scholarly journals 2092

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
Shaun Evan Gruenbaum ◽  
Roni Dhaher ◽  
Amedeo Rapuano ◽  
Tore Eid

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: We previously developed a translationally relevant model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in which glutamine synthetase is irreversibility inhibited by methionine sulfoximine (MSO), resulting in spontaneous seizures and dentate hilar neuron loss. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of chronic BCAA ingestion on neuronal viability in the dentate hilus in the MSO model of TLE. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Sixteen rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: 8 rats drank a 4% aqueous solution of all 3 BCAAs (BCAA group) ad libitum for 31 days, and the other 8 rats drank regular water (control group) for the same period. After 10 days of drinking, a microinfusion cannula (Alzet osmotic pump, model 2004) was surgically implanted in the right dentate gyrus to continuously infuse MSO at a rate of 0.625 g/hour for 28 days. After 31 days of drinking, rats were perfused transcardially with 0.9% NaCl followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffer. The brains were removed and fixed, sectioned on a Vibratome at 50-μm thickness, and were mounted on a gelatin-coated slides and stained with NeuN. Neuron counts in the hilar region were performed ipsilateral and contralateral to the infusion site using a stereological technique. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Rats in the BCAA group had 37% fewer neurons in the ipsilateral dentate hilus than the control group (5.8×10−4±6.8×10−5 vs. 8.9×10−4±5.6×10−5 cells, respectively, p<0.01). Similarly, rats in the BCAA group had 39% fewer neurons in the contralateral dentate hilus than the control group (5.0×10−4±5.8×10−5 vs. 7.0×10−4±3.4×10−5 cells, respectively, p=0.01). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This study demonstrates that chronic ingestion of BCAAs aggravates hilar neuronal loss in a translationally relevant rodent model of MTLE. This study gives important insight into how BCAAs may affect neuronal viability. Although the role of BCAAs on seizure activity is poorly understood, these results suggest that BCAAs may play an important role in neurochemical modulation and neurotoxicity.

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-146
Author(s):  
Kadihan Yalçın-Şafak ◽  
Ahmet Akça ◽  
Özlem Elibol ◽  
İrem Sarı

Aim To determine if there are differences in ADC values between normal appearing corticospinal tracks in patients with MS compared to ADC values in controls. Material and methods The study population comprised 62 consecutive MS patients (36 women and 26 men; mean age 36.45±8.63 years). 50 control subjects with no neurological disabilities or intracranial were included the study (32 women and 18 men; mean age 40.18±12.25 years). All ADC maps were independently evaluated by two experienced radiologists. ROI of approximately 15–18 mm2 in capsula interna and 10–12 mm2 in mesencephalon were placed bilaterally for measurement of ADC values. Three circular ROIs were placed-one each side for internal capsule-and 6 total ROIs from right and left internal capsule were averaged for each patient. Mesencephelon ADC measurements were performed similarly. Result The mean ADC values of the left internal capsule in MS patients were significiantly lower than the control group (p:0.002). No statistically significant difference was found between the MS patients and control group mean ADC values of the right internal capsule (p>0.05). The mean ADC values of the right and left mesencephalon in MS patients were significiantly lower than the control group (respectively; p:0.031, p<0.001). The mean ADC values of the left internal capsule were significiantly lower than the right internal capsule in MS patients (p<0.001). The mean ADC values of the left mesencephalon were significiantly lower than the right mesencephalon in MS patients (p<0.001). Conclusion The mean ADC values of the normal-appearing corticospinal tract in MS patients were significantly lower than the control group except for the right internal capsule.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6999
Author(s):  
Charlotte Bouckaert ◽  
Charlotte Germonpré ◽  
Jeroen Verhoeven ◽  
Seon-Ah Chong ◽  
Lucas Jacquin ◽  
...  

Seizures are common in patients with high-grade gliomas (30–60%) and approximately 15–30% of glioblastoma (GB) patients develop drug-resistant epilepsy. Reliable animal models are needed to develop adequate treatments for glioma-related epilepsy. Therefore, fifteen rats were inoculated with F98 GB cells (GB group) and four rats with vehicle only (control group) in the right entorhinal cortex. MRI was performed to visualize tumor presence. A subset of seven GB and two control rats were implanted with recording electrodes to determine the occurrence of epileptic seizures with video-EEG recording over multiple days. In a subset of rats, tumor size and expression of tumor markers were investigated with histology or mRNA in situ hybridization. Tumors were visible on MRI six days post-inoculation. Time-dependent changes in tumor morphology and size were visible on MRI. Epileptic seizures were detected in all GB rats monitored with video-EEG. Twenty-one days after inoculation, rats were euthanized based on signs of discomfort and pain. This study describes, for the first time, reproducible tumor growth and spontaneous seizures upon inoculation of F98 cells in the rat entorhinal cortex. The development of this new model of GB-related epilepsy may be valuable to design new therapies against tumor growth and associated epileptic seizures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 220-226
Author(s):  
Komarudin Komarudin ◽  
Boyke Mulyana ◽  
Geraldi Novian

Introduction: Athletes are known to have confidence in individual abilities. Meanwhile, athletes that lack self-confidence often doubt their ability to perform at best. To increase self-confidence, it is necessary to train with the right model such as Life Kinetik training. Objectives: This study aims to examine the effect and differences in Life Kinetik and conventional training model to improve self-confidence in the team and individual athletes. Methods: This was an experimental study conducted using the “pre-posttest control group design.” The athlete’s confidence was tested pre and post-training treatments. Meanwhile, the study population, involving male athletes (mean age 17.4 ± 1.65 years), was from one of the state universities in Indonesia. Thirty-four tested athletes actively trained and competed in team sports, while thirty-two athletes engaged in an individual sport. Moreover, subjects were divided into two groups through random assignment, namely experimental and control groups. The experimental group used the Life Kinetik training model for eleven sessions, twice a week whereas, the control group utilized a conventional training model. Besides, data analysis was carried out using the t-test and MANOVA with SPSS version 24 for Windows. Results: The results showed that the Life Kinetik and conventional training model significantly increased self-confidence in the team and individual athletes. Furthermore, there were differences in the effect of the Life Kinetik and conventional training model on increasing the athlete's confidence in the team and individual sports. Conclusion: Based on the results, the Life Kinetik and conventional training models improve athletes' confidence. Meanwhile, there were differences in the effect of the Life Kinetik and conventional training models on increasing the athlete's confidence in the team and individual sports. The Life Kinetik training model is more effective compared to the conventional model. Therefore, the Life Kinetik training model can be recommended to train the self-confidence of athletes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1183-1199
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alrouili ◽  

This study attempted to identify the impact of internal work environment on the retention of healthcare providers at Turaif General Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In particular, the study aimed to identify the dimensions of work circumstances, compensation, and relationship with colleagues, professional growth, and the level of healthcare providers’ retention. In order to achieve the study goals, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach. The researcher used the questionnaire as the study tool. The study population comprised all the healthcare providers at Turaif General Hospital. Questionnaires were distributed to the entire study sample that consisted of 220 individuals. The number of questionnaires valid for study was 183 questionnaires. The research findings were as follows: the participants’ estimate of the work circumstances dimension was high (3.64), the participants’ estimate of the compensation dimension was moderate (3.32), the participants’ estimate of the relationship with colleagues dimension was high (3.62), the participants’ estimate of the professional growth dimension was weak (2.39), and the participants’ estimate of healthcare providers’ retention level was intermediate (2.75). Accordingly, the researcher’s major recommendations are: the need to create the right atmosphere for personnel in hospitals, the interest of the hospital to provide the appropriate conditions for the staff in terms of the physical and moral aspects for building the work adjustment in the staff, and conducting training courses and educational lectures for personnel in hospitals on how to cope with the work pressures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
Melania Macarie ◽  
Simona Bataga ◽  
Simona Mocan ◽  
Monica Pantea ◽  
Razvan Opaschi ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: The importance of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma has been recently established. These are supposed to cause the so-called “interval cancer”, having a rapidly progressive growth and being difficult to detect and to obtain an endoscopic complete resection. We aimed to establish the most important metabolic risk factors for sessile serrated lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study, on a series of 2918 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania between 1 st of January 2015-31 th of December 2017. In order to evaluate the metabolic risk factors for polyps’ development, enrolled participants were stratified in two groups, a study group, 33 patients with SSLs lesions, and a control group, 138 patients with adenomatous polyps, selected by systematic sampling for age and anatomical site. Independent variables investigated were: gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic liver disease. Results: For SSLs the most common encountered localization was the right colon in 30.55% of cases. By comparative bivariate analysis between SSLs group and control group, it was observed that hypertension (p=0.03, OR 2.33, 95 %CI 1.03-5.24), obesity (p=0.03, OR 2.61, 95 %CI 1.08-6.30), hyperuricemia (p=0.04, OR 2.72, 95 %CI 1.28-7.55), high cholesterol (p=0.002, OR 3.42; 95 %CI 1.48-7.87), and high triglycerides level (p=0.0006, OR 5.75; 95 %CI 1.92-17.2) were statistically associated with SSLs development. By multivariate analysis hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia retained statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study showed that the highest prevalence of SSLs was in the right colon and hypertension and increased triglycerides levels were associated with the risk of SSLs development. These risk factors are easy to detect in clinical practice and may help identifying groups with high risk for colorectal cancer, where screening is recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Cristina Dinescu ◽  
Ileana Puiu ◽  
Sorin Nicolae Dinescu ◽  
Diana Rodica Tudorascu ◽  
Elena Catalina Bica ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease. We conducted a prospective, descriptive, analytical study, in which we included a group of 67 patients consecutively admitted to the Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine Clinic between December 2016 and January 2018, aged 47 to 78 years.There was a biochemical and electrocardiographic evaluation for each patient as well as a right ventricle echocardiographic evaluation (diameters, volumes, function). A control group, including 25 patients with benign minor diseases that required a cardiologist consultation, was also used. From the electrocardiographic point of view, slight changes were observed regarding the waves of electrical activity of the right ventricle. Taking into account the degree of ventilatory dysfunction (depending on FEV1), changes in right heart echocardiographic parameters were identified. Thus, in what the most important right ventricular parameters, including the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) or the RV index of myocardial performance (RVMPI) were concerned, values at the upper limit of normality were recorded in most patients with moderate and severe ventilatory dysfunction. Values of echocardiographic parameters of the right heart at the upper limit of normality, correlated with the degree of ventilatory dysfunction, are early markers for cardiovascular damage in patients with pulmonary silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease also known ascor pulmonale.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslı Eker ◽  
Meltem Aydın Besen ◽  
Mine Yurdakul

Background: Every working woman has the right to continue to live as a healthy individual. The working environment has important effects on general health status and reproductive health of women. If menopouse period of women is not taken into consideration and if appropriate arrangements are not made at workplaces, their work performance and productivity decrease. It is important to have detailed knowledge about factors creating risk for health in order to develop effective policies and programs directed towards preventing them. Objective: This study was performed to determine perceived effects of menopause on work life and attitudes of an institution towards menopausal women. Methods: The study population included 419 women aged 45-55 years and working at a university. Out of 419 women, 291 could be contacted. Data were collected with a questionaire composed of questions about descriptive characteristics, effects of menopause on work life and support from and attitudes of the institution about menopause. Data collected to reveal menopausal women’s experiences at work were analyzed with statistical methods frequency, percentages and mean. Results: The mean age at which menopause started was 47 years and 89.7% of the women experienced menopausal complaints. Conclusions: Physical conditions at work and stressors were found to increase menopausal complaints and had a negative effect on work performance.


Author(s):  
Aysegul Altunkeser ◽  
Zeynep Ozturk Inal ◽  
Nahide Baran

Background: Shear wave electrography (SWE) is a novel non-invasive imaging technique which demonstrate tissue elasticity. Recent research evaluating the elasticity properties of normal and pathological tissues emphasize the diagnostic importance of this technique. Aims: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic overgrowth, may cause infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of ovaries in patients with PCOS using SWE. Methods: 66 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (PCOS = group I) and 72 patients with non-PCOS (Control = group II), were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Ovarian elasticity was assessed in all patients with SWE, and speed values were obtained from the ovaries. The elasticity of the ovaries was compared between the two groups. Results: While there were statistically significant differences between the groups in body mass index (BMI), right and left ovarian volumes, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels (p<0.05), no significant differences were found between groups I and II in the velocity (for the right ovary 3.89±1.81 vs. 2.93±0.72, p=0.301; for the left ovary 2.88±0.65 vs. 2.95±0.80, p=0.577) and elastography (for the right ovary 36.62±17.78 vs. 36.79±14.32, p=0.3952; for the left ovary 36.56±14.15 vs. 36.26±15.10, p=0.903) values, respectively. Conclusion: We could not obtain different velocity and elastography values from the ovaries of the patients with PCOS using SWE. Therefore, further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate this issue.


Author(s):  
Emanuela Gualdi-Russo ◽  
Natascia Rinaldo ◽  
Alba Pasini ◽  
Luciana Zaccagni

The aims of this study were to develop and validate an instrument to quantitatively assess the handedness of basketballers in basketball tasks (Basketball Handedness Inventory, BaHI) and to compare it with their handedness in daily activities by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). The participants were 111 basketballers and 40 controls. All subjects completed the EHI and only basketballers filled in the BaHI. To validate the BaHI, a voluntary subsample of basketballers repeated the BaHI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model. Our results show that: (i) Handedness score (R) in daily actions did not differ between basketball players (R by EHI = 69.3 ± 44.6) and the control group (R by EHI = 64.5 ± 58.6); (ii) basketballers more frequently favored performing certain sport tasks with the left hand or mixed hands (as highlighted by R by BaHI = 50.1 ± 47.1), although their choice was primarily the right hand in everyday gestures; and (iii) this preference was especially true for athletes at the highest levels of performance (R by BaHI of A1 league = 38.6 ± 58.3) and for those playing in selected roles (point guard’s R = 29.4 ± 67.4). Our findings suggest that professional training induces handedness changes in basketball tasks. The BaHI provides a valid and reliable measure of the skilled hand in basketball. This will allow coaches to assess mastery of the ball according to the hand used by the athlete in the different tasks and roles.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document