Excision of Epulis Granulomatosa with Diode Laser in 8 Years Old Boy

Results and conclusion: Lasers are useful for soft tissue surgery in modern dentistry, especially in relation to pediatric patients due to the rapid and regular wound healing without sutures.Introduction: Epulis granulomatosa is a lesion which grows from an extraction socket. It can be misdiagnosed with lesions of the same clinical appearance such as: foreign body or pyogenic granuloma, or as a herniation of the maxillary sinus. The most common treatment is surgical excision. Case report: The present article reports an Epulis granulomatosa which was removed with diode laser (810 nm) due to child’s fear related to traditional surgical instruments and bleeding

DNA-free genome editing in grapevine using CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes followed by protoplast regeneration

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology can overcome many limitations of traditional breeding, offering enormous potential for crop improvement and food production. Although the direct delivery of Cas9-single guide RNA (sgRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes to grapevine (Vitis vinifera) protoplasts has been shown before, the regeneration of edited protoplasts into whole plants has not been reported. Here, we describe an efficient approach to obtain transgene-free edited grapevine plants by the transfection and subsequent regeneration of protoplasts isolated from embryogenic callus. As proof of concept, a single-copy green fluorescent protein reporter gene (GFP) in the grapevine cultivar Thompson Seedless was targeted and knocked out by the direct delivery of RNPs to protoplasts. CRISPR/Cas9 activity, guided by two independent sgRNAs, was confirmed by the loss of GFP fluorescence. The regeneration of GFP– protoplasts into whole plants was monitored throughout development, confirming that the edited grapevine plants were comparable in morphology and growth habit to wild-type controls. We report the first highly efficient protocol for DNA-free genome editing in grapevine by the direct delivery of preassembled Cas9-sgRNA RNP complexes into protoplasts, helping to address the regulatory concerns related to genetically modified plants. This technology could encourage the application of genome editing for the genetic improvement of grapevine and other woody crop plants

Performance Evaluation of Medical Academic Libraries Based on DEA Approach

Medical academic libraries are required to exemplify and quantify the value of their services to their users and parent organizations. Using the Data Envelopment Approach (DEA) technique, this study reports and discusses the efficiency measurement of the 77 academic libraries in Type1 medical sciences universities in Iran. Eleven (11) input and outputs variables were selected to measure the efficiency and performance of the libraries. The selected variables were: Total volumes held, net volumes added during the research period, number of professional staff, and number of supporting staff (service, security, etc.). The total number of full-time students enrollment, full-time instructional faculties, total personal expenditures (professional and supporting staff), area of the libraries, library spaces, computers, and seating capacities. As representative variables of the services libraries provide to their users, we have selected as outputs opening hours per week, the number of registered readers/members (students, faculty, etc.), circulation transactions, and ‌the number of reader visits or attendance. The input-oriented BCC model analyzed libraries' efficiency and benchmarked each inefficient unit by determining and introducing similar efficient units in terms of services and multiple parameters. Out of the 77 libraries analyzed, 30 libraries were efficient, and 47 were ranked as inefficient. By addressing the performance details of each of the introduced units as a benchmark, the finding of this study can help the gatekeeper of these universities to plan and modify their library work plans to improve performance and achieve full efficiency.https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20088302.2022.20.2.16.1  

Effect of Tracheostomy Patient Care Training on the Performance of Nurses in Intensive Care Units

Background & Aims Tracheostomy is often performed for people hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs), but it can cause larynx damage and discomfort in the patient. Given that the final outcome and possible complications of tracheostomy are directly related to the quality of nursing care, this study aims to evaluate the effect of tracheostomy care training on the performance of nurses working in the ICUs of selected hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences. Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 64 nurses working in the ICUs of Rasul Akram and Firouzgar hospitals in 2021. The data collection tools were a demographic form and the tracheostomy patient care evaluation questionnaire of Atashzadeh et al. (2015). data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 16 using descriptive and inferential statistics (paired t-test, and analysis of variance). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean age of nurses was 31.49±6.02 years. Most of them were female (70.3%) with a bachelor's degree (90.6%). Their mean overall work experience was 6.74±5.13 years, and their average work experience in the ICU was 4.92±4.66 years. Most of the nurses (43.8%) had permanent employment. Most of the nurses had rotating shift (89.1%), and had not completed the course of tracheostomy care (93.8%). The results of the paired t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the mean performance score of nurses before training (45.85±8.87) and after training (93.3±42.33) (P<0.001). Conclusion Considering that the performance of nurses in caring for patients with tracheostomy in the ICUs of selected hospitals is not satisfactory, educating nurses and providing sufficient facilities based on guidelines and opinions of experts are recommended to improve the quality of services to these patients by nurses in the hospitals

A Preliminary Study on the Therapeutic Effects of Hydroxychloroquine on Generalized Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a recalcitrant depigmentary autoimmune skin disorder. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an effective immunomodulatory drug which is widely used in treatment of autoimmune disorders. HCQ-induced pigmenta- tion has been previously found in patients taking HCQ due to other auto- immune diseases. The present study aimed to determine whether HCQ im- proves re-pigmentation of generalized vitiligo. HCQ was orally administered 400 mg daily (6.5 mg/Kg of body weight) by 15 patients with generalized vitiligo (more than 10% involvement of body surface area) for three months. Patients were evaluated monthly and skin re-pigmentation was assessed us- ing the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI). Laboratory data were obtained and repeated monthly. Fifteen patients (12 women and 3 men) with a mean age of 30.13±12.75 years were studied. After 3 months, the extent of re-pigmen- tation on all the body regions, including the upper extremities, hands, trunk, lower extremities, feet, and head and neck was significantly higher than the baseline (P value <0.001, 0.016, 0.029, <0.001, 0.006, 0.006, respectively). Patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases had significantly more re- pigmentation compared with others (P=0.020). No irregular laboratory data were observed during the study. HCQ could be an effective treatment for generalized vitiligo. The benefits are likely to be more evident in case of con- comitant autoimmune disease. The authors recommend additional large- scale controlled studies to draw further conclusions

Modulation of tryptophan/serotonin pathway by probiotic supplementation in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients: preliminary results of a new study approach

Background: To date, no data are available regarding the effects of probiotics on the pathway of tryptophan/serotonin metabolism among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1–infected individuals. Because a condition of dysbiosis might be responsible for the altered use of tryptophan described in this population, the aim of this study was to investigate the link between probiotic supplementation and serotonin levels in combined antiretroviral therapy–treated patients and the subsistence of an interplay with inflammation. Methods: We conducted a pilot study that included 8 HIV-positive subjects. We collected blood and fecal samples before and after 6 months of probiotic supplementation, to measure the level of serotonin in serum and tryptophan in stool, the expression of CD38 and HLADR on peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes (as immune activation markers), the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and IFN-γ mRNA (as markers of tryptophan metabolism and systemic inflammation). Results: After probiotic supplementation, we observed a significant increase in concentration of serum serotonin (P=.008) and a decreased level of tryptophan in plasma. Moreover, a significant reduction in CD38 and HLA-DR expression on the surface of peripheral CD4+ T cells (P=.008) and a reduced expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 mRNA on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P=.04) were observed. Conclusions: Considering that this probiotic (Vivomixx® in EU; Visbiome® in USA) has an influence on tryptophan metabolism, larger studies on this topic are needed

Rectal adenocarcinoma in an 9 year old girl. A case report

Rectal adenocarcinoma is rare in children. The patient described here is a 9-year-old girl who presented with rectorrhagia. Her problem started 3 months ago and she had been treated for infectious diarrhea. A colonoscopy was performed 3 months after the onset of symptoms and a non-pedunculated polyp in the rectum was noted and resected. After the colonoscopy signs and symptoms of peritonitis developed and in laparotomy a rectal perforation was noted and a biopsy from rectal mucosa was taken. The result of biopsy was adenocarcinoma. Then a low anterior resection of rectum with protective ileostomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy was performed. During a 15 month follow-up the patient had no problems and no clinical, radiological or laboratory signs or symptoms of recurrence was found. However rectal adenocarcinoma is rare but it should be considered in the differentialdiagnosis of intestinal problems

Computational Design and Optimisation of Pin Fin Heat Sinks with Rectangular Perforations

The benefits of using pin heat sinks (PHSs) with single, rectangular slotted or notched pin perforations, are explored computationally, using a conjugate heat transfer model. Results show that the heat transfer increases monotonically while the pressure drop decreases monotonically as the size of the rectangular perforation increases. Performance comparisons with PHSs with multiple circular perforations show favourable heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. However, the reduced manufacturing complexity of rectangular notched pins in particular provide strong motivation for their use in practical applications. Detailed parameterisation and optimisation studies into the benefits of single rectangular notch perforations demonstrate the scope for improving heat transfer and reducing mechanical fan power consumption yet further by careful design of pin density and pin perforations in PHSs