Articles

The term "nanotechnology," introduced in 1986, refers to the emergence of a novel technology poised to transform existing protocols at the nanoscale. For many years, publications regarding nanotechnology have generated significant expectations related to discoveries and solutions. In 1990, with the inception of green chemistry, the scientific community began to reassess its approach, inspired by adaptations of protocols established by various eco-friendly institutions.

This commentary builds upon Chapter 18 of The Nurses’ Guide to Psychotherapy, which discusses the importance of training, supervision, and theoretical grounding for nurses and clinicians practicing differing types of psychotherapy. While the original chapter introduces the Y Model of Psychotherapy as a way to conceptualize core therapeutic skills and continues on to introduce the Y Model Restructured: Structured and Unstructured Therapies, adapted from Goldberg & Plakun (2013), this commentary offers a novel contribution: the Expanded Y Model.

Introduction: Rhinoplasty, frequently ranked among the most performed cosmetic surgeries around the world, is usually done to adjust the nose’s shape for appearance (aesthetic) or breathing (functional) purposes, or both.  Because the procedure deals directly with nasal and facial anatomy, it doesn’t just stop there. It can, and often does, affect nearby structures.

Frequent users of the emergency department (ED) are a small percentage of ED patients but account for a large percentage of visits. Given the cost to the health care system, it is important to explore strategies to prevent unnecessary visits. A prospective chart review of frequent users diagnosed with psychiatric illness in Emergency and Crisis services at one hospital was conducted. Detailed analysis was also completed on the subgroup of these patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and/or self-harming behaviors to determine the impact of two models of psychiatric care on subsequent crisis or ED visits in the year after the index visit.

This author’s contribution, “Clinical Interventions to Empower Older Women” drew on topical research related to older women’s mental health and offered concrete directions for mental health clinicians to explore with older women. This commentary offers an update on the last ten years of research in this area and focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the landscape of older women’s mental health needs and related clinical and non-clinical interventions.

In the recent article, Adhyapak et al., used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Force Spectroscopy to investigate the influence of cholesterol on the phase state behaviour of fluid phase DOPC membranes and found that the excess cholesterol conditions (above 20%) can induce an asymmetry in the lipid bilayer leading to changes both topography and more significantly in the nanomechanical properties of the lipid bilayer.

Nanoprecipitation has emerged as a versatile and efficient technique for formulating nanoparticles, providing significant advantages in drug delivery applications. Nanomaterials, particularly polymer nanoparticles (PNPs), play a crucial role in encapsulating and controlling the release of drug molecules, serving as an alternative to traditional drug delivery methods. Various types and morphologies of PNPs have been synthesized using different nanoprecipitation methods that are being used as drug carriers, demonstrating superior performance in targeted drug delivery with controlled release compared to conventional methods.

This article introduces and attempts to summarize some descriptive clinical-medical aspects of the autism condition. The purpose is to give a common knowledge base of what are pathological symptoms, characteristics of autism and secondary and related pathologies. In this picture, it will become clear that no symptom is single or isolated but the damage concerns a circuit, a higher function, a more complex system. Focusing on one aspect, one symptom and a single set of symptoms distracts from a general, overall picture. We have chosen not to unify them in order to also allow an articulated understanding of the characteristic, symptomatological, and psychological-emotional picture.

The article aims to show that a social perspective on addiction as a disease in the sense of a bio-psycho-social understanding of health and disease can meaningfully broaden the often medical view of addiction problems and contribute to addressing addiction as a social problem in a way that reduces stigma.

A restricted tibio-fibular joint can result in decreased internal and external rotation of the ankle and feet. This decreased range of motion disrupts musculoskeletal function. The musculoskeletal function of the tibio-fibular joint promotes ankle stability and shock absorption during weight bearing activities. The leg tug technique (LTT) technique will be used to promote restoring the normal range of motion of this tibio-fibular joint.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with a Cobb angle >45° are generally referred for surgery, especially in Asia. Physicians do not typically prescribe braces or physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises for such cases. We described a case of right thoracic scoliosis with a Cobb angle of 51°. The parents refused surgery and opted for conservative treatments. We braced the pre-menarchal patient at the age of 10, with Risser at 0, and coached her on exercises, which include traditional Schroth, the Schroth Best Practice, the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS), and the Pilates exercises.

Background: Sepsis arises when an uncontrolled systemic immune response to infection leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction. Despite available therapies, sepsis remains a major global health challenge with high mortality. Further research into molecular mechanisms, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and novel treatments is critical to improve outcomes. 

Introduction: HIV infection is characterized by the progressive destruction of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, responsible for an immune deficiency, thus promoting the development of serious opportunistic infections and tumors. 

Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and disease progression of HIV-infected patients registered and monitored at the Center of Excellence at the University of Lubumbashi

Cholestatic Pruritus is a phenomenon that occurs in disease processes that impair bile flow. This condition poses significant challenges to quality of life and is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. While the direct cause of cholestatic pruritus remains unclear, it likely involves a complex interplay between multiple biochemical pathways. Due to recent advances in diagnostic tools, more biochemical pathways of cholestatic pruritis have been discovered.

In this study, the rectus sheath and amniotic membrane were utilized to repair tunica albuginea damage in rabbits. Ten male New Zealand white rabbits were included in the study. Group 1 consisted of 5 rabbits in which the tunica albuginea injury was repaired using amniotic membrane from pregnant rabbits. Group 2 consisted of 5 rabbits in which their rectus sheath was used to repair the tunica albuginea injury. Our results showed that both the use of amniotic membrane and rectus sheath are effective in repairing tunica albuginea damage in rabbits.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells characterized by clonal proliferation in the bone marrow and associated organ damage. In resource-limited settings, advanced diagnostic tools are often inaccessible, making conventional cytology a critical first-line diagnostic approach. Objectives: To assess the advantages and limitations of using bone marrow cytology as the primary diagnostic method for MM in a resource-constrained environment.

Effective drug delivery to the skin or tumor microenvironment requires overcoming biological barriers while precisely modulating immune responses. In dermatology, topical therapies must penetrate the stratum corneum without triggering inflammation, whereas cancer immunotherapy demands targeted delivery to stimulate anti-tumor immunity with minimal off-target effects. 

People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities present significant challenges to those who care for them, and those who commission and manage the services they receive. Childhood disabilities are a cause of major concern causing significant handicap to the affected children. At least one in ten children are born with or acquire a physical, mental or sensory impairment.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to deliberate and repeated acts of damaging one's own body tissue without suicidal intent. It is usually related to depression, bipolar disorder (BD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment is one of the effective methods for the treatment of NSSTI at present.

CT coronary angiography (CTCA) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) are widely used to evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD). Both involve iodinated contrast, which may cause contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), particularly in high-risk patients. This study compared the incidence of AKI following CTCA versus ICA in hospitalized patients with symptomatic CAD.