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A review on silver nanoparticles focusing on applications in biomedical sector
No full textConsidering that nanosilver-based materials have shown to have a novel, demanding, and promising properties appropriate for a variety of biological applications, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have evolved into one of the most researched and examined nanostructures created from nanotechnology in recent years. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been the subject of research due to their special characteristics, and they have considerable interest in medical applications such as highly excellent antimicrobial agents even without toxic effects, and industrial applications such as inkjet inks comprising well-unified dispersions of nano-sized silver particles that are useful for creating electronic circuits. Due to the remarkable activities shown by silver nanoparticles, they have been the focus of many researchers for developing new medications with less toxic effects. In this study, we have highlighted some entitled applications of silver nanoparticles. This review will be helpful for the researchers working on silver nanoparticles. </p
Mortality and survival of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and symptomatic diffuse interstitial lung disease
No full textIntroduction: In Spain, few data have been reported on mortality and survival in rheumatoid arthritis with diffuse interstitial lung disease.Objectives: To estimate mortality and survival for patients with symptomatic diffuse interstitial lung disease and rheumatoid arthritis and to analyze the effect of clinical factors. Methods: We performed an observational study between 2007 and 2018 at the Interdisciplinary Rheumatology and Pulmonology Clinic, from a tertiary Hospital. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and symptomatic of diffuse interstitial lung disease confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography were included. Causes of death and clinical factors were reported. Results: We identified 90 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and symptomatic interstitial lung disease. Twenty-six patients died and diffuse interstitial lung disease was the most frequent cause (50%). The overall mortality rate was 19.7 per 1000 patient-years (95% CI: 13.4 - 29). The multivariate model revealed the predictors of mortality to be a long time between diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and lung involvement (HR = 1.17; p = 0.003) and low forced vital capacity (HR = 0.02; p = 0.018). The probability of survival was 50% at 10.2 years from diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Comparison of survival did not reveal significant differences by type of radiologic pattern (p = 0.823). Conclusions: The fact that almost one-third of patients died and that survival is 50% at 10 years highlights the important role of diffuse interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis. The radiologic pattern does not seem to be as important for survival as forced vital capacity at diagnosis and the time between diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and lung involvement.Key points 1. DILD is associated with shorter survival in patients with RA.2. The radiologic pattern does not seem to influence the survival in patients with RA and DILD.3. The FVC at diagnosis is an important factor that influences the prognosis of patients with RA and DILD.</p
Is there a relationship between COVID-19 and sarcoidosis? A case report
No full textMediastinal lymphadenopathy is rare in Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients with mild clinical course. The frequency of lymphadenopathy increases in COVID-19 patients who develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). In a 38-year-old male patient, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and asymptomatic pulmonary embolism were detected during the third week of COVID-19 infection at home. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed with a finding of non-caseating granulomas. Even if it is asymptomatic, pulmonary embolism should be considered, especially in COVID-19 patients with high C - Reactive Protein (CRP) and D-dimer levels. If mediastinal lymphadenopathy is detected in mild COVID-19 cases, systemic diseases should be investigated. In severe COVID-19 cases, if lymphadenopathy continues despite a COVID-19 recovery, further investigation is required.</p
Statistical analysis of regional variation and factors associated with birth weight of babies in Ethiopia: Multilevel ordinal logistic regression
No full textBackground: The weight of a newborn is measured for the first time shortly after birth. The World Health Organization divides newborns’ birth weight into three categories: low birth weight (2.5 kg), normal birth weight (2.5 kg-4 kg), and high birth weight (> 4 kg). Both the mother and the infant are at risk of mortality and morbidity as a result of their birth weight. Using hierarchical data, there is scant evidence in Ethiopia of factors linked with birth weight. The goal of this study was to use a multilevel ordinal logistic regression model to investigate geographical variance and factors related to baby birth weight.Methods: Using missing factors in datasets, data for this study was collected from the Ethiopia Demographic Health Survey 2016. To address missing data and increase the inference’s reliability, hot deck multiple imputations were utilized. A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine factors associated with birth weight. R software was used for analysis.Results: The study took into account a total of 8,328 newborns. According to a descriptive study, 1292 (15.5%) of the 8,328 babies were born with low birth weight, 6143 (73.8%) were born with normal birth weight, and 893 (10.7%) were born with high birth weight. Mother’s age, residence, mother’s age at first birth, wealth index, BMI, anemia level, gestational age, total children, mother delivery, multiple pregnancies, and baby’s sex were all found to be significant factors associated with a birth weight of Ethiopian babies in a multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis.Conclusions: The multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that there was significant variance in baby birth weight between and within Ethiopian regions. Among the three multilevel models, the random coefficient model fits the data the best. </p
Recurrent primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma in young female patient from Ethiopia: A Case Report
No full textPrimary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (PC-ALCL) is a CD30+ lymphoproliferative disease of the skin characterized by single or focal nodules or plaques that ulcerate over time. Diagnosis of PC-ALCL relies heavily on clinicopathological correlations because of the potential morphological, clinical, and molecular overlap with other cutaneous CD30+ LPDs. Histopathologic features include diffuse nonepidermotropic infiltrates with an adherent layer of large undifferentiated CD30+ tumor cells.The Exact incidence of PC-ALCL is not known partially because of the difficulty differentiating from the variety of CD30+ Lymphoproliferative disorders. Only a few cases are reported even from developed countries & reports from developing countries are lacking.We present a possible case of primary cutaneous Anaplastic Large cell Lymphoma in a 20 years old Female patient who presented with a 2 months history of lateral neck swelling.</p
Stools for Stools-combining a multi-disciplinary approach with conservative measures to reduce constipation in the elderly inpatient population
No full textIntroduction: Constipation is a common cause of morbidity in the elderly. Its management is particularly challenging in the inpatient population where many factors exacerbate constipation. We describe a Quality Improvement Project to reduce constipation in a Care of the Elderly ward, including conservative measures to complement medical treatment.Aims: To increase bowel motion frequency to at least once every two days in elderly inpatients, and to increase bowel chart documentation.Methods: Weekly monitoring of ward inpatients. Measurements taken were: days since last bowel motion, laxatives prescribed, documentation on bowel charts and ward rounds, and episodes of diarrhea. A new intervention was introduced every two weeks, over a total of 10 weeks.Interventions: The 4 interventions introduced were: 1) Recording bowel motions at the daily ‘Board Round’ Multi-Disciplinary Meeting. 2) Ward staff education sessions. 3) Footstools for use with commodes and toilets. 4) High-fibre foods for patients with constipation.Results: Bowel motion frequency improved, with 100% of patients moving bowels every 2 days from a baseline of 66.6%. Ward round and bowel chart documentation improved to 100% and 92.9% (from 41.6% and 33.3%). Laxative prescriptions increased from 50% to 78.6%, with no increase in episodes of diarrhea. Conclusions: Constipation improved with our interventions but was accompanied by increased laxative prescriptions, which carry a risk of side effects. Our next steps will be to optimize our conservative measures to reduce laxative prescriptions, and to this end, we have developed high-fiber snack boxes to aid constipation in elderly patients.</p
Program design considerations for bone health in premenopausal women
No full textThe purpose of this literature review is to critique training studies that have examined the effects of jump-landing programmes on bone health parameters in premenopausal women. Activities such as jumping and hopping have been proposed to achieve the desired unusual or atypical strain distributions on the skeleton for women who are habitually inactive and not involved in high-impact sports, however specific protocols to optimise bone health are currently lacking. From this review, it can be concluded that jump-landing protocols that; utilise brief jumping episodes (10 - 100 jumps/day, 3 - 7 days/week), are 4 - 18 months duration, and present loading magnitudes of between 2 - 6 body weights (BW) and rates of >43 BW.sˉ¹, can result in significant gains in femoral neck bone mineral density of 0.6 – 3.4% in premenopausal women. Evidence from this review has the potential to inform future exercise recommendations used to improve bone health during the critical premenopausal period, and to both reduce and delay the incidence of osteoporotic fracture in the years post menopause.</p
Characterization and optimization of Casimiroa (Casimiroa Edulis) fruit juice using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Get PDFBackground: Casimiroa edulis fruit is an underutilized seasonal fruit of Ethiopia, and is a rich source of many medicinal and nutritional properties. Casimiroa edulis is a fruit with good sources of different nutrients (minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and energy). The fruit is found in different parts of the country, Ethiopia. However, there are no clear research shreds of evidence of the fruits on post-harvest handling, preservation, processing, and value addition. Purpose of the study: The present study is aimed at the characterization and optimization of the enzyme-assisted casimiroa fruit juice clarification process based on selected quality parameters of the final product. Methodology: D-optimal Mixture Design and RSM were used to investigate the level of ingredients and the effects of independent variables on physicochemical composition, functional properties, mineral values, and acceptability tests of casimiroa fruit juice. Graphical and numerical optimization was conducted to find the best variables conditions. Casimiroa fruit was treated at various enzyme concentrations (0.01-0.2 %), incubation temperature (30-55 oC), and incubation time (30-100 min.) of treatment. A second-order Central composite (CCD) was employed to identify the effect of independent variables on the final product. Results: In this study, a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was observed within the process variables on nutritional profiles of casimiroa fruit juice. Furthermore, the enzyme treatment reduced the cloudy appearance of casimiroa fruit juice and improved its clarity of juice. The coefficient of determination and R2 values for the dependent variables were almost greater than 0.8. This study revealed that clarity, viscosity, TSS, TA, pH, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, P, and overall acceptability were significantly (p<0.05) correlated to incubation temperature, incubation time and enzyme concentration. Incubation time and enzyme concentration were the most important factors affecting the characteristics of the casimiroa fruit juice as they exerted a highly significant influence (p<0.05) on the dependent variables. Conclusion: In conclusion, enzyme treatment improves qualities of fruit juice and the overall optimization suggests that enzymatic-treated juice made with 75% fruit pure, 21.25% water, 2.63 % sugar, and 1.13 % citric acid with process variables of incubation temperature (44.01 0C), incubation time (62.74 min.) and enzyme concentration (0.2 %), respectively achieved the best formulation for this combination of variables with a desirable of 0.9029. </p
What is the consequence of metals on human health?
Get PDFThe Industrial Revolution has caused increasing amounts of pollution in the environment that has exposed the global population to various agents called environmental contaminants or pollutants, which are toxic metals, as well as smoking or radiation, and may cause epigenetic modifications related to health outcomes in the later stages of life, including cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurological conditions, that may be influenced by epigenetic mechanisms triggered in intrauterine and neonatal life.</p
Anesthetic management of patients with carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid heart disease: A systematic review
No full textBackground (purpose): Surgery on patients with Carcinoid Syndrome (CS) and Carcinoid Heart Disease (CHD) is a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the high risk of developing Carcinoid Crisis (CC). The purpose of the study is to assess whether or not the use of octreotide as prophylaxis in the perioperative environment would decrease the incidence of CC (PEAK METHOD). We also try to identify CC’s precipitating factors. Material and methods (source): Research upon octreotide efficacy on CC prophylaxis was made on PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and web of science (WOS), from January 2010 to February 2021. We carried out a retrospective qualitative Systematic Review, which was developed in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Results (principal findings): Eleven articles were included in the study, five of them are retrospective studies, one is a prospective study, one is a prospective case series, two are retrospective case series, one is a meta-analysis of retrospective studies, and one is a cohort study. 5 of them are retrospective studies, 1 is a prospective study, 1 is a prospective case series and finally, 1 is a meta-analysis on retrospective studies. According to Massimino, et al. 2013; Guo, et al. 2014, Condron, et al. 2016 and Condron, et al. 2019, prophylaxis with octreotide is insufficient, it does not prevent and is inefficient in preventing CC. Tapia Rico et al confirm that due to the use of octreotide as prophylaxis, 1 patient experienced CC and 6 symptoms of CS. Fouche, et al. conclude that with prophylaxis, intraoperative carcinoid syndrome (ioCS) was mostly hypertensive. For the retrospective review that Kinney, et al. carried out, it was found that 169 patients did not experience CC. In the review carried out by Woltering, et al. it was found that out of 179 cytoreductive surgeries, prophylaxis with octreotide decreased the incidence of CC, they registered only 6 cases of CC (3,4%). Discussions and conclusions: Although octreotide constitutes the cornerstone for the prevention and treatment of CC, the current data does not support the idea that it is totally effective in preventing it. </p