Differential Efficacy of Group Versus Individual Format Using Equivalent Treatments

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) represent a high impact public health problem due to a high rate of death , long term disability and occurrence especially in young adults. Despite several promising animal studies, several parameters were proposed as biological markers and were assessed for this aim. Our study proposes the study of the early biochemical changes in association to hematological parameters for severe TBI patients prognosis. 43 patients with acute TBI were included in study based on clinical, laboratory and imagistic findings. The severity of the TBI was established by Glasgow Coma Scale GCS 3-8. In all patients were evaluated hematologic parameters (Red blood cell count - RBC, Hematocrit, blood Hemoglobin, White blood cell - WBC, Platelet count and biochemical parameters (glucose, urea, creatinine, electrolytes). Outcome was expressed as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), between 1-5. Values were compared to control group -15 cases. Significant early differences in body temperature, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were observed in TBI group versus control (p[0.05). After correlation, laboratory findings significantly associated to severe outcome - GOS = 1, 2 - (p[0.05) were plasma Na decrease and significant glucose increase. An early increase of temperature and decrease of Na may predict a severe outcome in patients with acute TBI; association with shifts in heart rate and blood pressure, imposes aggressive treatment measures.

Download Full-text

Deterrence of Orchestrated Cheating: Group versus Individual Punishment

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3459036 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Shmuel Leshem ◽

Abraham L. Wickelgren

Keyword(s):

Group Versus

Download Full-text

Production and Preliminary In Vivo Evaluations of a Novel in silico-designed L2-based Potential HPV Vaccine

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201020666191114104850 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 316-324

Author(s):

Manica Negahdaripour ◽

Navid Nezafat ◽

Reza Heidari ◽

Nasrollah Erfani ◽

Nasim Hajighahramani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

Group Versus ◽

Tlr Agonists ◽

E Coli ◽

Metal Affinity ◽

Th1 And Th2 Cytokines ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Humoral Responses ◽

Future Work

Background: L2-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines, containing epitopes from HPV minor capsid proteins, are under investigation as second-generation HPV vaccines. No such vaccine has passed clinical trials yet, mainly due to the low immunogenicity of peptide vaccines; so efforts are being continued. A candidate vaccine composed of two HPV16 L2 epitopes, flagellin and a Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 agonist (RS09) as adjuvants, and two universal T-helper epitopes was designed in silico in our previous researches. Methods: The designed vaccine construct was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and purified through metal affinity chromatography. Following mice vaccination, blood samples underwent ELISA and flow cytometry analyses for the detection of IgG and seven Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Results: Following immunization, Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) type cytokines, as well as IgG, were induced significantly compared with the PBS group. Significant increases in IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-5 levels were observed in the vaccinated group versus Freund’s adjuvant group. Conclusion: The obtained cytokine induction profile implied both cellular and humoral responses, with a more Th-1 favored trend. However, an analysis of specific antibodies against L2 is required to confirm humoral responses. No significant elevation in inflammatory cytokines, (IL-6 and TNF-α), suggested a lack of unwanted inflammatory side effects despite using a combination of two TLR agonists. The designed construct might be capable of inducing adaptive and innate immunity; nevertheless, comprehensive immune tests were not conducted at this stage and will be a matter of future work.

Download Full-text

Synergism Effects of Ursolic Acid Supplementation on the Levels of Irisin, C-reactive Protein, IL-6, and TNF-α During High-intensity Resistance Training in Low Activity Men

Cardiovascular & Haematological Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871529x19666190918144727 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 138-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ehsan Asghari ◽

Amir Rashidlamir ◽

Seyyed R.A. Hosseini ◽

Mahtab Moazzami ◽

Saeed Samarghandian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Ursolic Acid ◽

High Intensity ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Group Versus ◽

Current Data ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Low Activity

Background:: Ursolic Acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid which is extracted from plants. UA may enhance the effect of Resistance Training (RT) in human. Objective: Current research was designed to show the effect of High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) in the presence or absence of UA on the serum levels of irisin, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in the low activity men. Method:: The study included twenty-two healthy male HIRT with placebo, supplementation, and HIRT in the presence of UA supplementation. The two groups received eight-week intervention including 2 sets of 8 exercises, with 8~10 repetitions at 70~75% of 1 repetition maximum and a 2 min rest interval between sets, performed 3 times/week. Placebo or UA orally was evaluated as 1 capsule 3 times/day during 8 weeks. The subsequent factors were measured post- and preintervention: C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Irisin, Tumor Necrotic Factor (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Results:: UA supplementation significantly increased the plasma levels of irisin in the HIRT+UA group versus the HIRT+P group (p<0.05). UA treatment also dramatically decreased the plasma levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in the HIRT+UA group versus the HIRT+P group (p<0.05). Conclusion:: The current data showed that UA-induced an increase in serum irisin and reduction of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α may have beneficial effects as a chemical for increasing of the effects of HIRT in low activity men.

Download Full-text

Regression of cardiac amyloid deposits with novel therapeutics: reaching new frontiers in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

L Chacko ◽

A Martinez-Naharro ◽

T Kotecha ◽

R Martone ◽

D Hutt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Cardiac Amyloidosis ◽

T1 Mapping ◽

Group Versus ◽

Control Group ◽

Cardiac Amyloid ◽

Attr Amyloidosis ◽

Amyloid Load ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Cardiac involvement is the main driver of outcome in ATTR amyloidosis. Advances in therapeutics hold potential in transforming the course of the disease but the impact on cardiac amyloid load is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of patisiran, a new double stranded RNA based gene silencing therapy and a stabilizer, diflunisal, on cardiac amyloid load as measured by CMR and T1 mapping, in patients with ATTR amyloidosis. Methods and results Thirty-two patients with hereditary cardiac amyloidosis were studied. Sixteen patients received treatment with patisiran, and sixteen control subjects did not receive any disease modifying treatment. Patients were assessed with echocardiogram, CMR, NT-proBNP and six-minute walk time measurements at baseline and at 1 year (Mean interval 11.45±3.08 months in treatment group, mean interval 12.82±5.06 months in the control group). CMR analysis comprised LV volumes, T1 mapping to measure the extracellular volume (ECV) occupied by amyloid, T2 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement imaging. At 1-year follow-up, there was a substantial reduction in cardiac amyloid burden, in keeping with cardiac amyloid regression in 45% of patients on treatment. Overall the treatment group showed a reduction in ECV at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in ECV at 1 year in the control group (−1.37%, 95% CI: −3.43 to 0.68% versus 5.02%, 95% CI: 2.86% to 7.18% respectively, p<0.001). The treatment group also showed an improvement in change in 6MWT at 1 year follow up compared to 6MWT at 1 year in the control group (−8.12 meters, 95% CI: −50.8 to 34.6 meters in the treatment group versus −132.27 meters, 95% CI: −216 to −48.6 meters in the control group, p=0.002). The treatment group showed a reduction in BNP at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in the control group (−567.87, 95% CI: −1288.90 to 153.15 in the treatment group versus 2004, 95% CI: 12.82 to 3995.45 in the control group, p<0.001). There was no significant difference from baseline and 1-year data between the control and treatment groups for the difference in echocardiographic parameters, native T1, T2. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of injected dose by 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy in treated patients at 1 year compared to baseline. Conclusions These findings provide the first compelling evidence of substantial cardiac amyloid regression in ATTR amyloidosis, as well as the potential for CMR to be used to track response in treated patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Combination therapy with transthyretin knock down and stabilizing agents may well be synergistic given enhanced stoichiometry of stabilizers in the face of much reduced plasma transthyretin concentration. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Download Full-text

Early oral feeding is safe and useful after rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis during cytoreductive surgery for primary ovarian cancer

World Journal of Surgical Oncology ◽

10.1186/s12957-021-02186-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kazuyoshi Kato ◽

Kohei Omatsu ◽

Sanshiro Okamoto ◽

Maki Matoda ◽

Hidetaka Nomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Anastomotic Leakage ◽

Cytoreductive Surgery ◽

Group Versus ◽

Postoperative Hospital Stay ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Early Oral Feeding ◽

Rectosigmoid Resection ◽

Primary Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and clinical usefulness of early oral feeding (EOF) after rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis for the treatment of primary ovarian cancer. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all consecutive patients who had undergone rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis for primary ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer between April 2012 and March 2019 in a single institution. Patient-related, disease-related, and surgery-related data including the incidence of anastomotic leakage and postoperative hospital stay were collected. EOF was introduced as a postoperative oral feeding protocol in September 2016. Before the introduction of EOF, conventional oral feeding (COF) had been used. Results Two hundred and one patients who underwent rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis, comprised of 95 patients in the COF group and 106 patients in the EOF group, were included in this study. The median number of postoperative days until the start of diet intake was 5 (range 2–8) in the COF group and 2 (range 2–8) in the EOF group (P < 0.001). Postoperative morbidity was equivalent between the groups. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was similar (1%) in both groups. The median length of the postoperative hospital stay was reduced by 6 days for the EOF group: 17 (range 9–67) days for the COF group versus 11 (8–49) days for the EOF group (P < 0.001). Conclusion EOF provides a significant reduction in the length of the postoperative hospital stay without an increased complication risk after rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis as a part of cytoreductive surgery for primary ovarian cancer.

Download Full-text

The utility of strain imaging in the cardiac surveillance of bone marrow transplant patients

Heart ◽

10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319359 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. heartjnl-2021-319359

Author(s):

Tejas Deshmukh ◽

Peter Emerson ◽

Paul Geenty ◽

Shehane Mahendran ◽

Luke Stefani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Group Versus ◽

Marrow Transplant ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Right Ventricular Free Wall ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Allogenic Bone ◽

Transplant Patients

ObjectiveTo evaluate the utility of two-dimensional multiplanar speckle tracking strain to assess for cardiotoxicity post allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for haematological conditions.MethodsCross-sectional study of 120 consecutive patients post-BMT (80 pretreated with anthracyclines (BMT+AC), 40 BMT alone) recruited from a late effects haematology clinic, compared with 80 healthy controls, as part of a long-term cardiotoxicity surveillance study (mean duration from BMT to transthoracic echocardiogram 6±6 years). Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS), global circumferential strain (LV GCS) and right ventricular free wall strain (RV FWS) were compared with traditionl parameters of function including LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and RV fractional area change.ResultsLV GLS (−17.7±3.0% vs −20.2±1.9%), LV GCS (−14.7±3.5% vs −20.4±2.1%) and RV FWS (−22.6±4.7% vs −28.0±3.8%) were all significantly (p=0.001) reduced in BMT+AC versus controls, while only LV GCS (−15.9±3.5% vs −20.4±2.1%) and RV FWS (−23.9±3.5% vs −28.0±3.8%) were significantly (p=0.001) reduced in BMT group versus controls. Even in patients with LVEF >53%, ~75% of patients in both BMT groups demonstrated a reduction in GCS.ConclusionMultiplanar strain identifies a greater number of BMT patients with subclinical LV dysfunction rather than by GLS alone, and should be evaluated as part of post-BMT patient surveillence. Reduction in GCS is possibly due to effects of preconditioning, and is not fully explained by AC exposure.

Download Full-text

FMS Effects of a Motor Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/00315125211010053 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003151252110100

Author(s):

Liangshan Dong ◽

Bo Shen ◽

YanLi Pang ◽

Mingting Zhang ◽

Yuan Xiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Development ◽

Group Versus ◽

Motor Program ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Control Group ◽

Gross Motor Development ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Individualized Approach ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Ball Skills

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a motor program that specifically targeted fundamental motor skills (FMS) in children with ASD. The experimental group (n=21) participated in a 9-week program with motor instructions for 80 minutes/day, three days/week, while the control group (n=29) did not participate in the program. We measured FMS (using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3) one-week before, one-week after, and two-months after the program. Children in the experimental group had significantly larger FMS improvements than the controls on both locomotor and ball skills immediately following the program, and these participants showed continuous improvement on locomotor, but not ball skills, at 2-months follow-up. In individual analyses, 80% of children in the experimental group versus 29% of children in the control group showed continuous locomotor skills improvement beyond their pre-test levels. These findings highlight the importance of both a long-term motor development intervention and an individualized approach for evaluating improved FMS among children with ASD.

Download Full-text