Caffeine supplement, inflammation, and hepatic function in cirrhotic patients: A randomized, placebo- controlled, clinical trial.

Aim: We investigated the possibility of caffeine supplementation for managing the inflammation, and hepatic function in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, fifty patients with cirrhosis were randomly assigned to receive either caffeine supplement (400 mg), or placebo for eight weeks.

Results: The results indicated a significant decrease in AST, platelets (P = 0.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis to Evaluate the Effects of Chitosan on Obesity Indicators.

Chitosan, a commonly used dietary supplement, is believed to have the potential to decrease body weight by binding to dietary fats and decreasing their absorption. However, due to conflicting results from various studies, this review aimed to investigate the effects of chitosan supplementation on obesity indicators in adults. To find appropriate randomized clinical trials (RCTs), a thorough search was conducted across electronic databases like PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science.

Soft robots and soft bodies: biological insights into the structure and function of fluidic soft robots.

Over the last two decades, robotics engineering has witnessed rapid growth in the exploration and development of soft robots. Soft robots are made of deformable materials with mechanical properties or other features that resemble biological structures. These robots are often inspired by living organisms or mimic their locomotion, such as crawling and swimming.

Intrapatient Intermetastatic Heterogeneity Determined by Triple-Tracer PET Imaging in mCRPC Patients and Correlation to Survival: The 3TMPO Cohort Study.

Intrapatient intermetastatic heterogeneity (IIH) has been demonstrated in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients and is of the utmost importance for radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) eligibility. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of IIH and RPT eligibility in mCRPC patients through a triple-tracer PET imaging strategy. This was a multisite prospective observational study in which mCRPC patients underwent both F-FDG and Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617 PET/CT scans.

Analysis of Missingness Scenarios for Observational Health Data.

Despite the extensive literature on missing data theory and cautionary articles emphasizing the importance of realistic analysis for healthcare data, a critical gap persists in incorporating domain knowledge into the missing data methods. In this paper, we argue that the remedy is to identify the key scenarios that lead to data missingness and investigate their theoretical implications. Based on this proposal, we first introduce an analysis framework where we investigate how different observation agents, such as physicians, influence the data availability and then scrutinize each scenario with respect to the steps in the missing data analysis.

Formulation and Characterization of a Novel Oxidized Alginate-Gelatin-Silk Fibroin Bioink with the Aim of Skin Regeneration.

Background: In the present study, a novel bioink was suggested based on the oxidized alginate (OAlg), gelatin (GL), and silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels.

Methods: The composition of the bioink was optimized by the rheological and printability measurements, and the extrusion-based 3D bioprinting process was performed by applying the optimum OAlg-based bioink.

Results: The results demonstrated that the viscosity of bioink was continuously decreased by increasing the SF/GL ratio, and the bioink displayed a maximum achievable printability (92 ± 2%) at 2% (w/v) of SF and 4% (w/v) of GL.

Assessable and interpretable sensitivity analysis in the pattern graph framework for nonignorable missingness mechanisms.

The pattern graph framework solves a wide range of missing data problems with nonignorable mechanisms. However, it faces two challenges of assessability and interpretability, particularly important in safety-critical problems such as clinical diagnosis: (i) How can one assess the validity of the framework's a priori assumption and make necessary adjustments to accommodate known information about the problem? (ii) How can one interpret the process of exponential tilting used for sensitivity analysis in the pattern graph framework and choose the tilt perturbations based on meaningful real-world quantities? In this paper, we introduce Informed Sensitivity Analysis, an extension of the pattern graph framework that enables us to incorporate substantive knowledge about the missingness mechanism into the pattern graph framework. Our extension allows us to examine the validity of assumptions underlying pattern graphs and interpret sensitivity analysis results in terms of realistic problem characteristics.

Comparison of Occluding Effect of Fluoride Varnish and Diode Laser Irradiation with Fluoride Varnish and Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation on Dentinal Tubules of the Cervical Root Area of the Tooth.

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a sharp, short dental pain which originates from exposed dentin surfaces in response to thermal, evaporative, tactile, osmotic, chemical or electrical stimuli. Research showed that dentin tubule occlusion can lead to pain remission. Our goal was to evaluate the dentinal tubules in the cervical area of root teeth that are occluded by fluoride varnish, diode laser irradiation, and erbium laser irradiation.

Effects of probiotic supplementation with weight reducing intervention on anthropometric measures, body composition, eating behavior, and related hormone levels in patients with food addiction and weight regain after bariatric surgery: a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: One of the unfortunate events after bariatric surgery is the weight regain, which occurs in some patients. Food addiction is an eating disorder related to the brain-intestinal axis and can be effective in weight regain after bariatric surgery. In addition, the gut microbiome plays a vital role in eating behaviors, including food addiction.

The association of dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet with hospitalization risk in patients with COVID-19.

Background And Aim: Given the importance of dietary habits in the immune system, the current study aimed at investigating the association between Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Methods: Dietary data of 141 patients with COVID-19 were collected using 147-item food frequency questionnaire. DASH score in this cross-sectional study was calculated based on eight components, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts and seeds, whole grains, low-fat dairy, red or processed meats, sweetened beverages, and sodium.

Impact of the dead-time correction method on quantitative Lu-SPECT (QSPECT) and dosimetry during radiopharmaceutical therapy.

Background: Dead-time correction is required for accurate quantitative SPECT-based dosimetry in the context of personalised Lu radiopharmaceutical therapy. We aimed to evaluate the impact of applying dead-time correction on the reconstructed SPECT image versus on the acquisition projections before reconstruction.

Methods: Data from 16 SPECT/CT acquisitions of a decaying Lu-filled phantom (up to 20.

Sustained release of sulforaphane by bioactive extracellular vesicles for neuroprotective effect on chick model.

Novel studies have shown neurological treatment possibilities with extracellular vesicles (EVs) as natural particles with a special composition that are produced by different cell types. Their stability, natural structure, composition, and bioavailability make them good candidates as drug vehicles. Here, EVs were isolated from amniotic fluid (AF) through differential centrifugation, and characterized for size (<200 nm), structure, and composition, their effectiveness on the human PC12 cell line, and brain of chick embryos exposed to sodium valproate (animal autistic model).

Preparation and characterization of injectable gelatin/alginate/chondroitin sulfate/α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate composite paste for bone repair application.

In this study, a group of injectable composite pastes with a novel formulation consisting of two inorganic components: α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH, P/L = 1.8-2.1 g/ml) and calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA, P/L = 0.

3D Bioprinting of Polycaprolactone-Based Scaffolds for Pulp-Dentin Regeneration: Investigation of Physicochemical and Biological Behavior.

In this study, two structurally different scaffolds, a polycaprolactone (PCL)/45S5 Bioglass (BG) composite and PCL/hyaluronic acid (HyA) were fabricated by 3D printing technology and were evaluated for the regeneration of dentin and pulp tissues, respectively. Their physicochemical characterization was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle, and compressive strength tests. The results indicated that the presence of BG in the PCL/BG scaffolds promoted the mechanical properties, surface roughness, and bioactivity.

Tuning the biomimetic behavior of hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering through surface modifications and drug immobilization.

Bone defects arising from injury and/or disease are a common and debilitating clinical lesion. While the development of tissue microenvironments utilizing biomimetic constructs is an emerging approach for bone tissue engineering. In this context, bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNPs) were embedded within polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathotomy for primary hyperhidrosis: predictors of outcome over a 10-year period.

Background: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy/sympathotomy is gold standard of treatment for primary hyperhidrosis. Compensatory hyperhidrosis following surgery and partial response to surgery in some patients can significantly affect surgery outcome and patient satisfaction. In this study we investigated predictors of success rate, side effects, and satisfaction of our patients following ETS over a 10-year period.

Preparation and characterization of nano MnO-CaLs as a green catalyst for oxidation of styrene.

Hydrophilic nano MnO is shown to have significant stability in aqueous media for oxidation of styrene. Different catalysts have been used to synthesis styrene oxide, but MnO-CaL is considered the efficient and selective catalyst to produce styrene oxide. In general, this paper reported especial strategy for synthesis of novel nano MnO that stabilized with oleic acid in chloroform and changing nature of its stabilizer by exchanging oleic acid with lignosulfunate and displays its catalytic activity towards selective oxidation of styrene.

Efficiency of Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser in Debonding Cemented Glass Fiber Posts: an Study.

Statement Of The Problem: The efficacy of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er; YAG) laser on the debonding properties of certain post materials has remained largely unexplored.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Er; YAG laser irradiation on debonding of cemented glass fiber posts in root canal treated teeth.

Materials And Method: In this study, forty root canal treated mandibular premolar teeth were used in this study.

The potential impact of polyethylenimine on biological behavior of 3D-printed alginate scaffolds.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing using biocompatible materials is a novel technology having a great potential for fabricating precise 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering. Alginate hydrogel undergoes unstable swelling and degradation properties as well as suffers from poor cell adhesion due to the lack of cell binding domains. These limit its applications in tissue engineering.

Increasing the effectiveness of oxaliplatin using colloidal immunoglobulin G nanoparticles: Synthesis, cytotoxicity, interaction, and release studies.

A novel biomacromolecule was prepared for a stabilizer sustained anticancer drug release system. Colloidal immunoglobulin G (IgG) nanoparticles (IgGNP) were synthesized and then characterized using FT-IR, SEM, zeta sizer, and AFM. Moreover, the formation of spherical shape IgGNP with an appropriate average size (144.

Decoration of electrical conductive polyurethane-polyaniline/polyvinyl alcohol matrixes with mussel-inspired polydopamine for bone tissue engineering.

Electrospinning is a versatile technology for the fabrication of nanofibrous matrixes to regenerate defects. This study aims to develop a functionalized and electroconductive polymeric matrix to improve rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Herein, the influence of the chemical composition of the substrate on homogeneous modification of the surface with mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) is focused.

Bioactive and biostable hyaluronic acid-pullulan dermal hydrogels incorporated with biomimetic hydroxyapatite spheres.

In this study, hyaluronic acid-pullulan injectable hydrogels were incorporated with biomimetic hydroxyapatite spheres and were modified using silane coupling agents in order to improve the physicochemical, mechanical, and biological performance of hydrogels. So the biomimetic hydroxyapatite spheres were synthesized through immersion of gelatin-siloxane microspheres in the simulated body fluid. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed the formation of hydroxyapatite on the surface of hybrid spheres.

Mussel-inspired polydopamine induced the osteoinductivity to ice-templating PLGA-gelatin matrix for bone tissue engineering application.

In this study, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-gelatin scaffolds were fabricated using the freeze-casting technique. Polydopamine (PDA) coating was applied on the surface of scaffolds to enhance the hydrophilicity, bioactivity, and cellular behavior of the composite constructs. Further, the synergistic effect of PDA coating and lamellar microstructure of scaffolds was evaluated on the promotion of properties.