scholarly journals Shear Wave Velocity: A New Quantitative Index to Estimate the Status of Thyroid in Diffuse Thyroid Disease

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Yao Du ◽  
Qiao Ji ◽  
Xiu-Juan Hou ◽  
Xiao-Lei Wang ◽  
Xian-Li Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Thyroid Tissue ◽  
Quantitative Index ◽  
Tissue Stiffness ◽  
Cutoff Value ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Status ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
The Relationship

Objective.The purpose of the study was to assess the application value of VTQ in DTD.Research Design and Methods.Thirty healthy subjects and 74 DTD patients were involved. The thyroid stiffness, which was expressed by SWV, was measured by VTQ and compared between the patients and healthy people. The relationship between SWV and thyroid serological indexes was also analyzed.Results. The thyroid SWVs of DTD patients were higher than those of the healthy (2.56±1.33 m/s versus1.74±0.16 m/s,P=0.011). There was no significant difference between the thyroid SWVs in GD and HT patients (P=0.168). The SWVs in patients with GD and HT were both higher than those of the healthy (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.938 for SWV to distinguish between DTD and healthy thyroid. With a cutoff value of 2.02 m/s, the sensitivity and specificity were 81.12% and 100.00%, respectively. Additionally, we found a positive liner correlation between thyroid SWV and TSH in DTD patients (P<0.001).Conclusion.SWV is a good indicator of the thyroid tissue stiffness, which might be considered helpful in screening DTD. What is more, SWV might have a potential in assessing the thyroid function.

scholarly journals Possible Effect of Headphone Usage on Working Memory Among Students in Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria‒Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Yushau Yusuf ◽  
Muhammad U.A ◽  
Isah F.A
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Signal Processing ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stored Information ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Back Task

Working memory is a system that is responsible for transient holding and processing of new and already stored information. It also involves processing for reasoning, comprehension, learning and memory updating. Headphones are a pair of small loudspeakers that are designed to be held in place close to a user’s ear. They are electroacoustic transducers which convert electrical signals to a corresponding sound in the user’s ear. Several studies have recently shown a link between cognitive abilities and response to hearing aid and signal processing in the brain. Therefore, the relationship between headphone usage among healthy subjects become pertinent. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of headphone on working memory using N-back task. One hundred (100) participants (55 headphone users and 45 non-headphone user’s) within the age range of 18-31 years were assessed. Participants were instructed to keep in memory, a series of letters and say “target” whenever there was a repetition of letter with exactly one intervening letter and to remain silent when any other letter appeared. The results of this study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in working memory between headphone and non-headphone users with p>0.05. In conclusion, this study revealed headphone use has no effect on working memory of the participants subjected to N–back test.

Comparing Older Persons’ Human Rights: Exploratory Study of the International Older Persons’ Human Rights Index (IOPHRI)

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-634
Author(s):  
Israel Doron ◽  
Carole Cox ◽  
Benny Spanier
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Constitutional Protection ◽  
The Status ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Actual Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives Over the last 2 decades, several international indices have been developed to describe the status of older persons. None, however, have examined their human rights. The International Older Persons’ Human Rights Index (IOPHRI) fills in this gap by analyzing the formal legislative foundation of human rights for older people. The objective of this exploratory study is to examine the IOPHRI while comparing the legislation in 6 countries. Research Design and Methods A comparative international exploratory study comparing the human rights legislation of 6 countries: United States, Chile, Ireland, South Africa, India, and Australia in 5 different human rights domains: constitutional, protection, familial and informal support, planning, and empowerment. Results The findings suggest that the actual relationship between formal human rights of older persons and the real world is complex: for example, while the IOPHRI index places South Africa in first place, it is far behind compared with all other participants in the Global AgeWatch Index (which measures objective elements such as life expectancy at 60, or poverty rates in old age). Discussion and Implications Measuring and indexing human rights of older persons reveal significant methodological issues. Beyond these methodological challenges, comparing the ranking of the IOPHRI to nonlegalistic indices raises significant questions about the relationship between formal human rights and the actual living experiences of older persons.

scholarly journals Research on Role Cognition and Employment Strategy of Rural Female Laborers in Sichuan, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Shui ◽  
Dingde Xu ◽  
Shaoquan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Role Expectations ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Role Conflicts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cognitive Levels ◽  
The Status ◽  
Transfer Strategies ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Multi Classification ◽  
The Relationship

Paying attention to role cognition and the employment strategies of female rural laborers has great significance for the improvement of the status of women and the rational transfer of labor forces. However, there are few studies of role cognition amongst the rural female labor workforce. There is even less research on the relationship between role cognition and employment transfer strategies. In this study, a survey of 425 female rural laborers in the Sichuan Province, China, was conducted to construct a role-based cognitive scale in order to measure the cognitive levels of subjective ability, self-role expectations and role conflicts. This paper divides employment strategy into four aspects: Actual workplaces, workplace preferences, actual industries, and industry preferences. An unorganized multi-classification logistic regression model was constructed in order to explore the relationship between the role cognition and employment strategy selections. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between employment expectations and realities. Rural females with more equal modern role cognition had a higher expectation of employment. Meanwhile, those who had a strong feeling of role conflicts, tended to work in other places and choose secondary and tertiary industries. However, in reality, most were unemployed. The conflict of roles clearly restricts employment options of the rural female workforce. This study enhances our understanding of the relationship between the perceptions of the Chinese female labor workforce and the employment strategies used. The findings can help to provide a reference for guiding employment policies and the flow of the female labor workforce.

scholarly journals Body mass index and severity/fatality from coronavirus disease 2019: A nationwide epidemiological study in Korea

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253640
Author(s):  
In Sook Kang ◽  
Kyoung Ae Kong
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Fatal Illness ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
The Relationship

Objective Obesity has been reported as a risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in recent studies. However, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and COVID-19 severity and fatality are unclear. Research design and methods This study included 4,141 COVID-19 patients who were released from isolation or had died as of April 30, 2020. This nationwide data was provided by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency. BMI was categorized as follows; < 18.5 kg/m2, 18.5–22.9 kg/m2, 23.0–24.9 kg/m2, 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, and ≥ 30 kg/m2. We defined a fatal illness if the patient had died. Results Among participants, those with a BMI of 18.5–22.9 kg/m2 were the most common (42.0%), followed by 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 (24.4%), 23.0–24.9 kg/m2 (24.3%), ≥ 30 kg/m2 (4.7%), and < 18.5 kg/m2 (4.6%). In addition, 1,654 (41.2%) were men and 3.04% were fatalities. Multivariable analysis showed that age, male sex, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and dementia were independent risk factors for fatal illness. In particular, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR] 3.97, 95% CI 1.77–8.92), 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 (2.43, 1.32–4.47), and ≥ 30 kg/m2 (4.32, 1.37–13.61) were found to have higher ORs than the BMI of 23.0–24.9 kg/m2 (reference). There was no significant difference between those with a BMI of 18.5–22.9 kg/m2 (1.59, 0.88–2.89) and 23.0–24.9 kg/m2. Conclusions This study demonstrated a non-linear (U-shaped) relationship between BMI and fatal illness. Subjects with a BMI of < 18.5 kg/m2 and those with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 had a high risk of fatal illness. Maintaining a healthy weight is important not only to prevent chronic cardiometabolic diseases, but also to improve the outcome of COVID-19.

scholarly journals The Relationshıp Between Injury Anxiety and Forgiveness Flexıbility: A Research for Elite Field Hockey Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1673-1679
Author(s):  
Kürşad Hazar
Keyword(s):  
Personal Information ◽  
Sports Injury ◽  
Field Hockey ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Training Frequency ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
The Status ◽  
Athlete Injury ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between injury anxiety and forgiveness flexibility levels of elite field hockey players. Injury anxiety and forgiveness flexibility levels were compared in terms of gender, the status of being a national athlete, injury history, and frequency of training. Method: In line with the purpose of the research, it is descriptive research in which the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, is used. With this method, it is used to grasp and explain the relationship between various variables without any attempt to change the current situation. In this framework, a research model was created that aims to determine the existence of covariance between two or more variables. The research population consists of field hockey players. The population of the study is elite field hockey players who participated in national or international field hockey tournaments. The research sample consists of 161 participants (66 Female, 41%; 95% Male, 59%) selected by convenience sampling method, which is one of the non-random sampling methods. The “Sports Injury Anxiety” scale was used to determine the injury anxiety levels of field hockey players who participated in the study voluntarily. The “Forgiveness Flexibility Scale” was used to determine the levels of forgiveness flexibility, and the “Personal Information Form” prepared by the researchers was used to collect information about demographic characteristics (gender, status of being a national athlete, injury history, training frequency). Conclusion: It was determined that there was a significant difference in injury anxiety and forgiveness flexibility scores of elite field hockey players according to gender and training frequency variables. On the other hand, while there was a significant difference in injury anxiety scores according to the status of being a national athlete and having an injury, no significant difference was found in the mean scores of forgiveness flexibility. As a result of the analysis performed to determine the relationship between injury anxiety and forgiveness flexibility, a positive and significant relationship was determined between the injury anxiety and forgiveness flexibility levels of the athletes. Finally, it was concluded that training frequency is an important predictor of injury anxiety, and as the training frequency increases, the athlete's injury anxiety level decreases. Keywords: Field hockey, injury anxiety, forgiveness flexibility

scholarly journals Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte, Aspartate-to-Alanine Aminotransferase, Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in Severity and Side of Carotid Artery Stenosis: Are Those Significant?

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. E072-E078
Author(s):  
ÖZGÜR ALTINBAŞ ◽  
Şeniz Demiryürek ◽  
Mehmet Işık ◽  
Ömer Tanyeli ◽  
Yüksel Dereli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽  
Alanine Aminotransferase ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Artery Stenosis ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that leads to mortality and morbidity by affecting arterial vascular structures. Carotid artery is one of these arterial structures and occlusive disease of carotid artery may cause stroke or cranial ischemic infarction. Inflammation plays a role in the atherosclerotic process. In this study, we aimed to discuss the relationship between the severity and side of carotid artery occlusion and novel inflammatory parameters include platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios. Methods: One-hundred-fifteen patients who had carotid artery stenosis between 50%-99% and 115 healthy subjects with no carotid artery stenosis or additional disease were included in the study. The relationship between the side and degree of the lesion and platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios were studied in the patient group. The patients with carotid artery stenosis and the healthy subjects were compared, in the terms of same parameters. Data were evaluated statistically. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups, in the terms of platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios and the degree of stenosis. There was no statistically significant difference between the sides of the lesions and the parameters above except lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. It was statistically significantly higher in left-sided lesions. Aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios were markedly higher in the patient group, when compared to controls. Conclusion: Platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios are inexpensive, easy, fast, and reproducible parameters that can be used in determining the prediction of carotid artery stenosis.

scholarly journals The Relationship between the Strength Characteristics of Cerebral Aneurysm Walls with Their Status and Laser-Induced Fluorescence Data

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 537
Author(s):  
Elena Tsibulskaya ◽  
Anna Lipovka ◽  
Alexandr Chupakhin ◽  
Andrey Dubovoy ◽  
Daniil Parshin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Aneurysms ◽  
Strength Characteristics ◽  
Cerebral Tissue ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Excitation Emission Matrix ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Cerebral aneurysms (CA) are a widespread vascular disease affecting 50 per 1000 population. The study of the influence of histological, morphological and hemodynamic factors on the status of the aneurysm has been the subject of many works. However, an accurate and generally accepted relationship has not yet been identified. Methods: In our work, the results of mechanical and spectroscopic measurements are considered. Total investigated 14 patients and 36 their samples of CA tissue. Results: The excitation–emission matrix of each specimen was evaluated, after which the strength characteristics of the samples were investigated. Conclusions: It has been shown that there is a statistically significant difference in the size of the peaks of two components, which characterizes the status of the aneurysms. In addition, a linear regression model has been built that describes the correlation of the magnitude of the ultimate strain and stress with the magnitude of the peaks of one of the components. The results of this study will serve as a basis for the non-invasive determination of the strength characteristics of the cerebral tissue aneurysms and determination of their status.

Utility of Tumor Marker CA 72.4 in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ma. González Vitores ◽  
G. Encabo Duró ◽  
B. Bermejo Fraile ◽  
A. Olmos Miró ◽  
M. Armengol Carrasco
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Chronic Renal Failure ◽  
Tumor Marker ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Plasma Creatinine ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cutoff Value ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Significant Difference

The tumor marker CA 72.4 is composed of two monoclonal antibodies, B 72.3 and cc49, which detect the glycoprotein TAG 72 present in tumor cells. The levels of CA 72.4 may be modified depending on the route of excretion of the antigen TAG 72. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of CA 72.4 in healthy subjects and to assess the influence of chronic renal failure (CRF) on the levels of this tumor marker. Random serum samples were collected in 181 individuals (148 healthy volunteers and 33 patients with CRF) and 214 determinations of CA 72.4 were performed. We also performed 66 determinations of plasma creatinine. In healthy subjects the cutoff value of CA 72.4 was established at 3 U/mL, with a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 85.8%. In the CRF patients we found no statistically significant differences when we compared the values of CA 72.4 predialysis and postdialysis (p=0.197). However, a statistically significant difference was found in the plasma creatinine levels (p<0.001). Chronic renal failure does not affect the result of CA 72.4 determinations; this tumor marker may therefore be useful in the monitoring of patients with cancer, independent of their renal function.

Effort and the Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)

1970 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 747-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Kemm ◽  
P. L. Kamburoff
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
The Body ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Maximum Effort ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship

1. The relationship between volumes expired and the maximum intrathoracic pressures developed within the first second of expiration was examined in a group of healthy subjects and patients with airways obstruction who exhaled with varying degrees of effort. 2. The body plethysmographic method was used to ensure that expirations started from total lung capacity. 3. Three different types of volume-effort curves could be distinguished: Type I; in this the volume expired increased with greater effort. Type II; after a phase in which the volume expired increased with effort, a plateau was reached after which increasing effort made no difference to the volume expired. Type III; this resembles Type II except that instead of a plateau being established at maximum expired volume, increasing effort resulted in diminishing expired volume. Correction for the degree of compression of the intrathoracic gas failed to account for this phenomenon. Type III curves were found in healthy subjects as well as in patients. 4. In most cases the maximum Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) was not found to coincide with the maximum oesophageal pressure (Poes), nor was there a significant difference between the mean and the maximum FEV1 produced with an effort greater than 75% of maximum. 5. Blowing ‘half as hard’ is an unnatural procedure; all subjects tend to blow nearly as hard as possible or very gently. In the latter case, the resulting FEV1 tracing is easily recognizable as technically unsatisfactory. 6. We conclude that for practical purposes, measurements of FEV1 depend for their reliability upon ensuring that they are started from full inspiration; insistence upon maximum effort is less important because FEV1 is independent of effort for the greater part of the effort range.

scholarly journals The relationship of folate deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia and glutathione metabolism in hypertensive patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-664
Author(s):  
L. A. Aleksandrova ◽  
T. F. Subbotina ◽  
A. A. Zhloba
Keyword(s):  
Redox State ◽  
Glutathione Metabolism ◽  
Redox Systems ◽  
Cardiovascular Pathology ◽  
The Status ◽  
Total Homocysteine ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Functional Deficiency

Hypertension (HTN) is often accompanied by folic acid (FA) deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Reduced glutathione (GSH) and dependent enzymes determine the state of cellular antioxidant and redox systems in cardiovascular pathology. The aim of our work is to assess the relationship between the status of FA and the presence of HHcy with enzymes of glutathione metabolism and the redox state of erythrocyte glutathione in HTN. Design and methods. In blood plasma samples from 43 HTN patients admitted to the clinic of Pavlov University, the concentration of FA and total homocysteine (oHcy) was determined. We also evaluated the level of GSH, the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase (GR) in erythrocytes. Results. In the whole group, GR activity positively correlated with the concentration of FA (R = 0,415; p = 0,001). A significant decrease in GR activity (U/g Hb) was found in the subgroup with the low level of FA [0,8 (0,5–1,1)] compared with the subgroup without a FA deficiency [1,2 (0,9–2,0)]. The GSH level (μM/g Hb) was also lower (p < 0,018) in the subgroup with FA deficiency [1,3 (0,9–2,1)] compared with the subgroup with normal FA levels [1,8 (1,5–4,6)]. A significant decrease in the level of GSH and GR activity in the subgroup with HHcy was found compared with the corresponding parameters in the subgroup without HHcy. However, even in the absence of HHcy patients with FA deficiency demonstrated a significant decrease in GR activity compared to patients without FA deficiency. In this case, GR positively correlated with FA (R = 0,564; p = 0,03). Conclusions. The deficiency of FA can increase the deficiency of GR activity, regardless of the level of oHcy. The indicator of GR activity in erythrocytes can be considered as a possible marker of functional deficiency of FA in the absence of HHcy.

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