81 research outputs found
Author Correction: Reliability of high-quantity human brain organoids for modeling microcephaly, glioma invasion and drug screening
No full textEffects of magnesium sulfate on airway smooth muscle contraction in rats
No full textAim To investigate the effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) at different doses on isolated tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats induced by different mechanisms.
Methods Twelve rats’ tracheas were placed into organ bath. Consecutively, acetylcholine (10−6,10−5,10−4 M), histamine (10−8,10−5,10−3 M) and KCl (30,60 mM) solutions was administered for contractions. MgSO4 from 10−4 to 10−1 M concentrations were subsequently administered after each constrictive agent and relaxation degrees were recorded.
Results In the acetylcholine and KCl groups, dose dependent strong contractions were observed, but not in the histamine group and that group was excluded. Significant relaxation occurred with gradually increasing doses of MgSO4. In the high dose KCl group, a slight increase in contractions after the administration of 10−4 and 10−3 M MgSO4 was recorded.
Conclusion We suggest that MgSO4 is effective in relaxing airway smooth muscle contractions caused by different factors; however, it must be considered that low doses of MgSO4 may only lead to a slight increase in contractions
Analysis of the Natural Course of Quiescent Macular Neovascularization with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
No full textPurpose: This study investigates the natural progression of quiescent macular neovascularization (qMNV) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: The study monitored 30 eyes of 28 qMNV patients over a period of at least six months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCTA were used to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses, noting any cases of activation during follow-up. Results: Among the 30 eyes (14 female, mean age 69.70 ± 7.63 years), 21 had age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 9 had pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). The mean follow-up duration was 18.9 months. There were no significant changes in qualitative morphological features, BCVA, or choroidal thickness (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant increase in the areas of MNV and flow (p = 0.043 and p = 0.018, respectively). BCVA and MNV area showed no significant correlation (p = 0.103). Four cases (13.33%) showed activation after an average follow-up period of 27.75 months (6 to 48). Additionally, extrafoveal location was identified as a significant risk factor for exudation (p = 0.033). Conclusion: OCTA is a valuable tool for monitoring qMNV and identifying potential predictors of disease activation. The qMNV area may increase over time, even in the absence of activation. Extrafoveal location appears to be a potential risk factor for qMNV activation. © The Author(s) 2024
Relation between nocturnal decline in blood pressure and choroidal thickness: a comparative analysis in dipper vs. non-dipper hypertensive patients
No full textPurpose To compare choroidal thickness (ChT) and echocardiographical changes in patients with dipper and non-dipper systemic arterial hypertension (HT). Methods Patients with HT were evaluated in two groups according to the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. Compared to day-time values, those whose night-time SBP decreased >= 10% were defined as dippers, and those whose SBP decreased <10% were defined as non-dippers. Transthoracic echocardiography was conducted in all patients. ChT and central macular thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. ChT was obtained at the subfoveal, 1500 mu m nasal and temporal to the fovea. Results Thirty non-dipper (18 females and 12 males) and 23 dipper (16 females and seven males) hypertensive patients were recruited. Sex distribution and the mean age were similar between the groups (P = 0.472; P = 0.12). Disease duration was longer in the non-dipper group (8 +/- 3.39 vs. 4.96 +/- 1.19 years, P = 0.001). The non-dipper group had lower ChT in subfoveal and temporal locations (P = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively) and higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) and pulmonary valve maximum flow (PV-max; P < 0.001). The night-time SBP was negatively correlated with ChT (P = 0.048) and positive correlated with LAVI and PV-max (P < 0.05). However those correlations were not significant when were controlled by the possible confounding factors as disease duration, age and gender. Conclusion Non-dipper HT patients may have thinner choroid than dippers due to longer duration of HT and higher ambulatory BP levels
Rule-based Mamdani-type fuzzy modelling of thermal performance of fintube evaporator under frost conditions
No full text1st International Conference on the Sustainable Energy and Environment Development (SEED) -- MAY 17-19, 2016 -- Krakow, POLANDWOS:000392270000096Frost formation brings about insulating effects over the surface of a heat exchanger and thereby deteriorating total heat transfer of the heat exchanger. In this study, a fin-tube evaporator is modeled by making use of Rule-based Mamdani-Type Fuzzy (RBMTF) logic where total heat transfer, air inlet temperature of 2 degrees C to 7 degrees C and four different fluid speed groups (ual=1; 1.44; 1.88 m s-1, ua2=2.32; 2.76 m s-1, ua3=3.2; 3.64 m s-1, ua4=4.08; 4.52; 4.96 m s-1) for the evaporator were taken into consideration. In the developed RBMTF system, outlet parameter UA was determined using inlet parameters Ta and ua. The RBMTF was trained and tested by using MATLAB (R) fuzzy logic toolbox. R-2 (%) for the training data and test data were found to be 99.91%. With this study, it has been shown that RBMTF model can be reliably used in determination of a total heat transfer of a fm-tube evaporator.Head Minist Sci & Higher Educ, Minist Energy, Minist Environm, Natl Fund Environm Protect & Water Management, Energy Regulatory Off, Natl Ctr Res & Dev, Head Malopolska Prov Off, Marshal Malopolska Reg, Municipality Krakow, Natl Contact Point, AGH UST Rector, EDFPolska, Cieplo Krakowa, CC Poland Plus, MetalERG, RWE Polska, Fdn Inst Sustainable Energy, AGH UST, Fac Energy & Fuel
Quantitative analysis of early retinal vascular changes in type 2 diabetic patients without clinical retinopathy by optical coherence tomography angiography
No full textPurpose: To investigate the quantitative differences in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) data between type 2 diabetes patients without clinically detectable diabetic retinopathy (DR) and healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes without DR and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. The vessel density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in the superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus were measured using Nidek RS-3000 Advance® and compared between patient cohorts. Foveal vessel density (%) and FAZ (%) were also calculated. Results: A significant decrease in vessel density has been observed in the deep capillary plexus of the patients compared to healthy individuals (5.58 ± 0.98 mm2 versus 6.15 ± 0.89 mm2, p 0.05 in all parameters). Despite the decrease of deep capillary plexus density in the macular region, there was no significant change observed in foveal vessel density (p:0.44). It has also been observed that the duration of diabetes mellitus correlates with vessel density decrease in deep capillary plexus (R:–0.52; p < 0.001). In both groups, all parameters in deep capillary plexus were significantly higher than superficial capillary plexus (p < 0.001 for all parameters). Conclusions: OCTA can identify quantitative changes in DCP before the manifestation of clinically apparent retinopathy. DCP-VD reduction may be an earlier finding than FAZ enlargement. Despite the reduction of VD, FVD could be preserved for a certain period of time in DM patients. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V
Population Genomic History of the Endangered Anatolian and Cyprian Mouflons in Relation to Worldwide Wild, Feral, and Domestic Sheep Lineages
No full textOnce widespread in their homelands, the Anatolian mouflon (Ovis gmelini anatolica) and the Cyprian mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) were driven to near extinction during the 20th century and are currently listed as endangered populations by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While the exact origins of these lineages remain unclear, they have been suggested to be close relatives of domestic sheep or remnants of proto-domestic sheep. Here, we study whole genome sequences of n = 5 Anatolian mouflons and n = 10 Cyprian mouflons in terms of population history and diversity, comparing them with eight other extant sheep lineages. We find reciprocal genetic affinity between Anatolian and Cyprian mouflons and domestic sheep, higher than all other studied wild sheep genomes, including the Iranian mouflon (O. gmelini). Studying diversity indices, we detect a considerable load of short runs of homozygosity blocks (<2 Mb) in both Anatolian and Cyprian mouflons, reflecting small effective population size (N-e). Meanwhile, N-e and mutation load estimates are lower in Cyprian compared with Anatolian mouflons, suggesting the purging of recessive deleterious variants in Cyprian sheep under a small long-term N-e, possibly attributable to founder effects, island isolation, introgression from domestic lineages, or differences in their bottleneck dynamics. Expanding our analyses to worldwide wild and feral Ovis genomes, we observe varying viability metrics among different lineages and a limited consistency between viability metrics and International Union for Conservation of Nature conservation status. Factors such as recent inbreeding, introgression, and unique population dynamics may have contributed to the observed disparities
Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease: clinical uncertainties, consensus recommendations, and research priorities.
No full textWithin the spectrum of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) is a subset of patients who have inexorable progression of pulmonary fibrosis despite treatment, which is known as the progressive fibrotic phenotype. Although the concept of progressive fibrosing ILD has been applied largely to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there is now an increasing focus on irreversible progressive fibrosis in a proportion of patients with a range of underlying ILD diagnoses. Evidence has emerged to support a possible role for antifibrotic therapy in these patients. In this Position Paper, we discuss the importance of retaining diagnostic scrutiny within the multidisciplinary team and suggest a multidomain definition for progressive fibrosis. We consider the potential role of antifibrotic drugs as second-line therapy in the treatment algorithm for patients with progressive non-IPF ILD. We highlight risk factors that might predispose individuals to developing progressive fibrosis. Finally, we discuss key uncertainties and future directions for research and clinical practice
Evaluation of retinochoroidal tissues in third trimester pregnants: An optical coherence tomography angiography study
No full textIntroduction: The structural and vascular changes in the retina and choroid in women in the third trimester of pregnancy were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Forty women in the third trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy and 40 age-matched healthy women were included. Vascular density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP/DCP), foveal density (FD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimetry measured with OCTA, as well as OCT measurements of central macular thickness (CMT) and choroidal thickness (CT) were compared between the groups. Correlations between structural OCT parameters and vascular OCTA metrics were analyzed. Results: The mean gestational age was 34 (28-41) weeks. Mean age was comparable in the groups (p = 0.732). The pregnant women had significantly higher parafoveal DCP-VD (p = 0.015), FAZ area (p = 0.044), and FD (p = 0.002). Mean subfoveal CT was 21 mu m higher in pregnant women but was not significant (p = 0.472). There was no difference in CMT (p = 0.448). FAZ metrics were positively correlated with CT in pregnants and with CMT in the control group (p 0.05). Conclusions: Considering the effects of the probable covariant factors CMT and CT, systemic changes in pregnant women in their third trimester may cause an increase in VD in the macula and parafoveal DCP
Changes in optical coherence tomography angiography measures throughout the day: Diurnal variation or test-retest variability?
No full textPurpose:To evaluate the repeatability and diurnal variation of the retinal vessel density and foveal avascular zone parameters using optical coherence tomography angiography.Methods:Forty-one healthy individuals were measured twice in the morning and once in the evening. Foveal avascular zone area, perimetry, foveal density; superficial and deep capillary plexus (superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus) vessel density, and central macular thickness were evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient, coefficient of repeatability, and Bland-Altman plots.Results:Repeatability was evaluated with two consecutive scans taken in the morning. The coefficient of repeatabilities (%) was 5.4; 4.3, and 8.8 for the foveal avascular zone area, perimetry, and foveal density, respectively, with excellent intraclass correlation coefficients. Intraclass correlation coefficient was poor for parafovea (0.33), whereas excellent for fovea (0.97) in superficial capillary plexus-vessel density. Coefficient of repeatability for fovea and parafovea was 19.19% and 10.43%, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient values were poor (0.3-0.4) with 10% to 16% measurement differences in deep capillary plexus-vessel density parameters. Coefficient of repeatabilities for central macular thickness was between 1% and 2% with excellent intraclass correlation coefficient. The analysis on diurnal variation yielded comparable results.Conclusion:Except for the parafoveal vessel density, optical coherence tomography angiography is a highly reproducible device for measuring foveal avascular zone and vessel density using 6 × 6 scans with undilated pupils. However, variation in optical coherence tomography angiography parameters observed throughout the day could be attributed to test-retest variation rather than diurnal rhythm. © 2024 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved
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