Impaired dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in pubertal gynecomastia

2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Özge Yüce ◽  
Derya Tepe ◽  
Özcan Erel
Keyword(s):  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Etiologic Factor ◽  
Pubertal Stage ◽  
Total Thiol ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pubertal Gynecomastia

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) with a new method in patients with pubertal gynecomastia and also to investigate the relationship between sex hormones. Methods Thiol/disulfide homeostasis, involving native thiol (SH), disulfide (SS) and total thiol (SS + SH), was evaluated between 20 adolescent boys with gynecomastia in mid-puberty and 50 healthy adolescents, who were matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and pubertal stage. The correlations of total serum testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E2) levels with the oxidative parameters were also determined. Results No significant difference was found between the total thiol, native thiol, disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios of the patient and control groups. The mean disulfide concentrations, disulfide/native thiol and the disulfide/total thiol ratios were statistically significantly higher in the patient group than in the controls. A positive correlation was found between the E2 and native thiol levels, also there was a negative correlation between the E2 and disulfide levels. TT was negatively correlated with both native thiol and disulfide levels. All these did not statistically differ between the patients with unilateral and bilateral gynecomastia. Conclusions There was an impaired thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with pubertal gynecomastia. According to this result, we can postulate that oxidative stress may be an etiologic factor that contributes to initiation and/or progression of gynecomastia.

scholarly journals Comparison of Basal Serum Testosterone Levels between Male Athletes and Martial Artists

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Arjona-Luna
Keyword(s):  
Martial Arts ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Total Testosterone ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Biological Stress ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship

There are reports about the relationship between testosterone levels and aggressiveness in animals and humans. The practice of martial arts requires high levels of pain tolerance, fear control and of course, enough aggressiveness to overcome psychological and biological stress. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to identify the relationship between basal testosterone levels and martial arts practice by comparing total serum testosterone values between male athletes and martial artists. In this cross-sectional study, the total testosterone between a control group of 15 male athletes and 15 male martial artists was compared. The participants had the following inclusion criteria: healthy men between 18 and 35 years old, not obese, with at least 1 year of continuous training, 3 to 5 sessions per week with a duration from 60 to 90 min at a moderate to high intensity, non smokers, alcohol free, and free from exogenous testosterone or testosterone precursors. Blood samples were recolected between 8:00 to 10:00 am and the laboratory results were obtained by chemiluminescence. The testosterone levels mean of the martial artist's group was 6.44 (±1.17) ng/mL and the athlete's control group had a mean of 6.09 (±1.32) ng/mL. Comparing values with the Student´s t-test showed no statistically significant difference, with a p value of 0.45. There is no significant difference of basal total testosterone levels between male martial artists and athletes, and it seems there is no direct relationship between testosterone levels and martial arts practice. Further investigation on the physiologic responses produced by the practice of combat sports is a growing necessity.

IOP Lowering Effects of Ocimum basilicum Seed Extract in Two Rabbit Models of Ocular Hypertension

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Renu Agarwal ◽  
SK Gupta ◽  
Sushma Srivastava ◽  
Rohit Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Ocular Hypertension ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Ocimum Basilicum ◽  
Seed Extract ◽  
Water Loading ◽  
Antiglaucoma Medication ◽  
Lowering Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Introduction: Ocimum basilicum (OB), a herb known for its antihypertensive, anticholinesterase and antioxidant properties was investigated for possible intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effects in rabbits with ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods: The IOP lowering effect of a single drop of OB extract (OBE) was evaluated in oculonormotensive rabbits using three concentrations (0.25, 0.5 and 1% w/v). The concentration showing maximum IOP reduction was further evaluated in rabbits with water-loading and steroid-induced OHT. Results: IOP lowering effect of OBE 0.5% in oculonormotensive rabbit eyes was significantly greater compared to OBE 0.25% (p<0.05) but was comparable (p>0.05) to OBE 1%. Therefore, 0.5% concentration was selected for further evaluation. Pretreatment with OBE (0.5%) caused significantly lower increase in IOP after water loading amounting to 23.39% above baseline as compared to 54.00% in control eye, 15 minutes post water loading. At 60 minutes, post water loading, mean IOP rise was 95.12% and 63.58% in control and test eyes, respectively. Significant difference between the mean IOP of two eyes persisted during the 2nd hr. In rabbits with steroid induced OHT, OBE 0.5% produced a mean IOP reduction of 24.73% at the end of first hr and the mean peak IOP reduction of 31.63% was observed at the end of 2 hr. A significant difference between the IOP of test and control eyes persisted from 1 to 6 hr. Conclusions: Ocimum basilicum seed extract showed significant IOP lowering effect in rabbits with water loading and steroid induced OHT, however, its utility as an effective antiglaucoma medication needs further investigations.

Investigation of the Association Between Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) and Cardiac Risk Factors in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-133
Author(s):  
Zahra Rezaieyazdi ◽  
Sima Sedighi ◽  
Masoumeh Salari ◽  
Mohammadreza H. Fard ◽  
Mahmoud R. Azarpazhooh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Serum Insulin ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Background: The relationship between SLE and traditional risk factors for cardiovascular events was evaluated. Methods: The data regarding sixty patients with SLE and 30 healthy controls (age and sex matched) were gathered using SLEDAI forms. Venous blood (10mL) from all the participants was examined for hs-CRP, homocysteine, VCAM1, CBC, anti-DNA antibody, C3, C4, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, FBS and triglyceride. : The IMT of carotid arteries was determined bilaterally by ultrasound. Other measurements included insulin levels via Elisa (Linco/Millipore Corp) and the HOMA-IR index for insulin resistance. Results: The mean age (in years) in the test and control groups was 28.8±10.3 (18-52) and 33.8±9.13 (18-48), respectively. Results: The mean age (in years) in the test and control groups was 28.8±10.3 (18-52) and 33.8±9.13 (18-48), respectively. : The average IMT in the test group was directly related to serum levels of VCAM1 (p<0.001), homocysteine (p<0.001), cholesterol (p<0.009), LDL (p<0.001), TG (p<0.001), and FPG (p=0.004). The association between other risk factors, insulin resistance, carotid IMT and SLEDAI, was nonexistent. Mean insulin and insulin resistance levels in all the participants were 0.43±2.06 µU/mL and 0.09±0.44, respectively. There was no significant difference between the test and control groups regarding serum insulin and insulin resistance levels (p=0.42 and p=0.9, respectively). None of the risk factors, such as hsCRP, VCAM1, or homocysteine, were shown to be related to insulin resistance (p=0.6, p=0.6, p=0.09, respectively). Conclusion:: Our findings did not show an increase in the prevalence of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. There was no association between IMT and insulin resistance. However, the former was associated with FPG, total cholesterol, LDL, TG, homocystein and VCAM1.

The effect of face-to-face and virtual prenatal care training of spouses on the pregnancy experience and fear of childbirth of primiparous women: A controlled quasi-experimental study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2110241
Author(s):  
Zari Doaltabadi ◽  
Leila Amiri-Farahani ◽  
Seyedeh Batool Hasanpoor-Azghady ◽  
Shima Haghani
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Fear Of Childbirth ◽  
Virtual Training ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Care Training ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
Primiparous Women

Introduction The spouse has a special role in promoting the health of mothers and infants during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Women's health during pregnancy requires the participation and cooperation of their spouses. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of face-to-face and virtual prenatal care training of spouses on the pregnancy experience and fear of childbirth of primiparous women. Methods This is a quasi-experimental clinical trial that was conducted on primiparous pregnant women referring to three prenatal clinics in Tehran, Iran. Sampling was done by available method and pregnant women were divided into three groups of face-to-face training ( n = 35), virtual training ( n = 35), and control ( n = 33). The content of training program in the virtual and face-to-face groups was similar and included; nutrition during pregnancy, emotional support, fetal growth and development, advantages and disadvantages of vaginal delivery, planning for delivery, infant care, and danger signs for infants, which were presented in four sessions. The samples in the control group did not receive any training. In the 18th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, the demographic information form, pregnancy experience scale, and version A of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaires were completed, and once again in the 37th and 38th weeks of pregnancy, the pregnancy experience scale and version A of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaires were completed. Results There was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of pregnancy experience after the intervention between the face-to-face training and control groups ( p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of uplifts between the two groups of face-to-face training and control ( p = 0.01), and also between virtual training and control groups ( p = 0.02). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of face-to-face training and control in terms of and hassles score after the intervention ( p = 0.04). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of face-to-face training and control ( p = 0.02) and also between virtual training and control ( p = 0.04) in terms of the mean score of fear of childbirth after the intervention. Conclusion The results of this study showed that teaching prenatal care to spouses of primiparous women by face-to-face and virtual methods can be a useful intervention in improving the pregnancy experience and reducing the fear of childbirth among primiparous women.

The Baby Shark (Songs Heard Affecting Resuscitation Kinetics) study

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjstel-2020-000657
Author(s):  
Rebecca Singer ◽  
Grace Leo ◽  
Tessa Davis ◽  
Ben Lawton ◽  
Henry Goldstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Target Zone ◽  
Compression Depth ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Training Exercises ◽  
And Control ◽  
Musical Cues

Previous research has examined the utilisation of musical cues to improve the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivered in training environments. We postulated a musical cue that is both contemporary and transcends cultures may improve CPR performance. Our aim was to establish whether chest compressions are performed with improved rate and depth if a song of a fixed beat (PinkFong’s ‘Baby Shark’ with a tempo of 115 beats per minute (bpm) and 15 beats in each verse) is played to a healthcare professional immediately before undertaking CPR compared to whale noises (a non-metronomic rhythm). 58 Participants of a paediatric conference (majority doctors) were randomly assigned to listen to a minute of Baby Shark (28) or whale song (30) and then undertake a minute of CPR. There was no significant difference in the mean compression rate between the Baby Shark and control groups, with the groups achieving 121 and 125 bpm, respectively (p=0.18). In relation to compression depth within the target zone, the Baby Shark group had more compressions completed within the target zone (55%) than the control group (39%) although this difference was not significant (p=0.08). Listening to Baby Shark prior to undertaking simulated CPR does not improve overall performance, but there is a potential tendency to improve adequate compression depth which may be beneficial in training exercises.

scholarly journals Intracranial Pressure during External Ventricular Drainage Weaning Is an Outcome Predictor of Traumatic Brain Injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jia-cheng Gu ◽  
Hong Wu ◽  
Xing-zhao Chen ◽  
Jun-feng Feng ◽  
Guo-yi Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
External Ventricular Drainage ◽  
Unfavorable Outcome ◽  
Ventricular Drainage ◽  
Outcome Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is widely used in patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the EVD weaning trial protocol varies and insufficient studies focus on the intracranial pressure (ICP) during the weaning trial. We aimed to establish the relationship between ICP during an EVD weaning trial and the outcomes of TBI. We enrolled 37 patients with a TBI with an EVD from July 2018 to September 2019. Among them, 26 were allocated to the favorable outcome group and 11 to the unfavorable outcome group (death, post-traumatic hydrocephalus, persistent vegetative state, and severe disability). Groups were well matched for sex, pupil reactivity, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, Marshall computed tomography score, modified Fisher score, intraventricular hemorrhage, EVD days, cerebrospinal fluid output before the weaning trial, and the complications. Before and during the weaning trial, we recorded the ICP at 1-hour intervals to calculate the mean ICP, delta ICP, and ICP burden, which was defined as the area under the ICP curve. There were significant between-group differences in the age, surgery types, and intensive care unit days (p=0.045, p=0.028, and p=0.004, respectively). During the weaning trial, 28 (75.7%) patients had an increased ICP. Although there was no significant difference in the mean ICP before and during the weaning trial, the delta ICP was higher in the unfavorable outcome group (p=0.001). Moreover, patients who experienced death and hydrocephalus had a higher ICP burden, which was above 20 mmHg (p=0.016). Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated the predictive ability of these variables (area under the curve AUC=0.818 [p=0.002] for delta ICP and AUC=0.758 [p=0.038] for ICP burden>20 mmHg). ICP elevation is common during EVD weaning trials in patients with TBI. ICP-related parameters, including delta ICP and ICP burden, are significant outcome predictors. There is a need for larger prospective studies to further explore the relationship between ICP during EVD weaning trials and TBI outcomes.

SECRETION OF DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE BY HUMAN PROSTATE IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY

1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Mahoudeau ◽  
A. Delassalle ◽  
H. Bricaire
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy ◽  
Prostatic Hypertrophy ◽  
Human Prostate ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Peripheral Plasma ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 29 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 56 control men of various ages. No significant difference was found in T, DHT nor DHT/T ratio between BPH and control subjects of similar age. Plasma DHT was higher in the prostatic than in the peripheral veins in 8/9 patients with BPH during laparotomy, indicating a prostatic secretion of DHT. No difference in the mean T nor the mean DHT was found in peripheral plasma before and after adenomectomy.

scholarly journals Effects of Language Learning Strategies and Learners’ Motivation on Students’ Learning Achievement

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao-Yuan Cheng ◽  
Nai-Ying Chang
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Course Performance ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
New Information ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship

<p>This study investigated whether learning strategies had made any impact on learners’ achievement and explored whether learning motivation was correlated with learning strategies. The participants of this study were the students from the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) intermediate level course at a college in Taiwan. The students were given a pretest and a posttest. The mean scores of these tests were compared with a SILL survey (Strategies Inventory for Language Learning) at the end of the investigation. The participants’ course performance was compared with their use of learning strategies. The assumption of the relationship between learning strategies and motivation is that motivated learners have a greater desire to seek out solutions or support from others and employ more strategies to process the new information. The results of this investigation revealed that only the memory strategies had a significant difference in the posttest of Group A on the independent sample t-test analysis.</p>

Clinical and molecular epidemic characterization of rotavirus infection among children under five years old in Shandong province, China.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shixiao Dong ◽  
Deyu Huang ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Guanyou Zhang ◽  
Fengjuan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Incidence ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Shandong Province ◽  
Rotavirus Infection ◽  
National Immunization ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Abstract Rotavirus was the an important causative agent of acute gastroenteritis in children. In China, rotavirus was positive in approximately 30% of the diarrhea children and become a serious public problem. This study was carried out to investigate the clinical and molecular epidemic characterization of rotavirus infection among children under 5 years old with acute diarrhea in Shandong province, China. From July 2017 to June 2018, a total of 1211 fecal specimens were detected and the prevalence of rotavirus infection was 32.12%. The mean age of positive children was 12.2 ± 10.9 months and the highest infection rate was observed in children aged 7–12 months with a rate of 41.64%. G9P[8] (76.61%) was the most prevalent combinations followed by G2P[4] (7.20%), G3P[8] (3.60%) and G9P[4] (2.06%). In addition to diarrhea, vomiting, fever and dehydration were the most common accompanied symptoms. In general, there was no significant difference in clinical manifestations among different age groups. However, the clinical manifestations between vaccinated and unvaccinated children were significantly different. Vaccinated children showed lower incidence and frequency of vomiting, lower incidence and degree of dehydration, lower incidence of severe cases than unvaccinated children. The findings suggested necessary to continue rotavirus strains surveillance in order to monitor the change of prevalent genotype. Moreover, introducing vaccine into national immunization program to prevent and control rotavirus infections is needed in China.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document