Background: Amid global health concerns, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria create substantial resistance challenges to current antibiotics. ESBL-producing pathogens are resistant to many antibiotics, including first- to third-generation cephalosporins, monobactams, or other antibiotic classes. Therefore, healthcare relies on carbapenems and colistin as their last options. Alarmingly, resistance to these critical drugs is increasing, emphasizing the urgent need for contemporary solutions, such as phage therapy. Objective:To develop an integrated workflow for identification and phage susceptibility assessment of ESBL-producing E. coli from environmental water samples. Methods: In this study, 15 downstream water samples were collected from five locations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including Nala Lai, Chattar Park, Shahdara, Nescom Hospital H-10, and G-10. Results: Of these, 10 samples (66.67%) tested positive for Escherichia coli, while five (33.33%) were negative. All samples from Chattar Park were negative for E. coli. Screening via the double-disk synergy test and combination disk test identified four samples (26.66%) with ESBL-producing E. coli and six (40%) with non-ESBL-producing isolates. Bacteriophages were isolated from Nescom Hospital stream water using the double agar overlay method and purified with a 0.45 μm syringe filter. The phages exhibited lytic activity against ESBL-producing E. coli NLA-3, as indicated in spot test results, and their therapeutic potential was validated through reduction assays. The isolated phage NHE-1 shows promise as an alternative treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to expand its application to diverse bacterial strains and evaluate its clinical efficacy. Utilizing bacteriophages’ natural ability to target bacteria may provide sustainable, effective solutions to combat antibiotic resistance.
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents the most common endocrine disorder afflicting women of reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by hormonal imbalances, metabolic abnormalities, and infertility, yet only limited therapeutic options are available. Metformin and Bushen Ditan Decoction (BDD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, are commonly used in Western and traditional Chinese medicine, respectively, for treating PCOS. Despite their demonstrated clinical efficacy, the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects remain incompletely understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of metformin and BDD in a PCOS rat model. Methods: PCOS was induced in rats by using the Poretsky method. After model induction, the animals were given metformin (150 mg/kg/day) or BDD (8, 16, or 32 mg/kg/day) via intragastric gavage for 4 weeks. Results: Both metformin and BDD significantly reduced testosterone levels and improved lipid metabolism parameters. MicroRNA (miRNA) sequencing of ovarian tissues identified 18 miRNAs commonly regulated by both treatments, and functional enrichment analysis indicated that these differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in autophagy- and metabolism-related pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Conservation analysis across species highlighted the potential clinical relevance of these findings. Conclusion: This study demonstrated how mechanistically metformin and BDD work on PCOS, particularly through the regulation of autophagy- and metabolism-related pathways, providing insights for their future clinical applications.
Background: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) reflects immune activation and chronic inflammatory responses and has been proposed as a prognostic biomarker in several acute conditions. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical performance of two analytical methods for plasma suPAR determination in patients with stroke: a point-of-care (POC) lateral-flow assay and an automated particle-enriched turbidimetric immunoassay performed on a biochemistry analyzer. Methods: Plasma samples from 27 patients with stroke and 14 age-matched healthy controls were analyzed with both methods. suPAR concentrations were significantly higher in stroke patients compared with controls for both assays. Results: A statistically significant difference between POC and analyzer measurements was observed only within the stroke group (p=0.024), and a strong positive correlation between the two methods was identified (r = 0.745, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated higher sensitivity for the POC method (96%) compared with the analyzer (82%), while the specificity was identical (57%). Conclusion: These findings suggest that suPAR measurement using a rapid POC platform provides reliable results and may support early risk stratification in patients with stroke in emergency department settings.
Background: Infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms pose a significant global health challenge due to the limited therapeutic options available. Synergistic drug combinations are often employed to enhance treatment efficacy. Because peptidoglycan is unique to prokaryotes, many studies focus on combinations that include beta-lactam antibiotics. To address bacterial strains that produce beta-lactamases, a range of beta-lactamase inhibitors has been developed. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) regularly update clinical guidelines to include standards for new beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Objective: This work provides an overview of beta-lactam and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, together with updated clinical guidelines and an analysis of the relevant Protein Data Bank (PDB) entries related to these synergistic combinations. First, the latest EUCAST and CLSI guidelines are reviewed to identify the most recent beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations used in therapy. Next, PDB entries related to these combinations are examined and compared with new compounds under investigation. EUCAST and CLSI guidelines are valuable for guiding therapeutic strategies, not only for interpreting antibiograms. The newest beta-lactamase inhibitors include avibactam, relebactam, vaborbactam, and enmetazobactam. X-ray crystallography studies have enhanced understanding of inhibitor interactions with major beta-lactamases in Gram-negative pathogens—serine beta-lactamases and metallo-beta-lactamases. Conclusion: Investigating synergistic combinations of beta-lactams and beta-lactamase inhibitors is promising because beta-lactams target peptidoglycan and may enable new therapeutic strategies.
Plant protein extraction is vital in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods, where protein functionality directly influences downstream applications. Conventional extraction methods are limited by long processing times, high solvent consumption, and potential degradation of protein bioactivity, necessitating more efficient and protein-preserving approaches. This review (encompassing studies published from 2015 to 2025) evaluates advanced extraction technologies with emphasis on efficiency, sustainability, and preservation of protein functionality. Key strategies include ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) methods, as well as pulsed electric fields (PEF), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), ionic liquid extraction (ILE), deep eutectic solvents (DES), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), three-phase partitioning (TPP), detergent-assisted adsorption, and reversed micellar extraction (RME). These approaches employ physical, chemical, or enzymatic mechanisms to improve efficiency, minimize solvent use, and better preserve protein integrity. UAE, MAE, and EAE increase protein yields and improve functional traits such as solubility, emulsification, and antioxidant activity, while PEF and SFE mainly enhance solubility and purity. ILE and DES are notable for their environmental sustainability, whereas PLE, TPP, and RME combine high yields with faster processing and improved bioactivity preservation. These techniques have demonstrated effectiveness across diverse plant matrices, highlighting their versatility for both research and industrial applications. Emerging trends emphasize the optimization of extraction processes to balance high yields with protein bioactivity, offering valuable insights for developing efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly methods in plant-based protein production.
Background: Neurological diseases are pathologies that affect the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A correlation between cognitive decline and energy metabolism has been identified, and the potential to treat mental deterioration through the integration of natural mixtures into therapeutic strategies has gained increasing interest. Objective: Given the close relationship between hypometabolism and cognitive impairment, this study investigated the metabolic effects of a mixture containing medium-chain triglycerides, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline bitartrate in a human neuronal cell model, with relevance to cognitive decline. This was achieved by comparing the synergistic effects of the combined ingredients with the effects of the individual ingredients on energy metabolism (ATP) in a human neuronal model. Methods: Starting from the maximum non-toxic concentration common to both the mixture and individual components (1.563 mg/mL), the selected cell model (SH-SY5Y) was incubated for 24 h with decreasing concentrations of the mixture to evaluate ATP levels and to identify the optimal concentration (0.391 mg/mL). The cell viability results of the mixture were compared with the dose–response curves generated from cells treated with the individual components at equivalent concentrations to those present in the mixture. Results: A statistically significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in ATP content following treatment with the mixture compared to the individual active ingredients. Conclusion: The pre-clinical results demonstrate that a mixture containing medium-chain triglycerides, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline bitartrate exerts a synergistic effect on cellular energy metabolism, enhancing ATP production in a neuronal model. This formulation supports energy metabolism and may be beneficial for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Background: Tumors are characterized by excessive proliferation and the capacity for metastasis. Understanding the detailed mechanisms of tumor progression is crucial for both tumor prevention and targeted therapy. Drosophila melanogaster neural stem cells, referred to as neuroblasts (NBs), serve as an ideal model for studying tumorigenesis by recapitulating conserved cellular behaviors, signaling pathways, and regulatory mechanisms. NBs possess self-renewal capacity, enabling them to undergo multiple rounds of proliferative divisions, similar to cancer stem cells. Moreover, several signaling pathways and cytokines that regulate NB development also play a critical role in tumorigenesis. For instance, the absence of key factors in NB development, such as Brat and Numb, can lead to tumor formation. Objective: This review focuses on the mechanisms of NB development—including delamination, quiescent NB reactivation, asymmetric cell divisions, and termination—which parallel key tumor processes, such as cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stem cell quiescence and reactivation, uncontrolled proliferation, and cell elimination. Conclusion: We summarize recent findings on these tumor progression processes. These insights provide valuable clues for understanding tumor progression and offer potential avenues for tumor prevention and treatment.
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most aggressive solid malignancies, characterized by late-stage detection, rapid progression, and poor patient survival. Reliable biomarkers are urgently needed to improve early diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and therapeutic decision-making. Traditional approaches such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and immunoassay-based methods have long supported clinical practice; however, their utility is limited by suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. Advances in molecular and analytical methodologies have broadened the biomarker landscape through next-generation sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenetic profiling. Complementing these approaches, liquid biopsy platforms, including circulating tumor DNA, exosomes, and circulating tumor cells, as well as imaging-based radiomics and artificial intelligence-driven multi-omics integration, are enabling non-invasive, high-resolution biomarker discovery. Objective: This review aims to comprehensively synthesize both traditional approaches and the latest emerging technologies in PDAC biomarker discovery, emphasizing not only their underlying methodological principles but also their translational potential and the persistent challenges associated with clinical validation. Conclusion: By presenting a broad yet detailed methodological perspective, we trace the evolution of classical diagnostic and prognostic tools and examine how they are increasingly being integrated with innovative high-throughput and multi-omics platforms. Together, these advances underscore the pivotal role of biomarkers in enabling earlier detection, improving risk stratification, and driving the future of precision oncology.
Background: Resin-based cation exchange (CEX) column chromatography is widely used for charge variant separation/reduction. However, in a CEX process where a wash step is introduced to reduce weakly bound acidic charge variants, its performance is greatly affected by the loading density, resulting in poor robustness. We previously demonstrated that multi-column chromatography could resovle this problem, with the key strategy involving converting 3–4 large cycles into a greater number of small cycles. Recently, membrane chromatography has emerged as a promising alternative to column chromatography. CEX membrane, which can be operated under high flow rate, naturally supports the conversion of a large cycle into numerous small cycles. Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate that CEX membrane chromatography offers a superior option for addressing the low robustness in the chromatography’s wash step. Methods: CEX membrane chromatography was applied to reduce acidic charge variants, and its effectiveness was evaluated using capillary isoelectric focusing analysis of the purified samples. Results: Under appropriate conditions, CEX membrane chromatography consistently lowered acidic charge variants to the required level. Conclusion: Compared to the multi-column approach, CEX membrane chromatography allows for a more straightforward implementation, has higher productivity, and achieves greater cost efficiency. Therefore, it serves as a better alternative to address the low robustness issue.
Background: The bacterial endotoxin test (BET) is an important quality control measure for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), injections, and antibiotics used in parenteral preparations. This test confirms that products do not contain hazardous amounts of endotoxins released from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria upon cell lysis. The detection and quantification of endotoxins are crucial for patient safety, as they can cause severe pyrogenic reactions. A pharmacopeia is a book of drug standards that ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. Objective: This study aims to assess the differences and correlations among the Indian Pharmacopeia (IP), British Pharmacopeia (BP), Japanese Pharmacopeia (JP), European Pharmacopeia (Ph. Eur.), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and International Pharmacopeia (Ph. Int.) regarding injection preparation specifications, antibiotic and API specifications, and acceptance criteria for bacterial endotoxins. BET guidelines are provided by these pharmacopeial organizations, including the BP, JP, IP, Ph. Eur., Ph. Int., and USP. The permissible endotoxin limits vary depending on the route of administration. It was found that bacterial endotoxin limits for antibiotic injections and APIs are specified in the IP, BP, JP, Ph. Eur., USP, and Ph. Int. The findings suggest that the similarities and variations in bacterial endotoxin limits and their acceptance criteria, as outlined in these pharmacopeias, should be harmonized to promote regulatory consistency and patient safety. Conclusion: The comparative data obtained from this study will be useful for developing strategies to harmonize pharmacopeial standards concerning antibiotic preparation requirements, including bacterial endotoxin limit specifications.
Background: Nanogels are next-generation smart and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug delivery, characterized by high water capacity, excellent biocompatibility, tunable size, and environmental responsiveness. Their nanoscale cross-linked polymer networks enable the delivery and encapsulation of diverse therapeutic agents, such as small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, and imaging agents. Emerging strategies have facilitated the synthesis of stimuli-responsive nanogels (e.g., redox-, pH-, temperature-, enzyme-responsive), multifunctional hybrid systems, and targeted drug delivery platforms tailored to disease-specific microenvironments. These nanogels have demonstrated promising applications in oncology, infectious diseases, ocular therapy, central nervous system targeting, gene therapy, and vaccine delivery. The integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence has further enabled predictive optimization and formulation. In addition, new approach methodologies, such as organ-on-a-chip and in silico models, provide human-relevant, ethical, and cost-effective approaches for evaluating safety, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy. Although challenges related to scale-up, reproducibility, and regulatory approval remain, a number of nanogel-based products are advancing toward clinical application. Objective: This review explores the composition, functionalization, biomedical applications, and future prospects of nanogels, emphasizing their potential to enable precision medicine and drug discovery. Conclusion: Nanogels are promising platforms for precision and personalized medicine, offering routes for controlled, targeted, and intelligent drug delivery that can revolutionize future therapeutic strategies.
Background: Giving birth is a fantastic, transformative event—often characterized as a painful, emotionally and physically taxing time for women. Obstetricians and pregnant women face considerable challenges in managing labor pain. The popularity of alternative pain management techniques may be attributed to the desire of many women to avoid invasive or pharmaceutical means of managing their labor pain. Complementary treatments are becoming increasingly popular. When seeking pain relief during pregnancy and delivery, women may turn to alternative therapies in addition to traditional medical care. Objectives: This review discusses the role of acupuncture as a popular complementary therapy used to treat many painful conditions. It has also been used to treat obstetric and gynecological disorders, including labor discomfort. Doctors, nurses, and certified acupuncture therapists are increasingly employing acupuncture for reproductive care, birth induction, and pain relief, as it has been recognized and acknowledged as a component of Western mainstream medicine. Acupuncture during labor also appears to provide other advantages for women, such as shorter labors and a reduced incidence of instrumental vaginal births. Conclusion: Acupuncture appears to be a safe and effective complementary therapy for managing labor pain, promoting relaxation, and potentially improving labor outcomes. Further well-designed clinical studies are warranted to establish standardized protocols and confirm its efficacy and safety in diverse obstetric settings.
Background: Aggregates are common byproducts associated with the production of recombinant antibodies, and their removal poses considerable challenges to the downstream purification. When a Protein A column is used for product capture, large aggregates do not bind due to the size-exclusion effect, whereas small aggregates (e.g., dimers) co-bind with monomers. Although small aggregates bind marginally stronger than the monomer, the difference is usually too small to effect an effective separation of these two species. Thus, Protein A column chromatography generally lacks the ability to separate monomers from co-binding small aggregates. Recently, Protein A membrane has emerged as a promising alternative to resin-based Protein A columns. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Sartobind® Rapid A Protein A membrane’s monomer-aggregate separation. Methods: A Protein A column and a Sartobind® Rapid A membrane were used to separately process five culture harvests containing a high percentage of aggregates, and their performances were compared. Aggregate clearance was monitored by analysing relevant elution fractions using size-exclusion chromatography-high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Sartobind® Rapid A membrane showed stronger aggregate separation capability than the resin-based Protein A column and effectively removed most aggregates in all feed materials. Conclusion: Sartobind® Rapid A membrane outperforms resin-based Protein A columns for antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins with aggregate-rich harvests. By removing most of the aggregates at the capture stage, Sartobind® Rapid A membrane significantly alleviates the purification burden on polishing steps.
Background:Protein A affinity chromatography represents the most extensively used technique for initial product capture in antibody purification. The ligands of commercial Protein A resins from different, or even the same, vendors may exhibit distinct binding specificity. For example, MabSelect SuRe LX and MabSelect PrismA bind the antibody's fragment crystallizable region and both the fragment crystallizable and variable heavy chain 3 (VH3) regions, respectively, while MabSelect VH3, a newly launched Protein A resin, binds the VH3 region exclusively. Objective:This study aimed to compare the capabilities of three Protein A resins-namely, MabSelect SuRe LX, MabSelect PrismA, and MabSelect VH3-in removing byproducts associated with a variable domain of heavy chain-only antibody-based trispecific antibody (TsAb). Methods:Clarified culture harvest containing the TsAb was processed separately using MabSelect SuRe LX, MabSelect PrismA, and MabSelect VH3 columns. For each column, byproduct separation was monitored by analyzing relevant elution fractions with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography-high-performance liquid chromatography. Results:MabSelect VH3 demonstrated superior byproduct removal performance compared with the other two Protein A resins. Conclusion:MabSelect VH3 is particularly suitable for the purification of bispecific antibodies and TsAbs, where the product and byproducts contain different numbers of VH3 domains. For multispecific antibody purification, screening different affinity resins with distinct binding specificity is recommended, as this can help identify the most effective option for separation.
Background:Blood is central to immune defense, rendering accurate assessment of its immunoreactivity vital for medical and biotechnological applications. Objective:This study presented a novel whole blood immunoreactivity assay (WBIA) designed to mimic natural physiological conditions, preserving essential cell-cell and cell-cytokine interactions for ex vivo immunological analysis. Methods:Fresh whole blood (with or without heparin) was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin A (Con A), or both, activating innate and adaptive immunity. Cytokine levels were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after incubation. Results:Coagulation enhanced secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mitogen-stimulated samples. LPS induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and VEGF, while LPS + Con A co-stimulation produced the highest levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-2, and IL-10. Peak cytokine concentrations were reached at 18 h, declining by 48-72 h. In 18 h LPS + Con A-stimulated serum blood samples from 30 healthy donors (19 women, 11 men, aged 30-55), cytokine levels (pg/mL, mean ± standard error of the mean) were as follows: IL-1β at (521 ± 62), IL-2 (24 ± 4), IL-6 (569 ± 43), IL-8 (277 ± 28), IL-10 (198 ± 35), IL-18 (293 ± 19), IFN-γ (227 ± 108), TNF-α (930 ± 126), and VEGF (655 ± 55). Conclusion:The WBIA provides a reliable, physiologically relevant model for evaluating immune responses to stimuli. Its high fidelity to in vivo conditions makes it a valuable tool for testing immunomodulatory drugs and monitoring immune status in clinical settings.
Background:Endometriosis represents a predominant gynecological disease that globally impacts 10% of women in their reproductive years, often leading to pelvic pain, infertility, and other complications. Objective:This review intended to impart a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology, inherent genetic susceptibility, and the role of stem cells in the progression of endometriosis. It explores the diagnostic challenges posed by the diverse presentation of lesions and the involvement of genetic factors, including genes related to inflammation, immune response, steroidogenesis, neo-angiogenesis, and DNA repair. In addition, the role of adult stem cells, particularly from bone marrow and the endometrium is highlighted as an important aspect of disease progression. The review also examined how environmental factors, including early menarche, heavy menstrual flow, and Müllerian anomalies, contribute to endometriosis development. The impact on fertility is discussed concerning pelvic anatomical distortions, which affect egg release, sperm motility, and embryo transit. Furthermore, the review addressed complications, such as chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and potential obstetric issues, including an increased risk of certain cancers. Finally, it emphasized the need for improved diagnostic techniques and targeted therapies, focusing on early detection, innovative treatments, and fertility preservation. Conclusion:Advancements in genomic and molecular research are crucial to understanding the genetic basis of endometriosis and ultimately enhance the quality of life for those affected.
Background:The ability to test samples for the presence of specific tissues is useful for numerous forensic applications. More specifically, the identification of vital organ remains, such as the brain, in a crime scene or battlefield, can assist in determining the death of a missing person. In many cases, tissue samples are of insufficient quality or quantity for the application of histological methods, leaving forensic labs mostly restricted to immunological and catalytic assays designed to identify blood, semen, and saliva. Recent studies have suggested expression profiling-based methods for tissue and bodily fluid identification. Objective:We present a methylation-based assay for the detection of brain tissue in forensic samples. Methods:Genome-wide methylation data from 12 human tissues were analyzed to identify CpG sites uniquely methylated in brain tissue. Four candidate regions were selected based on high inter-tissue specificity and low intra-tissue variability. Targeted assays were developed using bisulfite conversion, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and next-generation sequencing, and validated based on reference tissues, mixtures, and environmentally degraded DNA samples. Results:Four regions displayed consistent brain-specific methylation with >94% single-read accuracy and complete sample-level discrimination at ≥5% brain DNA. The assay retained diagnostic performance in mixed and degraded samples, demonstrating robustness under typical forensic conditions. Conclusion:This study presents a sensitive and specific methylation-based assay for brain tissue identification. The approach enables reliable detection in degraded or composite materials and supports future integration of epigenetic biomarkers into forensic workflows for organ-source attribution.
Background:Prostate biopsy, while essential, often causes discomfort that can affect patient experience and adherence to follow-up procedures. Objective:This study aimed to identify factors associated with pain during fusion prostate biopsy to optimize the experience of prostate cancer diagnosis and monitoring. The primary goal was to assess the relationship between pain during viscous lidocaine (lido) instillation and periprostatic nerve block with the overall pain experienced by patients undergoing prostate biopsy. Methods:We queried our database for patients who underwent transrectal magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy from March 2020 to July 2023 and had complete pain scores (1-10) recorded during lido instillation, periprostatic nerve block, biopsy, and overall. Results:A total of 779 patients were included. The mean pain scores during lido instillation, periprostatic block, biopsy, and overall were 0.11, 2.8, 3.5, and 3.6, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that patients with a pain score during lido instillation of >2 (odds ratio [OR] = 10.28; p=0.027) patients with periprostatic block of >2 (OR = 7.49; p<0.001), black patients (OR = 2.838; p<0.001), and patients on active surveillance (OR = 1.648; p=0.003) were more likely to experience the upper quartile (UQ) of overall pain. Men with abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings were less likely to develop the UQ of overall pain than men with normal DRE findings (OR: 0.586; p=0.004). This finding suggests that digital rectal examination during the initial clinic visit can help identify patients who may benefit from sedation during prostate biopsy, potentially improving patient comfort and procedural experience. Conclusion:This finding suggests that digital rectal examination during the initial clinic visit can help identify patients who may benefit from sedation during prostate biopsy, potentially improving patient comfort and procedural experience.
Background:Low vision, a condition characterized by significant visual impairment, poses considerable challenges to individuals' daily functioning and quality of life. Magnification techniques play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges by enhancing visual acuity and enabling better access to printed materials, digital interfaces, and environmental cues. Objective:This paper provides a comprehensive overview of magnification strategies employed in low-vision rehabilitation. The review encompasses optical aids, such as magnifiers, telescopes, and microscopic devices, as well as electronic aids, including closed-circuit televisions, screen magnification software, and portable handheld devices. In addition, it explores the integration of magnification techniques with other assistive technologies and adaptive strategies to optimize functional vision. Furthermore, the article discusses emerging trends in magnification technology, including advancements in digital image processing, augmented reality, and wearable devices, which hold promise for further enhancing accessibility and independence for individuals with low vision. Conclusion:Understanding the diverse array of magnification options and their applications is crucial for eye care professionals, rehabilitation specialists, and individuals with low vision, enabling them to effectively navigate the visual challenges associated with this condition and promote greater inclusion and autonomy in daily activities.
