scholarly journals Antipruritic application of ovocystatin in atopic dermatitis in dogs - preliminary study

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-643
Author(s):  
Jarosław Popiel ◽  
Agnieszka Cekiera ◽  
Agnieszka Kurosad ◽  
Urszula Pasławska ◽  
Agnieszka Noszczyk-Nowak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Local Therapy ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Chicken Egg ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Clinical Changes ◽  
New Generation

Abstract The study was an attempt to determine the possibilities of using ovocystatin, a component of a new generation product of natural origin, in local therapy of atopic dermatitis in dogs by suppressing pruritus during illness. Chicken egg cystatin was used locally in the interdigital spaces of forelimbs of dogs used in the experiment. The degree of pruritus and clinical changes in the animals were defined using CADESI-03 scale before and after the beginning of the experiment. The results obtained proved that ovocystatin may be used as a substance suppressing pruritus in atopic dermatitis.

scholarly journals A preliminary study on diabetes self-management education and glycemic control among patients with diabetes mellitus

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kisokanth G. ◽  
Indrakumar J. ◽  
Prathapan S. ◽  
Joseph J. ◽  
Ilankoon I.M.P.S.
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Glycemic Control ◽  
Management Education ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Preliminary Study

This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) in the improvement of glycemic control among patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. The study was a prospective interventional study and conducted as a preliminary study at medical clinic, Base hospital, Kaluwanchikudy, Batticaloa. Thirty patients with T2DM were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A structured individual diabetes self-management education for 10 hours (one hour per week) was delivered to diabetic patients by the trained Nurse Health Educator. Glycosylate hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed as a main outcome measure and Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Body Mass Index (BMI) of each patient were also measured and recorded before and after the intervention. The respondent rate was 96.7% (n = 29). Majority of them were females (n = 25, 86.2%). A Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that DSME had a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c [8.60 (IQR 2.60) vs. 7.40 (IQR 2.10), p = .000] and FBS level [159.00 (IQR 77.50) vs. 134.00 (IQR 40.50), p = .002] at 3 months of intervention. The mean BMI at baseline was higher compared to 3 months of intervention [24.88 (SD ± 3.06) vs. 24.19 (SD ± 2.79)] which was statistically significant (p = .000). Majority of participants (n = 22, 75.9%) had improved their HbA1c level by ≥ 0.5% in 3 months. The diabetes self-management education is an effective measure in improving glycemic control and other clinical parameters among patients with T2DM. Thus, DSME needs to be implemented among clinic patients with T2DM for the better outcome and the preventions of complications.

scholarly journals Changes of Walking Activity During the First Cycle Phases of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Seoul, Korea

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672110265
Author(s):  
Youngjun Park ◽  
Haekwon Chung ◽  
Sohyun Park
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Voluntary Participation ◽  
Walking Activity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Acceleration And Deceleration ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Government

Aim: This study explores the changes in regular walking activities during the phases of the pandemic. Background: With the spread of COVID-19 transmission, people are refraining from going out, reducing their physical activity. In South Korea, COVID-19 broke out in the 4th week of 2020 and experienced the first cycle phases of the pandemic, such as outbreak, widespread, and decline. In response to the pandemic, the government encouraged voluntary participation in social distancing campaigns, and people reduced their outside activities. Methods: This article examines the decrease and increase of the Prevalence of Regular Walking (≥30 min of moderate walking a day, on ≥5 days a week) by the COVID-19 phases. This study is based on weekly walking data for 15 weeks in 2020, via the smartphone healthcare app, which is managed by 25 public health offices of the Seoul government. Results: According to the findings, the level of prevalence of regular walking (PRW) has a significant difference before and after the outbreak, and every interval of the four-stage COVID-19 phases, that is, pre-pandemic, initiation, acceleration, and deceleration. The level of PRW sharply decreased during initiation and acceleration intervals. In the deceleration interval of COVID-19, the PRW kept increasing, but it has not yet reached the same level as the previous year when the COVID-19 did not exist. Conclusions: As a preliminary study, this study explains empirically how COVID-19 changed PRW in Seoul. It would be helpful to enhance our understanding of the changes in physical inactivity in the pandemic period.

Validation of cerebral arteriovenous malformation hemodynamics assessed by DSA using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography: preliminary study

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia F Shakur ◽  
Denise Brunozzi ◽  
Ahmed E Hussein ◽  
Andreas Linninger ◽  
Chih-Yang Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Angiography ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Difference

BackgroundThe hemodynamic evaluation of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) using DSA has not been validated against true flow measurements.ObjectiveTo validate AVM hemodynamics assessed by DSA using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA).Materials and methodsPatients seen at our institution between 2007 and 2016 with a supratentorial AVM and DSA and QMRA obtained before any treatment were retrospectively reviewed. DSA assessment of AVM flow comprised AVM arterial-to-venous time (A-Vt) and iFlow transit time. A-Vt was defined as the difference between peak contrast intensity in the cavernous internal carotid artery and peak contrast intensity in the draining vein. iFlow transit times were determined using syngo iFlow software. A-Vt and iFlow transit times were correlated with total AVM flow measured using QMRA and AVM angioarchitectural and clinical features.Results33 patients (mean age 33 years) were included. Nine patients presented with hemorrhage. Mean AVM volume was 9.8 mL (range 0.3–57.7 mL). Both A-Vt (r=−0.47, p=0.01) and iFlow (r=−0.44, p=0.01) correlated significantly with total AVM flow. iFlow transit time was significantly shorter in patients who presented with seizure but A-Vt and iFlow did not vary with other AVM angioarchitectural features such as venous stenosis or hemorrhagic presentation.ConclusionsA-Vt and iFlow transit times on DSA correlate with cerebral AVM flow measured using QMRA. Thus, these parameters may be used to indirectly estimate AVM flow before and after embolization during angiography in real time.

scholarly journals Lingual–Alveolar Contact Pressure During Speech in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Preliminary Findings

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 810-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Searl ◽  
Stephanie Knollhoff ◽  
Richard J. Barohn
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Contact Pressure ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Contact Pressures ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose This preliminary study on lingual–alveolar contact pressures (LACP) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) had several aims: (a) to evaluate whether the protocol induced fatigue, (b) to compare LACP during speech (LACP-Sp) and during maximum isometric pressing (LACP-Max) in people with ALS (PALS) versus healthy controls, (c) to compare the percentage of LACP-Max utilized during speech (%Max) for PALS versus controls, and (d) to evaluate relationships between LACP-Sp and LACP-Max with word intelligibility. Method Thirteen PALS and 12 healthy volunteers produced /t, d, s, z, l, n/ sounds while LACP-Sp was recorded. LACP-Max was obtained before and after the speech protocol. Word intelligibility was obtained from auditory–perceptual judgments. Results LACP-Max values measured before and after completion of the speech protocol did not differ. LACP-Sp and LACP-Max were statistically lower in the ALS bulbar group compared with controls and PALS with only spinal symptoms. There was no statistical difference between groups for %Max. LACP-Sp and LACP-Max were correlated with word intelligibility. Conclusions It was feasible to obtain LACP-Sp measures without inducing fatigue. Reductions in LACP-Sp and LACP-Max for bulbar speakers might reflect tongue weakness. Although confirmation of results is needed, the data indicate that individuals with high word intelligibility maintained LACP-Sp at or above 2 kPa and LACP-Max at or above 50 kPa.

Differential Diagnosis of Seborrheic Dermatitis

1986 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 204-211
Author(s):  
Mary L. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Seborrheic Dermatitis ◽  
Local Therapy ◽  
Skin Condition ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Common Skin ◽  
Nutritional And Metabolic Diseases

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition of infancy of unknown etiology. The disorder is usually mild and responsive to therapy. In severe or atypical cases, a variety of other entities should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, psoriasiform-id reaction, fungal infections, and irritant contact dermatitis can be differentiated on clinical grounds. Less common but more serious disorders, such as histiocytosis X, immunodeficiency disorders, and nutritional and metabolic diseases, may be considered in the child whose disease does not spontaneously resolve or respond satisfactorily to local therapy. Laboratory studies including skin biopsy may be helfpul in these cases. Seborrheic dermatitis is uncommon in children after infancy and before puberty. In this age group, scalp scaling is likely to be due to other causes, such as tinea capitis, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis.

scholarly journals Effects of Virtual Reality Immersion and Audiovisual Distraction Techniques for Patients with Pruritus

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Leibovici ◽  
Florella Magora ◽  
Sarale Cohen ◽  
Arieh Ingber
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Psoriasis Vulgaris ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Chronic Pruritus ◽  
Subjective Reports ◽  
Advanced Computer

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality immersion (VRI), an advanced computer-generated technique, decreased subjective reports of pain in experimental and procedural medical therapies. Furthermore, VRI significantly reduced pain-related brain activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Resemblance between anatomical and neuroendocrine pathways of pain and pruritus may prove VRI to be a suitable adjunct for basic and clinical studies of the complex aspects of pruritus.OBJECTIVES: To compare effects of VRI with audiovisual distraction (AVD) techniques for attenuation of pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris.METHODS: Twenty-four patients suffering from chronic pruritus – 16 due to atopic dermatitis and eight due to psoriasis vulgaris – were randomly assigned to play an interactive computer game using a special visor or a computer screen. Pruritus intensity was self-rated before, during and 10 min after exposure using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10. The interviewer rated observed scratching on a three-point scale during each distraction program.RESULTS: Student’sttests were significant for reduction of pruritus intensity before and during VRI and AVD (P=0.0002 and P=0.01, respectively) and were significant only between ratings before and after VRI (P=0.017). Scratching was mostly absent or mild during both programs.CONCLUSIONS: VRI and AVD techniques demonstrated the ability to diminish itching sensations temporarily. Further studies on the immediate and late effects of interactive computer distraction techniques to interrupt itching episodes will open potential paths for future pruritus research.

scholarly journals Pilot Study: Does Contamination with Enniatin B and Beauvericin Affect the Antioxidant Capacity of Cereals Commonly Used in Animal Feeding?

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1835
Author(s):  
Valentina Serra ◽  
Giancarlo Salvatori ◽  
Grazia Pastorelli
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Natural Antioxidants ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Total Antioxidant ◽  
Animal Feeding ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Scientific Attention ◽  
Wheat Flours ◽  
Larger Sample

Increasing consumption of cereals has been associated with reduced risk of several chronic diseases, as they contain phytochemicals that combat oxidative stress. Cereal contamination by the “emerging mycotoxins” beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENs) is a worldwide health problem that has not yet received adequate scientific attention. Their presence in feeds represents a risk for animals and a potential risk for humans because of their carry-over to animal-derived products. This preliminary study aimed to investigate if the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of corn, barley, and wheat flours could be influenced by contamination with increasing levels of BEA and ENN B. The highest TAC value was observed in barley compared with wheat and corn (p < 0.001) before and after contamination. No effect of mycotoxin or mycotoxin level was found, whereas cereal x mycotoxin exhibited a significant effect (p < 0.001), showing a lower TAC value in wheat contaminated by ENN B and in barley contaminated by BEA. In conclusion, barley is confirmed as a source of natural antioxidants with antiradical potentials. Additional studies with a larger sample size are necessary to confirm the obtained results, and investigations of the toxic effects of these emergent mycotoxins on animals and humans should be deepened.

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