Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Inflammatory and Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies: A Narrative Review.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has acquired a pivotal role in modern cardiology. It represents the gold standard for biventricular volume and systolic function assessment. Moreover, CMR allows for non-invasive myocardial tissue evaluation, highlighting tissue edema, fibrosis, fibro-fatty infiltration and iron overload.

Evaluation of effectiveness of osteopathic visceral manipulation in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain: A multi-center, single-blind, randomized-controlled study.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic visceral manipulation (OVM) combined with physical therapy in pain, depression, and functional impairment in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain (LBP).

Patients And Methods: A total of 118 patients with chronic mechanical LBP were assessed, and 86 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the randomized-controlled study between January 2021 and August 2022. The patients were randomized to either Group 1 (n=43), which underwent physical therapy (5 days/week, for a total of 15 sessions) combined with OVM (2 days/week with three-day intervals), or Group 2 (n=43), which underwent physical therapy (5 days/week, for a total of 15 sessions) combined with sham OVM (2 days/week with three-day intervals).

Contemporary Echocardiographic Evaluation of Mitral Regurgitation and Guidance for Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair.

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is a multifaceted valvular heart disease. Echocardiography plays a central role in etiology assessment, severity quantification, treatment candidacy, outcome evaluation, and patient follow-up. In this review, we describe the comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of MR, including transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) approaches, 2D and 3D modalities, strain imaging, stress echocardiography, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

An Ensemble of Deep Learning Object Detection Models for Anatomical and Pathological Regions in Brain MRI.

This paper proposes ensemble strategies for the deep learning object detection models carried out by combining the variants of a model and different models to enhance the anatomical and pathological object detection performance in brain MRI. In this study, with the help of the novel Gazi Brains 2020 dataset, five different anatomical parts and one pathological part that can be observed in brain MRI were identified, such as the region of interest, eye, optic nerves, lateral ventricles, third ventricle, and a whole tumor. Firstly, comprehensive benchmarking of the nine state-of-the-art object detection models was carried out to determine the capabilities of the models in detecting the anatomical and pathological parts.

Simultaneous Radial and Ipsilateral Ulnar Artery Compression versus Isolated Radial Artery Compression after Conventional Radial Access for Coronary Angiography and/or Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Simultaneous ulnar and radial artery compression (SURC) has emerged as a strategy to increase radial artery flow and mitigate radial artery occlusion (RAO) while achieving adequate hemostasis after transradial access (TRA), though its technical adoption has been limited worldwide. Methods: A systematic search of studies comparing SURC versus isolated radial artery compression after TRA for coronary angiography and/or intervention was performed. Data were pooled by meta-analysis using random-effects models.

A comprehensive survey of deep learning research on medical image analysis with focus on transfer learning.

This survey aims to identify commonly used methods, datasets, future trends, knowledge gaps, constraints, and limitations in the field to provide an overview of current solutions used in medical image analysis in parallel with the rapid developments in transfer learning (TL). Unlike previous studies, this survey grouped the last five years of current studies for the period between January 2017 and February 2021 according to different anatomical regions and detailed the modality, medical task, TL method, source data, target data, and public or private datasets used in medical imaging. Also, it provides readers with detailed information on technical challenges, opportunities, and future research trends.

Increased dehydrin level decreases leaf rolling grade by altering the reactive oxygen species homeostasis and abscisic acid content in maize subjected to osmotic stress.

Dehydrins (DHNs) are stress proteins involved in the development of protective reactions in plants against dehydration. The relationship between DHNs and morphological responses such as leaf rolling in plants exposed to water deficit is not well known. In this study, we detected how variations in DHN levels affect the leaf rolling response in maize exposed to osmotic stress in relation to the antioxidant system and ABA level.

Biochemical Efficacy of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors by Cardiovascular Risk Profile and Volume Status in a Real-World Diabetic Population.

Despite large-scale randomized clinical trials (RCTs) highlighting a consistent prognostic benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) both in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk and in those with heart failure, there is relative paucity of data on their biochemical effects in a real-world setting. We performed a retrospective analysis on consecutive diabetic patients who were prescribed a SGLT2i in a tertiary referral center and completed at least 1 year of treatment. Changes in glycated hemoglobin, weight, and hematocrit were compared across 2 cardiovascular risk categories, defined through the inclusion criteria of 3 large RCTs.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in the treatment of left ventricular thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Evidence about the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with left ventricular thrombosis (LVT) are emerging. The aim of our study was to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence concerning the clinical effects of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in LVT treatment.

Evidence Acquisition: Systematic search of studies evaluating DOACs versus VKAs use in patients with LVT was performed on May 11, 2021.

Walking the Line with Ticagrelor: Meta-Analysis Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Ticagrelor Monotherapy after a Short Course of Ticagrelor-Based Dual Antiplatelet Therapy versus Standard Therapy in Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

(1) Shorter-duration dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by single antiplatelet therapy has been shown to significantly reduce bleeding events while preserving anti-ischemic effects in patients undergoing conventional percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Whether this strategy is also safe and effective in complex PCI remains elusive; (2) A systematic search of randomized controlled trials comparing a short course of ticagrelor-based DAPT versus standard DAPT in patients undergoing complex PCI was performed; (3) Of 10,689 studies screened, 3 were identified for a total of 4176 participants on ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of ticagrelor-based DAPT, and 4209 on standard DAPT. The pooled analysis revealed no difference in the outcomes of major bleeding, myocardial infarction, definite or probable stent thrombosis and ischemic stroke.

Validity and reliability of Turkish version of Beliefs About Third-Hand Smoke Scale: BATHS-T.

Objective: Exposure to third-hand smoke (THS) poses health risk, especially for children. THS is mostly ignored in Turkey. The aim of this study is to adapt the Beliefs about Third-Hand Smoke (BATHS) scale to Turkish.

Detecting Differential Item Functioning Using Multiple-Group Cognitive Diagnosis Models.

This study proposes a multiple-group cognitive diagnosis model to account for the fact that students in different groups may use distinct attributes or use the same attributes but in different manners (e.g., conjunctive, disjunctive, and compensatory) to solve problems.

Disseminated Cryptococcosis in a Patient With Metastatic Prostate Cancer Who Died in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak.

We report the case of a 61-year-old patient with a history of prostate cancer affected by bone metastasis. He presented to our attention for ulcerous and necrotic cutaneous lesions unresponsive to antibiotics. The spread of cutaneous lesions and the onset of neurological symptoms suggested a cryptococcal disease, which was confirmed by lumbar puncture and cutaneous biopsy.

Proline-stimulated signaling primarily targets the chlorophyll degradation pathway and photosynthesis associated processes to cope with short-term water deficit in maize.

Increased photosynthetic efficiencies in genotypes with greater proline level and in crops treated with proline under water deficit have been reported in recent years, but the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of this process are still not known. We examined photosystem II (PSII) activity, photosynthetic enzymes, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc), rubisco activase (RCA), and chlorophyll metabolic enzymes, magnesium chelatase (Mg-CHLI), and chlorophyllase (Chlase), which would be the primary targets of exogenous proline to provide photosynthetic protection to plants under PEG-induced short-term water deficit. Two maize genotypes W23/M14 with greater proline content and Şafak with low proline content were hydroponically grown for 21-23 days, and then the seedlings were subjected to water deficit (- 0.

Evaluation of the effects of neural therapy in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of neural therapy and exercise on pain, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and functioning status in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Patients And Methods: This multi-center study included a total of 72 patients (60 females, 12 males; mean age: 39.2±9.

Exogenous alpha lipoic acid can stimulate photosystem II activity and the gene expressions of carbon fixation and chlorophyll metabolism enzymes in maize seedlings under drought.

Protective compounds such as non-enzymatic antioxidants, osmolytes and signal molecules have been applied to plants exposed to various environmental stresses to increase their stress tolerance. However, there are not enough records about the response of plants to alpha lipoic acid (ALA) application with antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the function of exogenous ALA on the photosynthetic performance of maize seedlings grown in hydroponic conditions under drought stress.

Analysis of CFRP Joints by Means of T-Pull Mechanical Test and Ultrasonic Defects Detection.

Defects detection within a composite component, with the aim of understanding and predicting its mechanical behavior, is of great importance in the aeronautical field because the irregularities of the composite material could compromise functionality. The aim of this paper is to detect defects by means of non-destructive testing (NDT) on T-pull samples made by carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and to evaluate their effect on the mechanical response of the material. Samples, obtained from an industrial stringer having an inclined web and realized with a polymeric filler between cap and web, were subjected to ultrasonic monitoring and then to T-pull mechanical tests.

A fatal and metabolic experimental hemorrhagic shock in immature swine.

Purpose: To use blood lactate (BL) as an end-point metabolic marker for the begin resuscitation of volume replacement in experimental hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Group I (n=7) was not bled (Control). Animals in Group II (n=7) were bled to a MAP of 30mmHg in thirty minutes.

Effect of multiparity on bone mineral density, evaluated with bone turnover markers.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the effect of parity on osteoporosis by evaluating bone mineral density, markers of bone turn-over and other factors that are effective in osteoporosis in multiparous (five deliveries or more) and nulliparous women in the post-menopausal period.

Methods: A total of 91 multiparous (five deliveries or more) and 31 nulliparous postmenopausal women were included in this study. All patients were interviewed on sociodemographic characteristics, gynecologic history, personal habits, levels of physical activity, and life-long intake of calcium.

Factors affecting executive functions in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and volumetric changes in the prefrontal cortex.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cognitive changes and executive functions are among the cognitive domains most affected. However, it is not completely understood which of the factor(s) among hypoxemia, repeated arousal, and sleepiness affect the executive functions. This study aims to evaluate the possible relationship between the executive functions and nocturnal parameters, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) volumes.