Clinical Correlation Between Back Pain and Osteoarthritis Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To investigate the clinical correlation between back pain and the role of osteoarthritis in the etiology of this pain. Methods: This research employs a cross-sectional study design to investigate the clinical correlation between back pain and osteoarthritis in adults. Cross-sectional studies provide a snapshot of data at a specific time, making them suitable for assessing the prevalence and potential associations between variables of interest. Results: The study included 1106 participants. The most frequent age among them was 40-50 years (n= 486, 43.9%), followed by 18-28 years (n= 340, 30.7%). The most frequent gender among study participants was female (n= 560, 50.6%) followed by male (n= 546, 49.4%). The most frequent marital status among study participants was married (n= 702, 63.5%), followed by single (n= 353, 31.9%). The most frequent job among study participants was a government job (n= 480, 43.4%), followed by a private sector job (n= 177, 16%). Duration of suffering from back pain among study participants with most of them being 1 to 5 years (n= 505, 45.7%), followed by nothing (n= 373, 33.7%), and the least was 23 years and above (n= 13, 1.2%). Participants were asked about evaluating the impact of back pain on life. For personal care, the most frequent was (currently, I do not feel any pain) (n= 514, 46.5%). The severity of pain, the most frequent, was (I can usually take care of myself and do my own things without adding to my pain) (n= 923, 83.5%). The lift and move things, the most frequent was (I can lift heavy objects without it adding to my pain) (n= 524, 47.4%). The walking, the most frequent was (The pain does not prevent me from walking any distance) (n= 801, 72.4%). The Sitting, the most frequent was (I can sit in any chair for as long as I want) (n= 661, 59.8%). The stand-up, most frequent was (I can stay standing as long as I want without increasing my pain) (n= 523, 47.3%). For sleep, the most frequent answer was (My sleep is never disturbed by pain) (n= 611, 55.2%). The Social-life, most frequent was (My social life is normal and does not cause me more pain) (n= 860, 77.8%). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that most of the participants were married and taught in government jobs. The majority of them do not suffer from severe back pain that affects their lives. In addition, most of the study participants had good and effective communicatio

Effect of growth techniques on the structural, optical and electrical properties of indium doped TiO2thin films

We have investigated the effect of the growth techniques on the structural, the electrically and optically active defects in Indium doped TiO2 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and sputtering techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy patterns revealed both rutile and anatase phases for the sputtering samples. On the other hand, only the anatase phase was observed for the PLD samples. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra have unveiled several peaks which were explained by defect related optical transitions. Particularly, the PL bands are fully consistent with anatase/rutile TiO2 phases and the formation of In2O3 during the preparation of our samples. It was also observed that at −4 V reverse bias, the PLD samples have lower leakage currents (∼1.4 × 10−7 A) as compared to the sputtering samples (∼5.9 × 10−7 A). In addition, the PLD samples exhibited lower ideality factors and higher barrier heights as compared to those grown by sputtering. Finally, the Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements have shown only one defect in the PLD samples whereas five defects have been detected in the sputtering samples. Therefore, our results provide strong evidence that the PLD technique is better suited for the growth of In-doped TiO2 thin films

The guide of implementing chat protocol: study case on using the socket programming concept and object-oriented programming

In the past, communication among people was limited and very difficult. Nowadays, the Internet makes our life veryeasy. Through the Internet you can easily communicate with people in different corners of the world in a few seconds. These days,the world has been converted into a small village by the Internet. The chat room is one of the effective communication tools. In thispaper, a new protocol is presented for the chat room using the socket programming concept. This protocol has been implemented using Java

Power-Efficient Wireless Coverage Using Minimum Number of UAVs

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be deployed as backup aerial base stations due to cellular outage either during or post natural disaster. In this paper, an approach involving multi-UAV three-dimensional (3D) deployment with power-efficient planning was proposed with the objective of minimizing the number of UAVs used to provide wireless coverage to all outdoor and indoor users that minimizes the required UAV transmit power and satisfies users’ required data rate. More specifically, the proposed algorithm iteratively invoked a clustering algorithm and an efficient UAV 3D placement algorithm, which aimed for maximum wireless coverage using the minimum number of UAVs while minimizing the required UAV transmit power. Two scenarios where users are uniformly and non-uniformly distributed were considered. The proposed algorithm that employed a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-based clustering algorithm resulted in a lower number of UAVs needed to serve all users compared with that when a K-means clustering algorithm was employed. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm that iteratively invoked a PSO-based clustering algorithm and PSO-based efficient UAV 3D placement algorithms reduced the execution time by a factor of ≈1/17 and ≈1/79, respectively, compared to that when the Genetic Algorithm (GA)-based and Artificial Bees Colony (ABC)-based efficient UAV 3D placement algorithms were employed. For the uniform distribution scenario, it was observed that the proposed algorithm required six UAVs to ensure 100% user coverage, whilst the benchmarker algorithm that utilized Circle Packing Theory (CPT) required five UAVs but at the expense of 67% of coverage density

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing practices and patient care

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, rapidly escalated into a global crisis, profoundly affecting healthcare systems worldwide. Nurses, as frontline workers, faced significant challenges due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases, strained resources, and heightened stress levels. Despite numerous publications addressing these issues, there is a need for a systematic review to synthesize credible findings and better understand the challenges faced by nurses. Aim: This review aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing practices and patient care, focusing on the major challenges encountered by nurses during the pandemic and the implications for nursing practice. Methods: A narrative review was conducted based on a literature search that identified 22 relevant studies, including quantitative surveys, qualitative studies, and mixed-methods research. Thematic analysis was employed to identify and synthesize recurring themes from the studies, focusing on physical and mental exhaustion, PPE-related challenges, psychosomatic disturbances, and effective mitigating strategies. Results: Key themes identified include severe physical and mental exhaustion among nurses, challenges with PPE shortages and usability, widespread psychosomatic disturbances, and various factors that could alleviate these challenges. Nurses experienced significant stress, anxiety, and physical discomfort due to extended work hours and inadequate PPE.&nbsp

Indole Derivatives Efficacy and Kinetics for Inhibiting Carbon Steel Corrosion in Sulfuric Acid Media

The global prevalence of metal corrosion is a significant challenge due to its detrimental effect. Environmentally friendly and non-hazardous alternatives for harmful and poisonous synthetic corrosion inhibitors are urgently necessary due to increasing environmental concerns and regulations prohibiting their application. In this study, indole molecules were employed as carbon steel corrosion inhibitors in acidic conditions. Gravimetrical and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) analysis was used in a preliminary investigation of indole as an organic inhibitor. The results revealed that adding indole to carbon steel before exposing it to sulfuric acid slowed and induced resistance to corrosion. The indole affixed themselves to the steel carbon surfaces, producing a barrier/protection for carbon steel. The efficacy of the indole in preventing corrosion was determined through the weight loss method. Temperature and inhibitory concentration effects on inhibition effectiveness under varying parameters were also reported. The temperatures employed were between 298 K and 328 K, while the inhibitor concentrations ranged from 1.2 × 10−3 M to 7.6 × 10−3 M, and both parameters significantly influenced corrosion inhibition effectiveness. The inhibitory mixture attained optimum efficacy in inhibiting corrosion, at 81 %, when the lowest and highest respective temperature and concentration were applied. The kinetic analysis was conducted under a range of temperatures to determine the reaction mechanisms of the inhibitor. The thermal adsorption isotherm of the inhibitor indicated that the surface adhered to Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. Additionally, investigations on corrosion and inhibition using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method (EIS) were conducted. This study can provide in-depth knowledge for advancing inhibitory science and engineering to enhance corrosion resistance in acidic media

Frequency and predictive factors for spontaneous normalization of anti-tissue transglutaminase-IgA serology among Saudi children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cohort study

Background: Celiac serology can be transiently elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and normalized despite gluten consumption. This study aimed to identify the frequency and predictive factors of spontaneous normalization of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG-IgA) antibodies in these patients. Methods: The charts of all patients (≤18 years) with T1DM were retrospectively reviewed from 2012 to 2021 at a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The following data were collected: clinical characteristics of the participants, anti-TTG-IgA-immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibody, and histological findings. The outcome of positive anti-TTG-IgA-IgA in patients with T1DM and the predictive factors for spontaneous normalization were investigated. Results: Of the 1,006 patients with T1DM, 138 (13.7%) had elevated anti-TTG-IgA antibodies, celiac disease was diagnosed in 58/138 (42%) patients, spontaneous normalization of anti-TTG-IgA was observed in 65 (47.1%) patients, and fluctuating anti-TTG-IgA antibodies were seen in 15 (10.9%) patients. The patients with anti-TTG-IgA levels at 3–10 times the upper normal limits (UNL), and those with levels ≥10 times UNL were less likely to have spontaneous normalization of anti-TTG-IgA compared to patients with levels at 1–3 times UNL (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.28, 95% confidence interval [Cl] = 0.13–0.61, P = 0.001, and HR = 0.03, 95% Cl = 0.00–0.19, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Asymptomatic patients with T1DM with mild elevation of anti-TTG-IgA need not be rushed for invasive endoscopy or exposed to an un-needed gluten-free diet but should rather have a regular follow-up of their celiac serology

Innovative approaches in regenerative endodontics: A review of current literature

Background: Biomimicry or biomimetics refers to developing materials and techniques inspired by natural systems. In dentistry, this approach aims to replicate natural tooth structures and functions, addressing limitations of conventional materials and techniques. Regenerative endodontics, including cell homing and revascularization, represents significant advancements in this field, focusing on pulp-dentin regeneration and tooth vitality restoration. Aim: This review explores innovative biomimetic approaches in regenerative endodontics, including the latest techniques and their clinical implications. It aims to assess the effectiveness and future prospects of these methods in enhancing tooth repair and regeneration. Methods: The review synthesizes current literature on regenerative endodontic procedures, including cell homing, revascularization, scaffold implantation, and gene therapy. It examines experimental studies, clinical trials, and advancements in biomimetic materials and techniques, highlighting their applications and outcomes. Results: The review finds that regenerative endodontics has evolved from traditional apexification to advanced techniques such as cell homing and revascularization. Cell homing, which leverages the body’s natural healing processes without cell transplantation, shows promise in generating pulp-dentin tissue. Revascularization, involving the induction of a blood clot and stem cell recruitment, has demonstrated potential in restoring vitality to necrotic teeth.&nbsp

The role of nursing, pharmacology, and diagnostics in pain management: Review

Background: Severe burns affecting more than 20% of the body can lead to systemic dysfunction and immunological suppression, increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. This backdrop underscores the critical role of nursing in preventing complications associated with burn injuries, including cancer development. Aim of Work: This research aims to examine the role of nursing care in the prevention and management of post-burn skin cancer, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to delivering optimal care for burn patients. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted across multiple databases, including Magiran, Scientific Information Database, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search utilized targeted keywords—"nursing," "skin cancer," and "burns"—in combination with Boolean operators, resulting in an initial pool of 580 articles. After a thorough screening process, 10 articles were identified as eligible for analysis. Results: The findings indicate that effective nursing care is essential in managing wound care, controlling infections, and alleviating pain while emphasizing the role of nurses in early detection and treatment of wound inflammation, crucial for cancer prevention. Nurses are responsible for educating patients about skin cancer prevention, emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices and providing psychological support

The role of nanotechnology in restorative dentistry: A review of current applications

Background: Restorative dentistry has evolved significantly from the use of traditional materials such as amalgam to more advanced options like dental composite resins. Nanotechnology, which involves manipulating materials at the atomic or molecular scale, has introduced a new dimension to dental materials, offering improvements in mechanical properties, aesthetics, and functionality. Aim: This review aims to explore the current applications of nanotechnology in restorative dentistry, focusing on how nanomaterials enhance dental treatments and restorations. Methods: A comprehensive review of recent studies and advancements in nanomaterials applied to dental composite resins, adhesives, cements, and whitening agents was conducted. Key areas of investigation included the impact of nanomaterials on mechanical strength, wear resistance, antibacterial properties, and aesthetic outcomes. Results: Nanomaterials such as nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, titanium dioxide, silver, and zinc oxide have been integrated into dental materials to improve their performance. Nanocomposites demonstrate enhanced mechanical strength and durability, while nano-enhanced adhesives offer better bonding and self-healing capabilities. Antibacterial properties have been significantly improved with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles, which help in preventing secondary caries and oral infections. Nanomaterials have also advanced dental cements and whitening agents, offering better fluoride release, controlled whitening effects, and improved imaging techniques