63 research outputs found
Effects of atenolol and pindolol on left ventricular structure and function in hypertensive patients
No full textA National Representative, Cross-Sectional Study by the Hellenic Academy of NeuroImmunology (HEL.A.NI.) on COVID-19 and Multiple Sclerosis: Overall Impact and Willingness Toward Vaccination
No full textBackground: In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the constant needs of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and their caregivers were urgently highlighted.Aim: The present study aims to capture the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in several aspects of the quality of life of PwMS, in perception and behavior to COVID-19 and multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as concerning healthcare, working conditions, and the willingness toward COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: This study is an initiative of the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology (HEL.A.NI.) and it has been included in the MS Data Alliance (MSDA) Catalog, which can be accessed after creating an account on . Two online questionnaires were administered: (i) impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life, behavior, and healthcare of PwMS (Questionnaire A) and (ii) vaccination against COVID-19 (Questionnaire B). People with MS were invited to participate by the Hellenic Federation of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (HFoPwMS).Results: Three-hundred-ninety PwMS responded to Questionnaire A, whereas 176 PwMS provided answers for Questionnaire B. Older age, longer disease duration, and higher MS-related disability were associated with the increased perceived sensitivity toward severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as well as the increased perceived severity of COVID-19 upon potential infection. A significant proportion of PwMS experienced restricted access to MS-related health professionals, disease-modifying therapy (DMT) prescription, and/or to MS-related laboratory examination due to the pandemic. Subgroups of PwMS reported exacerbated symptoms (i.e., chronic MS-related symptoms, fatigue and/or worsening of pre-existing fatigue, and sexual dysfunction and or/worsening of pre-existing sexual dysfunction). Overall, the majority of the participants reported either a strong willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or a likeliness to undergo vaccination. Being aware of the HEL.A.NI. recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination for PwMS were reported to increase the willingness of the participants to receive the vaccine.Conclusions: Our results highlight the necessity of scientific and patient organizations in taking joint action to increase awareness on health-related issues during the pandemic and to provide accurate and up-to-date guidance for PwMS. Online information and communications technology (ICT) tools for polling public belief and behavior may prove valuable as means of retaining active routes of communication between stakeholders.We would like to acknowledge Vasiliki Maraka and Moira Tzitzika of the Hellenic Federation of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (HFoPwMS) for rapidly and effectively bringing the initiative into public awareness via appropriate publicity measures, as well as the members of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology (HEL.A.NI.) for reviewing the questionnaires and supporting the initiative
Environmental Policy and Science Management: Using a Scientometric-specific GIS for E-learning Purposes
Get PDFWho is the "good scientist" in rural-environmental policy? This is not so self-evident as in the case of private high-tech industry. Developing e-learning system in environmental science management is a challenging task in the area of forest and general rural development policy. Who determines the most "important" scientific information and who controls it? There are algorithms for measuring centrality in information networks. The concepts of closeness and betweenness centrality are used as basic metadata for categorizing the communication type in the rural-environmental policy networks. This paper discusses the development of a GIS-based model which includes region-based scientometrics, regarding policy field communication
Personalized e-Learning Implementation - The GIS Case
Get PDFPersonalized e-learning implementation is recognized as among one of the most interesting research areas in the distance learning Web-based education. In particular, the GIS e-learning initiatives that incorporate –by default– a number of sequencing spatial techniques (i.e. spatial objects selection and sequencing), will well benefit from a welldefined personalized e-learning implementation with embedded spatial functionality. This is the case addressed in this paper. The GIS e-learning implementation introduced in the current paper is based on a set of teaching (lecturing) rules according to the cognitive style of learning preferences of both the learners and the lecturers as well. It is important to note that, in spite of the fact that most of these teaching rules are generic (i.e. domain, view and user independent), there are no so far well-defined and commonly accepted rules on how the learning spatial GIS objects and techniques should be selected and how they should be sequenced to make “instructional sense" in a Web-based GIS course
Cholesterol embolization syndrome following thrombolysis during acute myocardial infarction
No full textClinical validation of an artificial intelligence-Assisted algorithm for automated quantification of left ventricular ejection fraction in real time by a novel handheld ultrasound device
No full textAims: We sought to evaluate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of a novel handheld ultrasound device (HUD) with artificial intelligence (AI) assisted algorithm to automatically calculate ejection fraction (autoEF) in a real-world patient population. Methods and results: We studied 100 consecutive patients (57 ± 15 years old, 61% male), including 38 with abnormal left ventricular (LV) function [LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%]. The autoEF results acquired using the HUD were independently compared with manually traced biplane Simpson's rule measurements on cart-based systems to assess method agreement using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman analysis. The diagnostic accuracy for the detection of LVEF <50% was also calculated. Test-retest reliability of measured EF by the HUD was assessed by calculating the ICC and the minimal detectable change (MDC). The ICC, linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman analysis revealed good agreement between autoEF and reference manual EF (ICC = 0.85; r = 0.87, P < 0.001; mean bias-1.42% with limits of agreement 14.5%, respectively). Detection of abnormal LV function (EF < 50%) by autoEF algorithm was feasible with sensitivity 90% (95% CI 75-97%), specificity 87% (95% CI 76-94%), PPV 81% (95% CI 66-91%), NPV 93% (95% CI 83-98%), and a total diagnostic accuracy of 88%. Test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.91, P < 0.001; r = 0.91, P < 0.001; mean difference ± SD: 0.54% ± 5.27%, P = 0.308) and MDC for LVEF measurement by autoEF was calculated at 4.38%. Conclusion: Use of a novel HUD with AI-enabled capabilities provided similar LVEF results with those derived by manual biplane Simpson's method on cart-based systems and shows clinical potential. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology
An American Paradox: A Monolingual Nation in a Plurilingual World Volume 2 // Brain Based Lesson Plan Samples for Plurilingual Students
No full textThe American Paradox includes two volumes. In Volume I, The American Paradox describes how the paradox lies in the nation's persistent commitment to monolingual language policies despite its foundation as a land of immigrants enriched by linguistic and cultural diversity. Volume I provides a rationale for understanding the American Paradox and explores this contradiction more deeply by examining how the dominant emphasis on English-only education continues to shape policy and practice, even as research in neuroscience (Alexander, Aragón, Bookwala, Cherbuin, Gatt, Kahrilas, & Styliadis, 2021) and history highlights the benefits of embracing plurilingualism.
The editors of American Paradox have chosen to embrace the newest technologies to create the most up-to-date resource for teacher candidates and educators in the field. Editors today are greatly assisted by an advanced array of tools that optimize both creativity and organization, ensuring their work evolves into coherent and polished content that is both insightful and accessible. At the forefront are AI engines, transformative resources that analyze content, offer real-time suggestions, and ensure alignment with intended audiences. These engines, powered by natural language processing, identify inconsistencies in tone, structure, and flow while proposing enhancements to maximize pedagogical impact
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Pheochromocytoma crisis presenting with cardiogenic shock
No full textPheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor of the adrenal glands whose typical presentation includes the triad of headache, palpitations, and diaphoresis. Pheochromocytoma crisis is an urgent medical condition whose diagnosis and management constitute a challenge for physicians. We present the case of a 55-year-old man who developed cardiogenic shock in the setting of a pheochromocytoma crisis. After stabilizing blood pressure with combined administration of α- and β-blockers, the tumor was surgically removed. Our diagnostic and therapeutic challenges are discussed
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