Five historical innovations that have shaped modern urological surgery

Throughout history, many innovations have contributed to the development of modern urological surgery, improving patient outcomes and expanding the range of treatment options available to patients. This article explores five key historical innovations that have shaped modern urological surgery: External shockwave lithotripsy, transurethral resection of prostate, cystoscope, perioperative prostate-specific antigen and robotic surgery. The selection of innovations for inclusion in this article was meticulously determined through expert consensus and an extensive literature review. We will review the development, impact and significance of each innovation, highlighting their contributions to the field of urological surgery and their ongoing relevance in contemporary and perioperative practice.

Advances in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines, Their Obstacles, and Prospects Toward Tumor Immunotherapy

Over the past few decades, cancer immunotherapy has experienced a significant revolution due to the advancements in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), along with their regulatory approvals. In recent times, there has been hope in the effectiveness of cancer vaccines for therapy as they have been able to stimulate de novo T-cell reactions against tumor antigens. These tumor antigens include both tumor-associated antigen (TAA) and tumor-specific antigen (TSA). Nevertheless, the constant quest to fully achieve these abilities persists. Therefore, this review offers a broad perspective on the existing status of cancer immunizations. Cancer vaccine design has been revolutionized due to the advancements made in antigen selection, the development of antigen delivery systems, and a deeper understanding of the strategic intricacies involved in effective antigen presentation. In addition, this review addresses the present condition of clinical tests and deliberates on their approaches, with a particular emphasis on the immunogenicity specific to tumors and the evaluation of effectiveness against tumors. Nevertheless, the ongoing clinical endeavors to create cancer vaccines have failed to produce remarkable clinical results as a result of substantial obstacles, such as the suppression of the tumor immune microenvironment, the identification of suitable candidates, the assessment of immune responses, and the acceleration of vaccine production. Hence, there are possibilities for the industry to overcome challenges and enhance patient results in the coming years. This can be achieved by recognizing the intricate nature of clinical issues and continuously working toward surpassing existing limitations.

Five historical innovations that have shaped modern orthopaedic surgery

Throughout history, many innovations have contributed to the development of modern orthopaedic surgery, improving patient outcomes and expanding the range of treatment options available to patients. This article explores five key historical innovations that have shaped modern orthopaedic surgery: X-ray imaging, bone cement, the Thomas splint, the Pneumatic tourniquet and robotic-assisted surgery. We will review the development, impact and significance of each innovation, highlighting their contributions to the field of orthopaedic surgery and their ongoing relevance in contemporary and perioperative practice.

Mo-based MXenes: Synthesis, properties, and applications

Ti-MXene allows a range of possibilities to tune their compositional stoichiometry due to their electronic and electrochemical properties. Other than conventionally explored Ti-MXene, there have been ample opportunities for the non-Ti-based MXenes, especially the emerging Mo-based MXenes. Mo-MXenes are established to be remarkable with optoelectronic and electrochemical properties, tuned energy, catalysis, and sensing applications. In this timely review, we systematically discuss the various organized synthesis procedures, associated experimental tunning parameters, physiochemical properties, structural evaluation, stability challenges, key findings, and a wide range of applications of emerging Mo-MXene over Ti-MXenes. We also critically examined the precise control of Mo-MXenes to cater to advanced applications by comprehensively evaluating the summary of recent studies using artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. The critical future perspectives, significant challenges, and possible outlooks for successfully developing and using Mo-MXenes for various practical applications are highlighted.

Five historical innovations that have shaped modern cardiothoracic surgery

Throughout history, many innovations have contributed to the development of modern cardiothoracic surgery, improving patient outcomes and expanding the range of treatment options available to patients. This article explores five key historical innovations that have shaped modern cardiothoracic surgery: cardiopulmonary bypass, surgical pacemakers, video assisted thoracic surgery, robotic surgery and mechanical circulatory support. We will review the development, impact and significance of each innovation, highlighting their contributions to the field of cardiothoracic surgery and their ongoing relevance in contemporary and perioperative practice.

The role of international collaborations in sustainable neurosurgical development in Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

Despite six decades of existence, neurosurgery is still in the developing stages in Nigeria. In this era of collaborative health system capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries, this article reviews past efforts and future prospects for collaborative neurosurgical development in Nigeria.

METHODS

A bibliometric review of the Nigerian neurosurgical literature and data from a structured survey of Nigerian neurosurgeons and residents provided details of current local and international collaborations for neurosurgical research, service delivery, training, and capacity building. These were analyzed to provide an overview of the role of collaborations in sustainable neurosurgical development in Nigeria and to recommend approaches to enhance neurosurgical capacity.

RESULTS

In 1023 peer-reviewed neurosurgery publications from Nigeria, there were 4618 authors with 3688 from 98 Nigerian institutions and 930 from 296 foreign institutions in 70 countries. While there were significant research collaborations amongst Nigerian institutions, the most common were with institutions in the US, UK, and Cameroon. From the survey, 62 of 149 respondents (41.6%) from 32 health facilities noted their institution's involvement in capacity-building neurosurgical collaborations. These collaborations involved 22 Nigerian institutions and 13 foreign institutions in 9 countries and were mostly for training and workforce development (78.1%), and research and data management (59.4%). The majority of foreign institutions were from the US and UK.

CONCLUSION

Current and previous neurosurgical collaborations have led to sustainable progress in Nigeria. Further local, regional, and international collaborations would enhance the capacity to address the needs and challenges affecting neurosurgery in Nigeria.

Trihalomethanes in water samples: Recent update on pretreatment and detection methods

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are classified as volatile organic compounds, considered to be a disinfection by-product during water disinfection process. THMs have been shown to be cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic, with a risk of cancer when they contact with people directly. To protect public health and monitor water quality, it is important to monitor and measure THMs in drinking water. Therefore, it is crucial to develop fast, accurate, highly sensitivity and green analysis methods of THMs in various complicated matrices. Here, this review presents an overall summary of the current state of the pretreatment and detection methods for THMs in various sample matrices since 2005. In addition to the traditionally used pretreatment methods for THMs (such as headspace extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, liquid-liquid extraction), the new-developed methods, including solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS and different microextraction methods, have been summarized. The detection methods include gas chromatography-based methods, sensors and several other approaches. Additionally, benefits and limitations of different techniques were also discussed and compared. This study is anticipated to offer fruitful insights into the further advancement and widespread applications of pretreatment and detection technologies for THMs as well as for related substances.

Emerging trends and applications in health-boosting microorganisms-specific strains for enhancing animal health

Recent advancements in specific strain of probiotics have shown promising trends and applications in both ruminant and non-ruminant animal health. This study emphasizes the importance of tailored probiotics for these animal categories, discussing their potential benefits in improving nutrient utilization, growth performance, and disease management. The study also explores the different routes of probiotics administration, highlighting the various methods of delivery. Specifically, it highlights the benefits of probiotics in ruminant production performance, including enhanced rumen health, growth rates, milk production, and reduced digestive disorders. Additionally, it discusses the advantages of probiotics in non-ruminant farming, such as improved feed conversion efficiency, nutrient absorption, growth rates, immune responses, and reduced gastrointestinal issues, leading to increased productivity and profitability. In conclusion, recent advancements in specific strain of probiotics offer promising prospects for improving animal health. Tailored probiotics have shown potential in enhancing growth, nutrient utilization, and disease prevention, contributing to sustainable and effective animal husbandry practices.

Revolutionising Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Health Care System and Its Related Medical In-Transparencies

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of medicine has revolutionised various sectors of the health care system, including robotics surgery, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, evidence-based medicine and advanced research and transplantation techniques. By offering improved 3D imagery of the various organs involved in surgery and perfectly minimising the chances of error, AI aid made complicated surgical procedures more efficient and highly effective, requiring less hands-on. Further, the AI tool helps plastic surgery and aesthetic surgeons in anticipating prognostic surgical markers and post-operative consequences. In addition to enhancing accurate and rapid diagnosis, AI has played a pivotal role in the development and discovery of new drugs. Nevertheless, the application of AI in health care also raises significant challenges and concerns. Incorrect drug recommendations, failure to identify tumours and lesions on imaging modalities and potential bias in data entry and its automatic can risk the life of patients on a large scale. Additionally, breaching patient data privacy may raise concerns about cybersecurity issues, further compromised by growing dependency on AI which can result in massive unemployment. In short, AI has played a pivotal role in health care; however, addressing the in-transparencies is critical to ensure safe, ethical and more effective implementation in the dynamic field of medicine.

Cortical bone trajectory screws in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease in patients with osteoporosis

Lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the elderly population remains a global health problem, especially in patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis in the elderly can cause failure of internal fixation. Cortical bone trajectory (CBT) is an effective, safe and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of lumbar DDD in patients with osteoporosis. In this review, we analyzed the anatomy, biomechanics, and advantages of the CBT technique in lumbar DDD and revision surgery. Additionally, the clinical trials and case reports, indications, advancements and limitations of this technique were further discussed and reviewed. Finally, we concluded that the CBT technique can be a practical, effective and safe alternative to traditional pedicle screw fixation, especially in DDD patients with osteoporosis.

Applications of Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture: a Mini-Review

Biotechnology is a wide-ranging science that uses modern technologies to construct biological processes, organisms, cells or cellular components. The clinical new instruments, industry, and products developed by biotechnologists are useful in research, agriculture and other major fields. The biotechnology is as ancient as civilization. The food you buy, and the pets you love? Using artificial selection for crops, domesticated animals and other species, you may thank our distant ancestors for setting off the agrarian revolution. When Alexander Fleming discovered antibiotics, and when Edward Jenner invented vaccines, the biotechnology potential was harnessed. And, of course, without the mechanisms of fermentation that gave us beer, wine and cheese, it would not be possible to imagine modern society. This article summarizes some of the applications of biotechnology in food & agriculture.

Graphical abstract

Applications of biotechnology in animal and plant sector.

Technological advancement in the synthesis and applications of lignin-based nanoparticles derived from agro-industrial waste residues: A review

Over the years, lignin has drawn a great deal of interest for their potential use as bio-polymers due to the presence of high amount of phenolic compounds, non-polluting feature and cost-competitiveness as compared to synthetic polymers. However, in order to fast-track their development, different attempts are made towards the usage of lignin in nano form since it exhibits some unique properties in nanoscale range. The present review article provides a detail analysis on the recent advancement in the synthesis and applications of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) derived from agro-industrial waste residues. In view of that, an in-depth morphological analysis was reviewed to assess the structural influence on the characteristics of LNPs. Further, application of LNPs is explored in different fields including bio-medical engineering, pharmaceuticals, skin-care products and food industries. Finally, the paper is concluded discussing various challenges associated with the synthesis, modification and development with an aspiration of futuristic developments. The readers of this review article will be highly benefitted after acquiring a comprehensive knowledge on LNPs and its different synthesis processes along with various applications.

Significant advancements of 4D printing in the field of orthopaedics

Researchers, engineers and doctors are continuously focusing on the development of orthopaedics parts characterised by the required responses. So, advanced manufacturing technologies are introduced to fulfil various previously faced challenges. 4D printing provides rapid development with its capability of customization of smart orthopaedics implants and appropriate surgical procedure. This technology opens up the making of innovative, adaptable internal splints, stents, replacement of tissues and organs. Thus, to write this review based article, relevant papers on 4D printing in medical/orthopaedics and smart materials are identified and studied. 4D printed parts show the capability of shape-changing and self-assembly to perform the required functions, which otherwise manufactured parts are not providing. Smart orthopaedics implants are used for spinal deformities, fracture fixation, joint, knee replacement and other related orthopaedics applications. This paper briefs about the 4D printing technology with its major benefits for orthopaedics applications. Today various smart materials are available, which could be used as raw material in 4D printing, and we have discussed capabilities of some of them. Due to the ability of shape-changing, smart implants can change their shape after being implanted in the patient body. Finally, twelve significant advancements of 4D printing in the field of orthopaedics are identified and briefly provided. Thus, 4D printing help to provide a significant effect on personalised treatments.

Advancements in Diagnosing Periprosthetic Joint Infections after Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a complication of total joint arthroplasty that is challenging to diagnose. Currently, there is no "gold standard" for definite diagnosis of PJI. A multi-criteria definition has been described for PJI based on microbiology cultures, serum markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP), synovial fluid biomarkers, such as leukocyte esterase and histopathology assessment of the periprosthetic tissue. The conventional serum markers are generally nonspecific and can be elevated in inflammatory conditions. Therefore, they cannot be relied on for definite diagnosis of PJI. Hence, with the use of proteomics, synovial fluid biomarkers such as α-defensin, IL-6, and CRP have been proposed as more accurate biomarkers for PJI. Current methods to culture micro-organisms have several limitations, and can be false-negative and false-positive in a considerable number of cases. In an attempt to improve culture sensitivity, diagnostic methods to target biofilms have recently been studied. The understanding of the concept of biofilms has also allowed for the development of novel techniques for PJI diagnosis, such as visualizing biofilms with fluorescent in-situ hybridization and detection of bacteria via DNA microarray. Lastly, the use of amplification-based molecular techniques has provided methods to identify specific species of bacteria that cause culture-negative PJI. While diagnosing PJI is difficult, these advances could be valuable tools for clinicians.

Impact of Video Based Learning on the Perfomance of Post Graduate Students in Biostatistics: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Education, being a process of knowledge transfer always has advances which are generally on par with the discovery of newer technologies. Currently, most of the education process has shifted away from the conventional black board towards the usage of more student friendly technologies. This leads us to the aim of this study, which is to analyse the impact of video based learning on the performance of dental post graduate students in their biostatistics course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A new video based discussion method was followed to teach biostatistics to MDS postgraduate students in 2013 (test group, n=44). The performance of these students were compared to a historical cohort of scores obtained by students of the 2012 batch (control group, n=44) who underwent a traditional lecture based teaching for the same course. The scores obtained by the students in their undergraduate board exams were compared to test for difference in academic aptitude of the students in the two groups.

RESULTS

The mean exam score of the test group was significantly higher (66.60±8.92) when compared to the control group (53.48±8.38); (p < 0.001 Independent Sample t-test). There was no significant difference in the overall academic performance of the students from both groups (test group mean academic performance was 61.47±4.86 and control group was 63.19±4.69.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that video based discussion based teaching is more effective in training postgraduate dental students in biostatistics.