Milk Heating Using a Solar Cooker Coupled with Point-Focus Fresnel Lens

Today, concerns regarding global warming resulting from fossil fuel usage and the depletion of these resources have led individuals to consider alternative, clean energy sources. Renewable energies such as solar energy are non-polluting, inexhaustible resources, serving as an excellent alternative to fossil fuels. Solar concentrate sunlight, directing it towards the solar oven. Utilizing renewable energy for cooking not only saves time and money but also ensures safety and security. The aim of this research is to construct and assess a solar oven equipped with a point Fresnel lens. The evaluations were conducted over a three-day period in March 2023. The maximum total thermal efficiency obtained for heating the milk for three days with different radiation intensity, wind speed and ambient temperature tested was 45%, 72.7% and 90%, respectively. The findings indicated that the solar oven could raise the milk temperature to 80℃ within one hour. The maximum attainable performance of this system was 90%

Gluten restriction in irritable bowel syndrome, yes or no?: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMore than half of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) report aggravating their symptoms with certain foods. Currently, Low fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols diet (LFD) is the most accepted dietary intervention for IBS. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been suggested that gluten restriction may reduce the symptoms of patients with IBS. However, the results from these studies are conflicting. This study filled this knowledge gap by evaluating the impact of the gluten-free diet (GFD) on IBS symptoms.MethodsA systematic search was carried out in Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 2023. A random-effect model was applied to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each outcome.ResultsA total of nine controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. In contrast to gluten-containing diet, GFD was unable to reduce overall symptoms (SMD − 0.31; 95% CI −0.92, 0.31), bloating (SMD −0.37; 95% CI −1.03, 0.30), and quality of life (SMD −0.12, 95% CI −0.64, 0.39); but had a slight trend to reduce abdominal pain (SMD –0.68; 95% CI −1.36, −0.00). Also, LFD significantly reduced the IBS-Severity score system (SMD 0.66, 95% CI 0.31, 1.01) and improved quality of life (SMD −0.36, 95% CI −0.70, −0.01), compared to GFD.ConclusionA GFD is not robust enough to be routinely recommended for IBS patients, and its efficacy is significantly lower than that of an LFD. Only a certain subgroup of IBS patients may benefit from GFD; further studies are needed to target this subgroup

An uncommon gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with portal vein thrombosis: a case report and literature review

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare condition that may congest bowel venous drainage and cause mesenteric ischemia. In acute settings, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is rare, and acute abdominal pain is the most common clinical presentation. A 24-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain and a single episode of hematemesis is reported. Workups revealed evidence of thrombosis in the portal vein, but upper endoscopy was incapable to detect the source of the bleeding. We discuss the possible scenarios for the GIB in this case and review similar reports in the literature

Amikacin liposome and Mycobacterium avium complex: A systematic review.

IntroductionThe prevalence of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is increasing globally. Macrolide-based multidrug regimens have been recommended as the first-line treatment for patients with MAC pulmonary disease. However, developing macrolide resistance was associated with poor treatment outcomes and increased mortality. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved liposomal amikacin for inhalation (LAI) to treat refractory MAC pulmonary disease. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate LAI's outcomes and adverse events in MAC pulmonary disease.MethodsThe systematic search was performed in PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) up to March 8, 2022. The search terms included Mycobacterium avium complex, MAC, amikacin, and liposomal amikacin.ResultsAfter reviewing 1284 records, four papers met the inclusion criteria, including three clinical trials and one prospective cohort study. These studies showed that adding LAI to guideline-based therapies can increase sputum culture conversion rate and achieve early sustained (negative sputum culture results for 12 months with treatment) and durable (negative sputum culture results for three months after treatment) negative sputum culture. In addition, extended LAI use was a potential benefit in patients considered refractory to initial treatment. The most prevalent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) reported in the LAI group were the respiratory TEAE.ConclusionsLAI could increase the sputum culture conversion rate and achieve early sustainable, durable negative sputum culture. However, additional large-scale research is required to confirm the results

Delamanid-containing regimens and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a life-threatening condition needing long poly-chemotherapy regimens. As no systematic reviews/meta-analysis is available to comprehensively evaluate the role of delamanid (DLM), we evaluated its effectiveness and safety. Methods We reviewed the relevant scientific literature published up to January 20, 2022. The pooled success treatment rate with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was assessed using a random-effect model. We assessed studies for quality and bias, and considered P<0.05 to be statistically significant. Results After reviewing 626 records, we identified 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 22 observational and 3 experimental, with 1276 and 411 patients, respectively. In observational studies the overall pooled treatment success rate of DLM-containing regimens was 80.9% (95% CI 72.6-87.2) with no evidence of publication bias (Begg's test; P >0.05). The overall pooled treatment success rate in DLM and bedaquiline-containing regimens was 75.2% (95% CI 68.1-81.1) with no evidence of publication bias (Begg's test; P >0.05). In experimental studies the pooled treatment success rate of DLM-containing regimens was 72.5 (95% CI 44.2-89.8, P 0.05). Conclusions In MDR-TB patients receiving DLM, culture conversion and treatment success rates were high despite extensive resistance with limited adverse events

Delamanid-containing regimens and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a life-threatening condition needing long poly-chemotherapy regimens. As no systematic reviews/meta-analysis is available to comprehensively evaluate the role of delamanid (DLM), we evaluated its effectiveness and safety. METHODS: We reviewed the relevant scientific literature published up to January 20, 2022. The pooled success treatment rate with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was assessed using a random-effect model. We assessed studies for quality and bias, and considered P0.05). The overall pooled treatment success rate in DLM and bedaquiline-containing regimens was 75.2% (95% CI 68.1-81.1) with no evidence of publication bias (Begg's test; P >0.05). In experimental studies the pooled treatment success rate of DLM-containing regimens was 72.5 (95% CI 44.2-89.8, P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In MDR-TB patients receiving DLM, culture conversion and treatment success rates were high despite extensive resistance with limited adverse events