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Aim: Kidney stone disease, which can affect people of all ages and whose incidence increases day by day, is becoming a public health problem due to treatment costs. This study aims to determine how factors related to kidney stones affect the diagnosis of the disease when taken together, rather than determining their relationship with the disease one by one.Materials and methods: An open-access dataset containing kidney stone status and associated factors was used in the study. Mann Whitney U test and independent sample t-test were used in data analysis. Logistic regression was performed with the backward variable selection method to determine the factors associated with kidney stones. ROC analysis was used to determine the power of the variables that were significant as a result of logistic regression analysis, individually and together, in discriminating kidney stones.Results: According to the results of logistic regression analysis, gravity, cond, and urea calc variables were found to be associated with kidney stones. With ROC analysis, it can be said that urea, calc, and gravity variables with AUC values above 0.60 can distinguish kidney stones. When the combinations of these variables are examined, the AUC values of the binary combinations are between 0.734 and 0.759, while the AUC value obtained for the triple combination is 0.831.Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the article, it can be said that while the factors associated with the disease and used in the diagnosis have little effect on the diagnosis of the disease alone based on the AUC values obtained from the ROC analysis, it can be said that considering them together increases the accuracy in diagnosis. Therefore, considering the factors thought to be associated with the disease together may be more appropriate in diagnosis and may give more accurate results.

Naturalistic enclosures have become a popular exhibition technique for zoos, and reptiles and amphibians are regularly housed in these exhibits. While a considerable sum of research indicates that visitors prefer naturalistic exhibits, there are fewer studies documenting the behaviour and welfare of animals housed under these conditions. This study investigated the impact of a naturalistic enclosure on the behaviour of the turquoise dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi), and the welfare perceptions of visitors. When kept under naturalistic enclosures, dwarf geckos were seen to bask (p = 0.022), and engage in inactive behaviours (p = 0.001) significantly less frequently. A non-significant decrease was also seen in locomotion | (p = 0.074). While time spent hidden remains a confounding factor for behavioural analysis, the study indicates that when provided with hiding opportunities, L. williamsi may spend a considerable amount of time hidden from the public. Questionnaire analysis revealed that 84.6% of individuals believed that naturalistic enclosures demonstrated better welfare. Additionally, individuals who had previously owned a reptile were more likely to identify that areas to hide, enrich, and mimic the natural environment were important aspects of enclosure design. While the actual benefits of naturalistic enclosure design cannot be fully addressed by this study, this work suggests that visitors tend to inherently believe that naturalistic enclosures facilitate better welfare, even if they are not aware of the natural environment of the species being housed. This requires keepers to consider both aspects of functionality and enclosure relevance when designing exhibits for herptiles.

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults often engage in oral sex. However, the factors affecting the development of agreeing with oral sex are not clear enough.Objective: We aimed to assess the degree of agreement with oral sex among high school students and to search for background factors affecting this.Material and method: We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study among 157 females and 38 male high school students over the age of eighteen by using an anonymous, paper-based, multiple-choice, self-administered questionnaire. For statistical analysis, we used descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests, and Spearman rank correlation. Results: Of the respondents 67.9% were sexually active and 31.6% of them had more than one sexual partner. Of males 97.1% and of females 84.9% agreed with accepting oral sex. Degree of agreement with oral sex was higher in those who had had partnered sexual experience, and in those females who more frequently met close friends outside of school. Most participants were not in a current relationship with a partner, and for those who were, its duration did not affect the degree of accepting oral sex. The degree of agreement with the proficiency in male sexuality, and the degree of agreement with those dimensions of sexuality that most expressed the sexual drive and the desire to gratify it with the partner showed the strongest positive correlation with the degree of agreement with oral sex. In addition, the degree of agreement with the items of expressing sexual openness showed correlations with the degree of accepting oral sex. Conclusion: The degree of agreement with oral sex is high among high school students. Among the factors influencing this, the intensity of meeting friends seems to be important. We therefore recommend that the schools improve sex education in groups, highlighting the risks of oral sex, to reach the target individuals and their friends as well as their potential partners.

Background: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the most important grain legume crops in Egypt and many other countries of the world because the seeds offer a low-cost source of protein, lysine, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Chocolate spot disease is a stress-related fungal disease produced by Botrytis fabae that causes plant damage, limits photosynthetic activity, and reduces yield. Results: Trichoderma atroviride greatly reduced mycelial growth by 90.00% in vitro, followed by T. harzianum (86.67%) and T. album (83.89%) on average. In vivo, all studied antagonists dramatically reduced Botrytis fabae disease incidence and severity in both seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23. T. atroviride showed the highest efficacy bioagent (73.55 and 85.15%), followed by T. harzianum (72.55 and 81.22%), in controlling B. fabae of faba bean plants in both seasons. In addition, the results also showed that all tested biological treatments had an impact on yield components and increased levels of chlorophyll, protein%, phenols, flavonoids, Peroxidase (PO), polyphenol Oxidase (PPO), chitinase, and -1, 3-glucanase activities compared to control treatment in both seasons. In this regard, spraying T. atroviride showed the highest efficacy as a bioagent, followed by T. harzianum. Contrary, T. hamatum showed the lowest efficacy compared to other treatments in both seasons. Conclusion: This investigation was carried out to determine the effectiveness of several different antagonists, i.e., T. album, T. atrovirde, T. hamatum, and T. harzianum (30 x 106 spore/ml), Blight Stop, and Bio Zeid, for controlling Botrytis fabae on bean plants and evaluating their effect on yield parameters, components, and quality.

Background: Changes in lung structures persist in stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but their correlation with the clinical picture remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the stable COPD picture via the relationship between exhaled breath condensate (EBC) particle concentration and the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and six-minute walking test (6 MWT). Methods: 12 stable COPD and 12 healthy subjects participated in the study. The EBC was collected with Rtube and analyzed using the Accusizer FxNano. Particle concentration was measured and correlated with the findings of the tools used to assess the health status and functional profile of COPD. The results’ analysis was performed with the Spearman’s test and the Mann-Whitney U - test.Results: The COPD group presented a worse picture of health status and functional profile compared to the healthy group. Correlations were observed between components of the SGRQ and CAT. The two groups presented similar levels of EBC particle concentrations, but the number of small particles was higher in COPD subjects. A correlation of the EBC particle concentration with the activity and total score of the SGRQ was only observed in the healthy group. Conclusion: The total particle number was similar in the COPD and healthy groups. A few correlations between the EBC particles and tools used were also observed. The use of EBC particle concentration to monitor COPD status cannot be claimed with confidence because of the small sample size. Further research is necessary, particularly in large-scale groups.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health problem, and extrapulmonary TB can present with no specific clinical or radiographic findings. Genito-urinary TB is often associated with elevated tumor markers and can be misdiagnosed as ovarian/fallopian tube carcinomas, especially in elderly female patients, as genitourinary TB commonly affects women of reproductive age.Objective: We present a rare case of genito-urinary TB in an elderly female patient who was initially misdiagnosed with ovarian cancer with metastasis.Case presentation: An 83-year-old woman with a medical history of diabetes and hypertension presented with complaints of abdominal distension. Diagnostic imaging revealed lesions in the ovaries and omentum and tumor markers were elevated, leading to a suspicion of ovarian cancer with metastases to the omentum. The patient underwent a diagnostic laparotomy and surgical removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the lesion of the greater omentum. However, no malignancy was found during the morphological evaluation. Further histopathological examination confirmed the final diagnosis of genito-urinary tuberculosis, and the patient received anti-TB drugs. The postoperative period was uneventful, and tumor marker levels decreased.Conclusion: As the clinical presentation of genito-urinary TB can mimic ovarian cancer, a histopathological examination should be performed for differential diagnosis, thereby reducing the possibility of inaccurate treatment. This case report highlights the importance of considering genito-urinary TB as a differential diagnosis in elderly female patients presenting with elevated tumor markers, abdominal distension, and suspected genital malignancy. It is crucial to carefully evaluate these cases and explore the possibility of genital TB as an alternative diagnosis, given the overlapping clinical presentation. This highlights the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach that includes considering TB in addition to malignancy, even in the context of elderly female patients.

In this review, latex from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree is presented as a material originating from nature, used to produce natural rubber, raw material for countless products for industry, as well as the manufacture of preservatives, and gloves, among others. Nowadays, its potential is expanding into various technological areas, one of which is biomedical, as described in this article. Latex has the possibility of being preserved using ammonium, which is a chemical of high health risk, but nowadays it is being substituted by acid systems excluding traditional chemicals. With these new preservation processes, the prospective use of latex for the design of biosensor scaffolds for drug release, and as membranes that can replace synthetic latex in patches for bioremediation in soft and bone tissues, synthetic muscles, membranes for biological micro laboratories, among others, is being studied to optimize its possibilities.

The adjusted Hardy-Rogers result generalization for the fixed point is demonstrated in this study, validating our results utilizing an application.

According to statistical data in Poland, sexual acts of minors account for about 3% of all criminal acts committed by minors and nearly 20% of all acts from the catalogue of crimes against sexual freedom and morality. The main objective of the study was to attempt to develop and present characteristics of minors who commit rape with particular cruelty. Taking into account the way the perpetrators act, the motivational background, and the circumstances of the crime. In particular, attention was paid to specific individual and family characteristics. Because it is not clear whether juvenile sex offenders are different from non-sex offenders. The aim of this article is an attempt to capture individual, family, and environmental differences. The study was also intended to provide information about who the victims are. The study was conducted on the basis of empirical material from court cases in which the basis of liability was Article 197§4 of the Penal Code, and the perpetrators or accomplices of the acts were minors who at the time of the act were over 15 years of age but under 17 years of age. The research material consisted of court case files that had been finally completed, including forensic psychological opinions prepared by court experts. Cases from 2015-2020 were analysed. The obtained results allowed us to capture some specific features of families in which minors were brought up and the characteristics of juvenile sex offenders themselves. This article raises the difficult issue of juvenile responsibility for sexual crimes and indicates areas in which it is necessary to regulate interactions and areas of possible preventive impacts.

Breast cancer associated with type-1 neurofibromatosis is a rare clinical entity. These patients have a higher risk of developing various types of cancers, especially tumors derived from the embryogenic neural crest, such as pheochromocytoma. This publication aims to add to the literature a rare association between Type-1 Neurofibromatosis, breast cancer, and pheochromocytoma.We present a rare case of a 51-year-old Tunisian woman with neurofibromatosis who was diagnosed with breast cancer and pheochromocytoma. The breast tumor was classified as T4b N1M0, and the discovery of the pheochromocytoma was incidental to thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT. She underwent surgery to remove the adrenal gland and was referred to medical oncologists to receive chemotherapy for her breast cancer. Type-1 Neurofibromatosis disorder is a benign disease but can expose patients to numerous neoplasms. The challenging diagnosis at an early stage can worsen the prognosis and make medical care more difficult.

The effect of known synthetic compounds Ivin (N-oxide-2,6-dimethylpyridine), Methyur (sodium salt of 6-methyl-2-mercapto-4-hydroxypyrimidine), Kamethur (potassium salt of 6-methyl-2-mercapto-4-hydroxypyrimidine) and new synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyrimidine (No. 1 - 7) on the rooting of isolated stem cuttings of haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) variety Bilozernaya was studied. The growth regulatory activity of synthetic compounds Ivin, Methyur, Kamethur, and synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyrimidine (No. 1 - 7) was compared with the activity of auxins IAA (1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid) and NAA (1-naphthylacetic acid). The conducted studies showed that the regulatory effect of synthetic compounds Ivin, Methyur, Kamethur, and synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyridine (No. 1 - 7) on the rooting of isolated stem cuttings of haricot bean was similar to the auxins IAA and NAA. The synthetic compounds Ivin, Methyur, and Kamethur, and synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyrimidine (No. 1, 4, 5, and 7) showed the highest auxin-like activity. The indicators of the total number of roots (pcs) and total length of roots (cm) obtained on isolated stem cuttings of haricot bean immersed in a water solution of synthetic compounds Ivin, Methyur, Kamethur and synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyridine (No. 1, 4, 5 and 7), used at a concentration of 10-7 M, statistically significantly exceeded similar indicators obtained on control isolated stem cuttings of haricot bean immersed in distilled water. The practical use of synthetic compounds Ivin, Methyur, Kamethur, and synthetic compounds, derivatives of pyrimidine (No. 1, 4, 5 and 7) is proposed to improve the vegetative propagation of haricot bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and other plant species of the family Fabaceae by stem cuttings.

Currently, analysis of training data metrics has become increasingly important in characterizing high throughput. In fact, in bodybuilding, the RPE (rate of perceived exertion) assessment is the metric commonly used to calculate training volume. Therefore, this study demonstrates another way for bodybuilding athletes to evaluate their training through heart rate using the TRIMP (training impulse) method proposed by Edwards to analyze the intensity of a given training model. For this athlete, it is important to stay most of the time outside heart rate zone 1, not have more than 10% of total training time in zone 5 and contain the largest proportion of total training time in zones 2, 3 and 4.

To prepare the population to provide first aid for thermal burns in emergency situations, algorithms for modern didactics of the educational topic “Thermal burns” are proposed. The following educational issues are highlighted: 1) Local exposure to high temperature. Burns. Kinds. Classification according to the depth of the lesion; 2) Rules for determining the area of burns; 3) Signs of thermal burns; 4) The concept of burn disease; 5) First (pre-hospital emergency) aid to burnt people; 6). Domestic burns from boiling water; 7) Features of burns in children; 8) Treatment of burns; 9) Prevention of thermal burns.

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.

Intraovarian injection of autologous Platelet Lysate (PL) can be considered a potential therapeutic strategy for ovarian function rejuvenation. Especially, in women diagnosed with Poor Ovarian Response (POR) or Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), the exogenous administration of the autologous platelet-derived growth factors, influence positively the regulation of the serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and Estradiol (E2). Therefore, the evaluation of the serum levels of the aforementioned hormones was performed on 10 participants with a mean age of 43 ± 4 years diagnosed with POR or POI, who received intraovarian PL injection monotherapy. The monitoring of the serum hormone levels was performed for 3 months. The results of this study clearly showed that all participants were characterized by elevated levels of FSH and LH and reduced levels of E2 and AMH, prior to the PL injection. However, the levels of all hormones started to change after the 1st month of follow-up monitoring. Moreover, 40% of the participants conceived successfully either by natural way or after in vitro Fertilization (IVF). Considering these, the intraovarian injection of autologous PL exhibited promising evidence regarding the altering of hormone levels at physiological values. Moreover, the contained PL growth factors were implicated in angiogenesis promotion and also in toleration of the inflammatory microenvironment, regulating positively ovarian function. In conclusion, the intraovarian autologous PL injection is considered a safe, effective, and tolerable therapeutic strategy in women with POR or POI. Moreover, the results of this study were very encouraging, especially for the women with infertility issues, who want their genetic offspring.

Proteinuria is an easily quantified biomarker of kidney disease and often a sign of glomerular pathology. Significant proteinuria is uncommon in cystic kidney diseases and should be further evaluated to exclude the presence of another simultaneous kidney disease. While renal biopsy is a valuable part of the diagnostic evaluation of proteinuria, careful consideration of risks and benefits is necessary before proceeding in a patient with bilateral renal cysts. We report the case of a man with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) who was found to have nephrotic-range proteinuria. An ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy revealed evidence of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), which was attributed to hyperfiltration-related injury in the context of extensive kidney cysts. Genetic testing did not reveal a cause of FSGS and showed a variant of uncertain significance in PKD1. We use this case to highlight three important issues that are applicable to patients with PKD: the role of diagnostic evaluation for proteinuria in cystic kidney disease, the feasibility of kidney biopsy despite the presence of bilateral renal cysts, and the roles and limitations of genetic testing in cystic kidney disease and FSGS.

The primary objective of this study was to detect the success and short-term survival rate of dental implant prosthetic therapy. The valuation of a possible relationship between the general and local clinical conditions of the patients (presence of risk factors and type of dental implant-supported prosthesis) and the satisfaction perceived by the patient, with success and survival of implant devices was investigated.The sample trial consisted of 23 patients, for a total of 50 dental implants supporting a prosthetic therapy. Preliminarily, an analysis of averages and frequencies of the anamnestic data was presented, as numbers and percentages. The implant success rate was calculated by assessing whether the implants fulfilled the success criteria defined by the Pisa Consensus Conference. The ANOVA test was used to check whether there was an association between the success of the implant device, the anamnestic data collected, and the type of prosthesis supported by the implants. Finally, the survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan - Meier method.The 2-year success rate of 50 implants was assessed at 98%. The 2-year survival rate was 97%. Finally, sex, age, compensated diabetes, a smaller and equal number of cigarettes per day (10 per day), the BOP, and the type of titanium dental implants supported by prosthesis, do not determine a change in success and are therefore not adequate parameters to predict the outcome of implant success. Following the results obtained, it is appropriate to continue the research by expanding the clinical observation times in order to obtain more solid scientific and clinical evidence.

A very unusual, interesting, and challenging case of a 24-year-old female who was born with three openings in the neck. The patient had chronic abdominal gaseous distention, recurrent abdominal pain, and constipation since early infancy. The patient presented in emergency with acute painful red, hot, and tender swelling in the left upper cervical area. Laboratory studies showed high inflammatory markers and a provisional diagnosis of abscess with a sinus was made. The patient underwent an emergency incision and drainage. Sinus recurred and a sinogram showed it to be a residual cyst in the left submandibular salivary gland. The total cyst excision was attempted with resultant recurrence and grade IV facial nerve palsy. Post-operatively recurrent infections caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) required several courses of oral and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics with several hospital admissions with no resolution in sight. Subsequent ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed a residual infected cyst, cutaneous sinus, and a fistula opening in the left ear canal. A diagnosis of branchial cyst type II of the first brachial cleft remnant with a fistula was established with bilateral branchial fistulas of the second branchial remnants and the associated colorectal hypoganglionosis based on radiological studies. The patient refused any further operative interventions. Therefore, the option of conservative treatment of hypoganglionosis with holobiotics consisting of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, laxatives, dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and dietary supplements started. All antibiotics were stopped. These therapies resulted in the resolution of residual first branchial remnants and recurrent MRSA infections with the improvement in the facial nerve palsy from grade V to grade III-IV together with an excellent cosmetic and functional result. The patient is doing well at follow-ups being infection-free for 18 months and repeat contrast-enhanced computed tomogram (CECT) has shown complete resolution of the residual cyst, sinus, and fistula with fibrosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells are heterogenous adult multipotent stromal cells that can be isolated from various sources including bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, dental pulp, and adipose tissue. They have certain regenerative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, antimicrobial, and other properties that enable them to have several therapeutic and clinical applications including treatment of various autoimmune disorders; role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine; treatment of skin, pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders; treatment of neurological and eye diseases; as well as treatment of various infections and their complications. Different factors including donor age, biological source, route of administration, and signaling pathways have an impact on the functions and consequently the clinical applications of mesenchymal stromal cells. The products of mesenchymal stem cells such as extracellular vesicles and exosomes reproduce the biological effects and most of the therapeutic actions of the parent stem cells. Genetic engineering and the use of specific mesenchymal stromal cell products have improved their clinical efficacy and decreased their adverse effects. However, despite the recent progress in the use of mesenchymal stem cells, the clinical application of these cells in the treatment of several diseases still faces real challenges that need to be resolved. The current status of mesenchymal stem cells and the controversies related to their clinical utilization in various disease conditions will be thoroughly discussed in this review.

Background: Nimodipine (NM), is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker with poor oral bioavailability (BA) of about 13% due to first-pass metabolism and P-gp efflux. Objective: The present work aimed to study the influence of the charge inducer and its combination with P-gp inhibitor to improve the oral bioavailability of NM by developing a suitable delivery system of Submicron Lipid Emulsion (SME). Methods: Five SME formulations of NM were prepared by homogenization followed by ultrasonication. Prepared SMEs were characterized for particle size, PDI, Zeta Potential (ZP), Entrapment Efficiency (EE), and drug content. In vitro, release studies were performed in 0.1N HCl and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer by open tube method. The physical stability of all NM–SMEs was tested by the individual effects of centrifugation, dilution (desorption stress), and storage. Bioavailability studies were conducted on male Wistar rats after oral administration of NM suspension and F1 to F5 SME formulations. Results and conclusion: Five NM- SMEs were developed with a mean size ranging from 93 - 137 nm, Zeta potential of – 26 ± 1 mV (negatively charged), +45.8 to +46.3 mV (positively charged), and PDI of 0.15 - 0.25. The in vitro release studies showed that relatively more cumulative percentage release of NM – SMEs in 0.1N HCl than in pH phosphate buffer during 24 hours. The physical stability of NM–SMEs indicated that they were stable to the effects of centrifugation, dilution, and storage. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies showed that the oral bioavailability of NM in F4 SME was significantly higher than that of all other formulations. Taken together, the results indicated the development of a stable lipid-based carrier, F4 SME to improve the oral bioavailability of this drug by minimizing first-pass metabolism due to lymphatic transport, reducing the efflux by P-gp inhibition, and further, by increased uptake of the positively charged F4 SME globules by enterocytes. Future: The research study findings increase the possibility of developing NM F4 SME by the pharmaceutical industry for the patient’s benefit.