scholarly journals The Ankyrin Repeat and Kinase Domain Containing 1 Gene Polymorphism (ANKK1 Taq1A) and Personality Traits in Addicted Subjects

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 2687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Grzywacz ◽  
Jolanta Chmielowiec ◽  
Krzysztof Chmielowiec ◽  
Bożena Mroczek ◽  
Jolanta Masiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Method ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Neo Five Factor Inventory ◽  
Neuroticism Scale ◽  
And Control ◽  
Main Effects

The Taq1A polymorphism located in the ANKK1 gene is one of the most widely studied polymorphisms in regards to the genetics of behavior and addiction. The aim of our study was to analyze this polymorphism with regard to personality characteristics and anxiety measured by means of the Personality Inventory—(NEO Five-Factor Inventory—NEO—FFI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in polysubstance addicted subjects. The study group consisted of 600 male volunteers, including 299 addicted subjects and 301 controls. Psychiatrists recruited members for both groups. Addiction was diagnosed in the case group. In the control group mental illness was excluded. The same psychometric test and genotyping using the real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method was performed for both groups. The results were investigated by means of multivariate analysis of the main effects Multi-factor ANOVA. Significantly higher scores on the scale of STAI state and Neuroticism and Openness traits, as well as lower scores on the scales of Extraversion, Agreeability, and Conscientiousness, were found in the case group subjects, compared to the controls. Differences in frequency of genotypes and alleles of Taq1A polymorphism between the studied groups were not found. Multi-factor ANOVA of addicted subjects and control subjects and the ANKK1 Taq1A variant interaction approximated the statistical significance for the STAI state. The main effects ANOVA of both subjects’ groups were found for the STAI state and trait, the Neuroticism scale, the Extraversion scale, and the Agreeability scale. The ANKK1 Taq1A main effects approximated the statistical significance of the STAI trait. Our study shows not only differences in personality traits between addicted and non-addicted subjects, but also the possible impact of ANKK1 on given traits and on addiction itself.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Level in the Serum of Children With Idiopathic Bronchiectasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Babaei ◽  
Zahra Kanannejad ◽  
Soheila Alyasin
Keyword(s):  
Serum Level ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control

Bronchiectasis is a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic cough, sputum production, recurrent respiratory infections, and permanent bronchial dilation. The association between the level of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and bronchiectasis is controversial. In this study, we aimed to investigate this association in children with idiopathic bronchiectasis. The study was conducted on 20 patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis as the case group (mean age 15.9±2.1) and 20 healthy individuals as the control group (mean age 14.9±2.6). Serum AAT level was measured using nephelometric analysis (g/L). Other criteria including sex, parent consanguinity, number of hospitalizations, age of the first symptom were evaluated in both groups related to AAT level. The mean serum level of AAT in the case and control groups were 1.3±0.29; 1.5±0.59, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the AAT level distribution, according to AAT normal range (P=0.01). The case group had a more positive attitude toward consanguinity than the control group (66.7% versus 33.3%; P<0.001). The results showed that 80% of patients had the first symptom of disease under one year of age, 6.6% 1-5 years, 6.6% 5-10 years, and 6.6% in more than ten years old. In the case group, 53.3% had a history of medical hospitalization for one time, 26.7% two times, while 20% of the patients had no medical hospitalization. Decreased AAT serum level and high consanguinity rates may be considered as two risk factors for idiopathic bronchiectasis occurrence in children.

scholarly journals Risk factors of bronchiolitis

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
I Gde Doddy Kurnia Indrawan ◽  
IB Subanada ◽  
Rina Triasih
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cigarette Smoke ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
History Of ◽  
Matched Case ◽  
And Control

Background Bronchiolitis peak incidence is in children aged 2 -6months. History of atopy in parents, non-exclusive breastfeeding,exposure to cigarette smoke, and infants living in crowded areasmay be risk factors for bronchiolitis. Gestational of age at birth isalso influences the mortality oflower respiratory tract infection.Objective To evaluate the following conditions as possiblerisk factors for bronchiolitis: history of atopy, non-exclusivebreastfeeding, preterm infants, exposure to cigarette smoke, and2:: 6 persons residing in the home.Methods A sex-matched case-control study was conductedby collecting data from medical records at Sanglah Hospital,Denpasar. The case group subjects met the diagnostic criteriafor bronchiolitis and were aged 1-24 months. The control groupincluded patients with diagnoses unrelated to the respiratorysystem. Data was analyzed using bivariate (Mc.N emar) andmultivariate methods (logistic regression) with 95% confidenceintervals and statistical significance value of P <0 .05.Results There were 96 subjects in our study, consisted of 48subjects in the case group and 48 in the control group. Thecase and control groups were similar in baseline characteristics.The presence of history of atopy (OR 34.7; 95%CI 3 to 367,P=0.003), non-exclusive breastfeeding (OR 4.3; 95%CI 1.4 to13, P=0.010), exposure to cigarette smoke (OR 3; 95%CI 1 to9.2, P=0.047), and 2:: 6 persons living in the home (OR 7.9;95%CI 2.6 to 24, P<0.0001) were found to be significant riskfactors for bronchiolitis, while the preterm infants seem notsignificant as a risk factor of bronchiolitis (OR3; 95%CI 0.31 to78.99, P=0.625).Conclusion History of atopy, non-exclusive breastfeeding,exposure to cigarette smoke, and 2:: 6 persons living in the homeare found to be risk factors, while preterm infants seem not a riskfactor for bronchiolitis.

scholarly journals Associations Between the Dopamine D4 Receptor and DAT1 Dopamine Transporter Genes Polymorphisms and Personality Traits in Addicted Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Chmielowiec ◽  
Krzysztof Chmielowiec ◽  
Aleksandra Suchanecka ◽  
Grzegorz Trybek ◽  
Bożena Mroczek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Dopamine System ◽  
Mesolimbic Dopamine System ◽  
Dopaminergic Transmission ◽  
D4 Receptor ◽  
Main Effects

Many factors are involved in addiction. The dopaminergic system is thought to be the key element in this process. The mesolimbic dopamine system is a crucial element in the reward system. Changes in this system are thought to be leading to substance use disorders and dependence. Therefore, for our study we chose an analysis of two polymorphisms in genes (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats in DRD4 and DAT1) responsible for dopaminergic transmission, which might be implicated in the scores of personality traits measured by the NEO-FFI test. The study group consisted of 600 male volunteers—299 addicted subjects and 301 controls. Both groups were recruited by psychiatrists; in the case group addiction was diagnosed; in the controls a mental illness was excluded. In both groups the same psychometric test and genotyping by the PCR VNTR method were performed. The results were investigated by a multivariate analysis of the main effects ANOVA. In the presented study no DRD4 main effects were found for any of the analyzed traits but the DRD4 main effects approximated to the statistical significance for the extraversion scale. However, no DAT1 main effects were found for any of the analyzed traits but the DAT1 main effects approximated to the statistical significance for the agreeability scale.These associations open new possibilities for addiction research.

scholarly journals Investigation of TAGAP gene polymorphism (rs1738074) in Turkish pediatric celiac patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melek Pehlivan ◽  
Tülay K. Ayna ◽  
Maşallah Baran ◽  
Mustafa Soyöz ◽  
Aslı Ö. Koçyiğit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Method ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Allele Specific ◽  
And Control

Abstract Objectives There are several hypotheses on the effects of the rs1738074 T/C single nucleotide polymorphism in the TAGAP gene; however, there has been no study on Turkish pediatric patients. We aimed to investigate the association of celiac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) comorbidity with the polymorphism in the TAGAP gene of Turkish pediatric patients. Methods Totally, 127 pediatric CD patients and 100 healthy children were included. We determined the polymorphism by the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. We used IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0 and Arlequin 3.5.2 for the statistical analyses. The authors have no conflict of interest. Results It was determined that 72% (n=154) of only CD patients had C allele, whereas 28% (n=60) had T allele. Of the patients with celiac and T1DM, 42.5% (n=17) and 57.5% (n=23) had T and C alleles, respectively. Of the individuals in control group, 67% (n=134) had C allele, whereas 33% (n=66) had T allele. Conclusions There was no significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies between the patient and control groups (p>0.05). There was no significant association between the disease risk and the polymorphism in our study group.

scholarly journals Hepatic steatosis: a risk factor for increased COVID-19 prevalence and severity—a computed tomography study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmaa Ali ◽  
Mona Hasan ◽  
Shaimaa Hamed ◽  
Amir Elhamy
Keyword(s):  
Hepatic Steatosis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
Liver Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
World Population ◽  
Positive Class ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Around 25% of the world population was affected by the metabolic-related fatty liver disorder. Hepatic steatosis is frequently observed in conjunction with hypertension, obesity comorbidities, and diabetes. We evaluate the hepatic steatosis frequency found in chest CT exams of COVID-19-positive cases compared to non-infected controls and evaluate the related increased prevalence and severity of COVID. Results Our research includes 355 subjects, 158 with positive PCR for COVID-19 (case group) and 197 with negative PCR and negative CT chest (control group). The mean age in the positive group was 50.6 ± 16 years, and in the control, it was 41.3 ± 16 years (p < 0.001). Our study consists of 321 men (90.5%) and 34 women (9.5%). The number of males in both cases and control groups was greater. In the case group, 93% men vs. 6.9% women, while in controls, 88.3% men vs.11.6% women, p < 0.001. CT revealed normal results in 55.5% of individuals (i.e., CORADs 1) and abnormal findings in 45.5% of participants (i.e., CORADs 2–5). In abnormal scan, CO-RADs 2 was 13.92%, while CO-RADs 3–4 were 20.89% of cases. CO-RADs 5 comprised 65.19% of all cases. Approximately 42.6% of cases had severe disease (CT score ≥ 20), all of them were CO-RADs 5. The PCR-positive class had a greater prevalence of hepatic steatosis than controls (28.5% vs.12.2%, p < 0.001). CO-RADs 2 represented 11.1%, CO-RADs 3–4 represented 15.6%, and CO-RADs 5 represented 73.3% in the hepatic steatosis cases. The mean hepatic attenuation value in the case group was 46.79 ± 12.68 and in the control group 53.34 ± 10.28 (p < 0.001). When comparing patients with a higher severity score (CT score ≥ 20) to those with non-severe pneumonia, it was discovered that hepatic steatosis is more prevalent (73.2% vs. 26.8%). Conclusions Steatosis was shown to be substantially more prevalent in COVID-19-positive individuals. There is a relation among metabolic syndrome, steatosis of the liver, and obesity, as well as the COVID-19 severity.

scholarly journals Safety and effectiveness evaluation of a two-handed technique combining harmonic scalpel and laparoscopic Peng’s multifunction operative dissector in laparoscopic hemihepatectomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwei Cai ◽  
Guixing Jiang ◽  
Yuelong Liang ◽  
Yangyang Xie ◽  
Junhao Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
Operative Time ◽  
Harmonic Scalpel ◽  
Peak Level ◽  
Bile Leakage ◽  
Liver Parenchyma ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Intraoperative Blood Loss ◽  
And Control

Abstract Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a two-hand technique combining harmonic scalpel (HS) and laparoscopic Peng’s multifunction operative dissector (LPMOD) in patients who underwent laparoscopic hemihepatectomy (LHH). Methods We designed and conducted a case-control study nested in a prospectively collected laparoscopic liver surgery database. Patients who underwent LHH for liver parenchyma transection using HS + LPMOD were defined as cases (n = 98) and LPMOD only as controls (n = 47) from January 2016 to May 2018. Propensity score matching (1:1) between the case and control groups was used in the analyses. Results The case group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss in milliliters (169.4 ± 133.5 vs. 221.5 ± 176.3, P = 0.03) and shorter operative time in minutes (210.5 ± 56.1 vs. 265.7 ± 67.1, P = 0.02) comparing to the control group. The conversion to laparotomy, postoperative hospital stay, resection margin, the mean peak level of postoperative liver function parameters, bile leakage rate, and others were comparable between the two groups. There was no perioperative mortality. Conclusions We demonstrated that the two-handed technique combing HS and LPMOD in LHH is safe and effective which is associated with shorter operative time and less intraoperative blood loss compared with LPMOD alone. The technique facilitates laparoscopic liver resection and is recommended for use.

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

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 491-499
Author(s):  
Ilze Upeniece ◽  
Monta Beltiņa
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
General Education ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Nail Changes ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
And Control ◽  
Traumatic Damage

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.

scholarly journals Impact of ascorbic acid in reducing the incidence of vancomycin associated nephrotoxicity in critically ill patients: A preliminary randomized controlled trial

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Nouran Hesham El-Sherazy ◽  
Naglaa Samir Bazan ◽  
Sara Mahmoud Shaheen ◽  
Nagwa A. Sabri
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
And Control

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.

scholarly journals Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ESR2 and FSHR genes with poor ovarian response in infertile Jordanian women

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79
Author(s):  
Amer Mahmoud Sindiani ◽  
Osamah Batiha ◽  
Esra’a Al-zoubi ◽  
Sara Khadrawi ◽  
Ghadeer Alsoukhni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Ovarian Response ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Poor Ovarian Response ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Number Of Patients

Objective: Poor ovarian response (POR) refers to a subnormal follicular response that leads to a decrease in the quality and quantity of the eggs retrieved after ovarian stimulation during assisted reproductive treatment (ART). The present study investigated the associations of multiple variants of the estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genes with POR in infertile Jordanian women undergoing ART.Methods: Four polymorphisms, namely ESR2 rs1256049, ESR2 rs4986938, FSHR rs6165, and FSHR rs6166, were investigated in 60 infertile Jordanian women undergoing ART (the case group) and 60 age-matched fertile women (the control group), with a mean age of 33.60±6.34 years. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism and then validated using Sanger sequencing.Results: The p-value of the difference between the case and control groups regarding FSHR rs6166 was very close to 0.05 (p=0.054). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the other three SNPs, namely ESR2 rs1256049, ESR2 rs4986938, and FSHR rs6165 (p=0.561, p=0.433, and p=0.696, respectively).Conclusion: The association between FSHR rs6166 and POR was not statistically meaningful in the present study, but the near-significant result of this experiment suggests that statistical significance might be found in a future study with a larger number of patients.

scholarly journals The Impact of Divergent and Convergent Tasks on Iraqi EFL Students Reading Comprehension Success

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Sabeeha Hamza Dehham ◽  
Nadia Majeed Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Reading Skills ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Preparatory Stage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

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.

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