Future Science OA最新文献

Background: The use of computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies in diagnosis, treatment planning, and fabrication of prosthetic restoration is changing how prosthodontic treatment is offered to patients. This study compares the precision of three-dimensional (3D) printed casts produced from optical scanners using the stereolithographic 3D printing technique, their digital replicas, and conventional stone casts.

Materials and methods: Impressions were taken from 13 patients. Inter-arch widths (intercanine/premolar/molar) were made for digital and prototyped models and compared with the original stone casts. The measurements on printed and conventional casts were taken using a digital caliper, whereas those on digital casts were measured directly.

Results: Digital casts showed significantly higher maxillary and mandibular intercanine width measurements than 3D-printed and Stone (Gypsum) measurements counterparts (p < 0.001). Additionally, digital casts exhibited significantly lower maxillary and mandibular inter-1st molar and inter-2nd molar widths than their 3D printed and gypsum counterparts (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between measurements obtained with gypsum and 3D-printed casts.

Conclusion: The 3D-printed casts may be considered a viable alternative to gypsum casts, offering clinically acceptable precision for diagnosis, treatment planning, and the fabrication of prosthetic restorations. On the other hand, digital cast measurements exhibit significant variations from gypsum and 3D-printed casts.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly invasive malignancy with poor prognosis, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promotes OC progression by activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. P7 peptide is a novel peptide with potential antitumor effects, though its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study investigates whether P7 peptide inhibits bFGF-induced OC progression via suppression of the MEK/ERK pathway.

Methods: Human OC Anglne cells were treated with varying concentrations of bFGF and P7 peptide. Cell proliferation was measured using CCK-8 assays, while RT-PCR and Western blot analyses evaluated the expression of uPA, MMP2, and E-cadherin, along with MEK/ERK pathway activation. Cell migration and invasion were assessed via wound healing and Transwell assays.

Results: bFGF (30 ng/mL, 48 h) significantly enhanced cell proliferation and invasive behavior, alongside upregulation of uPA and MMP2 and reduced E-cadherin expression. P7 peptide (16 μM, 48 h) effectively reversed these effects and inhibited MEK/ERK phosphorylation.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that P7 peptide suppresses bFGF-mediated OC progression by targeting the MEK/ERK pathway, supporting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent in OC.

Background & aims: Sickle cell disease (SCD) leads to recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and hospitalizations, imposing a substantial healthcare burden. Hydroxyurea (HU) is known to reduce VOC frequency and hospitalization rates in SCD; however, data comparing the impact of different HU doses on length of stay (LOS) and clinical outcomes in adults are limited.

Methods: This retrospective study assessed the effect of high- versus low-dose HU on LOS among adults with SCD admitted to medical wards. Secondary endpoints included VOC frequency and hemoglobin electrophoresis findings. Pearson's chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: A total of 141 patients were analyzed (26 on low-dose, 115 on high-dose HU), with a median age of 31 years; 52.5% were female. The overall median LOS was 3 days (IQR 1-10). The low-dose group had a significantly longer median LOS (7 days [IQR 7-9]) compared with the high-dose group (2 days [IQR 2-3]; p < 0.001). Higher HU doses were also associated with improved Hgb F% and Hgb S% (p < 0.001), while annual VOC rates showed no significant difference (p = 0.132).

Conclusion: High-dose HU was linked to shorter hospital stays and favorable hematologic outcomes in adults with SCD.

Objective: We aim to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) (125 mg/m2, q2w) for two weeks and (125 mg/m2, d1, d8, q3w) for three weeks in the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The medical records of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received nab-PTX for 2 weeks and 3 weeks, combined with gemcitabine, from July 2018 to January 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups of patients were compared.

Result: A total of 64 patients were included. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the 2-week group was 5.6 months, while the 3-week group was 7.8 months. The median overall survival (mOS) of the 2-week group was 14.0 months, while the 3-week group was 14.7 months. The multivariate analysis showed that a physical fitness status score of 0-1 was an independent factor with better OS, while metastatic sites ≥ 3 were related to poor OS. The incidence of leukopenia or neutropenia, neurotoxicity, fatigue, and poor appetite in the 2-week group was lower than that in the 3-week group.

Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of nab-PTX in the 2-week and dose intensive 3 week did not show significant difference, but the 2-week treatment group had better tolerance and safety.

Background: Cancer and dementia are two major global health challenges influenced by population aging and socioeconomic transitions. Both impose substantial burdens, yet their relationship at the population level is insufficiently explored. This study investigated the global association between cancer incidence and dementia incidence, while accounting for developmental, demographic, and healthcare-related factors.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Covariates included economic affluence, urbanization, reduced selection opportunity, and life expectancy e(60). Analyses across 204 countries employed correlations, partial correlations, principal component analysis, and multiple linear regression (enter and stepwise). Subgroup analyses were stratified by income level, development status, WHO regions, and geopolitical groupings.

Results: Cancer incidence was strongly correlated with dementia incidence worldwide (r = 0.873; ρ = 0.938, p < 0.001). Associations remained consistent across regions, particularly in upper-middle-income and developing countries. Partial correlations showed the relationship persisted after adjustment, with cancer explaining 59.8% of dementia variance. Regression models revealed that socioeconomic and demographic factors explained 51.7% of the variance, rising to 80.1% with cancer included.

Conclusion: Cancer incidence is a dominant independent predictor of dementia incidence globally, surpassing traditional factors. Findings highlight shared determinants and emphasize the importance of integrated chronic disease strategies, especially in low-resource settings.

Aims: This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals' attitudes toward accreditation and compare perceptions between staff working in Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited and nationally accredited medical institutions in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted among health professionals at a JCI-accredited hospital and two nationally accredited city polyclinics. The questionnaire comprised 38 items assessing employee satisfaction, teamwork cohesion, and perceived service quality.

Results: A total of 191 healthcare workers participated in the study with a response rate of more than 95%. Overall, 54.4% of respondents reported positive attitudes toward JCI accreditation, and 4.1% expressed very positive views. Perceptions of JCI's impact on patient safety were more favorable, with 63.3% rating it positively. Respondents with more than five years of work experience expressed satisfaction that JCI accreditation enhanced patient safety. In addition, participants with postgraduate education (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.53-0.65; p < .001) and younger than 34 years (β = 0.555, 95% CI: 0.35-0.76; p < .001) were likely to recommend JCI accreditation.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals perceive JCI accreditation as a positive driver of patient safety, teamwork, and institutional quality culture. Implementing JCI measures may improve patient outcomes, strengthen staff engagement, and facilitate alignment with international standards.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease that leads to pain, stiffness, and disability. While established risk factors such as age, obesity, and joint injury are well-documented, the role of cultural practices remains underexplored. This study investigates the association between traditional cultural practices and KOA prevalence in Central Asia.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted between January and March 2025 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan, involving 337 KOA cases and 685 matched controls. Participants completed structured questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and cultural practices. Unconditional logistic regression analyses identified associations between cultural factors and KOA, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, education level, physical workload, and type of residence.

Results: Frequent floor sitting (OR = 4.25, 95% CI: 3.02-5.99), squat toilet use (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.66-3.23), and rural residence (OR = 7.57, 95% CI: 4.99-11.48) were strongly associated with KOA. Daily prayer postures did not significantly differ between cases and controls.

Conclusions: Traditional cultural practices involving prolonged knee flexion were associated with KOA. Public health initiatives should consider culturally appropriate strategies that may help mitigate knee strain. Further longitudinal research is needed to establish causality.

Objective: To investigate the ameliorative effect and underlying mechanisms of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) on cognitive impairment induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, TBI group, and TBI+HMOs group. The TBI model was established via controlled cortical impact (CCI). Mice in the TBI+HMOs group received daily HMOs administration by gavage, while other groups were given normal saline. Relevant indicators were detected using behavioral tests, pathological staining, Western blot, and other methods.

Results: HMOs significantly improved cognitive function in TBI mice, inhibited hippocampal oxidative stress and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), alleviated intestinal barrier injury, and regulated the expression of synaptophysin, BDNF, and pro-BDNF.

Conclusion: HMOs exert neuroprotective effects by targeting central inflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic function, and intestinal barrier integrity, providing a novel natural therapeutic candidate for TBI treatment.