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Journal of Stomatology, Oral and... Jun 2024This study aimed to evaluate the mandibular trabecular and cortical changes in patients with hyperlipidemia (HL) and/or hypertension (HT) using fractal dimension (FD)...
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to evaluate the mandibular trabecular and cortical changes in patients with hyperlipidemia (HL) and/or hypertension (HT) using fractal dimension (FD) analysis, mandibular cortical width (MCW), panoramic mandibular index (PMI) and mandibular cortical index (MCI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Panoramic radiographs of 100 patients were evaluated. FD measurement of three region of interest (ROI) including the angulus, corpus and interdental bone area were made. MCW, PMI and MCI were also measured and noted.
RESULTS
Angulus, corpus and interdental FD values were significantly lower in three disease groups than the control group. Angulus, corpus, and interdental FD values were significantly lower in the HL+HT group than in the HL group and HT group. MCW value was significantly lower in the HL group, HT group, and HL+HT group than the control group. The cortical index C1 was more common in the control group while C2 was more common in the HT, HL and HL+HT group.
CONCLUSION
The fact that FD was significantly lower in the HL+HT group compared to the HL and HT groups indicates the positive effect of their association on bone loss and quality. FD measurements on images obtained using a direct digital panoramic system can be used for treatment planning and follow-up of patients with HL and/or HT.
PubMed: 38908478
DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2024.101953 -
Chemosphere Jun 2024Feedstock characteristics impact biochar physicochemical properties, and reproducible biochar properties are essential for any potential application. However, in most...
Feedstock characteristics impact biochar physicochemical properties, and reproducible biochar properties are essential for any potential application. However, in most articles, feedstock aspects (i.e., taxonomic name of the species, part of the plant, and phenological phase) are scarcely reported. This research aimed at studying the effect of species and phenological stage of feedstock on the properties of the derived biochars and, thus, adsorption capacities in water treatment. In this study, we analysed the anatomical characteristics of three different woody bamboo species [Guadua chacoensis (GC), Phyllostachys aurea (PA), and Bambusa tuldoides (BT)] in culms harvested at two different phenological phases (young and mature), and statistically correlated them with the characteristics of the six derived biochars, including their adsorption performance in aqueous media. Sclerenchyma fibres and parenchyma cells diameter and cell-wall width significantly differed among species. Additionally, sclerenchyma fibres and parenchyma cell-wall width as well as sclerenchyma fibres cell diameter are dependent on the phenological phase of the culms. Consequently, differences in biochar characteristics (i.e., yield and average pore diameter) were also observed, leading to differential methylene blue (MB) adsorption capacities between individuals at different phenological phases. MB adsorption capacities were higher for biochar produced from young culms compared to those obtained from matures ones (i.e., GC: 628.66 vs. 507.79; BT: 537.45 vs. 477.53; PA: 477.52 vs. 462.82 mg/g), which had smaller cell wall widths and thus gave a lower percentage of biochar yield. The feedstock anatomical properties determined biochar characteristics and thus modulated adsorption capacities.
PubMed: 38908449
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142656 -
Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B Jun 2024Epilepsy has long been associated with stigma and misconceptions. In response, the Korean Epilepsy Society initiated the Epilepsy Renaming project in 2008 to replace the...
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
Epilepsy has long been associated with stigma and misconceptions. In response, the Korean Epilepsy Society initiated the Epilepsy Renaming project in 2008 to replace the stigmatizing term with a neutral and scientifically grounded name, "cerebroelectric disorder". This study explores the impact of changing terminology on the public discourse surrounding epilepsy.
METHODS
Online news articles from distinct time periods (2001-2003, 2011-2014, 2017-2018, and 2020-2022) were analyzed using text data analysis techniques, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling, frequency analysis, and sentiment analysis. The inclusion of data from 2017 to 2018 allowed for an examination of discourse trends independent of the COVID-19 pandemic's influence. Correlation of words in each period was visualized via network maps. Migraine was set as control term to highlight changes in perception devoid of significant stigma intervention efforts.
RESULTS
The analysis revealed a significant shift in terminology preference, with cerebroelectric disorder gradually replacing epilepsy in news articles. The discourse surrounding epilepsy evolved over time from focusing on healthcare and economic aspects to patient-centered discussions, emphasizing the daily lives of individuals with epilepsy. This shift towards more empathetic and less stigmatized language was contrasted against the discourse on migraine, highlighting the specific impact of the terminological change on epilepsy's perception.
CONCLUSION
The adoption of the neutral term "cerebroelectric disorder" in South Korea has influenced the discourse surrounding epilepsy, leading to more patient-centered discussions and a reduction in stigma. This study highlights the importance of terminology in shaping public perceptions of diseases and suggests that changing terminology can positively impact the understanding and destigmatization of epilepsy.
PubMed: 38908035
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109842 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... Apr 2024Semantic verbal fluency (SVF) is a widely used measure of frontal executive function and access to semantic memory. SVF scoring metrics include the number of unique... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Semantic verbal fluency (SVF) is a widely used measure of frontal executive function and access to semantic memory. SVF scoring metrics include the number of unique words generated, perseverations, intrusions, semantic cluster size and switching between clusters, and scores vary depending on the language the test is administered in. In this paper, we review the existing normative data for Turkish, the main metrics used for scoring SVF data in Turkish, and the most frequently used categories.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed papers using Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and two Turkish databases, TR-Dizin and Yok-Tez. Included papers contained data on the SVF performance of healthy adult native speakers of Turkish, and reported the categories used. Versions of the SVF that required participants to alternate categories were excluded. We extracted and tabulated demographics, descriptions of groups, metrics used, categories used, and sources of normative data. Studies were assessed for level of detail in reporting findings.
RESULTS
1400 studies were retrieved. After deduplication, abstract, full text screening, and merging of theses with their published versions, 121 studies were included. 114 studies used the semantic category "animal", followed by first names ( = 14, 12%). All studies reported word count. More complex measures were rare (perseverations: = 12, 10%, clustering and switching: = 5, 4%). Four of seven normative studies reported only word count, two also measured perseverations, and one reported category violations and perseverations. Two normative studies were published in English.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of normative Turkish SVF data with more complex metrics, such as clustering and switching, and a lack of normative data published in English. Given the size of the Turkish diaspora, normative SVF data should include monolingual and bilingual speakers. Limitations include a restriction to key English and Turkish databases.
Topics: Humans; Semantics; Turkey; Neuropsychological Tests; Verbal Behavior; Reference Values; Adult; Female; Male; Executive Function
PubMed: 38904178
DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2024.2331827 -
The British Journal of General Practice... Jun 2024Homelessness is a significant social issue in the UK. A GP practice (name redacted) based in Manchester has provided a primary Homeless Healthcare Service (HHS) to...
BACKGROUND
Homelessness is a significant social issue in the UK. A GP practice (name redacted) based in Manchester has provided a primary Homeless Healthcare Service (HHS) to people experiencing homelessness (PEH) for 21 years.
AIM
To assess primary healthcare provision at this practice from the perspectives of PEH at homeless day facilities in the Greater Manchester area.
METHOD
A qualitative multi-method study, including unstructured observations, was performed. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with either staff or volunteers, and an additional 20 semi-structured interviews were held with PEH at four fixed sites. These sites were homeless day centres, which had previous or current outreach services with the practice. Participants were asked about their knowledge and opinions of the practice, experiences with the HHS, and recommendations for improvements.
RESULTS
Five inductive themes were identified, consisting of PEH's fears around communication, challenges navigating the health system, insufficient GP signposting, travel as a barrier to access, and the importance of outreach. Administrative, physical, and communication weaknesses were identified in the HHS.
CONCLUSION
Recommendations for future improvements were categorised as administrative, physical, service provision, and communication. The practice can further develop communication and advertising through Manchester, clarify pathways to care for PEH, and increase outreach services to ensure improved access to services.
Topics: Humans; Ill-Housed Persons; Health Services Accessibility; Qualitative Research; Primary Health Care; United Kingdom; General Practice; Male; Female; Attitude of Health Personnel
PubMed: 38902044
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp24X737757 -
The British Journal of General Practice... Jun 2024Primary care is a challenging and evolving specialty. We are increasingly dealing with patients who present with complex multi-morbidities and varied constellations of...
BACKGROUND
Primary care is a challenging and evolving specialty. We are increasingly dealing with patients who present with complex multi-morbidities and varied constellations of symptoms that we need to masterly unravel with limited time and resources. Yet, how many times have we said or heard 'just a GP.'
AIM
This study investigated the attitudes and opinions of primary care professionals towards a change in title to reflect our evolving role.
METHOD
We conducted a cross-sectional survey from 15 to 22 March 2022. A PubMed literature search was undertaken to formulate a questionnaire that was distributed through an online link to medical students and primary care health professionals.
RESULTS
There were 401 medical professionals and students who participated in the survey. Overwhelmingly, 95% felt that the public perceives the professional status and qualifications of GPs as inferior to that of hospital consultants. 94% felt hospital colleagues and other health professionals perceived the professional status and qualifications of GPs as inferior to consultants. 90% would support a change in title from GP to consultant in primary care or family medicine consultant (or similar). Many felt this would reflect the evolving role of GPs. 72% felt strongly that the title change would help improve the current GP recruitment crisis.
CONCLUSION
General practice is on a knife edge. Real, meaningful changes are needed to avoid a mass exodus of GPs for pastures new. Perhaps changing our title to reflect our expertise in family medicine could be one of many essential measures to improve public and professional perceptions.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; General Practice; Attitude of Health Personnel; Surveys and Questionnaires; General Practitioners; Male; Female; Primary Health Care; Adult; Students, Medical
PubMed: 38902043
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp24X737409 -
[Epidemiological characteristics of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage cases in Shandong province].Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi Jun 2024To investigate the characteristics and trends of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in Shandong province. In this study, SAH incidence data of residents from...
To investigate the characteristics and trends of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in Shandong province. In this study, SAH incidence data of residents from 2012 to 2021 were collected from the chronic disease monitoring information management system of Shandong province, including the basic information of outpatient, emergency or inpatient cases and out-of-hospital deaths (name, gender, ID number, address, etc.) and disease diagnosis information (disease diagnosis, date of onset, date of diagnosis, etc.). The crude incidence rate and age-standardized incidence rate were used as indicators to describe the incidence of SAH in different gender, age groups and regions (urban and rural areas). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the variation of incidence rate and age by year. The rate difference decomposition method was used to estimate the contribution of population aging to the increase of SAH incidence. Global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed using DeoDa 1.12 software. From 2012 to 2021, a total of 11 629 cases of SAH were reported from 19 provincial monitoring sites in Shandong province. Among them, 54.11% (6 293 cases) were female and 91.87% (10 684 cases) were≥45 years old. The reported crude incidence rate increased from 5.26/100 000 to 9.50/100 000, with an average annual increase of 7.75% (=7.30, <0.001), and the standardized incidence rate also showed an upward trend (=3.92, =0.004). The crude incidence rate of women was higher than that of men in all years (all values<0.05), and the standardized incidence rate of women was higher than that of men in all years except in 2012 and 2021 (all values<0.05). In 2012, the crude incidence and standardized incidence of urban residents were lower than those in rural areas (<0.05); from 2013 to 2017, the urban incidence was higher than that in rural areas; and after 2018, the rural incidence exceeded the urban incidence again (all values<0.05). The median age of onset of SAH increased from 61.9 years in 2012 to 67.2 years in 2021. The age of onset of SAH in men was lower than that in women in all years (all <0.05), and there was no significant difference between urban and rural residents in most years (>0.05). The incidence of SAH increased with age (<0.001), with a low incidence reported in residents aged<45 years and a rapid increase in residents aged≥45 years. According to the seasonal decomposition, the incidence of SAH had three small peaks in January, March to May and October to November. From 2013 to 2021, the contribution of aging population to the increase of crude incidence of SAH increased from 27.86% to 43.68%. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the incidence of SAH was in an obvious spatial aggregation distribution (Moran's >0, <0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the counties with high incidence were mainly concentrated in Dezhou City in northwest Shandong Province and Heze city in southwest Shandong province. The crude incidence rate of SAH in Shandong province is increasing, with spatial clustering and seasonal clustering. Residents aged 45 years and older, female residents, and rural residents are at high risk of developing SAH, so targeted prevention and control measures should be taken for high-incidence seasons, high-risk groups, and high-incidence clustered areas.
Topics: Humans; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; China; Incidence; Female; Male; Rural Population; Prevalence; Middle Aged; Urban Population; Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38901982
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20240218-00324 -
Free Radical Biology & Medicine Jun 2024Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative...
Pulsed high power microwave seeds priming modulates germination, growth, redox homeostasis, and hormonal shifts in barley for improved seedling growth: Unleashing the molecular dynamics.
Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative (seedling) growth are critical developmental stages in plants. High-power microwave (HPM) technology has facilitated both the emergence of novel applications and improvements to existing in agriculture. The implications of pulsed HPM on agriculture remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of pulsed HPM exposure on barley germination and seedling growth, elucidating the plausible underlying mechanisms. Barley seeds underwent direct HPM irradiation, with 60 pulses by 2.04 mJ/pulse, across three distinct irradiation settings: dry, submerged in deionized (DI) water, and submerged in DI water one day before exposure. Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups, where the HPM-dry group exhibited a notable increase, with a 2.48-fold rise at day 2 and a 1.9-fold increment at day 3. Similarly, all HPM-treated groups displayed significant enhancements in water uptake, and seedling growth (weight and length), as well as elevated levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total soluble protein content. The obtained results indicate that when comparing three irradiation setting, HPM-dry showed the most promising effects. condition HPM seed treatment increases the level of reactive species within the barley seedlings, thereby modulating plant biochemistry, physiology, and different cellular signaling cascades via induced enzymatic activities. Notably, the markers associated with plant growth are upregulated and growth inhibitory markers are downregulated post-HPM exposure. Under optimal HPM-dry treatment, auxin (IAA) levels increased threefold, while ABA levels decreased by up to 65%. These molecular findings illuminate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing phenotypic changes in barley seedlings subjected to HPM treatment. The results of this study might play a key role to understand molecular mechanisms after pulsed-HPM irradiation of seeds, contributing significantly to address the global need of sustainable crop yield.
PubMed: 38901500
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.06.013 -
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry : PPB May 2024Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), as an emerging pollutant, have been receiving significant attention as they deepen the concern regarding the issue of food security....
Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), as an emerging pollutant, have been receiving significant attention as they deepen the concern regarding the issue of food security. Silicon (Si) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are likely to serve as a sustainable approach to ameliorating abiotic stress and improving plant growth through various mechanisms. The present study aims to evaluate the synergistic effect of Si and PGPRs on growth, physiological, and molecular response in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa) under AgNPs stress. Data suggested that under AgNPs exposure, the root and shoot growth, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzymes (CAT and APX), expression of antioxidant genes (OsAPX and OsGR), silicon transporter (OsLsi2), and auxin hormone-related genes (OsPIN10 and OsYUCCA1) were significantly decreased which accompanied with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and might be due to higher accumulation of Ag in plant cells. Interestingly, the addition of Si along with the AgNPs enhances the level of ROS generation, thus oxidative stress, which causes severe damage in all the above-tested parameters. On the other hand, application of PGPR alone and along with Si reduced the toxic effect of AgNPs through the improvement of growth, biochemical, and gene regulation (OsAPX and OsGR, OsPIN10 and OsYUCCA1). However, the addition of L-NAME along with PGPR and silicon drastically lowered the AgNPs induced toxicity through lowering the oxidative stress and maintained the overall growth of rice seedlings, which suggests the role of endogenous NO in Si and PGPRs mediated management of AgNPs toxicity in rice seedlings.
PubMed: 38901227
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108720 -
PloS One 2024Research has shown that perceiving the order of successive auditory stimuli could be affected by their nameability. The present research re-examined this hypothesis,...
Research has shown that perceiving the order of successive auditory stimuli could be affected by their nameability. The present research re-examined this hypothesis, using tasks requiring participants to report the order of successively presented (with no interstimulus gaps) environmental (i.e., easily named stimuli) and abstract (i.e., hard-to-name stimuli) sounds of short duration (i.e., 200 ms). Using the same sequences, we also examined the accuracy of the sounds perceived by administering enumeration tasks. Data analyses showed that accuracy in the ordering tasks was equally low for both environmental and abstract sounds, whereas accuracy in the enumeration tasks was higher for the former as compared to the latter sounds. Importantly, overall accuracy in the enumeration tasks did not reach ceiling levels, suggesting some limitations in the perception of successively presented stimuli. Overall, naming fluency seemed to affect sound enumeration, but no effects were obtained for order perception. Furthermore, an effect of each sound's location in a sequence on ordering accuracy was noted. Our results question earlier notions suggesting that order perception is mediated by stimuli's nameability and leave open the possibility that memory capacity limits may play a role.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Auditory Perception; Adult; Memory, Short-Term; Sound; Young Adult; Acoustic Stimulation; Names
PubMed: 38900836
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304913