Intracranial ependymoma: A retrospective analysis of clinical features, treatment modalities, and long-term outcome.

Objective: Ependymomas, rare neuroglial tumors originating from ependymal cells, can occur in the CNS and typically affect the brain's ventricles or spinal cord. Prognosis is influenced by tumor grade, location, resection extent, and preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPSS) scores. This study evaluates clinical features, treatment outcomes, and factors affecting prognosis in patients with intracranial ependymomas.

Sorafenib Alters Interstitial Proton and Sodium Levels in the Tumor Microenvironment: A H/Na Spectroscopic Imaging Study.

Cellular metabolism is inextricably linked to transmembrane levels of proton (H), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) ions. Although reduced sodium-potassium pump (Na-K ATPase) activity in tumors directly disturbs transmembrane Na and K levels, this dysfunction is a result of upregulated aerobic glycolysis generating excessive cytosolic H (and lactate) which are extruded to acidify the interstitial space. These oncogene-directed metabolic changes, affecting intracellular Na and H, can be further exacerbated by upregulation of ion exchangers/transporters.

Analysis of pulp histological response to pulpotomy performed with white mineral trioxide aggregate mixed with 2.25% sodium hypochlorite gel in humans: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the histological success of pulpotomy in primary molars using white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA) mixed with 2.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) gel and to evaluate in vitro its physical and chemical properties. The study had a clinical stage and an in-vitro stage.

School feeding for improving child nutrition in conflict-affected settings: Feasibility and cost efficiency of alternative models in Yemen.

School feeding programs can support children's nutrition, health, and education in emergencies. This study assessed the feasibility, trade-offs, cost efficiency, and perceived benefits of school feeding modalities operating in urban Yemen. It draws on primary data from a qualitative evaluation with 21 school feeding implementers and 88 beneficiaries conducted in Feb-Mar 2023, and secondary data from a desk review of published and program literature on school feeding operations.

Erratum: Nurturing families: A feasibility randomised controlled trial of a whole-family intervention with vulnerable families in Jordan - ERRATUM.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.

Insight into Current Practices of Community Pharmacists in Topical Corticosteroid Prescribing and Counseling: Cross-Sectional Survey Study from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used to treat several skin conditions, most notably atopic dermatitis. Many studies have found that patients lack knowledge about the safety, potency, and appropriate use of topical corticosteroids. This can be due to ineffective education by pharmacists and other healthcare providers.

Assessing Public Awareness, Utilization and Satisfaction with Community Pharmacy Services.

Background: The Saudi Community pharmacy sector has been changing towards patient-centred care rather than depending solely on dispensing medications. Accordingly, pharmacies can now provide many services that they previously could not offer. The aims of this study were to identify all pharmacy services provided in a community setting and to assess public awareness and utilization of and satisfaction with these services.

Nurturing families: A feasibility randomised controlled trial of a whole-family intervention with vulnerable families in Jordan.

Armed conflict and forced displacement can significantly strain nurturing family environments, which are essential for child well-being. Yet, limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of family-systemic interventions in these contexts. We conducted a two-arm, single-masked, feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (fRCT) of a whole-family intervention with Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian families in Jordan.

Rectal Sedation With Ketamine and Midazolam in the Management of Uncooperative Children During Dental Treatment: A Case Series and Method Description.

Background In pediatric dentistry, sedation aims to eliminate anxiety to facilitate the completion of dental procedures. Sedation in children is a multidimensional field that includes the child, parents/guardians, and the health care team. The rectal route is generally painless, making it suitable for children who are afraid of needles.

The Association between Self-Care Activities and Depression in Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey Study.

This study examined the level of adherence to self-care behaviors among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia and its connection with depression and demographic factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among diabetes patients using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure depression and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) to evaluate diabetes self-care activities. Among the 252 participants who completed the survey, 43.

A survey of drive-thru pharmacy services: Evaluating the acceptance and perspectives of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The practice of dispensing drugs in primary healthcare centers has shifted to community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. These changes increase demand and mandate improving their services; one such is establishing pharmacy drive-thru services. To explore the effects of drive-thru services on the pharmacy profession, this study aimed to measure community pharmacists' acceptance, perception, and satisfaction regarding drive-thru services.

Prevalence of polypharmacy in heart failure patients: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It is a general term used to describe a group of disorders that affect the heart or blood vessels. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of polypharmacy in patients with heart failure.

Observation and control of hybrid spin-wave-Meissner-current transport modes.

Superconductors are materials with zero electrical resistivity and the ability to expel magnetic fields, which is known as the Meissner effect. Their dissipationless diamagnetic response is central to magnetic levitation and circuits such as quantum interference devices. In this work, we used superconducting diamagnetism to shape the magnetic environment governing the transport of spin waves-collective spin excitations in magnets that are promising on-chip signal carriers-in a thin-film magnet.

Gut Microbial and Associated Metabolite Markers for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis.

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of mortality worldwide. Considerable evidence indicates that dysbiosis of the gut microbial community and its metabolite secretions play a fundamental role in advanced adenoma (ADA) and CRC development and progression. This study is a systematic review that aims to assess the clinical association between gut microbial markers and/or gut and circulating metabolites with ADA and CRC.

Prevention and management of drug-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws using platelet-rich fibrin: A clinical feasibility study.

Objective: Although a standard treatment guideline has not been established to date, various treatment modalities have been described in the literature based on the staging of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). The aim of this case series was to describe the outcomes of surgical intervention of MRONJ cases with the adjunctive use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF).

Materials And Methods: Thirteen patients under therapy with zoledronic acid, seven of them underwent surgical removal of necrotic bone with debridement, followed by placement of three to four PRF membranes and achieving primary closure.

The efficacy of the dental Water Jet, orthodontic, and conventional toothbrushes in plaque removal around orthodontic braces in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Orthodontic treatment improves both masticatory function and the aspects of facial esthetics through the correct alignment of the teeth. If oral hygiene is neglected during fixed orthodontic treatment, it may lead to plaque accumulation and gingivitis. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the dental Water Jet (DWJ), and orthodontic toothbrush (O-TH) in removing dental plaque around the orthodontic braces compared to conventional toothbrush (C-TH) in adolescents.

A Fiber-Coupled Scanning Magnetometer with Nitrogen-Vacancy Spins in a Diamond Nanobeam.

Magnetic imaging with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spins in diamond is becoming an established tool for studying nanoscale physics in condensed matter systems. However, the optical access required for NV spin readout remains an important hurdle for operation in challenging environments such as millikelvin cryostats or biological systems. Here, we demonstrate a scanning-NV sensor consisting of a diamond nanobeam that is optically coupled to a tapered optical fiber.

Knowledge, perceptions, and behavior regarding children's oral health among Syrian pediatricians: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral health has a direct impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Hence, general health and oral health cannot be separated. Pediatricians play a pivotal role in providing primary care for infants and are the first to interact with them since birth.

Proof-of-Concept Study of Using Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Self-Care and Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes Patients on Insulin Pump Therapy.

Objective: Using supervised machine learning algorithms (SMLAs), we built models to predict the probability of type 1 diabetes mellitus patients on insulin pump therapy for meeting insulin pump self-management behavioral (IPSMB) criteria and achieving good glycemic response within 6 months.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective chart review of 100 adult type 1 diabetes mellitus patients on insulin pump therapy (≥6 months). Three SMLAs were deployed: multivariable logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and K-nearest neighbor (k-NN); validated using repeated three-fold cross-validation.

Mental health-related healthcare service utilisation and psychotropic drug dispensation trends in British Columbia during COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population's mental health is vital for informing public health policy and decision-making. However, information on mental health-related healthcare service utilisation trends beyond the first year of the pandemic is limited.

Aims: We examined mental health-related healthcare service utilisation patterns and psychotropic drug dispensations in British Columbia, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period.

Brain Tumor Classification Using Meta-Heuristic Optimized Convolutional Neural Networks.

The field of medical image processing plays a significant role in brain tumor classification. The survival rate of patients can be increased by diagnosing the tumor at an early stage. Several automatic systems have been developed to perform the tumor recognition process.

Anti-cancer activity of phytochemicals extracted from Urtica pilulifera on Hela cells.

Urtica pilulifera is effective against cancer cell growth but its bioactive compounds and the mechanism of action behind its effect are still to be clarified. This study evaluated the anticancer activity of compounds extracted from Urtica pilulifera leaves against cervical cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of water, methanol and hexane extracts of Urtica pilulifera leaves was assessed by MTT assay.

Prevalence and Associations of Type 2 Diabetes Risk and Sociodemographic Factors in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with ever-increasing prevalence worldwide. In our study, we evaluated the prevalence of the risk of developing T2DM in Saudi Arabia and investigated associations between that risk and various sociodemographic characteristics. To those ends, a web-based cross-sectional survey of Saudi nationals without diabetes, all enrolled using snowball sampling, was conducted from January 2021 to January 2022.

Evaluation of antibacterial effects of different intracanal medicaments on Enterococcus faecalis in primary teeth: An in vitro study.

Objectives: Successful endodontic therapy is based on the reduction of infecting bacteria by cleaning, shaping, and disinfecting of the root canal system, thus the use of intracanal dressing is necessary for optimal success of root canal treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of chitosan and propolis as intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis compared to calcium hydroxide in primary root canals.

Material And Methods: Ninety-six extracted primary second molars were collected.