Oral contraceptives and psychological symptoms

1969 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-4
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
Intermediary Metabolism ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Cerebral Activity ◽  
The Brain

Psychological symptoms are notoriously difficult to assess, and it is not surprising that the reported incidence of such symptoms in women taking oral contraceptives varies widely. The apparent incidence may further be influenced by what the subjects think they are expected to say. Clinical trials of oral contraceptives where psychological symptoms have been specifically studied provide the most reliable data, but control groups have so far been examined in only a few trials. Data on such symptoms from trials where unwanted effects were merely noted in passing are unreliable. There is however good evidence that synthetic progestagens influence cerebral activity1–3 and intermediary metabolism in the brain4 in both women and animals and that these effects do not mimic those of pregnancy.

Increased Heparin Cofactor II Levels in Women Taking Oral Contraceptives

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (03) ◽  
pp. 365-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Toulon ◽  
J M Bardin ◽  
N M Blumenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Antithrombin Iii ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitor ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Heparin Cofactor Ii ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Contraceptive Pills ◽  
Increased Risk

SummaryHeparin cofactor II (HCII) is a thrombin inhibitor present in human plasma whose activity is enhanced by heparin. HCII exhibits important homologies with antithrombin III, the main heparin-enhanced thrombin inhibitor. Cases of recurrent thromboembolism have been recently reported in patients with HCII deficiency. Since the use of oral contraceptives (OC) is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, the study of the plasma levels of HCII was undertaken in women taking contraceptive pills. Plasma HCII levels were found significantly higher in 62 women taking low-estrogen content OC (1.20 ± 0.28 U/ml) than in 62 age matched women not taking OC (0.94 ± 0.16 U/ml) or in 62 men (0.96 ± 0.19 U/ml). Significant correlations between HCII and fibrinogen levels were reported in the three groups. From the pooled data of the two control groups (men and women not taking OC), the normal range for plasma HCII levels was defined to be between 0.60 and 1.30 U/ml (mean ± 2 SD). Two cases of low HCII levels (<0.60 U/ml) were found in the control groups, but none in the group of women taking OC. It is concluded that the use of oral contraceptives is associated with a rise in HCII levels and that the screening for HCII deficiency has to be performed at distance of any OC therapy.

scholarly journals Effect of photobiomodulation in secondary intention gingival wound healing—a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooya Ebrahimi ◽  
Mahdi Hadilou ◽  
Ferdos Naserneysari ◽  
Amirmohammad Dolatabadi ◽  
Rana Tarzemany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Wound Healing ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Adjunctive Treatment ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Secondary Intention ◽  
Post Operative Pain

Abstract Background Photobiomodulation is widely being used to improve the wound healing process in dentistry and a vast majority of studies have proven its benefits. But there are plenty of knowledge gaps according to the optimal laser characteristics which should be used to maximize the healing effects of lasers. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) as an adjunctive treatment to periodontal therapies to evaluate secondary intention gingival wound healing and post-operative pain. Methods Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Sciences) were searched up to November 30, 2020, for clinical trials that reported the result of the application of PBM on secondary gingival healing wounds and post-operative pain and discomfort after periodontal surgeries. Two independent reviewers selected the eligible studies and the outcomes of interest were extracted. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Results Ultimately, twelve studies were included in this review. The application of PBM as an adjunct to periodontal surgeries resulted in a significant improvement in wound healing indices. The Landry wound healing index at the 7th post-operative day was significantly improved (SMD = 1.044 [95% CI 0.62–1.46]; p < 0.01) in PBM + surgery groups compared to the control groups. There was also a statistically significant increase in the complete wound epithelialization (RR = 3.23 [95% CI 1.66–6.31]; p < 0.01) at the 14th post-operative day compared to the control groups. The methods used to assess the post-operative pain were heterogeneous, and therefore the results were limited which made the meta-analysis for post-operative pain assessment not possible. Conclusion Based on the results of this review, PBM can be effectively used as a method to improve secondary intention wound healing. High-quality randomized clinical trials, however, are needed in the future to identify the optimal PBM irradiation parameters and the effect of PBM on post-operative pain.

scholarly journals 1592. Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Comparator Agents Against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa With Overexpression of AmpC β-Lactamase From Phase 3 Clinical Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S792-S793
Author(s):  
Lynn-Yao Lin ◽  
Dmitri Debabov ◽  
William Chang ◽  
Urania Rappo
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Active Agent ◽  
Complicated Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Vitro Activity ◽  
In Vitro Activity ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Intra Abdominal Infection

Abstract Background AmpC overproduction is a main mechanism of carbapenem resistance, in the absence of acquired carbapenemases. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) has potent in vitro activity against AmpC-producing P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales that are resistant to carbapenems and other β-lactams. Methods Activity of CAZ-AVI and comparators was evaluated against AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales (n=77) and P. aeruginosa (n=53) collected from 4 CAZ-AVI clinical trials: RECLAIM (complicated intra-abdominal infection [cIAI]), REPRISE (cIAI/complicated urinary tract infection [cUTI]), RECAPTURE (cUTI) and REPROVE (hospital-acquired pneumonia/ventilator associated pneumonia). In vitro susceptibility of CAZ-AVI and comparators was performed by broth microdilution using ThermoFisher custom panels. CLSI breakpoints were used to determine susceptibility. Quantitative PCR and microarray data were used to characterize presence and expression of AmpC. Clinical response at test of cure was assessed. Results Against 77 AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales isolates, meropenem-vaborbactam (MVB) (98.7% susceptible [S]), CAZ-AVI (96.1% S), and meropenem (MEM) (96.1% S) had similar in vitro activity (Table), with greater in vitro activity than amikacin (AMK) (84.4% S), gentamicin (61.0% S), and ceftolozane-tazobactam (TZC) (35.1% S). Clinical cures in patients with baseline AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales were 21/26 (81%) in CAZ-AVI group vs 17/20 (85%) in control groups. Against 53 AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa isolates, CAZ-AVI (73.6% S) showed greater in vitro activity than AMK (69.8% S), TZC (58.5% S), and MEM (37.7% S). Clinical cures in patients with baseline AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa were 12/14 (86%) in CAZ-AVI group vs 9/12 (75%) in control groups. MIC distributions against the same P aeruginosa isolates were CAZ-AVI (MIC50/90, 4/ &gt;64 µg/mL), MVB (MIC50/90, 8/32 µg/mL), and MEM (MIC50/90, 8/32 µg/mL). Table Conclusion CAZ-AVI was the most active agent against AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa with higher proportion of clinical cure than controls. CAZ-AVI was also among the most active agents against AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales, with &gt;96% isolates susceptible. Disclosures Lynn-Yao Lin, MS, AbbVie (Employee) Dmitri Debabov, PhD, AbbVie (Employee) William Chang, BS, AbbVie (Employee) Urania Rappo, MD, MS, PharmD, Allergan (before its acquisition by AbbVie) (Employee)

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography of the Brain in Patients with Chemical Sensitivities

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 573-577
Author(s):  
Theodore R. Simon ◽  
David C. Hickey ◽  
Cynthia E. Fincher ◽  
Alfred R. Johnson ◽  
Gerald H. Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Single Photon ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Emission Computed Tomography ◽  
Desert Storm ◽  
Petroleum Distillates ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
The Brain

Chemical sensitivities display a recurrent pattern on scintigraphic examinations of the brain. The pattern can include mismatching between early and late imaging, multiple hot and cold foci distributed throughout the cortex without regard to lobar distribution (salt and pepper pattern), temporal asymmetries, and sometimes increased activity in the basal ganglia. This study used Desert Shield/Desert Storm veterans who present with abnormal neurological and psychological symptoms as a model to exhibit abnormalities by brain scintigraphy. These are typical of those seen in patients with documented exposure to neurotoxic compounds who develop a clinical syndrome that has been termed chemical sensitivity. Exposure to cocaine, alcohol, and other substances of abuse can result in abnormal scintigrams of the brain using tracers such as [technetium 99m]hexamethylpropyleneoxime. This study used techniques combining regional cerebral blood flow data with delayed distributional data after the intracellular conversion of the tracer into a hydrophilic molecule. In addition to delayed image abnormalities, a mismatch occurs in the regional activity between the two image sets of the veterans. This degree of mismatch was not seen in control subjects who were screened for avoidance of neurotoxic agents. Patterns identified from examinations performed on patients with known exposure to petroleum distillates, pesticides and other materials linked with neurotoxicity were identified in some veterans of the Desert Shield/Desert Storm operation. A single case of repeated examinations on a veteran showed a reversion of these patterns toward normal after therapy. This reversion followed independent assessments of clinical improvement.

Dexamethasone in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: An Updated Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-502
Author(s):  
Stephanie Wintzer ◽  
Josef Georg Heckmann ◽  
Hagen B. Huttner ◽  
Stefan Schwab
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Negative Effect

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a frequent cerebrovascular disorder and still associated with high mortality and poor clinical outcomes. The purpose of this review was to update a 15-year-old former meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) addressing the question of whether ICH patients treated with dexamethasone have better outcomes than controls. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The electronic databases PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane as well as web platforms on current clinical trials were searched for the years 1970–2020 without constriction on language. Data were extracted and outcomes were pooled for conventional and cumulative meta-analysis using a commercial software program (www.Meta-Analysis.com). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Finally, 7 RCTs were identified and analyzed including 248 participants in the dexamethasone groups and 242 in the control groups. Five studies showed a high risk of bias. The overall relative risk (RR) for death was 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99–1.76; <i>p</i> = 0.06) and did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. After exclusion of studies with high risk of bias, the RR for death was 1.37 (95% CI 0.54–3.42; <i>p</i> = 0.51). The RR for poor outcome did not differ significantly between the 2 groups analyzed for all included studies (RR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.47–1; <i>p</i> = 0.05) and after exclusion of studies with high risk of bias (RR = 0.7; 95% CI 0.45–1.08; <i>p</i> = 0.11). The RR for complications did not differ significantly including all studies (RR = 1.29; 95% CI 0.77–2.17; <i>p</i> = 0.34) and after exclusion of studies with high risk of bias (RR = 1.27; 95% CI 0.18–8.89; <i>p</i> = 0.81). The cumulative statistics delivered no other results; however, it pointed out fewer complications over time in the dexamethasone group. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Clear evidence of a beneficial or negative effect of dexamethasone is still lacking. Modern RCTs or observational studies with propensity design are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with dexamethasone in patients with ICH.

scholarly journals Effect of an extract of Aloe vera on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecília Maria de Carvalho Xavier Holanda ◽  
Monique Batista da Costa ◽  
Natália Chilinque Zambão da Silva ◽  
Maurício Ferreira da Silva Júnior ◽  
Vanessa Santos de Arruda Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Aloe Vera ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
High Increase ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Brain

PURPOSE: Aloe vera is a tropical plant popularly known in Brazil as babosa. We have investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Aloe vera on the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 and laboratorial parameters in Wistar rats. METHODS: Twelve animals were divided into treated and control groups. In the treated group, Aloe vera was given by gavage (5mg/mL/day) during 10 days. The control group received sorbitol by the same way and period. One hour after the last dose, we injected 0.1mL of Na99mTcO4 by orbital plexus. After 60 min, all the animals were killed. Samples were harvested from the brain, liver, heart, muscle, pancreas, stomach, femur, kidneys, blood, testis and thyroid and the percentage of radioactivity (%ATI/g) was determined. Biochemical dosages were performed. RESULTS: There was a significant increase of %ATI/g in blood, femur, kidneys, liver, stomach, testis and thyroid and also in blood levels of AST and ALT. A significant decrease in levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea occurred. The statistical analyses were performed by Mann-Whitney test and T-Student test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of Aloe vera facilitated the uptake of Na99mTcO4 in organs of rats and it was responsible to a high increase of levels of AST and ALT.

scholarly journals The Informational Underload (Sensory Deprivation) Model in Contemporary Psychiatry

1967 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-124
Author(s):  
Peter Brawley ◽  
Robert Pos
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Input ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Psychotic Experience ◽  
Common Pathway ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Deprivation Model ◽  
The Brain

To summarize briefly: Converging data from many disciplines — psychology, psychiatry, social theory, biochemistry, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology — point to the sensory input regulating mechanism of the central nervous system as a critical factor in the production of hallucinoses and psychotic experience. There is good evidence that what we have called the informational underload model ‘holds considerable promise for improving our understanding of many clinical and non-clinical phenomena of interest to psychiatry. The evidence suggests that a neurophysiological, internal informational underload syndrome may be a final common pathway of psychotic experience. The question as to where such a syndrome might occur in the brain, together with the question of whether such an informational underload syndrome might be due to toxins, genetic factors, conditioning processes, anxiety or dissociation, or other causes, has to be left open. What is needed now, is research directed at these two questions: 1) does such an internal informational underload syndrome occur in the brain, 2) when, where, and under what circumstances does it occur?

scholarly journals A common goal to CARE: Cancer Advocates, Researchers, and Clinicians Explore current treatments and clinical trials for breast cancer brain metastases

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie S. Joe ◽  
Christine Hodgdon ◽  
Lianne Kraemer ◽  
Kristin J. Redmond ◽  
Vered Stearns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis ◽  
Patient Advocates ◽  
Breast Cancer Brain Metastases ◽  
The Brain

AbstractBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Approximately one-tenth of all patients with advanced breast cancer develop brain metastases resulting in an overall survival rate of fewer than 2 years. The challenges lie in developing new approaches to treat, monitor, and prevent breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). This review will provide an overview of BCBM from the integrated perspective of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates. We will summarize the current management of BCBM, including diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. We will highlight ongoing translational research for BCBM, including clinical trials and improved detection methods that can become the mainstay for BCBM treatment if they demonstrate efficacy. We will discuss preclinical BCBM research that focuses on the intrinsic properties of breast cancer cells and the influence of the brain microenvironment. Finally, we will spotlight emerging studies and future research needs to improve survival outcomes and preserve the quality of life for patients with BCBM.

scholarly journals PENGARUH SENAM OTAK TERHADAP PENINGKATAN MOTORIK KASAR PADA ANAK USIA 4-6 TAHUN

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Lina Madyastuti R ◽  
Retno Twistiandayani ◽  
Arifatul Widya Rahayu
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Brain Gym ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Motor Improvement ◽  
Brain And Spinal Cord ◽  
The Brain

Children aged 4-6 years the most prominent development is motor, motor is closely related to physical activity. Gross motor is the development of motion control through the coordinated between the nerves, brain and spinal cord. One way to optimize the use of all the dimensions of the brain is brain gymnastics. Doing brain gym is one type of nonfarmacologis therapy that serves to improve the gross motor. The purpose of this study was to the effect of brain gym on gross motor improvement in children aged 4-6 years. This research method  used Quasy experimentalwith two control groups and treatment groups. Sample was selected using the Purposive Sampling method. Samples obtained as many 30 children. Independent variable in this study ware brain gym, while the dependent variable in this study was the change rough motor of children aged 4-6 years. Data collected before and after the intervention. Analysis used of the data used stastical test of  Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test with the  value <0.05. The results of research showed value significant (2-tailed) = 0.001 meaning there was influence of brain gym to the increase of gross motor in children aged 4-6 years. By giving the brain gym will provide stimulation of the brain so as to improve the coordination of the eyes and hands that can improve the development of gross motor in children.

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