1,018 research outputs found
CeVRicale: A VR app for cervical rehabilitation
No full textWe propose CeVRicale, a cervical rehabilitation application based on the use of virtual reality (VR). CeVRicale is smartphone-based, thus it may be available to larger shares of population when compared to those applications that are implemented for head mounted displays such as HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. The app exploits a smartphone's sensor to track head movements in five exergames inspired by rehabilitation exercises. This project is the first step in a study to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a low cost VR application in the treatment of cervical musculoskeletal disorders
Some observations about the semantics and syntax of road signs
No full textA team in Italy has been examining road signs with a view to making them more easily understood, not only to local Italian speaking drivers but to the wider driving community. Here we publish some examples of how they have addressed the problem of turning complex concepts into simple and easily understood graphical signs. The project is ongoing and readers are invited to contact the corresponding author with their comments
Evidence of Cr(VI) formation during analysis of leather Proposal of an alternative method of analysis through the ion-chromatographic approach and post-column reaction
No full textThe formation of Cr(VI) in Cr(III) tanned leather, in neutral and alkaline solution, has been demonstrated by means of crossed experiments using different pH buffers, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as Cr(III) complexing agent and NaCl solutions. According to the found results
the composition of the extracting solution suitable to extract Cr(VI) amount present in leather was pH 4.4 (which is also the tanned leather natural pH) and 5% NaCl (w/v). Interferences coming from coloured compounds have been eliminated with suitable SPE cartridges. A new protocol for the analysis of Cr(VI) based on ion chromatography and a diphenylcarbazide post-column reaction has been implemented. The use of a large volume injection loop (500 microliter) allowed to obtain a very low quantification limit (0.15 mg kg−1) despite the low amount of leather
extracted (0.2 g with respect to 2.0 g used by the IUC 18 official method). Evidence of the transient nature of Cr(VI) in leather requires using the external calibration procedure for the correct quantification of the species
Cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes of healthy and thyroid tumor-affected children from the Gomel region (Belarus).
No full textDuring 1994, 19 thyroid tumor-affected children and 17 healthy children from the Gomel region, one of the areas most polluted by the Chernobyl fallout, were analysed for (i) the presence of 137Cs in their urine and (ii) chromosome aberrations (CA) in circulating lymphocytes. They were compared with 35 healthy children from Pisa, Italy. Tumor-affected children showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher 137Cs levels in their urine as compared to healthy controls from the Gomel region. No radioactivity was found in urine from the Pisa controls. CA frequency was significantly higher in tumor-affected children compared to the Gomel controls, but was not significantly different between Gomel and Pisa controls. However, dicentric chromosomes were found in a significantly (p < 0.01) greater proportion in both affected and healthy Gomel children (3.4 and cells, respectively) as compared to the Pisa controls ( cells). Multiple regression analysis showed that the proportion of cells with acentric fragments, dicentric and ring chromosomes was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of 137Cs excreted in their urine. These findings suggest that children from the Gomel region were still being exposed to radionuclides, which makes it possible to study a dose-effect relationship
Anticlastogenic Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract in Graves' Disease Patients Receiving Radioiodine Therapy
No full textBACKGROUND: Chromosomal damage, as assessed by clastogenic factors (CFs) and micronuclei (MN) appearance, after radioiodine therapy of Graves' disease has been reported. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) supplementation on the time course (up to 120 d) of CFs and MN appearance in lymphocytes from patients with Graves' disease after iodine-131 ((131)I) therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to EGb 761 or placebo, in a blinded manner. RESULTS: In the placebo group, MN increased early (P < 0.001) after (131)I, peaking at the 21st day (P = 0.0003) and declining thereafter. In EGb 761-treated patients, MN increased early (P < 0.05), while returning toward baseline value thereafter. Therefore, mean MN increment was significantly higher in the placebo group as compared with EGb 761-treated patients (P < 0.01). Moreover, an early (P < 0.0001) and sustained (up to 35 d; P < 0.001) MN increase induced by CFs was observed in the placebo group. Conversely, in EGb 761-treated patients, MN increase induced by CFs never reached the statistical significance; therefore, the mean of the MN increments was significantly lower than in placebo (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation between MN maximum increment and the bone marrow dose was observed in the placebo group only (P = 0.03). No significant difference was observed in clinical outcome between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: EGb 761 supplementation neutralized genotoxic damage induced by radioiodine treatment, without affecting the clinical outcome. Although (131)I therapy is generally safe, our data suggest that Gingko biloba extracts may prevent genetic effects of radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroid Graves' disease
Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract supplementation on genotoxic damage after thyroid remnant ablation by 131I
No full textEffetto anticlastogenico dell’estratto di Ginko Biloba (EGb 761) nei pazienti con morbo di Basedow sottoposti a terapia radiometabolica con 131I
No full textAnticlastogenic Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract in Graves' Disease Patients Receiving Radioiodine Therapy
No full textBackground: Chromosomal damage, as assessed by clastogenic factors (CFs) and micronuclei (MN) appearance, after radioiodine therapy of Graves' disease has been reported. Objective and Methods: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) supplementation on the time course (up to 120 d) of CFs and MN appearance in lymphocytes from patients with Graves' disease after iodine-131 (131I) therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to EGb 761 or placebo, in a blinded manner. Results: In the placebo group, MN increased early (P < 0.001) after 131I, peaking at the 21st day (P = 0.0003) and declining thereafter. In EGb 761-treated patients, MN increased early (P < 0.05), while returning toward baseline value thereafter. Therefore, mean MN increment was significantly higher in the placebo group as compared with EGb 761-treated patients (P < 0.01). Moreover, an early (P < 0.0001) and sustained (up to 35 d; P < 0.001) MN increase induced by CFs was observed in the placebo group. Conversely, in EGb 761-treated patients, MN increase induced by CFs never reached the statistical significance; therefore, the mean of the MN increments was significantly lower than in placebo (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation between MN maximum increment and the bone marrow dose was observed in the placebo group only (P = 0.03). No significant difference was observed in clinical outcome between the two groups. Conclusions: EGb 761 supplementation neutralized genotoxic damage induced by radioiodine treatment, without affecting the clinical outcome. Although 131I therapy is generally safe, our data suggest that Gingko biloba extracts may prevent genetic effects of radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroid Graves' disease.
Conclusions: EGb 761 supplementation neutralized genotoxic damage induced by radioiodine treatment, without affecting the clinical outcome. Although 131I therapy is generally safe, our data suggest that Gingko biloba extracts may prevent genetic effects of radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroid Graves’ diseas
The Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Genotoxic Damage in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Receiving Thyroid Remnant Ablation with Iodine-131
No full textBackground: Radioiodine ((131)I) therapy is usually performed in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Although (131)I is generally considered safe, genotoxic damage has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the time-course of appearance, after (131)I therapy for DTC, of plasma factors with chromosome-damaging properties (so-called "clastogenic" factors [CFs]) and of micronuclei (MN) in lymphocytes. Methods: Twenty-three patients (median age 42 years, range 18-73) with DTC receiving (131)I activity (3.7 GBq) for thyroid remnant ablation were randomly assigned to receive GBE (120 mg/day for one month; n=10) or placebo (n=13) in a double-blind manner. Blood samples were taken at various intervals (from baseline to 90 days) after (131)I therapy. The frequency of MN in blood lymphocytes was determined, and CFs were assayed in plasma by a method that used MN increase in lymphocytes from an healthy donor as the endpoint of the assay. Results: MN in blood lymphocytes increased significantly after (131)I treatment in the placebo group, peaking at the 7th day (p=0.002) and slowly declining thereafter. In contrast, in similarly treated patients who were also treated with GBE both before and after (131)I treatment, a significant increase of blood lymphocyte MN level was not observed. In addition, only the placebo group showed a significant, progressive increase in CFs activity. This peaked at the 14th day (p=0.003 vs. baseline) and was still noted for the last plasma sample. The differences in the change in lymphocyte MN and CFs activity between the placebo and GBE-treated groups were significant (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Thyroid function tests, including serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-Tg antibody levels, were never significantly different. Conclusions: GBE may protect from possible oxidative and genotoxic damage associated with (131)I treatment in patients requiring (131)I therapy for thyroid cancer, without affecting the clinical outcome. Further studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed to confirm this report and verify the beneficial effect of GBE in patients requiring (131)I therapy, particularly for those in whom repeated treatments and high activities of (131)I are required
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