83 research outputs found
A European emotional investigation in the field of shoes design
No full texthttp://inderscience.metapress.com/content/lujq27m40g324256/In this paper we report on the results of a Kansei Engineering System study. A methodology for the application of Kansei Engineering at a European level has been developed and validated in the field of shoes design by means of the development of experimental studies in two different phases of the product design : the information phase in the earliest stages of the design process and the generation and evaluation phase corresponding to the latest stages of the process.Projet européen IS
Impact of hyperglycemia on ischemic stroke mortality in diabetic and non-diabetic patients
No full textGenetic and lifestyle predictors of ischemic stroke severity and outcome
No full textBackground: Different models that include clinical variables and blood markers have been investigated to predict acute ischemic stroke treatment course and recovery.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate associations between lipid levels, lifestyle factors, hemostatic (F5, F2, SERPINE1, F13A1, and FGB), and atherogenic (APOA5 and ACE) gene variants and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) severity. Materials and methods This study included 250 patients with AIS in which F5, F2, SERPINE1, F13A1, FGB, APOA5, and ACE genotypes were determined. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density cholesterol, low-density cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations were measured within 24 h of the AIS onset. Examination of the neurological deficit was done using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale/Score (NIHSS).
Results: APOA5 genotype [TC + CC] was more frequent (P = 0.026) in patients with the NIHSS score ≥ 21. Univariate regression analysis has shown that triglycerides (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34–0.91; P = 0.019), obesity (0.28, 95% CI 0.10–0.73; P = 0.010), age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.13; P < 0.001), and APOA5 genotype (TC + CC) (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.10–5.25; P = 0.034) are significantly associated with a severe stroke. When all variables were included in model age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11; P = 0.018), obesity (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08–0.77; P = 0.016) and APOA5 genotype (TC + CC) (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.29–8.23; P = 0.012) remained significant for the risk of severe AIS.
Conclusion: APOA5 genotype (TC + CC), age, and obesity could be used as prognostic risk factors for a very severe stroke
(NIHSS ≥ 21)
Meta-learning for fake news detection surrounding the Syrian war
No full textIn this article, we pursue the automatic detection of fake news reporting on the Syrian war using machine learning and meta-learning. The proposed approach is based on a suite of features that include a given article's linguistic style; its level of subjectivity, sensationalism, and sectarianism; the strength of its attribution; and its consistency with other news articles from the same “media camp”. To train our models, we use FA-KES, a fake news dataset about the Syrian war. A suite of basic machine learning models is explored, as well as the model-agnostic meta-learning algorithm (MAML) suitable for few-shot learning, using datasets of a modest size. Feature-importance analysis confirms that the collected features specific to the Syrian war are indeed very important predictors for the output label. The meta-learning model achieves the best performance, improving upon the baseline approaches that are trained exclusively on text features in FA-KES. © 2021 The Author
The role of Weather Conditions and Normal Level of air Pollution in Appearance of Stroke in the Region of Southeast Europe
No full textWe investigated correlation between the normal level of air pollution, weather conditions and stroke occurrence in the region of Southeast Europe with a humid continental climate. This retrospective study included 1963 patients, 1712 (87.2%) with ischemic (IS) and 251 (12.8%) with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) admitted to emergency department. The number of patients, values of weather condition (meteorological parameters) [air temperature (°C), atmospheric pressure (kPa), relative humidity (%)] and concentrations of air pollutants [particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3)], were recorded and evaluated for each season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) during 2 years (July 2008-June 2010). The highest rate of IS was observed during spring (28.9%) (p = 0.0002) and HS in winter (33.9%) (p = 0.0006). We have found negative Spearman's correlations (after Bonferroni adjustment for the multiple correlations) of the number of males with values of relative humidity (%) (day 0, rho = - 0.15), the total number of strokes (day 2, rho = - 0.12), females (day 2, rho = - 0.12) and IS (day 2, rho = - 0.13) with concentrations of PM10 (µg/m3), as well as negative correlations of the number of females (day 2, rho = - 0.12) and IS (day 2, rho = - 0.12) with concentrations of NO2 (µg/m3) (for all p < 0.002). In winter, the number of HS (day 0, rho = 0.25, p = 0.001) positively correlated with concentrations of O3 (µg/m3). The appearance of stroke has seasonal variations, with the highest rates during spring and winter. Positive correlation between the number of HS and values of O3 requires an additional reduction of the legally permitted pollutants concentrations
NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF POST-COVID-19 SYNDROME
No full textUvod: Krajem 2019. otkrivena je nova bolest nazvana COVID-19. Bolest je uzrokovana novim koronavirusom SARS-CoV-2. Ubrzo je Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija (SZO) proglasila pandemiju. Osim dišnih simptoma uočeno je da se bolest može očitovati i neurološkom simptomatologijom te da se tijekom i nakon liječenja COVID-19 mogu javiti neurološke komplikacije. Nakon preboljenja COVID-19, neovisno o težini kliničke slike, dio bolesnika žali se na zaostale neurološke simptome. U tim slučajevima govorimo o post-COVID-19 sindromu. Za simptome koji se javljaju tjednima ili mjesecima nakon COVID-19 simptoma u literaturi su korišteni različiti termini kao što su npr. od "dugi-COVID", "post–COVID sindrom", "posljedice SARSCoV-2 infekcije". Simptomi podrazumijevaju različita očitovanja organskih sustava koji se jave i/ili traju dulje od 4 tjedna. Cilj: Napraviti pregled trenutnih znanstvenih činjenica povezano sa sindromom post-COVID-19. Metode: Pretražili smo bazu podataka MEDLINE s ključnim riječima: post-COVID-19, neurološka očitovanja i dugi COVID-19 u vremenu od 2020. godine. Rezultati: Prema podatcima koje smo prikupili postoje četiri stadija COVID-19. Akutni COVID-19 podrazumijeva simptome i znakove bolesti koji traju do 4 tjedna. Produljeni simptomatski COVID-19 podrazumijeva simptome i znakove koji traju od 4 do12 tjedana. Post-COVID-19 sindrom podrazumijeva simptome i znakove koji se jave nakon akutne bolesti te traju dulje od 12 tjedana, a nisu objašnjeni drugom dijagnozom. Sindrom post-COVID-19 podrazumijeva znakove i simptome koji se pojavljuju tijekom ili nakon COVID-19 te traju dulje od 12 tjedana, a nisu objašnjeni drugom dijagnozom. Simptomi se mogu preklapati i varirati u intenzitetu. Dugi COVID podrazumijeva COVID-19 i sindrom post-COVID-19. Što se neuroloških post-COVID-19 očitovanja tiče, kod bolesnika su najčešće prisutni slabost i umor, mialgija, smetnje raspoloženja i smetnje spavanja. Također, u literaturi se navode i trajna glavobolja, smetnje koncentracije koje su nazvane moždanom maglom (od engl. brain fog), parestezije, poremećaj ili gubitak okusa, poremećaj ili gubitak mirisa te smetnje autonomnog živčanog sustava. Postoji nekoliko pretpostavljenih načina kojima virus dođe do središnjeg živčanog sustava: njušni, dišni i probavni. Središnji živčani sustav može biti oštećen izravno i neizravno. Moždana magla i smetnje pamćenja objašnjeni su središnjom i respiratornom hipoksijom te proupalnim odgovorom organizma. U slučaju sumnje na sindrom post-COVID-19 pri postavljanju dijagnoze uvijek treba uzeti u obzir i ostale moguće dijagnoze. U mnogim slučajevima potrebno je učiniti magnetsku rezonanciju (MR) mozga i vratne kralježnice. Ponekad je potrebno u dijagnosticiranje bolesti uključiti i ostale specijaliste. Zaključak: Sindrom post-COVID-19 može se očitovati nizom neuroloških poremećaja kao što su kognitivni simptomi, nesanica i promjene raspoloženja, disautonomija, smetnje mirisa i okusa, sindrom postintenzivne skrbi.Introduction: At the end of 2019, a new disease named COVID-19 was discovered. The disease is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. A global pandemic was soon declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease mostly presents by respiratory simptoms. It can also be presented by neurological symptoms and neurological complications may occur during and after treatment of COVID-19. Regardless of COVID-19 symptoms, some patients complain of persistent symptoms. In such cases, we talk of so-called post-COVID-19 syndrome. Various terms have been used in the literature for the spectrum of symptoms that occur weeks or months after COVID-19 symptoms, such as "long-COVID", "post-COVID syndrome", "consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection". Symptoms include various manifestations of organ systems that occur and/or last longer than 4 weeks. Aim: Our aim was to analyze scientifi c papers on the topic of post-COVID-19 syndrome. We also wanted to describe the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms of post-COVID-19 syndrome and highlight the possible diagnostic algorithm. Methods: We searched the MEDLINE database using the following key features:„postCOVID-19“, „neurological manifestations“ and „long-COVID-19“ back to the year 2020. Results: Accoding to our fi ndings, there are several stages of COVID-19. Acute COVID-19 includes acute disease that lasts for 4 weeks. Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 includes symptoms that last for 4 to 12 weeks. Post-COVID-19 syndrome involves signs and symptoms that occur during or after COVID-19 infection, last for more than 12 weeks, and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. Symptoms can affect different organ systems and may overlap and fl uctuate in intensity. The term „long COVID-19“ describes ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome. Neurological manifestations of post-COVID-19 syndrome include weakness and fatigue, myalgia, mood disorders, and sleep disturbances. Persistent headaches, impaired concentration ("brain fog"), paresthesias, dysgeusia, hyposmia and disorders of the autonomic nervous system have also been reported in the literature. There are several proposed routes for SARS-CoV-2 to reach the central nervosu system: olfactory, hematogenous and gastointestinal. The central nervous system can be damaged directly and indirectly. "Brain fog" and memory diffi culties are explained by central and respiratory hypoxia (especially), as well as proinfl ammatory body response. In case of post-COVID-19 neurolgical symptoms, there always have to be a diagnostic approach that considers and searches for alternative diagnosis in the patient context. Basic laboratory workup with possible later extension has to be done. Also, proper neuroimaging methods, mostly brain and/or spine magnetic resonance imaging, should be performed. In some cases, a multidisciplinary approach may be required. Conclusion: We have made a review of neurological postCOVID-19 symptoms and their pathophysiological mechanism with the initial care proposed. We would also like to note that there still are numerous data on the topic that will certainly be revealed with time
Comparative effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonists for atrial fibrillation in clinical practice: GLORIA-AF Registry
No full textBackground and purpose: Prospectively collected data comparing the safety and effectiveness of individual non-vitamin K antagonists (NOACs) are lacking. Our objective was to directly compare the effectiveness and safety of NOACs in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: In GLORIA-AF, a large, prospective, global registry program, consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AF were followed for 3 years. The comparative analyses for (1) dabigatran vs rivaroxaban or apixaban and (2) rivaroxaban vs apixaban were performed on propensity score (PS)-matched patient sets. Proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for outcomes of interest.
Results: The GLORIA-AF Phase III registry enrolled 21,300 patients between January 2014 and December 2016. Of these, 3839 were prescribed dabigatran, 4015 rivaroxaban and 4505 apixaban, with median ages of 71.0, 71.0, and 73.0 years, respectively. In the PS-matched set, the adjusted HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dabigatran vs rivaroxaban were, for stroke: 1.27 (0.79–2.03), major bleeding 0.59 (0.40–0.88), myocardial infarction 0.68 (0.40–1.16), and all-cause death 0.86 (0.67–1.10). For the comparison of dabigatran vs apixaban, in the PS-matched set, the adjusted HRs were, for stroke 1.16 (0.76–1.78), myocardial infarction 0.84 (0.48–1.46), major bleeding 0.98 (0.63–1.52) and all-cause death 1.01 (0.79–1.29). For the comparison of rivaroxaban vs apixaban, in the PS-matched set, the adjusted HRs were, for stroke 0.78 (0.52–1.19), myocardial infarction 0.96 (0.63–1.45), major bleeding 1.54 (1.14–2.08), and all-cause death 0.97 (0.80–1.19).
Conclusions: Patients treated with dabigatran had a 41% lower risk of major bleeding compared with rivaroxaban, but similar risks of stroke, MI, and death. Relative to apixaban, patients treated with dabigatran had similar risks of stroke, major bleeding, MI, and death. Rivaroxaban relative to apixaban had increased risk for major bleeding, but similar risks for stroke, MI, and death
The impact of sleep deprivation on the brain
No full textSvaku fazu sna opisuju određeni kemijski, stanični i anatomski procesi koji su iznimno važni za održavanje fiziološke neuralne funkcije. Različiti oblici gubitka sna mogu kod čovjeka uzrokovati pad kognitivnih funkcija. Istraživanja u ovom znanstvenom području razlikuju situaciju potpunog gubitka sna, kronične restrikcije (ograničavanja) sna te stanje isprekidanog sna. Proučavanje akutnih učinaka neispavanosti na moždanu funkciju ukazuje na činjenicu da se otkriveni deficiti kognitivnih funkcija u većini slučajeva regeneriraju nakon dvije noći potpunog sna. Ipak, studije na miševima naglašavaju mogućnost utjecaja dugotrajne neispavanosti na nastanak nekih neurodegenerativnih bolesti kao što su Alzheimerova bolest i demencija. Kako bismo bolje razumjeli akutne i kronične učinke gubitka sna potrebno je dodatno istražiti mehanizme
neurološke adaptacije na situacije neispavanosti. Buduća bi istraživanja o utjecaju gubitka sna na neurološke funkcije trebala
pratiti makro razinu fenomena mjerenjem kognitivnih funkcija, ali i mikro razinu kroz molekularne i stanične procese. Takav bi pristup mogao doprinijeti točnijim zaključcima o osnovnim staničnim mehanizmima odgovornima za otkriveni kognitivni
deficit uslijed nedostatka sna.Each sleep phase is characterized by specific chemical, cellular and anatomic events of vital importance for normal neural functioning. Different forms of sleep deprivation may lead to a decline of cognitive functions in individuals. Studies in this field make a distinction between total sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction, and the situation of sleep disruption. Investigations covering the acute effects of sleep deprivation on the brain show that the discovered behavioral deficits in most cases regenerate after two nights of complete sleep. However, some studies done on mice emphasize the possible chronic effects of long-term sleep deprivation or chronic restriction on the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In order to better understand the acute and chronic effects of sleep loss, the mechanisms of neural adaptation in the situations of insufficient sleep need to be further investigated. Future integrative research on the impact of sleep deprivation on
neural functioning measured through the macro level of cognitive functions and the micro molecular and cell level could contribute to more accurate conclusions about the basic cellular mechanisms responsible for the detected behavioral deficits occurring due to sleep deprivation
The impact of sleep deprivation on the brain
No full textEach sleep phase is characterized by specific chemical, cellular and anatomic events of vital importance for normal neural functioning. Different forms of sleep deprivation may lead to a decline of cognitive functions in individuals. Studies in this field make a distinction between total sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction, and the situation of sleep disruption. Investigations covering the acute effects of sleep deprivation on the brain show that the discovered behavioral deficits in most cases regenerate after two nights of complete sleep. However, some studies done on mice emphasize the possible chronic effects of long-term sleep deprivation or chronic restriction on the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In order to better understand the acute and chronic effects of sleep loss, the mechanisms of neural adaptation in the situations of insufficient sleep need to be further investigated. Future integrative research on the impact of sleep deprivation on
neural functioning measured through the macro level of cognitive functions and the micro molecular and cell level could contribute to more accurate conclusions about the basic cellular mechanisms responsible for the detected behavioral deficits occurring due to sleep deprivation
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