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Objective: This study aims to compare the short-, medium-, and long-term efficacy of trigger point local anesthetic injection and stabilization splint use for myofascial orofacial pain.Materials and methods: Group 1 comprised 15 patients who received trigger point local anesthetic injections (LAI), while Group 2 comprised 15 patients who were treated with a stabilization splint (SS). Analysis of pain-free maximum mouth opening (MMO) measurements, jaw disability checklists (JDC), short-form McGill pain questionnaires (SF-MPQ), and Visual analog scales (VAS) were used for comparison between the groups.Results: The LAI group showed a significantly greater increase in pain-free MMO in all terms (p < 0.001) and had significantly lower values on the JDC in both the medium (p = 0.026) and the long term (p = 0.006). The SF-MPQ was significantly lower in the medium term (p = 0.001) in the LAI group; the VAS showed a significantly greater decrease in the short (p = 0.016) and medium terms (p < 0.001) in the LAI group.Conclusion: The results indicate that a treatment choice can be made between TN lidocaine injection and occlusal splint based on patient tolerance.

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.

Background: The use of a custom-made orthotic plantar device is referenced as a true sensor-motor facilitation tool for the control of the postural orthostatic and orthodynamic position in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Aim: To outline the postural and kinematic effect of a pro-ergonomic multilayer foot insole versus a custom-made carbon-kevlar dynamic foot insole in a cohort of patients affected by extrapyramidal disease. Setting: A rehabilitation institute for the treatment of neurological and orthopaedic gait disorders. Methods: A sample of 8 patients (mean age of 82.6), of whom 4 affected by Parkinson’s disease (P) and 4 by Parkinsonism (PS) were recruited for the aim of this study. In line with our inclusion criteria (clinical-functional diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or Parkinsonism, Webster scale ≤ 20, Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥ 18), the study design developed in 2 times: a. time T1 (or evaluation time), in which recruited patients affected by Parkinson’s disease or Parkinsonism were evaluated at the Hospital and Noble Resting House Paolo Richiedei through an accurate functional (Conley scale, Barthel Index scale, Tinetti scale and the Berg Balance Scale), postural evaluation (VPA) and walking examination (VGA, baropodometric evaluation, kinematic gait evaluation through WIVA system); to each group of patients of our study were therefore entrusted 4 foot-insoles, of which 2 synthetic and 2 carbon-kevlar custom-made foot-insoles called PRODYNAMIC; at the end of this step, patients started with our integrated rehabilitative treatment course. b. time T2 (or experimental time; 90 days from T1), a new clinical-instrumental evaluation of each patient was performed, repeating the clinical-functional and instrumental evaluation performed at the time T1 in a specular way; this assessment was performed in FW condition, with personal footwear and previously acquired foot-insoles used during the evaluation at the T1 time. Results: Most of our patients have been able to find benefit from the use of the plantar orthosis and integrated rehabilitation treatment so as to bring some modifications within personal postural attitude, recording an improvement but not uniform change within the sample. The results obtained by comparing the VPA at time T1 and at time T2 explain how patients affected by both clinical forms tend to establish incorrect postural attitudes due to stiffness and appearance of hypertonic plasticity, which become then structured and only partially modifiable. There was a general performance improvement in line with the VGA: within the P.B group, we observed with the use of the Prodynamic insole a partial or even complete normalization of the dynamic heel-contact phase, a better alignment of the COP in its excursion from the 1st to the 2nd rocker phase of the step, a notable facilitation to the inertial thrust in progress in the 3rd and 4th rocker phase, an improvement in the eccentric control of the patellofemoral alignment in the acceptance phase of the so-called load-response in stance and, finally, the acquisition of a more physiological propulsion structure of the trunk basin unit with an improvement of the clearance and fixation skills in the sequential phases of the step. This trend was evident but not uniform in the other groups considered. Analysis of the evolution of the degree of functionality in the daily life activities expressed by the Barthel index, passing from time T1 to the time T2, showed an improvement and consistent change in all groups considered within our study that we can find in a more or less way for the other clinical outcome data. An objective time-related and intra-group comparison of the raw static and dynamic baropodometric data acquired in our 4 study conditions showed different time-related trends for the two groups taken into consideration. A specific WIVA profile was found for each pathology group, highlighting different trends passing from time T1 to time T2 in particular of the gait cadence and gait speed. In particular, in the “Prodynamic” study condition the gait cadence shows in the Parkinson group a significant increase from time T1 to time T2, passing respectively from an average value of 41.9 ± 11.7 to 54.9 ± 1.1; patients of the Parkinsonism group showed a value of the average gait cadence at time T1 higher than the other study conditions at the same evaluation time, with an increase of this data from T1 to T2, passing from 43.1 ± 11.8 to 47.4 ± 4.4. If we consider the gait speed time-related trend, in the “Prodynamic” study condition at T1 the gait speed in Parkinson patients is similar to that recorded in the “shoe” study condition; in Parkinsonism the gait speed recorded at time T1 is higher than that recorded in the other study conditions; at time T2 there is a less evident increase in speed compared to that observed in patients with Parkinson’s. Conclusion: In today’s management of the profile of complexity of extrapyramidal pathology, the association of several health figures is of fundamental importance, with professional profiles and diversified skills, in such a way as to be able to guarantee a comprehensive management of the patient. From this point of view, the figure of the orthopedic technician will be able to play a new role within the rehabilitation team, which will be responsible for the best possible functional response (deriving from an optimal integration between orthotic and rehabilitation treatment) of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Introduction and aim: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most common type of this disease during childhood. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is the most common histopathological lesion (80 – 90%) of INS in children and about 90% of patients are steroid responsive, while congenital nephrotic syndrome is disorder that may be caused by several diseases. Intrauterine infections, especially CMV infection, have frequently been incriminated as etiological factors of secondary CNS. The aim of this research was to evaluate the frequency of CMV infection children with active nephrotic syndrome in our pediatric nephrology unit Patients and methods: This descriptive (cross sectional) study was conducted in pediatric nephrology unit, Zagazig University Hospitals and included 60 patients WITH NS in activity; Participants were subjected to, Full history taking, Clinical examination; general & local, Routine laboratory investigations and Serum samples were tested for HCMV specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) using ELISA Kit. Results: We found 100% of cases were IgG positive and 7/60 cases were IgM positive, There were no statistically significant differences between IgM positive-patients vs IgM-negative patients according to age, sex and first attack or relapsed NS, There were statistically significant differences between IgM positive-patients vs IgM-negative patients in blood laboratory data in decreases in HB (P=0.024) and serum urea nitrogen (P=0.04) Conclusion: We concluded that serofrequency of cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric nephrology unit, Zagazig university hospitals during follow-up was 12% for cmv IgM and 100% for cmv IgG at ns children patients

The article presents the results of x-ray anatomical studies of 56 whole lung preparations, which were carried out immediately after the autopsy of children who died from АP. In 47 cases it was carried out the contrast of the vessels and in 9 cases the bronchial tree. The results allowed to clarify some details of the pathogenesis of АP and were additional arguments in support of the new doctrine of the disease.

Introduction: Contact of health care workers and patient at health facility lead to the transmission of pathogenic organisms to each other. Hospital acquired infection prevention is standardized guide lines contain multitude protocols needed to be implemented by health care workers to reduce hospital acquired infections. Objective: To assess health care workers knowledge, attitude and practice towards hospital acquired infection prevention at Dessie referral hospital. Method: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among health care workers. The subjects were selected by proportional allocation in each respective department and simple random sampling method was employed. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data and presented in frequency tables and graph. Results: 191 study subjects were participated in the study which gives a response rate of 90.5% from 211 total sample sizes. The study subjects had given their response according to self-administered questioner. The result indicates that 86.4%, 76.4% and 77% of respondents had good knowledge and favorable attitude and poor practice towards hospital acquired infection prevention respectively. Conclusion: Even though the majority of the health care workers had good knowledge and favorable attitude, more than two third of them had poor practice towards hospital acquired infection prevention. Therefore health workers should strictly follow hospital acquired infection prevention guidelines. Improving sustainable supplies like personal protective equipment, water supply and hand washing facilities at patient care site is vital to correct the poor practice of infection prevention.

In this short opinion piece, we discuss the appropriate use of the term ‘invasion’ for woody plant expansion and refer to the various ways in which the term is being used in the literature. We point out the present confusion and make suggestions for the use of a more appropriate term (i.e., ‘woody plant encroachment’). We continue with an overview of the various definitions of ‘woody plant encroachment in the literature, we mention associated alternative terms, and we explain the circumstances in which each of these are used. With this piece, we hope to provide more clarity on the use of correct terminology related to woody plant expansion research.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population globally are diminishing the overall quality of life, especially for those with demanding daily routines. As medical advancements extend lifespans, the proportion of individuals over 60 is set to double by 2050, necessitating societal shifts toward health-responsible citizenship. Despite longer lifespans, evidence suggests that older age often accompanies mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and substance misuse. Social isolation and loneliness further compound these issues, affecting both physical and mental well-being. Digital wellness empowers individuals to take charge of their health, promoting proactive care and literacy to foster health-conscious citizenship. This paper explores the intersection of mental health, aging populations, preventive wellness initiatives, and health literacy, emphasizing their significance within the Health 5.0 framework, especially for older adults. Traditionally, health regulators offer static workflows for adopting standard procedures in health and well-being, reflecting a reactive approach. However, the evolving landscape of wearable and mobile devices connecting to healthcare IT systems through secure online networks necessitates a shift. Technology now facilitates remote patient monitoring and telemedicine service subscriptions and empowers individuals to manage their health proactively.The BE4YOU project, conducted in Portugal, serves as a case study, facilitating individual maintenance of health and well-being through intelligent and dynamic workflows, which are defined based on analytical models considering each person’s risk profile. By facilitating data sharing, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enabling early detection of mental health issues, the project leverages technology to support personalized monitoring and enhance overall health outcomes. Through technology-driven empowerment, individuals and healthcare professionals are better equipped to assess risks and ensure ongoing wellness monitoring, underscoring the role of technology in fostering personal health and supporting healthcare effectiveness.

In this study we describe a method for the detection of biomolecules (in the polypeptide m/z range) directly from the surface of plant leaves by using Mass Spectrometry Imaging. The plant-pathogen interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was analyzed by comparing infected and non-infected leaf discs submitted to mass spectrometry. The total surface area of ion distribution was calculated for both samples, revealing 23 ions, out of which 3 showed statistical significance. Although these ions were not identified, the results showed that this approach can be successfully applied for the detection of potential polypeptide biomarkers directly on leaf tissue, which is a major challenge in MALDI-Imaging studies.

A recurrent miscarriage may be defined in the African context as the foetal demise of two or more successive pregnancies before the attainment of the age of viability. A literature review was done to assess the trend of recurrent miscarriage in sub-Saharan Africa. Identifying the main causes, considering the population at risk, and the availability of accurate diagnostic utilities to effectively ensure good management of recurrent miscarriage is an important gynaecologic issue. Over the years, studies have identified several etiologies and yet there’s been no tangible implementation of therapeutic strategies. Routine modifications should also be employed to develop new approaches to reproductive prognosis. There is notably scanty information on the cases of spontaneous abortion due to chromosomal abnormalities. Genetic and immunological factors should be considered in the work-up plan for women with RM. About 70% of the cases of RM are considered unexplained, and this may be due to limited resources. We concluded that there is relatively poor management of miscarriage and cases of missed and inaccurate diagnosis of the causes of spontaneous abortion in sub-Saharan Africa. More studies are needed in order to assess the extent of genetic induced miscarriage, where resources are limited, folic acid supplements should be provided for pregnant women.