Partial directed coherence analysis of resting-state EEG signals for alcohol use disorder detection using machine learning.

Introduction: Excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts physical and psychiatric health, lifestyle, and societal interactions. Chronic alcohol abuse alters brain structure, leading to alcohol use disorder (AUD), a condition requiring early diagnosis for effective management. Current diagnostic methods, primarily reliant on subjective questionnaires, could benefit from objective measures.

Explainable AI in Diagnostic Radiology for Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review, and What Doctors Think About It.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently made unprecedented contributions in every walk of life, but it has not been able to work its way into diagnostic medicine and standard clinical practice yet. Although data scientists, researchers, and medical experts have been working in the direction of designing and developing computer aided diagnosis (CAD) tools to serve as assistants to doctors, their large-scale adoption and integration into the healthcare system still seems far-fetched. Diagnostic radiology is no exception.

Awareness of Contraindications Among Cancer Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Cancer patients often face challenges in managing their disease, particularly with regard to contraindications related to medications, foods, and physical activity, which can negatively affect treatment outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate cancer patients' awareness of these contraindications and to explore the influence of sociodemographic factors, support systems, comorbidities, and medication use on their knowledge.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted with 125 cancer patients in Saudi Arabia between December 2022 and February 2023.

Accuracy of Radiomics in the Identification of Extrathyroidal Extension and BRAF Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) increase mortality and recurrence risk. Preoperative identification presents considerable challenges. Although radiomics has emerged as a potential tool for identifying ETE and BRAF mutation, systematic evidence supporting its effectiveness remains insufficient.

Estimation of macroplastic yield from river basin to coastal area: A case study of the Klang River, Malaysia.

Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems has become a critical global environmental challenge, threatening biodiversity, water quality, and human health. This study investigates macroplastics distribution and characterization in the highly polluted Klang River, Malaysia, and proposes a protocol to compute total macroplastic yield in the river basin. A total of 240 macroplastic items were collected over a 20-km stretch from the river mouth inland, with an average of 0.

A comparative perception and impact of pictorial warnings on cigarette packaging among Malaysian smokers and non-smokers.

Introduction: In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that pictorial warnings on tobacco products be used to educate consumers on the negative health impacts associated with tobacco use. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of pictorial warnings on cigarette packaging among smokers and non-smokers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted in Kuala Lumpur.

Assessment of Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge and Practices About Radioactive Iodine Preparation in Thyroid Cancer Patients.

Background Radioactive iodine (iodine-131) therapy is widely used for treating thyroid cancer. However, the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals in preparing patients for radioactive iodine therapy may vary, potentially affecting patient outcomes. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Jeddah, regarding the preparation of patients with thyroid cancer for radioactive iodine therapy.

Disease Risk Score Derivation and Validation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease risk assessment is a key tool in primary prevention. The ADRS (Abu Dhabi Risk Study) is a retrospective cohort study aiming to develop 10-year risk prediction equations for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and validate international risk equations.

Methods And Results: The 8699 participants were examined in the Abu Dhabi cardiovascular screening program from 2011 to 2013 with a subsequent average follow-up of 9.

A systematic review: enhancing stroke recovery through complementary interventions-Clinical outcomes and neural activity insights.

Unlabelled: The growing interest in complementary interventions for stroke recovery necessitates the need for neural insights to aid in making evidence-based clinical decisions. This systematic review examined the brain activation effects of complementary therapies, including acupuncture ( = 5), motor imagery therapy (MIT) ( = 5), music ( = 3), and virtual reality (VR) interventions ( = 3), on clinical outcomes and neural activity in stroke patients. All therapies engaged motor and sensory networks, frontal regions, parietal regions, and temporal regions, suggesting their potential to improve motor control, attention, memory, and cognitive function.

To assess the knowledge, awareness, and perception of non-dentists offering orthodontic treatment among the Malaysian young adult population.

Background: The increasing number of young adults seeking cheaper and easily accessible orthodontic treatment from unlicensed practitioners in Malaysia poses significant risks to patients. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate their motivations and awareness regarding such practices. The objective of our study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of non-dentists offering orthodontic treatment among the Malaysian young adult population.

Encapsulation of soybean lunasin and amaranth unsaponifiable matter in liposomes induces cell cycle arrest in an allograft melanoma mouse model.

Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and can metastasize during primary tumor formation. This research aimed to determine the relationship between the prevention of melanoma development in a mouse model treated with liposomes loaded with soybean lunasin and amaranth unsaponifiable matter (UM + LunLip) and cell cycle arrest. Tumors excised from C57BL/6 mice treated topically or subcutaneously with UM + LunLip were subjected to immunohistochemistry.

Edge Computing for AI-Based Brain MRI Applications: A Critical Evaluation of Real-Time Classification and Segmentation.

Medical imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnostic medicine with technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and ultrasound scans being widely used to assist radiologists and medical experts in reaching concrete diagnosis. Given the recent massive uplift in the storage and processing capabilities of computers, and the publicly available big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has also started contributing to improving diagnostic radiology. Edge computing devices and handheld gadgets can serve as useful tools to process medical data in remote areas with limited network and computational resources.

Functional excitation-inhibition ratio for social anxiety analysis and severity assessment.

Introduction: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition characterized by an intense fear of and avoidance of social situations. Traditional assessment methods for SAD primarily rely on subjective self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews, which can be prone to biases and inaccuracies. This study aims to explore the functional excitation-inhibition (fEI) ratio derived from EEG data as a potential objective biomarker for assessing SAD severity.

Brain functional alteration and cognitive performance in cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of fMRI studies.

Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a useful tool to evaluate brain inefficiencies secondary to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); nevertheless, limited fMRI studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of CVDs on brain functional changes and cognitive function. This systematic review aims to explore, synthesise, and report fMRI outcomes (resting state and task-based) and cognitive performance in patients with CVDs.

Methods: Two reviewers independently searched published literature until April 2024 on ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.

16S rRNA metagenomics data on the bacterial communities in Poring Hot Spring, Sabah, Malaysia.

Hot springs are known to harbor potentially unique microorganisms due to the extreme temperatures in which they thrive and their biotechnologically important enzymes that are active at high temperature, which are beneficial for various industries. Sabah, Malaysia, houses several hot springs, yet knowledge of their microbiological diversity remains limited. Here, the raw sequence data of bacterial communities in a hot spring through metagenomic analysis are revealed.

Functional brain alterations in COVID-19 patients using resting-state fMRI: a systematic review.

This study systematically reviews the available evidence on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) related to neurological symptoms and cognitive declines in COVID-19 patients. We followed PRISMA guidelines and looked up the PubMed, and Scopus databases for articles search on COVID-19 patients with neurological impairments, and functional connectivity alteration using rs-fMRI technique. Articles published between January 1, 2020, and May 31, 2024, are included in this study.

Chemical and physical properties of radiopaque Portland cement formulation with reduced particle size.

This study compared the chemical and physical properties of an experimental radiopaque white Portland cement (REPC) with reduced particle size to ProRoot white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA). The particle size distribution of experimental Portland cement (EPC) was examined, and then nano-zirconium oxide (nano-ZrO) was added to produce REPC. Chemical analysis, initial setting time, pH values, and push-out bond strength were evaluated.

Comparative efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for mitigating pain and anxiety associated with venipuncture: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Venipuncture is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in paediatric care, but it can also be one of the most painful and distressing experiences for patients. Finding effective strategies to manage pain and fear associated with venipuncture is crucial for improving the paediatric patient experience and promoting positive health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a combined approach using a topical analgesic cream (TKTX cream) and a distraction technique (Trace Image and Colouring for Kids-Book, TICK-B) in reducing pain intensity and fear levels in children undergoing venipuncture procedures.

Towards understanding the role of nanomedicine in targeting TNFR2 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the synovium and progressive joint destruction which significantly affects both quality of life and socioeconomic status. Admittedly, various treatments are available, but they are usually accompanied by various side effects, from mild to severe, and potentially with adverse events. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of RA.

Epidemiological Analysis of Childhood Brucellosis in Duhok, Iraq: A Retrospective Observational Study From 2018 to 2021.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animal to human through contaminated dairy products, raw vegetables, and water or via direct contact with infected animal tissues. While the disease affects individuals of all ages, research on its prevalence and clinical profile, particularly in Iraq, is limited. To address this knowledge gap, a retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the Bacterial Serology Laboratory of Heevi Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Duhok, Iraq, from 2018 to 2021.

Land use and land cover changes, and woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in Northern Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Orthodox churches are significant habitats for endemic and threatened plant species, yet their vegetation status and the land use systems impacting them, are little known. Therefore, this study assessed the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) within a 3 km buffer area and the woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The United States Geological Survey's multi-dated (1986, 1999, and 2018) Landsat imagery was used for LULCC analysis.