Effectiveness in root canal disinfection and biocompatibility of a final in vitro irrigation protocol based on cellulases and a hyperosmotic solution.

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial capacity and cell viability of a final irrigation protocol based on the use of a hydrolases enzymes mixture (HEM) and a hyperosmotic solution (HS) as an alternative to conventional protocols.

Methods: Root canals from 28 human first molars were used to develop multispecies anaerobic biofilms in standard reactors and irrigated with various protocols according to the following groups. Group A: control (sterile saline), group B: 2.

Navigating Middle Lobe Syndrome: Exploring the Impact of Mycobacterium avium.

Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) is characterized by recurrent or chronic collapse (atelectasis) of the middle lobe of the right lung. Despite its clinical significance, MLS often goes unnoticed in medical practice. It manifests with obstructive symptoms, either due to external compression or internal causes, commonly stemming from infectious agents such as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or occasionally from tumors.

The underlying structure of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5): a general factor of personality psychopathology.

Background: The psychopathology of personality is currently undergoing a paradigm shift from a categorical to a dimensional approach. This work aimed to study the underlying structure of pathological personality traits of the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). For this purpose, the internal structure of a version of the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5) was examined by a confirmatory factor analysis.

Technical specifications of dose management systems: An international atomic energy agency survey.

Purpose: Dose management systems (DMS) have been introduced in radiological services to facilitate patient radiation dose management and optimization in medical imaging. The purpose of this study was to gather as much information as possible on the technical characteristics of DMS currently available, regarding features that may be considered essential for simply ensuring regulatory compliance or desirable to fully utilize the potential role of DMS in optimization of many aspects of radiological examinations.

Methods: A technical survey was carried out and all DMS developers currently available (both commercial and open source) were contacted and were asked to participate.

Modulation transfer function formula for different age ranges.

The modulation transfer function (MTF) is one of the most complete tools to study the optical performance of the eye. We present the average radial MTF profiles measured in 68 subjects grouped in six age ranges (from 20 to 80 years) and a general formula to estimate the radial profile of human MTF as a function of pupil size and age. The mean MTF for each age group was fitted to an analytical expression to compute two parameters related to aging.

Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization of Al Nanocomposites Using GCNs as a Reinforcement Fabricated by Induction Sintering.

High-energy ball milling is a process suitable for producing composite powders whose achieved microstructure can be controlled by the processing parameters. Through this technique, it is possible to obtain a homogeneous distribution of reinforced material into a ductile metal matrix. In this work, some Al/CGNs nanocomposites were fabricated through a high-energy ball mill to disperse nanostructured graphite reinforcements produced in situ in the Al matrix.

Current status of diagnostic reference levels in interventional cardiology.

Interventional cardiology provides indisputable benefits for patients but uses a substantial amount of ionising radiation. The diagnostic reference level (DRL) is the tool recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection to optimise imaging procedures. In this work, a review of studies dealing with radiation dose or recommending DRL values for interventional cardiology since 2010 is presented, providing quantitative and qualitative results.

Characterization and structure of the human lysine-2-oxoglutarate reductase domain, a novel therapeutic target for treatment of glutaric aciduria type 1.

In humans, a single enzyme 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase (AASS) catalyses the initial two critical reactions in the lysine degradation pathway. This enzyme evolved to be a bifunctional enzyme with both lysine-2-oxoglutarate reductase (LOR) and saccharopine dehydrogenase domains (SDH). Moreover, AASS is a unique drug target for inborn errors of metabolism such as glutaric aciduria type 1 that arise from deficiencies downstream in the lysine degradation pathway.

Functional Versatility of the Human 2-Oxoadipate Dehydrogenase in the L-Lysine Degradation Pathway toward Its Non-Cognate Substrate 2-Oxopimelic Acid.

The human 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase complex (OADHc) in L-lysine catabolism is involved in the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoadipate (OA) to glutaryl-CoA and NADH (+H). Genetic findings have linked the encoding 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase (E1a), the first component of the OADHc, to pathogenesis of AMOXAD, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and several neurodegenerative diseases. A multipronged approach, including circular dichroism spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry, and computational approaches, was applied to provide novel insight into the mechanism and functional versatility of the OADHc.

Trigeminal Neuralgia from Simultaneous Compression by Cerebellopontine Angle Epidermoid and Duplicated Superior Cerebellar Artery Loop: Two-Dimensional Operative Video of Resection and Microvascular Decompression with Endoscopic Assistance.

A 51-year-old woman presented with 2 years of progressive left facial pain and numbness in maxillary nerve and mandibular nerve distributions. Symptoms were refractory to increasing doses of carbamazepine and gabapentin. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a left cerebellopontine angle nonenhancing mass, with diffusion restriction causing trigeminal nerve compression.

Uncertainties in occupational eye lens doses from dosimeters over the apron in interventional practices.

It is relevant to estimate the uncertainties in the measurement of eye lens doses from a personal dosimeter over the protective apron without using additional dosimetry near the eyes. Additional dosimetry for interventionists represents a difficulty for routine clinical practice. This study analyses the estimated eye doses from dosimeter values taken at chest level over the apron and their uncertainties.

Benefits and limitations for the use of radiation dose management systems in medical imaging. Practical experience in a university hospital.

Objectives: Radiation dose management systems (DMS) are currently used to help improve radiation protection in medical imaging and interventions. This study presents our experience using a homemade DMS called DOLQA (Dose On-Line for Quality Assurance).

Methods: Our DMS is connected to 14 X-ray systems in a university hospital linked to the central data repository of a large network of 16 public hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, with 6.

An NR2F1-specific agonist suppresses metastasis by inducing cancer cell dormancy.

We describe the discovery of an agonist of the nuclear receptor NR2F1 that specifically activates dormancy programs in malignant cells. The agonist led to a self-regulated increase in NR2F1 mRNA and protein and downstream transcription of a novel dormancy program. This program led to growth arrest of an HNSCC PDX line, human cell lines, and patient-derived organoids in 3D cultures and in vivo.

Implementation of the Frequency Scatter Index in Clinical Commercially Available Double-pass Systems.

A previous work has reported a methodology to quantify intraocular scattering using a high sensitivity double-pass instrument with a robust index, the frequency scatter index. The purpose of our study was to evaluate an adaptation of the frequency scatter index for use in clinical double-pass systems. A prospective observational study was carried out in a group of patients with nuclear cataracts (n = 52) and in a control group (n = 11) using conventional double-pass systems.

Targeting Cullin-RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 4 by Small Molecule Modulators.

Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4) plays an essential role in cell cycle progression. Recent efforts using high throughput screening and follow up hit-to-lead studies have led to identification of small molecules and that inhibit E3 CRL4's core ligase complex and exhibit anticancer potential. This review provides: 1) an updated perspective of E3 CRL4, including structural organization, major substrate targets and role in cancer; 2) a discussion of the challenges and strategies for finding the CRL inhibitor; and 3) a summary of the properties of the identified CRL4 inhibitors as well as a perspective on their potential utility to probe CRL4 biology and act as therapeutic agents.

Managing occupational doses with smartphones in interventional radiology.

Purpose: This study presents a prototype smartphone application for occupational dosimetry in interventional practices based on electronic personal dosimeters to assist in dose monitoring.

Methods: The prototype receives and records information from the occupational dose report containing the cumulative dose of electronic personal dosimeters worn over the apron at chest level and electronic area dosimeters located on C-arms (reference dosimeters), for each fluoroscopy-guided procedure. Using their smartphones, personnel involved in interventional practices can review and compare their occupational records with an investigation level, the dose limits, and their department colleagues (anonymously).

Covered Stent Treatment of an Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Three Year Old Child with 12 Years of Follow Up: A Case Report.

Introduction: Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysms in children, although uncommon, are life threatening. Covered stents are a good alternative treatment, as they avoid the risk of open surgery and preserve the ICA. Until recently, long term outcomes were unknown.

Photochemical control of drug efficacy - a comparison of uncaging and photoswitching ifenprodil on NMDA receptors.

Ifenprodil is an important negative allosteric modulator of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We have synthesized caged and photoswitchable derivatives of this small molecule drug. Caged ifenprodil was biologically inert before photolysis, UV irradiation efficiently released the drug allowing selective inhibition of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors.

Clinical Profile and Length of Hospital Stay in a Sample of Psychogeriatric Patients Referred to Consultation Liaison Psychiatric Unit.

: There has been a recent increase in older patients admitted to general hospitals. A significant percentage of hospitalized older patients are ≥75 years old, which differ from the patients aged 65 to 74 years old in terms of functional status at patient discharge. This study aims to compare sociodemographic, clinical features, and factors associated with length of hospital stay in youngest-old and oldest-old populations of inpatients referred to the consultation liaison psychiatry unit.

Discovery and characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of NLRP3 and NLRC4 inflammasomes.

Inflammasomes are macromolecular complexes involved in the host response to external and endogenous danger signals. Inflammasome-mediated sterile inflammation plays a central role in several human conditions such as autoimmune diseases, type-2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders, indicating inflammasomes could be appealing therapeutic targets. Previous work has demonstrated that inhibiting the ATPase activity of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), disrupts inflammasome assembly and function.

Inhibitors of cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 with antitumor potential.

Cullin-RING (really intersting new gene) E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) are the largest E3 family and direct numerous protein substrates for proteasomal degradation, thereby impacting a myriad of physiological and pathological processes including cancer. To date, there are no reported small-molecule inhibitors of the catalytic activity of CRLs. Here, we describe high-throughput screening and medicinal chemistry optimization efforts that led to the identification of two compounds, 33-11 and KH-4-43, which inhibit E3 CRL4 and exhibit antitumor potential.

Percutaneous structural cardiology: are anaesthesiologists properly protected from ionising radiation?

During transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI) and other percutaneous structural procedures, some patients may need close anesthesiological care, thus exposing the anaesthesiologist to x-rays. This work aims to investigate the radiation dose received by anaesthesiologists during these specific procedures in order to improve their radiological protection. Occupational radiation doses were measured prospectively during percutaneous structural procedures in several health professionals using electronic dosimeters worn over the apron at chest level.