41 research outputs found
Cup Feeding In the Neonatal ICU: The Influence of Country, Belief, Preference, and Past Behavior
No full textThis Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 2014-current by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contac
Comparative evaluation of dexmedetomidine versus magnesium sulphate on the adequacy of hypotensive anesthesia and post-operative recovery for patients undergoing endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection
No full textBackground: Perioperative use of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), dexmedetomidine, have been tried in order to provide beneficial clinical effects during general anesthesia (GA). However, few literature discussed it with varying results. Several clinical researches have showed that usage of MgSO4 infusion was associated with a reduction in anesthetic requirement and postsurgical analgesic consumption during GA.Objective: This study aimed to assess the pharmacologic effects of the use of dexmedetomidine and MgSO4 on anesthetic requirement, intra operative haemodynamics stability and postsurgical analgesic effects on the adequacy of hypotensive anesthesia during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumours.Patients and methods: A total of 110 cases were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomized into 2 groups: Group D (55 cases) that was commenced on dexmedetomidine, and group M (55 cases) which received MgSO4Results: The mean values of Boezaart score were significantly decreased in Group D in comparison to group M. In addition, isoflurane and propranolol consumption showed a significant decrease in group D. However, blood loss showed no significant difference when comparing the same groups. Group D expressed significantly longer emergence and extubation times compared to Group M.Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine appears to be superior compared to magnesium sulphate in achieving hypotensive anesthesia during pituitary surgery
Cup Feeding in the ICU: The Influence of Health Care Team Knowledge
No full textAbstract of poster presented at the 2014 UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat, held on May 20, 2014 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass.Background: Preterm birth has significantly increased in the last two decades. Preterm infants lack synchrony and coordination in sucking, swallowing, and breathing necessary for oral feeding. Cup feeding has been identified as a safe alternative for preterm infants who are not able to fully breastfeed, yet the practice is limited. One potential reason this alternative is underutilized is lack of health care provider knowledge regarding cup feeding. Understanding health care provider knowledge will provide information to guide cup feeding education efforts. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between health care team knowledge and the use of cup feeding in neonatal intensive care units. Methods: A non-experimental cross-cultural correlational design will be used to evaluate study goals. A convenience sample of ~350 neonatal nurses and physicians from US and Jordan will be recruited to complete a web-based survey. Recruitment strategies will include Email, website links, and snowballing. To evaluate health care provider knowledge about cup feeding a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire includes items asking about demographic data (e.g. Age, ethnicity, occupation, and experience). A 7-point Likert scale ranging from Always to never was used to assess knowledge regarding feeding type (bottle, breast, NGT, and cup). Multivariate Regression analysis will be conducted to examine the relation between health care provider knowledge and cup feeding practices. Regressions will control for potential covariates (e.g., provider age, culture, experience, and education). Findings and Conclusions: Research still in process. Preliminary results will be available by May. Nurses and physicians have the authority to decide which feeding method to use for an infant. In addition, parents are influenced by health care provider advice. Identifying health care provider knowledge of cup feeding can identify misconceptions regarding cup feeding. These findings will lead to educational interventions aimed at improving feeding of preterm infants
Seasonal variations of hydration status of professional soccer players in Saudi Arabia during training sessions and match play
No full textSoccer is the most widely played sport in the world. Consequently, players train and compete in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Professional soccer players normally train daily and compete once or twice a week. Exercise hot environments can lead to dehydration because sweat losses often exceed fluid intake. Sweat rate can range between 1 to 2.5 L.h-1 depending on factors such as environment conditions, fitness and clothing. Previous studies of soccer players have found that players are often dehydrated.
This thesis consists of three studies conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Young Saudi professional soccer players based at the Al Hilal club were recruited to the study. The author worked them during their training and matches at different periods during the year to study the effects of exercise in warm and cool conditions. Their hydration status was studied using a range of methods including analysis of the blood and urine. The main aims of these experiments were to examine the effect of exercise intensity in temperate and hot environments on blood, urine, core body temperature and aldosterone concentrations.
The first study evaluated their hydration status over three days of training and one match in temperate conditions. The aim of this study was to establish that research could be conducted as players went through their normal routines determined by the club management and coaches. Change in body weight, serum osmolality and electrolytes, sweat loss, fluid intake and aldosterone concentrations were measured. The range of ambient temperatures was between 23.4 and 30.6 oC and the relative humidity ranged between 14.2 and 23.2 %. Eleven Saudi professional soccer players participated in this study. Their body weight significantly decreased during exercise. Serum osmolality was always high indicating dehydration. It increased significantly during match play, from pre 288 ± 3 mOsm/kg to 293 ± 4 mOsm/kg. Day by day changes of serum osmolality before training sessions and match were small and on some days statistically significant. Plasma aldosterone concentrations significantly increased after the match. The magnitude of dehydration was affected by the intensity of the training sessions GPS was used to measure distance covered. Players covered more distance in match play (7326 m) than in training sessions. Core body temperature was elevated during exercise but not to dangerous levels.
The second study was aimed to repeat these measurements in the summer time during the early season in September. Again, three training sessions and one match were studied. The environment conditions were above 35 oC on all days and the relative humidity was between 10.5 and 13.0 %. The success of the first study in establishing a good relationship allowed some expansion and sixteen soccer players were recruited. Similar results were obtained and fluid losses were greater in the hotter conditions. None of the players replaced all of the fluid lost in training sessions or match play. The mean of sweat rate was 1932 ± 512 ml.h-1 and players dehydrated by 1.8 ± 0.7 % during match play. The serum sodium concentrations were small but statistically significant for some sessions. Similar changes were seen in serum osmolality. Estimated urine osmolality and specific gravity values were high on all days. Plasma aldosterone concentrations increased significantly during two training sessions and match play. On all days the mean of core temperature during exercise increased significantly.
The third study aimed to improve hydration in a group of players before they started training. Responses were compared in hydration intervention (HI) and hydration control (HC) groups. Each group comprised of eight soccer players. The ambient temperature during this study was about 29 oC. Measurements were taken on three days; the first day was as base line. Next two days, intervention group were instructed to consume 500 ml before attending the club. Independent t-test showed no significant differences between the two groups in base line of age, body weight, height and BMI (P > 0.05). Blood, urine, intensity of exercise, aldosterone and core body temperature were measured between groups. Serum electrolyte concentrations were not different in the two groups on three days. The serum osmolality of HI was significantly lower than HC before training two (T2) during the study (P < 0.05). No differences in fluid intake were observed during training and sweat rate and loss did not differ during training sessions in the two groups. In addition, serum osmolality did not change after T2 in HI, where the control group had significant increase in osmolality after this training session (P < 0.05). On the third day, serum osmolality did not differ between the two groups. However, after exercise serum osmolality elevated from pre to post exercise. The HI group had lower aldosterone concentrations before T2 started than HC group (P < 0.05). The core temperatures rose during exercise in both groups and there were no differences between the two groups.
In conclusion, the three studies were completed successfully. Good data were obtained and it was possible to conduct research with the players as they followed their normal routines of training and playing. These data showed that the players were dehydrated before and during training and match play. Sweat loss was greater in hot conditions than in temperate conditions. Serum osmolality elevated after exercise in hot and temperate conditions and by different intensity of exercise. Plasma aldosterone concentrations were affected by the exercise in all studies
Why articles continue to be cited after they have been retracted : An audit of retraction notices
No full textBackground: Papers continue to be cited by authors even after they have been retracted. Retraction notices provide readers with information about retracted papers and may help minimise post-retraction citation. To date, a review of the quality of retraction notices in nursing science has not been reported. Design: An audit of retraction notices associated with 29 retracted manuscripts published in nursing science journals. Methods: Retraction notices were reviewed again using the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Results: In total, 28 retraction notices were retrieved and reviewed (one retracted paper did not have a retraction notice). Details of the retracted manuscripts were included in all reviewed notices and, in all but two, author names were reported. Details of the time between a paper being published and retracted were not reported and generally there was a little information in notices about how the retraction decisions were made. All retraction notices were freely available. Seven notices stated who had made the decision to retract. Twenty-two (77%) notices stated the reason for retraction. Notices were brief and contained factual information. The webpages of three retracted articles did not clearly indicate that the paper had been retracted. Conclusion: More detailed and informative retraction notices will inform readers and may help reduce post- retraction citation
Enhancing lignite coal quality with biomass waste in slow pyrolysis Fischer-Tropsch reactor
No full textCoal is a non-renewable natural resource that is widely used in thermal power plants in major industrialized countries. Most of the world's coal contains a high percentage of moisture and ash and a low caloric value. The slow pyrolysis process of coal improves its quality and significantly reduces its smoke and ash. In this study, Soma Kisrakdere lignite coal in Manisa province in Turkey with some biomass wastes (peanut shells, pine cones, and olive seeds) was evaluated by applying a slow pyrolysis process using a Fischer-Tropisch reactor. Firstly, Soma Kisrakdere lignite alone, then each waste biomass was mixed with lignite coal at weight percentages of 10 %, 25 %, and 50 % to form three mixtures for each biomass waste. The process temperature was 500°C, and the temperature rate was 0.1 °C/s. The findings obtained in this study showed that with the increase of weight percentages of biomass which added from biomass waste to lignite coal, the productivity of coal (biochar) decreased and the products of tar, decomposed water, and gases increased. As for calories, its value increased with the increase in weight of the addition the waste of biomass which added where 50 % of biomass additions were the highest value of low heating value (LHV) and high heating value (HHV) and most effective than others which added to lignite coal. Among the biomass residues used, the olive seeds were the most valuable, compared with the peanut shells and pine cones. © 2024 The Author
Recent Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: A Narrative Review
No full text\ua9 2020, The Author(s). Destruction of the limbus and depletion of limbal stem cells (LSCs), the adult progenitors of the corneal epithelium, leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). LSCD is a rare, progressive ocular surface disorder which results in conjunctivalisation and neovascularisation of the corneal surface. Many strategies have been used in the treatment of LSCD, the common goal of which is to regenerate a self-renewing, transparent, and uniform epithelium on the corneal surface. The development of these techniques has frequently resulted from collaboration between stem cell translational scientists and ophthalmologists. Direct transplantation of autologous or allogeneic limbal tissue from a healthy donor eye is regarded by many as the technique of choice. Expansion of harvested LSCs in vitro allows smaller biopsies to be taken from the donor eye and is considered safer and more acceptable to patients. This technique may be utilised in unilateral cases (autologous) or bilateral cases (living related donor). Recently developed, simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET) can be performed with equally small biopsies but does not require in vitro cell culture facilities. In the case of bilateral LSCD, where autologous limbal tissue is not available, autologous oral mucosa epithelium can be expanded in vitro and transplanted to the diseased eye. Data on long-term outcomes (over 5 years of follow-up) for many of these procedures is needed, and it remains unclear how they produce a self-renewing epithelium without recreating the vital stem cell niche. Bioengineering techniques offer the ability to re-create the physical characteristics of the stem cell niche, while induced pluripotent stem cells offer an unlimited supply of autologous LSCs. In vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment OCT will complement impression cytology in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of LSCD. In this review we analyse recent advances in the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of LSCD
Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in heat-treated meat retailed in Egypt: Health risk assessment, benzo[a]pyrene induced mutagenicity and oxidative stress in human colon (CaCo-2) cells and protection using rosmarinic and ascorbic acids
No full textThis study was undertaken to estimate the concentrations of the formed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in heat-treated (boiled, pan-fried and grilled) meats collected from Egypt. Dietary intakes and cancer risks of PAHs among Egyptian adults were calculated. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-induced mutagenicity and oxidative stress in human colon (CaCo-2) cell line and mechanisms behind such effects were also investigated. Finally, protection trials using rosmarinic (RMA) and ascorbic acids (ASA) were carried out. The results indicated formation of PAHs at high levels in the heat-treated meats. Calculated incremental life time cancer risk among Egyptian adults were 7.05179E - 07, 7.00604 E - 06 and 1.86069 E - 05 due to ingestion of boiled, panfried and grilled meats, respectively. B[a]P-exposed CaCo-2 cells had high abilities for mutagenicity (490.05 +/- 21.37 His + revertants) and production of reactive oxygen species. RMA and ASA protected CaCo-2 cells via reduction of B[a]P-induced mutagenicity and oxidative stress and upregulation of phase II detoxification enzymes and xenobiotic transporters
