Empathic accuracy and cognition in schizotypal personality disorder

Interpersonal dysfunction contributes to significant disability in the schizophrenia spectrum. Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) is a schizophrenia-related personality demonstrating social cognitive impairment in the absence of frank psychosis. Past research indicates that cognitive dysfunction or schizotypy may account for social cognitive dysfunction in this population. We tested SPD subjects and healthy controls on the Empathic Accuracy (EA) paradigm and the Reading of the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), assessing the impact of EA on social support. We also explored whether EA differences could be explained by intelligence, working memory, trait empathy, or attachment avoidance. SPD subjects did not differ from controls in RMET, but demonstrated lower EA during negative valence videos, associated with lower social support. Dynamic, multimodal EA paradigms may be more effective at capturing interpersonal dysfunction than static image tasks such as RMET. Schizotypal severity, trait empathy, and cognitive dysfunction did not account for empathic dysfunction in SPD, although attachment avoidance is related to empathic differences. Empathic dysfunction for negative affect contributes to decreased social support in the schizophrenia spectrum. Future research may shed further light on potential links between attachment avoidance, empathic dysfunction, and social support.     

Differentiation malignant from benign parotid tumors in children with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Purpose

To differentiate pediatric solid malignant from the benign parotid tumors with diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI).

Materials and methods

A retrospective study comprising 38 children with parotid tumors (21 boys and 17 girls aged from 2 months to 17 years) was conducted using (DWI) of the parotid gland. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were generated. The ADC value of the parotid tumors was calculated.

Results

The mean ADC value of malignant parotid tumors (1.08?±?0.1, 1.04?±?0.1?×?10^?3mm²/s) was significantly lower [P?=?0.001] than that of benign lesions (1.69?±?0.2, 1.72?±?0.3?×?10^?3mm²/s). A threshold of ADC of 1.40, 1.33?×?10^?3mm²/s was used for differentiating malignant parotid tumors from benign lesions and led to the best results of the area under the curve of 0.940, 0.929, accuracy of 86, 89%, sensitivity of 94, 94%, specificity of 80, 85%, negative predictive value of 94.1, 94.4%, and positive predictive value of 81, 85%. There was insignificant difference in ADC values of malignant lesions (P?=?0.23, 0.30) as well as within benign lesions (P?=?0.25, 0.08).

Conclusion

DWI is an innovative anticipating imaging technique that can be used in the differentiation of pediatric solid malignant parotid tumors from benign lesions.

     

Odontogenic tumors: A Retrospective Study in Egyptian population using WHO 2017 classification

Background Odontogenic tumors (OTs) are considered important among oral lesions because of their clinicopathological heterogeneity and variable biological behavior. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate the frequency and distribution of different types of odontogenic tumors based on the current 2017 WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors over a period of 5 years. This was achieved by reviewing the records of Cairo''s educational hospitals and institutions and comparing the results with findings in the literature.Material and Methods The records of patients diagnosed with odontogenic tumors were obtained from six educational hospitals and a single institute in Cairo which included: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University; General Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University; Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University; Eldemerdash Hospital, Ain Shams University; El-Sayed Galal Hospital, Al-Azhar University; Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital and National Cancer Institute. These records were reviewed over a 5-year (2014-2018) period and the odontogenic tumors were investigated for frequency, age, gender and site. The data were recorded, then analyzed using SPSS software.Results Intraosseous (central) odontogenic tumors constituted 2.56% of all 8974 registered oral and maxillofacial biopsies. A total of 230 cases of OTs were collected and reviewed. Of these, 97.8% were benign and 2.17% were malignant. The mandible was the most commonly affected anatomic location. Ameloblastoma, with a predilection for the posterior mandible, was the most frequent odontogenic tumor (55.65%), followed by cemento-ossifying fibroma (14.78%) and odontoma (9.13%). Females were more commonly affected than males. Most of the patients were in the third and fourth decades of life. There were no peripheral odontogenic tumors diagnosed in this period.Conclusions Some similarities and differences between our findings and those of previous studies of various populations were witnessed. OTs may greatly diverge according to the version of the classification used and by the sample size of the study. Retrospective analysis of the relative frequency of OTs in different countries will be helpful in enhancing the understanding of OTs, which is important for both oral maxillofacial surgeons and pathologists. Key words:Odontogenic tumors, epidemiology, world health organization classification, oral pathology.     

Diagnostic significance of miR‐21, miR‐141, miR‐18a and miR‐221 as novel biomarkers in prostate cancer among Egyptian patients

Prostate cancer (PC) is considered as the fifth cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The exact etiopathogenesis is unclear; however, genetic predisposition, hormonal influencers, lifestyle and environmental factors act as major contributors. It has been found that several miRNAs may play a crucial role in cancer initiation and progression. Here, in this study, we evaluated the peripheral blood levels of miR‐21, miR‐141, miR‐221 and miR‐18a expression among 80 prostate cancer patients (50 localised and 30 metastatic) and 30 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients compared to 50 normal control subjects, using RT‐PCR. Our results of analysis of miR‐21, miR‐141, miR‐18a and miR‐221 in the plasma of PC patients showed that miR‐18a is a powerful discriminator of PC patients from healthy controls as it had the highest AUC (0.966; 95% CI, 0.937–1.000), while miR‐221 provided better differentiation of metastatic from localised PC (sensitivity was 92.9% at 100% specificity), and when we combine miR‐18a and miR‐221 for differentiating patients with MPC, it will increase the sensitivity to 96.4% at a specificity of 100% (AUC, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.988–1.0) (p < .000). This current study recommends that analysis of these miRNAs might have clinical value in enhancing PSA testing.     

An experimental study on ulcerative colitis as a potential target for probiotic therapy by Lactobacillus acidophilus with or without “olsalazine”

Traditional medical treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC) are still compromised by its adverse effects and not potent enough to keep in remission for long-term periods. So, new therapies that are targeted at specific disease mechanisms have the potential to provide more effective and safe treatments for ulcerative colitis. Probiotics is recently introduced as a therapy for ulcerative colitis. In the present study, Lactobacillus acidophilus was selected as a probiotic therapy to investigate its effects in oxazolone-induced colitis model in rats that mimics the picture in human. The rats were grouped (8 rats each) as normal control group (Group I), Group II served as untreated oxazolone-induced colitis, Group III oxazolone-induced colitis treated with probiotic L. acidophilus (1 × 10⁷ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL/day oral for 14 days), Group IV oxazolone-induced colitis treated with olsalazine (60 mg/kg/day oral for 14 days), Group V oxazolone-induced colitis treated with probiotic L. acidophilus and olsalazine in the same doses and duration. Disease activity index (DAI) was recorded, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and intrleukin-6 (IL-6) was assessed as inflammatory markers and the histopathological picture of the colon of each rat was studied. Disease activity index (DAI) showed significant positive correlation with the elevated serum levels of CRP (r = 0.741, p < 0.05), TNF-α (r = 0.802, p < 0.05) and IL-6 (r = 0.801, p < 0.05). Treatment with either L. acidophilus (group III) or olsalazine (group IV) resulted in significant reduction in serum levels of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6, as well as disease activity index (DAI). Treatment with combination of L. acidophilus and olsalazine (group V) offered more significant reduction in serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and disease activity index (DAI) when compared to either group II (untreated group), group III (treated with L. acidophilus) or group IV (treated with olsalazine). So, it was concluded that L. acidophilus probiotic could be recommended as adjuvant therapy in combination with olsalazine to achieve more effective treatment for ulcerative colitis. For application in human, this needs to be verified in further clinical studies.     

Combustion Synthesis of High Density ZrN/ZrSi2 Composite: Influence of ZrO2 Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

In this study, a high-density ZrN/ZrSi₂ composite reinforced with ZrO₂ as an inert phase was synthesized under vacuum starting with a Zr-Si₄N₃-ZrO₂ blend using combustion-synthesis methodology accompanied by compaction. The effects of ZrO₂ additions (10–30 wt%) and compression loads (117–327 MPa) on the microstructure, porosity and hardness of the samples were studied. The process was monitored using XRD, SEM, EDS, porosity, density and hardness measurements. Thermodynamic calculations of the effect of ZrO₂ addition on the combustion reaction were performed including the calculation of the adiabatic temperatures and the estimation of the fractions of the liquid phase. The addition of up to 20 wt% ZrO₂ improved the hardness and reduced the porosity of the samples. Using 20 wt% ZrO₂, the sample porosity was reduced to 1.66 vol%, and the sample hardness was improved to 1165 ± 40.5 HV at 234 MPa.     

An Experimental Investigation of Static Properties of Bio-Oils and SAE40 Oil in Journal Bearing Applications

Considerable research has been conducted in the past decade and a half regarding the bio-lubricants potential to replace mineral-based lubricants as mainstream lubricants such as engine oil, hydraulic oil, compressor oil, and metalworking oil. This study studied several bio-lubricants (rapeseed oil, palm olein, and soybean oil) and a mineral-based lubricant, SAE40. The bio-lubricants have better physiochemical, tribological characteristics and environmental friendly nature, and are promising to replace mineral-based lubricants. In this study, a journal bearing test rig (JBTR) was developed in order to investigate the effect of journal speed on the temperature of oil film with time. Additionally, the load-carrying capacity of bio-oils was tested against the mineral-based lubricant SAE40 by adding a load on the journal. For all three speeds, i.e., 1000, 1500, and 2000 rpm, the bio-lubricants recorded minimum temperature. At 1000 rpm, rapeseed oil recorded a 9.2% lower temperature than SAE40. Similarly, at 2000 rpm, rapeseed oil recorded a minimum temperature that was 2.5% lower than SAE40; in comparison, at 1500 rpm, palm olein recorded a minimum temperature that was 1.8% less than SAE40. Overall, the results of this study revealed that bio-oils recorded a lower temperature rise than mineral oil. These results are very encouraging for further research in this area.     

Osseointegration in maxillofacial prosthetics

Intra-oral and extra-oral prosthetic restorations of acquired and developmental defects (oral, para-oral, and facial) have had a fundamental problem of inadequate stability and retention of the prostheses. Application of osseointegration in maxillofacial prosthetic reconstruction followed the positive results obtained by using osseointegrated implants for retaining and supporting maxillary and mandibular dental prostheses. The two case presentations are illustrative examples of the clinical application of osseointegrated implants for maxillofacial reconstructive prosthetic procedures.