Biomedicine (Journal)
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Longitudinal data of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in older adults in Taiwan from 2000 to 2013
No full textObjective. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalences and trends of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in older adults in Taiwan.
Methods. An observational study was performed using the 2000-2013 database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program (analysis in 2018). Participants³ 65 yearswere included in the study. Multimorbidity was defined as participants having two or more chronic diseases annually. Polypharmacy was defined as the average daily number of prescribed medications ≥ 5.
Results. The prevalences of multimorbidity were 42.4% in 2000 and 56% in 2013. The prevalences of polypharmacy were 22.9% in 2000 and 32.1% in 2013.
Conclusions. From 2000 to 2013, multimorbidity and polypharmacy were prevalent among older adults in Taiwan. Public health efforts to intervene the primary prevention for chronic diseases should be considered in older adults
Methods of effective low-level laser therapy in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma
No full textBronchial asthma is an autoimmune disease, one of the most common and practically non-treatable by standard methods. At present, the used drugs only maintain a state of temporary remission, simultaneously having a negative effect on various organs and structures and causing side effects.
At the same time, the experts have ignored more than 50 years of successful experience of low-level laser therapy, the results of hundreds of studies proving the effectiveness of the method in treating patients with all forms of bronchial asthma. It is proved that therapeutic and periodic (2-4 per year) courses of low-level laser therapy can significantly decrease the frequency and severity of attacks, reduce or cancel the reception of medicines, as well as negative consequences.
In this brief review, only some part of studies is given as an example; pediatrics issues are almost not discussed. However, the review clearly demonstrates that various methods of laser illumination (specific techniques are given) make it possible to influence almost all the known pathogenesis of the disease, and low-level laser therapy is a truly effective method of treatment.
We note that there are very few publications published on the topic outside of Russia. Russian scientists, as always, are ahead of world science and low-level laser therapy practice
A Review on Recent Advancements in Diagnosis and Classification of Cancers Using Artificial Intelligence
No full textArtificial intelligence has illustrated drastic changes in radiology and medical imaging techniques which in turn led to tremendous changes in screening patterns. In particular, advancements in these techniques led to the development of computer aided detection (CAD) strategy. These approaches provided highly accurate diagnostic reports which served as a “second-opinion” to the radiologists. However, with significant advancements in artificial intelligence strategy, the diagnostic and classifying capabilities of CAD system are meeting the levels of radiologists and clinicians. Thus, it shifts the CAD system from second opinion approach to a high utility tool. This article reviews the strategies and algorithms developed using artificial intelligence for the foremost cancer diagnosis and classification which overcomes the challenges in the traditional method. In addition, the possible direction of AI in medical aspects is also discussed in this study
Hyperuricemia might be an early manifestation of undiagnosed adult leukemia in a population-based cohort study
No full textBackground/Objective. No published population-based study investigates the association between hyperuricemia and undiagnosed adult leukemia in Taiwan. The aim of the study was to investigate whether hyperuricemia might be an early manifestation of undiagnosed adult leukemia in Taiwan. Methods. A population-based cohort study was conducted to analyze the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 47708 subjects aged 20 to 84 years with newly diagnosed hyperuricemia as the hyperuricemia group from 2000 to 2013, and 190832 randomly selected subjects without hyperuricemia as the non-hyperuricemia group. The hyperuricemia group and the non-hyperuricemia group were followed for one year to estimate the incidence of new diagnosis of leukemia. Results. The overall incidence of leukemia was 1.32-fold higher in the hyperuricemia group than the non-hyperuricemia group (0.74 versus 0.55 per 10000 person-months, 95% confidence interval 1.28-1.37). The incidence rate ratio of leukemia was statistically higher in the first 3 months of hyperuricemia diagnosis (incidence rate ratio 4.05). Conclusion. Adults with hyperuricemia have a higher incidence of being diagnosed with leukemia than those without hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia might be an early manifestation of undiagnosed adult leukemia. Clinicians should check the complete blood count with differential to detect the possibility of leukemia when adults present with hyperuricemia
Frequency of monocyte subsets is linked to the severity of atherosclerosis in patients with ischemic heart disease: a case-control study
No full textBackground: Monocytes are recognized as central cells in the progression of atherosclerosis, and are subcategorized into classical (CD14++CD16lo), intermediate (CD14++CD16hi) and non-classical (CD14+CD16hi) subsets.
Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the relationships between different subsets of monocytes, metabolic and inflammatory factors in patients with stable coronary heart disease.
Methods: A total of 26 patients (both men and women) with stable ischemic heart disease (IHD). Among all the recruited patients, 17 patients had significant coronary artery disease defined as diameter stenosis more than 70%. Severity of CHD was assessed by the Gensini score (GS). Counts of CD14++CD16lo, CD14++CD16hi, and CD14+CD16hi monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry. Gating was verified and expression of CD163 was determined by imaging flow cytometry. Key cardiac markers, cytokines, and chemokines were detected in serum and in 24-hour-culture medium for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by multiplex analysis. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman\u27s rank correlation coefficient (r) were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Patients with stenosis \u3c 70% tended to have higher frequency of CD14+CD16hi monocytes compared to patients with coronary artery stenosis \u3e 70%. The frequencies of CD163+CD14++CD16hi and CD163+CD14+CD16hi monocytes were elevated in patients with stenosis \u3e 70%. In patients with stenosis \u3c 70%, the frequency of classical monocytes positively correlated and the frequency of non-classical monocytes negatively correlated with the value of GS (R = 0.757; p = 0.018 and R = -0.757; p = 0.018, respectively).
Conclusions: In patients with ischemic heart disease, the frequency of classical monocytes was directly correlated with the severity of atherosclerosis, while the frequency of non-classical monocytes was correlated inversely. The effects of these monocyte subsets in the development of myocardial ischemia still need to be elucidated
Incidence of pedicle breach following open and minimally invasive spinal instrumentation: A postoperative CT analysis of 513 pedicle screws applied under fluoroscopic guidance
No full textBackground: Even though pedicle screw application is a common procedure, and in-spite of spine surgeons being proficient with the technique, mal-positioning of pedicle screws can still occur. We intend to determine by postoperative CT analysis, the incidence of pedicle screw breach in the thoracolumbar spine despite satisfactory intraoperative placement confirmed by fluoroscopy.
Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent open or minimally invasive posterior stabilization under fluoroscopic guidance were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative CT scans of patients were analysed to determine the incidence of pedicle breach despite satisfactory intraoperative placement, and also to determine the factors that can predict a breach during intraoperative assessment.
Results: A total of 61 patients with 513 thoracolumbar pedicle screws were available for analysis. Based on our postoperative CT assessment, 28 screws (5.5 %; 18 thoracic screws; 10 lumbar screws) had breached the pedicle. There were 14 minor (mm) and 14 major (≥ 3 mm) breaches. The minimally invasive technique had a significantly lower breach rate compared to open surgery (1.9% vs. 7.9%). By retrospectively analysing the intraoperative fluoroscopic images, we determined certain parameters that could predict a breach during surgery.
Conclusion: Pedicle breaches can still be present despite satisfactory placement of screws visualized intra-operatively. A medial breach is most likely when the length of the pedicle screw spans only up to 50% of the vertebral body as seen on the lateral view but the pedicle screw tip has already transgressed the midline as seen on an AP view. A lateral breach is likely when the tip of the pedicle screw is overlapped by the screw head or is only minimally visualized on an AP view
Effect of hydroalcoholic Allium atroviolaceum L. on the pathology of testicular tissue in cyclophosphamide-treated mice
No full textBackground: The most important side effects of Cyclophosphamide, as an anticancer broad-spectrum drug, are the negative effects on the reproduction and fertility because of oxidative stress. Considering the antioxidant properties of medicinal plants, especially those of the Allium genus, this paper studied the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium atroviolaceum L. on the pathology of testicular tissue in CP-treated mice.
Methods: Groups of this experimental study consisted of normal saline recipients; three groups receiving A. atroviolaceum extract at 50, 100, 200 mg/kg; three groups receiving A. atroviolaceum extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/g and 6.6 mg/kg of Cyclophosphamide; and a group given Cyclophosphamide at 1.6 mg/kg. All injections were performed intraperitoneally. After 30 days, the testicular histological profile as well as the number of spermatozoa, the number of primary and round spermatocytes, and the number of spermatogonia were investigated.
Results: Cyclophosphamide treatment significantly reduced the lumen diameter, the seminiferous tubule diameter, the epithelial thickness, as well as decreased the quantity of spermatozoa and round and primary spermatocytes compared to the control group. Cyclophosphamide groups treated with A. atroviolaceum extract at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg in a significant manner improved these variables (P \u3c0.001).
Conclusion: A. atroviolaceum extract can significantly improve Cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity and pathological process on testicular tissue. It seems that this plant, with high antioxidant capacity, can be considered a complementary therapy for Cyclophosphamide to prevent undesirable effects on the reproductive system
Effect of evening primrose oil on postoperative pain after appendectomy: A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial
No full textBackground and objective: Despite advances in surgical techniques and pharmacology, postoperative pain remains a common problem after appendectomy, and its management continues to be suboptimal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil on the reduction of postoperative pain after appendectomy.
Materials and Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial, a total of 80 adults patients with acute appendicitis who were undergoing appendectomy at the Shahid Beheshti Emdad Hospital in Sabzevar, were included. Patients were randomly allocated into two equally sized groups (n=40). In postoperative period and after recovering from the anesthesia, each of the intervention and control groupsreceived one evening primrose (1000 mg) or placebo capsules every 30 minutes for 3 times, respectively. All patients in two both groups were asked to rate the intensity of their pain on a 0-10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and also McGill pain questionnaire, before and one hour after the last administration of the drug, postoperatively.
Results: In patients who received evening primrose, both VAS and McGill pain intensity scores significantly decreased after intervention, when compared prior to initiation of the intervention (p0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that oral evening primrose can be used as a simple and safe potential adjunctive treatment for postoperative pain control after appendectomy
Evaluating co-occurrence of depression and sexual dysfunction and related factors among Iranian rural women: a population-based study
No full textBackground and Objectives: Sexual dysfunction and mood disorders have a high prevalence rate and their co-occurrence has been reported in previous studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-occurrence of sexual dysfunction and depression and related factors in women.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 826 married rural women aged 15-49 years in Sari, Iran in 2018, selected by random sampling. The participants filled the demographic and fertility questionnaires, as well as Beck’s Depression Inventory and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
Results: In this study, 18% of the participants experienced the co-occurrence of depression and sexual dysfunction. In addition, results of the multiple logistic regression showed that
forced marriage (OR=0.31, CI 95 %: 0.15 to 0.64, P\u3c 0.001), a one-level increase in the education of the spouse (OR=0.76, CI 95 %: 0.59 to 0.98, P\u3c 0.041), lack of history of depression (OR=0.36, CI 95 %: 0.20 to 0.66, P\u3c 0.001) and lack of vaginal infection (OR=0.41, CI 95 %: 0.27 to 0.62, P\u3c 0.001) were considered as factors contributing to a decline in the co-occurrence of depression and sexual dysfunction. On the other hand, not having a private bedroom (OR=1.63, CI 95 %: 1.09 to 2.43, P\u3c 0.017), no vehicle (OR=1.52, CI 95 %: 1.02 to 2.27, P\u3c 0.038), a history of sychiatric diseases (OR=2.09,CI 95 %: 1.2.0 to
3.65, P\u3c 0.009), lack of chronic diseases (OR=2.11,CI 95%: 1.03 to 4.31, p= 0.039) and lack of use of antidepressants (OR=2.03,CI 95 %: 2.03 to 1.03, P\u3c 0.039) increased the co- occurrence of depression and sexual dysfunction.
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, about one-fifth of the married rural women experienced the co-occurrence of depression and sexual dysfunction. If healthcare providers detect one of the disorders of depression or sexual dysfunction in a patient, it is suggested that the person be assessed in terms of the other disorder and the proper treatment be applied. Furthermore, the healthcare personnel must pay attention to factors related to the co-occurrence of these disorders in addition to providing a treatment program
Evaluation of the level of biomolecules isolated from date palm seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L) and in vitro Antioxidant property
No full textDate palm fruits and by-products such as seeds are a source of various elements with significant nutritional values like fibres, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids and phenolic compounds. The experimental part was carried out on date palm seeds from Bent Kbala cultivar, the chemical composition of the organic fraction was determined using the method of UV-visible spectrophotometer, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD).
The results revealed the presence of catechic tannins and approximately 17 phenolic compounds, including two compounds, which were identified for the first time in the date palm sub-product, especially in seeds such as naringenin and rutine. The assessment of the antioxidant potential shows that date palm seeds have a significant potential compared to standard antioxidants commonly used in cosmetics and neutraceutics industries