Background: s/Aims: Portal vein embolization (PVE) and Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization are used to induce liver hypertrophy, increasing future liver remnant volume and reducing the risk of post-resection liver failure. This systematic review compares the effectiveness of PVE and Y-90 radioembolization in promoting liver hypertrophy in patients undergoing liver resection. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 2000 and August 2023. Studies comparing PVE and Y-90 radioembolization with respect to liver hypertrophy were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled mean differences were calculated using an inverse-variance random-effects model. Results: Of 1,965 studies identified, three retrospective cohort studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 125 patients. Among these, 67.3% underwent PVE and 32.7% received Y-90 radioembolization. Hepatocellular carcinoma was the most common diagnosis (55.9%), followed by metastatic disease (32.3%) and cholangiocarcinoma (11.8%). PVE was more commonly used as a preoperative strategy for liver resection, while Y-90 radioembolization was primarily employed for palliative intent. One study reported greater hypertrophy with Y-90 compared to PVE (63% vs. 36%); however, hypertrophy was assessed over a longer interval (150 vs. 30 days). In pooled analysis, PVE was associated with significantly greater hypertrophy (mean difference 23.75%; 95% CI 12.02–35.48; p < 0.0001; I 2 = 48%). Conclusions Evidence directly comparing PVE and Y-90 radioembolization for liver hypertrophy remains limited. While pooled results favor PVE, procedure selection should be individualized based on clinical context.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate hypertension (HTN) trends, key risk factors, and gender disparities in rural China, and to propose targeted strategies for improving HTN control in resource-limited settings. METHODS: This longitudinal study used data from the Henan Rural Cohort Study, including baseline (2015-2017; n = 39,224) and follow-up (2018-2022; n = 28,621) participants. HTN was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, self-reported diagnosis, or use of antihypertensive medication. Severity was classified using a 7-tier blood pressure (BP) staging system (optimal, normal, high normal, and HTN stages 1-4). A generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) identified associated risk factors. RESULTS: HTN prevalence increased modestly from 32.7% (95% CI: 32.2-33.2) to 33.9% (95% CI: 33.3%-34.4%). Awareness and treatment improved from 20.1% to 25.3%, and from 18.8% to 24.4%, respectively, but control rates remained low (6.2% to 12.3%). After adjustment, women had a 1.53-fold higher HTN risk than men ( OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.43-1.63), revealing gender-specific trends. Key risk factors included alcohol use ( OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27-1.47) and overweight status ( OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.66-1.86). BP staging showed an increase in optimal BP (42.3% to 45.8%), but stagnant management of advanced HTN stages. CONCLUSION Hypertension in rural China is shaped by behavioral risk factors and healthcare access gaps. Gender-sensitive, community-based interventions, including task-shifting models, are necessary to mitigate the growing burden of hypertension.
Humans ; Hypertension/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Longitudinal Studies ; Sex Factors ; Cohort Studies ; East Asian People

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of melanin-producing cells predominantly of cutaneous origin, which uncommonly develops within gut mucosa. We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with complaints of abdominal pain, loss of appetite and weight.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a gastric mass and systemic imaging demonstrated widespread nodal and bilateral adrenal gland involvement. Histopathology of the gastric mass confirmed primary malignant mucosal melanoma of the stomach. The patient received three cycles of Nivolumab but did not respond, and thus, was then offered best supportive care. Although infrequent, mucosal melanoma can arise from the gastrointestinal tract, and in contrast to the cutaneous form, advanced disease usually has a dismal prognosis and responds poorly to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Primary gastric melanoma is an aggressive disease that is diagnosed by exclusion after the differential diagnosis of metastasis from a cutaneous or unknown primary site has been conducted. If available, patients with treatment-naïve mucosal melanoma should be considered for enrollment in clinical trials.

EFFECTS OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNGSTERS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY Abstract Objective: The basic aim of the study is to create awareness and evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perception of youngsters towards the use of e-cigarette. Methodology: A questionnaire based survey was generated through Google form and circulated through social media platforms the target audience age was 18 years-40 years’ data were analyzed through Statistical Software (SPSS). Results and Discussion: In this study n=1000 participants were participated in the survey 450 were females and 550 were males, the participants were 18 years-20 years of age included (50) males and (100) females, 20 years-30 years (200) males and (100) females whereas 30 years-40 years of age included (300) males and (250) females, among them n=433 use vape/e-cigarette while n=567 do not use this. N=113 respondent respond that they don’t know that e-cigarette have harmful ingredients in it, n=285 participants faced depression, anxiety and mood swings without it whereas n=334 respond that its consumption causes severe mental and physical health. Conclusion: The basic aim of the survey is to create awareness among users to reduce and prevent the use of vape-cigarette as it causes severe consequences towards the health this study enhances the power of health system that in collaboration of school and offices through awareness session can reduce its use. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 ( ) November, 2024; 1-5.

The present study compares the in vitro effects of nanoparticles loaded pentamidine drug and conventional pentamidine on Leishmania tropica. Herein, pentamidine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PTN-CNPs) have been synthesized through an ionic gelation method with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Next, the physical characteristics of PTN-CNPs were determined through the surface texture, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, drug loading content (DLC), and encapsulation efficacy (EE) and compared its efficacy with free pentamidine (PTN) drug against promastigotes and axenic amastigotes forms of L. tropica in vitro. The PTN-CNPs displayed a spherical shape having a size of 88 nm, an almost negative surface charge (-3.09 mV), EE for PTN entrapment of 86%, and in vitro drug release of 92% after 36 h. In vitro antileishmanial activity of PTN-CNPs and free PTN was performed against Leishmania tropica KWH23 promastigote and axenic amastigote using 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyletetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. It was observed that the effect of PTN-CNPs and free PTN on both forms of the parasite was dose and time dependent. Free PTN presented low efficacy even at higher dose (40 µg/ml) with 25.6 ± 1.3 and 26.5 ±1.4 mean viability rate of the promastigotes and axenic amastigotes, respectively after 72 hrs incubation. While PTN-CNPs showed strong antileishmanial effects on both forms of parasite with 16 ± 0.4 and 19 ± 0.7 mean viability rate at the same higher concentration (40 µg/ml) after 72 hrs incubation. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of PTN-CNPs toward promastigotes and amastigotes were obtained as 0.1375 µg/ml and 0.1910 µg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, PTN-CNPs effectively inhibited both forms of the L. tropica; however, its effect was more salient on promastigotes. This data indicates that the PTN-CNPs act as a target drug delivery system. However, further research is needed to support its efficacy in animal and human CL.

Bergenia ciliata (Family: Saxifragaceae) is a folklore remedy for the treatment of various ailments in Asian countries. Bergenin (1) has been isolated as an active constituent in many studies, however, the amount of bergenin has not been determined in all parts of the plant. A simple RP-HPLC method was developed to determine the amount of bergenin in methanol extracts of leaves, rhizomes and roots of the plant. Separation was achieved on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column maintained at 25 o C using isocratic solvent system (water: methanol: acetic acid; 62.5:37:0.5 v/v/v) adjusted at pH 2 0 at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. and detected at 275 nm. Correlation coefficient (0.9952) showed linearity of concentration (5-200 μg/mL) and response. The values of LOD (0.00947 μg/mL) and LOQ (0.02869 μg/mL) indicated that method was sensitive. The recovery of bergenin was 99.99-100% indicating accuracy of method. The methanol extract of rhizomes contained higher amount of bergenin (19.4%) than roots (9.2%) and leaves (6.9%). It is concluded that methanol extract of rhizomes is a better source of bergenin than other parts of the plant. The findings are useful for standardization of bergenin containing extracts and herbal preparations.

COVID-19/virology* ; Cities ; Environmental Monitoring ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Infection Control/methods* ; Pakistan ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Sewage/virology*