Effect of simvastatin on the extraction socket healing in the mandible of prednisolone-treated albino rat

Aim: This work aimed to evaluate the possible prophylactic effect of using Simvastatin as adjunctive treatment to ameliorate the effects of using prednisolone on the healing of the albino rat mandibular molar extraction socket.Materials and Methods: 42 rats were equally divided into 3 groups (I: received distilled water, II received Prednisolone, III: received simvastatin + prednisolone via gastric tube). After 5 weeks, the mandibular 1st molar was extracted then each group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups depending on sacrifice time after extraction: (A: 10 days and B: 21 days). Mandibular molar areas were processed for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical examination using osteonectin marker. The cell counts and new bone area percentage were measured and statistically analyzed using T-test, ANOVA and post hoc tukey tests. Results: Prednisolone significantly decreased the area of new bone, osteoblasts and osteocytes count. Simvastatin had positive effects in the active osteoblasts and recent osteocytes cell counts marked by osteonectin staining and the new bone formation to a comparable level to the control group. The significant effects of Simvastatin on wound healing were indicated by statistical analysis of different parameters. Conclusions: Prednisolone adversely affected the extraction socket healing. Simvastatin leads to minimizing the effects of prednisolone by increasing the cellular count and bone formation. Keywords: Simvastatin, Extraction Socket, Prednisolone, Rat

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The implementation of Hotel revenue management practices and the implications on customers' behavioural intentions

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The Implementation of Hotel Revenue Management Practices and the Implication on Customers’ Behavioural Intentions.

Revenue Management (RM) has been regarded as one of the most researched areas in hospitality operations management study. RM is the practice of dynamically pricing a perishable product and selectively allocating scarce capacity across segmented demand and distribution channels, while taking into account customers’ profitability and value, in an effort to maximise gross total revenue and therefore improve profitability. A number of studies have tentatively looked into customers’ fairness perceptions of revenue management decisions, yet there is no reported empirical research that examines the impact of hotel revenue management on customers’ behavioural intentions in a real dynamic service encounter. Hence, the thrust of this research is to examine the impact of pricing practices on three customer groups: those who accept a reservation offer, those who decline a reservation offer, and those who are denied a reservation request. To bridge this gap, this research seeks to contribute to knowledge by investigating the relationship between hotel revenue management practices and the implications of this on customers’ behavioural intentions. In order to gain a richer and deeper understanding of the effects revenue management has had on customers’ behavioural intentions, a case study approach was adopted. An inductive exploratory single case study was conducted in a UK leading budget hotel chain. In depth data was collected based on a mixed methods approach and divergent data sources were used including semi-structured interviews with executives at the hotel chain and customers, observation, documentation, and a web-based survey completed by the visitors of the chain’s website. The research results in significant findings relating to customers’ perceptions to RM practices and the impact of these practices on their behavioural intentions. The findings are encouraging and suggest that the adoption and implementation of RM practices has great potential in the budget hotel sector under the following conditions: provide sufficient information on pricing and inventory control strategies to assist customer education about RM practices; and view RM as an integrated management practice to balance revenues/profits and customer relationships. This research provides several theoretical contributions to the literature and offers important implications for hospitality managers. The key contribution of this research indicates that the price paid for a room has a direct and positive effect on behavioural intentions of customers who have successfully made a booking. However, customers who declined a reservation offer or were denied a reservation request because of the quoted price, displayed negative behavioural intentions. To conclude, it is recognised that the generalisation of the findings is context-specific to the budget hotel sector and therefore is restricted. A number of areas for future research are identified to extend the boundaries of this research

Exploring the Role of Extrovert-Introvert Customers’ Personality Prototype as a Driver of Customer Engagement: Does Relationship Duration Matter?

Drawing on social exchange theory, the current study examines new drivers and their associated processes of customer engagement. In spirit, the study tests the direct and indirect impacts of the extraversion–introversion personality trait on customer engagement. The study takes into consideration the contingency role of time by testing the moderating role of relationship duration. Results demonstrate that the more extraverted customers are, the more they are likely to engage with service firms. Further, extraversion is positively related to customer–employee interaction, which in turn leads to more utilitarian and hedonic values perceived by customers. Both types of value, then, induce higher customer engagement behaviors in terms of customer referrals, knowledge sharing, and social-influence. Findings demonstrate that relationship duration moderates some of the examined relationships. The current study contributes to the literature by extending the knowledge on customer engagement\u27s predisposition and social causes

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Myocarditis following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations have recently been implicated in causing myocarditis. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with myocarditis following mRNA vaccination. The secondary aims were to report common imaging and laboratory findings, as well as treatment regimes, in these patients. A literature search was performed from December 2019 to June 2022. Eligible studies reported patients older than 18 years vaccinated with mRNA, a diagnosis of myocarditis, and subsequent outcomes. Pooled mean or proportion were analyzed using a random-effects model. Seventy-five unique studies (patient n = 188, 89.4% male, mean age 18–67 years) were included. Eighty-six patients had Moderna vaccines while one hundred and two patients had Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. The most common presenting symptoms were chest pain (34.5%), fever (17.1%), myalgia (12.4%), and chills (12.1%). The most common radiologic findings were ST-related changes on an electrocardiogram (58.7%) and hypokinesia on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography (50.7%). Laboratory findings included elevated Troponin I levels (81.7%) and elevated C-reactive protein (71.5%). Seven patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. The most common treatment modality was non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (36.6%) followed by colchicine (28.5%). This meta-analysis presents novel evidence to suggest possible myocarditis post mRNA vaccination in certain individuals, especially young male patients. Clinical practice must therefore take appropriate pre-cautionary measures when administrating COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations