Abstract Diabetic nephropathy represents one of the main long-term complications in T2DM patients. Cigarette smoking represents one of modifiable renal risk factors to kidney damage due to lead (Pb) ...exposure in these patients. Our goal is to investigate serum copeptin and Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and urinary lead (UPb) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients even smokers and non-smokers groups and compared to corresponding health controls and assess its associations with Angiotensin-Converting enzyme Insertion/Deletion polymorphism ACE (I/D) polymorphism in diabetic nephropathy progression in those patients. In present study, 106 T2DM patients and 102 healthy control individuals were enrolled. Serum glucose, copeptin, KIM-1, total cholesterol (TChol), triglycerides (TG), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and UPb levels and ACE (I/D) polymorphisms were assessed in both groups. Results mentioned to significant variations in all parameters compared to in T2DM group compared to control group. Serum copeptin and UPb demonstrated significant difference in diabetic smokers (DS) and diabetic non-smokers (DNS) groups while KIM-1 exhibited significant change between DNS and healthy control non-smokers (CNS) groups. Positive relation was recorded between serum glucose and KIM-1 while negative one was found between serum copeptin and TChol. D allele was associated with significant variation in most parameters in T2DM, especially insertion/deletion (ID) polymorphism. ROC curve analysis (AUC) for serum copeptin was 0.8, p < 0.044 and for Kim-1 was 0.54, p = 0.13 while for uPb was 0.71, p < 0.033. Serum copeptin and UPb might be a prognostic biomarker for renal function decline in smoker T2DM patients while KIM-1 was potent marker in non-smoker T2DM with association with D allele of ACE I/D gene polymorphism.
The aim of this work was to explore the expression of miR-320a level in fibromyalgia patients in comparison to healthy controls, and to clarify its impact on the severity of symptoms and the cerebral ...processing of pain assessed by middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs).
Case-control study.
Rheumatology and Neurology outpatient clinics.
Seventy-four fibromyalgia patients and seventy-four normal healthy controls.
The included patients were subjected to detailed history taking, assessment of severity of fibromyalgia symptoms using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQR), assessment of pain intensity using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), measurement of the serum level of miR-320a in addition to of measurement peak latencies and amplitudes of middle latency SSEPs.
Fibromyalgia patients had significantly higher micro-RNA-320a levels (0.907 ± 0.022) in comparison to controls (0.874 ± 0.015) (P-value < .001). The mean values of micro-RNA-320a levels were significantly higher in fibromyalgia patients with insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, persistent depressive disorder, and primary headache disorder than those without (P-value = .024, <.001, .006, .036 respectively). There were statistically significant positive correlations between micro-RNA-320a levels, and disease duration, FIQR, and NPSI total scores (P-value <0.001, 0.003, 0.002 respectively). There were no statistically significant correlations between micro-RNA-320a levels and middle latency SSEPs.
Micro-RNA-320a level is significantly upregulated in fibromyalgia patient. It has a crucial impact on the severity of symptoms but not related to the cerebral processing of pain.
In this study, the nano-aluminum powder was reinforced with a hybrid of copper and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The ratios of GNPs were 0 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 1.2 wt% and 1.8 wt%. To avoid the ...reaction between aluminum and graphene and, consequently, the formation of aluminum carbide, the GNP was first metalized with 5 wt% Ag and then coated with the predetermined 15 wt% Cu by the electroless coating process. In addition, the coating process was performed to improve the poor wettability between metal and ceramic. The Al/(GNPs-Ag)Cu nanocomposites with a high relative density of 99.9% were successfully prepared by the powder hot-pressing techniques. The effects of (GNPs/Ag) and Cu on the microstructure, density, hardness, and compressive strength of the Al-Cu nanocomposite were studied. As a result of agitating the GNPs during the cleaning and silver and Cu-plating, a homogeneous distribution was achieved. Some layers formed nano-tubes. The Al4C3 phase was not detected due to coating GNPs with Cu. The Cu9Al4 intermetallic was formed during the sintering process. The homogeneous dispersion of Cu and different ratios of GNs, good adhesion, and the formation of the new Cu9Al4 intermetallic improved in hardness. The pure aluminum sample recorded 216.2 HV, whereas Al/Cu reinforced with 1.8 GNs recorded 328.42 HV with a 51.9% increment. The compressive stress of graphene samples was improved upon increasing the GNPs contents. The Al-Cu/1.8 GNs sample recorded 266.99 MPa.
Hollow-bar micropile construction, also known as self-drilled, is becoming a popular option because it allows faster installation processes and ground improvement at the same time. This paper ...presents a field study and numerical investigation on the behaviour of single hollow-bar micropiles embedded in a stiff silty clay deposit. Four hollow-bar micropiles were installed using an air-flushing technique employing large drilling carbide bits. Five axial tests were conducted on the four micropiles, comprising three compression and two tension monotonic axial tests. The results of the field tests are presented and analyzed in terms of load–displacement curves. A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model (FEM) was created and calibrated using the field test results. The calibrated FEM was utilized to select an appropriate failure criterion for hollow-bar micropiles depending on the load-transfer mechanism of the micropiles. In addition, the model was employed to carry out a parametric study to investigate the effect of the installation methodology, hollow-bar micropile geometry, and shear strength of the surrounding soils on the micropile capacity. Based on the outcomes of the parametric study, an equation is proposed to estimate the axial capacity of hollow-bar micropiles in cohesive soils.
Abstract
Objectives
To assess risk factors for persistent neuropathic pain in subjects recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to study the serum level of neurofilament light chain ...(NFL) in those patients.
Design
Case-control study.
Setting
Persistent post-COVID-19 pain.
Subjects
In total, 45 patients with post-COVID-19 pain and another 45 age and sex-matched healthcare workers who recovered from COVID-19 without pain.
Methods
The included participants were subjected to medical history taking, screening for depressive disorders, comprehensive neurological examination, and pain evaluation using the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 questions (DN4). All patients who had a score at least 4/10 on DN4 were included. The serum NFL level was measured for both groups at the time of patients’ enrollment.
Results
The frequency of depression, moderate and severe COVID-19 cases, disease duration and serum ferritin were significantly higher in the cases with post-COVID-19 pain than controls. Binary logistic regression revealed that depression, azithromycin use, moderate and severe COVID-19 increased the odds of post-COVID-19 pain by 4.462, 5.444, 4.901, and 6.276 times, respectively. Cases with post-COVID-19 pain had significantly higher NFL (11.34 ± 9.7, 95% confidence interval CI: 8.42–14.25) than control group (7.64 ± 5.40, 95% CI: 6.02–9.27), (P value = .029). Patients with allodynia had significantly higher NFL (14.96 ± 12.41, 95% CI: 8.58–21.35) compared to those without (9.14 ± 6.99, 95% CI: 6.43–11.85) (P value = .05).
Discussion
Depression, azithromycin, and moderate and severe COVID-19 are independent predictors of persistent post-COVID-19 pain. Serum NFL may serve as a potential biomarker for persistent neuropathic pain after COVID-19.
Introduction Endometrial carcinoma is now considered a common female gynecologic cancer with increasing incidence, with 13–25% of patients being still liable to recurrence and metastasis, which needs ...further studies to detect novel targets and new therapies. The aim of the study was evaluate tissue expression of RON, ROR1 and SUSD2 in endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia using immunohistochemistry and correlate their expression with clinical, pathological and prognostic parameters of patients. Material and methods We included samples from 100 patients with endometrial carcinoma. Sections from paraffin blocks were stained with RON, ROR1 and SUSD2 using immunohistochemistry. Correlations between marker expression, clinicopathological features and prognostic samples were evaluated. Results Upregulation of RON and ROR1 and downregulation of SUSD2 expression were found in endometrial carcinoma more than atypical endometrial hyperplasia (p < 0.001). High RON and ROR1 expression levels were significantly associated with high grade (p < 0.001), presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.003), distant metastases (p = 0.009), advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (p = 0.002), poor response to therapy (p = 0.046), and lower recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate (p = 0.002), progression-free survival (PFS) rate (p = 0.008), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate (p = 0.019) and overall survival rate (p < 0.001). Low SUSD2 expression was significantly associated with older patient age (p = 0.002), large tumor size (p = 0.003), high grade (p = 0.005), presence of adnexal invasion (p = 0.023), presence of lympho-vascular invasion (p = 0.021), extent of myometrial invasion (p = 0.002), lower RFS rate (p = 0.008), lower PFS rate (p = 0.023), and lower DMFS rate (p < 0.001). Conclusions Upregulation of RON and ROR1 and downregulation of SUSD2 lead to promotion of endometrial cancer cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and invasion.
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•Correlation between antioxidant activity and composition of ten essential oils were evaluated.•The radical scavenging activity was correlated to presence of phenolic compounds in the ...EOs.•Presence of antioxidant compounds in EOs free from phenolic compounds resulted in high activity.•Sodium alginate showed high retention and encapsulation efficiency of clove EO.
A comparative study was carried out on the essential oils of 10 aromatic plants that are extensively used in Egypt for their distinctive aroma and functional properties. Each essential oil (EO) was characterized by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and evaluated for its radical scavenging activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis (2-ethyl-benzolhiaxoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) assays. The phenolic content of the 10 EOs was in the descending order: clove > thyme > majoram > basil > anise > chamomile > cinnamon > dill > ginger > rosemary. The radical scavenging activity of the EOs was correlated to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as eugenol, thymol, carvacrol and trans-anethol, or the synergism between the antioxidant activity of nonphenolic compounds such as terpinene-4-ol, α-terpinene, curcumene and chamazulene. Clove essential oil exhibited the highest oil content and radical scavenging activity so it was encapsulated, separately, in three coating materials. Sodium alginate showed the highest retention, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of clove EO. Microencapsulation in sodium alginate and chitosan improved the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of the encapsulated clove EO compared with carboxymethyl cellulose. The results support the possibility of using the encapsulated EOs as natural and easy handle antioxidants.
New guitarists face multiple problems when first starting out, and these mainly stem from a flood of information that they are presented with. Students also typically struggle with proper pitch ...frequency recognition and accurate left-hand motion. A variety of relevant solutions have been suggested in the existing literature; however, the majority have ultimately settled on two approaches. The first is finger motion capture, wherein researchers focus on extracting finger positions through analyzing images and videos. The second is note frequency recognition, wherein researchers focus on analyzing notes and frequencies from audio recordings. This paper proposes a novel hybrid solution that includes both finger motion capture and note frequency recognition in order to conduct a full assessment and give feedback on a guitarist’s performance. To classify hand positions, several classification algorithms are tested. The random forest algorithm obtained superior results, with an accuracy of 99% for overall hand movement and an average of 97.5% for the classification of each finger. Meanwhile, two algorithms were tested for note recognition, where the harmonic product spectrum (HPS) approach obtained the highest accuracy of 95%.
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