Introduction. Modern radiation therapy has become an effective method to treat and monitor tumour growth in cancer patients. It has proved to be a successful way to minimise mortality rates. However, the adverse effects of radiation have been historical evidence in the clinical environment involving diminishing the quality and density of bone and causing fragility fracture to the bone in the long run. This systematic review was aimed at identifying and evaluating the effects of irradiation on morphology and mechanical properties of murine model bone in previous publications. Methods. A systematic literature review was undertaken following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases (English only studies published between 2015 and 2020). The selected studies were evaluated according to three criteria: (1) criteria for study sample selection; (2) criteria for methodological procedures; and (3) criteria for detection and evaluation. Results. The initial search strategy identified 1408 related studies, 8 of were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. This review revealed an association between bone destruction and the magnitude of time and dose postirradiation. We agreed that the effect of radiation on bone morphology and strength primarily is a later stage event but noticeable in both low (1 Gy) and high dose (30 Gy) radiation. Trabecular and cortical bone microstructures were significantly altered at irradiation and contralateral sites. Besides, the mechanical strength was significantly impacted in both shorter and longer periods. Conclusion. Overall, the radiotherapy altered bone microstructures and substantially decreases bone mechanical properties. The alteration was related to quantity and the activity of the osteoblast and osteoclast. Early detection of those most at risk for radiation-induced bone alterations could lead to better prophylactic intervention decisions.
Background: The current clinical practice to manage kidney stone requires knowledge of the stone composition. However, it is often difficult to determine the actual stone composition before a stone is operatively removed from the patient. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can predict urinary stone composition, but it is not widely adopted. The purpose of the study was to investigate the use of a second-generation DECT with tin or stannum (Sn) filter for characterising the kidney stones composition. Methods: Thirty-three kidney stones were scanned ex vivo using a dual-source (DS)DECT scanner with dual-energy (DE) mode of 80/140 kVp with and without 4 mm Sn filtration. DE ratio was calculated to determine the kidney stones composition (uric acid, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and cystine). The median DE ratio of the stones was compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test and the results were further correlated with semi-quantitative Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis using Kendall’s Tau test with P < 0.05 deemed to be statistically significant. Results: Second-generation DS-DECT could significantly discriminate the stones composition with and without Sn filtration (P < 0.001). The median DE ratio of uric acid, calcium oxalate and cystine stones were significantly higher with Sn filtration than those without filtration (P < 0.05). DECT results revealed significant correlation with FTIR spectroscopy analysis (r = 0.716, P < 0.001). DECT with Sn filtration showed increased performance (100% sensitivity, 0% specificity) than those without filtration (48.5% sensitivity, 0% specificity) in the detection of the kidney stone subtypes. Conclusion: In the second-generation DECT with additional Sn filtration, DECT has shown a significant performance in characterising and discriminating the kidney stone composition. This may improve diagnostic and therapy management in kidney stones cases.
COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological impact on the human being. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety and stress among undergraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 was conducted on 319 students. The results demonstrated that 21.6% - 32.9% of the students had moderate to extremely severe of depression, anxiety, and stress. Number of close friends and number of persons living at home were identified as their most significant predictors. These findings provide preliminary awareness towards understanding the mental health issue among college students during COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19; mental health; students eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i21.3709
This study aimed to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation and study habits during online distance learning (ODL) among students. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sleep deprivation and study habits with academic performance among students during ODL. A cross-sectional survey is used through an online platform. The questionnaire was distributed to 191 students in Medical Imaging course. The data being analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Most students had poor sleep (n=130, 68.1%) and poor study habits (n=136, 71.2%). There is no significant correlation between sleep deprivation (X2=0.31, df=2, p=0.855) and study habits (X2=1.26, df=2, p=0.533) on student’s academic performance. Keywords: sleep deprivation; study habits; e-learning; academic performance eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i21.3735
The polychaete Diopatra claparedii Grube, 1878 is among those organisms successfully carrying out full body regeneration, including the whole nervous system. Thus, D. claparedii potentially can be regarded for the nervous system regeneration (NSR) study. However, data on the property of its nervous system and the NSR profile are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the morphology of D. claparedii anterior nervous system (ANS) and examined the cellular and molecular profiles on its early anterior NSR. The nervous system of D. claparedii consists of a symmetry brain with nerves branching off, circumpharyngeal connectives that connect the brain and nerve cord as well as obvious segmental ganglia. Moreover, we identified changes in the cellular condition of the ganglionic cells in the regenerating tissue, such as the accumulation of lysosomes and lipofuscins, elongated mitochondria and multiple nucleoli. Furthermore, mRNA of tissues at two regenerating stages, as well as intact tissue (non-regenerating), were sequenced with Illumina sequencer. We identified from these tissues 37,248 sequences, 18 differential expressed proteins of which upregulated were involved in NSR with noelin-like isoform X2 turned up to be the highest being expressed. Our results highlight the cellular and molecular changes during early phase of NSR, thus providing essential insights on regeneration within Annelida and understanding the neurodegenerative diseases.
Reconstruction kernel is one of the parameters that affects the computed tomography (CT) image quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of applying three different reconstruction kernels on image quality in 3-phased CT of the liver. A total of 63 CT liver images including normal liver (n = 43) and liver lesion (n = 20) were retrospectively reviewed. Smooth (B20f), medium smooth (B30f) and medium (B40f) reconstruction kernels were employed in the image reconstruction process. Mean attenuation, image noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values from each kernel reconstruction were quantified and compared among those kernels using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis. Significant changes in image noise and SNR were observed in the normal liver (p < 0.001, respectively) following the application of those reconstruction kernels. However, no significant changes in mean attenuation, image noise, and SNR were demonstrated in the liver lesion (p > 0.05). Application of smooth (B20f), medium smooth (B30f), and medium (B40f) kernel reconstructions would significantly affect the image noise and SNR in the normal liver of CT images instead of liver lesions. Hence, proper selection of reconstruction kernel is important in CT images reconstruction to improve precision in diagnostic CT interpretation.
A laboratory experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to assess the effect of cyanobacteria on soil properties of cultivated and forest lands of Madhupur Tract. The population of cyanobacteria in two soils from Madhupur and one fromfrom BAU farm was counted followed by their identification up to genera level by fluorescence microscope. A marked variation was observed in cyanobacterial population among the soils: 27.8x105 g-1 in BAU farm soil, 2.70x105 g-1 in Madhupur cultivated soil and 1.62x105 g-1 in Madhupur forest soil. A total of 21 isolates were identified from all the soils taking eight isolates from each of Madhupur cultivated and BAU farm soils, and five from Madhupur forest soil . Of the 21 isolates, six isolates taking two from each soil were inoculated into all the three soils to see their effect on soil properties. These were Fischerella Mc and Aulosira Mc from Madhurpur cultivated soil; Calothrix Mf and Scytonema Mf from Madhurpur forest soil; Anabaena Bf and Nostoc Bf from BAU farm soil. The results reveal that there was an increase of soil pH, organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca, available S and CEC and a decrease in exchangeable K and exchangeable Na concentrations. The impact of different isolates on most of the soil properties was significant except their effect on exchangeable K for all soils, exchangeable Na for BAU farm soil and CEC for Madhurpur cultivated soil. Usually isolates showed better performance in their native soils than in other soils and cyanobacteria inoculation showed a positive indication towards improving fertility of soils. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2023, 48(1): 112-122
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