Background: Orthognathic surgery has become increasingly accurate with the integration of computerized technologies. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of custom-made plates in transferring the three-dimensional virtual plan to intraoperative maxillary repositioning. Methods: This study included 10 patients. A digital surgical simulation technique was used for preoperative planning. The surgical components— osteotomy/plates, locating guides, and customized titanium plates—were fabricated using computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques, replacing the need for a surgical splint. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using unaltered anatomical landmarks from the preoperative virtual plan. Absolute discrepancies in translational and rotational movements between the planned and actual postoperative positions were measured through superimposition analysis. This evaluation assessed the precision of custom-made plates in transferring the virtual surgical plan, identifying deviations in the cephalocaudal, mediolateral, and anteroposterior directions that could influence functional and esthetic outcomes. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed for any landmarks across the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. The greatest variability was noted at the posterior nasal spine landmark in the axial plane (1.7 mm), compared with the coronal (0.9 mm) and sagittal (0.5 mm) planes. Conclusion Customized titanium plates effectively transferred the virtual surgical plan for maxillary repositioning without the need for an occlusal splint. However, potential posterior interference should be considered during surgical execution.

Background: The pathophysiology and susceptibility of children to primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are linked to polymorphisms of the interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) antagonist genes.Purpose: To investigate the association between the susceptibility and severity of primary ITP in children and the IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms. Methods: This comparative case-control studywas conducted at the Menoufia University Hospital Hematology and Oncology Unit, Pediatric Department, between August 2022 and September 2023. The children were divided into patients (28 boys, 22 girls) who received hospital and outpatient clinic care and controls (50 healthy age- and sex-matched children). Results: The mutant homozygous GG genotype and mutant G allele of rs16944 of the IL1B gene were considerably greater in patients than in controls (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mutant homozygous II/II genotype and heterozygous I/II genotype of the IL-1R antagonist gene were considerably greater in the case versus control group. The mutant II allele was significantly more prevalent in patients versus controls (P<0.001). Conclusion IL-1B and IL-1R antagonists may have a major impact on the development of immune thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, we found a relationship between IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms and the etiology of and children's susceptibility to primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: The pathophysiology and susceptibility of children to primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are linked to polymorphisms of the interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) antagonist genes.Purpose: To investigate the association between the susceptibility and severity of primary ITP in children and the IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms. Methods: This comparative case-control studywas conducted at the Menoufia University Hospital Hematology and Oncology Unit, Pediatric Department, between August 2022 and September 2023. The children were divided into patients (28 boys, 22 girls) who received hospital and outpatient clinic care and controls (50 healthy age- and sex-matched children). Results: The mutant homozygous GG genotype and mutant G allele of rs16944 of the IL1B gene were considerably greater in patients than in controls (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mutant homozygous II/II genotype and heterozygous I/II genotype of the IL-1R antagonist gene were considerably greater in the case versus control group. The mutant II allele was significantly more prevalent in patients versus controls (P<0.001). Conclusion IL-1B and IL-1R antagonists may have a major impact on the development of immune thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, we found a relationship between IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms and the etiology of and children's susceptibility to primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: The pathophysiology and susceptibility of children to primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are linked to polymorphisms of the interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) antagonist genes.Purpose: To investigate the association between the susceptibility and severity of primary ITP in children and the IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms. Methods: This comparative case-control studywas conducted at the Menoufia University Hospital Hematology and Oncology Unit, Pediatric Department, between August 2022 and September 2023. The children were divided into patients (28 boys, 22 girls) who received hospital and outpatient clinic care and controls (50 healthy age- and sex-matched children). Results: The mutant homozygous GG genotype and mutant G allele of rs16944 of the IL1B gene were considerably greater in patients than in controls (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mutant homozygous II/II genotype and heterozygous I/II genotype of the IL-1R antagonist gene were considerably greater in the case versus control group. The mutant II allele was significantly more prevalent in patients versus controls (P<0.001). Conclusion IL-1B and IL-1R antagonists may have a major impact on the development of immune thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, we found a relationship between IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms and the etiology of and children's susceptibility to primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: The pathophysiology and susceptibility of children to primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are linked to polymorphisms of the interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) antagonist genes.Purpose: To investigate the association between the susceptibility and severity of primary ITP in children and the IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms. Methods: This comparative case-control studywas conducted at the Menoufia University Hospital Hematology and Oncology Unit, Pediatric Department, between August 2022 and September 2023. The children were divided into patients (28 boys, 22 girls) who received hospital and outpatient clinic care and controls (50 healthy age- and sex-matched children). Results: The mutant homozygous GG genotype and mutant G allele of rs16944 of the IL1B gene were considerably greater in patients than in controls (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mutant homozygous II/II genotype and heterozygous I/II genotype of the IL-1R antagonist gene were considerably greater in the case versus control group. The mutant II allele was significantly more prevalent in patients versus controls (P<0.001). Conclusion IL-1B and IL-1R antagonists may have a major impact on the development of immune thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, we found a relationship between IL-1B and IL-1R antagonist gene polymorphisms and the etiology of and children's susceptibility to primary immune thrombocytopenia.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare the influence of palatal vault forms on accuracy and speed of intraoral (IO) scans in completely edentulous cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the palatal vault form, participants were divided into three equal groups (n = 10 each); Class I: moderate;Class II: deep; Class III: flat palatal vault. A reference model was created for each patient using polyvinylsiloxane impression material. The poured models were digitized using an extraoral scanner. The resultant data were imported as a solid CAD file into 3D analysis software (GOM Inspect 2018; Gom GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany) and aligned using the software’s coordinate system to determine its X, Y, and Z axes. Five digital impressions (DIs) of maxilla were captured for each patient using an intraoral scanner (TRIOS; 3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) and the resultant Standard Tessellation Language (STL) scan files served as test models. Trueness was evaluated by calculating arithmetic mean deviation (AMD) of the vault area between reference and test files while precision was evaluated by calculating AMD between captured scans to measure repeatability of scan acquisition. The scan time taken for each participant was also recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in trueness and precision among the groups (P = .806 and .950, respectively). Average scan time for Class I and III palatal vaults was 1 min 13 seconds and 1 min 37 seconds, respectively, while class II deep palatal vaults showed the highest scan time of 5 mins. CONCLUSION Palatal vault form in edentulous cases has an influence on scan time. However, it does not have a substantial impact on the accuracy of the acquired scans.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of in vitro myo-inositol (Myo-Ins) supplementation of cryopreserved human semen on the cryo-survival rate (CSR). METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from 41 infertile men. Following routine semen analysis, each sample was divided into two equal aliquots (0.5 mL each). One aliquot was treated with 1 mg of Myo-Ins dissolved in 10 µL of sperm preparation medium. The second aliquot was treated with 10 µL of the same medium (control). Both aliquots were incubated for 20 minutes prior to freezing to slow the freezing process. The frozen samples were examined for post-thaw percentages of total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and the CSR, defined as the percentage of post-thaw TM divided by the percentage of pre-freeze TM and multiplied in 100. The results were expressed as median and interquartile range (25th and 75th percentiles). RESULTS: The pre-freeze TM (50% [30%–50%]) and PM (35% [20%–35%]) were significantly higher than the post-thaw TM and PM in the Myo-Ins group (15% [10%–35%] and 10% [5%–20%]; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and the control group (10% [6%–30%] and 5% [3%–15%]; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The CSR of the 41 semen aliquots supplemented with Myo-Ins (40% [25%–70%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (30% [13%–58%], p=0.041). The CSR of the 26 abnormal semen samples that were supplemented with Myo-Ins (38% [20%–50%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (23% [12%–30%], p=0.031). CONCLUSION: In vitro Myo-Ins supplementation of ejaculated human sperm from infertile men resulted in a significant increase in the CSR in samples with abnormal pre-freeze sperm parameters.
Freezing ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa*

Aims: This study aims to describe the biochemical and kinetic properties of a dehalogenase produced by a bacterium, Bacillus cereus WH2 (KU721999), that is uniquely adept at degrading a β-haloalkanoic acid, i.e., 3-chloropropionic acid (3-CP), and using it as the bacterium’s sole carbon source. The bacterium was isolated from abandoned agricultural land in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia that was previously exposed to herbicides and pesticides. Methodology and results: The B. cereus impressively removed 97% of 3-CP after 36 h of culturing. The intracellular WH2 dehalogenase of the bacterium was purified 2.5-fold and has an estimated molecular mass of 37 kDa. The highest activity of the dehalogenase was achieved under conditions of 30 °C and pH 7. The metal ions Hg2+ and Ag2+ substantially repressed the enzyme’s activity, but the enzyme’s activity was uninhibited by dithiothreitol (DTT) and EDTA. The WH2 dehalogenase showed a higher affinity for 3-CP (Km = 0.32 mM, kcat = 5.74 s-1 ) than for 3-chlorobutyric acid (3-CB) (Km = 0.52 mM; kcat = 5.60 s-1 ). The enzyme was ~1.6-fold more catalytically efficient (kcat/Km) in dehalogenating the three-carbon substrate 3-CP (17.8 mM-1 s -1 ) than the four-carbon 3-CB (11.2 mM-1 s -1 ). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The novel B. cereus bacterium isolated in this study may prove applicable as a bioremediation agent to cleaning environments that are polluted with β-halogenated compounds. Furthermore, such an approach to treat polluted environments is more sustainable and potentially safer than chemical treatments.

Aim: Production of lactulose and other oligosaccharides by Lactobacillus acidophilus NRRL 4495 β-galactosidase and their biological activity. Methodology and Results: The transgalactosylation activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus NRRL 4495 β-galactosidase was investigated under different conditions for synthesis of lactulose and oligosaccharides. The synthesis was optimized with respect to pH; time; enzyme concentration and substrates ratio (lactose: fructose). Maximum production for lactulose was found to be 25 g/L at pH 6.6 with 40: 20% (w/v) lactose to fructose, respectively and enzyme concentration 4 IU/mL after 7 h. With respect to the other oligosaccharides the maximum yield (19 .68 g/L) was obtained under the same conditions but with enzyme concentration 2 IU/mL and after 10 h. As a new pharmaceutical application the produced lactulose and oligosaccharide and their sulfated derivative were found to have fibrinolytic activity, but they failed to act as anticoagulant. Conclusion significance and impact of study: the research leads to increase the production of lactulose and other oligosaccharides with a significant yield and discovered a new pharmaceutical application for all the products.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate reproduction among patients with bipolar I disorder (BP1) or schizophrenia (SZ) in Egypt. METHODS: BP1 patients (n=113) were compared with community based, demographically balanced controls (n=124) and SZ patients (n=79, DSM-IV). All participants were evaluated using structured interviews and corroborative data were obtained from relatives. Standard indices of procreation were included in multivariate analyses that incorporated key demographic variables. RESULTS: Control individuals were significantly more likely to have children than BP1 or SZ patients (controls 46.8%, BP1 15.9%, SZ 17.7%), but the BP1-SZ differences were non-significant. The average number of children for BP1 patients (0.37+/-0.9) and SZ patients (0.38+/-0.9) was significantly lower than for controls (1.04+/-1.48) (BP1 vs controls, p<0.001; SZ vs controls, p<0.001). The frequency of marriages among BP1 patients was nominally higher than the SZ group, but was significantly lower than controls (BP1: 31.9% SZ: 27.8% control: 57.3%). Even among married individuals, BP1 (but not SZ) patients were childless more often than controls (p=0.001). The marital fertility, i.e., the average number of children among patients with conjugal relationships for controls (1.8+/-1.57) was significantly higher than BP1 patients (1.14+/-1.31, p=0.02), but not significantly different from SZ patients (1.36+/-1.32, p=0.2). CONCLUSION: Selected reproductive measures are significantly and substantially reduced among Egyptian BP1 patients. The reproductive indices are similar among BP1 and SZ patients, suggesting a role for general illness related variables. Regardless of the cause/s, the impairment constitutes important, under-investigated disability.
Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Egypt ; Fertility ; Humans ; Marriage ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reproduction ; Schizophrenia