Drug molecular representations for drug response predictions: a comprehensive investigation via machine learning methods.

The integration of drug molecular representations into predictive models for Drug Response Prediction (DRP) is a standard procedure in pharmaceutical research and development. However, the comparative effectiveness of combining these representations with genetic profiles for DRP remains unclear. This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of various drug molecular representations employing cutting-edge machine learning models under various experimental settings.

Minimizing Oxidative Stress in Oral Surgery: A Comparative Study of Laser-Assisted and Conventional Third Molar Extractions.

This study aims to compare the effects of conventional surgical techniques and laser-assisted methods on salivary oxidative stress biomarkers following third molar extraction, in order to evaluate the potential benefits of laser surgery in reducing oxidative stress and promoting faster recovery. A total of 154 patients, aged 16-30, undergoing third molar extractions were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: conventional surgery ( = 75) and laser-assisted surgery ( = 79).

Survival and Treatment Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) from gastric cancer (GC) are rare but associated with poor prognosis, significantly impacting patient survival and quality of life. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to consolidate existing research on BM from GC, evaluate the incidence and clinical outcomes, and explore the effectiveness of treatment options.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, following PRISMA guidelines.

Probe - Based Confocal Endomicroscopy and Endoscopy in NBI Module - The Role in Clinical Decision - Case Reports.

Cancer remains a significant global cause of mortality, irrespective of a country's level of development. Among all cancer types, gastrointestinal cancers claim the highest number of lives annually. This disease predominantly affects individuals in their 6th to 8th decades of life.

Giant exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) causing gastric outlet obstruction: case report and review of literature.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors, mostly located within the stomach. About 30% of GISTs are incidentally diagnosed and as they become symptomatic may be associated with bleeding, bowel obstruction or spontaneous rupture.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a middle-aged patient diagnosed with a giant gastric GIST, which presented for intermittent gastric outlet obstruction symptoms, and emphasize the major imagistic, histopathological, and therapeutic challenges that may be encountered.

The Impact of Competitive Sports on Oral Health: Exploring Their Relationship with Salivary Oxidative Stress in Children.

This article explores the correlation between salivary biomarkers, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and their association with oral health for children in competitive sports. Saliva has emerged as a valuable resource for evaluating physiological and pathological conditions due to its non-invasive collection method and easy storage. This study examines the potential of GPX, TAC, and SOD as salivary biomarkers for assessing the impact of competitive sports on children's oral health.

Study on the Influence of Regular Physical Activity on Children's Oral Health.

The benefits of physical activities conducted systematically on the harmonious development, intellectual performance, and general health of children are unanimously accepted. This study's aim is to determine whether differences in oral health between young athletes and children not engaged in competitive sports are present. A total of 173 children aged between 6 and 17 years, 58 hockey players, 55 football players, and 60 in the control group were divided into groups according to their activity, age, and biological sex and examined for oral hygiene and dental and periodontal health, using clinically determined indices.

The Accuracy of Pre-Endoscopic Scores for Mortality Prediction in Patients with Upper GI Bleeding and No Endoscopy Performed.

(1) Background: The assessment of mortality and rebleeding rate in upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is essential, and several prognostic scores have been proposed. Some patients with UGIB did not undergo endoscopy, either because they refused the procedure, suffered from alcohol withdrawal symptoms or altered general status, or because the bleeding was severe enough to cause death before the endoscopy. The mortality risk in the subgroup of patients without endoscopy is poorly evaluated in the literature.

Mortality Rate in Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Associated with Anti-Thrombotic Therapy Before and During Covid-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: During the last few years, a progressive higher proportion of patients have had upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) related to antithrombotic therapy. The introduction of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and COVID-19 pandemic may change the incidence, mortality, and follow-up, especially in patients at high risk of bleeding.

Patients And Methods: We studied the use of anti-thrombotic therapy (AT) in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding for 5 years (January 2017-December 2021) including Covid-19 pandemic period (March 2020-December 2021).

EndoCuff-Assisted Colonoscopy Versus Standard Colonoscopy in Colonic Polyp Detection-Experience from a Single Tertiary Centre.

Background: Standard colonoscopy fails to visualize the entire colon mucosa and consequently a significant amount of polyps are still being missed. New device, such as EndoCuff, have been developed to improve mucosal visualisation, hence the quality in colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of EndoCuff-assisted colonoscopy in comparison with standard colonoscopy by taking into consideration several quality indicators.

Electrospun Nanosystems Based on PHBV and ZnO for Ecological Food Packaging.

The electrospun nanosystems containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and 1 wt% Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (with the content of dopant in the range of 0-1 wt% Fe) deposited onto polylactic acid (PLA) film were prepared for food packaging application. They were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), antimicrobial analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) techniques. Migration studies conducted in acetic acid 3% (/) and ethanol 10% (/) food simulants as well as by the use of treated ashes with 3% HNO solution reveal that the migration of Zn and Fe falls into the specific limits imposed by the legislation in force.

The quality of colorectal polypectomy. Is it enough to have just a visual assessment of the site?

Introduction: Performing a colonoscopy allows the examination of the entire colon and the assessment of polyps.

Patients, Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from January 2018 until February 2020 (two years), in which we enrolled a number of 210 patients performing colonoscopy in the Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania. We performed 326 polypectomies.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of chronic prostatitis in patients under the age of 50: is it more than the eye can see?

Background: The magnetic resonance (MRI) diagnosis of chronic prostatitis (CP) is insufficiently evaluated.

Purpose: To evaluate the MRI appearance of CP in young patients by comparing it to individuals with non-prostatic related pathology.

Material And Methods: The study included 47 patients with prostatitis-like symptoms evaluated by urologists and referred to pelvic MRI examination (mean age=40.

Tablet-based patient educational interventions in care and management of complex movement disorders.

Background: Patient education is an essential part of management of complex, disabling neurological disorders. Mobile web-based educational materials provide a novel and potentially valuable means to communicate clinical information that can aid in both medical management and rehabilitation.

Aims: We, therefore, evaluated an educational tablet-based intervention in three patient cohorts regarding the following topics: Parkinson's disease (PD) medications, dystonia and botulinum toxin treatment.

Can google glass™ technology improve freezing of gait in parkinsonism? A pilot study.

Purpose: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling phenomenon defined by the periodic absence or reduction of forward progression of the feet despite the intention to walk. We sought to understand whether Google Glass (GG), a lightweight wearable device that provides simultaneous visual-auditory cues, might improve FOG in parkinsonism.

Methods: Patients with parkinsonism and FOG utilized GG custom-made auditory-visual cue applications: "Walk With Me" and "Unfreeze Me" in a single session intervention.

Issues and controversies in esophageal inlet patch.

The proximal esophagus is rarely examined, and its inspection is often inadequate. Optical chromoendoscopy techniques such as narrow band imaging improve the detection rate of inlet patches in the proximal esophagus, a region in which their prevalence is likely underestimated. Various studies have reported correlations between these esophageal marks with different issues such as Barrett's esophagus, but these findings remain controversial.

No Interval Cancers in Endoscopic Practice.

Colonoscopy is long time the most preferred method for CRC screening along with diagnosis and treatment for a range of colon diseases. Based on its difficulty in visualizing precursor CRC lesions, mostly those located on the right colon, this method can be subject of improvement. The colonoscopy quality can be influenced by many factors such as colon preparation, retraction time, the colonoscopists medical training and knowledges as well as the performance of endoscopy equipment.

Noninvasive Fibrosis Assessment in Chronic Viral Hepatitis C associated with End Stage Renal Disease.

Introduction: HCV is considered the most encountered viral infection that affect patients after hemodialysis sessions. Even though liver biopsy is considered the golden standard for hepatic diagnosis, additional methods have been used for assessing liver fibrosis. Transient elastography (TE) has evolved as a reference method in some European countries and allows the physician to carry out a fibrosis evaluation in a noninvasive, low-cost and rapid method.

Pooled patient-level meta-analysis of children and adults completing a computer-based anxiety intervention targeting attentional bias.

Computer-based approaches, such as Attention Bias Modification (ABM), could help improve access to care for anxiety. Study-level meta-analyses of ABM have produced conflicting findings and leave critical questions unresolved regarding ABM's mechanisms of action and clinical potential. We pooled patient-level datasets from randomized controlled trials of children and adults with high-anxiety.

The magnetoelectrochemical switch.

In the field of spintronics, the archetype solid-state two-terminal device is the spin valve, where the resistance is controlled by the magnetization configuration. We show here how this concept of spin-dependent switch can be extended to magnetic electrodes in solution, by magnetic control of their chemical environment. Appropriate nanoscale design allows a huge enhancement of the magnetic force field experienced by paramagnetic molecular species in solutions, which changes between repulsive and attractive on changing the electrodes' magnetic orientations.

Study of physico-chemical characteristics of wastewater in an urban agglomeration in Romania.

This study investigates the level of wastewater pollution by analyzing its chemical characteristics at five wastewater collectors. Samples are collected before they discharge into the Danube during a monitoring campaign of two weeks. Organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and biogenic compounds have been analyzed using potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods.

[Heterotopic accessory pancreas in surgical pathology: review of 23 years experience].

Background: The abnormal presence of the pancreatic tissue in other digestive organs is rare but sometimes is the cause of some surgical diseases.

Material And Method: This retrospective study is focussed on heterotopic pancreas cases diagnosed in 2nd Surgical Clinic of "Sf. Spiridon" Emergency Hospital from Iaşi between Jan.

The histopathologic type of the periampullary tumors. Is it important for survival?

Background: The ampulla of Vater is a junction with four histologic epithelial types: ampullary, duodenal, pancreatic and biliary. The tumors of this region are named periampullary adenocarcinomas, but the histologic type of these malignancies seems to have an important significance for survival.

Aim: Our purpose is to determine whether the histologic type of the resectable vaterian adenocarcinomas is a prognostic factor.

[The absence of haptic perception in laparoscopic cholecystectomy--risk factor for biliary lesions].

Background: Bile duct injuries are the main serious technical complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Each lesion is peculiar in its features as well as the surgeon's reaction when face it.

Aim: To reveal the place of the human error according to accepted principles of cognitive psychology, beside other risk-factors involved in biliary accidents during LC.