OM

Commercial oxygen-free copper sheets were cold-rolled with reduction rates ranging from 20% to 87% and annealed at 400, 500 and 600 °C. The microstructure and texture evolution during the cold-rolling and annealing processes were studied using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the deformation textures of {123}<634> (S), {112}<111> (Copper) and {110}<112> (Brass) were continuously enhanced with the increase in cold-rolling reduction...

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), particularly monolayer TMDs with direct bandgap properties, are key to advancing optoelectronic device technology. WSe2 stands out due to its adjustable carrier transport, making it a prime candidate for optoelectronic applications. This study explores monolayer WSe2 synthesis via H2 -assisted CVD, focusing on how carrier gas flow rate affects WSe2 quality. A comprehensive characterization of monolayer WSe2 was conducted using OM (optical microscope), Raman spectroscopy, PL spectroscopy, AFM, SEM, XPS, HRTEM, and XRD...

Background: The development of temporal bone pneumatization is related to the postnatal middle ear environment, where the development of air cells is suppressed with otitis media in early childhood. However, whether air cell formation restarts when mastoidectomy is performed during temporal bone pneumatization remains unclear. Herein, we evaluated temporal bone pneumatization after canal wall up (CWU) tympanomastoidectomy for middle ear cholesteatoma in children. Methods: In total, 63 patients, including 29 patients with congenital cholesteatoma (CC) and 34 patients with acquired cholesteatoma (AC), were assessed using a set of pre- and postoperative computed tomography images...

Background: Oral mucositis is a common and distressing side effect of head and neck oncology treatment. Photobiomodulation therapy can be utilized to prevent and treat oral mucositis. Its impact on salivary cytokines has yet to be thoroughly investigated. This is the first systematic review aiming to evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation on salivary cytokines in patients undergoing anticancer treatment. Methods: Numerous data resources, from the Web of Science, Embase, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were sought...

Quinazolines are an important class of heterocyclic compounds that have proven their significance, especially in the field of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry because of their wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. Thus, numerous synthetic methods have been developed for the synthesis of quinazolines and their derivatives. This review article briefly outlines the new synthetic methods for compounds containing the quinazoline scaffold employing transition metal-catalyzed reactions.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX)-mediated extracellular matrix crosslinking modulates calcification in atherosclerosis and aortic valve disease; however, this enzyme also induces oxidative stress. We addressed the contribution of LOX-dependent oxidative stress to cardiovascular calcification. LOX is upregulated in human-calcified atherosclerotic lesions and atheromas from atherosclerosis-challenged LOX transgenic mice (TgLOXVSMC ) and colocalized with a marker of oxidative stress (8-oxo-deoxyguanosine) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)...

This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin, against otitis media-associated bacteria. L. acidophilus cells were isolated from Vitalactic B (VB), a commercially available probiotic product containing two lactobacilli species, L. acidophilus and Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum. The pathogenic bacterial samples were provided by Al-Shams Medical Laboratory (Baqubah, Iraq). Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for 16 antibiotics were performed using the VITEK2 system...

AIMS: We assessed eligibility for omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) in a real-world cohort with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) according to the selection criteria of the GALACTIC-HF trial (trial scenario) and selected trial´s criteria more likely to impact real-world use (pragmatic scenario). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 31,015 patients with HFrEF lasting ≥3 months and registered in the Swedish HF registry between 2000-2021. Trial eligibility was calculated by applying all the GALACTIC-HF selection criteria...

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria is composed of an outer membrane (OM) and an inner membrane (IM) and a peptidoglycan cell wall (CW) between them. Combined with Braun's lipoprotein (Lpp), which connects the OM and the CW, and numerous membrane proteins that exist in both OM and IM, the cell envelope creates a mechanically stable environment that resists various physical and chemical perturbations to the cell, including turgor pressure caused by the solute concentration difference between the cytoplasm of the cell and the extracellular environment...

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory conditions such as chronic otitis media (COM) can cause irreversible impairments in the microarchitecture and functions of the incus, which subsequently leads to conductive hearing loss. OBJECTIVES: To investigate bone mineral density (BMD) of the incus body (IB) and long process (ILP) on preoperative temporal CT in COM patients with and without incudo-stapedial joint discontinuity (ISJD), and also to determine the association between BMD values and the postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) in the ISJD group...

INTRODUCTION: Experience accumulated over the last decades suggests nonoperative management (NOM) of civilian gunshot liver injuries can be safely applied in selected cases. This study aims to compare the outcomes of selective NOM versus operative management (OM) of patients sustaining gunshot wounds (GSW) to the liver. METHODS: A registry-based retrospective cohort analysis was performed for the period of 2008 to 2016 in a Brazilian trauma referral. Patients aged 16-80 years sustaining civilian GSW to right-sided abdominal quadrants and liver injury were included...

Objectives: Oral mucositis (OM) occurs in more than 95% of patients irradiated in the head and neck area. This paper aims to determine the occurrence and characteristics of OM in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), as well as the involvement of dentists/oral medicine specialists in treating such patients. Methods : This study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Department of Oral Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, from April to August 2022, on patients irradiated in the head and neck area...

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) rank as the third most frequent neoplasm affecting the appendix, originating from enterochromaffin cells. This study aims to evaluate the influence of various prognostic factors on the mortality rates of patients diagnosed with NETs of the appendix. METHODS: Conducted retrospectively, the study involved 3346 patients, utilizing data sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Our analysis centered on investigating demographic characteristics, clinical features, overall mortality (OM), and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) among the cohort...

Background A significant effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the clinical and radiological features of tuberculosis (TB) has been reported. However, conflicting results have also been reported. Hence, a conclusion is yet to be drawn. This study aimed to analyze and compare the clinical and radiological features of drug-sensitive pulmonary TB with DM and without DM. Methodology A comparative, observational study was conducted between August and October 2023. Patients with drug-resistant TB, extrapulmonary TB, those on immunosuppressive drugs, and human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals were excluded from this study...

Thornwaldt cyst is a rare cystic formation, located along the midline of the nasopharynx. We present the case of a 60-year-old man with impaired nasal breathing and a several months-long history of serous otitis media. His only concomitant disease was arterial hypertension. The diagnostic imaging tests revealed a well-rounded cystic formation involving the upper part of the nasopharynx, characteristic of Thornwaldt cyst. Following, endoscopic transnasal marsupialization was performed and the benign cystic nature was confirmed on histopathology...

There is controversy regarding the most effective primary treatment of choice for prostate cancer (PCa) in terms of patient outcomes, such as surgery or radiotherapy (RT). This study evaluated the comparative efficacy and long-term outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) and RT for PCa treatment. A thorough literature review of relevant databases was conducted, focusing on academic and clinical studies published from 2019 onwards. The inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and other observational studies comparing survival outcomes in patients treated with surgery and RT...

Enamel demineralization is a very common occurrence around bonded brackets in an orthodontic practice. Fluoride (FLR) applications have been used to prevent decalcification and further progression of white spot lesions. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically appraise available literature on the effectiveness of fluoride mouthrinse in the prevention of demineralization around fixed orthodontic appliances. A search was conducted for randomized controlled clinical trials among four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane Review) through MeSH terms and keywords...

Acute pancreatitis is a common cause of acute abdominal pain and can range from mild oedema to severe necrosis of the pancreas. It has a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and financial burden. The global prevalence of pancreatitis is substantial, with the highest rates observed in central and eastern Europe. Diagnosing acute pancreatitis involves considering clinical symptoms, elevated serum amylase and/or lipase levels, and characteristic imaging findings. The causes of acute pancreatitis include obstructive disorders, such as gallstones and biliary sludge, alcohol consumption, smoking, drug-induced pancreatitis, metabolic disorders, trauma, medical procedures, infections, vascular diseases and autoimmune pancreatitis...

Members of the Omp85 superfamily of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) found in Gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts are characterized by a distinctive 16-stranded β-barrel transmembrane domain and at least one periplasmic POTRA domain. All previously studied Omp85 proteins promote critical OMP assembly and/or protein translocation reactions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PlpD is the prototype of an Omp85 protein family that contains an N-terminal patatin-like (PL) domain that is thought to be translocated across the OM by a C-terminal β-barrel domain...

Due to the natural biochar aging, the improvement of soil quality and immobilization of soil pollutants achieved by biochar may change; understanding the dynamic evolution of the in situ performance of biochar in these roles is essential to discuss the long-term sustainability of biochar remediation. Therefore, in this study, combined biochar from co-pyrolysis of pig manure and invasive Japanese knotweed - P1J1, as well as pure pig manure - PM - and pure Japanese knotweed - JK - derived biochar were applied to investigate their remediation performance in a high As- and Pb-polluted soil with prolonged incubation periods (up to 360 days)...