Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Evaluation of contralateral arterial flow compensation using transcranial Doppler in acute internal carotid artery occlusion and implications for neurological outcome
Analysis of tire contact stresses and asphalt pavement rutting under gradient temperature and typical driving conditions
Real-time detection and monitoring of public littering behavior using deep learning for a sustainable environment
Tracing the relationship between the upper plate earthquake cycle and megathrust slip, the Atacama fault system in Northern Chile
Associations of inferior frontal sulcal hyperintensities on brain MRI with cerebral small vessel disease, cognitive function, and depression symptoms
Abstract Inferior frontal sulcal hyperintensities (IFSH) observed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI have been proposed as indicators of elevated cerebrospinal fluid waste accumulation in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, to validate IFSH as a reliable imaging biomarker, further replication studies are required. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between IFSH and CSVD, and their potential repercussions, i.e., cognitive impairment and depression. We prospectively recruited 47 patients with CSVD and 29 cognitively normal controls (NC). IFSH were rated visually based on FLAIR MRI. Using different regression models, we explored the relationship between IFSH, group status (CSVD vs. NC), CSVD severity assessed with MRI, cognitive function, and symptoms of depression. Patients with CSVD were more likely to have higher IFSH scores compared to NC (OR 5.64, 95% CI 1.91–16.60), and greater CSVD severity on MRI predicted more severe IFSH (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.14–1.88). Higher IFSH scores were associated with lower cognitive function (-0.96, 95% CI -1.81 to -0.10), and higher levels of depression (0.33, 95% CI 0.01–0.65). CSVD and IFSH may be tightly linked to each other, and the accumulation of waste products, indicated by IFSH, could have detrimental effects on cognitive function and symptoms of depression.
Patient-derived xenografts from circulating cancer stem cells as a preclinical model for personalized pancreatic cancer research
Abstract Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) provide biologically relevant models and potential platforms for the development of treatment strategies for precision medicine in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, circulating epithelial tumor cells (CETCs/CTCs) are released into the bloodstream by solid tumors and a rare subpopulation—circulating cancer stem cells (cCSCs) – is considered to be responsible for recurrence and plays a key role in metastasis. For the identification of cCSCs, an innovative in vitro assay to generate tumorspheres was established in this study. The number of tumorspheres and CETCs/CTCs was analyzed perioperatively in 25 pancreatic cancer patients. Additionally, an individual in vivo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) culture system was used to generate PDXs from these tumorspheres. While overall correlations of CETCs/CTCs with clinicopathological parameters did not reach statistical significance, a significant difference in the number of tumorspheres was observed between patient subgroups with lower and higher UICC stages. This finding underscores their potential as biomarkers, providing valuable insights into clinical decision-making and tumor progression. The application of tumorspheres on the CAM successfully established PDXs within 7 days. These xenografts closely resembled the histological features of the primary tumor. Hence, this model represents a novel and fast option for individualized testing of new therapies for PDAC.
Predicting construction waste in Egyptian residential projects: a robust multiple regression model approach
Abstract Effective construction waste (CW) management, mainly concrete, brick, and steel, is a critical challenge due to its significant environmental and economic impacts. This study addresses this challenge by proposing multiple linear regression models to predict waste generation in residential buildings within the Egyptian construction industry, considering the influence of factors such as building design and site management features. Using data from 25 case studies, the models demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with adjusted R² values of 0.877, 0.893, and 0.889 for concrete, bricks, and steel waste, respectively. These R2 values indicate that the models explain approximately 88–89% of the variance in waste generation in residential buildings, highlighting their effectiveness in enhancing resource planning and waste management strategies. The findings suggest that incorporating variables such as total area, design consistency, and site organization significantly improves the accuracy of waste predictions. Although the models show acceptable performance, future research should aim to expand the dataset, incorporate additional variables, and test the models across different types of construction projects to validate further and refine these predictive tools. The models offer valuable insights for enhancing construction practices, minimizing waste, and supporting sustainable development in Egypt’s construction industry. With accurate forecasts of waste generation, the models help project managers and stakeholders to plan CW more effectively, mitigating unnecessary material consumption and reducing environmental impacts. These findings help to adopt sustainable construction practices, such as improved recycling processes and decreased dependence on landfills, to support Egypt’s Vision 2030.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Heart transplantation: comparing the impact of modified heart preservation with conventional methods
Clinical utility of hematological parameters in aplastic anemia
Field experiment confirms high macroplastic trapping efficiency of wood jams in a mountain river channel
Novel inhibitors of the (VIBVN) NAT protein identified through pharmacophore modeling
Abstract Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs, E.C. 2.3.1.5) constitute a family of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of acetyl groups from acetyl-CoA to a variety of substrates including arylamines, arylhydrazines, and N-hydroxyarylamines. By facilitating these reactions, NATs play a pivotal role in the detoxification and metabolic processing of a wide range of drugs and carcinogens. NAT in marine V. vulnificus plays a role in the metabolism of drugs, leading to the development of drug resistance in marine V. vulnificus. However, inhibitors targeted marine V. vulnificus NAT [(VIBVN)NAT] remain unclear. Therefore, our research aimed to identify potential hit compounds that target (VIBVN)NAT. We integrated multiple computational approaches to screen for effective inhibitors. From this process, we identified two hit compounds, AK-968-11563024 and AG-205-36710025, with IC50 values of 18.86 µM and 33.27 µM, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations further elucidated the binding mechanism between (VIBVN)NAT and AK-968-11563024. Our study revealed that AK-968-11563024 forms stable interactions with PHE124, HIS167, and TRP230, which may contribute to its biological activity. Our findings provide a valuable foundation for the future development of drugs targeted therapeutics against (VIBVN)NAT.