scholarly journals No evidence for altered plasma NGF and BDNF levels in fibromyalgia patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Baumeister ◽  
Wolfgang Eich ◽  
Silvia Saft ◽  
Olga Geisel ◽  
Rainer Hellweg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Bayesian Methods ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Peripheral Sensitization ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bayesian Approaches

Abstract There has been a surging interest in the putative role of peripheral growth factors in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia, specifically in the peripheral sensitization that occurs in chronic pain disorders. This cross-sectional study set out to assess and compare brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in plasma samples from fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls. Plasma BDNF and NGF were measured in 89 fibromyalgia patients and 36 pain-free controls, and compared using ANCOVA controlling for potential confounders, as well as Bayesian methods for parameter estimation and model evaluation. BDNF and NGF levels in fibromyalgia patients did not differ from those in pain-free controls. Statistical methods were consistent, with both frequentist and Bayesian approaches leading to the same conclusions. Our study fails to replicate the finding that peripheral BDNF is altered in fibromyalgia, and instead our findings suggest that plasma levels of growth factor appear normative in fibromyalgia.

scholarly journals Study of serum traditional and nontraditional biomarkers in Rheumatoid arthritis patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7585-7592
Author(s):  
Vinod A N ◽  
Leena Chand ◽  
Preeti R Y ◽  
Harshitha S ◽  
Prahaladh R
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

The study of biomarkers in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is highly indispensable to understand mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of disease. The role of traditional biomarkers like Anti-CCP, RF, and inflammatory markers like ESR and CRP is well established. In this study, we aimed to measure nontraditional biomarkers like Hyaluronic acid (HA), Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and Osteocalcin in the serum of RA patients and also to establish an association with traditional markers. It was a cross-sectional study involving 152 RA patients based on the 1987 ACR criteria for the diagnosis of RA and 68 age‑ and sex-matched healthy controls. After the clinical examination, traditional markers were assessed to measure the disease activity along with non traditional markers in RA patients. All the values were expressed as median (25th–75th percentile). In our study, there was a significant increase in serum HA levels in RA patients compared to healthy controls (p  < 0.03), whereas no significant difference in serum COMP and osteocalcin levels. The traditional inflammatory markers were significantly increased in RA patients than controls with (p  < 0.001). The serum HA levels were significantly correlated with traditional markers in RA patients. Conclusion: Significant increase in serum HA level in RA patients indicating synovial inflammation, but there were no notable changes in COMP and osteocalcin level in serum presuming the combination of these markers may be useful along with traditional markers in the different stages of RA.

scholarly journals Role of the 820 A/G variant in the IGF-2 gene and recurrent spontaneous abortion in southern Iran: A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Ardeshir ◽  
Leila Keshavarz ◽  
Fatemeh Asadian ◽  
Gohar Omidmokhtarkhanloo ◽  
Majid Yavarian
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Genomic Imprinting ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Target Point ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Southern Iran

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) is a polypeptide growth factor and one of the first genes expressed prior to the implantation of the embryo, with its highest expression in the placental cells. Its activity strongly depends on the genomic imprinting, and the result of the loss of genetic imprinting is the termination of the early stages of embryonic development, which can lead to recurrent spontaneous abortion. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of 820A/G variant of the IGF-2 gene and the probability to recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in southern Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 50 aborted fetuses tissue for the study group and blood samples umbilical-cord from newborns as control group (n = 50) were collected from Shiraz-Iran (2017). The genotyping of the target point in the IGF-2 gene was performed by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction and analyzed through highresolution melting (HRM) curve. Results: Based on the collected data (AA genotype = reference), allele “A” frequency in aborted fetus was 51% and control 68% as well as allele G 49% and 32%, respectively. Moreover, 27 aborted embryos (54%) were heterozygous (A/G) (OR = 3.274, 95% CI = 1.015-10.561, p = 0.04), while 18 cases (36%) in control sample showed heterozygosity. Considering the phenotypic status, the G allele had a dominant effect on the incidence of RSA (p = 0.008, OR = 3.167). Conclusion: Based on the present study, the risk of abortion due to loss of heterozygosity or quantitative decline of the IGF-2 is about three-fold in the southern Iran. Key words: Variant, IGF-2, Spontaneous abortion, Genomic imprinting, Gene expression.

scholarly journals Isoforms of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor in stress-related mental disorders: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Wallensten ◽  
Fariborz Mobarrez ◽  
Marie Åsberg ◽  
Kristian Borg ◽  
Aniella Beser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Vegf Isoforms

AbstractVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related mental disorders. However, VEGF levels have seldom been compared across mental disorders and never by isoforms. Pathophysiological processes involving leakage of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) across the blood–brain barrier could be associated with VEGF levels in patients with stress-related mental disorders. This cross-sectional study compared plasma levels of VEGF121, VEGF165, and VEGF121 + VEGF165 (VEGFtotal) in patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder (SED) (n = 31), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 31), and healthy controls (n = 61). It also analyzed the correlation between VEGF and astrocyte-derived EVs in plasma. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure VEGF121 and VEGF165 in citrate plasma, and flow cytometry was used to measure astrocyte-derived EVs in plasma. The mean concentration of soluble VEGF121 (sVEGF121) was significantly higher in patients with SED than healthy controls (P = 0.043). Mean sVEGF165 was significantly lower in patients with MDD than patients with SED (P = 0.004) or healthy controls (P = 0.037). Mean sVEGFtotal was significantly higher in patients with SED than in patients with MDD (P = 0.021) and also higher in patients with SED than healthy controls (P = 0.040). Levels of sVEGF121 were positively correlated with levels of astrocyte-derived EVs only in patients with SED (P = 0.0128). The same was true of levels of sVEGFtotal and astrocyte-derived EVs (P = 0.0046). Differing levels of VEGF isoforms may reflect different pathophysiological mechanisms in SED and MDD. Further research is needed to better understand the potential roles of VEGF isoforms and astrocyte-derived EVs in mental disorders.

Role of Sildenafil in the Treatment of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn (PPHN) - Should it Be Withdrawn from Market of Bangladesh due to Threat of being Misuses

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
MAK Azad Chowdhury ◽  
Abu Sayeed Munsi
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cardiac Intensive Care ◽  
Hospital Protocol

Background: Recently it has been apprehended that sildenafil, a drug which has been successfully using in the treatment of PPHN and erectile dysfunction in adult, is going to be withdrawn from the market of Bangladesh due to threat of its misuses. Objective: The aim of this study was to see the extent of uses of sildenafil in the treatment of PPHN and importance of availability of this drugs in the market inspite of its probable misuses. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), special baby care unit (SCABU) and cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital from June, 2017 to May 2018. Neonates with PPHN were enrolled in the study. All cases were treated with oral sildenefil for PPHN along with others management according to hospital protocol. Data along with other parameters were collected and analyzed. Results: Total 320 patients with suspected PPHN were admitted during the study period. Among them 92 (29%) cases had PPHN. Male were 49(53 %) cases and female were 43(47%) cases. Mean age at hospital admission was 29.7±13.4 hours. Based on echocardiography,13(14%) cases had mild, 38 (41%) cases moderate and 41(45%) cases severe PPHN. Mean duration of sildenafil therapy was 11.9±7.1 days. Improved from PPHN were 83 (90%) cases. Mortality was 10% (9). Conclusion: In this study it was found that the incidence of PPHN is 29% among the suspected newborns. Sildenafil is successfull in improving the oxygenation of PPHN and to decrease the mortality of neonates. DS (Child) H J 2019; 35(2) : 100-104

Role of Fibrinolytic Therapy in Empyema Thoracis – A Hospital Based one year Cross Sectional Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-350
Author(s):  
Dr. Girish.L Dandagi ◽  
◽  
Venkat kalyana kumar. P ◽  
Dr. Dr.Isaac Mathew ◽  
Dr. Dr.G S Gaude Dr. Dr.G S Gaude
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Fibrinolytic Therapy ◽  
Empyema Thoracis ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
One Year

scholarly journals Factors associated with emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals involved in the COVID-19 pandemic: an application of the job demands-resources model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Barello ◽  
Rosario Caruso ◽  
Lorenzo Palamenghi ◽  
Tiziana Nania ◽  
Federica Dellafiore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the present cross-sectional study is to investigate the role of perceived COVID-19-related organizational demands and threats in predicting emotional exhaustion, and the role of organizational support in reducing the negative influence of perceived COVID-19 work-related stressors on burnout. Moreover, the present study aims to add to the understanding of the role of personal resources in the Job Demands-Resources model (JD-R) by examining whether personal resources—such as the professionals’ orientation towards patient engagement—may also strengthen the impact of job resources and mitigate the impact of job demands. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 532 healthcare professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. It adopted the Job-Demands-Resource Model to study the determinants of professional’s burnout. An integrative model describing how increasing job demands experienced by this specific population are related to burnout and in particular to emotional exhaustion symptoms was developed. Results The results of the logistic regression models provided strong support for the proposed model, as both Job Demands and Resources are significant predictors (OR = 2.359 and 0.563 respectively, with p < 0.001). Moreover, healthcare professionals’ orientation towards patient engagement appears as a significant moderator of this relationship, as it reduces Demands’ effect (OR = 1.188) and increases Resources’ effect (OR = 0.501). Conclusions These findings integrate previous findings on the JD-R Model and suggest the relevance of personal resources and of relational factors in affecting professionals’ experience of burnout.

scholarly journals Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Perception, and Practices among Domestic Visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah City Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 673
Author(s):  
Hashim A. Mahdi ◽  
Hamza M. Assaggaf ◽  
Mohammad Alfelali ◽  
Omar B. Ahmed ◽  
Radi Alsafi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Graduate Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

This study aimed to assess hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practices of visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Using a self-administered electronic questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among domestic residents, who visited the mosque between 31 July and 3 August 2020. Participants’ demographic data, hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practices were collected. Four hundred participants aged 18–65 (median 36) years completed the survey, of which 215 (53.8%) were female. The visitors’ mean knowledge score about hand hygiene was 6.4 (± standard deviation (SD) 1.35) of total 12. Most participants (392, 98%) were aware of the role of hand hygiene in preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); nevertheless, 384 (96%) said hand hygiene lowers body immunity and 316 (79%) thought <60% alcohol is sufficient for hand disinfection. Males had a higher knowledge score than females (6.46 (±1.41) vs. 6.14 (±1.27), p = 0.02) and, visitors who had no formal education scored higher than those with post-graduate education (6.88 (±1.45) vs 5.73 (±1.12), p = 0.01). Washing hands with soap and water was the predominant method practiced after a meal (365, 91.7%), after toilet visit (354, 88.5%), after touching a surface (262, 65.7%), after waste disposal (332, 83.2%), and when hands were visibly dirty (357, 89.5%). Al Madinah visitors had moderate knowledge about hand hygiene, but demonstrated some knowledge gaps and negligence in practice that are crucial to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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