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  • Vance Klint posted an update 9 hours, 42 minutes ago

    The interviews suggested that the interactive component offered individuals the freedom to learn the map in several ways and did not restrict them to a sequential and linear approach to learning. Conclusion Assistive technology can reduce challenges faced by people with visual impairments, and the flexible learning approach offered by the audio-tactile map may be of particular value. Future researchers and assistive technology developers may wish to explore this further.Background The present study was aimed to investigate the expression levels of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the peripheral blood of essential hypertension (EH) patients and healthy controls (HC). On this basis, we tried to explain the possible role of circRNAs in the progression of EH and their potential as diagnostic biomarkers of EH. Methods First, we analyzed the differentially expressed circRNAs in peripheral blood obtained from the finished microarray analysis and selected four circRNAs under strict standards. Then, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure the expression levels of the selected circRNAs in a total of 192 blood samples, consisting of 96 HC and 96 diagnosed EH patients. Bioinformatics prediction of the target microRNAs (miRNAs) was performed for differentially expressed circRNAs, and the circulating vascular-related miRNAs were selected for qRT-PCR analysis to determine their expression levels. Results Hsa-circRNA9102-5 (11.7 ± 1.06 vs 12.13 ± 1.11, P = .007) was up-regulated in the patients group which was diagnosed with EH, as compared to the HC group, and was involved in the regulation of EH by sponging hsa-miR-150-5p. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the model was 0.620, using hsa-circRNA9102-5 as an independent predictor. Furthermore, the AUC was increased to 0.728 when hsa-circRNA9102-5 was combined with hsa-miR-150-5p and multiple other factors, as a combined predictor. Conclusions The present results suggested that hsa-circRNA9102-5 may have played a crucial role in the development of EH by sponging hsa-miR-150-5p, which showed great potential as a novel target.Neonatal encephalopathy manifests with altered sensorium, tone abnormalities, and often with abnormal movements and seizures. The causes are heterogeneous and many. We report a late preterm neonate who presented with depressed sensorium, cranial nerve abnormalities, mixed hypertonia and hypotonia, and respiratory failure. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies were normal. She had neutropenia and elevated lactates in blood. Her dried blood spot analysis by tandem MS/MS showed normal acylcarnitine and amino acid profile. Plasma and cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) amino acid quantification were inconclusive, CSF folate was normal. Urine organic acid analysis showed elevated lactate. Semi-quantitative analysis of urine showed borderline elevation of 3-methylglutaconic acid. Diagnosis of 3-methylglutaconic aciduria (3MGA) type VIII was suggested by whole-exome sequencing, which revealed a homozygous, likely pathogenic, missense mutation in Exon 2 of HTRA2 gene (chr2.74757898A>C). Her parents were found to be carriers of the same mutation. This underscores the importance of genetic studies in the evaluation of neonatal neuro-metabolic disorders. We report the first case of 3MGA type VIII from our region with a review of already reported 11 cases.Purpose To investigate the dosimetric impact of magnetic (B) field on varying air cavities in rectum patients treated on the hybrid 1.5 T MR-linac. Methods Artificial air cavities of varying diameters (0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 5.0 cm) were created for four rectum patients (two prone and two supine). A total of 56 plans using a 7 MV flattening filter-free beam were generated with and without B-field. Reference intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment plans without air cavity in the presence and absence of B-field were generated to a total dose of 45/50 Gy. The reference plans were copied and recalculated for the varying air cavities. D95 (PTV45 -PTV50 ), D95 (PTV50 -aircavity), V50 (PTV50 -aircavity), Dmax (PTV50 -aircavity), and V110% (PTV50 -aircavity) were extracted for each patient. Annulus rings of 1-mm-diameter step size were generated for one of the air cavity plans (3.0 cm) for all four patients to determine Dmax (%) and V110% (cc) within each annulus. Results In the presence of B-field, hot spots at the cavity interface start to become visible at ~1 cm air cavity in both supine and prone positioning due to electron return effect (ERE). In the presence of B-field Dmax and V110% varied from 5523 ± 49 cGy and 0.09 ± 0.16 cc for 0 cm air cavity size to 6050 ± 109 cGy and 11.6 ± 6.7 cc for 5 cm air cavity size. The hot spots were located within 3 mm inside the rectal-air interface, where Dmax increased from 110.4 ± 0.5% without B-field to 119.2 ± 0.8 % with B-field. Conclusions Air cavities inside rectum affects rectum plan dosimetry due ERE. Location and magnitude of hot spots are dependent on the size of the air cavity.Lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (LEAD) is associated with increased rates of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations among inflammatory and thrombotic markers and lower-extremity peripheral disease. A total of 280 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 152 patients had LEAD on peripheral angiography that was performed because of suspected lower-extremity peripheral disease based on history, physical examination, and non-invasive tests. The control group consisted of 128 patients without LEAD on peripheral angiography. Patients with LEAD were classified according to trans-atlantic inter-society consensus (TASC) II classification. Subsequently, patients in TASC A to B were defined as having mild to moderate peripheral artery disease, and those in TASC C to D were defined as having advanced peripheral artery disease. Thrombotic and inflammatory markers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the high-sensitivity C (hs-C) reactive proterity of LEAD and hs-C reactive levels. selleck chemicals llc In this study, we determined that the levels of inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers are elevated in peripheral artery disease, and these levels predict disease severity.