SAMA

This study aims to explore microplastic contamination in the sediments of Benoa Bay. Eight locations were sampled, with four duplications denoting the rainy and dry seasons. Based on observations, the microplastic concentration varied from 9.51 to 90.60 particles/kg with an average of 31.08 ± 21.53 particles/kg. The area near the landfill had the highest abundance, while the inlet and center of Benoa Bay and the Sama River had the lowest concentration. The fragments (52.2 %) and large microplastic sizes (64...

INTRODUCTION: Uganda has a large young population with a high unmet need for family planning (FP). Although there have been many efforts to improve access to and uptake of contraception, improvements have been slow. The Ministry of Health Uganda partnered with The Challenge Initiative (TCI) to implement a novel multipronged approach layering adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health (AYSRH) onto a functioning general FP program for women of reproductive age in 3 local governments of Buikwe, Mukono, and Iganga...

Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN), a common treatment for chronic low back pain due to facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA), may amplify paraspinal muscle atrophy due to denervation. This study aimed to investigate the asymmetry of paraspinal muscle morphology change in patients undergoing unilateral lumbar medial branch RFN. Data from patients who underwent RFN between March 2016 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Lumbar foramina stenosis (LFS), FJOA, and fatty infiltration (FI) functional cross-sectional area (fCSA) of the paraspinal muscles were assessed on preinterventional and minimum 2-year postinterventional MRI...

This article summarizes clinically important gastroenterology developments from 2023 for internal medicine specialists. In colorectal cancer screening, a new RNA fecal screening test is on the horizon, as well as a new analysis on the benefits of using artificial intelligence in screening colonoscopy to detect more polyps. There is new evidence for management of gastrointestinal bleeding, a new drug for treatment of recurrent small-intestinal angiodysplasia, and a new endoscopic treatment method in patients with gastrointestinal tumor bleeding...

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata is a chronic and relapsing condition that affects individuals of all age groups. Dermoscopy is a popular and non-invasive method for diagnosing alopecia areata. This study aimed to analyze dermoscopic findings and their relationship with age, gender, appearance, and clinical signs in children and adults. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 124 children and adults diagnosed with alopecia areata who were referred to a Hospital in Iran between 2021 and 2022...

BACKGROUND: Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome worldwide, with an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths yearly. In Cameroon, the reported rate in 2015 was 19.6 per 1000 live births. Several risk factors have been described, but region-specific risk factors are not known in the northwest region of Cameroon. This study aims to determine the stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region of Cameroon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Hospital-based case‒control study conducted from December 2022 to June 2023 on medical files from 2018 to 2022 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital...

Integra® (Integra LifeSciences) is a well-known dermal regeneration template used in partial and full-thickness wound reconstruction. It can be applied directly on to vascular tissue to create a bed for a skin graft, which is often placed in a second surgery. We present our experience of its novel use in oral and maxillofacial surgery patients, using it directly on bone and cartilage (avascular tissue) without further skin grafting. Patients who required full-thickness excision of lesions down to bone or cartilage and who were treated using Integra® were included...

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between severity and level of cervical central stenosis (CCS) and the fat infiltration (FI) of the cervical multifidus/rotatores (MR) at each subaxial levels. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relationship between cervical musculature morphology and the severity of CCS is poorly understood. METHODS: Patients with preoperative cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were reviewed...

OBJECTIVE: To compare diet and the modified dietary inflammatory index (mDII) between individuals with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS), monophasic acquired demyelinating syndromes (monoADS), and controls. METHODS: The association between diet, mDII, and disease status was examined in 131 individuals with PoMS/monoADS/controls (38/45/48) using logistic regression. RESULTS: The associations between diet and PoMS were modest, reaching significance for whole grain intake (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=0...

In order to quench the thirst for efficient energy storage devices, a novel praseodymium-based state-of-the-art three-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF), {[Pr(pdc)2 ]Me2 NH2 } n (YK-1), has been synthesized by using a simple solvothermal method employing a readily available ligand. YK-1 was characterised by single-crystal XRD and crystallographic analysis. The electrochemical measurements of YK-1 show that it exhibits a specific capacitance of 363.5 F g-1 at a current density of 1.5 A g-1 with 83.8% retention after 5000 cycles...

Paraspinal muscle atrophy is gaining attention in spine surgery due to its link to back pain, spinal degeneration and worse postoperative outcomes. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a noninvasive diagnostic tool for muscle quality assessment, primarily utilized for patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, EIM's accuracy for paraspinal muscle assessment remains understudied. In this study, we investigated the correlation between EIM readings and MRI-derived muscle parameters, as well as the influence of dermal and subcutaneous parameters on these readings...

Nanotechnology has been used to apply nanoparticle essential elements to enhance the ability of animals to absorb these elements and consequently improve their reproductive performance. High concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) can directly harm a range of aquatic life forms, ultimately contributing to a decline in biodiversity. Helisoma duryi snails are a good model for studying the toxicological effects of bulk zinc oxide (ZnO-BPs) and nano zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) on freshwater gastropods. This study aimed to compare the toxic effects of ZnO-BPs and ZnO-NPs on H...

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients are susceptible to viral infections. We conducted a phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and rate of clinically significant infections (CSIs; viremia requiring treatment or end-organ disease) following infusion of posoleucel, a partially HLA-matched, allogeneic, off-the-shelf, multivirus-specific T cell investigational product for preventing CSIs with adenovirus, BK virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus-6, or JC virus...

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BACKGROUND: The recommended timing for returning to common activities after cervical spine surgery varies widely among physicians based on training background and personal opinion, without clear guidelines or consensus. The purpose of this study was to analyze spine surgeons' responses about the recommended timing for returning to common activities after different cervical spine procedures. METHODS: This was a survey study including 91 spine surgeons. The participants were asked to complete an anonymous online survey...

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is a prevalent spinal condition that can result in significant disability. DLS is thought to result from a combination of disc and facet joint degeneration, as well as various biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors. One hypothesis is the progressive degeneration of segmental stabilizers, notably the paraspinal muscles, contributes to a vicious cycle of increasing slippage. PURPOSE: To examine the correlation between paraspinal muscle status on MRI and severity of slippage in patients with symptomatic DLS...

The study aimed to evaluate phenolic content and antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of the fractions of the hydroethanolic extract of Uvaria chamae leaves, a food plant from Burkina Faso. Thus, the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions of the hydroalcoholic extract after drying were used to determine phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential on strains of pathogenic bacteria responsible for food contamination. Phytochemical analyses were performed according to standardized methods, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods...

OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. Immune cell subsets, notably T helper (Th) 17 and Th1, exert important roles in MS pathogenesis. Whereas, Treg cells modulate the disease process. Calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, and curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, play immunomodulatory effects relevant to autoimmune disorders, including MS. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of calcitriol and Curcumin on Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of individuals with MS...

Assuring home care (HC) workers' safety is challenging because the work environment is a private home. This paper presents the process evaluation for a proof-of-concept safety intervention study to assess whether nurse-led safety coaching, using motivational interviewing and a safety handbook, could enable HC clients to improve safety in their homes. The process evaluation objectives were to (i) document the intervention's implementation progress and (ii) assess the intervention's dose delivery, dose reception, and fidelity...

BACKGROUND: The criteria for significant bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) were published in 2005 by the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society, which were revised in 2021, however, data on the agreement between these two recommendations in untreated patients with airflow limitation are missing. AIMS: We aimed to study BDR to salbutamol (SABA) or ipratropium bromide (SAMA) in patients with suspected bronchial asthma or COPD at initial clinical presentation using the 2005 and 2021 criteria and explore clinical factors associated with BDR+...