Search

There is a rising interest in nanocomposites with unanticipated features that are different from traditional materials to fulfill the demands of these applications. Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles, and cobalt oxide with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Co3O4/ MWCNTs) as nanocomposites were created. In this study, cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4 NPs) were synthesized via co-precipitation method chemical using CoCl2 salt as a source of cobalt nanoparticles and sodium hydroxide solution as a factor agent at room temperature. The cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) precipitate was obtained, then it calcinated the cobalt hydroxide precipitate at 600°C to obtain the cobalt oxides nanoparticles (Co3O4 NPs). Also, MWCNTs were prepared by a locally manufactured reactor at 423 k. Binary composites were prepared by solution method using cobalt oxide nanoparticles dispersion over MWCNTs surfaces. The structural, morphological, and spectral properties were confirmed and investigated by using FE-SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and (XRD), respectively. The surface area and pore size obtained by BET and BJH showed that the binary nanocomposites (Co3O4/MWCNTs) have a higher surface area than their pristine cobalt oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanoparticles. The adsorption processes of nanocomposites have attracted significant care from the scientific public because of their distinctive possessions and aptitude to reduce and adsorb Cu+2 and Ni+2 as heavy metals from water pollution. As a result, Co3O4 and its nanocomposite with MWCNTs were used to remove copper and nickel ions from the dilute aqueous solution.

هدف البحث الى اعداد تمرينات لتطوير القوة المميزة بالسرعة للأطراف السفلى وقد استعمل الباحث المنهج التجريبي للمجموعة الواحدة ذات الاختبار القبلي والبعدي، على عينة من لاعبي كرة اليد وهم لاعبي نادي الطلبة الرياضي بكرة اليد للموسم الرياضي 2023- 2024 والبالغ عددهم (16) لاعباً واستعمل الباحث طريقة التدريب الفتري المنخفض والمرتفع الشدة والتكراري في تطبيق التمرينات، وكان زمن التمرينات في الوحدات التدريبية يتراوح بين (30-35) دقيقة و استنتج الباحث للتمرينات الخاصة تأثير ايجابي في تطور القوة المميزة بالسرعة للرجلين للتمرينات الخاصة تأثير ايجابي في تطور اداء الهجوم السريع لدى اللاعبين عينة البحث بكرة اليد, وكذلك أوصى الباحث الاعتماد على نتائج البحث في تحديد مفردات التمرينات الخاصة في تطوير القوة المميزة بالسرعة وبرمجتها لدى اللاعبين عينة البحث في مرحلة الإعداد الخاص.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) probability assessment relies on clinical scoring systems, which have limitations for certain patient populations. We aimed to investigate the use of laboratory values for PE probability assessment. Materials and methods: This retrospective single-center observational study included patients with suspected PE. Nineteen variables were examined. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors was performed, and significant variables were used to develop a scoring method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to detect PE and determine the optimal cutoff value. Well's scores were also estimated. Results: The model achieved an accuracy of 84.6 %. Hypocapnia, fever, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), D-dimer, and lactate levels had predictive values. The slope was negative for hypocapnia, ALP, and lactate, and positive for fever and D-dimer levels. Fever, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.995, received a score of 2 for values above the cutoff, whereas the remaining variables were assigned a score of 1. Patients with PE had significantly higher scores (mean ± SD: 2.07 ± 0.91) than those without PE (1.80 ± 1.13; P = 0.001). The area under the ROC curve was 0.585 (95 % confidence interval: 0.563–0.606; P = 0.001). Using a cutoff score of 1.5 based on the maximum Youden's index, the scoring system achieved a sensitivity of 73.1 % and specificity of 43.4 %. The Well's score demonstrated a sensitivity of 51.1 % and specificity of 75.1 %. Conclusion: This study showed statistically significant laboratory values for the probability assessment of PE and the tentative scoring system (PAPEL score). Larger prospective multicenter studies are required to validate this scoring method in a wider population.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) remains a challenge for lung transplantation (LTx) recipients as a leading cause of poor early outcomes. New methods are needed for more detailed monitoring and understanding of the pathophysiology of PGD. The measurement of particle flow rate (PFR) in exhaled breath is a novel tool to monitor and understand the disease at the proteomic level. In total, 22 recipient pigs underwent orthotopic left LTx and were evaluated for PGD on postoperative day 3. Exhaled breath particles (EBPs) were evaluated by mass spectrometry and the proteome was compared to tissue biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Findings were confirmed in EBPs from 11 human transplant recipients. Recipients with PGD had significantly higher PFR [686.4 (449.7–8,824.0) particles per minute (ppm)] compared to recipients without PGD [116.6 (79.7–307.4) ppm, p = 0.0005]. Porcine and human EBP proteins recapitulated proteins found in the BAL, demonstrating its utility instead of more invasive techniques. Furthermore, adherens and tight junction proteins were underexpressed in PGD tissue. Histological and proteomic analysis found significant changes to the alveolar-capillary barrier explaining the high PFR in PGD. Exhaled breath measurement is proposed as a rapid and non-invasive bedside measurement of PGD.

Visceral artery pseudoaneurysms is a known vascular complication of pancreatitis that can lead to life-threatening hemorrhages with a high mortality rate if left untreated. We present a case of ruptured gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm in a 68-year-old male with acute pancreatitis presenting with fatal gastrointestinal and retroperitoneal bleeding that was successfully managed with endovascular coil embolization of the involved vasculature. Patients with hemorrhagic pancreatitis or those presenting with unexplained retroperitoneal or gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting of pancreatitis with an unexplained drop in hematocrit or sudden expansion of pancreatic fluid collection should be screened in a timely manner for pseudoaneurysm using CT angiogram of the abdomen, which is the gold standard imaging modality to identify pseudoaneurysms. Once pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed, it should be treated immediately. Endovascular treatment options are now favored over surgical options in most cases.

Byline: S. Kumar, A. Shaikh, Y. Rashid, N. Masood, ATV. Mohammed, U. Malik, G. Haider, N. Niamutullah, S. Khan Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Pakistani women. [...]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a widespread global health issue with a varying prevalence influenced by geography, socioeconomic status, and demographics. In the U.S., the prevalence is lower, though certain groups, such as older adults and immigrants from high-prevalence regions, show higher rates. The decrease in infection rates in developed countries is due to improved sanitation, antibiotics, and healthcare, whereas developing countries continue to experience high rates due to poor living conditions. H. pylori infection can be asymptomatic or cause symptoms like dyspepsia, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite. Pathophysiologically, H. pylori contribute to conditions such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer through mechanisms including urease production and the release of virulence factors, leading to chronic inflammation and an increased cancer risk. Diagnostic methods for H. pylori have progressed significantly. Non-invasive techniques, such as serological assays, stool antigen tests, and urea breath tests, are practical and sensitive. Invasive methods, including endoscopic biopsy and molecular diagnostics, are more definitive but resource intensive. Recent advancements in diagnostic technology, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), biosensor technology, and next-generation sequencing (NGS), promise improved speed, accuracy, and accessibility. These innovations are expected to enhance the detection and management of H. pylori, potentially reducing the global disease burden. This review aims to discuss these diagnostic modalities with a focus on further advances under investigation.

Article accepted. The article will be published here soon. Pending final quality checks.

IntroductionIn recent years, the field of graft preservation has made considerable strides in improving outcomes related to solid organ restoration and regeneration. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) in line with the related devices and treatments has yielded promising results within preclinical and clinical studies, with the potential to improve graft quality. Its main benefit is to render marginal and declined donor lungs suitable for transplantation, ultimately increasing the donor pool available for transplantation. In addition, using such therapies in machine perfusion could also increase preservation time, facilitating logistical planning. Cytokine adsorption has been demonstrated as a potentially safe and effective therapy when applied to the EVLP circuit and post-transplantation. However, the mechanism by which this therapy improves the donor lung on a molecular basis is not yet fully understood.MethodsWe hypothesized that there were characteristic inflammatory and immunomodulatory differences between the lungs treated with and without cytokine adsorption, reflecting proteomic changes in the gene ontology pathways and across inflammation-related proteins. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of how cytokine adsorption impacts lung function when used during EVLP and post-transplantation as hemoperfusion in a porcine model. Lung tissues during EVLP and post-lung transplantation were analyzed for their proteomic profiles using mass spectrometry.ResultsWe found through gene set enrichment analysis that the inflammatory and immune processes and coagulation pathways were significantly affected by the cytokine treatment after EVLP and transplantation.ConclusionIn conclusion, we showed that the molecular mechanisms are using a proteomic approach behind the previously reported effects of cytokine adsorption when compared to the non-treated transplant recipients undergoing EVLP.

Cachexia is a life-threatening disease characterized by chronic, inflammatory muscle wasting and systemic metabolic impairment. Despite its high prevalence, there are no efficacious therapies for cachexia. Mice chronically infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii represent a novel animal model recapitulating the chronic kinetics of cachexia. To understand how perturbations to metabolic tissue homeostasis influence circulating metabolite availability we used mass spectrometry analysis. Despite the significant reduction in circulating triacylglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and glycerol, sphingolipid long-chain bases and a subset of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) were significantly increased in the sera of mice with T. gondii infection-induced cachexia. In addition, the TCA cycle intermediates α-ketoglutarate, 2-hydroxyglutarate, succinate, fumarate, and malate were highly depleted in cachectic mouse sera. Sphingolipids and their de novo synthesis precursors PCs are the major components of the mitochondrial membrane and regulate mitochondrial function consistent with a causal relationship in the energy imbalance driving T. gondii-induced chronic cachexia.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare, benign, focal, self-limiting disease. We report a unique case of KFD in a patient with coexisting Crohn’s disease. Our patient is a 23-year-old African American female with a past medical history significant for Crohn’s disease who presented to the clinic because of a painless lump over the right side of the neck for the past 3 weeks. On physical examination, the patient was found to have enlarged nontender right cervical lymph nodes from levels 2 to 4. An excisional biopsy of the right neck lymph node was done which revealed necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis, favoring a diagnosis of KFD. Over the course of the next 2 months, her lymphadenopathy got resolved. This is the first case of KFD in a patient with Crohn’s Disease. Lymphoma remains a feared adverse outcome for immunomodulatory drugs, thus necessitating their cessation upon signs of lymphadenopathy. Our case highlights the importance of a detailed workup in order to access the underlying cause of the lymphadenopathy so that the immunomodulatory drugs can be resumed in these patients.

Lung transplantation is hindered by the scarcity of organs and by mortality following primary graft dysfunction. Here, the authors show that cytokine absorption can be used in donor lungs during ex vivo lung perfusion and post-transplant, and leads to restored lung function and reduced primary graft dysfunction in animal models.

Abstract Lung transplantion (LTx) recipients have low long-term survival and a high incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), an inflammation of the small airways in chronic rejection of a lung allograft. There is great clinical need for a minimally invasive biomarker of BOS. Here, 644 different proteins were analyzed to detect biomarkers that distinguish BOS grade 0 from grades 1–3. The plasma of 46 double lung transplant patients was analyzed for proteins using a high-component, multiplex immunoassay that enables analysis of protein biomarkers. Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) consists of antibody probe pairs which bind to targets. The resulting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reporter sequence can be quantified by real-time PCR. Samples were collected at baseline and 1-year post transplantation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to validate the findings of the PEA analysis across both time points and microarray datasets from other lung transplantation centers demonstrated the same findings. Significant decreases in the plasma protein levels of CRH, FERC2, IL-20RA, TNFB, and IGSF3 and an increase in MMP-9 and CTSL1 were seen in patients who developed BOS compared to those who did not. In this study, CRH is presented as a novel potential biomarker in the progression of disease because of its decreased levels in patients across all BOS grades. Additionally, biomarkers involving the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as MMP-9 and CTSL1, were increased in BOS patients.

Ultrasound elastography is gaining attention for its diagnostic potential across various medical fields, and its physical properties make it valuable in modern clinical medicine. However, its specific attributes, especially in the context of recent medical advancements, remain relatively unexplored. This study aimed to identify instrument-specific characteristics and applications of real-time ultrasound elastography, shear wave elastography, and strain elastography, particularly within gastroenterology. Following PRISMA guidelines, the study examined elastography articles on databases like PubMed, resulting in 78 included articles. Data on patient demographics, organ involvement, specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were extracted. Statistical analysis involved SPSS version 21, with significance set at p < 0.05. The majority of patients were male (50.50%), with a mean age of 42.73 ± 4.41 years. Shear wave elastography was the most prevalent technique (48.7%), and liver investigations were predominant in gastroenterology (34.6%). Gastrointestinal applications showed higher sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values (p < 0.05) but lower specificity (p < 0.05). Real-time ultrasound elastography exhibited increased specificity, accuracy, and predictive values (p < 0.05). Ultrasound elastography appears more accurate and effective in gastroenterological settings. Nonetheless, its performance depends on instrument-specific and operator-dependent factors. While promising, further studies are necessary to ascertain optimal utilization in both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions.