MED Institute

Hornhimnusking af vldum Acanthamoeba (Acanthamoeba keratitis -AK) er afar sjaldgaefur en alvarlegur augnsjkdmur

Objective. To investigate changes in the morphological structure and elemental composition of dental implants with three types of surface (TiO2, SLA, RBM) after treatment with various methods — Er, Cr: YSGG laser with a wavelength of 2780 nm, Air Flow with erythritol and Vector Paro ultrasound device. Material and methods. A total of 36 dental implants were included: 9 new implants (3 of each surface type) were used as the control group, and 27 implants, explanted from patients with peri-implantitis, were evenly divided into three subgroups according to the cleaning method used. Surface morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental composition was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results. Laser treatment demonstrated versatility and cleaning efficiency without damaging the microrelief for all types of surfaces. The Air Flow air-abrasive method was most effective for the RBM surface, but showed residual surface contamination when treated with TiO2 and SLA. The ultrasonic method using the Vector Paro device was especially effective for the TiO2 surface, probably due to its hydrophilic properties. Conclusion. The choice of decontamination method for the treatment of peri-implantitis should take into account the surface type and characteristics of the dental implant. The Er, Cr:YSGG laser proved to be a universal and effective method, while Air Flow and Vector Paro were more efficient when used for specific surface types.

Background. Fluoroquinolones continue to be widely used in the treatment of a wide range of infectious diseases, though new risks, including serious, have been identified in the process of their use. In order to maintain a favorable benefit-risk ratio, it is necessary to continue careful monitoring of the real-world safety profile of fluoroquinolones, which may allow, among other things, to develop new approaches to their rational use. Objective. To study the structure of adverse reactions (ARs) associated with the use of fluoroquinolones based on a retrospective analysis of the national database of spontaneous reports. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of spontaneous reports (SRs) received in the Russian database of ARs was carried out from 01.04.2019 to 28.02.2023. Inclusion criteria: SRs with ARs occurred on the territory of the Russian Federation, fluoroquinolone group drug indicated as a suspected drug (SD), identification of a high causal relationship "AR-SD". The Russianversion of MedDRA was used to code and systematize ARs. Results. The study included 1890 SRs, out of them 950 were for levofloxacin, 633 for ciprofloxacin, 205 for moxifloxacin, and 102 for other fluoroquinolones. 75.5 % of the received SRs contained information about serious ARs, more than 80 % of ARs developed at the inpatient stage of medical care, self-medication was detected in 2.9 % of cases. 40.8 % of SRs included data on young people; patient age ≥ 75 years was indicated in 7.7 % of SRs; in 75 cases (4.0 %) fluoroquinolones were used in children under 18 years of age. The analysis showed that the most frequently reported ARs were from next 7 system-organ classes (SOC): skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders; gastrointestinal disorders; general disorders and administration site conditions; investigations; respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders, nervous system disorders and immune system disorders. In general, the proportion of these ADRs was 84.1 % with a variation in values in subgroups from 78.2 % for moxifloxacin to 91.9 % for ciprofloxacin. Conclusion. The development of a set of measures to improve the general level of knowledge of physicians about the entire spectrum of ARs associated with fluoroquinolones is essential for the rational use of this group. It is necessary to identify not only common, but also clinically significant rare ARs of fluoroquinolones at early stages, and promptly send the information to Roszdravnadzor. Solving these problems will generally improve the safety of antibacterial therapy.

Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is the most common chromosomal disorder, characterized by intellectual disability, congenital anomalies, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the etiology, clinical presentation, and modern therapeutic strategies for DS, including early intervention, medical management, and psychosocial support. Particular emphasis is placed on the revolutionary potential of CRISPR-Cas gene-editing technology as a tool for future treatment strategies. Drawing upon findings from many scientific publications, the article discusses the mechanism of CRISPR, its current medical applications, and its experimental use in silencing the extra chromosome 21 or correcting DS-associated genes. Technical, ethical, and delivery-related limitations are explored, alongside speculative but promising research directions, including base editing, prime editing, and cerebral organoids. The article concludes with a reflection on whether societal perceptions of genetic diversity should evolve alongside scientific innovation, highlighting that the greatest breakthrough may come not from altering genomes, but from fostering inclusion and understanding.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a prevalent surgical procedure, and optimal postoperative pain management remains a critical concern. This prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of regional anesthesia (RA) versus general anesthesia (GA) on postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective LC. A total of 120 patients were randomized equally into two groups: RA group received spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine, while GA group received standard general anesthesia. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours post-surgery. The RA group demonstrated significantly lower VAS scores at all time points (p<0.001), with mean scores at 2 hours being 2.1±0.5 compared to 4.3±0.7 in the GA group. Additionally, the RA group required fewer rescue analgesics (p=0.002) and experienced shorter time to ambulation (p=0.01). No significant differences were observed in intraoperative complications between the groups. These findings suggest that RA provides superior postoperative analgesia and facilitates faster recovery compared to GA in LC patients.(PMC, SpringerLink)

Herein, we report the first electrochemical microfluidic thread/paper-based analytical device (μTPAD) by harnessing the synergistic combination of embroidery as a manufacturing technique and paper-based technology. The effectiveness of the μTPAD was tested for potentiometric pH monitoring in chronic wounds. A configuration was designed for multiple analyses in chronic wounds, simply by cutting off one of the μthread-paper pads used for measurement and renewal every time the electrochemical cell was used for measurement. The electrochemical cell was constituted by conductive silver threads coated with graphite and Ag/AgCl inks, for the working and reference electrodes, respectively. The working electrode was also electrochemically modified with an iridium oxide film to sense proton activity, and the modified threads were then embroidered onto filter paper as a support. The μTPAD was successively connected to a portable miniaturized potentiostat, connected via Bluetooth Low Energy to a smartphone, with a dedicated app for potential readout to deliver a wearable device, allowing for pH monitoring in the pH range between 4 and 8, with a sensitivity of 0.056 ± 0.002 V pH-1 and a reproducibility (RSD%) equal to 8%. The accuracy of the wearable device was assessed by measuring the fluid secreted in a chronic wound near the fibula of a human leg and comparing the data with a laboratory pH meter, demonstrating the reliability of this new concept of wearable paper-based devices.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the satisfaction of customer and customer loyalty in the fast food restaurant industry. A theoretical model, including hypotheses, has been proposed in this study. Data were assembled using convenient sampling method. The hypothesized model was verified with the data from 204 respondents. Principal component analysis and structural equation modeling approach were applied to analyze data. The results (significant at po0.01 and po0.05) exhibited that food quality, price and service qualities were positively linked to customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction was positively associated with customer loyalty. The empirical results found a contrary association between the location and environment of restaurant and customer satisfaction. Customer loyalty studies generally indicate that fast-food customers are not genuinely loyal to brands or products mainly because they function under low-switching cost conditions. The purpose of this research is to empirically study whether fast-food customers genuinely become loyal and, if so, how. The study adopts the theory and method of the satisfaction-trust-commitment-loyalty explanation chain and examines the consumer survey results obtained under conditions of low-switching costs. Analyses of the results indicate that the proposed relationships provide appropriate explanatory power for the phenomenon at hand and that fast- food customers truly become loyal despite conditions of low switching costs. The findings and the research and practical implications are thoroughly discussed.

Forecasting stock market returns is one of the most effective tools for risk management and portfolio diversification. There are several forecasting techniques in the literature for obtaining accurate forecasts for investment decision making. Numerous empirical studies have employed such methods to investigate the returns of different individual stock indices. However, there have been very few studies of groups of stock markets or indices. The findings of previous studies indicate that there is no single method that can be applied uniformly to all markets. In this context, this study aimed to examine the predictive performance of linear, nonlinear, artificial intelligence, frequency domain, and hybrid models to find an appropriate model to forecast the stock returns of developed, emerging, and frontier markets. We considered the daily stock market returns of selected indices from developed, emerging, and frontier markets for the period 2000–2018 to evaluate the predictive performance of the above models. The results showed that no single model out of the five models could be applied uniformly to all markets. However, traditional linear and nonlinear models outperformed artificial intelligence and frequency domain models in providing accurate forecasts.