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Influence of exposure to light and storage period on color changes in gari produced from bio-fortified cassava (<em>Manihot esculenta</em> Crantz) varieties
No full textLight degrades carotenoids and thus the color of bio-fortified gari during storage. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the effect of exposure of bio-fortified gari to light during storage on its color. Gari samples obtained from the processing of fresh storage roots of three yellow root cassava varieties (TMSI011368, TMSI010593, and TMSI010539) and a white root variety (TMS30572) as check were packaged in three replicates in transparent white plastics containers (light condition) and blue plastics containers wrapped in black polythene bags (dark condition). These were stored on an open shelf in the laboratory in a 4 × 2 × 13 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design. Immediately after processing and monthly for 12 months, the gari samples were evaluated for color using a scale of 1 (white) to 8 (pink). The result showed that yellowness of the gari from bio-fortified cassava varieties decreased over the storage period from 5.5 (TMS010539) immediately after processing to 2.5 (TMS010593, under both storage conditions) at 12 Months After Storage (MAS). The change was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by variety, storage duration and storage condition. Gari from varieties TMSI011368 and TMSI010593 had the least (38.3%) and highest (50.2%) percentage reduction in yellowness, respectively at the end of the storage period (12 months). Across the storage period, the mean color of gari samples stored in the dark condition (3.37) was significantly higher than the mean color of gari samples exposed to light (3.22). Therefore, the proper selection of cassava variety and the use of packaging containers that screen light from bio-fortified gari during storage can best preserve its color and ensure the availability of a reasonable amount of carotenoids to consumers after long-term storage (12 months).</p
A distinctive ageing: Age and people with intellectual disabilities
No full textPeople with intellectual disabilities have seen their life expectancy increase in recent years to match that of the general population. The aging of each person will depend on the events experienced throughout their lives, their illnesses, and the psychosocial aspects of their environment. In spite of this, in the case of people with intellectual disabilities, there is evidence of a peculiar way of aging, with significant changes with respect to the general population that affect the age of onset of the first symptoms of aging, and physical, emotional, and health status changes. This article performs a systematic review of the literature to demonstrate the peculiarities of aging in people with intellectual disabilities, concluding on the need to know these changes to adequately guide professional care and thus improve their quality of life.</p
COVID-19 diseases, understanding and treatments
No full textSeobuk Hospital is a hospital directly operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and has mainly served as a tuberculosis hospital. It is a Seoul city governmental public hospital which primarily provides inpatients and out patients treatment to the elderly, many of them suffering from dementia patients and the marginalized, such as the homeless and the disabled. From March 2nd, 2020, to May 31th, 2022 Seobuk hospital was appointed to treat COVID-19 patients that required stationary treatment. South Korea’s COVID-19 mortality rate has below 0.1% while in other countries such as the United States and in Europe the mortality rate varies between 1 and 2 %. We believe that it is due to the quarantine system which was put in place right from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Febuary 2020. Patients testing positive for COVID-19 were hospitalized free of charge and they were hospitalized usually in early period (2 - 3 days after COVID -19 testing) of COVID-19 disease. In this paper we analyzed the disease patterns of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 using the data from the 4,531 patients charts which received treatment in Seobuk hospital between March 2nd, 2020 and May 31st, 2022 by looking at their clinical features and medication history and medications for treatment. The key element of the guideline of our treatment was to administer Veklury (Remdesivir) or Paxlovid despite its high cost in the early period of the COVID-19 disease when oxygen saturation dropped below 94%. Nowadays we administer Veklury and Paxlovid right after COVID-19 is daignosed free of charge for the proper patient. It is believed that the current quarantine system in South Korea which allows patients to be treated with Veklury (Remdesivir) in hospitals at the initial stage of the infection and with an early Paxlovid administration in home treatment has contributed to lowering the death rate in South Korea. </p
Targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 in the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma
No full textAsthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease affecting about 300 million people and responsible for 500,000 deaths annually globally. Eosinophilic asthma is one of the most common phenotypes of asthma. It constitutes about 50% to 60% of all cases of asthma, and it is the most common phenotype in children presenting with severe acute asthma. The mechanism of eosinophilic asthma is chronic airway inflammation which leads to airway hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling due to the immunopathological effects of inflammatory cytokines. The duet cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 play the most central role in the pathophysiology of eosinophilic asthma. The two sister cytokines are slightly similar with a 25% homology, they share a common signaling IL-4Rα chain, and have identical biological effects. Their principal biological effect is the development of Th2 cells from naïve T helper type 0 (Th0) lymphocytes. Th2 cells produce several cytokines responsible for inducing airway eosinophilic inflammation. They induce the ε isotype switch and the switching of the B cell immunoglobulin (Ig) production from IgM to IgE. Furthermore, they stimulate eosinophil proliferation, and migration to the allergic airways and promote eosinophil survival by suppressing eosinophil apoptosis. Activated eosinophils secrete several cytotoxic cationic proteins which damage the airway epithelium, and amplify the inflammatory cascade and airway remodeling. Most patients with eosinophilic asthma can achieve control on a long-acting β2-agonist, inhaled corticosteroid, and a leukotriene receptor antagonist. However, about 3.6-10% do not achieve asthma control. These patients usually benefit from treatment with a biologic. Dupilumab is the only biologic targeting IL-4 and IL-13 approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma. Clinical trials have shown that treatment with dupilumab results in good asthma control, and significantly reduces moderate-to-severe exacerbation rates (p < 0.001). Additionally, treatment with dupilumab has been shown to significantly improve lung function (p < 0.001), and health-related quality of life, and allows patients to taper or discontinue corticosteroid treatment.</p
Toward understanding the roles of matrix metallopeptidase 1 in ovarian cancer
No full textOvarian Cancer (OC) is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related deaths worldwide. The leading risk factors for OC-related death are OC recurrence and the development of chemotherapy resistance. Investigation into molecular differences that distinguish primary from recurrent disease and the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in OC progression may help identify therapeutic targets. Gene expression microarray data comparisons between 21 primary and 21 recurrent OC specimens (16 matched pairs) showed significantly increased expression of Matrix Metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) in the recurrent specimens (p = 0.03). We, therefore, investigated MMP1 expression regulation and how endogenous and exogenous MMP1 expression influences OC cell proliferation, migration/invasion and chemosensitivity. Both endogenous MMP1 knockdown and low levels of exogenous MMP1 increased cell proliferation of the OC cell line, CAOV2 (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, CAOV2 cells cultured with low exogenous MMP1 exhibited increased invasion (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively, for two shRNA-conditioned mediums, shMMP1-1 or shMMP1-2) and faster migration by wound healing assay relative to controls without MMP1 knockdown. CAOV2 MMP1 knockdown cells were also more resistant than controls to carboplatin (p = 0.04) and paclitaxel (p = 0.017). To explore the functions of cancer environmental MMP1 in different cancer cells, 3 OC cell lines (CAOV2, HEYA8 and SKOV3) were tested for their proliferation when cultured under a low MMP1 conditioned medium. Interestingly, while the proliferation was increased in CAOV2 and HEYA8 cells, it was reduced when SKOV3 OC cells were cultured with low exogenous MMP1 (CAOV2: * p = 0.01, HEYA8: **** p = 0.0004, SKOV3: ** p = 0.002). These results likely reflect inherent MMP1 expression variability in OC tissues and cell lines that is at least partly dependent on other endogenous parameters of the TME, including pH, metabolic state, and oxygenation, all of which were found to alter levels of endogenous MMP1. Given the ability of MMP1 to promote oncogenic or tumor-suppressive behaviors, further study will be necessary to better understand how MMP1 contributes to promoting or restraining tumor progression in an individualized manner.</p
Analysis of induction and maintenance immunosuppression choices in the US during the first year post kidney transplant for patients over 70
No full textRates of kidney transplantation in patients over 70 years of age have steadily increased over the last 20 years, however age-appropriate immunosuppression regimens in the elderly remain unclear. Investigators utilized the SRTR database to evaluate elderly kidney transplant recipients’ outcomes against a younger population. Post-transplant outcomes measured at an approximately 1-year time interval included graft survival, patient survival, rejection, malignancy, and serum creatinine. Elderly patient survival was improved for those patients that were on dialysis for less than 1 year (95.4% vs. 91.4% p < .01). Patients able to be maintained on CNI immunosuppression regimens also had improved graft survival compared to those managed with other immunosuppression (95.5% vs. 91.1%, p < .01). Patients maintained on mTOR inhibitors had the lowest patient survival (85.5% vs. 92.6%, p < .01). The choice of induction therapy did not affect long term patient or graft survival. These results translated to investigators’ own centers in patients over 60. Results for the SRTR database showed that minimizing time on dialysis prior to transplant improved graft and patient survival, while the type of induction agent had minimal effect on all outcomes at the time of follow-up. The results also support the use of CNI’s and belatacept for maintenance immunosuppression but did not encourage the use of mTOR inhibitors. </p
Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw-A case report and literature review
No full textOsteoporosis is a skeletal disease caused by changes in the structure of the human skeleton, resulting in fragile and easily fractured bones. Because it is more common in postmenopausal women or the elderly, fractures may cause disability in the elderly, resulting in reduced quality of life, bedridden, or increased mortality. Therefore, the treatment of osteoporosis is one of the important issues in today’s aging society. In addition, diseases such as bone metastasis of cancer and multiple myeloma also need to be paid attention to. Drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis have been widely used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis because of their inhibitory effect on osteoclast activity, and even become the first-choice drug for bone metastases of some malignant tumors. Drugs for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis can inhibit osteoclasts, and can also be used to treat hypercalcemia complications of malignant tumors or bone-related systemic diseases. For example, bisphosphonates or monoclonal antibody preparations (eg: Denosumab, Romosozumab, etc.) can resist bone resorption. However, in recent years, the literature pointed out that patients using anti-bone resorption drugs may have adverse reactions to maxillofacial osteonecrosis. Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) may occur in patients with osteoporosis and tumors. Bisphosphonates or synthetic human monoclonal antibodies can inhibit bone resorption and are currently the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in the world. The literature for nearly 20 years has shown that long-term use of such antiresorptive drugs increases the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw in the oral cavity. Therefore, MRONJ is still a complication that we must pay attention to. Once MRONJ occurs, it is recommended to refer to an oral surgeon immediately; the current clinical treatment methods include the use of antibacterial mouthwash and drugs to control pain in mild cases, and antibiotics for infection control in moderate cases. </p
Sleep and bipolar disorder
No full textA growing international scientific literature demonstrates the existence of sleep abnormalities and sleep/wake (or circadian) rhythms in bipolar disorder. These abnormalities exist during the acute phases of the disease, with the classic presentation of insomnia or hypersomnia during depressive episodes and a reduced need for sleep without feeling tired during manic episodes. But these disturbances can also appear or persist during phases of mood stability. However, it has now been clearly demonstrated that these disturbances can precipitate a new depressive or manic episode.</p
A possible easy way to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: The role of QRS Index
No full textBackground: Some studies have evaluated the role of QRS duration (QRSd) as predictor of response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). However, their results are still not entirely clear. The goal of our study was to determine the correlation between the relative change in QRS narrowing index (QI) compared to clinical outcome and prognosis in patients who underwent CRT implantation.Methods: We collected clinical and echocardiographic data of 115 patients in whome a CRT device was implanted in accordance with current guidelines. QRS duration before and after CRT implantation and QI were measured. Results: After 6 months, a significant improvement in all echocardiographic parameters was detected. QI was correlated to reverse remodelling (r = +0.19; 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.35, p = 0,049). The value of QI that predicted best LV reverse remodelling after 6 months of CRT was 12.25% (sensitivity = 65,5%, specificity = 75%, area under the curve = 0.737, p = 0,001). Independent predictors of QI are sex, serum creatinine and eGFR measured at baseline and LVEF pre-CRT performed by echocardiography.We observed an betterment in their HF clinical composite score and NYHA class at 12 months. We have also investigated the clinical outcomes and the possible sex differences related to QI.Conclusions: Patients with a larger QI after CRT initiation showed greater echocardiographic reverse remodelling and better outcome from death or cardiovascular hospitalization. QI seems to be an easy-to- measure variable that could be used or evaluated to predict CRT response but further studies are needed.</p
Pre-extension demonstration of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum. L) varieties at midlands of Guji zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia
No full textIn Ethiopia, wheat is a strategic crop to solve food insecurity. However, there is a lack of improved variety which can increase surplus production. Thus, demonstration and use of improved and new variety are important for producers. This demonstration aimed to evaluate the yield performance and profitability of the Adola 1 bread wheat variety. Adola 1 and the local variety were demonstrated on 10 m x 10 m during the 2021 production year in the midland districts of the Guji zone. Farmers were trained in wheat production. Interviews and measurements were taken to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive, net income, and narrations. The result of the demonstration showed that Adola 1 variety gave a higher yield (36.41 qt/ha) than the local variety (23.21 qt/ha) in the Wadera district. The result of net income showed that Adola 1 variety gave more Net income (73266.79 ETB/ha) than the local variety (26830.71 ETB/ha). Production of the Adola 1 variety was more profitable than locally used varieties at Midland. The color of Adola 1 was preferred by farmers for market and household consumption purposes. Adola 1 was an early matured variety so it was preferred by farmers. Adola 1 was more easily threshed than the local variety in the Wadera district. Despite being affected by birds the early maturity of the Adola 1 variety was likened by experimental farmers. Farmers should use Adola 1 variety in their bread wheat production. For further promotion, the pre-scaling up of the Adola 1 variety should be conducted in the midland districts of the Guji zone. </p