scholarly journals How Much Procalcitonin we use in Differentiation of Bacterial Pneumonia in Children?

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-22
Author(s):  
Adeline Larisa Horga
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Pneumonia ◽  
Treatment Algorithm ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
C Protein ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
X Ray ◽  
New Generation ◽  
And Control ◽  
Etiologic Diagnosis

Abstract Procalcitonin is a new generation marker used to differentiate bacterial from viral pneumonia. Although it is not a test routinely used in practice, it can be included in diagnosis and treatment algorithm of pneumonia in children. Studies have shown the effectiveness of procalcitonin in determining of duration of antibiotherapy and hospitalization, too. The test is superior to the other laboratory parameters, compared to reactive C protein, inclusively. Depending on the result of the pulmonary x-ray (bacterial pneumonia) admitted patients were included in: study group – patients with increased values of procalcitonin, and control group – patients with normal values ones. The study proposed a comparative analysis; the correlation index was used to demonstrate how laboratory parameters can interact, and the evolutionary trend of studied parameters was analysed. The results are consistent with the literature data, validating the superiority of procalcitonin in establishing the etiologic diagnosis and the treatment evaluation in bacterial pneumonia in children.

scholarly journals Polymorphism ofXRCC1,XRCC3, andXPDGenes and Risk of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Bănescu ◽  
Adrian P. Trifa ◽  
Smaranda Demian ◽  
Erzsebeth Benedek Lazar ◽  
Delia Dima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complementation Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Genotype Frequencies ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Variant Genotype ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
And Control ◽  
Group D ◽  
Repair Genes

The genetic polymorphisms of X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1), X-ray repair cross complementing group 3 (XRCC3), and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) repair genes may lead to genetic instability and leukemogenesis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association betweenXRCC1Arg399Gln, Arg280His and Arg194Trp,XRCC3Thr241Met, andXPDLys751Gln polymorphisms and the risk of developing CML in Romanian patients. A total of 156 patients diagnosed with CML and 180 healthy controls were included in this study. We found no association between CML andXRCC1orXRCC3variant genotypes in any of the investigated cases. A significant difference was observed in the variant genotype frequencies of theXPDLys751Gln polymorphism between the patients with CML and control group (for variant homozygous genotypes,OR=2.37; 95%CI=1.20–4.67;Pvalue = 0.016 and for combined heterozygous and variant homozygous genotypes,OR=1.72; 95%CI=1.10–2.69;Pvalue = 0.019). This was also observed when analyzing the variant 751Gln allele (OR=1.54; 95%CI=1.13–2.11;Pvalue = 0.008). Our results suggest that theXPDLys751Gln variant genotype increases the risk of CML.

Results of X-ray endovascular hemostasis in the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the colon and rectum, complicated by bleeding

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-189
Author(s):  
Alexey V. Shelekhov ◽  
V. V Dvornichenko ◽  
A. V Munkuev ◽  
R. I Rasulov ◽  
S. I Radostev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preoperative Radiotherapy ◽  
Malignant Neoplasm ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Donor Blood ◽  
Rectosigmoid Colon ◽  
Rectosigmoid Cancer ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Colon And Rectum ◽  
And Control

There are present near results of X - ray endovascular hemostasis in patients suffering from malignant neoplasm of rectosigmoid colon and rectum complicated by bleeding. Patients were divided into basic group (n=16) where the X - ray-endovascular hemostasis was performed and control group (17 patients) where the conservative methods of hemostasis were used. For angiography there was used X-raysurgical complex “GE INNOVA 4100” (General Electric, USA) and ”SHIMADZU” (Shimadzu Corporation, Japan). After preformed hemostasis, the patients of the control and basic groups for rectal cancer were undergone to preoperative radiotherapy, then radical surgery, for rectosigmoid cancer - surgical treatment. The quantity, volume of donor blood products in the treatment ofpatients of the control group were used in a significantly greater extent (p

scholarly journals Study of chromium, selenium and bromine concentrations in blood serum of patients with parenteral nutrition treatment using total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243492
Author(s):  
Monika Pierzak ◽  
Aldona Kubala-Kukuś ◽  
Dariusz Banaś ◽  
Ilona Stabrawa ◽  
Jolanta Wudarczyk-Moćko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parenteral Nutrition ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Fluorescence Analysis ◽  
Selenium Supplementation ◽  
Total Reflection ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
X Ray ◽  
And Control

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF) was used to determine chromium, selenium and bromine concentrations in blood serum samples of 50 patients with parenteral nutrition treatment. The concentrations were measured two times, namely in the first day (I measurement) of the treatment and the seventh day (II measurement) after the chromium and selenium supplementation. For comparison purposes also serum samples of 50 patients without nutritional disorders, admitted to a planned surgical procedure to remove the gall bladder (cholecystectomy), were analyzed and treated as the control group. Descriptive statistics of measured concentrations of Cr, Se and Br both for the studied and control groups was determined. In order to check the effectiveness of Cr and Se supplementation, the results of the first and seventh day measurements for studied group were statistically compared with each other, with literature reference values and with the results of the control group (two-group comparison). These comparisons indicate the effectiveness of selenium supplementation in the applied treatment procedure. In the case of Cr and Br concentrations no statistically significant differences were observed. We conclude that monitoring of the concentration of the important trace elements in human serum should be standard procedure in parenteral nutrition treatment. In this monitoring the TXRF technique can be successfully used.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of adding ivermectin to treatment in severe COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurullah Okumuş ◽  
Neşe Demirtürk ◽  
Rıza Aytaç Çetinkaya ◽  
Rahmet Güner ◽  
İsmail Yaşar Avcı ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Effective Treatment Option ◽  
Reference Treatment ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background and objectives An effective treatment option is not yet available for SARS-CoV2, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic and whose effects are felt more and more every day. Ivermectin is among the drugs whose effectiveness in treatment has been investigated. In this study; it was aimed to investigate the presence of gene mutations that alter ivermectin metabolism and cause toxic effects in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin use in the treatment of patients without mutation. Materials and methods Patients with severe COVID19 pneumonia were included in the study, which was planned as a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind phase 3 study. Two groups, the study group and the control group, took part in the study. Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg/day for 5 days in the form of a solution prepared for enteral use added to the reference treatment protocol -hydroxychloroquine + favipiravir + azithromycin- of patients included in the study group. Patients in the control group were given only reference treatment with 3 other drugs without ivermectin. The presence of mutations was investigated by performing sequence analysis in the mdr1/abcab1 gene with the Sanger method in patients included in the study group according to randomization. Patients with mutations were excluded from the study and ivermectin treatment was not continued. Patients were followed for 5 days after treatment. At the end of the treatment and follow-up period, clinical response and changes in laboratory parameters were evaluated. Results A total of 66 patients, 36 in the study group and 30 in the control group were included in the study. Mutations affecting ivermectin metabolism was detected in genetic tests of six (16.7%) patients in the study group and they were excluded from the study. At the end of the 5-day follow-up period, the rate of clinical improvement was 73.3% (22/30) in the study group and was 53.3% (16/30) in the control group (p = 0.10). At the end of the study, mortality developed in 6 patients (20%) in the study group and in 9 (30%) patients in the control group (p = 0.37). At the end of the follow-up period, the average peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of the study and control groups were found to be 93.5 and 93.0%, respectively. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/FiO2 ratios were determined as 236.3 ± 85.7 and 220.8 ± 127.3 in the study and control groups, respectively. While the blood lymphocyte count was higher in the study group compared to the control group (1698 ± 1438 and 1256 ± 710, respectively) at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.24); reduction in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and D-dimer levels was more pronounced in the study group (p = 0.02, p = 0.005 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions According to the findings obtained, ivermectin can provide an increase in clinical recovery, improvement in prognostic laboratory parameters and a decrease in mortality rates even when used in patients with severe COVID-19. Consequently, ivermectin should be considered as an alternative drug that can be used in the treatment of COVID-19 disease or as an additional option to existing protocols.

scholarly journals IS OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE TRULY A BENIGN KNEE CONDITION? A PILOT STUDY DEMONSTRATING INCREASED POSTERIOR TIBIAL SLOPE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0028
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Green ◽  
Sreetha Sidharthan ◽  
Lindsay M. Schlichte
Keyword(s):  
Patellar Tendon ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Tibial Slope ◽  
Posterior Tibial Slope ◽  
Ossification Center ◽  
Control Group ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Posterior Tibial ◽  
And Control

Background: Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a traction apophysitis caused by repetitive strain and chronic avulsion of the secondary ossification center of the tibal tuberosity from the patellar tendon. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine if OSD is associated with increased posterior tibial slope (PTS). Methods: A total of 40 knees with OSD and 32 control knees examined by the senior author between 2008 and 2019 were included. Patients aged 10 to 15 years old with clinical diagnosis of OSD supported by radiographic findings on lateral X-ray and MRI were eligible. Age- and sex-matched subjects with history of anterior knee pain but no evidence of OSD on clinical exam and no fragmentation of the tibial tubercle on lateral X-Ray and MRI were included in the control group. PTS was defined as the angle between the reference line and a line drawn tangent to the uppermost anterior and posterior edges of the medial tibial plateau. Measurements were carried out in duplicate on true lateral X-Rays by two blinded investigators. Interrater reliability of posterior tibial slope measurements between the two examiners was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Independent-sample student t-test was used to compare PTS in the OSD and control knees. Results: Mean age at time of lateral radiograph was 12.6 ± 1.6 years and 51% (37/72) of knees were male. There were no differences in age, sex, and laterality of knees between the OSD and control groups. Mean PTS was significantly higher in the OSD group (12.23º ± 3.58º) compared to the control group (8.82 º ± 2.76 º, p<0.001) (Figure 1). ICC was 0.931 (95% confidence interval, 0.890 to 0.957) for measurement of PTS between the two examiners, indicating almost perfect interrater reliability. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify an association between OSD and increased PTS. The clinical implications of this novel finding have not yet been elucidated. However, several studies have demonstrated that increased PTS is a risk factor for ACL injury and re-tear. It may be speculated in patients with OSD, stress from the extensor mechanism through the patellar tendon loads the anterior portion of the tibia disproportionately to the posterior segment, thereby resulting in asymmetric growth and an increased PTS. [Figure: see text]

scholarly journals The assessment of liver fibrosis in children with obesity on two methods: transient and two dimensional shear wave elastography

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Oana Mărginean ◽  
Lorena Elena Meliţ ◽  
Dana Valentina Ghiga ◽  
Maria Oana Săsăran
Keyword(s):  
Liver Stiffness ◽  
Shear Wave Elastography ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the liver stiffness values in children with obesity versus healthy children on 2D-SWE and TE taking into account different laboratory parameters. We performed a case-control study on 287 children aged between 3 to 18 years, admitted in a Romanian Pediatric Tertiary Hospital, which we divided according to the body mass index (BMI) into two groups: the study group-77 children with obesity, and control group-210 children with normal weight. All children underwent anamnesis, clinical exam, laboratory parameters, ultrasound exam, and elastography. Children with obesity presented higher values of platelets, AST, ALT, and AAR as compared to control group (p = 0.0005/p = 0.0065/p < 0.0001/p < 0.0001). We found no significant differences for APRI between the two groups (p = 0.9827), although the values were higher in children with obesity. Significantly higher values of liver stiffness in children with obesity on both 2D-SWE and TE (p = 0.0314/p < 0.0001) were obtained. Similarly, the velocity values measured by 2D-SWE were also significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.0001). Our findings revealed significantly higher levels of platelets, transaminases, AAR, and liver stiffness values on both TE and 2D-SWE in children with obesity. 2D-SWE and TE might represent useful non-invasive methods for predicting liver impairment associated to pediatric obesity.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Adding Ivermectin to Treatment in Severe COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurullah Okumuş ◽  
Nese Demirtürk ◽  
Rıza Aytaç ÇETİNKAYA ◽  
Rahmet GÜNER ◽  
İsmail Yaşar Avcı ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Effective Treatment Option ◽  
Improvement Rate ◽  
Reference Treatment ◽  
Laboratory Parameters ◽  
And Control

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:An effective treatment option is not yet available for SARS-CoV2, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic and whose effects are felt more and more every day. Ivermectin is among the drugs whose effectiveness in treatment has been investigated. In this study; it was aimed to investigate the presence of gene mutations that alter ivermectin metabolism and cause toxic effects in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin use in the treatment of patients without mutation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with severe COVID19 pneumonia were included in the study, which was planned as a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind phase 3 study. Two groups, the study group and the control group, took part in the study. Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg/day for five days in the form of a solution prepared for enteral use added to the reference treatment protocol -hydroxychloroquine + favipiravir + azithromycin- of patients included in the study group. Patients in the control group were given only reference treatment with 3 other drugs without ivermectin. The presence of mutations was investigated by performing sequence analysis in the mdr1/abcab1 gene with the Sanger method in patients included in the study group according to randomization. Patients with mutations were excluded from the study and ivermectin treatment was not continued. Patients were followed for 5 days after treatment. At the end of the treatment and follow-up period, clinical response and changes in laboratory parameters were evaluated.RESULTS: A total of 66 patients, 36 in the study group and 30 in the control group were included in the study. Mutations affecting ivermectin metabolism was detected in genetic tests of six (16.7%) patients in the study group and they were excluded from the study. At the end of the 5-day follow-up period, the clinical improvement rate was higher in the study group [22/30 (73.3%)] compared to the control group [16/30 (53.3%)] (p=0.10). At the end of the study, mortality developed in 6 patients (20%) in the study group and in 9 (30%) patients in the control group (p=0.37). At the end of the follow-up period, the average peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of the study and control groups were found to be 93.5% and 93.0%, respectively. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/FiO2 ratios were determined as 236.3 ± 85.7 and 220.8 ± 127.3 in the study and control groups, respectively. While the blood lymphocyte count was higher in the study group compared to the control group (1698±1438 and 1256±710, respectively) at the end of the follow-up period (p=0.24); reduction in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and D-dimer levels was more pronounced in the study group (p=0.02, p=0.005 and p=0.03, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings obtained, ivermectin can provide an increase in clinical recovery, improvement in prognostic laboratory parameters and a decrease in mortality rates even when used in patients with severe COVID-19. Consequently, ivermectin should be considered as an important alternative to the treatment of COVID-19 disease or as an additional option to existing protocols.

X-Ray Replication of Submicrometer Linewidth Patterns

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 136-137
Author(s):  
Henry I. Smith ◽  
D.C. Flanders
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam Lithography ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Electron Backscattering ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
Cross Sectional Profile ◽  
Carbon Foils ◽  
Sectional Profile ◽  
And Control ◽  
Soft Radiation

Scanning electron beam lithography has been used for a number of years to write submicrometer linewidth patterns in radiation sensitive films (resist films) on substrates. On semi-infinite substrates, electron backscattering severely limits the exposure latitude and control of cross-sectional profile for patterns having fundamental spatial frequencies below about 4000 Å(l),Recently, STEM'S have been used to write patterns with linewidths below 100 Å. To avoid the detrimental effects of electron backscattering however, the substrates had to be carbon foils about 100 Å thick (2,3). X-ray lithography using the very soft radiation in the range 10 - 50 Å avoids the problem of backscattering and thus permits one to replicate on semi-infinite substrates patterns with linewidths of the order of 1000 Å and less, and in addition provides means for controlling cross-sectional profiles. X-radiation in the range 4-10 Å on the other hand is appropriate for replicating patterns in the linewidth range above about 3000 Å, and thus is most appropriate for microelectronic applications (4 - 6).

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Causes a Marked Increase in Liver α-Tocopherol and Liver α-Tocopherol Transfer Protein in C57BL/6 J Mice

2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Min Chao ◽  
Wan-Hsuan Chen ◽  
Chun-Huei Liao ◽  
Huey-Mei Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Linoleic Acid ◽  
Conjugated Linoleic Acid ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Transfer Protein ◽  
And Control

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for the positional and geometric isomers of a conjugated diene of linoleic acid (C18:2, n-6). The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether levels of hepatic α-tocopherol, α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP), and antioxidant enzymes in mice were affected by a CLA-supplemented diet. C57BL/6 J mice were divided into the CLA and control groups, which were fed, respectively, a 5 % fat diet with or without 1 g/100 g of CLA (1:1 mixture of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12) for four weeks. α-Tocopherol levels in plasma and liver were significantly higher in the CLA group than in the control group. Liver α-TTP levels were also significantly increased in the CLA group, the α-TTP/β-actin ratio being 2.5-fold higher than that in control mice (p<0.01). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly decreased in the CLA group (p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in levels of three antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase). The accumulation of liver α-tocopherol seen with the CLA diet can be attributed to the antioxidant potential of CLA and the ability of α-TTP induction. The lack of changes in antioxidant enzyme protein levels and the reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver of CLA mice are due to α-tocopherol accumulation.

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