External exposure levels and fluoride content in the urine of workers at aluminium electrolysis

Introduction. In the context of large-scale modernization and intensification of aluminium production, it becomes relevant to assess the actual fluoride loads and the main factors that determine the occupational exposure of workers to fluorides for health risk analysis. Materials and methods. Monitoring studies of the content of hydrofluoride and aerosols of fluoride salts in the air of electrolysis shops were carried out with traditional and modernized technologies for producing aluminium and fluorine in urine in 108 workers of the primary professions and 35 people in the control group. Determination of the concentration of fluorides was carried out by photometric methods, and fluorine in urine - by ionometric methods. Results. The total concentration of fluoride compounds in the air of the modernized shops was 1.4-2.1 times lower than the values in traditional shops. The fluoride content in the urine of workers in these workshops ranged from 0.8 to 4.7 mg/l, 1.1-6.7 times higher than the level of the control group and 1.1-2.3 times the limit value of the biological exposure index. The highest external and internal fluoride loads and associated health risks are found in workers who maintain electrolyzers and anodes. A closer, noticeable (r = 0.644) correlation was found between the content of fluoride in urine and the levels of gaseous hydrofluoride in the air, indicating its predominant effect on workers compared to other determinants (total concentration of fluorides, seniority and age). Conclusion. The studies’ results indicate a high additional informative value and reliability of biomonitoring of fluoride in urine, which, combined with analysis of air pollution with fluorides, provides a completely objective assessment of the risk of exposure to workers. The presence of high levels of hydrofluoride in the air of electrolysis shops creates a higher occupational health risk for workers.

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Dynamics of symptoms of genitourinary menopausal syndrome and the frequency of recurrence of lower urinary tract infection in women in periand postmenopausal patients with combined therapy with Trioginal®

GYNECOLOGY ◽

10.26442/20795696.2018.6.180119 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 67-72

Author(s):

D Yu Pushkar ◽

M Yu Gvozdev

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Lower Urinary Tract ◽

Urine Culture ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Control Group ◽

Urination Disorders ◽

Menopausal Syndrome ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Two Stages ◽

Lower Urinary

Material and methods. The study included patients (n=164) in peri- and postmenopause, having a laboratory-confirmed picture of the genitourinary menopausal syndrome - atrophic vulvovaginitis and suffering from recurrent lower urinary tract infections (UTI) - cystitis and urethritis. All patients underwent standard antibacterial therapy (ABT) UTI in accordance with the results of bacteriological urine culture according to Russian clinical guidelines on urology. Against the background of ABT, 164 patients received additional therapy with Trioginal® (the study group - SG) containing estriol, micronized progesterone and Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus Doderleini 35 (LCR 35) lactobacillus strain. Trioginal® was administered intravaginally in two stages: for 20 days, 2 capsules per day, then for 10 days, 1 capsule per day. In the comparison group - CG (n=67) with ABT, Ovipol Klio® (estriol monopreparation) was additionally intravaginally used in two stages: for 14 days, 1 suppository per day, then for 2 weeks, 1 suppository 2 times a week. The control group consisted of 30 patients receiving only standard ABT UTI, local hormone therapy for vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) was not performed. The observation period was 12 months after the end of the course of therapy. At all stages of treatment, a subjective and objective assessment of the severity of urination disorders and urogenital atrophy (UDI-6 questionnaire), their impact on the quality of life of patients (questionnaire IIQ-7), indicators of bacteriuria, bacterial urine culture and vaginal biocenosis, frequency of undesirable phenomena were carried out. According to the initial characteristics of the group of patients were comparable. Results. At all stages of the study, in the group of patients who received therapy with the use of the Trioginal® drug, there was a significant improvement in the clinical picture of urination disorders compared to the CG and the control (main) group - MG (in SG - 18% at the end of therapy versus 100% before the start of therapy; CG - 26 % versus 100% respectively; Ledger - 58% versus 100% respectively; p

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Evaluation of Ovaries in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome using Shear Wave Elastography

Current Medical Imaging Formerly Current Medical Imaging Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573405615666190114150538 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 578-583

Author(s):

Aysegul Altunkeser ◽

Zeynep Ozturk Inal ◽

Nahide Baran

Keyword(s):

Shear Wave ◽

Large Scale ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Left Ovary ◽

Control Group ◽

Tissue Elasticity ◽

Group I ◽

Pcos Group ◽

The Right

Background: Shear wave electrography (SWE) is a novel non-invasive imaging technique which demonstrate tissue elasticity. Recent research evaluating the elasticity properties of normal and pathological tissues emphasize the diagnostic importance of this technique. Aims: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic overgrowth, may cause infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of ovaries in patients with PCOS using SWE. Methods: 66 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (PCOS = group I) and 72 patients with non-PCOS (Control = group II), were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Ovarian elasticity was assessed in all patients with SWE, and speed values were obtained from the ovaries. The elasticity of the ovaries was compared between the two groups. Results: While there were statistically significant differences between the groups in body mass index (BMI), right and left ovarian volumes, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels (p<0.05), no significant differences were found between groups I and II in the velocity (for the right ovary 3.89±1.81 vs. 2.93±0.72, p=0.301; for the left ovary 2.88±0.65 vs. 2.95±0.80, p=0.577) and elastography (for the right ovary 36.62±17.78 vs. 36.79±14.32, p=0.3952; for the left ovary 36.56±14.15 vs. 36.26±15.10, p=0.903) values, respectively. Conclusion: We could not obtain different velocity and elastography values from the ovaries of the patients with PCOS using SWE. Therefore, further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate this issue.

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Optimizing Manufacturing and Osseointegration of Ti6Al4V Implants through Precision Casting and Calcium and Phosphorus Ion Implantation? In Vivo Results of a Large-Scale Animal Trial

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13071670 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1670 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wölfle-Roos JV ◽

Katmer Amet B ◽

Fiedler J ◽

Michels H ◽

Kappelt G ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ion Implantation ◽

Large Scale ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Control Group ◽

Implant Surface ◽

Precision Casting ◽

Pull Out ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Calcium And Phosphorus

Background: Uncemented implants are still associated with several major challenges, especially with regard to their manufacturing and their osseointegration. In this study, a novel manufacturing technique—an optimized form of precision casting—and a novel surface modification to promote osseointegration—calcium and phosphorus ion implantation into the implant surface—were tested in vivo. Methods: Cylindrical Ti6Al4V implants were inserted bilaterally into the tibia of 110 rats. We compared two generations of cast Ti6Al4V implants (CAST 1st GEN, n = 22, and CAST 2nd GEN, n = 22) as well as cast 2nd GEN Ti6Al4V implants with calcium (CAST + CA, n = 22) and phosphorus (CAST + P, n = 22) ion implantation to standard machined Ti6Al4V implants (control, n = 22). After 4 and 12 weeks, maximal pull-out force and bone-to-implant contact rate (BIC) were measured and compared between all five groups. Results: There was no significant difference between all five groups after 4 weeks or 12 weeks with regard to pull-out force (p > 0.05, Kruskal Wallis test). Histomorphometric analysis showed no significant difference of BIC after 4 weeks (p > 0.05, Kruskal–Wallis test), whereas there was a trend towards a higher BIC in the CAST + P group (54.8% ± 15.2%), especially compared to the control group (38.6% ± 12.8%) after 12 weeks (p = 0.053, Kruskal–Wallis test). Conclusion: In this study, we found no indication of inferiority of Ti6Al4V implants cast with the optimized centrifugal precision casting technique of the second generation compared to standard Ti6Al4V implants. As the employed manufacturing process holds considerable economic potential, mainly due to a significantly decreased material demand per implant by casting near net-shape instead of milling away most of the starting ingot, its application in manufacturing uncemented implants seems promising. However, no significant advantages of calcium or phosphorus ion implantation could be observed in this study. Due to the promising results of ion implantation in previous in vitro and in vivo studies, further in vivo studies with different ion implantation conditions should be considered.

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An Internet-based health gateway device for interactive communication and automatic data uploading: Clinical efficacy for type 2 diabetes in a multi-centre trial

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x16657500 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 595-604 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jae Hyoung Cho ◽

Hun-Sung Kim ◽

Seung Hyun Yoo ◽

Chang Hee Jung ◽

Woo Je Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Glucose Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Diabetes Management ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Diabetes Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Anthropometric Parameters ◽

Automatic Data

Introduction The aim of this study was to improve the quality of diabetes control and evaluate the efficacy of an Internet-based integrated healthcare system for diabetes management and safety. Methods We conducted a large-scale, multi-centre, randomized clinical trial involving 484 patients. Patients in the intervention group ( n = 244) were treated with the Internet-based system for six months, while the control group ( n = 240) received the usual outpatient management over the same period. HbA1c, blood chemistries, anthropometric parameters, and adverse events were assessed at the beginning of the study, after three months, and the end of the study. Results There were no initial significant differences between the groups with respect to demographics and clinical parameters. Upon six-month follow-up, HbA1c levels were significantly decreased from 7.86 ± 0.69% to 7.55 ± 0.86% within the intervention group ( p < 0.001) compared to 7.81 ± 0.66% to 7.70 ± 0.88% within the control group. Postprandial glucose reduction was predominant. A subgroup with baseline HbA1c higher than 8% and good compliance achieved a reduction of HbA1c by 0.8 ± 1.05%. Glucose control and waist circumference reduction were more effective in females and subjects older than 40 years of age. There were no adverse events associated with the intervention. Discussion This e-healthcare system was effective for glucose control and body composition improvement without associated adverse events in a multi-centre trial. This system may be effective in improving diabetes control in the general population.

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Automated Cytogenetic Biodosimetry at Population-Scale

Radiation ◽

10.3390/radiation1020008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 79-94

Author(s):

Peter K. Rogan ◽

Eliseos J. Mucaki ◽

Ben C. Shirley ◽

Yanxin Li ◽

Ruth C. Wilkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Large Scale ◽

Dicentric Chromosome ◽

Automated Assignment ◽

Simulated Population ◽

Dose Estimation ◽

Processing Times ◽

Multiple Processors ◽

Exposure Levels ◽

Population Scale

The dicentric chromosome (DC) assay accurately quantifies exposure to radiation; however, manual and semi-automated assignment of DCs has limited its use for a potential large-scale radiation incident. The Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identifier and Dose Estimator (ADCI) software automates unattended DC detection and determines radiation exposures, fulfilling IAEA criteria for triage biodosimetry. This study evaluates the throughput of high-performance ADCI (ADCI-HT) to stratify exposures of populations in 15 simulated population scale radiation exposures. ADCI-HT streamlines dose estimation using a supercomputer by optimal hierarchical scheduling of DC detection for varying numbers of samples and metaphase cell images in parallel on multiple processors. We evaluated processing times and accuracy of estimated exposures across census-defined populations. Image processing of 1744 samples on 16,384 CPUs required 1 h 11 min 23 s and radiation dose estimation based on DC frequencies required 32 sec. Processing of 40,000 samples at 10 exposures from five laboratories required 25 h and met IAEA criteria (dose estimates were within 0.5 Gy; median = 0.07). Geostatistically interpolated radiation exposure contours of simulated nuclear incidents were defined by samples exposed to clinically relevant exposure levels (1 and 2 Gy). Analysis of all exposed individuals with ADCI-HT required 0.6–7.4 days, depending on the population density of the simulation.

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Exposure levels and health risk of PAHs associated with fine and ultrafine aerosols in an urban site in northern Algeria

Air Quality Atmosphere & Health ◽

10.1007/s11869-021-01028-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amira Teffahi ◽

Yacine Kerchich ◽

Yacine Moussaoui ◽

Paola Romagnoli ◽

Catia Balducci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Urban Site ◽

Northern Algeria ◽

Ultrafine Aerosols ◽

Exposure Levels

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Objective assessment of nasal resistance among electronic cigarette users

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215121001432 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

S W Lim ◽

AB Zulkiflee

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Airway Resistance ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Control Group ◽

Nasal Airway ◽

Nasal Resistance ◽

Short Term ◽

Nasal Airway Resistance

Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes have been a popular alternative to tobacco smoking. The effect of tobacco smoking on nasal airway resistance has been investigated before; however, the effect of the aerosol generated by electronic cigarettes is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of e-cigarettes on nasal airway resistance. Methods Sixty-one participants were recruited into a vapers group and a control group. The vapers group was instructed to smoke for 5 minutes, and their nasal resistance was measured pre-procedure and at 1 and 5 minutes post-procedure. The results were compared between both groups. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that vaping has no statistically significant effect on total nasal airway resistance. Conclusion Although the differences between both groups were not statistically significant overall, the vapers group showed a reduction in nasal airway resistance in the short term.

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The effect of preloading statins prior to primary reperfusion on in-hospital mortality risk in a contemporary large-scale cohort of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1464 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

R Fu ◽

C.X Song ◽

X.D Li ◽

Y.J Yang

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽

Hospital Mortality ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Large Scale ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

St Elevation Myocardial Infarction ◽

Control Group ◽

Funding Source ◽

St Elevation

Abstract Background The benefit of statins in secondary prevention of patients stabilized after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been well established. However, the benefit of preloading statins, i.e. high-intensity statins prior to reperfusion therapy remains unclear. Most previous studies included all types of ACS patients, and subgroup analysis indicated the benefit of preloading statins was only seen in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the sample size of subgroup population was relatively small and such benefit requires further validation. Objective To investigate the effect of loading dose of statins before primary reperfusion on 30-mortality in patients with STEMI. Methods We enrolled patients in China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) registry from January 2013 to September 2014. CAMI registry was a prospective multicenter registry of patients with acute acute myocardial infarction in China. Patients were divided into two groups according to statins usage: preloading group and control group. Patients in preloading group received loading does of statins before primary reperfusion and during hospitalization. Patients in control group did not receive statins during hospitalization or at discharge. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Baseline characteristics, angiographic characteristics and outcome were compared between groups. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to mitigate baseline differences between groups and examine the association between preloading statins on in-hospital mortality risk. The following variables were used to establish PS matching score: age, sex, classification of hospitals, clinical presentation (heart failure at presentation, cardiac shock, cardiac arrest, Killip classification), hypertension, diabetes, prior angina, prior myocardial infarction history, prior stroke, initial treatment. Results A total of 1169 patients were enrolled in control group and 6795 in preloading group. A total of 833 patients (334 in control group and 499 in preloading group) died during hospitalization. Compared with control group, preloading group were younger, more likely to be male and present with Killip I classification. The proportion of hypertension and diabetes were higher in preloading group. After PS matching, all the variables used to generate PS score were well balanced. In the PS-matched cohort, 30-day mortality risk was 26.3% (292/1112) in the control group and 11.9% (132/1112) in the preloading group (p<0.0001). Conclusions The current study found preloading statins treatment prior to reperfusion therapy reduced in-hospital mortality risk in a large-scale contemporary cohort of patients with STEMI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

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Comparison of the curative effect and prognosis of stereotactic drainage and conservative treatment for moderate and small basal ganglia haemorrhage

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-021-02293-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xin Huang ◽

Lai Jiang ◽

Shaojun Chen ◽

Gang Li ◽

Wanxi Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Basal Ganglia ◽

Large Scale ◽

Neurological Function ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Control Group ◽

Roc Curve Analysis ◽

Curative Effect ◽

Nihss Score ◽

Haematoma Volume ◽

Experimental Group

Abstract Background Minimally invasive surgery has achieved good results in the treatment of cerebral haemorrhage.However, no large-scale clinical study has demonstrated that surgical treatment of cerebral haemorrhages less than 30 ml can improve the curative effect. Our study explored the efficacy and complication of stereotactic drainage based on the amount of cerebral hemorrhage (15-30 ml) in hypertensive basal ganglia. Method Sixty patients with hypertensive basal ganglia haemorrhages were divided into a control group and an experimental group with 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated conservatively. In contrast, those in the experimental group received stereotactic drainage, and urokinase was injected into the haematoma cavity after the operation. The haematoma volume at admission and 1, 3, 7 and 30 days after treatment and National Institute of Health stroke scale(NIHSS) score data were recorded. Complications after treatment in the two groups of data were compared and analysed. Result No significant differences in age, sex, time of treatment after onset, admission blood pressure, admission haematoma volume or admission NIHSS score were noted between these two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, significant differences in haematoma volume were noted between the two groups on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 30th days after treatment (P < 0.05). The amount of hematoma of patients in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group, and the NIHSS scores were significantly different on the 3rd, 7th and 30th days after treatment. The neurological deficit scores of patients in the experimental group were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and venous thrombosis in the lower limbs of patients in the experimental group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that stereotactic drainage affected the early neurological function of patients with small and medium basal ganglia haemorrhages. Conclusion For patients with small and medium basal ganglia haemorrhages, stereotactic drainage can be used due to the faster drainage speed of haematomas after operation, which is beneficial to the recovery of neurological function and reduce complications.

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EEG Data Quality: Determinants and Impact in a Multicenter Study of Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11020214 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 214

Author(s):

Anna Kaiser ◽

Pascal-M. Aggensteiner ◽

Martin Holtmann ◽

Andreas Fallgatter ◽

Marcel Romanos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Quality ◽

Large Scale ◽

Linear Models ◽

Spectral Power ◽

Control Group ◽

Continuous Performance Task ◽

Related Data ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Eyes Open

Electroencephalography (EEG) represents a widely established method for assessing altered and typically developing brain function. However, systematic studies on EEG data quality, its correlates, and consequences are scarce. To address this research gap, the current study focused on the percentage of artifact-free segments after standard EEG pre-processing as a data quality index. We analyzed participant-related and methodological influences, and validity by replicating landmark EEG effects. Further, effects of data quality on spectral power analyses beyond participant-related characteristics were explored. EEG data from a multicenter ADHD-cohort (age range 6 to 45 years), and a non-ADHD school-age control group were analyzed (ntotal = 305). Resting-state data during eyes open, and eyes closed conditions, and task-related data during a cued Continuous Performance Task (CPT) were collected. After pre-processing, general linear models, and stepwise regression models were fitted to the data. We found that EEG data quality was strongly related to demographic characteristics, but not to methodological factors. We were able to replicate maturational, task, and ADHD effects reported in the EEG literature, establishing a link with EEG-landmark effects. Furthermore, we showed that poor data quality significantly increases spectral power beyond effects of maturation and symptom severity. Taken together, the current results indicate that with a careful design and systematic quality control, informative large-scale multicenter trials characterizing neurophysiological mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan are feasible. Nevertheless, results are restricted to the limitations reported. Future work will clarify predictive value.

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