Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Banu M, Krishnamurthy KS, Srinivasan V, Kandiannan K, Surendran U
    J Sci Food Agric, 2024 May;104(7):4176-4188.
    PMID: 38385763 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13299
    BACKGROUND: Turmeric cultivation primarily thrives in India, followed by Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. India leads globally in both area and production of turmeric. Despite this, there is a recognized gap in research regarding the impact of climate change on site suitability of turmeric. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate both the present and future suitability of turmeric cultivation within the humid tropical region of Kerala, India, by employing advanced geospatial techniques. The research utilized meteorological data from the Indian Meteorological Department for the period of 1986-2020 as historical data and projected future data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). Four climatic scenarios of shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR6 model of MIROC6 for the year 2050 (SSP 1-2.6, SSP 2-4.5, SSP 3-7.0 and SSP 5-8.5) were used.

    RESULTS: The results showed that suitable area for turmeric cultivation is declining in future scenario and this decline can be primarily attributed to fluctuations in temperature and an anticipated increase in rainfall in the year 2050. Notable changes in the spatial distribution of suitable areas over time were observed through the application of geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Importantly, as per the suitability criteria provided by ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR-NBSS & LUP), all the districts in Kerala exhibited moderately suitable conditions for turmeric cultivation. With the GIS tools, the study identified highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable areas of turmeric cultivation in Kerala. Presently 28% of area falls under highly suitable, 41% of area falls under moderately suitable and 11% falls under not suitable for turmeric cultivation. However, considering the projected scenarios for 2050 under the SSP framework, there will be a significant decrease in highly suitable area by 19% under SSP 5-8.5. This reduction in area will have an impact on the productivity of the crop as a result of changes in temperature and rainfall patterns.

    CONCLUSION: The outcome of the present research suggests that the state of Kerala needs to implement suitable climate change adaptation and management strategies for sustaining the turmeric cultivation. Additionally, the present study includes a discussion on potential management strategies to address the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions for optimizing turmeric production in the region. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

    MeSH terms: Iron-Dextran Complex*; Soil; Temperature; Curcuma*; Climate Change
  2. Hasan WANBW, Nezhad NG, Yaacob MA, Salleh AB, Rahman RNZRA, Leow TC
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2024 Feb 22;40(4):106.
    PMID: 38386107 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03927-x
    Enzymes are often required to function in a particular reaction condition by the industrial procedure. In order to identify critical residues affecting the optimum pH of Staphylococcal lipases, chimeric lipases from homologous lipases were generated via a DNA shuffling strategy. Chimeric 1 included mutations of G166S, K212E, T243A, H271Y. Chimeric 2 consisted of substitutions of K212E, T243A, H271Y. Chimeric 3 contained substitutions of K212E, R359L. From the screening results, the pH profiles for chimeric 1 and 2 lipases were shifted from pH 7 to 6. While the pH of chimeric 3 was shifted to 8. It seems the mutation of K212E in chimeric 1 and 2 decreased the pH to 6 by changing the electrostatic potential surface. Furthermore, chimeric 3 showed 10 ˚C improvement in the optimum temperature due to the rigidification of the catalytic loop through the hydrophobic interaction network. Moreover, the substrate specificity of chimeric 1 and 2 was increased towards the longer carbon length chains due to the mutation of T243A adjacent to the lid region through increasing the flexibility of the lid. Current study illustrated that directed evolution successfully modified lipase properties including optimum pH, temperature and substrate specificity through mutations, especially near catalytic and lid regions.
    MeSH terms: Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipase/genetics; Staphylococcus epidermidis*; DNA Shuffling; Staphylococcus hyicus*
  3. Aziz T, Qadir R, Anwar F, Naz S, Nazir N, Nabi G, et al.
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2024 Sep;196(9):6508-6525.
    PMID: 38386143 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-04875-w
    This research work seeks to evaluate the impact of selected enzyme complexes on the optimised release of phenolics from leaves of Pongamia pinnata. After preliminary solvent extraction, the P. pinnata leaf extract was subjected to enzymatic treatment, using enzyme cocktails such as kemzyme dry-plus, natuzyme, and zympex-014. It was noticed that zympex-014 had a greater extract yield (28.0%) than kemzyme dry-plus (17.0%) and natuzyme (18.0%). Based on the better outcomes, zympex-014-based extract values were subsequently applied to several RSM parameters. The selected model is suggested to be significant by the F value (12.50) and R2 value (0.9669). The applicability of the ANN model was shown by how closely the projected values from the ANN were to the experimental values. In terms of total phenolic contents (18.61 mg GAE/g), total flavonoid contents (12.56 mg CE/g), and DPPH test (IC50) (6.5 g/mL), antioxidant activities also shown significant findings. SEM analysis also revealed that the cell walls were damaged during enzymatic hydrolysis, as opposed to non-hydrolysed material. Using GC-MS, five potent phenolic compounds were identified in P. pinnata extract. According to the findings of this study, the recovery of phenolic bioactives and subsequent increase in the antioxidant capacity of P. pinnata leaf extract were both positively impacted by the optimisation approaches suggested, including the use of zympex-014.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/chemistry; Flavonoids/isolation & purification; Flavonoids/chemistry; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Neural Networks (Computer)*
  4. Chu KH, Hashim MA
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Mar;31(14):21136-21143.
    PMID: 38386161 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32450-7
    The Yoon-Nelson model serves as a widely used tool for describing the breakthrough behavior of organic micropollutants within fixed bed adsorbers. This study aims to augment its modeling efficacy through two proposed refinements found in the literature: a logarithmic transformation and the incorporation of steric hindrance effects. We systematically evaluated the original Yoon-Nelson model alongside the modified versions, using breakthrough data associated with micropollutant adsorption on solid materials. Three distinct cases were scrutinized: (1) caffeine adsorption on activated carbon; (2) tetracycline adsorption on hierarchical porous carbon; and (3) diclofenac adsorption on organoclay. While all three models demonstrated comparable performance with highly symmetric breakthrough data in case 1, their efficacy diverged significantly when confronted with strongly asymmetric breakthrough data in cases 2 and 3. The original Yoon-Nelson model and the logarithmically modified version fell short in accurately representing these intricate breakthrough curves. In contrast, the version incorporating steric hindrance effects showcased substantial accuracy, outperforming other models in capturing the complexities of asymmetric breakthrough data. This advancement markedly enhances the modeling accuracy and versatility of the Yoon-Nelson model, particularly in assessing the dynamic behavior of organic micropollutants within fixed bed adsorbers.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Charcoal; Tetracycline; Water Purification*
  5. Amir D, Nasaruddin RR, Yousefi M, Mastuli MS, Sulaiman S, Alam MZ, et al.
    Discov Nano, 2024 Feb 22;19(1):32.
    PMID: 38386194 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-024-03974-1
    Activated carbon (AC) is the most common and economically viable adsorbent for eliminating toxic organic pollutants, particularly dyes, from wastewater. Its widespread adoption is due to the simplicity and affordable production of AC, wherein low-cost agricultural wastes, such as durian skin can be used. Converting durian skin into AC presents a promising solution for its solid waste management. However, inherent drawbacks such as its non-selectivity, relatively short lifespan and laborious replacement and recovery processes diminish the overall efficacy of AC as an adsorbent. To address these challenges, the immobilisation of metal nanocatalysts such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is one of the emerging solutions. AgNPs can facilitate the regeneration of the adsorption sites of AC by catalysing the conversion of the adsorbed dyes into harmless and simpler molecules. Nevertheless, the immobilisation of AgNPs on AC surface can be challenging as the pore size formation of AC is hard to control and the nanomaterials can easily leach out from the AC surface. Hence, in this study, we synthesised AC from durian skin (DS) and immobilised AgNPs on the AC-DS surface. Then, we used methylene blue (MB) removal for studying the adsorption capability and recyclability of the AC-DS. In the synthesis of AC-DS, the influences of reaction temperature, activating agent, and acid-washing to its capability in adsorptive removal of  MB in solution were first determined. It was found that 400 °C, KOH activating agent, and the presence of acid-washing (50% of HNO3) resulted in AC-DS with the highest percentage of MB removal (91.49 ± 2.86%). Then, the overall results from three recyclability experiments demonstrate that AC-DS with immobilised AgNPs exhibited higher MB removal after several cycles (up to 6 cycles) as compared to AC-DS alone, proving the benefit of AgNPs for the recyclability of AC-DS. We also found that AgNPs/Citrate@AC-DS exhibited better adsorption capability and recyclability as compared to AgNPs/PVP@AC-DS indicating significant influences of type of stabilisers in this study. This study also demonstrates that the presence of more oxygen-containing functional groups (i.e., carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups) after acid-washing on AC-DS and in citrate molecules, has greater influence to the performance of AC-DS and AgNPs/Citrate@AC-DS in the removal of MB as compared to the influences of their BET surface area and pore structure. The findings in this study have the potential to promote and serve as a guideline for harnessing the advantages of nanomaterials, such as AgNPs, to enhance the properties of AC for environmental applications.
  6. Kitagawa Y, Matsuda S, Gotoda T, Kato K, Wijnhoven B, Lordick F, et al.
    Gastric Cancer, 2024 May;27(3):401-425.
    PMID: 38386238 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-023-01457-3
    MeSH terms: Esophagogastric Junction; Humans; Medical Oncology
  7. Song P, Adeloye D, Acharya Y, Bojude DA, Ali S, Alibudbud R, et al.
    J Glob Health, 2024 Feb 16;14:04054.
    PMID: 38386716 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04054
    BACKGROUND: In this priority-setting exercise, we sought to identify leading research priorities needed for strengthening future pandemic preparedness and response across countries.

    METHODS: The International Society of Global Health (ISoGH) used the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method to identify research priorities for future pandemic preparedness. Eighty experts in global health, translational and clinical research identified 163 research ideas, of which 42 experts then scored based on five pre-defined criteria. We calculated intermediate criterion-specific scores and overall research priority scores from the mean of individual scores for each research idea. We used a bootstrap (n = 1000) to compute the 95% confidence intervals.

    RESULTS: Key priorities included strengthening health systems, rapid vaccine and treatment production, improving international cooperation, and enhancing surveillance efficiency. Other priorities included learning from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, managing supply chains, identifying planning gaps, and promoting equitable interventions. We compared this CHNRI-based outcome with the 14 research priorities generated and ranked by ChatGPT, encountering both striking similarities and clear differences.

    CONCLUSIONS: Priority setting processes based on human crowdsourcing - such as the CHNRI method - and the output provided by ChatGPT are both valuable, as they complement and strengthen each other. The priorities identified by ChatGPT were more grounded in theory, while those identified by CHNRI were guided by recent practical experiences. Addressing these priorities, along with improvements in health planning, equitable community-based interventions, and the capacity of primary health care, is vital for better pandemic preparedness and response in many settings.

    MeSH terms: Child Health; Child; Humans; Research Design; Consensus
  8. Adeleke AO, Royahu CO, Ahmad A, Dele-Afolabi TT, Alshammari MB, Imteaz M
    PLoS One, 2024;19(2):e0294286.
    PMID: 38386950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294286
    This study highlights the effectiveness of oyster shell biocomposite for the biosorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from an aqueous solution. The aim of this work was to modify a novel biocomposite derived from oyster shell for the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. The studied revealed the specific surface BET surface area was 9.1476 m2/g. The elemental dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) indicated that C, O, Ag, Ca were the predominant elements on the surface of the biocomposite after which metals ions of Cd and Pb were noticed after adsorption. The Fourier transform Irradiation (FT-IR) revealed the presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on the surface. The effect of process variables on the adsorption capacity of the modified biocomposite was examined using the central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM). The process variables which include pH, adsorbent dose, the initial concentration and temperature were the most effective parameters influencing the uptake capacity. The optimal process conditions of these parameters were found to be pH, 5.57, adsorbent dose, 2.53 g/L, initial concentration, 46.76 mg/L and temperature 28.48°C for the biosorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution at a desirability coefficient of 1. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.91) and low probability coefficients for the responses (P < 0.05) which indicated the validity and aptness of the model for the biosorption of the metal ions. Experimental isotherm data fitted better to the Langmuir model and the kinetic data fitted better to the pseudo-second-order model. Maximun Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption capacities of the oyster shell biocomposite were 97.54 and 78.99 mg/g respectively and was obtained at pH 5.56 and 28.48°C. This investigation has provided the possibility of the utilization of alternative biocomposite as a sustainable approach for the biosorption of heavy metal ions from the wastewater stream.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Animals; Ions; Lead; Ostreidae*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  9. Kyaw HMA, Ishak MN, Mohd Noor AF, Kawamura G, Matsuda A, Yaacob KA
    Nanotechnology, 2024 Mar 18;35(23).
    PMID: 38387094 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad2c5a
    Cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) with different size, 2.5 and 3.2 nm, were successfully deposited on mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) (Degussa-P25) nanostructures by electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) at the applied voltage 100 V for 120 s deposition time. In this study, the morphology of CdSe films deposited by EPD and the performance of the film when assembled into a solar cell were investigated. From the field emission scanning electron microscopy cross-section, the thickness of the CdSe nanoparticles with size 2.5 nm films were 3.4 and 3.0μm for CdSe 3.2 nm nanoparticles film. The structure of 2.5 nm is denser than compare of 3.2 nm CdSe nanoparticles. From UV visible spectroscopy, the band gap calculated for 2.5 nm CdSe nanoparticles is 2.28 eV and for 3.2 nm is 2.12 eV. Photovoltaic characterization was performed under an illumination of 100 mW cm-2. A photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 1.81% was obtained for 2.5 nm CdSe and 2.1% was obtained for 3.2 nm CdSe nanoparticles. This result shows that the photovoltaic efficiency is dependent on CdSe nanoparticle size.
  10. Alhorani Q, Alkhybari E, Rawashdeh M, Sabarudin A, Latiff RA, Al-Ibraheem A, et al.
    J Radiol Prot, 2024 Mar 07;44(1).
    PMID: 38387102 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ad2c62
    This study aims to report the findings of Jordanian national diagnostic reference level (NDRL) survey for fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and local diagnostic reference level (LDRL) of computed tomography (CT) used for attenuation correction and anatomical localisation (AC-AL); and AC and diagnostic CT (AC-DX) within the context of whole-body WB and half-body HB adult oncology PET/CT scanning. Two-structured questionnaires were prepared to gather the necessary information: dosimetry data, patient demographics, equipment specification, and acquisition protocols for identified18F-FDG PET/CT procedures. The NDRL and achievable dose were reported based on the 75th and 50th percentiles for18F-FDG administered activity (AA), respectively. The LDRL was reported based on the 50th percentile for (CTDIvol) and (DLP). Data from 562 patients from four Jordanian PET/CT centres were collected. The survey revealed that Jordanian NDRL for AA (303 MBq) was within the acceptable range compared to the published-peer NDRL data (240-590 MBq). However, the18F-FDG AA varied across the participated PET/CT centres. The reported LDRL CTDIvoland DLP of CT used for (AC-AL) was 4.3 mGy and 459.3 mGy.cm for HB CT scan range, and 4.1 mGy and 659.9 mGy.cm for WB CT scans. The reported LDRL for CTDIvoland DLP for HB CT was higher when compared with the United Kingdom (3.2 mGy and 310 mGy.cm). Concurrently, in the context of WB CT, the reported values (i.e. CTDIvol and DLP) were also higher than both Kuwait (3.6 mGy and 659 mGy.cm) and Slovenia (3.6 mGy and 676 mGy.cm). The reported HB CT(AC-DX) was higher than Nordic, New Zealand and Swiss NDRLs and for WB (AC-DX) CT it was higher than Swiss NDRLs. This study reported the first Jordanian NDRL for18F-FDG and LDRL for HB and WB CT associated with18F-FDG PET/CT scans. This data is useful for Jordanian PET/CT centres to compare their LDRL to the suggested DRLs and utilise it in the process of optimising CT radiation doses.
  11. Andreeva DV, Vedekhina TS, Gostev AS, Dezhenkova LG, Volodina YL, Markova AA, et al.
    Eur J Med Chem, 2024 Mar 15;268:116222.
    PMID: 38387333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116222
    G-quadruplex (G4) ligands attract considerable attention as potential anticancer therapeutics. In this study we proposed an original scheme for synthesis of azole-fused anthraquinones and prepared a series of G4 ligands carrying amino- or guanidinoalkylamino side chains. The heterocyclic core and structure of the terminal groups strongly affect on binding to G4-forming oligonucleotides, cellular accumulation and antitumor potency of compounds. In particular, thiadiazole- and selenadiazole- but not triazole-based ligands inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells (e.g. K562 leukemia) and stabilize primarily telomeric and c-MYC G4s. Anthraselenadiazole derivative 11a showed a good affinity to c-MYC G4 in vitro and down-regulated expression of c-MYC oncogene in cellular conditions. Further studies revealed that anthraselenadiazole 11a provoked cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner inhibiting K562 cells growth. Taken together, this work gives a valuable example that the closely related heterocycles may cause a significant difference in biological properties of G4 ligands.
    MeSH terms: Anthraquinones/chemistry; Ligands; Triazoles/pharmacology; Cell Proliferation; G-Quadruplexes*; Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  12. Kostakis I
    J Environ Manage, 2024 Feb 21;354:120398.
    PMID: 38387356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120398
    This study investigates the relationship between economic growth, renewable energy consumption, financial openness, and environmental degradation in selected ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) from 1996 to 2018. We aim to analyze how macroeconomic situation, energy-related factors, and financial determinants contribute to environmental deprivation in selected countries whose growth has recently been substantial. To address this issue, we employ second-generation panel data regression models and quantiles with fixed-effects estimators. Initially, the cointegration analysis supports a long-run association between the variables of our interest. Empirical findings confirm the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, but it seems valid only for Singapore. Moreover, results highlight the ecological role of renewable energy for ASEAN countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, such as transitioning to a low-carbon economy and reducing air pollution. On the contrary, financial openness is a cause that positively influences CO2 emissions. This research offers practical policy recommendations for many countries, including the ASEAN economies, to attain sustainable development.
  13. Alharthi MS, Scott S, Hughes C, Bond C, Hatah E, Bryant L, et al.
    Int J Pharm Pract, 2024 Mar 06;32(2):180-185.
    PMID: 38387608 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae002
    BACKGROUND: Medication review (MR) is the systematic assessment of a patient's medications for safety and effectiveness by a healthcare professional. The language used to describe MR activity, such as stopped medicine and increased dose, should be consistent across studies to assist researchers compare how different services operate and identify their mechanism of impact.

    AIM: To develop an international taxonomy of standardized terms and activity definitions related to medication reviews.

    METHOD: This was a three-stage Delphi-based consensus study with international medication review experts. A systematic review provided MR activity terms for the survey. Experts rated their consensus on each activity term and its definition on a Likert scale and provided written feedback. The consensus was 75% panel agreement. At each stage, consensus elements were retained, and feedback was used to revise definitions.

    RESULTS: Seven experts were recruited for the study (response rate 15.2%) from four countries: the United Kingdom (n = 4), New Zealand (n = 1), Australia (n = 1), and Malaysia (n = 1). The following terms achieved consensus: the term Medication as a descriptor for MR terms; discontinue medication, start medication, dose increase, dose decrease, dosage form change, and medication safety and efficacy monitor to describe MR activity; Educate to describe the delivery of healthcare professionals and patients/carers education.

    CONCLUSION: Standardized medication review activity terms and definitions have been selected for universal adoption in all future MR research to facilitate a meaningful comparison of process evaluations within different settings.

    MeSH terms: Delphi Technique; Health Personnel*; Humans; Reference Standards; Consensus
  14. Narayanan M, Srinivasan S, Gnanasekaran C, Ramachandran G, Chelliah CK, Rajivgandhi G, et al.
    Microb Pathog, 2024 Apr;189:106595.
    PMID: 38387848 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106595
    Cymodocea serrulata mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized. The XRD pattern and FTIR spectra demonstrated the crystalline structure of TiO2 NPs and the presence of phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids in the extract. Further SEM revealed that TiO2 NPs has uniform structure and spherical in shape with their size ranged from 58 to 117 nm. Antibacterial activity of TiO2 NPs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), provided the zone of inhibition of 33.9 ± 1.7 and 36.3 ± 1.9 mm, respectively at 100 μg/mL concentration. MIC of TiO2 NPs against MRSA and V. cholerae showed 84% and 87% inhibition at 180 μg/mL and 160 μg/mL respectively. Subsequently, the sub-MIC of V. cholerae demonstrated minimal or no impact on bacterial growth at concentration of 42.5 μg/mL concentration. In addition, TiO2 NPs exhibited their ability to inhibit the biofilm forming V. cholerae which caused distinct morphological and intercellular damages analysed using CLSM and TEM. The antioxidant properties of TiO2 NPs were demonstrated through TAA and DPPH assays and exposed its scavenging activity with IC50 value of 36.42 and 68.85 μg/mL which denotes its valuable antioxidant properties with potential health benefits. Importantly, the brine shrimp based lethality experiment yielded a low cytotoxic effect with 13% mortality at 100 μg/mL. In conclusion, the multifaceted attributes of C. serrulata mediated TiO2 NPs encompassed the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-biofilm inhibition effects with low cytotoxicity in nature were highlighted in this study and proved the bioderived TiO2 NPs could be used as a promising agent for biomedical applications.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/chemistry; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Titanium*; Biofilms; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
  15. Norisyam Y, Zairul Anuar KB, Ohn KM, Moharzudi M
    BMJ Case Rep, 2024 Feb 22;17(2).
    PMID: 38388204 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258973
    Spinal involvement in primary amyloidosis is an exceedingly rare condition, presenting with typical pathological fracture symptoms that are often indistinguishable from other pathologies such as bone metastasis, metabolic disorders and infections. Histopathological studies for tissue diagnosis are the cornerstone of a definitive diagnosis, leading to successful treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention play a pivotal role in the care of patients with amyloidosis. Here, we present a unique case of a pathological fracture in the L4 vertebra following minor trauma. This fracture manifested with pain, instability and limitations in daily activities in a patient who had already been diagnosed with systemic amyloidosis and was undergoing chemotherapy. This case represents a distinct instance of vertebral involvement in amyloidosis and was managed with both chemotherapy and surgical intervention to address the spinal pathology, resulting in favourable outcomes.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae
  16. Balasubbiah N, Saeteng S, Siwachat S, Thuropathum P, Tantraworasin A
    Asian J Surg, 2024 Jul;47(7):3033-3038.
    PMID: 38388261 DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2024.02.003
    BACKGROUND: To date, surgery is the best approach to maximize a cure for symptomatic aspergilloma, but this is not without risk of both morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to present the characteristics and outcomes of 77 patients diagnosed with aspergilloma who underwent surgery at Chiang Mai University Hospital (CMUH), and to identify risk factors for composite major postoperative complications (CMPC).

    METHODS: This is an observational retrospective cohort study carried out at CMUH over a period of 11 years from January 1, 2010, to February 28, 2021. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were studied. The primary outcomes were categorized into CMPC. Univariable and multivariable risk regression analysis were used to identify risk factors of CMPC, with risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals being calculated.

    RESULTS: There were 77 patients included in this study; 27 patients identified as having CMPC and 55 patients as a non-CMPC group. From the multivariable analysis, a factor associated with CMPC included perioperative FFP transfusion (risk ratio (RR) 1.01,95 % CI 1.01-1.02) and preoperative angiogram embolization (RR 8.42, 95 % CI 1.44-49.06) whereas immediate extubation (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.81) was less likely to be associated with CMPC. There was a trend of increased risk of CMPC in patients received perioperative blood transfusion, but the data did not reach statistical significance.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified a need for patient profiling before embarking on lung surgery for aspergilloma, to predict outcomes and allocate resources appropriately for safer surgery.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Thailand/epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Treatment Outcome; Tertiary Care Centers*
  17. Ding CCA, Dokos S, Bakir AA, Zamberi NJ, Liew YM, Chan BT, et al.
    Biomed Eng Online, 2024 Feb 22;23(1):24.
    PMID: 38388416 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-024-01206-2
    Aortic stenosis, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy often coexist in the elderly, causing a detrimental mismatch in coupling between the heart and vasculature known as ventricular-vascular (VA) coupling. Impaired left VA coupling, a critical aspect of cardiovascular dysfunction in aging and disease, poses significant challenges for optimal cardiovascular performance. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of simulating and studying this coupling through computational models. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of 34 relevant articles obtained from esteemed databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed until July 14, 2022, we explore various modeling techniques and simulation approaches employed to unravel the complex mechanisms underlying this impairment. Our review highlights the essential role of computational models in providing detailed insights beyond clinical observations, enabling a deeper understanding of the cardiovascular system. By elucidating the existing models of the heart (3D, 2D, and 0D), cardiac valves, and blood vessels (3D, 1D, and 0D), as well as discussing mechanical boundary conditions, model parameterization and validation, coupling approaches, computer resources and diverse applications, we establish a comprehensive overview of the field. The descriptions as well as the pros and cons on the choices of different dimensionality in heart, valve, and circulation are provided. Crucially, we emphasize the significance of evaluating heart-vessel interaction in pathological conditions and propose future research directions, such as the development of fully coupled personalized multidimensional models, integration of deep learning techniques, and comprehensive assessment of confounding effects on biomarkers.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Aging; Coronary Vessels; Heart*; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Ventricular Function, Left*
  18. Li F, Omar Dev RD, Soh KG, Wang C, Yuan Y
    BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil, 2024 Feb 22;16(1):55.
    PMID: 38388449 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-00843-3
    BACKGROUND: Pilates is becoming increasingly popular amongst a wide range of people and is gaining more attention. It is also an effective means of physical rehabilitation. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the effects of Pilates on spinal deformity and posture.

    METHOD: This systematic review was conducted using four recognised academic and scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane) to identify articles that met the inclusion criteria. The secondary search used the Google Scholar and the Science Direct search engines. The search for articles for this review began in July 06, 2023 and was concluded on February 01, 2024. The search process for this study was documented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020). The PEDro scale was used to assess the internal validity and data statistics of the studies included in this systematic review and to evaluate the quality of the studies.

    RESULTS: The systematic review included nine studies that met the inclusion criteria from the 651 studies retrieved, involving a total of 643 participants. The PEDro scale scores of the studies included in this systematic review ranged from 3 to 8. The intervention was in the form of Pilates or Pilates combined exercises. The studies included in this review used outcome measures of Cobb angle, angle of trunk rotation (ATR), range of motion (ROM), chest expansion, Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire (SRS-22r) and postural assessment. Research has shown that Pilates is effective in correcting spinal deformities and posture, as well as improving quality of life, pain relief, function and fitness.

    CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provide substantial evidence that Pilates has a positive impact on improving spinal deformity and posture. However, more research is needed to validate whether Pilates can be used effectively as a physical therapy for spinal deformity rehabilitation. Pilates has considerable potential for public health interventions.

  19. Wang Q, Zainal Abidin NE, Aman MS, Wang N, Ma L, Liu P
    BMC Psychol, 2024 Feb 22;12(1):89.
    PMID: 38388547 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01584-1
    BACKGROUND: This research examines the nuanced challenges confronting Chinese university students within the dynamic milieu of Chinese education. The study comprehensively investigates factors encompassing educational progress, social development, cognitive focus, and Psychological Well-being (PWB), specifically emphasizing the role of sports participation.

    METHODS: To scrutinize the moderation-mediation nexus between cultural context and social development, a distribution of 500 questionnaires was administered to Chinese university students, yielding 413 responses, corresponding to an 82.6% response rate. Methodologically, this study employed moderation and mediation analyses, incorporating statistical techniques such as a principal component matrix, factor analysis, and hierarchical regression.

    FINDINGS: Prominent findings underscore the significant impact of age on educational progress, shaping the trajectory of academic advancement. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) emerges as a promising metric, establishing a link between academic performance and educational progress. Active involvement in sports and physical activities (PSPA) positively affects academic performance and study habits. Participation in sports teams and clubs (ISTC) enriches social development by nurturing interpersonal relationships, teamwork, and leadership skills. Sports activities (ESA) correlate with enhanced cognitive focus and improved psychological well-being. Significantly, the findings unveil a nuanced association between Perceived Social Development Through Sports (PSDTS) and educational progress.

    CONCLUSIONS: Cultural Context (CC) moderates PSDTS, Sport-induced Cognitive Focus (SICF), and PWB, influencing educational progress. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced support systems-academic guidance, awareness, sports programs, and cultural competence training-to advance student well-being and academic achievement in China, fostering an empowering educational environment for societal progress.

    MeSH terms: Cognition; Educational Status; Humans; Social Change*; Sports*; Students
External Links