Digital Commons Network^™

Dietary Fat Intake And Its Influence On The Association Between Liver Fat And Brain Choline Metabolism In Young Saudi Women, Halima S. Hawesa, Mansour E. Shanawani, Haya A. Alshegri, Mahasin G. Hassan, Amal I. Alorainy, Nouf A. Alroqaiba, Shanoo G. A. Sheikh

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Fat-rich nutrition may influence the neurochemical consequences of hepatic lipid accumulation. This study examined whether percent energy from fat modifies the association between liver fat and the brain (Cho/Cr) ratio in healthy young women. Methods: A total of 109 healthy Saudi women aged 18–25 years underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) to quantify Cho/Cr ratios. Liver fat was estimated using MRI-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF), and lipid intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable regression models tested the interaction between liver fat and fat-derived energy intake, followed by simple slopes analysis, regression …

Artificial Intelligence In Pharmaceutical Care: Transforming Drug Discovery, Development, And Patient-Care Delivery, Abdulrahman G. Alharbi, Abdulrahman A. Aljabri

Saudi Medical Journal

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pharmaceutical care represents a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, offering unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize medication management, accelerate drug development, and enhance patient outcomes. This comprehensive review synthesized evidence from global literature (2021–2025) examining AI applications across drug discovery and development, clinical trials optimization, medication therapy management, and pharmacy operations. The AI demonstrated prediction accuracies of 86–98% in drug discovery, 80% improvement in clinical trial recruitment efficiency, and 32.7% increase in medication adherence over standard care. The global AI drug discovery market, valued at \$1.5 billion (2023), is projected to reach \$11.8 billion by …

The Use Of Platelet-Rich Plasma For De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: A Systematic Review With Limited Meta-Analysis, Abdullah W. Abumadian, Mohanad I. Binibrahim, Abdurrahman H. Sultan, Mohammed A. Addas, Hattan Y. Bamagaus, Sultan K. Alhaddad, Motasem O. Bamabad, Bayan A. Ghalimah

Saudi Medical Journal

Introduction: De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQT) is a painful wrist condition that impairs daily activities. Corticosteroid (CS) injections are commonly used for symptom relief, but their effects may diminish over time. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a regenerative alternative that promotes tissue healing rather than merely suppressing inflammation. This systematic review and limited meta-analysis compare the efficacy and safety of PRP versus CS injections in DQT. A limited meta-analysis was chosen due to the high heterogeneity between studies (I² = 98.7%). Methodology: A comprehensive literature search identified six studies comparing PRP and CS injections. Pain and functional outcomes …

The Role Of The Nlrp3 Inflammasome In Preeclampsia And Implantation Failure: A Molecular Review, Ari Budi Suryawinata, Mariel Tania Darmayani, Listyani Suhargo

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a critical multiprotein complex of the innate immune system that functions as a molecular sensor for a wide array of danger signals. While its activation is essential for host defense and tissue homeostasis, its dysregulation is increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous inflammatory disorders. This review article synthesizes the current molecular understanding of the NLRP3 inflammasome, focusing on its dual role in health and disease. We first provide a concise overview of the canonical two-step mechanism of NLRP3 activation and the intricate molecular checkpoints including genetic factors, post-translational …

Effects Of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy And Lactation On Immune Development In Offspring: A Systematic Review, Kurnia Maidarmi Handayani, Ghaniyyatul Khudri, Laura Zeffira, Widia Sari

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Vitamin D, a fat-soluble prohormone, is essential for skeletal health and plays a key role in immune regulation. Deficiency is common among pregnant and lactating women, raising concerns as fetal and neonatal vitamin D status relies entirely on maternal stores. Insufficiency during these periods is linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, and immune-mediated disorders. This review examines the effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation on the immune development of offspring.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251117397). Experimental rodent studies published between 2019 and 2022 that investigated maternal vitamin …

Association Between Underpants Fit And Semen Quality: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Harnam Kaur, Unnop Jaisamrarn, Paweena Thuwanut, Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, Jiayu Li

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The effect of underpants type on semen parameters remains controversial. Conducting such a study in the Thai population will contribute valuable region-specific data.

Objectives: This cross-sectional research studied the influence of fit of underpants worn on various semen parameters including semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology and sperm DNA fragmentation among Thai male partners in Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods: Thai male partners aged 20–55 years who sought infertility treatment from Reproductive Biology Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok were recruited from March to June 2024. All participants completed questionnaire covering socio-demographics, disease history, and type of underpants worn …

Recent Advances In Sustainable Production Of Enriched Chicken Eggs: A Mini Review, Karim El-Sabrout, Ayman Abd El-Aziz

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

Enriched or “designer” chicken eggs have emerged as an important category of functional foods aimed at improving human nutrition through dietary manipulation of laying hens. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in egg enrichment strategies, focusing on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Omega-3 enrichment remains the most widely adopted approach, achieved through supplementation with flaxseed, fish oil, or microalgae, resulting in significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in egg yolk. Multi-nutrient enrichment, including selenium, vitamin E, and carotenoids, has also gained attention due to its potential in enhancing antioxidant capacity and health of hens …

Feasibility Evaluation Of Tumor Treating Fields For Brainstem Gliomas, Anthony Chen, Ryan Shah, William Shi, Noa Urman, Nadav Shapira, Nicholas Avgeropoulos, Patrick Conlon, Neil Mookerjee, Wenyin Shi

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are FDA-approved for supratentorial glioblastoma, but feasibility in infratentorial tumors remains poorly defined. This simulation study evaluated TTFields dose in brainstem gliomas using patient-specific modeling with scalp-only transducer arrays.

METHODS: MRI and CT imaging from seven patients with brainstem gliomas were used for TTFields planning with MAXPOINT® (Novocure, Switzerland). Clinical target volume (CTV) was defined as enhancing tumor on T1 post-contrast MRI (Gross tumor volume, GTV) plus a 3 mm peritumoral expansion. The platform optimized scalp-only array layouts, and finite element calculations generated maps of local minimum field intensity (LMiFI, V/cm) and local minimum power …

Mental Health Self-Perceptions And Resource Utilization In Undergraduate Students At Binghamton University, Nicole J. Dreznin, Sarah Marcus

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Undergraduate students face increasing rates of mental health challenges, however discrepancies in mental health literacy and utilization of resources may exist across student populations. This study examined the perceptions of mental health in undergraduate students at Binghamton University and if they differed among STEM vs non-STEM, man vs. women, and first-generation vs. continuing generation undergraduate students. A 20-question survey, containing 5 demographic questions and 15 mental health related questions was distributed through Qualtrics to 9 undergraduate classes. The available response choices were based on the Likert scale. A total of 1266 students participated.  Chi square tests of independence were done …

Single-Nucleotide Rna M6a Mapping In Bovine Preimplantation Development Reveals Site-Specific Regulation Of Rpl12 At Zygotic Genome Activation, Rajan Iyyappan, Yichi Niu, Yang Li, Hao Ming, Kinga Pajdzik, Noah R Rakestraw, Piyush K Jain, Chuan He, Chenghang Zong, Zongliang Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a key regulator of gene expression during early embryogenesis. Using SAC-seq (m6A-selective allyl chemical labeling and sequencing), an antibody-independent m6A profiling method, we generated the first single-nucleotide-resolution m6A map of bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos. We observed both coordinated and uncoupled relationships between m6A modification and expression of protein-coding and noncoding genes. Integrative analysis of the transcriptome, m6A epitranscriptome, and translatome revealed dynamic m6A remodeling, particularly in ribosomal protein genes. Functional interrogation of a specific m6A site within the RPL12 transcript demonstrated that loss of this modification reduces protein synthesis, disrupts translation-related gene expression, impairs zygotic …

Greater Weekly Exercise Volume Is Associated With Lower Prevalence Of Metabolic Comorbidities, Psychiatric Conditions, And Exertional Symptoms In Youth Athletes Undergoing Pre-Participation Screening: An Observational Study, Grace Qiu, Seong Kyu Kim, Douglas Corsi, Alexander G. Hajduczok, Imran Masood, Daniel Underberg, Brian Osler, Drew Johnson, David Shipon

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity has been associated with improved cardiovascular health outcomes in adults. However, the specific associations between physical activity volume and cardiovascular outcomes in youth athletes are less defined.

METHODS: This study analyzed data from the HeartBytes National Youth Database, compiled from Simon's Heart. Simon's Heart is a nonprofit organization that includes information from sports pre-participation examinations for adolescents. The dataset encompasses demographics, electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, and exercise-related symptoms. Youth athletes' self-reported weekly physical activity volume was classified into four levels: < 2 h, 2-5 h, 5-10 h, and >10 h, with less than 2 h taken as the reference group. Given the physical diMerences among athletes …

Gene Transcriptional Expression Of Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations In Parkinson’S Disease: A Transcription-Neuroimaging Association Study, Jiaqi Cui, Qiane Yu, Haifeng Ran, Kexin Huang, Jie Hu, Tijiang Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aim: Despite the intimate link between cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations and Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis and cognitive decline, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms driving this relationship remain elusive. This study seeks to correlate changes in CBF with regional gene expression to advance mechanistic understanding of the disease.

Methods: CBF group differences were first determined from ASL data in 53 PD and 40 healthy controls (HC) and subsequently correlated with cognitive scores (Dataset 1). A coordinate-based meta-analysis of published literature provided a second set of CBF differences (Dataset 2). Transcriptomic data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas were then correlated with …

Subunit Composition Of The Katp Channels That Modulate Contractility Of Skeletal Muscle During Fatigue, Rosa Scala, Yuezhou Chen, Berk Mizrak, Gretchen A Meyer, Colin G Nichols

2020-Current year OA Pubs

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels are among the most expressed ion channels in skeletal muscle sarcolemma. While all KATP subunits can be detected in skeletal muscles, transcripts are enriched for KCNJ11 and ABCC9, suggesting that noncanonical Kir6.2/SUR2A assembly may constitute the majority of sarcolemmal KATP channels, but there has been no systematic dissection of KATP makeup in skeletal muscles. Here, we used a unique collection of murine lines selectively lacking specific channel-forming subunits (knockout, KO), and combined a genetic and pharmacological approach to determine which subunits of KATP channels are functionally relevant for skeletal muscle contraction. Under fatiguing conditions, isometric tetanic …

Long-Term Inactivation Mediated By Different Fgf-A Homologues On Heterologously Expressed Nav1.2 Currents, Yenisleidy Lorenzo-Ceballos, Pedro L Martinez-Espinosa, Xiao-Ming Xia, Christopher J Lingle

2020-Current year OA Pubs

A-isoforms of cytosolic growth factor homologous factors (FGF11-14) mediate long-term inactivation (LTI) of voltage-dependent sodium (NaV) channels. LTI is a rapid onset process that is competitive with the fast inactivation (IF) intrinsic to NaV channels, with little or no interconversion between inactivated states. Since recovery from LTI is orders of magnitude slower than recovery from IF, repetitive depolarizations lead to use-dependent accumulation of NaV channels in slow recovery states, thereby limiting NaV availability during trains of action potentials. Of the two or more N-terminal splice variants of the various FGF homologues, LTI specifically arises only from the A-isoform of each …

Ct-Derived Epicardial Adipose Tissue Density And Its Association With Systemic Inflammation And Functional Impairment In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study From Oman, Arif Albulushi, Ahmed Tawfek, Ahmed Basuoni

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is strongly influenced by cardiometabolic comorbidity and systemic inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a biologically active visceral fat depot in direct contact with the myocardium, and CT-derived EAT density (attenuation) may reflect inflammatory adipose remodeling beyond adipose quantity alone. However, the clinical relevance of EAT density in HFpEF remains uncertain.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of CT-derived EAT density with systemic inflammatory biomarkers, functional capacity, health status, and echocardiographic indices of HFpEF severity in a prospective cross-sectional cohort.

Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study conducted between January and July 2024 at …

Clinical Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction With Palmaris Longus Versus Gracilis Autograft In Baseball Players: A Cohort Analysis, Michael C. Ciccotti, Brooks Martino, Frank Cautela, Nathaniel Tchangou, Daniel Kwak, Eric Didomenico, Harrison S. Fellheimer, Christopher C. Dodson, Steven B. Cohen, Michael G. Ciccotti

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) is a common procedure for overhead athletes, particularly baseball players sustaining partial or full UCL tears. Palmaris longus (PL) and gracilis (GR) autografts are the most frequently used graft sources, yet limited data compare clinical outcomes in baseball athletes.

PURPOSE: To compare patient-reported outcomes after UCLR with PL versus GR autografts in baseball players.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: Patients who underwent isolated UCLR with either PL or GR autograft and a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were identified. All reconstructions were performed using the Modified Jobe or …

Aberrant Ciliogenesis Induced By Enhanced Bmp Signaling Causes Heterotopic Ossification, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Jianbo Wang, Fangfang Yan, Jiarui Bi, Radbod Darabi, William R. Lagor, Zhongming Zhao, Aris N. Economides, Yuji Mishina, Yoshihiro Komatsu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is a principal driver of heterotopic ossification (HO), yet how aberrant BMP activity structurally reprograms cellular signaling machinery to develop HO remains unclear. Here, we identify BMP signaling as a direct upstream regulator of ciliogenesis that coordinates a multi-stage, pro-osteochondrogenic signaling relay during HO. Using a conditional gain-of-function BMP mouse model (Acvr1Q207D/+), we demonstrate that enhanced BMP signaling promotes primary cilium biogenesis and axonemal elongation through canonical Smad1/5/9-dependent transcriptional activation of intraflagellar transport (IFT) Ift20, a core component of the IFT machinery. Rather than operating via a singular downstream cascade, these elongated …

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Vaccine Uptake For Measles Outbreaks In Katsina State, Nigeria, Zeenat Kabir Asma'i

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Measles remains a public health concern in Nigeria despite the availability of effective vaccines, yet limited research has comprehensively examined spatiotemporal patterns and contextual determinants of vaccination coverage and measles incidence in Katsina State. Guided by the socioecological model, this quantitative ecological study examined spatiotemporal patterns of measles incidence among children aged 9–59 months of age across 183 wards in 34 local government areas of Katsina State, Nigeria, from 2018 to 2022. Confirmed cases (n = 376) were analyzed using negative binomial regression and spatial methods, including Moran’s I, SaTScan, and geographically weighted regression (GWR). Urban wards had higher incidence …

Impact Of Wet Vs. Dry Hair And Varying Hair Changes On Surface Dose And Setup Consistency In Whole Brain Radiation Therapy, Dyanira Salinas

Masters Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to quantify how varying hair conditions—dry hair versus wet hair, complete hair loss, and the use of hair extensions—influence surface dose during WBRT. The study evaluated mask fit differences between the varying hair parameters and the potential implications for immobilization accuracy.

Methods: Four CT scans were acquired with a water phantom and varying hair parameters. A whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) plan was created on a dry wig human hair scan using 6MV photos. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used to measure surface dose for each hair condition. Gap between the water phantom and …

Advancing Bioinformatics With Language Models: Components, Applications, And Perspectives, Jiajia Liu, Mengyuan Yang, Yankai Yu, Haixia Xu, Tiangang Wang, Kang Li, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Large language models (LLMs) are deep learning-based artificial intelligence models that have achieved remarkable success in natural language processing. Typically composed of neural networks with billions of parameters, they are trained on massive unlabeled datasets using self-supervised or semi-supervised learning. Beyond language, LLMs hold immense potential for addressing complex bioinformatics challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of transformer-based model applications in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, drug discovery, and single-cell analysis. We discuss critical components, including tokenization strategies for diverse biological data, transformer architectures, attention mechanisms, and pretraining approaches. We also survey currently available foundation models and their downstream applications across …

Adapting And Delivering An Extension Diabetes Self-Management Support Program To Serve The Hispanic Community, Camden Bryan, Samantha Kanny, Christina Dietz, Danielle Mcfall, Michelle Parisi, Michelle Stancil, Johanna Bruen, Rhonda Matthews, Windsor W Sherrill

Journal of Extension

Expanding Extension education programs to serve the Hispanic community will be important as this population continues to grow. The rate of diabetes is higher among the Hispanic population than the non-Hispanic population; however, the barriers to implementing a health education program and recruiting participants are plentiful. This paper highlights the work conducted by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with organizations across South Carolina, to adapt and deliver the Health Extension for Diabetes program to the Hispanic community. It offers insights into effective strategies for program adaptation, recruitment, and delivery that agents can use to overcome barriers and increase …

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation For Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis On Responder-Based Outcomes And Between-Study Heterogeneity, Clemens Heiser, Marcel Braun, Colin Huntley, Michael Hutz, Thomas Michael Kaffenberger, Maurits Boon

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an established surgical therapy for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are intolerant to positive airway pressure. Although aggregate response rates of ~70–80% have been reported, substantial variability across clinical settings remains poorly understood. Prior meta-analyses have largely emphasized pooled continuous outcomes, limiting interpretation of responder-based endpoints and drivers of between-study heterogeneity. Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception through 31 December 2025. Eligible studies enrolled adults with OSA treated with implantable HNS, reported Sher-defined response (≥50% AHI reduction and residual …

Perspective On Lessons Not Learned: From Coley’S Toxins To Microbial Drug Delivery, Guidance For Institutional Review Boards (Irbs), Brian P. Hanley, Alejandro J. Betancourt, Gustavo Gross, Wilbur (Bo) Bowne

School of Medicine Publications

The bacterial and toxin methods of cancer treatment date back 130 years. This paradigm rests on nonspecific bacterial-toxin-generated immunotherapy. This high-risk oncology research is experiencing a renaissance of methods that are among the most effective yet. Glioblastomas and other resistant cancers are the modern touchpoint, because of remission history following sepsis. Spurred by recent research deaths, we discuss protocols IRBs should consider in live bacterial or synthetic immuno-stimulatory trials. Human systemic inflammatory response syndrome immunology is unique due to non-functioning SIGLEC-13 and 17, which control excessive Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) signaling. This is not a technicality like human CD8+/CD4+ T …

Caregiving And Mental Health Among Mothers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Makayla Elise Techentine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to reliance on family members or friends to care for the sick, resulting in a burden of informal caregiving stressors and relationship to mental health. Guided by the stress process model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between caregiving stressors and the mental health of mothers of children aged 18 years or younger who were serving as informal caregivers. Secondary data from the 2020-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 1,772) considered the independent variables related to caregiving stressors, including hours spent caregiving, time since becoming a caregiver, personal care …

Bi-Allelic Loss-Of-Function Variants In Tmem63b Cause Syndromic Surfactant Dysfunction Disorder, Sock Hoai Chan, Audra N Iness, Jill A Rosenfeld, Mir Reza Bekheirnia, Lindsay C Burrage, Matthew Hoi Kin Chau, Chaerish Eint Myet Chae Htoo, Eric C Kao, Shamika Ketkar, Wan Wan Lim, Xi Luo, Rifhan Mazlan, Elizabeth Mizerik, Kein Seong Mun, Kalyani R Patel, Lorraine Potocki, Christina K Rapp, Xavier Roca, Ana Saianda, Ignacio Iglesias-Serrano, Everlyn C Siew, Donald Yuhui Sim, David R Spielberg, Sok-Kun Tae, Jing Xian Teo, Julian Warfsmann, Fan Xia, Child-Eu Registry, Saumya S Jamuar, Ee Shien Tan, Matthias Griese, Weng Khong Lim, Meow-Keong Thong, Keren Machol

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Transmembrane protein 63B gene (TMEM63B) encodes a mechanosensitive ion channel expressed in alveolar type II epithelial cells, where it mediates stretch-induced surfactant secretion. While heterozygous gain-of-function variants in TMEM63B have been associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, no human disorder has previously been linked to bi-allelic loss-of-function variants. Here, we report five individuals from four unrelated families with childhood interstitial lung disease and bi-allelic predicted loss-of-function variants in TMEM63B. Affected individuals presented with early-onset respiratory distress, chronic hypoxemia, and diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities on chest imaging. One individual died in infancy, two underwent bilateral lung transplantation, and two require oxygen …

Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Transfer Of Gsdme-Nt Pores As A Mechanism Of Inflammation Propagation, Bifeng Xiao

Master's Theses

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that initiate inflammatory signaling through activation of caspase-1, cytokine maturation, and cleavage of Gasdermin D (GSDMD). Cleaved GSDMD forms membrane pores that contribute to cytokine release and pyroptotic cell death. Recent evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) may facilitate the intercellular transfer of inflammatory mediators. This study investigated whether GSDMD N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT) associates with EV-enriched fractions and contributes to inflammation propagation. Doxycycline-inducible HeLa cells expressing FLAG-tagged GSDMD-NT were used to generate EV-enriched fractions. Western blot analysis detected GSDMD-NT-associated material within EV fractions, while EV marker analysis supported successful enrichment of EV-associated material. Exposure of recipient …

Reconsidering The Clinical Implications Of Albumin In Severe Acute Pancreatitis, Alexis Notarianni, Md, Jacqueline Krieger, Md

The Medicine Forum

In this single-center pilot trial of 60 ICU patients, early administration of 5% albumin in addition to crystalloid did not significantly improve Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) remission at Day 3 nor reduce 60-day mortality.¹ However, a statistically significant reduction in sepsis was observed in the albumin group compared with crystalloid alone (10% vs. 36.7%, P = 0.01). Although the study concludes that albumin did not improve prognosis, we believe the observed difference in sepsis merits further consideration.

Infection and persistent organ failure are well-established determinants of mortality in acute pancreatitis, particularly in the later phases of disease progression. …

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Sigmoid Colon: A Rare Late Presentation Of Metastatic Urothelial Cancer With Squamous Differentiation Of The Bladder, Hamzah Shariff, Md, Ghazal Ghafari, Do, Mph, Zachary Hoffer, Md, Phd, Danyall Saeed, Anila Mahesh, Md, Kishore Kumar, Md

The Medicine Forum

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) with squamous differentiation (SqD) is a subtype of bladder cancer with high metastatic potential. Metastasis of muscle-invasive UCC to the GI tract, with complete transition to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is rare, particularly in females. We present a female patient with high grade UCC with SqD treated with radical cystectomy and immunotherapy who presented with hematochezia 1 year after her cancer treatment. Imaging and colonoscopy revealed an annular, obstructing mass in the rectosigmoid region prompting sigmoid colectomy and partial proctectomy. Histopathology revealed invasive SCC. New gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms with prior invasive bladder cancer should prompt evaluation …

First Photographic Record Of A Pale-Colored Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) Consistent With Leucism In The Zagros Mountains, Iraqi Kurdistan, Bahez F. Ali, Hana A. Raza, Nabaz Horeni

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Pigmentation anomalies in wild mammals are rare and poorly documented in wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations. Leucism, characterized by partial loss of melanin while retaining normal eye pigmentation, represents one of the least frequently reported coloration anomalies in the species. During a camera-trap survey in Bamo Mountain, Zagros Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, an unusually pale-colored wild boar consistent with leucism was recorded. The individual exhibited cream to light-blond pelage with retained darker pigmentation on the snout and distal limbs, while the eyes remained normally pigmented. Its morphology and behavior were otherwise consistent with those of a typical wild …

Neonatal And Maternal Outcomes In Pregnancies With Sonographically Diagnosed Nuchal Cord: A Prospective Cohort Study, Eman Muhammad Ramadan, Samar Sarsam

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

ABSTRACT:Background: Nuchal cords, where the umbilical cord encircles the fetal neck, are a common obstetric finding, potentially impacting neonatal and maternal outcomes. Their clinical significance remains debated.Aim of the Study: To evaluate the prevalence of nuchal cords in pregnancies at Al Elwiya maternity teaching hospital and to evaluate the association between nuchal cord presence and effects on neonatal and maternal outcomes.Patients and Methods: A prospective, single-center, cohort study was conducted at Al-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital from first of January to first of December 2024. It included 600 pregnant women in the study 107 had an ultrasound diagnosed with nuchal cords. …