1,720,972 research outputs found
Unlocking Relief: Investigating the Impact of a Fixed Combination of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Palmitoylethanolamide on Traumatic Acute Low Back Pain
Get PDFBackground: Peripheral neuropathies encompass a diverse group of disorders involving peripheral nerve damage, often leading to pain, sensory disturbances, and motor impairments. The etiology is multifactorial, with trauma as a key contributor. The treatment of peripheral neuropathies includes medications targeting the nociceptive component, whereas the neuropathic component is managed with agents such as gabapentinoids or antidepressants, though their prolonged use is limited by significant side effects. Some neuroprotective compounds, such as acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), have emerged as potential alternatives due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Methods: This monocentric, observational, single-arm longitudinal study evaluated the efficacy of a fixed combination containing ALC, PEA, and ALA (as an adjuvant to the previous two) and Boswellia serrata, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B6 in patients with acute low back trauma. Over 8 weeks, 48 participants received the supplement alongside conventional therapy. The primary end point was improvement in neuropathic pain assessed via the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary endpoints included quality of life (SF-36) changes, reduced NSAID consumption, and adverse events. Results: The study showed significant reductions in NPS and VAS scores and improvements in physical health-related SF-36 domains, with reduced NSAID consumption. Participants with more severe baseline symptoms demonstrated the greatest benefits. No significant changes were observed in emotional parameters. Adverse events were mild and in a very limited number of patients. Conclusions: Results suggest the combination's potential to improve pain and reduce reliance on conventional therapies; however, further controlled randomized trials are needed to validate these findings
Incidence and clinical progression of asymptomatic peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis in solid neoplasm patients: ultrasound insights from a prospective cohort study
Get PDFBackground Managing central venous catheters in patients with neoplasms is challenging, and peripherally inserted central catheter PORT (PICC-PORT) has emerged as a promising option for safety and efficacy. However, understanding the clinical progression of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in cancer patients with central venous catheters remains limited, especially in certain neoplasm types associated with a higher risk of venous thrombosis. Objectives This study aims to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided management in detecting and treating asymptomatic CRT in cancer patients with PICC. Methods In this prospective cohort study of 120 patients with solid neoplasms receiving chemotherapy, we investigated the incidence of isolated upper-extremity superficial vein thrombosis, upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis, and fibrin sheath formation through ultrasound follow-up at 30 and 90 days after catheter insertion. We analyzed risk factors associated with CRT and compared incidence rates between PICC-PORT and traditional PICC. Results Among the cohort, 69 patients (57.5%) had high-risk thromboembolic neoplasm, and 31 cases (25.8%) of CRT were observed, mostly within 30 days, with only 7 cases (22.6%) showing symptoms. Traditional PICC use (odds ratio, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.14-30) and high-risk thromboembolic neoplasm (odds ratio, 4.46; 95% CI, 1.26-15.81) were identified as independent risk factors for CRT. Conclusion The majority of CRT present asymptomatically within the first 30 days of venous catheter insertion in patients with solid neoplasms. Ultrasound follow-up is valuable for detecting asymptomatic CRT. The risk of CRT was lower with PICC-PORT than with PICC. Additionally, the risk of CRT was found to be higher in patients with high-risk thromboembolic neoplasms. It is crucial for larger studies to confirm the utility of treating asymptomatic thromboses and isolated superficial thrombosis
Unraveling the connection: visceral adipose tissue and vitamin D levels in obesity
Get PDFVitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are widespread on a global scale, with multiple factors playing a role in their development, such as limited exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary consumption, as well as obesity and abdominal fat accumulation. Abdominal obesity, assessed with waist circumference (WC), is associated with metabolic syndrome and has been linked to low vitamin D levels. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and vitamin D levels, particularly examining the potential threshold for vitamin D storage and sequestration using adipose tissue. The study was conducted between 2020 and 2022 with 58 patients from an internal medicine outpatient department. Patients with certain medical conditions and those taking medications affecting bone metabolism were excluded. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 6 months of monthly cholecalciferol supplementation. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate adipose tissue measurements, including subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, VAT, preperitoneal adipose tissue (PPAT), and prerenal adipose tissue (PRAT). Anthropometric measures such as the waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were also assessed. The results showed that all subjects had significant hypovitaminosis D at baseline. After 6 months of supplementation, the mean increase in vitamin D levels was 9.6 ng/mL, with 55.2% of subjects becoming deficient. The study revealed a significant correlation between follow-up vitamin D levels and waist circumference, hip circumference, and VAT. VAT exhibited a strong correlation not only with vitamin D levels but also with waist circumference. When analyzing gender differences, males showed a higher weight and waist-to-hip ratio, while females had higher body adiposity indexes and subcutaneous adipose tissue measurements. In conclusion, this study highlights the relationship between VAT and vitamin D levels, emphasizing the potential role of adipose tissue in vitamin D availability. Waist circumference was identified as a surrogate measure for VAT evaluation. Furthermore, the study showed variations in vitamin D response to supplementation between genders, with a higher percentage of males reaching normal vitamin D levels. Predictive factors for vitamin D levels differed between genders, with waist circumference being a significant predictor in males and body adiposity index in females
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Tailored Exercise Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome: Cardiometabolic Improvements Beyond Weight Loss and Diet—A Prospective Observational Study
Get PDFBackground: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of both acute events and chronic conditions. While exercise has been shown to improve individual risk factors associated with MS; research on its effects on MS as an integrated condition remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-month Adapted Personalized Motor Activity (AMPA) program for improving the health outcomes of individuals with MS. Methods: Seventy-one sedentary participants with MS (mean age: 63 ± 9.4 years, 46.5% female) completed a 6-month intervention, incorporating moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance training. Each participant received a personalized exercise plan prescribed by a sports medicine physician. The training was monitored via telemetry to ensure safety. No dietary recommendations were provided during the intervention. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET), anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides), fasting glucose, and HbA1c. Results: Significant improvements were observed in fasting glucose (−10.6%, p < 0.001), HbA1c (−3.88%, p < 0.001), HDL cholesterol (+20.8%, p < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (−25.1%, p < 0.001), and VO2max (+8.6%, p < 0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure also decreased significantly, with reductions of −12% (p < 0.001) and −5.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. Reductions in weight and waist circumference were statistically significant but modest and clinically irrelevant, showing no correlation with improvements in cardio-metabolic parameters. Logistic regression and correlation matrix analyses were performed to identify key predictors of changes in individual risk factors. Conclusions: While personalized exercise alone may not fully control individual risk factors of metabolic syndrome, its overall effect is comparable to low-intensity pharmacological polytherapy with minimal adverse effects. These benefits appear to be independent of dietary habits, gender, and both baseline and post-intervention physical performance and anthropometric measures
Exploring the Role of Circular RNA in Bone Biology: A Comprehensive Review
Get PDFCircular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression with diverse roles in various biological processes. In recent years, research into circRNAs’ involvement in bone biology has gained significant attention, unveiling their potential as novel regulators and biomarkers in bone-related disorders and diseases. CircRNAs, characterized by their closed-loop structure, exhibit stability and resistance to degradation, underscoring their functional significance. In bone tissue, circRNAs are involved in critical processes such as osteogenic differentiation, osteoclastogenesis, and bone remodeling through intricate molecular mechanisms including microRNA regulation. Dysregulated circRNAs are associated with various bone disorders, suggesting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The therapeutic targeting of these circRNAs holds promise for addressing bone-related conditions, offering new perspectives for precision medicine. Thus, circRNAs constitute integral components of bone regulatory networks, impacting both physiological bone homeostasis and pathological conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of circRNAs in bone biology, emphasizing their regulatory mechanisms, functional implications, and therapeutic potential
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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