Publications by authors named "MALEK A"

Background: Surgical drains are commonly used in breast surgery and breast reconstruction for seroma prevention. Although many surgeons are aware that surgical drains can cause considerable discomfort to patients, less is understood about the specific impacts of drains on postoperative pain and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients at our institution who had previously undergone mastectomy or breast reconstruction procedures to better understand patients' experiences with surgical drains.

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Background: Cervical screening, aimed at detecting precancerous lesions and preventing cancer, is based on cytology and HPV testing. Both methods have limitations, the main ones being the variable diagnostic sensitivity of cytology and the moderate specificity of HPV testing. Various molecular biomarkers are proposed in recent years to improve cervical cancer management, including a number of mRNAs encoded by human genes involved in carcinogenesis.

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Objectives: Limping is a frequent reason for visits to emergency departments. The causes of limping in children are various, ranging from benign musculoskeletal problems to serious etiologies, such as malignancy and infections.

Methods: In this recent cross-sectional study, we evaluated the causes of limps in children referred to the pediatric rheumatology ward in northeast Iran.

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The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) registry program presents a unique opportunity to facilitate advanced research in various aspects of ASD, particularly in low-resource countries like Iran. Given the international significance of autism research, registry programs play a critical role in data sharing. ASD registry programs have been effectively established in high-income countries over a few decades; however, there are limited examples from low- and middle-income countries.

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The values of vegetation indices can provide a new source of data for use in the estimation of land to be consolidated. The results of research work carried out so far indicate a significant advantage of low-volume imaging over satellite methods when it comes to calculating vegetation index values. This paper analyses multispectral images for the areas of selected croplands acquired via the Sentinel-2 satellite and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a multispectral camera.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study analyzed trends in prepregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain in South Carolina, focusing on racial and ethnic differences during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The research utilized hospital discharge codes and birth certificates from 306,344 full-term births, employing statistical models to assess weight gain adequacy and prepregnancy obesity risks.
  • Findings showed an increase in inadequate weight gain across all groups before the pandemic, a stabilization during it, and a rise in prepregnancy obesity primarily among women of "other" races, with no overall changes for Hispanic, Black, and White women.
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Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is common in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but prevalence varies globally due to differing screening protocols. There have been substantial changes in screening guidelines over the past two decades.

Aim: To evaluate CD prevalence in patients with T1D, focusing on screening studies using antitissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody.

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The continuous requirement to substitute safe and affordable alternatives for helminth medications, as well as address the resistance of some used drug classes, introduced bioactive products derived from marine animals into the field of competition; however, almost all the previous research only focused on their impact on bacterial and protozoal infection. In the present work, we investigated the potential in vitro nematocidal effect of the aqueous extract of defense secretions for four species of marine mollusks: two cephalopods, namely the cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis and the common Octopus Octopus vulagris and two gastropods, the sea hare Aplysia argus and the sea slug Berthillina citrina, against the adult murine pinworm Syphacia obvelata. Data showed dose and time efficacy in all examined extracts.

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This study examines the genome sequences of five endophytic bacterial isolates from the microbiome to assess their potential as plant bio-inoculants. The five complete bacterial genomes from the genera and were sequenced using Nanopore long-read sequencing technology.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Vaccination has played a key role in reducing COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, but it can sometimes lead to autoimmune responses.
  • - A case is reported of a 12-year-old girl developing systemic lupus erythematosus three weeks after her first Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine dose.
  • - Despite the reported potential link between vaccines and autoimmune disorders, vaccination is still recommended as the benefits of preventing COVID-19 far outweigh the risks.
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To examine trends with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities in reported gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and related outcomes (macrosomia, large for gestational age infants) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina (SC). A retrospective cohort study of pregnancies resulting in livebirths from 2015 through 2021 was conducted in SC. Statewide maternal hospital and emergency department discharge codes were linked to birth certificate data.

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Neurological disorders pose a challenge for targeted therapy due to restricted access of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). Current methods are limited by procedure-related risks, invasiveness, and insufficient CNS biodistribution. A novel percutaneous transvenous technology, currently in clinical trials for communicating hydrocephalus, offers a minimally invasive approach by providing endovascular access to the cerebrospinal fluid-filled cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern.

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Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive technologies in oral health promotion and education.

Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method. This study was systematically performed in six electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and EBSCO).

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Introduction: Single-use medical devices used in surgery can create environmental waste and increased costs. Reprocessed medical devices may reduce cost and environmental impact. This study investigated the reprocessing capabilities of newly FDA-approved devices in surgery.

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Background: Several studies have been reported previously on the bioactivities of different extracts of marine molluscs. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of S. pharaonis ink as a highly populated species in the Red Sea.

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Background: As endovascular neurosurgery techniques continue to evolve, medical students in the United States have widely varying exposures to the field, particularly with respect to opportunities for hands-on experiences. Current medical school curricula could benefit from a novel and adaptive course on vascular neurosurgery to increase student exposure earlier in their training.

Methods: We launched a yearly hands-on vascular neurosurgery course for medical students and residents.

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Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISSs) are aggressive neoplasms that have been associated mostly with vaccination. Feline noninjection-site sarcomas (non-FISSs) are less frequently observed in cats and may arise in any anatomic site. This study aimed to determine the differences in the expression of the selected proteins (matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and P-glycoprotein (PGP)) and their correlation with the mitotic count in FISS and non-FISS, in order to characterize their immunohistochemical features.

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Key Clinical Message: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can have an insidious onset and a fatal prognosis in children. Patients presenting without typical signs of SLE should undergo further evaluation if they are not responding to the initial diagnosis and treatment. This is especially true for patients with rapidly progressing symptoms and deterioration in spite of treatment.

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Retained surgical items (RSIs) pose significant risks to patients and healthcare professionals, prompting extensive efforts to reduce their incidence. RSIs are objects inadvertently left within patients' bodies after surgery, which can lead to severe consequences such as infections and death. The repercussions highlight the critical need to address this issue.

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Background: Little is known about practice patterns and payments for immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR). This study aims to evaluate trends in ILR delivery and billing practices.

Methods: We queried the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database between 2016 and 2020 for patients who underwent lumpectomy or mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection for oncologic indications.

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Objective: To explore the association between intraoperative methadone use, postoperative pain, and opioid consumption after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Single academic medical center.

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The photovoice literature has focused mainly on research collaborations between researchers in academia and community partners. There is limited evidence of undergraduate students facilitating photovoice research projects with underserved Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC). Students' participation in photovoice research increases their understanding of local issues and can empower them to engage with local communities to create change.

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Background: The dramatic increase of antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare realm has become inexorably linked to the abuse of antibiotics over the years. Therefore, this study seeks to identify potential postbiotic metabolites derived from lactic acid bacteria such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum that could exhibit antimicrobial properties against multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Results: In the present work, the genome sequence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PA21 consisting of three contigs was assembled to a size of 3,218,706 bp.

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Hepcidin is a crucial regulator of iron homeostasis with protective effects on liver fibrosis. Additionally, gut microbiota can also affect liver fibrosis and iron metabolism. Although the hepatoprotective potential of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium duncaniae, formerly known as F.

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