hand

Forensic handwriting analysis is a specialized field within forensic science that aims to identify and compare handwriting samples for investigative purposes. This scientific note provides an overview of the fundamental principles, methodologies, and techniques involved in the examination of handwriting evidence. The note explores the importance of handwriting analysis in criminal investigations, discusses the underlying scientific principles, and highlights the challenges faced by forensic experts in this field. Additionally, it explores the advancements in technology that have aided the analysis of handwriting and conclude with the potential future directions of research in forensic handwriting analysis. This study focuses on the natural variation that occurs due to the unusual surfaces of tables and bricks, the variation occurs mostly in the class characteristics of the person like slant, speed, line quality, alignment, etc. Samples are collected on two different surfaces; a table and a wall (smooth and rough surfaces). And on the basis of these two surfaces, the variations in the characteristics of the individual are observed. The significance of the research is to find out the range of natural variation that occurs in the individual handwriting whenever there is a change in the writing surface.

Aim: To evaluate the serum sodium and potassium levels in the three trimesters of pregnancy in women. Methods: Four groups of healthy women between the ages of 20 and 30 years, volunteered for this study. Group 1: Non-pregnant women (control), Group 2: Pregnant women in their first trimester, Group 3: Pregnant women in their second trimester, Group 4: Pregnant women in their third trimester. Blood samples were collected by standard aseptic method and serum samples were analyzed for serum levels of sodium and potassium by the ion selective electrode method. Results were presented as MEAN ± SEM in tables and figures, p < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: The serum sodium concentrations in mmol/L were 135.3 ± 3.09, 136.3 ± 1.55, 139.0 ± 0.78, 139.8 ± 0.91 for control, first-trimester, second-trimester, and third-trimester subjects respectively. The potassium concentrations in mmol/L were 3.678 ± 0.26, 3.687 ± 0.13,3.820 ± 0.11, 3.767 ± 0.07 for control, first-trimester, second trimester and third-trimester subjects respectively. The Bodyweight values in kg were 72.13 ± 2.11, 74.73 ± 2.05, 75.00 ± 1.72, 81.56 ± 4.24 for control, first-trimest, second-trimester, and third-trimester subjects respectively. Conclusion: Results indicate that the hormones of pregnancy altered the body weight of pregnant women, but did not change the serum sodium and potassium level across the three trimesters of pregnancy in women. This is an indication that the kidneys of healthy pregnant women can handle serum electrolyte load during the period of pregnancy.

The demand for pesticides has increased in today’s world of expanding population in order to boost crop productivity and eliminate undesirable plants (weeds) that grow alongside the primary crop. Along with the various benefits, it is also used in animal farms to get rid of pests. This has an impact not only on humans but also on animals and the environment. The usage of pesticides has increased, and occasionally some of them linger in the food products they are applied to, a condition known as pesticide residue. This residue is linked to human health and can result in a variety of diseases and disorders. In the current environment, even pesticides that are marketed as benign have negative long-term effects and exacerbate issues like bioaccumulation and bio-magnification. To avoid food contamination with pesticides, different methods like crop rotation, organic farming, and integrated pest management should be used as alternatives. Today, it is essential for all pesticide users to be aware of the risk and proper handling of these pesticides. New methods of pest management should be fostered in the realm of development.

Introduction: Myopia is a refractive disorder commonly diagnosed in childhood that follows a progressive course. It is considered a global epidemic with nearly 23% of the world’s population being diagnosed with this condition. Moreover, myopia is increasing in prevalence worldwide, demonstrated by studies in Asian and Western populations. This has important implications as myopic progression to high myopia is associated with significant morbidity and visual disability if left untreated. Of these treatments, the pharmacologic agent atropine has demonstrated the greatest efficacy in reducing myopia progression.Case report: This is a case report of an 11-year-old male treated with 0.01% atropine drops for myopia progression that developed new-onset seizures. The seizures were characterized as benign epilepsy with central temporal spikes and ceased when drops were discontinued. Discussion: Atropine 1% drops have previously been associated with new or increased seizure activity in a handful of case reports, however, it is our knowledge that this is the first report associated with 0.01% drops. This is important given the growing use of 0.01% drops as well as higher concentrations such as 0.025 % and 0.05% for the treatment of pediatric myopia. Conclusion: While it cannot be proven that the drops were causative in the seizure events, it is important to consider prior seizures as a relative contraindication to the use of these drops.  Atropine has the potential to exacerbate seizure activity, so it is possible that the 0.01% atropine drops played a role in the patient’s seizures. Also, any diagnosis of new-onset seizures in pediatric patients should prompt discontinuation of drops at seizure onset.

Introduction: The organization of medical support for the implementation of the standards of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” (“RLD”) in children’s clinics on the territory of the Republic of Komi (RK) is carried out in order to develop a physical culture among the population.Patients and methods: The analysis of the results of 2652 medical examinations of children and adolescents to comply with the standards of the “RLD” in the State budgetary healthcare institution of the Republic of Komi “Syktyvkar Children’s Clinic No. 3” (“SChCl No. 3”) in 2016-2022 was carried out. The significance of differences in quantitative characteristics between groups with a normal distribution of quantitative variables was calculated using Student’s t-tests for independent samples. The threshold value of the probability of error for statistically significant differences was set at a level equal to 0.05. The frequency ratio was calculated per 10,000-child population. The depth of the study was 7 years.Results: Among patients who applied for examination only 2604 people (98.85 ± 0.21%) were allowed to pass sports standards. The FC of those who applied was 138.44 per 10,000 children, and the FC of those admitted was 135.94. The proportion of patients of “SChCl No. 3”, who were assigned the main medical group for physical education ranged over the years from 87.37 ± 1.47% in 2017 to 98.86 ± 0.34% in 2019 and on average for 7 years amounted to 94.19 ± 0.45%. That is, almost 90% of those examined are children without health and physical development disorders, but with possible functional disorders that do not lag behind their peers in physical development and physical fitness. They are allowed to study in full according to the curriculum of physical education using preventive technologies, preparation, and passing tests of individual physical fitness.Conclusion: The average annual quantitative indicator of those who applied for certification to pass the standards of the “RLD” is a statistical tool, on the one hand, to determine the current and future workload of medical personnel and determine the forces and means of medical support, on the other hand, an indirect indicator of the interest of children and adolescents in systematic physical education and sports, instilling in schoolchildren the skills of a healthy lifestyle and the prospects for the physical development of the nation. The frequency of examinations per 10,000 of the child population should be considered as an indirect marker for assessing the physical development of children and adolescents since it is not the result of a continuous, but only selective (at the request of those who applied) research. The voluntary surrender of the “RLD” standards by children and adolescents should be approached as an indicator of physical readiness and high personal self-esteem, including psychological readiness for competitive relations in the school and adolescent environment and psychological maturity.

The newly launched IAEA project MEREIA (MEthods for Radiological and Environmental Impact Assessment; 2021- 2025), MEREIA continues some activities of previous IAEA exercises in the field of radioecological modelling and focuses on areas where the probabilistic approach determines the predictive capability of environmental models. The program offered the opportunity to set up well-designed and verified scenarios to collect and compare exposures predicted by particular models based on this scenario and then perform a validation study of contributing models. It consists of the comparison of model prediction with observed data or in the case where there is a lack of measurement data to perform a comparison within model prognoses.  The previous international works have brought significant improvement in environmental modeling in terms of better understanding and mathematical description of complex physical and chemical phenomena that occur in various environmental media and also have promoted new areas for experimental investigations. The new experimental results yielded updated handbooks of a large number of environmental parameters for less-known elements. Moreover, the principal objective of the activities in environmental modelling was an integrated risk assessment of the reference group of population and biota associated with radionuclides releases from various kinds of nuclear facilities as from different types and power nuclear reactors, radioactive waste disposal and more complex nuclear research facility. This reflects recent international recommendations to extend protection against radiation hazards of humans to wildlife flora and fauna. However, the statistics supported knowledge on some essential environmental parameters still remain small. Therefore, one could be aware of some limitations of the probabilistic approach that required advanced methods of probabilistic prognosis Monte Carlo.

Scientific interest in low-molecular-weight pectins is not accidental. Despite the experimental material widely presented in the literature on the pharmacological effects of pectins, the clinical application of the developments has not yet been fully implemented. On the one hand, antitumor potential is registered in polymers with a mass of hundreds of kilodaltons, on the other hand, practically nothing is known about such in pectin derivatives weighing less than 20 kDa. In addition, the issues of assessing the nature of the pharmacological interaction of nanoscale pectin and conventional cytostatics are not covered. The aim of this work is an experimental study of the antitumor potential of low-molecular, low-esterified pectin in combination with a cytostatic agent on a model of Walker’s carcinosarcoma. Pectin therapy of Walker’s transplanted tumor in several series of experiments consistently caused inhibition of its growth from 60% to 80%. The combined use of pectin and cyclophosphane caused inhibition of tumor growth up to 72.4%. The increase in life expectancy in the “pectin + cyclophosphane” group versus the “cyclophosphane” group was 200%. It can be concluded that nanoscale pectin is a promising drug for in-depth study since it meets the criteria of primary screening (increase in animal life expectancy, inhibition of tumor growth, survival without tumor growth).

Purpose: To compare between the two commonly used methods to deliver the fetus in emergency cesarean section with fully dilated cervix and impacted fetal head; vaginal push up of the fetal head and reverse breech extraction regarding safety and efficacy.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted 152 women underwent emergency CS with fully dilated cervix and impacted fetal head were divided into two groups; Group 1, vaginal push (n = 96) and Group2, reverse breech delivery (n = 56). Data variables were collected and analyzed to evaluate whether either method is more safe regarding maternal and fetal outcomes.Results: There was a significant higher percentage of extension of uterine incision in group 1 (p = 0.002). Also, there were significant higher mean values of operative time and operative blood loss in group 1 (p = 0.008 and 0.015; respectively). On the other hand, there was a significantly shorter uterotomy to delivery time in group 1 (p < 0.001). There was a significantly higher mean value of APGAR score at one minute in group 1 (p = 0.043) but no significant difference between the two groups regarding APGAR score at five minutes, atonic PPH, postoperative blood transfusion and hospital stay.Conclusion: Vaginal push technique was associated with significantly higher intraoperative maternal morbidity but postoperative maternal morbidity and fetal outcomes were comparable between both groups. Push method (after uterine incision) is still the preferable method and larger studies are required to assess the fetal safety with reverse breech extraction.

Background: Congenital teratomas are relatively rare neoplasms, which occurs in about 1:20,000 to 1:80,000 births, and only 1.5% to 5% of which are neoplasm of the cervical. They can be diagnosed through ultrasound during pregnancy and, if not properly handled, have a high mortality rate. Airway compression is a secondary complication following mortality. Case report: A solid-cystic mass was identified in the anterior cervical region of a 30-week-old fetus during an ultrasound scan. EXIT (Ex-Utero Intrapartum Treatment)-to-airway procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team composed of obstetricians, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and pediatric surgeons to remove the neoplasm. The procedure occurred upon delivery of the fetus, resulting in a positive outcome with neonatal survival. In this case, the fetus was in breech position, and, differently from the usual EXIT protocol, it had to be completely extracted before guaranteeing airway flow. Conclusion: Although congenital teratomas are a rare condition with complex treatment, it is possible to achieve a satisfactory outcome when adequate planning and protocol are established.

Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs) are severe healthcare-associated complication that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream through a catheter. The risk of CRBSIs is influenced by various factors. Prolonged catheter placement increases the risk, as each day increases the potential for bacterial colonization and bloodstream infection. Proper aseptic technique and a sterile environment during catheter insertion are essential to minimize infection risk. Stringent infection control measures during insertion, including sterile gloves, thorough hand hygiene, and appropriate skin disinfection, are crucial. Inadequate catheter site care and suboptimal catheter management can contribute to CRBSIs. Regular cleaning, disinfection, and dressing changes are necessary to reduce the risk of infection. The type of catheter used also affects infection risk. Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) and arterial catheters, especially those inserted into the jugular or subclavian vein, carry a higher risk of CRBSIs compared to peripheral venous catheters. Individuals with compromised immune systems, such as chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients, and those with HIV/AIDS, are more susceptible to CRBSIs. Patients with existing infections, like pneumonia or urinary tract infections, are at a heightened risk of acquiring CRBSIs due to potential cross-contamination. Healthcare professionals who fail to practice thorough hand hygiene before and after catheter-related procedures can introduce pathogens into the bloodstream. Leaving catheters in place when no longer necessary or using them unnecessarily elevates the risk of infection. To prevent CRBSIs, strict infection control protocols, including effective hand hygiene, sterile catheter insertion techniques, routine site care, and prompt catheter removal when no longer needed, are imperative. Healthcare facilities often implement specific protocols to mitigate CRBSI risk and enhance patient safety.

This work describes a low computational cost image processing methodology for the identification of hand features for forensic applications – like height, gender, and ethnicity for suspect inference. The proposed methodology provides an adequately tailored sequence of image and geometrical processings on pictures of hands based on critical points like fingertips, finger valleys, and palm centers. As a result, we present the automatic measurements taken on 416 images compared with actual measurements from a manual caliper. The proposed approach leads to a 93.16% correlation (p - value < 0.05) related to the caliper, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique.

Background: Clinician managers can play a crucial role in healthcare organizations, including hospitals, by combining their clinical expertise with managerial responsibilities. They bring valuable insights and firsthand experience of patient care to managerial positions, contributing to improved patient outcomes and hospital performance. However, they face unique challenges that require careful attention and solutions. Aim: This review aims to critically discuss the role of clinicians as managers, the challenges that they face, and how they exercise their influence in hospital settings. Key findings: The role of clinicians as managers is critical for effective leadership and delivery of high-quality patient care. Described as a two-way window, clinician managers bridge the gap between medicine and management by combining clinical expertise with managerial skills in a hybrid leadership approach. Studies have shown a positive impact on hospital performance, including enhanced quality care, improved patient outcomes, and potentially better financial performance. In addition, they play a vital role in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and boosting staff engagement. However, challenges such as identity conflicts, and limited formal training, are present, especially for first-time managers. Conclusion: Adapting to the dual role of clinician and manager demands a mindset shift and the development of new skills, necessitating strategic support. This includes leadership education, organizational support, mentoring, and collaborative models to empower clinician managers. Targeted training programs, formal mentoring, and peer support networks equip them with essential skills, while workload management, well-being initiatives, and a culture of balance foster success and growth.

Background: Apert syndrome is a type 1 acrocephalosyndactyly, a rare syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple craniosynostoses, dysmorphic facial manifestations, and syndactyly of hand and feet. It affects 1:100.00 of birth and is the second most common of syndromic craniosynostosis. Molecular genetic tests that identify the heterozygous pathogenic variant in FGFR2 genes - identical with Apert syndrome cost too high to be applicable in developing countries. Therefore, the diagnosis of Apert syndrome should be suspected from the clinical findings. Three cases from the Community of Indonesian Apert Warrior Group were collected. These series were based on medical and surgical records. We obtained the patient characteristics from the phenotypic manifestations only. Case report: We present a case of a newborn baby girl, with similar anatomical findings, such as skull shape abnormality, midface hypoplasia, intraoral disfigurement, and hands and feet deformities that resemble Apert Syndrome. Our series presents similar Apert syndrome characteristics, such as typical craniofacial dysmorphic with symmetrical syndactyly of both upper and lower extremities. These clinical findings are essential to establish an initial diagnosis of Apert Syndrome.

The drug and biopharmaceutical enterprises play a pivotal part in transforming healthcare through the incident and delivery of creative cures and remedies. This item explores the key facets of these areas, stressing their impact on healthcare.Pharmaceuticals, outlined as wealthy secondhand in the diagnosis, situation, or stop of disease, aim to restore, correct, or refine everyday functions. On the other hand, biopharmaceuticals (or biologicals) circumscribe sugars, proteins, nucleic acids, living containers, or tissues and are curative devices that arise natural beginnings to a degree persons, animals, or microorganisms. In contrast to common pills combined with synthetic processes, biopharmaceuticals are primarily acquired through unaffected processes, containing extraction from living constructions or production utilizing alteration of genetic material Table 1.•    Some usual biopharmaceuticals, originally gleaned from animals or persons, are immediately created through biotechnological advancements.•    For instance, healing insulin, previously gleaned from porcine pancreatic islets, is immediately made utilizing alteration of genetic material in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or E. coli.•    Biopharmaceuticals caused by alteration of genetic material usually fall into three classifications:•    Substances nearly equal to the body’s own key signaling proteins.•    Monoclonal antibodies look like those caused by apiece human immune plan against bacteria.•    Receptor builds (fusion proteins) established uniformly happening receptors connected to the immunoglobulin frame.Examples includeFrom living systems: Whole blood and ancestry parts, organs and fabric transplants, stem containers, antibodies for inactive immunization, polluted microbiota, human bosom milk, and human reproductive containers.Produced by recombinant DNA: Blood determinants, fabric plasminogen activators, hormones, hematopoietic growth determinants, interferon, interleukin-located produce, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, tumor loss determinants, therapeutic enzymes.•    Key dispute Pharmaceutical manufacturing•    Biopharmaceuticals•    Healthcare strike•    Innovative medicines•    Therapeutic fragments•    Recombinant DNA technologies•    Personalized cure•    Gene medicines•    Regulatory processes.

German universities of applied sciences have provided a large number of technical talents to society, and have made significant contributions to the enhancement of German education and industry. Drawing on the professional construction experience of German universities of applied sciences, this paper summarizes the path of civil engineering materials courses in China's high-level applied universities. The proposals for curriculum reform were discussed. Colleges and universities can cultivate professionals with strong hands-on abilities, strong exploration abilities, and a scientific research spirit. In addition, this paper puts forward that China needs to make changes from three levels: the country, universities, and teachers. Based on learning from the experience of collaborative education between teaching and scientific research in German universities, we have embarked on a road of education with China characteristics.

The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to increase with over one million curable STIs occurring daily worldwide. Sex disparity in the rates of testing for STIs can compromise the efforts to reduce the incidence of STIs. The study aimed to explore the barriers to facility-based screening for STIs among men in Ghana. A qualitative exploratory design was employed in this study. Using a semi-structured interview guide, individual in-depth interviews were conducted among purposively sampled men from November 2019 to January 2020. Data saturation was achieved at the ninth participant. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically through Braun and Clarke’s approach. Four themes emerged from the analyses: (1) lack of privacy from healthcare providers, (2) mistrust of healthcare providers, (3) the burden of handling thoughts of positive status, and (4) fear of stigmatisation. These barriers deterred men from seeking clinic-based screening for STIs. The barriers were multi-factorial and a major hindrance to ensuring that people are aware of their STI status through screening and diagnosis. It is imperative to consider these barriers when designing STI screening interventions and policies to help promote facility-based screening for STIs among men in Ghana.

Background: Worldwide, obesity in adolescents is an epidemiological concern. Overweight and obesity are associated with comorbidities in adult life, such as increased risk of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. This study investigated possible differences between traditional lipid markers and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions in a population-wide representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. Methods: The individuals included in the study comprise a subsample of the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo (ISA-Capital 2015). LDL and HDL particle sizes were determined by the Lipoprint® System (Quantimetrix Corporation). Results: 272 Brazilian adolescents with a mean age of 15.2 ± 2.2 years, of which 47.8% (n = 130) are boys. Analysis of LDL subfractions showed an increase in LDL 2 content in girls (5.7% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.047). This result was associated with a higher content of large LDL in girls (17.8% vs. 13.5%; p < 0.001) and a significant, lower content of small LDL (1.7% vs. 3.4%; p = 0.002). When obesity was considered, we observed that regardless of being overweight, girls had higher large and small LDL than boys. However, when a large to small LDL ratio was calculated, girls with no excess weight had higher values than boys with no excess weight (10.6 vs. 9.3; p = 0.038), and these had lower LDL ratio than overweight boys (9.3 vs. 13.5; p = 0.016). On the other hand, boys had higher HDL 2 content than girls (8.9% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.017), which was associated with increased large HDL values in boys (1.9% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.047). Regression analysis was performed according to gender, the sum of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) + intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) C + IDL B subfractions was adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), showing that girls had lower atherogenic lipid profile (β = 0.987; CI = 0.977-0.998; p = 0.017) than boys. When the regression analysis was performed according to BMI, large LDL in adolescents with no excess weight presented a lower atherogenic lipid profile (β = 1.040; CI = 1.000-1.082; p = 0.049), adjusted for age and sex, than overweight adolescents.Conclusion: Regardless of excess weight, girls showed a cardioprotective profile more associated with a favorable distribution of LDL subfractions than boys, reinforcing the relevance of evaluating qualitative aspects of lipoproteins in addition to the traditional cholesterol content.

This paper investigates the effect of coating concentration (ppm), and coating thickness (µm) on the anti-microbial properties of polycarbonate sheets using a variety of anti-microbial agents (Cu-infused Mg(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, Cu(OH)2, MgO, CuCl2.2H2O, and ZnO). In addition, a complete analysis was performed for all agents to rank the best agent in terms of the highest anti-microbial performance against E. coli K-12 MG1655 in two time intervals (4 and 24 hours). The coating concentration (ppm) was found to be a significant factor in the anti-microbial characteristics for Cu-infused Mg(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, Cu(OH)2, MgO, CuCl2.2H2O, and ZnO (p = 0.004, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0297, p = 0.0011, and p = 0.0130 respectively). The coating thickness (µm), on the other hand, was found to be a major contributor to the anti-microbial properties of Cu-infused Mg(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, Cu(OH)2, MgO, and CuCl2.2H2O (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0004, p = 0.0011, p = 0.0310, and p < 0.0001 respectively). The analysis determined that the coating did not influence the anti-microbial properties of ZnO. The interaction between the coating concentration (ppm), and the coating thickness (µm) was found to be a significant factor for Cu-infused Mg(OH)2, Cu(OH)2, MgO, CuCl2.2H2O, and ZnO (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.0004, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001 respectively), however, this was not a significant factor for Mg(OH)2.Highlights•    The anti-microbial activity of the inorganic material is dependent on the particle shape and size.•    Particles with sharp edges will provide additional physical injuries to the microorganisms.•    Smaller particle size will provide higher surface area therefore better interaction with microorganisms.•    The coating concentration and coating thickness will be crucial to the anti-microbial activity.•    The thermal embossing techniques demonstrate good adhesion to the surface.

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect 58 million people worldwide and around 700,000 individuals in Brazil. Various non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, such as transient hepatic elastography (THE) using FibroScan®. However, the reliability of the performance, by operators in the training phase is undetermined, which hinders its applicability in clinical practice. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of training an inexperienced operator to perform the examinations using FibroScan® in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Specifically, the frequency of unreliable results throughout the training was assessed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection including compensated chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent the examinations using FibroScan® between March 2014 and December 2016, performed by two researchers. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the operator's experience in the examination: the Experienced Examiner (EE) group and the Examiner in Training (ET) group, with the latter divided into two phases: phase 1, consisting of the first 100 examinations, and phase 2, comprising subsequent examinations. For the reliability analysis, parameters such as success rate (SR), interquartile range (IQR) to median (Md) ratio (IQR/Md), and reliability criteria of Castéra, et al. and Boursier, et al. were used. Results: Between March 2014 and December 2016, 771 adult HCV-infected individuals were evaluated and divided into EE group (n = 161), ET phase 1 (n = 100), and ET phase 2 (n = 158), showing similar demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. SR and IQR/Md ratios were similar among EE, ET phase 1, and ET phase 2 groups. The proportion of reliable results was comparable in all three groups, using Castéra, et al. reliability criteria (92.5%, 92.0%, and 97.5%, respectively) and Boursier, et al. criteria (96.9%, 95.0%, and 98.1%, respectively). Conclusion: A short training period (up to 100 examinations) seems to be sufficient for them to have good clinical applicability in the hands of an operator with initial experience in the method

Treatment for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains elusive. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), an analog of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a high-affinity TrkB agonist, has been proposed as a viable therapeutic alternative to BDNF in crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and promoting growth, differentiation, maintenance, and survival of neurons. Here, we expand on our previous study investigating the therapeutic role of DHF on the cortical and hippocampal brain regions of the Tg26 mice, an animal model of HAND. We detected increased immunoreactivity for ion channels (SUR1, TRPM4) and the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4), suggesting an ionic and osmotic imbalance in the brains of Tg26 mice. Tg26 mice also exhibited loss of synaptic stability (SYN, SYP) and nicotinamide metabolism (NAMPT, SIRT1) that were associated with astrogliosis. Furthermore, Tg26 mice demonstrated increased iNOS and reduced HO-1/NRF2 expressions, implicating increased ER and oxidative stress. DHF treatment in Tg26 mice reversed these pathological changes. These data suggest crosstalk among TrkB, Akt, and related transcription factors (NF-κB, STAT3, and NRF2) as an underlying mechanism of Tg26-associated pathology in the brain. Finally, taken together with our prior study, these results further highlight a therapeutic role of DHF in promoting neuroprotection in HAND that may be applied in conjunction with current antiviral therapies.