7113 isolate employing ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G100, and DEAE Sepharose ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weights of the purified LacA and LacB laccases were estimated to be 63 and 48 kDa, respectively. The two isoenzymes had their optimum activities at the same temperature (50 °C), but at slightly different pH values (pH 3.

The Use of Vascular Closure Devices for Brachial Artery Access: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To estimate the rates of technical success and adverse events of vascular closure devices (VCDs) in the brachial artery and compare the rates of adverse events with manual compression.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were searched for observational studies examining VCDs in the brachial artery. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects for the following outcomes: (a) technical success, (b) hematoma at the access site, (c) pseudoaneurysm, (d) local neurological adverse events, and (e) total number of adverse events.

Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pregnancy.

Liver disease in pregnancy often requires diagnostic and therapeutic considerations that are unique to pregnancy. Liver disease in pregnancy is commonly thought of as either liver disease unique to pregnancy, chronic liver disease, or liver disease coincidental to pregnancy. This review summarizes the approach to evaluation of liver disease in pregnancy.

Biochemical characterization and peptide mass fingerprinting of two glutathione transferases from Biomphalaria alexandrina snails (Gastropoda: Planorbidae).

Background: The freshwater snails Biomphalaria alexandrina (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) has public health importance of being an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, the parasite species that causes intestinal schistosomiasis in humans. Glutathione transferases (GSTs) play an important role in detoxification of a broad range of compounds including secondary metabolites and exogenous compounds. Studying GSTs in snails may clarify their role in detoxification of molluscicides.

Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (prVEPs) in autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum (ARHSPTCC) patients with SPG 11 mutations in Saudi Arabia, cross section hospital base study.

Objective: To retrospectively report prVEPs in SPG11 ARHSP-TCC.

Background: ARHSPTCC is characterized by a thin corpus callosum, progressive spastic paraparesis, cognitive decline,and axonal neuropathy by SPG11 mutations. Additionally, seizures, cerebellar ataxia, speech and swallowing problems, extrapyramidal signs, and skeletal deformities may occur.

Costal cartilage fracture: A commonly missed thoracic injury in trauma patients.

In this report, we describe a case of a 43-year-old male who sustained a displaced mid chondral costal cartilage fracture along with multiple ipsilateral rib fractures following a jet ski collision. Costal cartilage fractures (CC) are commonly missed on imaging evaluation, and accordingly underreported in the literature. High-energy blunt chest trauma represents the most common mechanism for CC injuries.

Enhancement of laccase production from a newly isolated Trichoderma harzianum S7113 using submerged fermentation: Optimization of production medium via central composite design and its application for hydroquinone degradation.

Trichoderma harzianum S7113 as an efficient fungal isolate for laccase production was identified using the 18S rRNA sequencing. T. harzianum S7113 attained its maximal laccase production level on the 14 day of static incubation at 28 °C and pH 5.

A case of unusual presentation of acute esophageal necrosis with pneumonia.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare and often fatal pathology of unclear etiology affecting the distal two-thirds of the esophagus. Typically, elderly patients with multiple comorbidities present with signs of upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. On endoscopy, the mucosa is black due to ischemic necrosis, resulting in the commonly used term "black esophagus.

Overall Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Interventional Radiology Services: A Canadian Perspective.

Purpose: The aim of this national survey was to assess the overall impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the provision of interventional radiology (IR) services in Canada.

Methods: An anonymous electronic survey was distributed via national and regional radiology societies, exploring (1) center information and staffing, (2) acute and on-call IR services, (3) elective IR services, (4) IR clinics, (5) multidisciplinary rounds, (6) IR training, (7) personal protection equipment (PPE), and departmental logistics.

Results: Individual responses were received from 142 interventional radiologists across Canada (estimated 70% response rate).

Cavernous hemangioma in a male breast: A rare entity and overview of current literature.

We describe a case of a benign breast cavernous hemangioma in a 77-year-old male patient, which is a rare entity with less than 20 cases published in the literature since 1936. The mammographic and sonographic features of breast hemangiomas are nonspecific and tissue sampling is necessary as the diagnosis of exclusion is male breast carcinoma. Core biopsy is a reliable diagnostic tool for breast hemangiomas.

Stumbling upon the unexpected: A unique presentation of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor in the hindfoot.

We describe an unexpected and unique case of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor in a 38-year-old female presenting with a painful lump in the plantar hindfoot. Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors are extremely rare, generally benign soft tissue or osseous tumors, which are associated with overexpression of fibroblast growth factor-23 and tumor-associated osteomalacia. Patients often present with progressive signs and symptoms including systemic bone pain, muscle weakness, and insufficiency fractures, and timely diagnosis is paramount to appropriate therapy.

Chronic Pancreatitis Leading to Pancreatogenic Diabetes Presenting in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Rare Entity.

Diabetes mellitus type 3c (DM3c) is an uncommon cause of diabetes due to pancreatic pathology. Its prevalence reaches about 5-10% among all diabetics in the Western world, largely due to chronic pancreatitis. DM3c occurs due to the destruction of the endocrine islet cells.

Detection of gunshot residue on dark-colored clothing prior to chemical analysis.

Detection of gunshot residue (GSR) is an arduous task for investigators. It is often accomplished with chemical tests, which can reveal elements and ions indicating the presence of GSR, but are likely to cause physical alteration to the pattern. In this study, the Spex Forensics Mini-CrimeScope MCS 400, along with 16 accompanying wavelength filters, was applied to various GSR patterns and target types.

Method validation for aflatoxin M1 determination in yoghurt using immunoaffinity column clean-up prior to high-performance liquid chromatography.

Yoghurt is a popular dairy product in Iran because of its beneficial influence on human health and nutritional value. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the metabolite of potential carcinogen aflatoxin B1, which can contaminate milk through the feed and is not eliminated by common processing heat treatment. An analytical method using immunoaffinity column for extraction and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantification was developed for AFM1 in this study.

Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in bulk milk samples from dairy bovine, ovine, caprine, and camel herds in Iran as determined by polymerase chain reaction.

Q fever is a widespread zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular micro-organism Coxiella burnetii. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of C. burnetii in bulk milk samples from dairy bovine, ovine, caprine, and camel herds in Isfahan province, Iran.