scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION TO REDUCE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE NAIL HABITS

Author(s):  
Ilze Upeniece ◽  
Monta Beltiņa

Onychophagia and onychotillomania are rarely seen in clinical practice and are considered undervalued. The study aims were to determine the prevalence of onychophagia and onychotillomania habit in the patient group with hand nail damage and control group, to determine which would be the target population to educate. Patients were interviewed about self-destructive habits. Excel and SPSS were used for data analysis. In the nail damage group, 28.6% of the respondents showed self-destructive habits and past habits – 31.4%. In the control group, the result was 22.9% and 31.4%. For 74.3% of patients the cause of nail damage was skin disease (including 61.54% of respondents with nail damage who have psoriasis), for 5.7% it was age-related nail changes, for 20% traumatic damage and for 57.14% of them it was a result of self-destructive habit. In the nail damage group both – present and past self-destructive habits are higher than in the control group, but it has no statistical significance (p=0.785). 1)The prevalence of onychophagia and onychotillomania does not differ between patients and control group. 2)General education of the population is necessary to actualize this problem, which can worsen nail changes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7374
Author(s):  
Gilberto Y. Nakama ◽  
Sabrina Gonzalez ◽  
Polina Matre ◽  
Xiaodong Mu ◽  
Kaitlyn E. Whitney ◽  
...  

Recent efforts have focused on customizing orthobiologics, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC), to improve tissue repair. We hypothesized that oral losartan (a TGF-β1 blocker with anti-fibrotic properties) could decrease TGF-β1 levels in leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) and fibrocytes in BMC. Ten rabbits were randomized into two groups (N = 5/group): osteochondral defect + microfracture (control, group 1) and osteochondral defect + microfracture + losartan (losartan, group 2). For group 2, a dose of 10mg/kg/day of losartan was administrated orally for 12 weeks post-operatively. After 12 weeks, whole blood (WB) and bone marrow aspirate (BMA) samples were collected to process LP-PRP and BMC. TGF-β1 concentrations were measured in WB and LP-PRP with multiplex immunoassay. BMC cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry with CD31, CD44, CD45, CD34, CD146 and CD90 antibodies. There was no significant difference in TGF-β1 levels between the losartan and control group in WB or LP-PRP. In BMC, the percentage of CD31+ cells (endothelial cells) in the losartan group was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.008), while the percentage of CD45+ cells (hematopoietic cells-fibrocytes) in the losartan group was significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.03).


Author(s):  
Samed Satir ◽  
Muhammed Hilmi Buyukcavus ◽  
Kaan Orhan

The purpose of our study is to determine whether bucco-palatal/lingual (BPL) root dilacerations (RD), especially in single root teeth, can be determined using the ImageJ program through only one periapical radiography. Extracted teeth without any RD ( n = 8) were determined as the control group (Group 1) and with RD in apical 1/3 part at least 20° with the longitudinal axis in the BPL direction ( n = 8) as the study group (Group 2). With the help of a simple holder system prepared, digital periapical radiographs of all teeth were taken in an anteroposterior position. Histogram analysis of all periapical radiographs was performed using the spectrum feature of ImageJ software. It was aimed to make a dilaceration analysis by comparing the groups using mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and bin width values. As a result of the Mann-Whitney U test, all mean and maximum values showed a statistically significant difference between the study and control groups ( p < 0.05). This pilot study revealed that the ImageJ software can be used to diagnose BPL dilaceration in the apical 1/3 part of the root. It is important for dentists and patients that it can contribute to limiting the radiation dose to which patients will be exposed.


Author(s):  
Luciano Mesquite Simmo ◽  
Carissa Fouad Ibrahim ◽  
Senice Alvarenga Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Thai Nunes Andrade ◽  
Doora Faleiros Leite ◽  
...  

Objective: To compare the vision-targeted health related quality of life (HRQOL) between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases by the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire. Methods: Cross sectional study with a control group and patients with the following pathologies: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), intracranial hypertension (IH), optic neuritis (ON), ptosis and cataract. Results: All comparisons of the subscales scores among the control group and the patient groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) except for “ocular pain” (p=0.160), “social functioning” (p=0.052) and “peripheral vision” (p=0.112). The control group had the best scores across all dimensions of the NEI VFQ-25. Interestingly, the ARMD and cataract groups presented the best and worst total scores of NEI VFQ-25, respectively. The lowest subscales scores were found in the cataract, in the NAION/ON, and in the POAG groups. Finally, the comparison between the NAION/ON/IH patients and the other eye diseases did not show statistical significance in any subscale. Conclusion: The NEI VFQ-25 showed the impact of various eye conditions in vision-targeted HRQOL, and no difference was measured between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Nouran Hesham El-Sherazy ◽  
Naglaa Samir Bazan ◽  
Sara Mahmoud Shaheen ◽  
Nagwa A. Sabri

Background Antioxidants show nephroprotective effect against vancomycin associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) in animals. This study aimed to assess the ascorbic acid nephro-protective role against VAN clinically. Methods Forty-one critically ill patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (vancomycin IV plus ascorbic acid, n=21) or control group (vancomycin IV only, n=20). Primary outcomes were the incidence of VAN and the absolute change in creatinine parameters, while mortality rate was the secondary outcome. Nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (S.cr) by at least 0.5 mg/dL or 50% of baseline for at least two successive measurements. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03921099), April 2019. Results Mean absolute S.cr increase was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.036, where S.cr increased by 0.05(0.12) and 0.34(0.55) mg/dL in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Mean absolute Cr.cl decline was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.04, where Cr.cl was decreased by 5.9(17.8) and 22.3(30.4) ml/min in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Incidence of VAN was 1/21(4.7%) versus 5/20(25%) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (RR: 0.19; CI: 0.024–1.49; P-value = 0.093). Mortality was higher in the control group; however, it was not statistically significant, P-value = 0.141. Conclusion Co-administration of ascorbic acid with vancomycin preserved renal function and reduced the absolute risk of VAN by 20.3%, however, the reduction in VAN incidence didn’t reach statistical significance level. Further large multicenter prospective trials are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vildan Güngörer ◽  
Mehmet Öztürk ◽  
Mustafa Yasir Özlü ◽  
Şükrü Arslan

ABSTRACT Objectives Long-term therapy with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in treatment of rheumatic diseases, in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate liver elasticity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who received MTX and compare the results with control group. Methods Liver elasticity was evaluated with shear wave elastography (SWE) technique in 25 patients aged 3–17 years who were followed up with JIA and received MTX and compared with 25 healthy controls of the same age and weight. Factors that had an effect on liver elasticity were examined. Results The mean SWE value of patients was 2.64 ± 2.13 m/s and 24.10 ± 18.50 kPa, whereas 1.83 ± 0.16 m/s and 10.09 ± 1.83 kPa in control group. There was a significant difference in liver elasticity in the patient and control groups. When the patients were evaluated as Group 1 (&lt; 1000 mg) and Group 2 (≥ 1000 mg) according to the cumulative MTX dose, no significant difference was obtained. There was positive correlation between liver elasticity and weekly MTX dose and age. Conclusions Our study revealed that liver elasticity significantly decreased in patients who received MTX when compared with the control group. The elastography technique will be understood better over time and used safely in many areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Sabeeha Hamza Dehham ◽  
Nadia Majeed Hussein

This research attempted to explore the effects of divergent and convergent tasks on the successful reading of EFL students at the preparatory stage. To verify the analysis, the null hypothesis was established that states "There are no differences of statistical significance at the level of (0,05) among the mean of scores of the experimental group who study according to divergent and convergent task technique and the mean of the scores of the control group who study according to the regular method".  The experimental approach is used by designing two equivalent experimental groups of 32 students studying the technique proposed, and an 8-week (2019-2020) control group of 32 students, three classes each week using the Google Classroom Platform and Telegram. The present study utilized the platform Google Classroom (GC) and Telegram as an educational platform to assist students during their course learning process. The writing skills test was administered after checking with the experts. The results show that there are statistical differences at level (0,05) between the average of the experimental and control groups' reading skills and those of the experimental group. This difference is because the experimental group uses divergent and convergent tasks.


Author(s):  
Peyman Sadeghi ◽  
Yagoob Garedaghi ◽  
Mirhadi Khayatnouri ◽  
Hosein Hashemzade Farhang ◽  
Ramin Kaffash Elahi

Introduction: Hydatidosis is a global disease and one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases which is found in areas where humans, dogs, and herbivores are in close contact with each other. Methods: In this study, a total of 64 rats were divided into control and case groups, and then 3000 protoscolices were injected into the peritoneal cavity. After 2 months, rats in the case group were given triclabendazole + levamisole at a dose of 6 mg + 4.41 mg/mL orally for 60 days, respectively. Then, after 6 months of infection, the rats of the control and case groups were killed by anesthesia and then an autopsy was performed and the viscera were carefully examined for hydatid cyst infection. Results: The results showed that in the control group, 3 cysts were observed in the liver, 10 in the kidney, and 88 in the lung. The mean number of hydatid cysts in this group was determined to be 33.6. In the case group, 2 cysts were observed in the liver, 6 in the kidney, and 64 in the lungs. The mean number of hydatid cysts in the viscera was 24 in the case group. Conclusions: Statistical analysis of the results obtained from the case and control groups showed that the therapeutic efficacy of triclabendazole + levamisole was 31%, which is not enough to treat cases of hydatid cyst.


Author(s):  
С.В. Макаров ◽  
М.К. Карапетян ◽  
К.Б. Квеквескири ◽  
В.А. Спицын

Изучение наследственных факторов в детерминации долголетия представляется весьма актуальным в связи с ростом средней продолжительности жизни, поиском возможностей продления «здорового» периода в позднем отногенезе. Феномен высокой продолжительности жизни всегда вызывал особый интерес исследователей, а его изучение представляется наиболее перспективным в популяциях с достаточно большой долей долгожителей. С давних времен известны случаи ярко выраженного активного долголетия в регионе Кавказа. У долгожителей Абхазии темпы соматического развития, уровень обменных процессов и меньшая интенсивность возрастной инволюции скелета указывали на относительно «здоровый» тип старения. Среди генетических факторов, которые потенциально могли бы играть важную роль в достижении долголетия, особенно перспективным представляется изучение плейотропных генов, действие которых проявляется во множественных эффектах и обладающих высокой функциональной значимостью. Среди них особый интерес представляют те, которые определяют эффективность функционирования сердечно-сосудистой системы, а также особенности, влияющие на темп созревания и старения организма. К числу таких генов можно отнести ген ангиотензин-превращающего фермента (ACE) и ген множественной лекарственной устойчивости (ABCC11). Целью исследования был поиск закономерностей в характере распределения полиморфных вариантов плеойтропных генов ABCC11 и ACE в популяции абхазов в связи с возрастом обследуемых и наличием долгожителей в выборке. В качестве материала исследования были собраны образцы клеток буккального эпителия от коренных жителей Абхазии, подразделенных на две группы: старшего возраста (75-101 год, 79 человек) и контрольную ( 97 индивидов в возрасте от 16 до 33 лет ). Анализ распределений частот генотипов и аллелей полиморфизма 538G>A (rs17822931) гена ABCC11 показал, что группы старшего возраста и контроля очень сходны между собой и достоверные различия между выборками отсутствуют. Генотипирование по инсерционно-делеционному полиморфизму гена ACE (rs1799752) осуществлялось методом ПЦР-ПДАФ. Для контрольной группы абхазов установлены следующие частоты генотипов: II = 0,186; ID = 0,412; DD = 0,402, частоты аллелей I и D оказались равны 0,392 и 0,608 соответственно. Группа старшего возраста по частотам генотипов существенно не отличалась от контроля, генотипы II/ID/DD были распределены в соотношении 0,088/0,380/0,532, а частоты аллелей I и D оказались равны 0,278 и 0,722 соответственно. В результате исследования выявлено, что частота аллеля делеции по инсерционно-делеционному полиморфизму в гене ACE в старшей возрастной группе абхазов достоверно повышена по сравнению с контрольной группой. The study of the phenomenon of longevity is the most promising in populations with a fairly large proportion of centenarians. Since old times cases of pronounced active longevity have been widely known in the Caucasus region. The complexity of age-related processes of aging assumes the involvement of multiple complex factors that have affect on life expectancy. Therefore the study of the pleiotropic genes with their multiple effects and functions could be helpful in that case. The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the multiple drug resistance gene ( ABCC11) are of great interest because of their high importance for essential vital functions. The aim of the study was the search for correlations in the frequencies distribution of polymorphic variants of pleoitropic genes ABCC11 and ACE in the population of Abkhazians with the longevity. The material included the DNA samples from indigenous residents of Abkhazia. They were divided into two groups: older age (N = 79) and control (N = 97). The differences in the frequencies distribution of 538G>A genotypes and alleles of the gene ABCC11 in the older group and control were not significant. ACE gene insertion-deletion polymorphism ( rs1799752) genotyping was performed by PCR-AFLP. The genotype frequencies were : II = 0.186; ID = 0.412; DD = 0.402, allele frequencies I and D were equal to 0.392 and 0.608 for the control group of Abkhazians. The older group did not differ significantly from the control in genotype frequencies, the ratio for II/ID/DD genotypes were as 0.088/0.380/0.532, and the frequencies of alleles I and D corresponded to 0.278 and 0.722. The obtained results revealed that the ACE gene deletion allele frequency was significantly increased in the older group of Abkhazians.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2762
Author(s):  
Karolina Kujawa ◽  
Marta Ołpińska-Lischka ◽  
Janusz Maciaszek

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 24-h sleep deprivation on the muscle strength of young, healthy and physically fit people. The research material consisted of physical education students. In total, 67 people participated in the study, including 38 women and 29 men. Respondents were divided into an experimental group “E” of 44 persons subjected to 24-h sleep deprivation and a control group “C” of 23 persons. Students completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) measuring daytime sleepiness. Students performed measurements of the maximum strength of knee joint extensor and flexor muscles. Measurements of muscle strength of flexors and extensors of the knee were taken on a UPR-02 A/S chair with Moment II by Sumer software. ANOVA (analysis of variance) was used to determine the significance of differences between experimental “E” and control “C” group. Statistical significance was defined at the level of p ≤ 0.05. Statistically significant differences were observed in the change of strength levels between groups at the strength moments of right (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.16) and left (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.08) knee muscles extensor. Changes in extensor muscle strength are significant for students with left dominant legs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e2020004
Author(s):  
Enas A Dammag ◽  
Nahla A.M. Hamed ◽  
Nabil A El Halawani ◽  
Heba S Kassem ◽  
Mona W Ayad

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm. The pathogenesis of CML is based on the oncoprotein termed BCR‐ABL1. TET2 initiates DNA demethylation and is frequently mutated in hematological malignancies including CML.(1) The relation between TET2 acquisition and CML transformation and/or imitinab resistance is needed to be investigated. (2) Aim: To evaluate Ten Eleven Translocation 2 gene (TET2) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs2454206, rs34402524, rs61744960) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in relation to the disease prognostic criteria. Materials & Method: The study included 84 subjects; 54 CML in chronic phase and 30 healthy subjects as control group matched for age and sex. Routine investigations including CBC, bone marrow aspiration, biochemical investigations and molecular study were performed in CML patients to identify the disease stage. DNA extraction and SNP assay for TET2 gene polymorphism was done using (Thermo-Fisher predesigned SNP, USA) PCR prism 7500. Results: The mean age was 45.98±15.7 yrs in CML patients and   39.3±6.587 yrs in control group (p>0.05). TET2 SNP rs 34402524 was either heterozygous and homozygous in CML (48%,and 46.2%) but was mainly homozygous among control (80%) group (p=0.012). TET2 SNP rs 2454206 cases within CML (65.4%) and control (63.3%) group had wild patterns (p=0.046). TET2 SNP rs 61744960 showed a homozygous pattern among all groups (CML and control) showing no statistical significance (p=0.528). TET2 SNP in CML cases did not alter the prognostic criteria as no statistical significance was noted (p>0.05) yet, it was significantly related to spleen size in rs 34402524 where homozygous group had huger sizes and higher BCR-ABL1 levels 6 months after starting TKIs (p<0.05). Conclusions/Recommendation: TET2 SNP is a common in Egyptian chronic myeloid leukemia. TET2 SNP rs 3442524 was associated with huger spleen size and higher BCR-ABL1 levels after 6 months of starting TKIs suggesting disease progression.


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