Tag: nevin manimala

Mater Horiz. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.1039/d3mh01500a. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Point defects often appear in two-dimensional (2D) materials and are mostly correlated with physical phenomena. The direct visualisation of point defects, followed by statistical inspection, is the most promising way to harness structure-modulated 2D materials. Here, we introduce a deep learning-based platform to identify the point defects in 2H-MoTe₂: synergy of unit cell detection and defect classification. These processes demonstrate that segmenting the detected hexagonal cell into two unit cells elaborately cropped the unit cells: further separating a unit cell input into the Te₂/Mo column part remarkably increased the defect classification accuracies. The concentrations of identified point defects were 7.16 × 10²⁰ cm² of Te monovacancies, 4.38 × 10¹⁹ cm² of Te divacancies and 1.46 × 10¹⁹ cm² of Mo monovacancies generated during an exfoliation process for TEM sample-preparation. These revealed defects correspond to the n-type character mainly originating from Te monovacancies, statistically. Our deep learning-oriented platform combined with atomic structural imaging provides the most intuitive and precise way to analyse point defects and, consequently, insight into the defect-property correlation based on deep learning in 2D materials.

PMID:37990857 | DOI:10.1039/d3mh01500a

Urol J. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.22037/uj.v20i.7768. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of pyeloplasty in pediatric patients with poor function kidneys٫ focusing on the split renal function (SRF) and anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the renal pelvis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study included 47 pediatric patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) who underwent open pyeloplasty with SRF< 20%. All patients were recruited from the Labbafinejad University Hospital center from April 2014 to October 2020. The results of preoperative ultrasonography and Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) scan compared with the results of the ultrasonography and DTPA scan 6 months and one year after surgery. Finally, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test differences by SPSS (version 25) software statistical computer package.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 1.5 years. There were 34 cases with SRF between 10% and 20%, and 13 cases with SRF <10%. The findings showed that pyeloplasty for UPJO leads to a significant improvement in renal function in poorly functioning renal units with 10% ≤SRF<20%. Although improvement in renal function occurred in the group with SRF of less than 10%, it was not statistically significant. The APD in both groups was statistically significantly improved. No correlation between genders and outcomes was found.

CONCLUSION: Poorly functioning renal unit (SRF < 20%) can show functional improvement after the pyeloplasty.

PMID:37990849 | DOI:10.22037/uj.v20i.7768

Urol J. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.22037/uj.v20i.7738. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The choice between using the internal or external iliac arteries to supply a transplanted kidney poses is a dilemma during renal transplantation. As the internal iliac artery branches to the genital tract, cutting it could potentially result in sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of these two surgical methods on sexual function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 122 sexually active male patients under the age of sixty were randomly divided into two groups: the internal iliac anastomosis group and the external iliac artery anastomosis group. Before surgery and one year after the procedure, patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function-15 questionnaire (IIEF-15), and the difference in scores of each domain was measured.

RESULTS: Statistically, kidney transplantation improved all domains of IIEF in both groups, except for the erectile function in for patients who underwent internal iliac artery anastomosis group. Additionally, Also, there were significant differences between the two groups in the domains of erectile function (p-value=0.04) and overall satisfaction (p-value= 0.002), while other domains such as orgasmic function, sexual desire, and intercourse satisfaction did not show any statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the choice between using the internal or external iliac artery for arterial anastomosis during kidney transplantation does not significantly impact graft function. However, it may negatively affect erectile function in patients who undergo internal iliac artery anastomosis.

PMID:37990848 | DOI:10.22037/uj.v20i.7738

Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.1111/opo.13255. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe variations in ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in a healthy cohort from widefield optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans.

METHODS: Widefield OCT scans spanning 55° × 45° were acquired from 470 healthy eyes. The GCIPL was automatically segmented using deep learning methods. Thickness measurements were extracted after correction for warpage and retinal tilt. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to discern trends between global GCIPL thickness and age, axial length and sex. To further characterise age-related change, hierarchical and two-step cluster algorithms were applied to identify locations sharing similar ageing properties, and rates of change were quantified using regression analyses with data pooled by cluster analysis outcomes.

RESULTS: Declines in widefield GCIPL thickness with age, increasing axial length and female sex were observed (parameter estimates -0.053, -0.436 and -0.464, p-values <0.001, <0.001 and 0.02, respectively). Cluster analyses revealed concentric, slightly nasally displaced, horseshoe patterns of age-related change in the GCIPL, with up to four statistically distinct clusters outside the macula. Linear regression analyses revealed significant ageing decline in GCIPL thickness across all clusters, with faster rates of change observed at central locations when expressed as absolute (slope = -0.19 centrally vs. -0.04 to -0.12 peripherally) and percentage rates of change (slope = -0.001 centrally vs. -0.0005 peripherally).

CONCLUSIONS: Normative variations in GCIPL thickness from widefield OCT with age, axial length and sex were noted, highlighting factors worth considering in further developments. Widefield OCT has promising potential to facilitate quantitative detection of abnormal GCIPL outside standard fields of view.

PMID:37990841 | DOI:10.1111/opo.13255

J Food Sci. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.16823. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the textural and rheological properties of Algerian honeys and margarines formulated with honey and their sensory acceptance. Textural analysis shows that all honeys and margarines enriched with honey are spreadable, easy to swallow by the consumer and to adhere to a surface (bread, teeth, tongue, etc.), and have suitable adhesiveness. The hardness and elasticity values reveal that H5 honey and its M5 margarine are less hard and regain their height more quickly. The rheological analysis reveals that all honeys and formulated margarines non-Newtonian behavior at 25 and 45°C with a G’ > G″ for each type of honey except for H1 and all margarines elaborated with honey presenting a structure of a gel. Statistical analysis shows no significant differences (p > 0.05) in mean values of activation energy, suggesting that honeys and margarines need the same energy to flow. Chemometric analysis reveals strong similarities between (H3 and H5) and (M3 and M5). Sensory acceptance of margarines enriched with honey shows that M4 and M5 margarines are the most preferred by consumers with a satisfaction rate between 60% and 80%. In conclusion, margarine formulated with honey should be introduced to the market due to their good structural properties and high acceptance.

PMID:37990837 | DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.16823

Microsurgery. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.1002/micr.31126. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor site closure is traditionally performed with split thickness skin grafts (STSG), which can be associated with poor aesthetics, wrist stiffness, paresthesia, reduced strength, and tendon exposure. Full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) are potentially beneficial as they provide a more durable coverage, and the skin graft donor site can be closed primarily, which is more aesthetic. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the outcomes of STSG versus FTSG for closure of the RFFF donor site.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The primary objective was to answer: do subjects undergoing RFFF harvest, utilizing FTSG to close the RFFF donor site, compared to STSG, achieve superior aesthetics at the RFFF donor site? Included papers compared FTSG and STSG with statistical data. Means were compared with t-test and proportions with Fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS: The initial search resulted in 1851 studies. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the search resulted in eight studies, with 366 total skin grafts, 197 STSG and 169 FTSG. Six studies evaluated aesthetics utilizing a Likert scale, with the scaled average aesthetic score for FTSG being 7.9/10 compared to 6.9/10 for STSG (p < .001). Tendon exposure was measured in five studies, with a rate of 13.1% for STSG versus 10.6% for FTSG (p = .555). No significant difference in function was observed, however, methods to quantify function were heterogeneous.

CONCLUSION: FTSG compared to STSG, resulted in statistically significant improved aesthetics, with comparable rates of tendon exposure and function.

PMID:37990820 | DOI:10.1002/micr.31126

Nanoscale. 2023 Nov 22. doi: 10.1039/d3nr03502f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Thanks to their unique nanoscale properties, nanomedicines can overcome some of the shortcomings of conventional therapies. For better predictive screening, it is important to assess their performance in three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumour spheroids (MCTS) that can recapitulate the physiological barriers found in real tumours. Today, the evaluation of drug delivery nanosystems in MCTS is mainly explored by means of microscopy techniques that are invasive and require fluorescent labels which modify the composition and fate of the carriers. In recent years, a new quantitative microscopy technique based on Brillouin light scattering (BLS) has been proposed that uses the interaction of laser light with picosecond timescale density fluctuations in the sample. Because it is label-free, all-optical and non-destructive, BLS has gained interest in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. In this work, we implemented a fast BLS spectrometer and used the Brillouin frequency shift at the center of the MCTS as a quantitative readout for drug efficacy. We first investigated the ability of this setup to quantify drug efficacy in MCTS grown in classical multiwell plates and concluded that the low number of samples available in the multiwells limits the statistical significance of the results. To improve the throughput, we then combined the microscope with agarose microwells designed to fabricate a large number of MCTS and test 50 MCTS in less than a minute. Using this platform, we assessed the efficacy of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with a platinum derivative anticancer drug (dichloro(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II)) in reducing the growth of colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) in MCTS. We observe a time- and dose-dependent decrease in the frequency shift, revealing the progressive loss of mechanical integrity in the MCTS. These results demonstrate that BLS probing of MCTS grown in agarose microwells is a promising tool for high-throughput screening of nanocarriers in 3D models.

PMID:37990811 | DOI:10.1039/d3nr03502f

Urol J. 2023 Oct 29. doi: 10.22037/uj.v20i.7746. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated the usefulness of anteroposterior dissection holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Thus, this study investigated the incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after HoLEP and usefulness of anteroposterior dissection HoLEP in preventing postoperative SUI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 288 patients who underwent HoLEP performed by a single experienced surgeon between May 2014 and September 2021 were enrolled. Furthermore, 134 patients underwent retrograde dissection using the modified Gilling method (surgery 1) and 154 patients underwent anteroposterior dissection HoLEP (surgery 2). The risk factors for SUI, as well as the rates of SUI improvement for the two surgical procedures, were evaluated.

RESULTS: Postoperative SUI was observed in 58 (20.1%) of 288 patients, of whom, 48 (82.8%) recovered continence within 6 months. Ten patients (17.2%) required more than 6 months to recover continence. SUI incidence 1 month after HoLEP was 29.9% (40/134 patients) for surgery 1 and 11.7% (18/154 patients) for surgery 2; a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (odds ratio [OR], 0.311; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.168-0.575; p < 0.001). In addition, surgery 2 was significantly associated with early recovery from SUI compared with surgery 1 (stratified hazard ratio, 0.782; 95% CI, 0.615——0.995; p < 0.001). The multivariable analysis demonstrated that only surgical procedure (OR, 0.350; 95%CI, 0.168-0.732; p=0.005) was an independent predictor of SUI.- Conclusion: We reaffirmed that anteroposterior dissection HoLEP is a useful procedure for reducing the risk of postoperative SUI and early recovery of urinary continence.

PMID:37990797 | DOI:10.22037/uj.v20i.7746

Int J Nurs Knowl. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/2047-3095.12451. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to perform specific causal validation of nursing diagnosis Risk for thrombosis (00291) of the NANDA International (NANDA-I) classification.

METHODS: This is a case-control study conducted in a university hospital from January to October 2020. A total of 516 adult patients were included-344 in the Case Group (with venous or arterial thrombosis evidenced by imaging) and 172 in the Control Group (without thrombosis). Statistical analysis was performed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression test, and odds ratios were calculated to measure the effect of exposure between groups. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee.

FINDINGS: The patients were predominantly female and aged 59 ± 16 years. In the univariate logistic analysis, five risk factors were significantly associated with thrombosis, two at-risk populations and 12 associated conditions. In the multivariate regression model, the following risk factors remained independently associated (p < 0.05): inadequate knowledge of modifiable factors (OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.25-8.56) and ineffective medication self-management (OR: 3.2; 95% CI:1.77-6.26); at-risk populations with history (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.29-3.66) and family history of thrombosis (OR:2.60; 95% CI: 1.03-7.49); and the conditions associated with vascular diseases (OR:6.12; 95% CI:1.69-39.42), blood coagulation disorders (OR: 5.14; 95% CI:1.85-18.37), atherosclerosis (OR:2.07; 95% CI: 1.32-3.27), critical illness (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.42-3.70), and immobility (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.10-4.12).

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical validation allowed to establish strong evidence for the refinement of the diagnosis Risk for thrombosis and, consequently, to raise its level of evidence in the classification of NANDA-I.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The evidence pointed out by this study favors the establishment of thrombosis diagnosis in an accurate way by nurses in clinical practice, directing preventive interventions to patients in this risk condition.

PMID:37990774 | DOI:10.1111/2047-3095.12451

Brain Behav. 2023 Nov 21:e3314. doi: 10.1002/brb3.3314. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented traumatic event that has severely impacted social, economic, and health well-being worldwide. The COvid Mental hEalth Trial was specifically designed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its containment measures on the mental health of the Italian general population in terms of COVID-19-related acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms.

METHODS: The present cross-sectional study is based on an online survey carried out in the period March-May 2020. Italian general adult population was invited to compile an anonymous survey, which included the severity of acute stress symptoms scale/National Stressful Events Survey Short Scale to investigate the occurrence and severity of ASD symptoms.

RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 20,720 participants. During the lockdown, subjects with pre-existing mental health problems reported a statistically significant higher risk of acute post-traumatic symptoms compared to the general population (B: 2.57; 95% CI:2.04-3.09; p < .0001) and health care professionals (B: .37; 95% CI: .02-0.72; p < .05). According to multivariate regression models, the levels of acute post-traumatic symptoms (p < .0001) were higher in younger and female respondents. Social isolation and sleep disorder/insomnia represented positive predictors of acute stress (B = 3.32, 95% CI = 3.08-3.57).

CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about the risk of infection as well as social isolation caused a higher incidence of acute post-traumatic stress symptoms that may predict the subsequent development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the long term.

PMID:37990771 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.3314