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Normal P Wave Dispersion in Colchicine-Resistant FMF Patients
No full textBackground: Cardiac involvement in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) has been receiving increasing attention. P wave dispersion (Pd) is an electrocardiographic marker for supraventricular arrhythmias. It was recently reported that uncomplicated FMF is associated with normal Pd. Aims: Our aim was to evaluate Pd and P wave duration in colchicine-resistant FMF patients, thus testing the effect of the continuously increased inflammatory burden on cardiac electrical stability of FMF patients.Methods: Twenty two patients with colchicine-resistant FMF, and 22 age- and sex-matched control subjects were investigated. All participants underwent a 12-lead electrocardiography under strict standards. P wave length and P wave dispersion were computed from a randomly selected beat and an averaged beat constructed from 7-12 beats in a 10 second ECG.Results: Minimal, maximal, and average P wave duration and P wave dispersion calculated from either a random beat or averaged beats, were similar in colchicine-resistant FMF patients and healthy individuals.Conclusions: FMF patients, nonresponsive to colchicine treatment, but without amyloidosis, have normal atrial conduction parameters. Therefore, FMF, even in colchicine nonresponsive patients, does not seem to be associated with an increased risk for supraventricular arrhythmias
Improvement of Heart Rate Variability with Benfothiamine and Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Type 2 Diabetic Patients - Pilot Study
No full textAccording to hypothesis that the lower level of bioactive thiamine, vitamin B1, is partially responsible for microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM), we investigated whether the supplementation with benfothiamine and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) could improve cardiacautonomic neuropathy (CAN) in those patients. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used as a tool for the assessment of equilibrium in the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the control of heart rate in T2DM patients, without serious co-morbidity. Blood samples for glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol, and HDL-C were obtained before and at the end of treatment. High-frequency ln (HFln), was significantly lower (p< 0.01) and low- frequency/ high frequency ln (LF/HFln)was significantly higher (p<0.01) in T2DM. After 12 weeks of supplementation, very low-frequency ln (VLFln), HFln and LF/HFln indices were changed significantly (p=0.03; p=0.01; p=0.04, respectively), and we concluded that benfothiamine associated with ALA could participate in repairing cardiac autonomic dysfunction in T2DM
Rogerian Style of Interpersonal Communication: Why is it not so Simple?
No full textCarl Ransom Rogers was the only psychologist nominated for the Noble Prize. His whole professional life focused on major questions, such as, how to facilitate the process of interpersonal communication? What are the most important prerequisites of effective, aiming at mutual understanding, communication? Why people are so often unable to accurately communicate, even though they do not suffer from any form of speech and language pathology? According to Rogers, the crucial components of effective human to human contact are surprisingly simple in theory. Equally unexpected is that they are very difficult to implement into daily practice. Rogers’s main concepts can be signaled by simple terms: non-directive approach, active person centered listening, transparency, congruency, unconditional positive regard, empathy and suspension of judgment. In the first part of our article, we review the Rogerian major frame of thinking and we add some comments on it. In the second section of our paper, we indicate selected obstacles disrupting practical use of his style of communication e.g. work overload and burnout, or disturbances caused by personality disorders
Tissue Engineering of Human Septal Cartilage Using a Rotary Bioreactor
No full textTissue engineering of human septal neocartilage offers the potential to produce large quantities of autologous material for use in the repair of cartilaginous craniofacial defects. Culture of septal neocartilage constructs in a rotary cell culture system bioreactor may improve the biochemical and biomechanical properties of engineered tissue. The objective of this study was to characterize the morphological, compositional and mechanical properties of engineered human septal cartilage constructs when cultured in three different environments. Human septal cartilage constructs were cultured in transwell plates for 6 weeks and subsequently cultured for an additional 4 weeks in transwell plates, free-floating in a sterile media bottle, or in a rotary cell culture system bioreactor. The histologic, biochemical, and biomechanical properties of the constructs were examined. All constructs maintained their radial dimensions throughout the culture period. Qualitatively, the constructs cultured in the rotary cell culture system bioreactor were firmer and more resilient compared with the constructs cultured under free-floating static and transwell plate conditions. Culture of human septal neocartilage constructs in a rotary cell culture system bioreactor augmented cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production when compared with constructs cultured in transwell plates and free-floating static conditions. Additionally, rotary cell culture system bioreactor culture enhanced total and type II collagen production. The rotary cell culture system bioreactor constructs possessed improved biomechanical properties compared with the other conditions and this is reflected in their superior resistance to manipulation. These findings suggest that culture in a rotary cell culture bioreactor can modulate the composition and mechanical function of engineered scaffold-free human septal cartilage constructs to produce constructs better suited for reconstructive surgery
Inverse Association of Serum Leptin with Flow-Mediated Dilatation Independent of Body Fat Distribution, Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Young Women
No full textChronic hyperleptinemia found in obesity has been shown to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, an early and fundamental event in the development of atherosclerosis. We examined whether elevated leptin levels are associated with decreased endothelial function in young women. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery, fat mass by dual-energy absorptiometry, Matsuda index, an insulin sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test, serum leptin, adiponectin, hepatic enzymes, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F-2α (8-epi-PGF2α), a marker of oxidative stress, were measured in 44 young women. After adjustment for age, FMD was associated inversely with percentage of body fat, trunk fat and leg fat. In addition, FMD showed inverse associations with serum leptin, log hsCRP and log alanine aminotransferase (all p<0.05 or less). In multiple regression analysis only leptin emerged as an independent determinant of FMD (standardized betaã€-0.325) and explained 11% of FMD variability. In conclusion, leptin serum levels had an impact on arterial distensibility in young women, a finding that raises the possibility that leptin levels in the general population during early adulthood may already be relevant to the development of vascular dysfunction
Use of Lactation Curve Models for Prediction of Milk Yield in Sahiwal Cattle
No full textA study was carried out on of 25499 weekly test day milk yield records of first lactation pertaining to 593 Sahiwal cows spread over 49 years located at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. The relative efficiency of three lactation curve models via. quadratic model, gamma type function and mixed log function were compared. Mixed log function described the best fit with highest coefficient of determination (97.9%) with root mean squares error (RMSE) of 0.025 kg which is followed by gamma type function. Least coefficient of determination (77.8%) was observed in quadratic model with maximum (0.081) RMSE. The peak yield of 8.08 kg in 8th week of lactation was observed by mixed log function. The predicted first lactation 305 day milk yields by quadratic model, gamma type function and mixed log function were 1993.23± 42.09, 1991.51± 40.38 and 1993.23± 42.10 kg, respectively
A New Horizon for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Port Sudan, Sudan: Through Concept, Design and Delivery? A Visiting Practitioner’s Commentary
No full textDuring our privileged stay at the Red Sea State Unit, we observed a remarkable resilience of both nursing and medical staff to continue providing care to the patient population despite many adverse conditions and disadvantages. They are to be applauded for their professionalism and dynamic innovative practice that in many cases provides life-changing and saving care using less than a ‘bare minimum’ of equipment. It is this culture that will continue to drive forward the success, not only of the Red Sea Unit, but across the land.Our observations and recommendations are made with somewhat ‘rose tinted’ vision, given the privilege of standards enjoyed by our native centers. We propose that taking the best learning opportunities and advice from multiple worldwide units and practitioners will offer developmental ‘fertility’ for further expansion of Sudanese endoscopic services. This single goal is perhaps the most pivotal of all as we look towards an exciting and opportunity filled future for the Red Sea state
Hyperbilirubinemia with Urinary Tract Infection in Infants Younger than Eight Weeks Old
No full textBackground: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common clinical problem in febrile infants younger than 8 weeks old, with a prevalence between 5% and 11%. Previous studies have noted that jaundice may be one of the first signs of a bacterial infection in infants.Aim: is to assess the presence of urinary tract infection in newborns with unexplained, indirect hyperbilirubinemia in the first eight weeks of life.Patients and Method: This study was conducted on 100 full term and preterm neonates with neonatal jaundice, 64 males and 36 females, and 20 neonates as control group, 10 males and 10 females.Results: shows that > 90% of cases with positive urinary culture had prolonged duration of jaundice > 14 days and the maternal infection was the leading cause of UTI.Conclusion: Testing for UTI should be a part of the diagnostic evaluation of neonates with prolonged unexplained jaundice. Maternal (obstetric) infections should be properly investigated and treated to prevent UTI in newborns as it was the leading cause of UTI in neonates. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect of hyperbilirubinemia on the bactericidal activity in the sera of jaundiced infants. Â
Sliced Island Tragal Cartilage Perichondrial Composite Graft in Type I Tympanoplasty: Early Results and Experience
No full textAim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate anatomical and audiological results using technique of sliced island of tragal cartilage perichondrial composite graft in type I tympanoplasty.Study Design: Prospective study.Methods and Materials: A total of 56 type I tympanoplasties (51 primary and 5 revision ears) were operated using sliced island tragal cartilage graft from December 2011 to August 2012 in M.I.M.E.R Medical College and Sushrut ENT Hospital with a follow up ranging from 6 months to 16 months. Results: Our early results revealed a successful closure of the tympanic membrane in all patients at the end of the follow up period ranging from 6 to 16 months. The average postoperative Air Bone Gap was 10.035+/-1.7473 dB.Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study which involves the modification of the sliced tragal cartilage into island as a sliced tragal cartilage island perichondrial composite graft in tympanoplasty. This technique is reliable not only in terms of successful closure of tympanic membrane perforations but also overall reduction of residual and recurrent perforations
Measuring the Veracity of Alcohol and Drug Users’ Self-Report of Sobriety
No full textCountless people are afflicted with alcohol and drug use disorders. Those involved in sobriety maintenance programs are often subjected to alcohol and drug urine tests to measure the veracity of their self-reported claims of sobriety. To assess deception among alcohol and drug users, the Veracity TouchScreener™, and an alcohol and drug urine drug test was administered to 80 participants. The TouchScreener™, which is an interactive touchscreen that measures Significant Psychophysiological Responses (SPR) to sets of questions revealed an estimated 92% accuracy at classifying alcohol and drug user’s self-report of sobriety. This study assists in adding to the burgeoning base of research indicating that psychophysiological measures are effective and show robust accuracy in assessing suspected deception in participant responses