A quantitative analytical investigation on the oxycodone side effects listed in recent clinical trials

Background: Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic analgesic medication with numerous side effects. Patients who use oxycodone may have one or more side effects depending on their clinical status and/or other factors. Our aim was to analyze clinical trials for any potential pattern related to the side effects of oxycodone. Methods: We searched the ClinicalTrials.gov database for clinical studies conducted around the world regarding oxycodone. A number of general data analytic and text manipulation techniques were used in the Python programming language. Results: We analyzed 842 clinical trials involving oxycodone. Our results suggest that the researchers focused on oxycodone’s typical side effects (e.g. vomiting), as opposed to the less evident and/or long-term side effects e.g. depression, confusion and constipation. Conclusions: The adverse effects of oxycodone most commonly reported in the clinical trials are nausea, vomiting and depression. Despite the clinical use of oxycodone in all the age groups (including infants), very few of the publicly-available clinical trials included participants < 18 years of age

Comparison of Three Different Techniques of Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap in Treatment of Large Idiopathic Full-Thickness Macular Hole.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare three different techniques of inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap in the treatment of large idiopathic full-thickness macular hole. Methods: In a comparative interventional case series, 72 eyes from 72 patients with large (\u3e 400 µm) full-thickness macular hole were randomly enrolled into three different groups: group A - hemicircular ILM peel with temporally hinged inverted flap; group B - circular ILM peel with temporally hinged inverted flap; and group C - circular ILM peel with superior inverted flap. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anatomical closure rate, and ellipsoid zone (EZ) or external limiting membrane (ELM) defects were evaluated preoperatively, at week 1, and months 1, 3 and 6 after surgery. Results: There were 24 eyes in group A, 23 in group B, and 25 in group C. In all three groups, larger diameter macular hole was associated with worse preoperative visual acuity (r=0.625, P\u3c0.001). Mean BCVA improved significantly in all three groups 6 months after surgery (0.91vs 0.55, p\u3c0.001). 6 months after surgery, mean BCVA improved from 0.91 logMAR to 0.52±0.06 in group A, 0.90 to 0.53±0.06 in group B, and 0.91 to 0.55±0.11 in group C. In group A vs. B vs. C, improvement of BCVA was 0.380±0.04 vs. 0.383±0.04 vs. 0.368±0.11 logMAR, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P=0.660). The rate of successful hole closure was 87.5% vs. 91.3% vs. 100%. Although the closure rate was 100% in Group C (circular ILM peel with superiorly hinged inverted flap), this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.115). Conclusion: ILM peel with an inverted flap is a highly effective procedure for the treatment of large, full-thickness macular hole. Different flap techniques have comparable results, indicating that the technique can be chosen based on surgeon preference

Comparative Evaluation of Spectral Transmittance of Some Welding Glasses with ANSI Z87.1

Background: Welding emits harmful rays to the eyes. We evaluate and compare the UV, blue light and IR transmittance characteristics of some currently available welding safety protectors with ANSI Z87.1 criteria.Materials and Methods: Three type of welding safety protectors (three of each type) have been evaluated for spectral transmittance. One-sample T-test was performed to establish is there a statistically significant difference between the standard criteria and UV, blue and IR regions for the welding protectors (α=0.05).Results: In ultraviolet (UV) (far and near) region, two types of the tested protectors (P1, P2) transmitted lower than the maximum allowable value specified in the standard (P&lt;0.001). In infrared (IR) spectrum only one type (P3) transmitted lower than the maximum allowable value specified in the standard (P&lt;0.001). In blue light region, all of the tested protectors transmitted lower than the maximum allowable value specified in the standard (P&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Although all of the tested glasses could meet some parts of the criteria, but none of them could meet the complete spectral transmittance requirements of ANSI Z87.1

Effect of Powder/Liquid Ratio on Fluoride Release of Glass Ionomers

Objective: Evidence shows that the powder/liquid mixing ratio recommended by the manufacturers  is often not respected when mixing the glass ionomer (GI) powder and liquid, yielding a GI cement with disproportionate powder/liquid ratio. Considering the confirmed effect of powder/liquid ratio  on the GI properties, and more importantly, its fluoride release potential, this study aimed to assess the effect of powder/liquid  ratio on fluoride release of GI cements.Methods: Fuji II, Fuji II LC Improved and Fuji IX GI cements were used in this experimental study. Of each material, three groups with powder 20% less than recommended, the exact recommended ratio and powder 20% more than recommended, were prepared. To assess the fluoride release potential, 45 disc-shaped specimens measuring 2×4mm were prepared (5 per each group). After fabrication, the specimens were immersed in 5 mL of distilled water. The amount of fluoride  released into distilled water was measured at days 1 to 7, and also at 13, 14, 15, 28, 29, 30, 58, 59, 60, 88, 89, and 90 days, using Ion Selective Electrode (ISE). After each time of measurement, distilled water was replaced. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Tukey’s post hoc test was used for pairwise comparison of groups and powder/liquid mixing ratio. For pairwise comparison of time points, the Bonferroni adjustment was applied (p&lt;0.05).Results: Based on the results, although the amount of fluoride released from Fuji IX was higher than Fuji II, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.589). The lowest fluoride release was seen in Fuji II LC and this difference was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Change by 20% in the powder/liquid mixing ratio in the three GI cements had no significant effect on fluoride release (p=0.650, p=0.103, p=0.082).Conclusion: Fluoride release from GI was time-dependent and the amount of released fluoride decreased over time. Fuji II LC resin-modified GI (RMGI) released less fluoride than Fuji II and  Fuji IX. Also, 20% change in powder/liquid mixing ratio had no significant effect on fluoride release in different groups

Arthroscopy or ultrasound in undergraduate anatomy education: a randomized cross-over controlled trial

Background: The exponential growth of image-based diagnostic and minimally invasive interventions requires a detailed three-dimensional anatomical knowledge and increases the demand towards the undergraduate anatomical curriculum. This randomized controlled trial investigates whether musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) or arthroscopic methods can increase the anatomical knowledge uptake. Methods: Second-year medical students were randomly allocated to three groups. In addition to the compulsory dissection course, the ultrasound group (MSUS) was taught by eight, didactically and professionally trained, experienced student-teachers and the arthroscopy group (ASK) was taught by eight experienced physicians. The control group (CON) acquired the anatomical knowledge only via the dissection course. Exposure (MSUS and ASK) took place in two separate lessons (75 minutes each, shoulder and knee joint) and introduced standard scan planes using a 10-MHz ultrasound system as well as arthroscopy tutorials at a simulator combined with video tutorials. The theoretical anatomic learning outcomes were tested using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ), and after cross-over an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Differences in student's perceptions were evaluated using Likert scale-based items. Results: The ASK-group (n = 70, age 23.4 (20--36) yrs.) performed moderately better in the anatomical MC exam in comparison to the MSUS-group (n = 84, age 24.2 (20--53) yrs.) and the CON-group (n = 88, 22.8 (20--33) yrs.; p = 0.019). After an additional arthroscopy teaching 1 % of students failed the MC exam, in contrast to 10 % in the MSUS- or CON-group, respectively. The benefit of the ASK module was limited to the shoulder area (p < 0.001). The final examination (OSCE) showed no significant differences between any of the groups with good overall performances. In the evaluation, the students certified the arthroscopic tutorial a greater advantage concerning anatomical skills with higher spatial imagination in comparison to the ultrasound tutorial (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The additional implementation of arthroscopy tutorials to the dissection course during the undergraduate anatomy training is profitable and attractive to students with respect to complex joint anatomy. Simultaneous teaching of basic-skills in musculoskeletal ultrasound should be performed by medical experts, but seems to be inferior to the arthroscopic 2D-3D-transformation, and is regarded by students as more difficult to learn. Although arthroscopy and ultrasound teaching do not have a major effect on learning joint anatomy, they have the potency to raise the interest in surgery

Intraocular Injection of Stivant® (A Biosimilar to Bevacizumab): A Case Series

Purpose: To report the results of intravitreal injection of a bevacizumab biosimilar called Stivant®. Methods: This prospective interventional case series was conducted on eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and diabetic macular edema (DME). Stivant® was injected in three consecutive months and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured at baseline and monthly up to one month after the third injection. Results: Three hundred and eighty-five eyes with DME (234 eyes, 61%), nAMD (87 eyes, 22%), and macular edema secondary to RVO (64 eyes, 17%) were enrolled. The mean ± standard deviation age of the patients was 61.7 ± 7.20 years. The mean BCVA and CMT changed from 0.63 ± 0.3 to 0.51 ± 0.3 LogMAR (P = 0.12 ) and from 420.4 ± 47.3μm at baseline to 316.7 ± 50.6 μm (P &lt; 0.001) in the DME group; from 0.79 ± 0.3 to 0.68 ± 0.3 LogMAR (P = 0.19) and from 376.1 ± 31.7 μm to 303 ± 31.3 μm (P = 0.019) in the nAMD group; and from 0.81 ± 0.4 to 0.63 ± 0.4 LogMAR (P = 0.05) and from 424.21 ± 18 μm to 303.4 ± 18.8 μm (P &lt; 0.001) in the RVO group, respectively. Conclusion: Our limited experience showed that the intravitreal injection of Stivant® was well tolerated. Although the results of this case series showed relative improvement in CMT one month after the last injection of Stivant®, BCVA improvement was statistically significant only in the RVO group. This would be essential to design a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the non-inferiority of Stivant® in comparison to bevacizumab

Роль кластерных степеней свободы в процессе деления ядер

В работе, с использованием модели двойной ядерной асимметрии был сформулирован подход к описанию альфа-распада, кластерной радиоактивности и спонтанного деления. Работа содержит расчеты периодов полураспада четно-четных ядер. В предложенном подходе описаны изотопические распределения периодов полураспада вблизи нейтронного числа N = 152. Рассмотрена возможность применения микроскопических параметров.In present work, based on dinuclear system model the approach was supposed which allow the description of alpha- and cluster decay and spontaneous fission. The work consist half-live times calculations for even-even isotopes. In the approach isotopic dependence near neutron number N = 152 was described. The possibility of the use of microscopical parameters discussed