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Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare pathological entity that can be classified into an idiopathic or secondary affection. Bowel obstruction is a frequent complication that has a characteristic radiological finding, with a cocoon appearance. We present the case of a 40-year-old man who suffered an absolute constipation. He underwent a CT scan that was suggestive of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis or abdominal cocoon responsible for small bowel obstruction.

Water scarcity remains the main problem in Morocco, making water resource conservation paramount. The objective of this study is to shed light on how mining impacts the region of Beni Tajjit's groundwater resources, which are used for irrigation and watering, which includes the Bou Dhar mining district, known for its vast lead and zinc sulfide deposits. The oxidation of sulfide-rich mine tailings generates acid water loaded with sulfates, creating acid mine drainage (AMD), which hurts aquatic ecosystems and the environment through trace metals elements (TME). Hence the need to assess the possible contamination of aquifers by metallic pollutants. This work can help water managers make appropriate decisions for controlling the quality of the groundwater in the Beni Tajjit area. During this study, we adopted a method: the Water Quality Index (WQI), designed to indicate the overall level of water quality by aggregating various weighted measurements. Five samples representing water sources around the mine tailings were taken and analyzed. Their values of dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and pH were measured on-site. The results allow us to classify the water into good and bad categories. They showed that the TME values were practically lower than the maximum permitted level according to WHO norms and Moroccan irrigation standards. The main reason for this may be due to the carbonate geological context of the site, which buffers acidity and thus forms a chemical barrier against the transfer of TME to the aquifer. The high chlorine levels appear due to geochemical background or anthropogenies contaminations. The sulfate values recorded are related to the leaching of sulfide minerals from mine tailings.

This mini-review delved into the intricate interplay between agricultural practices and aquatic environments, highlighting the global imperative to enhance water quality. Drawing insights from diverse sources, it underscored the complex web linking water management and agriculture with the health of aquatic ecosystems. The expansion and intensification of agriculture have led to widespread fertilizer and pesticide use, impacting the water quality of groundwater, rivers, lakes, and marine habitats. Large-scale irrigation systems, while vital for food security, have inadvertently contributed to land and water salinity issues. As agricultural activities intensify, they often alter aquatic ecosystems, affecting aquatic fauna and overall ecosystem functioning. The sustainable use of chemicals and organic farming practices is paramount to mitigating environmental and ecological impacts. In the context of global changes, the adoption of ecologically based agricultural management strategies holds promise for enhancing sustainability and reducing the off-site consequences. The mini-review emphasized that integrated water resource management, advanced agricultural practices, and rigorous regulation are essential for tackling the critical water quality and quantity challenges linked to agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we establish new inequalities involving symmetrized convex sequences. The obtained results involve a new range of applications that contains the set of convex sequences. Some applications are given at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of the current state of the environment (groundwater quality and tailings composition) was carried out in the vicinity of the M'fis mine (Southeast of Morocco) in order to evaluate the impact of mine tailings on groundwater. Water samples from the well in the center of the mine site and from other nearby wells were collected and analyzed. In addition, the characterization of the tailings shows the presence of sulfides and other chemical elements, constituting the main source of pollution. In turn, the results of geochemical analyses show that groundwater is characterized by low levels of metals, despite the presence of these pollutants in the tailings and in the waste rock piles. The concentrations of metallic trace elements in well groundwater, slightly exceeding the standards of potability (the WHO standard), remain acceptable for irrigation and for livestock. These results can be explained by the carbonate geological formation, constituting the transfer medium of the pollutants towards the aquifer and also by the weak circulation of the metal ions under the desert climate which prevent dissolution and infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supply chain management (SCM) practices play a significant role in modern business success through coordinating the continuous flow of goods, services and information within complex networks. At this level, the collaboration between supply chain (SC) members constitutes an important determinant of supply chain performance. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effect of supply chain collaboration dimensions, i.e., such as decision synchronization, collaborative communication, incentive alignment, goal congruence, information sharing joint knowledge creation, and resource sharing, on the level of supply chain performance. Methods: The dataset was gathered using a convenience sampling procedure from middle and senior automotive SC executives. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS software was carried out in order to analyze the data. Results: The results show that collaborative communication, information sharing, incentive alignment, joint knowledge creation, and goal congruence contribute considerably to enhancing the automotive SC performance. Conclusions: These findings have valuable implications for practitioners in order to adopt the appropriate practices to improve automotive SC performance. These insights can help to guide practitioners in implementing the appropriate collaborative practices to meet the specific challenges of the automotive supply chain. By considering these guidelines, practitioners will be able to streamline processes, optimize resource allocation and ultimately deliver more efficient outcomes, leading to improved overall automotive supply chain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supply chain information systems (SCIS) have turned into a key success factor for the proper management of the automotive supply chain. Therefore, the scope of this paper is to explore the impact of SC information system infrastructure (SCISI) and SC information sharing (ISSC) on interorganizational trust (IOT), SC collaboration (SCC), SC agility (SCA), and SC performance (SCP) in the Moroccan automotive industry context. Methods: The dataset was drawn from a selected sample of Moroccan automotive industry firms through an online survey. Furthermore, the partial least squares (PLS-SEM) procedure was applied to test the conceptual model. Results: The findings support the positive influence of SCIS infrastructure on IOT and SC agility. Similarly, information sharing in SC positively affects the collaboration between IOT and automotive SC. The results also provide evidence that IOT plays a significant role in improving SC agility. Lastly, agility and SC collaboration were identified as key drivers of SC of performance. Conclusions: The findings extend the existing literature on SC management and management information systems by providing empirical verification of how information sharing and IS infrastructure can influence collaboration, agility, and SC performance. These findings are useful in guiding SC managers through the process of improving SC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last few years, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as an appealing therapeutic option to improve brain functions. Promising data support the role of prefrontal tDCS in augmenting cognitive performance and ameliorating several neuropsychiatric symptoms, namely pain, fatigue, mood disturbances, and attentional impairment. Such symptoms are commonly encountered in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The main objective of the current work was to evaluate the tDCS effects over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on pain in MS patients. Our secondary outcomes were to study its influence on attention, fatigue, and mood. Materials and Methods: Sixteen MS patients with chronic neuropathic pain were enrolled in a randomized, sham-controlled, and cross-over study. Patients randomly received two anodal tDCS blocks (active or sham), each consisting of three consecutive daily tDCS sessions, and held apart by 3 weeks. Evaluations took place before and after each block. To evaluate pain, we used the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Attention was assessed using neurophysiological parameters and the Attention Network Test (ANT). Changes in mood and fatigue were measured using various scales. Results: Compared to sham, active tDCS yielded significant analgesic effects according to VAS and BPI global scales. There were no effects of any block on mood, fatigue, or attention. Conclusion: Based on our results, anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC appears to act in a selective manner and would ameliorate specific symptoms, particularly neuropathic pain. Analgesia might have occurred through the modulation of the emotional pain network. Attention, mood, and fatigue were not improved in this work. This could be partly attributed to the short protocol duration, the small sample size, and the heterogeneity of our MS cohort. Future large-scale studies can benefit from comparing the tDCS effects over different cortical sites, changing the stimulation montage, prolonging the duration of protocol, and coupling tDCS with neuroimaging techniques for a better understanding of its possible mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pain and cognitive impairment are frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Neglecting experimental pain and paying attention to demanding tasks is reported to decrease the pain intensity. Little is known about the interaction between chronic neuropathic pain and attention disorders in MS. Recently, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was used to modulate various cognitive and motor symptoms in MS. We aimed to study the effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a form of transcranial electric stimulation, over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on attention and neuropathic pain in MS patients. Methods: 16 MS patients were included in a randomized, sham-controlled, cross-over study. Each patient randomly received two tRNS blocks, separated by three weeks of washout interval. Each block consisted of three consecutive daily sessions of either active or sham tRNS. The patients were evaluated for pain, attention and mood and further underwent an electrophysiological evaluation. Results: Compared to sham, tRNS showed a trend to decrease the N2-P2 amplitudes of pain related evoked potentials and improve pain ratings. Attention performance and mood scales did not change after stimulations. Conclusions: This study suggests the role of tRNS in pain modulation, which could have been more evident with longer stimulation protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence and uniqueness of solutions in an appropriate Banach space is established for a coupled system of integro-differential equations involving convergent series, with derivatives of non-integer order on the unknown functions and integrals of Riemann-Liouville in the nonlinearity as well as in the initial conditions. Some illustrative examples are also presented to demonstrate our main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove the existence of solutions for fractional coupled systems of integro-differential equations in Banach spaces. The results are obtained using fractional calculus and fixed point theorems. Some concrete examples are also presented to illustrate the possible application of the established analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the existence and the uniqueness of solutions for a coupled system of nonlinear fractional integro-differential equations. New existence and uniqueness results are established using Banach theorem. Other results are obtained using Schaefer fixed point theorem. Some concrete examples are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-stenting angiogram revealed a distal stent edge stenosis which was not restituted after intracoronary nitroglycerin excluding vasospasm (Figure 1 B). A tight distal RCA stenosis was revealed on angiogram with clear subintimal dye trapping and extraluminal compression while the patient had recurrence of chest pain and inferior ST-segment elevation (Figure 1 C). [Extracted from the article]

Background and objective Fatigue is a frequent and debilitating symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Its classical treatments are still faced with limited benefits and numerous side effects. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, on such a challenging symptom. Our secondary outcomes included the assessment of tDCS impact on mood and attentional performance. Methods Ten fatigued MS patients were enrolled in a double-blind, sham-controlled, and cross-over study. Each patient randomly received three anodal tDCS blocks: active stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), active stimulation over the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and sham stimulation over either cortical site. Both cortical targets are key components in the MS fatigue networks. The blocks consisted of five consecutive daily sessions and were held apart by a washout interval of three weeks. Results Only active left DLPFC stimulation significantly ameliorated fatigue. Mood improvement was exclusively obtained following active right PPC stimulation. Neither intervention had effects on attention. Conclusion Our study supports the role of anodal tDCS over the left prefrontal in treating MS fatigue. The lack of tDCS effects on attention might be related to the heterogeneity of the studied cohort, the relatively small sample size, the protocol design and duration. Modifying these variables and coupling tDCS with neuroimaging might improve the clinical outcomes and enhance our understanding of the tDCS mechanism of actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skull base osteomyelitis is a rare and serious condition that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals and can be life threatening if not treated promptly. It can have various origins, with the most common being an extension of necrotizing external otitis. It is difficult to diagnose due to a wide array of clinical presentations. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis, identification of the possible source of infection, the extent of the disease, the pattern of spread and identification of associated complications. Early diagnosis is crucial to promptly initiate appropriate treatment. We report here a rare case of a 68-year-old patient presenting with skull base osteomyelitis resulting from bilateral otitis media, which is a rare condition., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Introduction: The MoPyc radial head arthroplasty (RHA) is a monopolar implant with a pyrocarbon head that obtains rigid fixation via controlled expansion of the titanium stem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short to midterm outcomes of MoPyc RHA., Materials and Methods: Between 2002 and 2021, 139 MoPyc RHA were implanted in 139 patients with a RH fracture. The mean follow-up was 5.9 years ±3.5 (range 1-16). Range of motion, mean Mayo Elbow Performance score (MEPS), quick disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (quickDASH) score, visual analog scale (VAS), radiographic outcome, and reason for failure were recorded., Results: The mean MEP, QuickDASH, and VAS scores were 89.1± 2.2(range, 45-100), 17.5±16.7(range, 0-78), and 0.8±1.6(range, 0-50), respectively. Stress shielding (SS) and osteolysis around the stem (OAS) were identified in 92(66%) and 20(14%) patients. A total of 47(29%) patients experienced at least one complication; and 29(21%) of them required re-intervention. Persistent stiffness (n=12;9%) was the most common complication. No painful loosening was noted. Osteolysis around the stem, presence of an autoexpanding stem, and overstuffing were associated with a lower MEPS and an increase in VAS (p<0.05). Stress shielding (SS) was associated with an increase in MEPS (aβ=6.92; p<0.001) and lower VAS (aβ=-0.69; p=0.016). The auto-expending stem increased the likelihood of SS after RHA (aOR=1.49; p=0.001)., Conclusions: A well-fixed MoPyc RHA provided satisfactory short to midterm outcomes, without painful loosening. However, the autoexpanding stem system was associated with poorer functional outcomes and increased the likelihood of SS., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Venous sinus stenting (VSS) is an increasingly performed procedure for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) refractory to medical treatment. VSS is typically performed under general anesthesia., Objective: To present our experience of VSS in patients with IIH performed under conscious sedation., Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all patients with IIH who underwent VSS in a single center between September 2019 and January 2024. The sedation protocol consisted of a remifentanil-based target-controlled infusion. Patients' clinical and radiological data, dosage of anesthesia, procedural characteristics, and outcomes were collected., Results: Twenty-six patients with IIH underwent venous manometry (VM) and VSS under awake sedation and were included in our study. Patients were predominantly women (24/26) with a median age (IQR) of 33 (13) years. The median (IQR) body mass index was 34 (10) kg/m 2 . There was no need for general anesthesia conversion. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Median (IQR) follow-up after stenting was 7 (2) months. All patients reported resolution of the pulsatile tinnitus; headaches regressed in 20/24 (83.3%) patients and papilledema improved in 16/20 (80%). Only one non-neurological complication (retroperitoneal hematoma) occurred, without any permanent morbidity or mortality., Conclusion: Our study confirms that performing VM and VSS under conscious sedation is safe and feasible. Conscious sedation is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for managing IIH in these patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Adenosine administration for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement may induce heart pauses., Aims: To assess the accuracy and tolerability of direct wire pacing (DWP) during measurement of FFR., Methods: Adults with at least one intermediate coronary artery stenosis (40%-80%) were consecutively enrolled between June 2021 and February 2022 in this randomized, noninferiority, crossover trial (NCT04970082) carried out in France. DWP was applied (DWP) or not (standard method) through the pressure guidewire used for FFR measurement during adenosine-induced maximal hyperaemia. Subjects were randomly assigned to the allocation sequence (DWP first or standard first). A 2-minute washout period was observed between the two FFR measurements performed for each stenosis. The primary endpoint was the reproducibility of FFR measurements between methods., Results: A total of 150 focal lesions, presented by 94 subjects, were randomized (ratio: 1:1). The FFR values obtained with each method were nearly identical ( R  = 0.98, p  = 0.005). The mean FFR difference of 0.00054 (95% confidence interval: 0.004 to 0.003) showed the noninferiority of FFR measurement with DWP vs. that with the standard method. Higher levels of chest discomfort were reported with DWP than with the standard method (0.61 ± 0.84 vs. 1.05 ± 0.89, p  < 0.001), and a correlation was observed between the electrical sensations reported with DWP and chest discomfort ( p  < 0.001). Pauses ( n  = 20/148 lesions) were observed with the standard method, but did not correlate with chest discomfort ( p  = 0.21). No pauses were observed with DWP., Conclusions: DWP during FFR measurement resulted in accurate and reproducible FFR values, and eliminated the pauses induced by adenosine., Competing Interests: Sponsorship of this study was provided by the "Centre de Recherche Cardiovasculaire des Alpes (CRCA)”, Grenoble, France. BF and JM work at the CRCA and have received honoraria as speakers for OpSens Medical. MA also works at the CRCA. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Faurie, Acheampong, Abdellaoui, Dessus, Monsegu and Wintzer-Wehekind.)

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) may require cardiac pacing during device delivery, generally requiring the insertion of a temporary pacing lead via an additional venous access site. The purpose-built Electroducer Sleeve device provides direct wire pacing without the need for a temporary venous pacemaker., Aims: This study assessed the safety of temporary cardiac pacing using the novel sleeve device during PCI., Methods: This was a multicentre, non-randomised, prospective, first-in-human, single-arm, pilot study. The primary endpoint was analysis of a safety outcome, defined as the occurrence of haematomas or bleeding complications at the device vascular access site. Secondary endpoints included analyses of effectiveness and qualitative outcomes., Results: Sixty patients (mean age: 77.9±9.6 years) from 4 centres in France were included: 39 (65%) underwent TAVI, and 21 (35%) underwent PCI. Procedures were performed using the sleeve with access through the radial (32 patients; 53.3%) or femoral arteries (26; 43.3%), or the femoral vein (2; 3.3%). Primary endpoint analysis revealed that 2 patients (3.3%) developed EArly Discharge After Transradial Stenting of CoronarY Arteries Study (EASY) grade I/Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type I haematomas at the device access site. As a measure of effectiveness, a haemodynamic effect was observed after each spike delivery in 54 patients (90%). Analyses of other secondary endpoints showed that 2 patients (6.3%) presented asymptomatic radial artery occlusion. No allergies were reported., Conclusions: This first-in-human trial using the Electroducer Sleeve indicated that this novel, purpose-built, temporary pacing device was safe and effective. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Background: In the observational SUPER-MIMI study, a minimalist immediate mechanical intervention (MIMI) technique-which involves restoring blood flow in the acute phase and postponing stenting-was shown to be safe and effective among patients with a high thrombotic burden after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aim to assess whether a non-stenting strategy after a SUPER-MIMI strategy was safe at 4-year follow-up in patients enrolled in the SUPER-MIMI study who were not stented., Methods: This prospective cohort study assessed the long-term outcomes of a subgroup of patients included in the SUPER-MIMI study., Results: Among the 155 patients enrolled in the SUPER-MIMI study, 57 patients (36.8%) benefited from a conservative management (without stenting or balloon angioplasty) and were included in the current substudy. The mean duration of follow-up was 4.1±1.0 years. Four patients (7.0%) presented definite culprit lesion re-thrombosis, all of which occurred in the right coronary artery. The re-thrombosis rate appeared to be higher among patients with larger vessels: 2.9%, 8.3%, and 28.6% in arteries with diameters of 3-<4, 4-<5, and ≥5 mm, respectively. The overall rate of target lesion revascularization was 10.5%. There was one cardiac death and three rehospitalizations for heart failure. Overall, 82.5% of patients remained event free at a mean of 4.1±1.0 years., Conclusions: Conservative management of non-stenotic culprit lesions after a SUPER-MIMI strategy was associated with a high rate of re-thrombosis, particularly in patients with large coronary arteries., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://cdt.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/cdt-21-631/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy. All rights reserved.)