Effect of Increased Level of Lipoprotein(a) on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has emerged as a significant cardiovascular risk factor, particularly in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on the impact of Lp(a) levels on cardiovascular outcomes in IHD patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, covering publications from January 2016 to October 2024.

Comparison of Complete Versus Incomplete Percutaneous Revascularization in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The optimal extent of revascularization in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debated. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of complete versus incomplete revascularization in CTO patients. A systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted up to July 6, 2024.

A 2D hybrid nanocomposite: a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries at high temperature.

Two-dimensional atomically thick materials including graphene, BN, and molybdenum disulfide (MoS) have been investigated as possible energy storage materials, because of their large specific surface area, potential redox activity, and mechanical stability. Unfortunately, these materials cannot reach their full potential due to their low electrical conductivity and layered structural restacking. These problems have been somewhat resolved in the past by composite electrodes composed of a graphene and MoS mixture; however, insufficient mixing at the nanoscale still limits performance.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, often leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea. Given the increasing evidence linking systemic inflammation to atrial fibrillation development, investigating IBD as a potential risk factor for atrial fibrillation becomes imperative. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of atrial fibrillation on inpatient outcomes, resource utilization, and length of hospital stays among IBD patients.

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

Introduction Diabetic foot complications leading to limb amputations pose a global health concern. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel has emerged as a promising method for ulcer healing, leveraging the growth factors provided by autologous PRP to enhance tissue healing. Therefore, we aimed to assess the frequency of the success of PRP therapy in the treatment of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers.

Blackberry Seeds-Derived Carbon as Stable Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The suitability of biocarbons derived from blackberry seeds as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries has been assessed for the first time. Blackberry seeds have antibacterial, anticancer, antidysentery, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, and potent antioxidant properties and are generally used for herbal medical purposes. Carbon is extracted from blackberries using a straightforward carbonization technique and activated with KOH at temperatures 700, 800, and 900 °C.

2D Hybrid Nanocomposite Materials (h-BN/G/MoS) as a High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrode.

The nanocomposites of hexagonal boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, and graphene (h-BN/G/MoS) are promising energy storage materials. The originality of the current work is the first-ever synthesis of 2D-layered ternary nanocomposites of boron nitrate, graphene, and molybdenum disulfide (h-BN/G/MoS) using ball milling and the sonication method and the investigation of their applicability for supercapacitor applications. The morphological investigation confirms the well-dispersed composite material production, and the ternary composite appears to be made of h-BN and MoS wrapping graphene.

Substitution of fishmeal: Highlights of potential plant protein sources for aquaculture sustainability.

High protein content, excellent amino acid profile, absence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), high digestibility and good palatability of fishmeal (FM), make it a major source of protein in aquaculture. Naturally derived FM is at risk due to an increase in its demand, unsustainable practices, and price. Thus, there is an urgent need to find affordable and suitable protein sources to replace FM.

Flexible and Freestanding MoS/Graphene Composite for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Two-dimensional atomically thick materials such as graphene and layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS) have been studied as potential energy storage materials because of their high specific surface area, potential redox activity, and mechanical flexibility. However, because of the layered structure restacking and poor electrical conductivity, these materials are unable to attain their full potential. Composite electrodes made of a mixture of graphene and MoS have been shown to partially resolve these issues in the past, although their performance is still limited by inadequate mixing at the nanoscale.

Diabetes Self-Care Activities and Their Relationship With Glycemic Control in Patients Visiting Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

Background A significant portion of the Pakistani population is affected by diabetes, which has emerged as a global healthcare concern. Objective This study aimed to assess the correlation between glycemic control in diabetes patients and their engagement in diabetes self-care activities (DSCA). Methodology Cross-sectional research was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar between June 2019 and May 2020.

A Pressure-Based Multiphase Flowmeter: Proof of Concept.

Multiphase flowmeters (MPFMs) measure the flow rates of oil, gas, and brine in a pipeline. MPFMs provide remote access to real-time well production data that are essential for efficient oil field operations. Most MPFMs are complex systems requiring frequent maintenance.

Liver Transplantation: A Right or a Privilege? Sustainable Liver Transplant Financing With an Innovative Model for the Developing World.

Living donor liver transplant in addition to its lifesaving therapy is a cost-effective alternate to long-term disease management in patients with chronic liver disease. Financial constraint is the biggest hurdle faced by patients in developing countries in availing the liver transplantation. So, we conducted this study to report a government-funded financial support system for liver transplant services.

Formulation and evaluation of an ointment from Pinus gerardiana extracts indigenous to Balochistan.

In skin disorders such as microbial and fungal infections, plants and their parts are used. However, there have been very few scientific reports of herbal extracts of the plant Pinus gerardiana to be administered transdermally. The antifungal activity was assessed using poisoned food method against the strains of three pathogenic fungi, namely Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata and Bipolaris specifera.

Sensor Data Fusion Based on Deep Learning for Computer Vision Applications and Medical Applications.

Sensor fusion is the process of merging data from many sources, such as radar, lidar and camera sensors, to provide less uncertain information compared to the information collected from single source [...

Prompt Deep Light-Weight Vessel Segmentation Network (PLVS-Net).

Achieving accurate retinal vessel segmentation is critical in the progression and diagnosis of vision-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Existing vessel segmentation methods are based on encoder-decoder architectures, which frequently fail to take into account the retinal vessel structure's context in their analysis. As a result, such methods have difficulty bridging the semantic gap between encoder and decoder characteristics.

Novel Synthesis of Sensitive Cu-ZnO Nanorod-Based Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing.

We aimed to synthesize sensitive electrochemical sensors for hydrogen peroxide sensing by using zinc oxide nanorods grown on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode by using the facial hydrothermal method. It was essential to keep the surface morphology of the material (nanorods structure); due to its large surface area, the concerned material has enhanced detection ability toward the analyte. The work presents a non-enzymatic HO sensor using vertically grown zinc oxide nanorods on the electrode (FTO) surfaces with Cu nanoparticles deposited on zinc oxide nanorods to enhance the activity.

Early-onset aggressive oesophageal carcinoma in Down's syndrome - a coincidence or a game of extra genes?

Patients with Down's syndrome exhibit a unique pattern for a number of malignant conditions but there is inconsistent data for the risk of oesophageal cancer. We present a case of early-onset aggressive oesophageal carcinoma in a young male patient diagnosed with Trisomy 21, who presented with complaints of progressive dysphagia, vomiting, voice change and weight loss. Barium swallow showed shouldering sign at distal oesophagus.

Automotive Radar Processing With Spiking Neural Networks: Concepts and Challenges.

Frequency-modulated continuous wave radar sensors play an essential role for assisted and autonomous driving as they are robust under all weather and light conditions. However, the rising number of transmitters and receivers for obtaining a higher angular resolution increases the cost for digital signal processing. One promising approach for energy-efficient signal processing is the usage of brain-inspired spiking neural networks (SNNs) implemented on neuromorphic hardware.

Detecting Blastocyst Components by Artificial Intelligence for Human Embryological Analysis to Improve Success Rate of In Vitro Fertilization.

Morphological attributes of human blastocyst components and their characteristics are highly correlated with the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Blastocyst component analysis aims to choose the most viable embryos to improve the success rate of IVF. The embryologist evaluates blastocyst viability by manual microscopic assessment of its components, such as zona pellucida (ZP), trophectoderm (TE), blastocoel (BL), and inner cell mass (ICM).