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Low temperature carbonation and CO2 mineral trapping in altered hydrotalcite-rich ultrmafic rocks
The MAR method versus the visual estimation method in predicting external blood loss: a randomized controlled study
Abstract Accurately estimating blood loss is critical for managing hemorrhagic shock in prehospital and hospital settings. The Visual Estimation (VE) method is widely used, while the MAR method proposes using a fist measurement to estimate external blood on flat surfaces. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, controlled, and educational study was conducted involving 140 medical and paramedic students. The study compared the accuracy and duration of blood loss estimates made with the MAR and VE methods. The secondary objective was to assess whether MAR estimates varied by participants’ height, weight, or gender. Three simulated stations featured three different, non-absorbent, flat surfaces containing 75 mL, 150 mL, or 750 mL of blood. Participants were divided into two groups (Group 1: VE method, n1 = 70; Group 2: MAR method, n2 = 70) and asked to estimate blood loss using the assigned method at each of the three stations (Station 1 to Station 3). Analytical tests evaluated absolute differences and percentage errors in both intergroup and intragroup comparisons. In the intergroup analysis, comparisons were made between Group 1 using the VE method and Group 2 using the MAR method. In the intragroup analysis, Group 1 was compared using the VE method versus the MAR method. Given the non-normality, repeated measures were analyzed using F1 LD F1 and F2 LD F1 models via nparLD in R. Improvement in estimations after the MAR method was evidenced by a reduction in errors relative to the actual blood volumes, and this was statistically significant. It also reduced outlier estimates and took longer. The MAR volume estimates were not affected by participants’ phenotypic characteristics. In conclusion, incorporating the MAR method into structured clinical skills training for external bleeding management could be beneficial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT06855472 (18/02/2025).
Voltage and frequency regulation in wind penetrated deregulated power system using an electric vehicle and IPFC assisted model predictive controller
Temporal dynamics of early child-clinician prosodic synchrony predict one year autism intervention outcomes using AI driven affective computing
Prospectively assessed hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction after proton therapy in adults with head and neck, skull base and brain tumors
Abstract Radiotherapy is advocated for many brain and head and neck tumors close to the pituitary gland. Pituitary hormones govern many vital functions but data of standardized monitoring for deficiencies after irradiation are lacking. We prospectively assessed the latency and frequency of hypothalamo-pituitary radiation dose-effects in patients undergoing proton therapy or mixed photon /proton beams for CNS, skull base and head and neck tumors. Radiation oncologists prospectively were asked to monitor endocrine functions based on a standardized protocol complying with international recommendations at 6, 12 months and yearly during follow-up. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were collected. Seventy patients (women 70%, median age 60.1 years) had undergone endocrine monitoring with a median follow-up of 20.7 (12.8–29.5) months. Thirty percent of patients had at least one pituitary deficiency before radiotherapy. Median mean dose to the pituitary gland and hypothalamus were respectively 52.0 (50.4–53.9) Gy and 24.7 (16.8–39.2) Gy. Of these patients with heavily exposed on their pituitary gland, skull base meningiomas (47.1%) and pituitary adenomas were the most represented (28.7%). Twenty-six (37.1%) patients experienced a new pituitary deficiency after a median time of 14.1 [IQR 10.3–23.6] months. Lactotroph and gonadotroph axis deficiencies occurred in 36% and 23.2% of the patients after 13.5 and 24.5 months, respectively. GH deficiency occurred in 9.7% patients after 27.1 months. TSH and ACTH axes occurred in 7.8% and 6.3% of patients after 21.8 and 19.0 months. On univariate analysis, only BMI < 25 was significantly associated with a shorter time to new deficiency onset. In this selected population of patients receiving over 50 Gy RBE to the pituitary gland, patients frequently developed at least one new pituitary deficiency within 2 years. As hormonal deficiencies are frequent after surgery and radiotherapy have functional and quality-of-life consequences and can be substituted medically, baseline and routine annual monitoring of every axis were performed. Educational programs for patients and physicians toward more systematic monitoring in patients, including those receiving < 30 Gy could serve to analyze radiation dose-effects and better predict individual endocrine normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP).
The effects of interfacial atoms and stacking configurations on the electronic properties of Janus TMD heterostructures
Bisphenol A migration and associated health risk in polyethylene terephthalate-bottled yogurt drinks (Doogh) under different storage scenarios
Depression, anxiety, and stress in breast cancer patients: prevalence, associated risk factors, and clinical correlates
Abstract Overall, the prevalence and determinants of various forms of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety in breast cancer (BC) patients exhibit conflicting results, with some factors underexplored. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of depression, anxiety, and stress among BC patients. This cross-sectional study assessed depression, anxiety, and stress in BC patients in Mazandaran, Iran, using the DASS-21 questionnaire, which showed high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.83–0.90). Data were collected via phone interviews and web-based surveys, and analyzed using SPSS software version 27. Demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic determinants were evaluated via logistic regression. This study included 283 BC patients, predominantly aged 40–44 (34.3%), married (95.4%), unemployed (73.9%), and urban residents (76.7%). Most patients received chemotherapy (94.3%), with 30.4% at Stage 1 and 43.1% Grade 2 tumors. Depression, anxiety, and stress prevalence were high (46.6%, 56.9%, and 51.9%, respectively). Key determinants included the absence of second-degree BC family history (linked to higher depression and stress, ORs: 1.86 and 2.15), urban living (higher depression and stress, ORs: 3.06 and 2.19), inadequate income (higher depression and stress, ORs: 2.62 and 1.94), and mastectomy (higher depression and stress, ORs: 3.28 and 1.90) versus breast-conserving surgery. The high prevalence of psychological distress in BC patients, particularly among those without second-degree family history, urban residents, individuals with inadequate income, and mastectomy recipients, underscores the critical need for routine psychological screening and early intervention in these high-risk groups.
Experimental analysis and optimization of hydrogen pre-cooling liquefaction process with composite catalyst through a hybrid priority cluster modeling approach
Prebiotic properties and antioxidant effect of crude extracts and polysaccharides from Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms
Abstract Modifying the gut microbiome, also known as bacteriotherapy, is a key strategy that uses probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics to reduce inflammation and fight infection and colonization by pathogenic bacteria. Various food sources, particularly those rich in Lactobacillus species, are well-recognized for their probiotic properties. Edible mushrooms are rich with their nutrient-dense composition, including carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, minerals, vitamins, and lipids, which stand out as a promising bio-source for several biological uses. In this study, four probiotic strains were isolated and identified from food samples: Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), L. pentosus, L. plantarum, and L. paracasei. Then the prebiotic and antioxidant properties of crude and polysaccharide extracts were assessed from two edible mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (brown) and Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster). Using the phenol-sulfuric acid method, the ethanol extract of P. ostreatus exhibited the highest yields of total carbohydrates and reducing sugars (6.14 and 3.15 mg/mL, respectively). Among the mushroom extracts, the polysaccharide from A. bisporus demonstrated the strongest radical scavenging activity (93.73%), with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.19 mg/mL, measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. The prebiotic properties of the mushroom extracts were evaluated by their ability to promote probiotic growth and inhibit pathogenic bacteria. The polysaccharide extracts from A. bisporus and P. ostreatus significantly stimulated the growth of L. paracasei (1.99 and 2.04 nm, respectively). Additionally, the cell-free supernatant from L. acidophilus cultured with the A. bisporus polysaccharide extract exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity, producing a 36.33 mm inhibition zone against the pathogen L. monocytogenes. These findings demonstrate that polysaccharides from A. bisporus and P. ostreatus are promising candidates for functional food development. These extracts offer a multifaceted approach to promoting gut health and reducing oxidative stress through selectively stimulating beneficial Lactobacillus species while inhibiting the growth of pathogens and exerting significant antioxidant effects.
Survival impact of adjuvant radiotherapy in early stage low risk elderly male breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving surgery
Plant-mediated nickel oxide nanoparticles show species-dependent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities
Abstract Nickel oxide nanoparticles are renowned for their diverse properties, including magnetic, electrical, optical, and catalytic capabilities, making them highly suitable for both industrial and biomedical applications. This study synthesized nickel oxide nanoparticles using both chemical and green synthesis methods with extracts from four plant species: Medicago sativa L., Euphorbia milii Des Moul., Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss., and Helianthus annuus L. All samples had consistent face-centered cubic structures, as proven by X-ray diffraction. However, electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed that the green-synthesized particles had tighter size distributions and unique surface functions due to the presence of plant phytochemicals. According to in vitro tests, Codiaeum variegatum mediated nanoparticles showed the strongest multifunctional bioactivity, including increased scavenging of free radicals, targeted cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells, and substantial inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and important enzymes that hydrolyze carbohydrates. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that Staphylococcus aureus was efficiently reduced by both chemically produced and Codiaeum variegatum derived nanoparticles, whereas biofilm experiments shown that Medicago sativa derived nanoparticles caused greater disruption. These findings demonstrate that the performance of nanoparticles is controlled by their botanical source, allowing NiO nanoparticles to be tailored for specific medicinal uses. Our results open the door for additional in vivo testing and process optimization while validating green synthesis as an environmentally responsible method of producing NiO nanoparticles with adjustable bioactivities.
Combined in vivo and silico assessment of melatonin’s protective effects on rifampicin-induced liver damage in rats
Abstract Liver injury is a globally serious problem that may be observed post-chemotherapeutic administration in chronic crises such as tuberculosis (TB). Rifamycin (RIF), particularly, is an indispensable treatment regimen for TB with a significant negative hepatic impact. Therefore, this research aims to assess the restorative role of melatonin (MEL) against rifampicin (RIF)-associated hepatic damage in rats. Moreover, to investigate the ultimate mechanism of the antioxidant potential of MEL with multimodal assessment and in silico molecular conformation. Adult male Wistar albino rats were weighed and divided into four groups of ten rats each. The control group received the vehicle (0.5 ml/day), the RIF-intoxicated group (100 mg/kg/day orally), the MEL-treated group (10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally), and the Co-administered RIF and MEL group at the same regimen for 21 consecutive days. Blood and hepatic tissue samples were obtained for biochemical, histological, and molecular studies. High in vitro antioxidant scavenging potential of MEL with an IC50 of 94.66 µg/ml was attained using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses of MEL indicated the presence of mainly cinnamic acid, m-(trimethyl-silyl ester), in addition to several reactive antioxidant moieties. The plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lipid profiles were significantly reduced in the MEL + RIF co-administered group in contrast to the RIF-treated group (P < 0.05). Moreover, MEL significantly decreased the hepatic oxidative biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly increased the estimated antioxidant enzyme levels (P < 0.05) of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Histological evaluations revealed mild hepatic injuries and inflammatory cellular infiltration in MEL-treated animals. Molecular docking explored the high-affinity interaction of MEL and cinnamic acids with hepatic cytochrome P450 isoform 3A4 (CYP3A4) protein target, confirming their hepatic restorative potential. This study endorses the antioxidant potential role of MEL in RIF-hepatic injury.