Does age matter? Impact of age on testicular function and pregnancy outcomes following microsurgical varicocelectomy in patients with grade 3 varicocele.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of age on semen and hormonal parameters following microsurgical varicocelectomy among patients with grade 3 varicocele, and to compare fertility outcomes between younger (<40 years) and older (≥40 years) men.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of infertile patients with clinical left grade 3 varicocele who underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MV). Patients meeting the inclusion criteria ( = 550) were divided into two groups based on their age at the time of MV: <40 ( = 441) and ≥40 years ( = 109).

Empagliflozin Mitigates PTZ-Induced Seizures in Rats: Modulating Npas4 and CREB-BDNF Signaling Pathway.

Empagliflozin (EMPA) is one of the sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors that has been recently approved for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II. Recently, EMPA has shown protective effects in different neurological disorders, besides its antidiabetic activity. Kindling is a relevant model to study epilepsy and neuroplasticity.

Evaluation of circ_0002232 and circ-vimentin gene expressions as valuable biomarkers in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Background And Aim: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a remarkably complex malignancy; with considerable genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic heterogenicity. Circ-RNAs are a novel class of non-coding RNA. They may influence leukemia development and offer exciting possibilities for targeted AML diagnosis and therapy.

PLASMA EXPRESSION LEVELS OF MICRORNA-21 MIGHT HELP IN THE DETECTION OF HCV PATIENTS COMPLICATED BY HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA.

Objective: To investigate the ability of the estimated plasma gene-expression levels of microRNA (miR)-21 and 126 to define patients suspected to have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with complicated hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Patients with uncomplicated (U-HCV) or complicated HCV underwent clinical and ultrasonographic (US) evaluations and assessment for the computerized hepatorenal index, hepatic steatosis index and fibrosis indices. Blood samples were obtained for estimation of serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and plasma expression levels of miR-21 and miR-126 using the quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: insights into pathophysiology and novel therapeutic strategies from clinical studies.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a frequently encountered cardiac condition worldwide, often inherited, and characterized by intricate phenotypic and genetic manifestations. The natural progression of HCM is diverse, largely due to mutations in the contractile and relaxation proteins of the heart. These mutations disrupt the normal structure and functioning of the heart muscle, particularly affecting genes that encode proteins involved in the contraction and relaxation of cardiac muscle.

Biventricular dysfunction predicts mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients with cardiogenic shock.

Background: The incidence of mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock due to ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains high even with prompt reperfusion therapy. Ventricular systolic dysfunction is the primary condition causing cardiogenic shock in STEMI. Studies have been widely conducted on the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) systolic dysfunction related to mortality events.

Global, regional, and national burden of malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage in adults aged 65 years and older, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis based on the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background: This study aims to delineate the global, regional, and national burden of malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage (MNBAC) among individuals aged 65 years and older from 1990 to 2021, stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Methods: We harnessed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with MNBAC among individuals aged 65 years and older across 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2021. The socio-demographic Index (SDI) served as a metric to examine the influence of socioeconomic development on the burden of MNBAC.

Effect of education program regarding pathological jaundice on nurses' performance and neonates' bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction.

Both term and preterm infants are susceptible to pathological jaundice, a frequent condition that can cause long-lasting neurological damage. A novel treatment for indirect pathological hyperbilirubinemia is bilisphere phototherapy, which lowers total serum bilirubin just as well as exchange transfusions. A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study.

Changes in optical properties of aesthetic paediatric restorative materials following exposure to beverages: In-vitro study.

Purpose: Optical properties of recent aesthetic restorative materials must maintain an acceptable appearance throughout their functional lifetime. This study aimed to assess the changes in translucency and colour of recent resin-based restorative materials after exposure to beverages commonly consumed by children.

Methods: An experimental in-vitro study on 48 discs specimens prepared from; Group I: Filtek Z250 XT (Nanohybrid), Group II: Cention N (Alkasite bulkfill), and Group III: SDR flow Plus (Flowable bulkfill).

Pioneering study of Egyptian Neem and Jojoba extracts with molecular docking combat hospital multidrug resistant bacteria.

Hospital surfaces are often contaminated with multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria that cause healthcare-associated infections and lead to increased mortality and morbidity. There is a need for new alternative antibacterial agents to overcome antibiotic resistance. Azadirachta indica and Simmondsia chinensis have been found to possess antibacterial activity and medicinal value.

Sample-to-answer microfluidic device towards the point-of-need detection of enterotoxin genes in ruminant milk.

Milk is commonly screened both for indicators of animal disease and health, but also for foodborne hazards. Included in these analyses is the detection of , that can produce an enterotoxin, causing staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP), which often leads to sudden onset of significant gastrointestinal symptoms in humans. Epidemiological data on SFP are limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Practices and preferences in the use of magnification among endodontists and restorative dentists: A multicentre study.

Background And Objectives: Aim of the current study was to assess the perception, preference, and practice of endodontists and restorative dentists at different locations around the world about dental magnification instruments.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was ethically approved from the local committee of bioethics. After thorough literature search, a questionnaire was designed and validated.

N-Acetyl cysteine exhibits antimicrobial and anti-virulence activity against Salmonella enterica.

Salmonella enterica is a common foodborne pathogen that causes intestinal illness varying from mild gastroenteritis to life-threatening systemic infections. The frequency of outbreaks due to multidrug-resistant Salmonella has been increased in the past few years with increasing numbers of annual deaths. Therefore, new strategies to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance are required.

From spasms to smiles: how facial recognition and tracking can quantify hemifacial spasm severity and predict treatment outcomes.

Purpose: Currently available grading and classification systems for hemifacial spasm either rely on subjective assessments or are excessively intricate. Here, we make use of facial recognition and facial tracking technologies towards accurately grouping patients according to severity and characteristics of the spasms.

Methods: A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained preoperative videos database for hemifacial spasm was done.

Revealing the impact of tadalafil-loaded proniosomal gel against dexamethasone-delayed wound healing via modulating oxido-inflammatory response and TGF-β/Macrophage activation pathway in rabbit model.

A serious challenge of the chronic administration of dexamethasone (DEX) is a delay in wound healing. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential of Tadalafil (TAD)-loaded proniosomal gel to accelerate the healing process of skin wounds in DEX-challenged rabbits. Skin wounds were induced in 48 rabbits of 4 groups (n = 12 per group) and skin wounds were treated by sterile saline (control), TAD-loaded proniosomal gel topically on skin wound, DEX-injected rabbits, and DEX+TAD-loaded proniosomal gel for 4 weeks.

Defining the caudal limits of the endoscopic endonasal approach to the craniovertebral junction: anatomic study correlating radiographic measures.

Objective: The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA), has become the preferred alternative to traditional open and transoral approaches to the ventral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) region. However, preoperative prediction of the limitations of caudal reach remains challenging. This cadaveric study aimed to quantify the CVJ area of exposure and access afforded by the EEA, evaluate the accuracy of previously described radiographic anthropometric lines, and identify the lowest limit of the EEA corridor.

Effects of the anti-inflammatory pentoxifylline on psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions: exploring various off-label utilities with meta-analyses.

Background: Chronic inflammation has been linked to many psychiatric disorders, and therefore, pertinent anti-inflammatory therapies have been empirically evaluated for management. An enduring example of long-term safety, attainability, and versatility has been pentoxifylline (PTX). PTX is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that modulates inflammatory mediators and affects most blood components and the blood vessels.

Comparative outcomes of Palmer, Umbilical Veress needle, and open entry techniques in robotic-assisted surgery: a propensity-matched analysis of 9482 patients.

Robotic-assisted surgery offers several advantages over traditional methods, such as reduced blood loss and fewer complications. Establishing pneumoperitoneum is a critical step, with two primary techniques: the Veress needle (closed) and the Hasson (open) technique. Despite extensive studies in laparoscopic surgery, limited data exist regarding their use in robotic surgery.

Sarcocystis Cymruensis in the Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) from an Urban District in Kuwait: Detailed Morphologic and Molecular Characterization.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to establish the prevalence of Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in brown rats from Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Kuwait, and to describe detected parasites using morphological and DNA analysis methods.

Methods: Ninety-eight brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were examined for Sarcocystis spp. Obtained sarcocysts were investigated using light microscopy and electron microscopy.

Hydrocarbon potential in the Northern Egyptian Red Sea: insights from geophysical datasets and analysis of onshore marginal outcrop analogues and subsurface sequences.

The Red Sea remains a largely under-explored basin, with the Northern Egyptian Red Sea requiring further investigation due to limited borehole data, sparse case studies, and poor seismic quality. A petroleum system, regional structural cross-section, and geological block diagrams integrating onshore fieldwork from Gebel Duwi and offshore subsurface geology were utilized to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Northern Egyptian Red Sea (NERS). The findings highlight that pre- and syn-rift organic-rich source units in the NERS could generate oil and gas, similar to the capped reservoirs of the Southern Gulf of Suez.

Age estimation using dental and hand-wrist radiography among a sample of Egyptian children.

The current study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of Willems, Cameriere's and Greulich and Pyle method in age estimation among a sample of Egyptian children aged 8-16 years based on analysis of 140 panoramic dental X-ray and hand-wrist radiographs (70 girls and 70 boys). Using Willems method, the mean dental age underestimated chronological age by (0.20 ± 0.

A comprehensive guide to selecting suitable wavelet decomposition level and functions in discrete wavelet transform for fault detection in distribution networks.

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the IEEE-16 bus system under different operating conditions. It discusses the selection of suitable decomposition level and wavelet function for analyzing non-stationary signals to enhance power distribution network fault detection. MATLAB/Simulink is used to simulate the system, and transient fault current signals are processed with the MATLAB Wavelet Toolbox.

Novel GSIP: GAN-based sperm-inspired pixel imputation for robust energy image reconstruction.

Missing pixel imputation is a critical task in image processing, where the presence of high percentages of missing pixels can significantly degrade the performance of downstream tasks such as image segmentation and object detection. This paper introduces a novel approach for missing pixel imputation based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). We propose a new GAN architecture incorporating an identity module and a sperm motility-inspired heuristic during filtration to optimize the selection of pixels used in reconstructing missing data.