National University of Sciences & Technology

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Aisha Akhtar, MD, FCPS, is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Healthcare Professional for her contributions to the field of Colorectal Surgery. Continue Reading Aisha Akhtar Dr. Akhtar pursued higher education at the Army Medical College, National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan where she earned an MBBS. She then completed a surgical residency at Shiffa International Hospital in Pakistan and relocated to the United States at the age of 29 where she finished a surgical oncology fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas; a surgical residency at Texas Tech University in Lubbock; Penn State Medical Cente; and St. Agnes Hospital. The doctor is FCPS certified in Pakistan and board certified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) in the United States. Dr. Akhtar explained that the ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge. According to the doctor, colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. It involves caring for patients with cancers of the colon, rectum, and anus, along with other benign disorders, like inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease); diverticulitis; and a myriad of anorectal pathologies, like hemorrhoids, fistulas, abscesses, and fissures. Specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant conditions, Dr. Akhtar practices at Arizona Advanced Surgery in Glendale Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona. She is an expert in treating many different ailments including cancers of the colon and rectum; inflammatory bowel disease; hemorrhoids; anal fissures; anal fistulas; pelvic floor problems; and fecal incontinence. The doctor is a general surgeon and also performs colonoscopies using the latest surgical techniques to treat the full range of colorectal disorders from simple to complex and notes that she is committed to providing quality care to patients with compassion and dignity. A testament to her professional and acumen in the field, Dr. Akhtar is licensed to practice in New York; Maryland; and Arizona; and is affiliated with HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center; HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center; and HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center. The doctor is trained in the most advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the colon rectum and anus and maintains affiliation with many professional organizations including the American College of Surgery; the American Medical Association; the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She is also a distinguished Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. The doctor has published in various medical journals, including International Surgery Journal and Cureus, and has presented many posters at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Akhtar asserts that she is ardent about being a female colorectal surgeon to provide personal care to female patients who want female providers for medical care and feel ashamed to discuss anorectal problems with male surgeons. Expanding her reach into underserved populations, she also specializes in screening for anal cancer in the LGBT-Q population and performs anal PAP smears and High-Resolution Anoscope's for high-risk patients. Dr. Akhtar lives in Scottsdale and enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her two sons in her spare time. She has been married to Mr. Muhammad Khawaja for 9 years. The doctor speaks multiple languages including English, Hindi, and Urdu, and volunteers her time with the Islamic Society of the Northeast Valley Free Clinic, providing educational seminars and seeing patients who are underinsured. Dr. Akhtar would like to dedicate this honor to her mother, Mrs. Kosar Praveen. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle

The team of researchers designed a miniature sensor device capable of performing complex biochemical analysis, believed to be the most promising approach to the early detection of cancer The hybrid sensor is capable of detecting cancer early. (Credit: HSE University) Russian scientists have developed a nanophotonic-microfluidic sensor that can be potentially used for cancer detection, monitoring and evaluation of treatment response. The team included researchers from HSE University, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Moscow State Pedagogical University (MPGU), and National University of Science and Technology MISiS (MISIS). They designed a miniature sensor device that identifies gases and liquids dissolved in solvents at low concentrations, with a high level of accuracy. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 30% of new cancer cases could be prevented, and the same proportion could be cured, with their early detection. The new sensor device is capable of performing complex biochemical analysis, which is believed to be the most promising approach to the early detection of cancer. HSE MIEM professor Gregory Goltsman said: “Our study is an important step towards creating a compact lab-on-a-chip device capable of not only performing a whole set of blood tests but detecting cancer biomarkers at an early stage using a very small amount of the patient’s blood. “Ideally, we aim to create a small portable device neded just a drop of blood. By pressing a button, the doctor would see the results, e.g., that the parameters are normal or that further tests are required.” The new device features nanophotonic optical sensors on a chip, together with microfluidic channels above the sensor surface. The fluids or gases pumped through the channels impact the propagation of optical radiation in the highly sensitive nanophotonic devices, leading to changes in spectral characteristics. Based on the changes in spectral characteristics, researchers can determine the composition of the sample. Human blood contains exosomes, the microscopic vesicles released into the intercellular space by tissue and organ cells, which are important for the preliminary diagnosis of cancers. Exosomes serve as useful biomarkers in oncology, as blood concentrations increase to reach analytically significant values at an early stage of cancer. The research team has not tested the sensor on blood samples but on water solutions of isopropyl alcohol in 20 different concentrations, from 0.08% to 72% by weight. They intend to further refine the device for exosome-based cancer detection. HSE graduate and paper author Aleksei Kuzin said: “Today, the experimental equipment needed for the device operation is rather bulky. The setup includes a peristaltic pump, a tuneable laser, a photodetector, a chip, and a PC for processing the data. “In the future, we hope to produce a compact and portable device for rapid testing that will reduce the time and cost of cancer diagnosis, monitoring and treatment response assessment.”

The antibacterial coating created by Russian scientists could help to control infection in procedures involving implants, the main cause of implant failure Antimicrobial coatings reduce the risk of rejection for arthroplasty devices like this knee implant (Credit: Shutterstock/Lighthunter) Infection is currently the most common reason that implants are rejected during arthroplasty or osteosynthesis procedures – but a new antibacterial coating could reduce the rate of failure. A 2019 paper on the subject says that in the US, prosthetic joint infection affects between 0.5% and 15% of patients undergoing primary or revision joint arthroplasty. For Surgical site infection after internal osteosynthesis for closed fractures the rate of infection ranges between 0.5% to 10%, and increases to 50% for open fractures. The current standard of care involves the use of antibiotics to offset infection risk, and in some cases the use of antibacterial coatings – though they can be expensive. But a research team in Russia may have found a way to integrate antibiotics and antibacterial coatings into a product to tackle the problem on two fronts. At the Russian National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISIS), a group of young researchers designed a multilayer antibacterial coating that has a prolonged effect and a universal spectrum of action. The coating is based on modified titanium oxide and several antiseptic components. The coatings can be used in modern implantology as a protective layer for the prevention of inflammation caused by nosocomial infection – meaning infections contracted in hospital – that can lead to implant rejection. The results of the work have been published in the international scientific journal Applied Surface Science. How does the antibacterial coating for implants help stave off infection Antibacterial coatings have been researched for some time now, and the search for alternatives to traditional antibiotics continues. But a surface that is biocompatible, bioactive and antibacterial is something the scientific community has yet to achieve – until now. Young scientists from the NUST MISIS Laboratory of Inorganic Nanomaterials created an innovative multilayer coating that synthesizes the protective properties of nanoparticles, biopolymers, anticoagulants and antibiotics. The antibiotic and silver nanoparticles provide an antibacterial effect, while heparin prevents bacterial cells from sticking to the tissue surface, which reduces the amount of antibacterial agent required. Lead author of the research, Elizaveta Permyakova, said: “The method of obtaining a multilayer coating is a combination of several technologies: first, using magnetron sputtering, a thin bioactive nanostructured coating of the TiCaPCON composition was obtained, then silver particles were introduced into the coating by ion implantation, then a biopolymer layer, which plays the role of a carrier for bactericidal molecules of heparin and gentamicin in the preparation, was applied.” How did the coatings perform under scrutiny? The chemical composition of the resulting coating layers was carefully studied by the developers using infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Together with colleagues from the State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, the scientists studied the effect of each type of the antibacterial component (silver ions, gentamicin and heparin) on the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of the obtained coatings. The results of in-vitro studies showed cellular compatibility and demonstrated excellent (up to 99%) bactericidal efficacy of the coatings against the antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacterial strain. According to the developers, the coatings can be used as an antibacterial implant modifier, allowing it to accelerate implantation by reducing the risks of associated inflammation and stimulating the growth of osteoblastic cells, which are vital in bone repair. “The combination of several bactericidal fillers and silver ions with a bioactive coating made of titanium oxide modified with calcium and phosphorus ensured biocompatibility and a long – up to 7 days – antibacterial effect of the resulting coatings,” explained Permyakova. The Russian researchers are currently planning to move to the preclinical development stage to further test their antibacterial coating.