Search Results (176,513)

Ameloblastoma (AM) is a common locally invasive benign odontogenic tumor in Asian populations. Although fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) mutations have been reported in AM, FGFR2 amplification, the predominant form of FGFR2 aberration in human cancers, remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate FGFR2 protein expression, FGFR2 gene copy number variations, and their associations with demographic and clinico-radio-pathological parameters in mandibular AM. Eighty-seven cases of mandibular AM and 10 dental follicle (DF) specimens were included. FGFR2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and gene copy number variations were analyzed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. Clinical data, including age, gender, tumor size, radiographic features, histological subtype, and recurrence history, were examined for associations with FGFR2 alterations. FGFR2 protein overexpression was observed in 95.4% of AM cases and was not significantly associated with demographic or clinico-radio-pathological variables. FGFR2 gene amplification was detected in 52.5% of cases, while 8.2% showed gene deletion. Notably, 50.8% of cases exhibited concurrent FGFR2 amplification and overexpression, and all cases with FGFR2 gene deletion also demonstrated FGFR2 overexpression. These findings suggest that FGFR2 gene amplification and deletion may contribute to FGFR2 overexpression and play a significant role in the molecular pathogenesis of mandibular AM. Full article

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder requiring lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). Similar to chronic pediatric disorders, primary caregivers are susceptible to significant psychosocial burden, as CD management relies heavily on them. However, evidence regarding their psychological well-being in Jordan remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial burden on Jordanian caregivers of pediatric CD patients and examine associations with clinical and sociodemographic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited Jordanian caregivers of pediatric CD patients with biopsy-confirmed diagnosis from September to December 2025, and all patients had followed a GFD for at least six months. The Arabic version of the Celiac Disease Parent/Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire (CDPCA-QoL) was distributed online, alongside questions on child and caregiver sociodemographic factors. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple linear regression, were performed. Results: A total of 198 caregivers participated (mean age 39.5 ± 9.8 years; 85.9% female). Overall burden ranged from moderate to moderately high. Parental worries had the highest mean score (3.95 ± 0.66), followed by emotional (3.48 ± 0.73) and social functioning (2.96 ± 0.99). Younger age, lower education, and lower income were significantly associated with greater burden (p < 0.05). Caring for more than one affected child increased emotional and social strain, whereas longer disease duration was linked to lower parental worry. No associations were found with caregiver gender, marital status, employment, or child characteristics. Conclusions: Jordanian caregivers experience considerable psychosocial burden, emphasizing the need for targeted psychosocial and family-centered support. Full article

Background and Objectives: Outcomes after trauma are traditionally attributed to injury severity and acute physiologic derangement. However, host vulnerability at presentation—reflecting underlying physiologic and nutritional status—may also be associated with bleeding severity and transfusion requirements following acute injury. Whether such vulnerability contributes additional risk information beyond established factors remains incompletely understood. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients using a single-center trauma registry. Host vulnerability was assessed using a composite score (CE; range 0–3) based on admission hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL), anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), and reduced renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). Primary outcomes were any blood transfusion and massive transfusion, defined as transfusion of ≥10 units of packed red blood cells within 24 h of admission. Associations between CE score and transfusion outcomes were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), admission lactate level, and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Results: Among 4105 trauma patients, transfusion requirements increased progressively with higher CE scores. Rates of any transfusion rose from 21.7% in patients with CE 0 to 78.6% in those with CE 3, while massive transfusion increased from 1.9% to 23.1% across the same categories. In multivariable analyses, each 1-point increase in CE score was independently associated with higher odds of any transfusion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.80–3.68) and massive transfusion (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.45–2.07). Conclusions: A composite score reflecting host vulnerability at presentation was associated with bleeding severity and transfusion requirements after trauma, beyond injury severity and acute physiologic factors. These findings suggest that simple laboratory-based markers may provide additional information for early risk stratification of hemorrhagic outcomes after trauma. Full article

Accurate, scalable estimation of rice planting dates is essential for climate-adaptive management in multi-cropping regions, yet most models rely on static calendars, which fail to capture climate-driven shifts and bias simulated yield responses. This study aims to develop a climate-driven, spatially explicit framework to simulate dynamic transplanting dates across diverse multi-cropping systems in monsoon Asia. Utilizing daily AgERA5 reanalysis and Monsoon Asia Rice Calendar (MARC) data from 2019 to 2020, we present Geo-ROCKET. The framework integrates an automated K-means clustering workflow to delineate bimodal planting windows and employs random convolutional kernel transforms with adaptive geographic neighborhoods to capture local climate heterogeneity. Evaluated by area-weighted mean absolute error (MAE), the model achieves high accuracy across six seasons (MAE 6.53–12.50 days), outperforming six traditional ROCKET and ensemble baselines while preserving smooth spatial error fields. Sensitivity experiments reveal that a 15-day bias in the previous harvest date can increase transplanting error to 10.8–17.8 days, emphasizing the importance of sequential consistency. By providing dynamic, climate-sensitive inputs, Geo-ROCKET improves the accuracy of crop modeling for climate impact projections. This framework offers a flexible tool for characterizing human management decisions and evaluating adaptation strategies in intensive agricultural systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Amniotic-derived biologics have emerged as powerful modulators of tissue regeneration. This study evaluates the composition and characteristics of a human stem cell-conditioned media (hSCCM) that is a sterile, cell-free, amniotic-derived solution, and the presumed efficacy of hSCCM as an active ingredient in an enriched cosmetic lotion. Methods: Data from preclinical benchtop studies and an exploratory observational assessment were reviewed. First, an investigation of the active ingredient, hSCCM, was completed. Flow cytometry assays were completed for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characterization. Cellular proliferation assays were conducted to evaluate concentration response, shelf life, and temperature stability. ELISA and LC-MS/MS were used to specify and detail the proteomics of the hSCCM. Second, the hSCCM-enriched lotion’s cosmetic safety and efficacy were evaluated. Preliminary microbial, stability, and early-stage nonclinical retrospective user evaluation of the hSCCM-enriched lotion was conducted to help characterize the cosmetic and evaluate topical safety and efficacy. Results: Flow cytometry demonstrated alignment with ISCT (International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy) characterization for MSCs. Initial in vitro data demonstrated enhanced proliferative effects at hSCCM concentrations as low as 5% (p-value < 0.0001); no statistically significant trend in proliferative capability in aged samples (p-value = 0.79), and no significant effect on proliferative capability when exposed to acute temperature changes (p-values all above 0.05) were observed. Proteomic characterization showed an enriched amniotic-derived solution. Microbial testing of the enriched lotion demonstrated success with multiple unique preservative formulations. hSCCM-enriched lotion demonstrated stability across acute cold- and heat-stress representative scenarios. An exploratory retrospective observational analysis revealed promising trends. Conclusions: The hSCCM demonstrates topical efficacy across in vitro dermal and follicular assays via proliferative and regenerative mechanisms and protein enrichment. The enriched lotion showed success in early-stage microbial and stability testing and demonstrates positive trends in topical skin outcomes. These findings support their potential translational application in dermatologic and aesthetic usage, and broader integumentary contexts. Full article

Mathematical modeling plays a key role in understanding and optimizing transport system operations under uncertain and dynamic conditions. This study proposes a data-driven predictive framework for estimating passenger-accepted vehicle occupancy, addressing a critical gap in transport system planning under public health-related constraints. Using data from a structured survey conducted across seven Southeast European countries (N = 476), the study integrates statistical analysis and machine learning approaches to model acceptable occupancy levels across multiple transport modes, including passenger cars, taxis, tourist buses, and public buses. The problem is formulated as a predictive mapping between multidimensional input variables and occupancy acceptance levels, modeled using both probabilistic and nonlinear function approximation methods. The results highlight that age, gender, and area of residence are the most significant determinants of occupancy acceptance, while education level has limited predictive relevance. Furthermore, a multi-layer feedforward artificial neural network is developed to capture nonlinear relationships between variables, achieving strong predictive performance (minimum MSE = 0.0089). The main contribution of this research lies in linking behavioral data with predictive modeling to quantify acceptable occupancy thresholds and support realistic simulation of passenger responses in crisis conditions. The proposed modeling framework contributes to transport system planning, enabling data-driven capacity management, enhanced safety strategies, and improved resilience of passenger transport operations. Full article

Background/Objective: The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, and tumors arising from it exhibit wide histopathological diversity. Management approaches vary according to tumor characteristics and carry a risk of postoperative complications, particularly facial nerve injury. However, local data remain limited. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing parotidectomy. Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a high-volume tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. All consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy between June 2015 and January 2025 were included. Demographic data, histopathological diagnoses, surgical procedures and postoperative complications were extracted from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, with A p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 154 patients were included, with a mean age of 45.2 ± 12.6 years; 61% were male. Benign lesions constituted 87% of cases, with pleomorphic adenoma being the most common histopathological diagnosis. Malignancies accounted for 13% of cases, most frequently mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The most common postoperative complications were facial nerve palsy, followed by sensory numbness. Conclusions: The majority of parotid gland tumors in this cohort were benign, with pleomorphic adenoma as the most common histological subtype. Facial nerve palsy and sensory disturbances were the most common postoperative complications. These findings provide valuable local data on parotid gland lesions in Saudi Arabia and support current surgical management practices. Full article

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises coexisting risk factors enhancing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the number of MetS components and subclinical cardiac dysfunction, assessed via transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), in individuals without overt CVD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from 100 patients (63% female; mean age 58.8 ± 16.81 years) hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Physical Medicine at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, between June 2022 and February 2024. The inclusion criteria were the absence of diagnosed atherosclerotic CVD and no evidence of acute illness or exacerbation of chronic diseases. Each participant was evaluated for MetS components and underwent TTE. Results: Univariate analysis revealed significant correlations between the number of MetS components and selected TTE parameters, including left ventricular mass (LVM) (R = 0.406; p < 0.001), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (R = 0.248; p = 0.013), left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) (R = −0.261; p = 0.009), left atrial volume (LAV) (R = 0.312; p < 0.001), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) (R = 0.273; p = 0.007). These correlations did not remain significant after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Among patients not meeting the full diagnostic criteria for MetS, LAV and LAVI values remained significantly correlated with the number of MetS components, independent of confounding variables. Conclusions: The selected echocardiographic parameters were significantly correlated with the number of MetS components; however, most associations were explained by age, sex, and BMI. Full article

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI) with grayscale ultrasound (US) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in invasive breast cancer. Methods: A total of 115 patients included in the study were evaluated based on their pre-treatment imaging findings (US, mammography, and MRI). Following completion of NAC, all patients underwent grayscale US and SMI examinations. In patients with available post-NAC MRI, treatment response was additionally assessed by comparing MRI findings. Imaging results were correlated with postoperative pathological outcomes, which served as the reference standard. pCR was defined as the absence of residual invasive carcinoma, regardless of ductal carcinoma in situ. Molecular subtype, Ki-67, and axillary status were recorded. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and stepwise multiple logistic regression. Significance was set at p < 0.05 (95% CI). Results: The median age was 51 years (range: 30–75). Most tumors were high-grade (55%) and invasive ductal carcinoma (95%). Breast-pCR was achieved in 43% of patients. Significant predictors of pCR included hormone receptor negativity, HER-2 positivity, high Ki-67 expression (≥40%), non-luminal subtype, and complete radiologic response on US and MRI (p < 0.05). Lower SMI index values were strongly associated with pCR (p < 0.001), with an optimal cut-off of 1.8 demonstrating good diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.804, 95% CI: 0.721–0.887). In multivariate analysis, the combined model including US, SMI, HER-2 status, and MRI showed the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.890, 95% CI: 0.829–0.950), explaining 55.1% of the variance in pCR. Conclusions: An SMI index < 1.8, HER-2 positivity, and complete response on US and MRI are independent predictors of pCR after NAC. Combining SMI with multimodal imaging significantly improves predictive accuracy. Full article