scholarly journals β-Thalassemia Intermedia in Northern Iraq: A Single Center Experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasir A. S. Al-Allawi ◽  
Sana D. Jalal ◽  
Ameen M. Mohammad ◽  
Sharaza Q. Omer ◽  
Raji S. D. Markous
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Thalassemia Intermedia ◽  
Severe Phenotype ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Northern Iraq ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Skeletal Changes ◽  
Mediterranean Countries

To investigate the molecular basis ofβ-thalassemia intermedia in Northern Iraq and evaluate its management practices, a total of 74 patients from 51 families were enrolled. The patients were clinically and hematologically reevaluated, and had theirβ-thalassemia mutations characterized, as well as the number ofα-globin genes andXmnIGγ−158 (C>T) polymorphism studied. Out of 14β-thalassemia mutations identified, the four most common were IVS-I-6 (T>C) [33.3%], IVS-II-I (G>A) [21.1%], codon 82/83(−G) [10.1%], and codon 8 (−AA) [8.1%]. The most common contributing factors to the less severe phenotype of thalassemia intermedia were found to be the inheritance of mildβ-thalassemia alleles and theXmnI polymorphism, while concomitantα-thalassemia had a limited role. Several complications were documented including: pulmonary hypertension in 20.4%, diabetes mellitus in 1.4%, hypothyroidism in 2.9%, and heart failure in 2.7%, while no documented cases of venous thrombosis were found. Compared to their counterparts in several Mediterranean countries, it appears that our patients were much less frequently transfused and had a lower proportion of patients who were splenectomized, on iron chelation, or hydroxycarbamide therapy. Such practices require further scrutiny to ensure that a better level of care is provided and that growth retardation, skeletal changes, and other complications are prevented or reduced.

scholarly journals Reducing Stress from Workload Compression: Coping Strategies That Work in CPA Firms

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R. Ehlen ◽  
G. R. Cluskey, Jr. ◽  
Richard A. Rivers
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Job Stressors ◽  
Accounting Practitioners ◽  
Workload Compression ◽  
Reducing Stress

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;CG Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Workload compression is characterized by the AICPA (Padwe 1994) as a condition of excessive job demands caused by the 1986 Tax Reform Act (TRA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The TRA severely limited the ability of businesses to elect other than a calendar year-end reporting for tax purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Consequently, professional accountants find their tax and audit work compressed into the first quarter of each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In an earlier study Cluskey and Vaux (1997a) found job stressors, such as excessive job demands, to be contributing factors in causing job stress, which ultimately leads to degraded job performance. Cluskey and Vaux (1997b) also found workload compression to be a possible contributor to occupational stress in professional accountants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The current study surveyed public accountants in both October (slack season) and February (busy season).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The study found that standard indicators of job stress were no greater in February than in October, indicating that workload compression does not contribute additional occupational stress in accounting practitioners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Subsequent interviews with the participants revealed that the firms in this study have incorporated specific management practices to help their employees cope with the extremely high job demands during this period of workload compression, which may help explain these unexpected results.</span></span></p>

scholarly journals Beta zero-thalassemia in association with a gamma-globin gene quadruplication

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1394-1397
Author(s):  
KG Yang ◽  
JZ Liu ◽  
F Kutlar ◽  
A Kutlar ◽  
C Altay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Condition ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Normal Chromosome ◽  
Gene Arrangement ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Thalassemia Intermedia ◽  
Gamma Globin ◽  
Alpha Globin

We have studied the hematology, hemoglobin composition, and globin gene arrangements in one young Turkish boy with a beta zero-thalassemia homozygosity and in 11 of his relatives. Evidence is presented that the chromosome with the beta zero-thalassemia determinant carries a gamma- globin gene quadruplication, perhaps in a -G gamma-G gamma-G gamma-A gamma-gene arrangement. The eight gamma-globin genes in this patient produced G gamma and A gamma chains in a 95 to 5 ratio, and nearly 99% of the patient's hemoglobin was of the fetal type. The clinical condition resembled that of a thalassemia intermedia. HbF levels in eight beta-thalassemia heterozygotes varied between 0.5 and 4.2% and the percentages of G gamma in this HbF averaged at 87% or 95%; this level is to some extent related to the haplotype of the normal chromosome. All subjects carried four alpha-globin genes; a new BglII polymorphism was observed within the psi alpha-globin gene.

scholarly journals Assessment of Influential Factors for Scours Associated with Cryptosporidium sp., Rotavirus and Coronavirus in Calves from Argentinean Dairy Farms

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2652
Author(s):  
Emiliano Bertoni ◽  
Adrián A. Barragán ◽  
Marina Bok ◽  
Celina Vega ◽  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Dairy Calves ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Logistic Regression Models

Scours is the most common disease in dairy calves, and it is a multifactorial syndrome complex. Cryptosporidium sp. (C. sp.), rotavirus group A (RVA), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) are the three main pathogens associated with scours. The objective of this study was to identify potential factors associated with scours, C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infections in preweaned dairy calves from Lerma Valley in Salta Province, Argentina. A total of 488 preweaned calves from 19 dairy farms located in the Lerma Valley were enrolled in this observational study. One fecal sample was collected from each calf between one week and two months of age for assessment of C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infection status. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and RVA and BCoV antigens in fecal samples were assessed using microscopic observation and indirect enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (iELISA), respectively. A voluntary questionnaire was developed and used to collect data regarding management practices from the participants’ farms. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. Scours incidence was 35.4%, and a greater proportion of calves younger than 20 days were affected. Of the fecal samples, 18% and 9.5% tested were positives for C. sp. and RVA, respectively, while BCoV was detected only in two calves. Furthermore, 84.2% and 63.1% of the farms tested positive for Cryptosporidium sp. and RVA, respectively. In addition, the following variables were associated with higher odds of having scours: (1) herd size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.7), (2) calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 2.2), (3) RVA and C. sp. test (positive test; RVA OR = 2.6; C. sp. OR = 3), calf feeding practices (feeding milk replacer; OR = 1.81), and newborn calf management practices (calf moved from maternity pen <6 h after calving; OR = 1.7). Concerning RVA infection, calves less than 20 days of age (OR = 2.6) had a higher chance of testing positive for RVA, while calves that remained in the calving pen for less than 6 h after calving had a lower chance (OR = 0.3). On the other hand, for C. sp. infection, large farm size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.2) and young calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 4.4) indicated a higher chance of testing positive for C. sp., while calves belonging to farms that fed frozen colostrum (OR = 0.2) had a lower chance of becoming infected with C. sp. The result of this study indicated that scours is a prevalent disease in farms of the Lerma Valley, Salta, Argentina, and that RVA and C. sp. infections, along with specific farm management practices, might be important contributing factors that could increase the chance of NCS in dairy farms.

scholarly journals The Link of Pancreatic Iron with Glucose Metabolism and Cardiac Iron in Thalassemia Intermedia: A Large, Multicenter Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 5561
Author(s):  
Antonella Meloni ◽  
Laura Pistoia ◽  
Maria Rita Gamberini ◽  
Paolo Ricchi ◽  
Valerio Cecinati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Myocardial Fibrosis ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Cardiac Complications ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Thalassemia Intermedia ◽  
Multicenter Observational Study ◽  
Cardiac Iron ◽  
Biventricular Function

In thalassemia major, pancreatic iron was demonstrated as a powerful predictor not only for the alterations of glucose metabolism but also for cardiac iron, fibrosis, and complications, supporting a profound link between pancreatic iron and heart disease. We determined for the first time the prevalence of pancreatic iron overload (IO) in thalassemia intermedia (TI) and systematically explored the link between pancreas T2* values and glucose metabolism and cardiac outcomes. We considered 221 beta-TI patients (53.2% females, 42.95 ± 13.74 years) consecutively enrolled in the Extension–Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia project. Magnetic Resonance Imaging was used to quantify IO (T2* technique) and biventricular function and to detect replacement myocardial fibrosis. The glucose metabolism was assessed by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Pancreatic IO was more frequent in regularly transfused (N = 145) than in nontransfused patients (67.6% vs. 31.6%; p < 0.0001). In the regular transfused group, splenectomy and hepatitis C virus infection were both associated with high pancreatic siderosis. Patients with normal glucose metabolism showed significantly higher global pancreas T2* values than patients with altered OGTT. A pancreas T2* < 17.9 ms predicted an abnormal OGTT. A normal pancreas T2* value showed a 100% negative predictive value for cardiac iron. Pancreas T2* values were not associated to biventricular function, replacement myocardial fibrosis, or cardiac complications. Our findings suggest that in the presence of pancreatic IO, it would be prudent to initiate or intensify iron chelation therapy to prospectively prevent both disturbances of glucose metabolism and cardiac iron accumulation.

scholarly journals The Management of Iron Chelation Therapy: Preliminary Data from a National Registry of Thalassaemic Patients

Anemia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Ceci ◽  
Laura Mangiarini ◽  
Mariagrazia Felisi ◽  
Franco Bartoloni ◽  
Angela Ciancio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
National Registry ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Definition Of

Thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies constitute an important health problem in Mediterranean countries, placing a tremendous emotional, psychological, and economic burden on their National Health systems. The development of new chelators in the most recent years had a major impact on the treatment of thalassaemia and on the quality of life of thalassaemic patients. A new initiative was promoted by the Italian Ministry of Health, establishing a Registry for thalassaemic patients to serve as a tool for the development of cost-effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and for the definition of guidelines supporting the most appropriate management of the iron-chelating therapy and a correct use of the available iron-chelating agents. This study represents the analysis of the preliminary data collected for the evaluation of current status of the iron chelation practice in the Italian thalassaemic population and describes how therapeutic interventions can widely differ in the different patients' age groups.

scholarly journals BOVISOL Project: Breeding and Management Practices of Indigenous Bovine Breeds: Solutions towards a Sustainable Future

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 9891
Author(s):  
Sofiane Boudalia ◽  
Samia Ben Said ◽  
Dimitrios Tsiokos ◽  
Aissam Bousbia ◽  
Yassine Gueroui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
National Level ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
World Population ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Slow Food ◽  
Sustainable Future ◽  
Mediterranean Countries

In order to deal with the effects of globalization, urbanization, increase in world population, global warming, and climate change; and according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 targets, which aim to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, it is urgently needed to transform our agriculture and livestock farming systems by taking into account the environmental considerations. The Breeding and management practices of indigenous bovine breeds: Solutions towards a sustainable future (BOVISOL) project is a scientific cooperation between three Mediterranean countries (Greece, Tunisia and Algeria) supported and funded by the European Commission under the European Research Area Networks (ERA-NET) scheme of the 7th Framework Programme. This project has been formed around the hypothesis that the local bovine breeds must be preserved since they possess a valuable genetic pool, and they are a part of the landscape and the biodiversity of rural areas. Moreover, their products (milk, cheese, meat, etc.) could contribute significantly to the local economies as they could easily be associated with recent food trends like “local” and “slow food”, which are considered today, as, not only a mean of nutrition, but also a way of living and a part of people’s identity. BOVISOL project aims to: (i) identify the local breeds and populations in a national level, (ii) describe the existing farm and breeding practices, (iii) analyze the quality of the main local animal products, (iv) propose solutions that will promote the sustainability of the traditional farming systems, especially nowadays that climate change proposes new challenges on animal production, and (v) disseminate the solutions on all the levels of the sector (farmers, scientists, local communities, governmental agencies).

scholarly journals Factors Significantly Contributing to a Failed Conventional Endoscopic Stone Clearance in Patients with “Difficult” Choledecholithiasis: A Single-Center Experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Christoforidis ◽  
Konstantinos Vasiliadis ◽  
Konstantinos Tsalis ◽  
Dimitrios Patridas ◽  
Konstantinos Blouhos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bile Duct ◽  
Endoscopic Sphincterotomy ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Bile Duct Stones ◽  
Stone Extraction ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Stone Clearance ◽  
Cbd Stones ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Cbd Stone

The objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate factors significantly contributing to a failed stone extraction (SE) in patients with difficult to extract bile duct stones (BDS). Patients and Methods. During a 10-year period 1390 patients with BDS underwent successfully endoscopic sphincterotomy. Endoscopic SE was graded as easy; relatively easy; difficult; and failed. Difficult SE was encountered in 221 patients while failed SE was encountered in 205. A retrospective analysis of the criteria governing the difficulty of endoscopic SE following the index endoscopic intervention was performed to evaluate their significance in determining failure of complete SE among patients with difficult to extract bile duct stones. Results. Age ≥ 85 years, periampullary diverticula, multiple CBD stones (>4), and diameter of CBD stones (≥15 mm) were all significant contributing factors to a failed SE in univariate statistical tests. In the definitive multivariate analysis age, multiple stones and diameter of stones were found to be the significant, independent contributors. Conclusion. Failed conventional endoscopic stone clearance in patients with difficult to extract BDS is more likely to occur in overage patients, in patients with multiple CBD stones >4, and in patients with CBD stone(s) diameter ≥15 mm.

Soil acidification under some tropical agricultural systems. 1. Rates of acidification and contributing factors

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Moody ◽  
R. L. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Table Grapes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Summer Crop ◽  
Winter Fallow

A paired site (developed v. undeveloped) approach was used to calculate acidification rates in several agricultural systems of tropical and subtropical Queensland. The systems considered were summer crop–winter fallow, grass or grass–legume pastures for hay production, tobacco, sugarcane, table grapes, and bananas. Mean acidification rates varied from -2·4 kmol H+ /ha · year for tobacco to 34·2 kmol H+ /ha · year for bananas. Acidification rates were higher than for comparable systems in temperate Australia. Subsurface acidification occurred under all systems, and was particularly severe under bananas despite the surface application of at least 2·5 t lime or dolomite/ha· year. As bananas can be considered to be a generic perennial horticultural system, subsurface acidification may be a widespread problem in such systems despite surface applications of amendments. There was a wide range in acidification rates within a particular agricultural system, suggesting that management practices can be manipulated to reduce acidification. As the N cycle terms were the major contributors to the acidification under cropping systems, N fertiliser management is likely to be the most critical acidification factor.

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