Speech Perception Outcomes with the Anatomy-Based Fitting Map among Experienced, Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Anatomy-based fitting (ABF), a relatively new technique for cochlear implant (CI) programming, attempts to lessen the impact of the electrode insertion location-related frequency-to-place mismatch (FPM). This study aimed to compare vowels and consonant perception in quiet and in noise among experienced adult CI users using the ABF and the regular, conventional-based fitting (CBF) map (pre-ABF) over 6 months.

Methods: Nine ears from eight experienced adult CI users were included in the experimental and longitudinal research.

Improved temporal IoT device identification using robust statistical features.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming more prevalent in our daily lives. A recent industry report projected the global IoT market to be worth more than USD 4 trillion by 2032. To cope with the ever-increasing IoT devices in use, identifying and securing IoT devices has become highly crucial for network administrators.

Texture-based speciation of otitis media-related bacterial biofilms from optical coherence tomography images using supervised classification.

Otitis media (OM), a highly prevalent inflammatory middle-ear disease in children worldwide, is commonly caused by an infection, and can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms in recurrent/chronic OM cases. A biofilm related to OM typically contains one or multiple bacterial species. OCT has been used clinically to visualize the presence of bacterial biofilms in the middle ear.

Secondary oral squamous cell carcinoma following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We report the cases of 10 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Median latency from HSCT to oral SCC diagnosis was 10 years (range: 4-17 years), with 90% (9/10) reporting a history of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and 40% (4/10) exhibiting active severe manifestations of oral GvHD. Clinical findings at diagnosis included induration, ulceration, tenderness, bleeding, hyperkeratosis, speckling and lymphadenopathy.

Investigating foliar application of bulk and nanoparticles titanium dioxide on fennel productivity to mitigate the negative effects of saline irrigation water.

Background: Fennel essential oils are fragrance compounds used in food and pharmaceutical sectors. One of the major impediments to expansion of fennel farming in Egypt's reclamation areas is saline water. Titanium dioxide (TiO) or TiO nano particles (TiONP) can be utilized to boost the yield of aromatic plants cultivated under saline irrigation water.

The majority of observational studies in leading peer-reviewed medicine journals are not registered and do not have a publicly accessible protocol: a scoping review.

Objectives: Observational studies are not subject to the same requirements as randomized controlled trials, such as registration or publishing a protocol. The aim of this scoping review was to estimate the registration rate of observational studies in leading peer-reviewed medicine journals and to evaluate whether protocols were available in the public domain.

Study Design And Setting: In March 2023, we searched OVID Medline for observational studies published in 2022 in the top five general medicine journals according to impact factor (The Lancet, The British Medical Journal (BMJ), The Journal of the American Medical Association, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine).

The impact of religious-psychological factors on self-perceived sport performance among religious athletes in Malaysia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which religious-psychological factors contribute to self-perceived sport performance among religious athletes.

Methods: The participants consisted of 612 athletes (310 males, 302 females) aged 12-70 years (mean age = 25.33; SD = 8.

The performance of ultrasound and upper gastrointestinal study in diagnosing malrotation in children, with or without volvulus.

Background: Rapid diagnosis is crucial for pediatric patients with midgut volvulus and malrotation to prevent serious complications. While the upper gastrointestinal study (UGIS) is the traditional method, the use of ultrasound (US) is gaining prominence.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of US compared to UGIS for malrotation and midgut volvulus.

Influence of phosphate on bacterial release from activated carbon point-of-use filters and on biofilm characteristics.

Point-of-use (POU) filters certified to remove lead are often composed of activated carbon and have been shown to release high concentrations of bacteria, including opportunistic pathogens. In this study, we examine the impacts of the common corrosion inhibitor phosphate on biofilm characteristics and the relationship between biofilm structure and bacterial release from POU filters. This knowledge is essential for understanding how best to use the filters and where these filters fit in a system where other lead contamination prevention measures may be in place.

A multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy study of the responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to blue light and antibiotic treatment.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a multidrug-resistant human pathogen involved in numerous infections. Understanding the response of P.

Texture-based speciation of otitis media-related bacterial biofilms from optical coherence tomography images using supervised classification.

Otitis media (OM) is primarily a bacterial middle-ear infection prevalent among children worldwide. In recurrent and/or chronic OM cases, antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms can develop in the middle ear. A biofilm related to OM typically contains one or multiple bacterial strains, the most common include and .

Autism and bilingualism: A thematic analysis of practitioner perspectives in the United Kingdom.

Background: At least 25% of autistic children worldwide have the potential to grow up in a bilingual environment. However, many autistic children are being denied opportunities to access additional languages and the cultural, familial and community connections that come with this. There is little evidence identifying the barriers to language learning and access, and no research addressing the perspectives of speech and language therapists (SLTs), who are crucial in supporting parents to make informed choices about bilingualism with their child.

Split Tummy Exercise Program for Reducing Diastasis Recti in Postpartum Primigravidae: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) involves the separation of the midline abdominal muscles and linea alba and affects more than half of postpartum women. This study aimed to assess the effect of a split tummy exercise program (STEP) on DRA closure in postpartum mothers.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2008 to 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.

Evaluation of intestinal ultrasound for disease activity assessment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional study at a tertiary centre in Malaysia.

Background: The use of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is emerging. We aim to determine the performance of IUS in the assessment of disease activity in IBD.

Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study of IUS performed on IBD patients in a tertiary centre.

Effects of phosphate and silicate on stiffness and viscoelasticity of mature biofilms developed with simulated drinking water.

Biofilms, a porous matrix of cells aggregated with extracellular polymeric substances under the influence of chemical constituents in the feed water, can develop a viscoelastic response to mechanical stresses. In this study, the roles of phosphate and silicate, common additives in corrosion control and meat processing, on the stiffness, viscoelasticity, porous structure networks, and chemical properties of biofilm were investigated. Three-year biofilms on PVC coupons were grown from sand-filtered groundwater with or without one of the non-nutrient (silicate) or nutrient additives (phosphate or phosphate blends).

Multimodal Handheld Probe for Characterizing Otitis Media - Integrating Raman Spectroscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography.

Otitis media (OM) is a common disease of the middle ear, affecting 80% of children before the age of three. The otoscope, a simple illuminated magnifier, is the standard clinical diagnostic tool to observe the middle ear. However, it has limited contrast to detect signs of infection, such as clearly identifying and characterizing middle ear fluid or biofilms that accumulate within the middle ear.

Differentiation of otitis media-causing bacteria and biofilms Raman spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography.

In the management of otitis media (OM), identification of causative bacterial pathogens and knowledge of their biofilm formation can provide more targeted treatment approaches. Current clinical diagnostic methods rely on the visualization of the tympanic membrane and lack real-time assessment of the causative pathogen(s) and the nature of any biofilm that may reside behind the membrane and within the middle ear cavity. In recent years, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been demonstrated as an improved diagnostic tool for visualization and morphological characterization of OM biofilms and middle ear effusions; but lacks specificity about the causative bacterial species.

Challenging Removal of Embedded Fishbone in Tongue: Multimodal Technique, Surgical Approach and Consideration of Migration.

Fishbone ingestion is a common occurrence and patients present with various symptoms, posing challenges to the attending physicians. Here, we present two unique cases of patients with an unexpected rapidly migrating fishbone in the tongue. The first patient was operated transorally because of a foreign body embedded in the genioglossus muscle.

Imaging and characterization of transitions in biofilm morphology via anomalous diffusion following environmental perturbation.

Microorganisms form macroscopic structures for the purpose of environmental adaptation. Sudden environmental perturbations induce dynamics that cause bacterial biofilm morphology to transit to another equilibrium state, thought to be related to anomalous diffusion processes. Here, detecting the super-diffusion characteristics would offer a long-sought goal for a rapid detection method of biofilm phenotypes based on their dynamics, such as growth or dispersal.

A Survey of Awareness of Parents and Caretakers on Diagnostic Radiological Examination Related Radiation Exposure in a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia.

Background: With the advancement in medical imaging, radiological application in the paediatric population has also increased. Children, generally more radiosensitive, have a higher risk of developing certain malignancies. Therefore, this may result in uneasiness among parents and caretakers when their children need to undergo medical imaging examination.

A Rare Tumor in the Neck of a Child: Plexiform Neurofibroma.

Plexiform neurofibroma represents an uncommon variant of neurofibromatosis type 1, constituting only 5%-30% of all cases. Plexiform neurofibroma is usually diagnosed during childhood and arises from multiple nerves, manifesting as bulging and deforming masses that can also involve connective tissue and skin folds. We report a case of a two-year-old girl who presented with worsening stridor since birth and later exhibited progressively increasing left neck swelling at the age of 10 months old.

CT findings of congenital neonatal pyriform aperture stenosis.

Congenital neonatal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is a rare but potentially lethal condition that causes respiratory distress. The characteristic narrowing of the pyriform aperture along with other associated craniofacial dysmorphism is diagnosed using cross-sectional imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging. CT scan is the imaging of choice for confirming and characterizing CNPAS.

A proposal for needle projections in transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty using three-dimensionally reconstructed CT scans.

Purpose: This study aims to determine laryngeal dimension in relation to all three transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty (TIL) approaches (thyrohyoid, transthyroid and cricothyroid) using three-dimensionally reconstructed Computed Tomography (CT) scan and compare the measurements between sex, age group and ethnicity.

Methods: CT scans of the neck of two hundred patients were analysed by two groups of raters. For thyrohyoid approach, mean distance from the superior border of the thyroid cartilage to the laryngeal cavity (THd) and mean angle from the superior border of the thyroid cartilage to mid-true cords (THa) were measured.