Modification of cotton gauze using Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) and assessment of the chemical and antimicrobial properties.

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a tropical grass found in all tropical and subtropical areas. It is widely found in Bangladesh and well known for its antimicrobial properties. Cotton gauze is a woven cloth which is used for wound dressing and wound cushioning.

Utilizing polygenic risk score for breast cancer risk prediction in a Taiwanese population.

Background: Breast cancer has been the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Taiwan since 2003. While genetic variants play a significant role in the elevated risk of breast cancer, their implications have been less explored within Asian populations. Variant-based polygenic risk scores (PRS) have emerged as valuable tools for assessing the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Solid health care waste management practice in Ethiopia, a convergent mixed method study.

Introduction: Healthcare waste is any waste generated by healthcare facilities that is considered potentially hazardous to health. Solid healthcare waste is categorized into infectious and non-infectious wastes. Infectious waste is material suspected of containing pathogens and potentially causing disease.

A Summed Score From Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters Predicts 1-Year Mortality in Newly Diagnosed Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a unique diagnostic tool that assesses the functional capacity of the heart, lungs, and peripheral oxidative system in an integrated manner. However, the clinical utility of CPET for evaluating interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of CPET for mortality in subjects with ILD.

Polygenic risk score-based prediction of breast cancer risk in Taiwanese women with dense breast using a retrospective cohort study.

Mammographic screening has contributed to a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality. Several studies have highlighted the correlation between breast density, as detected through mammography, and a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer. A polygenic risk score (PRS) is a numerical score that is calculated based on an individual's genetic information.

Preoperative systemic inflammation response index: Clinicopathologic predictor of pathological complete response in HER2-positive breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Background: Multiple pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers (SIMs) have been reported as predictors of pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, the most significant SIM remains to be conclusively identified, and variations among different molecular subtypes remain unknown. The objective of the study was to identify the most significant SIM in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive BC, to construct a pCR-predictive nomogram combining it with other clinicopathologic factors, and to evaluate its prognostic value on survival.

Challenges in Palliative Care Provision in Ethiopia: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Background: The prevalence of chronic illnesses is increasing at an alarming rate in Ethiopia. However, the existing palliative care service is not adequate to address the palliative care need of the patients and their families. This demands the need to explore, among other things, the challenges in palliative care provision.

Experiences of operational managers regarding record keeping by new professional nurses in public hospitals in the North West province, South Africa.

Background: Documentation can be written or computerised and is used to communicate healthcare and treatment among healthcare professionals. Documentation is the tool that records and measures the healthcare provided to patients, and it must be accurate, complete and timely.

Aim: This study aims to explore and describe the experiences of the operational managers regarding record keeping by new nurses in selected public hospitals in South Africa.

The Relationship Between Social Support and Family Functioning Among Married Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Iran with the Mediating Role of Spiritual Experiences and Moral Foundations.

Objectives: When a married family member suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), the collective physical and psychosocial well-being of the family is impacted and much of the burden is on the healthier spouse. The purpose of the present study was to determine the contribution of psychosocial support from spouses, friends, and others in overall family functioning in respect of Iranian patients with MS, considering the mediating role of spiritual experiences and moral foundations.

Methods: Spouses of patients with MS were chosen through the judgmental sampling method.

The association between inhaled corticosteroid and the risks of SARS-COV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) on the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection is unclear.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies that assessed the association between the use of ICS and the risk of SARS-COV-2 infection. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched to January 1st, 2023.

Ovatodiolide inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis through suppression of the TGF-β/TβRs signaling pathway.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues to pose threats to public health. The clinical manifestations of lung pathology in COVID-19 patients include sustained inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. The macrocyclic diterpenoid ovatodiolide (OVA) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, and analgesic activities.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy degrade Dicer to promote breast cancer metastasis.

Metastasis in breast cancer usually lead to the majority of deaths on clinical patients. Accordingly, diagnosis of metastasis at the early stage in breast cancer is important to improve the prognosis. We observed that Dicer protein levels are significant decrease in highly invasive breast cancer cells and usually correlated with poor clinical outcomes.

Benefits of Cycling Wheelchair Training for Elderly with Physical Disability: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Aim: In order to investigate the effect of cycling wheelchair training as an exercise for aged 65+ disabled patients on cognitive function, quality of life, aerobic capacity and physiological parameters.

Methods: Participants in nursing home performed cycling wheelchair training for 30 min a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The main outcome measure was the short form 12 survey (SF-12).

Comparison of overall survival after neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer with immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy: A retrospective, matched case-control study.

Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy combined with chemotherapy is the preferred option for patients with early-stage breast cancer who require both superior clinical and aesthetic outcomes. The present study aimed to determine the survival benefits of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy in Taiwan. The present study compared overall survival (OS) following neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy in 139 patients with early-stage breast cancer who underwent immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

Association of maternal psychological distress with children with overweight/obesity in Ethiopia.

Background: Poor maternal mental health is a major risk factor for adverse offspring health outcomes, including overweight/obesity status. Maternal mental distress is highly prevalent and associated with parenting practices influencing child weight. To date, there is little information documented in Ethiopia on maternal mental distress and children with overweight/obesity status.

Dicer-mediated miR-200b expression contributes to cell migratory/invasive abilities and cancer stem cells properties of breast cancer cells.

Distant metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with breast cancer. Despite considerable treatment advances, the clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic breast cancer remain poor. CSCs can self-renew, enhancing cancer progression and metastasis.

Correlates of Sedentary Time Among Children and Adolescents in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To assess the correlates of sedentary time among children and adolescents in Ethiopia.

Methods: The study was conducted in representative samples of children and adolescents in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations of sedentary time and predictor variables.

Analysis of EZH2 Genetic Variants on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Pathology.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the third most common female cancer in Taiwan. EZH2 plays an important role in cancer development through transcriptional repression by chromatin remodeling. However, the expression of EZH2 in breast cancer is highly correlated with tumorigenesis, and patient survival is not matched to TNBC.

The effect of inhaled corticosteroids on the outcomes of patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on the clinical outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was not known.

Research Design And Methods: Only phase 2 and 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from electronic databases that investigated ICS in the treatment of COVID-19 patients were included. The outcomes of interest were the resolution of symptoms, risk of hospitalization or urgent medical visit, mortality, and the incidence of adverse events (AEs).

The Effect of Early-Life Seizures on Cognitive and Motor Development: A Case Series.

Purpose: This case series documents developmental changes over time and in response to a novel intervention, Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play), in children with early-life seizures.

Methods: Thirteen children with early-life seizures were included from a subset of participants in the START-Play multisite, randomized controlled trial. Seven received 3 months of twice weekly START-Play intervention; 6 continued with usual care early intervention.

The Association Between Frequent Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Sleep Duration in School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) maybe association with children's sleep pattern. However, few studies have considered this association in Asia, especially in school children. This study investigated the relationship between children's consumption frequency of such beverages and their sleep duration.

Respiratory Muscle Training Can Improve Cognition, Lung Function, and Diaphragmatic Thickness Fraction in Male and Non-Obese Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective Study.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequently comorbid with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Whether respiratory muscle training (RMT) is helpful for patients with COPD comorbid MCI remains unclear. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with or without expiratory muscle training (EMT) was performed.

Clinical Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Breast Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: Neoadjuvant therapy is widely used to treat locally advanced breast cancer. It has been recently shown that it can also improve the prognosis of patients during the early stages of breast cancer. In the past, advanced breast cancer with positive Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2+) resulted in poor prognoses; however, outcomes have since changed after the introduction of HER2-targeting therapy.