Conducting polymer functionalization in search of advanced materials in ionometry: ion-selective electrodes and optodes.

Functionalized conducting polymers (FCPs) have recently garnered attention as ion-selective sensor materials, surpassing their intrinsic counterparts due to synergistic effects that lead to enhanced electrochemical and analytical parameters. Following a brief introduction of the fundamental concepts, this article provides a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the application of FCPs in ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) and ion-selective optodes (ISOs), particularly as ion-to-electron transducers, optical transducers, and ion-selective membranes. Utilizing FCPs in these devices offers a promising avenue for detecting and measuring ions in various applications, regardless of the sample nature and composition.

Electroencephalographic Measures of Delirium in the Perioperative Setting: A Systematic Review.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is frequent in older adults and is associated with adverse cognitive and functional outcomes. In the last several decades, there has been an increased interest in exploring tools that easily allow the early recognition of patients at risk of developing POD. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a widely available tool used to understand delirium pathophysiology, and its use in the perioperative setting has grown exponentially, particularly to predict and detect POD.

Tissue explants as tools for studying the epigenetic modulation of the GH-IGF-I axis in farmed fish.

Somatic growth in vertebrates is mainly controlled by the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating this axis in fish is far from being understood. This work aimed to optimize and evaluate the use of short-term culture of pituitary and liver explants from a farmed fish, the gilthead seabream , for studying epigenetic mechanisms involved in GH/IGF-I axis regulation.

When "virtual" works and when it doesn't: A survey of physician and patient experiences with virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To assess the experience of virtual care among both patients and physicians across a range of clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A web-based survey was disseminated to patients and physicians through a variety of media and healthcare communications from May 2020 to July 2021. Demographic details and attitudes across a range of virtual care domains were collected.

Anodized CuO-based reusable non-enzymatic glucose sensor as an alternative method for the analysis of pharmaceutical glucose infusions: a cyclic voltammetric approach.

Analyzing pharmaceutical products is a quality control requirement in a production facility. This study presents a CuO electrode-based reusable non-enzymatic sensor as an alternative method for rapid analysis of glucose levels in glucose infusions. CuO is extensively employed as an electrode material in non-enzymatic glucose sensors.

Vitamin D Deficiency Leads to Poorer Health Outcomes and Greater Length of Stay After Total Knee Arthroplasty and Supplementation Improves Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly identified as a predictor of poorer outcomes in musculoskeletal disease affecting as many as 1 in 4 people. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on outcomes after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: A targeted search of terms related to vitamin D and TKA outcomes was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.

What Does a KAP Survey Reveal about the Awareness Regarding Leishmaniasis among the Community of an Endemic Area in Sri Lanka?

Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases. Studies show that the poor knowledge about epidemiological aspects of leishmaniasis within communities causes the collapse of existing disease control programs. Therefore, the present study focuses on a detailed survey of the existing awareness among the threatened population in the Medawachchiya Public Health Inspector's (PHI) Area in the Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka, aiming to assist the health staff to organize community-based vector control programs effectively in the future.

Total IgE as a biomarker of omalizumab response in chronic spontaneous urticaria: A meta-analysis.

Omalizumab is approved for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) that is refractory to antihistamines. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels have emerged as a possible biomarker to predict response to omalizumab. However, the existing literature is heterogenous, with conflicting conclusions with regard to the role of total IgE levels.

Scaffold-associated procedures are superior to microfracture in managing focal cartilage defects in the knee: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: Debate continues as to whether surgical treatment with chondral-regeneration devices is superior to microfracture for focal articular cartilage defects in the knee.

Purpose: To evaluate the superiority of scaffold-associated chondral-regeneration procedures over microfracture by assessing: (1) Patient-reported outcomes; (2) Intervention failure; (3) Histological quality of cartilage repair.

Study Design: A three-concept keyword search strategy was designed, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines: (i) knee (ii) microfracture (iii) scaffold.

Women's experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period.

Background: Traumatic events are associated with psychological and physical health problems for women in the perinatal period (i.e., pregnancy-12-months after childbirth).

Fabrication and characterization of a flexible and disposable impedance-type humidity sensor based on polyaniline (PAni).

This work presents a highly sensitive, economical, flexible, and disposable humidity sensor developed with a facile fabrication process. The sensor was fabricated on cellulose paper using polyemaraldine salt, a form of polyaniline (PAni), the drop coating method. A three-electrode configuration was employed to ensure high accuracy and precision.

A systematic review of clinical outcomes for outpatient vs. inpatient shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Outpatient shoulder arthroplasty is growing in popularity as a cost-effective and potentially equally safe alternative to inpatient arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to investigate literature relating to outpatient shoulder arthroplasty, looking at clinical outcomes, complications, readmission, and cost compared to inpatient arthroplasty.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases from inception to 6 April 2020.

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy for Muscular Strength, Hypertrophy, and Endurance in Healthy and Special Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is an increasingly applied tool with potential benefits in muscular hypertrophy, strength, and endurance. This study investigates the effectiveness of BFR training relative to other forms of training on muscle strength, hypertrophy, and endurance.

Data Sources: We performed systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed and assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Response and Survival Estimates of Patients With Plasma Cell Myeloma in a Resource-Constrained Setting Using Protocols From High-Income Countries: A Single-Center Experience From Sri Lanka.

Purpose: There is a significant disparity in global cancer care and outcome between countries. Progress in the treatment of symptomatic plasma cell myeloma (PCM) in high-income countries is not seen in low- and middle-income countries.

Materials And Methods: This is was a retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with PCM between May 1, 2013, and September 30, 2021, at the first hemato-oncology center in Sri Lanka.

Toward a More Comprehensive View of α-Amylase across Decapods Crustaceans.

Decapod crustaceans are a very diverse group and have evolved to suit a wide variety of diets. Alpha-amylases enzymes, responsible for starch and glycogen digestion, have been more thoroughly studied in herbivore and omnivore than in carnivorous species. We used information on the α-amylase of a carnivorous lobster as a connecting thread to provide a more comprehensive view of α-amylases across decapods crustaceans.

Applicability of protocols from high-income countries in a resource limited setting; real world data of histopathology, clinical features and long-term outcome of Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sri Lanka.

: There is a significant disparity in global cancer care and out-come between countries. We aimed to provide data on characteristics, average cost of treatment and survival estimates in patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sri Lanka. All patients diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma between 01.

Docetaxel-induced interstitial lung disease among patients with breast cancer: a case series and review of literature.

Taxane-induced pneumotoxicity is rare. However, 1-5% of patients taking docetaxel may develop severe pneumotoxicity. This has been limited to case reports in the literature.

Applicability of Western protocols in resource-limited setting: Real-world data of long-term outcome of intensive treatment of adult acute myeloid leukaemia in Sri Lanka.

There are no published data on long-term survival and applicability of treatment protocols from developed countries in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in Sri Lanka. Eighty-seven AML patients were reviewed; there were 56 newly diagnosed patients between 18 and 65 years. Thirty-one out of 33 who started treatment achieved complete remission after first cycle of treatment.

Outcomes of major head and neck reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic: The St. Andrew's centre experience.

Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated enormous pressure on healthcare establishments, prompting the restructuring of services to rationalise resources. Complex head and neck reconstructive surgery in this setting may carry substantial risk to patients and staff. This paper outlines the management strategy and outcomes of major head and neck oncological cases at a single regional tertiary referral centre.

Genetic selection for growth drives differences in intestinal microbiota composition and parasite disease resistance in gilthead sea bream.

Background: The key effects of intestinal microbiota in animal health have led to an increasing interest in manipulating these bacterial populations to improve animal welfare. The aquaculture sector is no exception and in the last years, many studies have described these populations in different fish species. However, this is not an easy task, as intestinal microbiota is composed of very dynamic populations that are influenced by different factors, such as diet, environment, host age, and genetics.

Effects of genetics and early-life mild hypoxia on size variation in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

The present study evaluated, in an 18-month gilthead sea bream trial, the time course effects of genetics on individual size variation and growth compensation processes in families selected by heritable growth in the PROGENSA breeding program. Families categorized as fast, intermediate, and slow growing had different growth trajectories with a more continuous growth in fast growth families. This feature was coincident with a reduced size variation at the beginning of the trial that clustered together the half-sib families sharing the same father.

Low dietary inclusion of nutraceuticals from microalgae improves feed efficiency and modifies intermediary metabolisms in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

The aim of this work was to evaluate two functional feeds for the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, containing low inclusion of two microalgae-based products (LB-GREENboost, LB; and LB-GUThealth, LB). Fish (12-13 g) were fed for 13 weeks a control diet or one of the four diets supplemented with both products at 0.5% or 1%.