Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research

BACKGROUND Neonatal gut diversity is influenced by birth conditions and probiotic/antibiotic use. The gut microbiota affects brain development, immunity, and risk of diseases. Preterm infants, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), have different gut flora from full-term infants, suggesting in utero microbial colonization. This study examined gut microbiota changes in 92 NICU preterm infants in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS We collected data on 92 preterm infants admitted to the NICU immediately after birth, and fecal samples were collected on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60...

BACKGROUND Active release technique (ART) and strain-counterstrain (SCS) have been reported to be beneficial for patients with trigger point pain. Therefore, this study of 45 patients with chronic neck pain aimed to compare the effects of 4 weeks of physical therapy with the ART and SCS manipulation with massage alone, evaluated before and after treatment, using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the neck disability index (NDI), and the pressure pain threshold (PPT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The participants were 45 adults with neck pain lasting >12 weeks, divided into the ART group (n=15), SCS group (n=15), and control group (n=15)...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and early clinical results of stand-alone oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in the fusion of lumbar spine lesions and to explore the indications for surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 92 cases of lumbar spine lesions treated with stand-alone OLIF in 2 medical centers from October 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. We included 30 males and 62 females, ages 32-83 years. RESULTS Our results showed that the operation time was 60...

BACKGROUND The present study was performed to determine the potential risk factors for postoperative knee stiffness in patients with anteromedial knee osteoarthritis undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with cemented prostheses. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with anteromedial knee osteoarthritis who underwent medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty at our hospital between May 2017 and May 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their prognosis: those who experienced knee stiffness after undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and those who did not...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the influence of maxillofacial prosthodontic rehabilitation on anxiety/depression severity in patients with rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) after maxillectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty post-mucormycotic patients treated with maxillectomy (33 males, 27 females) were divided into 5 groups based on maxillectomy types (unilateral/bilateral, subtotal/total) and treatment given (psychotherapy/obturator/implant/orbital/ocular prosthesis). Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using appearance anxiety inventory (AAI) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ9)...

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aimed to compare outcomes from super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SMP) combined with flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) and FURL alone in 205 patients with 2.5-4.2 cm diameter complex kidney stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between January 2018 and December 2022, 92 patients were treated with SMP combined with FURL (group A), and 113 patients were treated with FURL alone (group B). The stone-free rate (SFR), retreatment ratio, operation time, mean decline in hemoglobin level, postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and postoperative hospitalization time and complications were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups...

BACKGROUND Modic changes (MC) are abnormal bone signals under the vertebral endplates on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine. Three types of MC may be seen on MRI as abnormal bone signals of the vertebral endplate and adjacent bone marrow. This retrospective study of 203 patients with symptomatic cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) aimed to evaluate factors associated with MC on cervical spine MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 203 patients with symptomatic cervical ossification of the OPLL...

Circadian rhythms are internal 24-h intrinsic oscillations that are present in essentially all mammalian cells and can influence numerous biological processes. Cardiac function is known to exhibit a circadian rhythm and is strongly affected by the day/night cycle. Many cardiovascular variables, including heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms, endothelial cell function, and blood pressure, demonstrate robust circadian rhythms. Many experiential and clinical studies have highlighted that disruptions in circadian rhythms can ultimately lead to maladaptive cardiac function...

BACKGROUND A rare disease is a health condition that rarely occurs in the population. It is estimated that up to 400 million people around the world suffer from a rare disease. This retrospective study aimed to investigate factors associated with length of hospitalization in 78 626 patients with sarcoidosis, 3294 patients with adults-onset Still's disease, and 35 549 patients with systemic sclerosis between 2009 and 2018 using data from the National Institute of Public Health in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this population-based study, we analyzed hospital discharge records of first-time and subsequent hospitalizations...

BACKGROUND Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) due to posterior bladder wall and/or anterior vaginal wall necrosis is a condition that leads to urinary incontinence. Both microscopic and macroscopic VVFs severely impact quality of life. They are also associated with frequent recurrence after surgery. A non-surgical intervention for VVF is urgently required. A membrane bilayer could act as a mechanical tamponade and stimulate defect closure. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is an experimental study that explored the characteristics of mucoadhesive bilayer membrane complexes for non-operative treatment of VVF in vitro...

BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method used to identify changes in microstructures in the brain's white matter. Severe brain injuries after trauma are associated with disorders of consciousness (DOC) and may result in hyponatremia due to damage to the hypothalamus. This case-control study aimed to use DTI to evaluate the hypothalamus in 36 patients with hyponatremia and DOC due to severe brain injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with DOC after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 36 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study...

BACKGROUND Spirituality plays a crucial role in enhancing quality of life. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) scale is a reliable tool to assess an individual's spiritual well-being, specifically in the context of chronic illness. Although the instrument is widely used worldwide, it has not yet been validated for Polish conditions. The aim of this study was to translate and investigate the reliability and validity of the Polish version of the FACIT-Sp-12 and examine whether it is associated with measures of religiosity and religious practice...

BACKGROUND Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of end-stage renal disease. Renal fibrosis is an important pathological feature of kidney injury, and the therapeutic means are very limited. The functions of macrophages play important roles in renal fibrosis. There is a complicated link between altered immune metabolism and oxidative stress. Hence, we designed this study to identify the oxidative stress- and macrophage-relevant biomarkers reflecting fibrosis in DN. MATERIAL AND METHODS Differential expression analysis was performed based on the GSE96804 dataset...

The Editors of Medical Science Monitor wish to inform you that the above manuscript has been retracted from publication due to concerns with the credibility and originality of the study, the manuscript content, and the Figure images. Reference: Jun Xia, Ni Xie, Yuning Feng, Anyu Yin, Pinni Liu, Ruming Zhou, Fan Lin, Guozhao Teng, Yi Lei. Brain Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Signal Changes in Acute Hemorrhagic Anemia: An Experimental Study Using a Rabbit Model. Med Sci Monit, 2014; 20: 1291-1297. DOI: 10.12659/MSM...

BACKGROUND Gestational choriocarcinoma (GC) is an uncommon neoplasia that occurs in women who may not have completed a procreation plan. The aim of this study was to evaluate oncological and obstetrical outcomes in young patients with GC after fertility-sparing treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS The eligibility criteria for the study were histopathological diagnosis of GC, age ≤40 years, and treatment with systemic chemotherapy. Patients who underwent upfront hysterectomy were excluded. The response to treatment was assessed according to beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) serum measurement...

BACKGROUND The study aimed to compare the patient-reported outcomes in patients who underwent early vs conventional feeding after thoracoscopic lung cancer resection. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled 211 patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung cancer resection at a tertiary hospital between July 2021 and July 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to the conventional group or the early feeding group. There were 106 patients in the early feeding group and 105 patients in the conventional group. The conventional group received water 4 h after extubation and liquid/semi-liquid food 6 h after extubation...

BACKGROUND The clinical course of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-CoV-2, and influenza infections comprises many non-specific symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the symptomatology of these infections in children and to search for correlations between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 121 children with a positive RSV (n=61), influenza (n=31), or SARS-CoV-2 (n=29) antigen test were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Children were aged up to 71 months (median, 8 months)...

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aimed to compare pharyngeal anatomical changes measured in cephalometric images before and after treatment for malocclusion Class I, II, and III in 96 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 96 patients who underwent fixed orthodontic treatment were included in the study. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the malocclusion (32 people in each group). The upper airway data in the lateral cephalometric images of the patients were retrospectively analyzed before starting fixed orthodontic treatment and the upper airway data taken after the end of the fixed orthodontic treatment...

BACKGROUND This study evaluated 2 endocrown designs and traditional restoration with a conventional crown using post and core to find the best restoration design for endodontically treated mandibular first molars. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three 3D finite element models were constructed: (1) post and core restoration, (2) endocrown butt joint margin design, and (3) endocrown with shoulder finish line. The intact tooth geometry was extracted with computed tomography, then modified to the selected restoration designs...

BACKGROUND Change management has become an important tool for hospitals to continuously improve themselves in a competitive market. This questionnaire-based study aimed to compare the attitudes of 78 midwives before and after management changes in work schedules and performance-related pay between March and October 2022 at a women's and children's hospital in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS The survey utilizing a job involvement scale and a self-designed questionnaire was distributed through WeChat group chat for all midwives of the hospital...