scholarly journals Exogenous Factors Affecting Multifocal Electroretinogram: A mini review

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Ai-Hong Chen ◽  
Muhamad Syukri Mohamad Rafiuddin ◽  
Stuart Coupland

Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) is an important diagnostic tool in the clinical evaluation of central electro-retinal function of the macula. To enhance the diagnostic values and to improve its accuracy and internal consistency, it is crucial to examine carefully the endogenous and exogenous factors that affect mfERG recordings and clinical interpretations. This mini review focuses on three aspects of exogenous factors including (1) physiological variations pertaining to age and gender; (2) systemic changes owing to oxygen, blood pressure and glucose levels; (3) individual variables due to refractive status, pupil size,  luminance and viewing condition.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215265672110038
Author(s):  
Markus Jukka Lilja ◽  
Anni Koskinen ◽  
Paula Virkkula ◽  
Seija Inkeri Vento ◽  
Jyri Myller ◽  
...  

Objectives The aim was to compare the control of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), in patients with/without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD). Study Desing: A retrospective hospital-based sample of CRSwNP patients with/without NERD with follow-up. Setting Tertiary rhinology centers. Methods Electronic patient record data from 116 CRSwNP patients (46 with NERD and 70 without NERD) undergoing ESS during 2001–17 were studied. Mean follow-up time was 9.9 years (range 1.1–15.3). Endpoints reflecting uncontrolled CRSwNP were revision ESS, and need for rescue/advanced therapy (e.g. antibiotics, oral corticosteroids and/or biological therapy) during follow-up. NERD was variable of interest and gender, age, asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), smoking, Lund-Mackay (LM) score of sinus computed tomography scans previous ESS and baseline total ethmoidectomy were used as covariates. Results Twenty-one (49.7%) NERD patients and 18 (25.7%) non-NERD patients underwent revision ESS within a mean ± SD of 4.3 ± 2.8 and 3.7 ± 2.6 years, respectively (p = .013, by Logrank test). In Cox´s regression models, NERD, female gender, young age, asthma, AR, previous ESS, and lack of total ethmoidectomy were associated with revision-ESS. In adjusted model, only the total ethmoidectomy predicted revision-free survival. In adjusted logistic regression model, there was an insignificant trend that NERD and LM score were associated with the need for rescue/advanced therapy in the follow-up. Conclusions Patients with NERD had higher risk of uncontrolled CRSwNP than patient group without NERD, as measured by revision ESS and/or need for rescue/advanced therapy in the follow-up. In addition, baseline total ethmoidectomy was associated with revision-free survival.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
Sunita Karki ◽  
Anjan Rai ◽  
Manish Pradhan

Introduction Acrochordons or skin tags are common benign cutaneous tumors that occur especially over the neck and major flexures. A possible association between diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia is observed in numerous past studies with varying results. We aim to find out the association of diabetes mellitus with acrochordons Methods: One hundred patients were enrolled in our study. Among them, 50 (27 males and 23 females) with skin tags were selected as cases and 50 with other dermatologic diseases after matching age and gender were taken as controls. Blood glucose levels including both fasting and postprandial glucose levels were determined for both cases and controls and compared. Results: There was a higher frequency of Diabetes Mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in patients with skin tags in comparison to controls (p<0.001). Moreover, there were higher odds of acquiring skin tags in patient with abnormal blood glucose levels. Conclusions: There is an increased risk of developing DM in patients with skin tags. It is highly recommended that suspicion for Diabetes Mellitus is to be done in patients with skin tags for early screening and diagnosis of Diabetes.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayandokht Taleb ◽  
Dorothea Parker ◽  
Lamya Ibrahim ◽  
Billie Hsieh ◽  
Muhammad E Haque ◽  
...  

Introduction: We asked whether intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation facilities(IRF) improve differently based on their involvement of the corticospinal tract(CST). Aim: To predict associating radiological factors affecting discharge FIM score. Methods: We reviewed the patients’ characteristics and their respective imaging findings presenting with ICH between 4/17 to 8/19. The ICH volume and edema around the ICH were measured using analyze software. The main outcome measure was FIM score at time of discharge. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Among the 53 patients included, 49% were female. The median age of the patients was 62 years (IQR 25,89). The median length of stay at IRF was 22days (IQR 14,26). In univariate analysis, FIM score at the time of discharge FIM score at the time of discharge admission were significantly associated with NIHSS (estimate -1.26, p<0.001), and ICH volume (estimate -3.45, p=0.01). However, the univariate analysis did not reveal an association of age (estimate -0.15, p=0.4) and gender (estimate 0.207, p=0.97) with FIM score at the time of discharge.Multiple regression analysis reflected that the CST involvement had a decrement in functional improvement on FIM in comparison with patients with intact CST when adjusting for age ( p = 0.008), gender ( p <0.01), NIHSS at the time of admission ( p <0.01), and the ICH volume ( p =0.02). Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that functional improvement declines in ICH patients with CST involvement.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazish Bibi ◽  
Shehla Amjad

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between firm’s liquidity and profitability; and to find out the effects of different components of liquidity on firms’ profitability.The relationship between liquidity and firms’ profitability is empirically examined by collecting the data of 50 listed firms of Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan. Panel data has been collected from secondary sources for the year 2007 to 2011 .Net operating income and Return on assets are used measure of firm’s profitability. Liquidity of the firm is measured by using cash gap in days and current ratio. Firm size measured by net sales, total assets and market capitalization .The study applies regression analysis to determine factors affecting profitability. Incremental tests are carried out to see the importance of individual variables in the model.The results of correlation and regression analysis showed that there is a significant negative relationship between cash gap and return on assets while current ratio has significant positive relationship with profitability. Results further indicate that log of sales and log of total assets has positive significant relationship with profitability. The findings of this study are based on firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). Hence, the results cannot be generalizable to those firms which are not listed on Karachi stock exchange. The sample of the study comprises only the merchandising and manufacturing firms. Banks are excluded due to their nature of work.


1987 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Davidson ◽  
Anne B. Giordano ◽  
Richard C. Mohs ◽  
Victoria V. Mykytyn ◽  
Shari Platt ◽  
...  

Afrika Focus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nsubili Isaga

Tanzania like many other developing countries is highly dependent on agriculture for income generation and job creation for its citizens. Because the sector is mainly composed of smallholder farmers, lack of finance remains the leading obstacle to development. This study seeks to determine factors that affect access to bank credit by smallholder farmers in the Mvomero District of Morogoro, Tanzania. The study used a cross-sectional design, with data being collected via the survey method. Purposeful sampling was used to obtain the respondents who fitted into the study objective. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model. The Logit regression model in particular was employed to determine factors that affect smallholder farmers’ access to bank services. The study reveals that the value of assets invested in farming activities, education and gender are significant factors affecting smallholder farmers’ access to bank credit. Policy recommendations include the establishment of a government bank that would exclusively provide financial services to agriculturalists by establishing a credit guarantee scheme, and the development of new financial products by the banks that would cater to the needs of smallholder farmers. Key words: access, bank credit, smallholder farmers, logit regression


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tewodros Tariku Gebresilase ◽  
Zebene Deresse ◽  
Girmay Tsegay ◽  
Tesfaye Sisay Tessema ◽  
Abraham Aseffa ◽  
...  

Background: Obtaining genuine informed consent from research participants in developing countries can be difficult, partly due to poor knowledge about research process and research ethics. The situation is complicated when conducting genomic research on a disease considered familial and a reason for stigmatisation. Methods: We used a Rapid Ethical Appraisal tool to assess local factors that were barriers to getting genuine informed consent prior to conducting a genetic study of podoconiosis (non-filarial elephantiasis) in two Zones of Ethiopia. The tool included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with patients, healthy community members, field workers, researchers/Institutional Review Board (IRB) members, elders, religious leaders, and podoconiosis administrators who work closely with patients. Results: Most patients and healthy community members did not differentiate research from routine clinical diagnosis. Participants felt comfortable when approached in the presence of trusted community members. Field workers and podoconiosis administrators preferred verbal consent, whereas the majority of patients and healthy community members prefer both verbal and written consent. Participants better understood genetic susceptibility concepts when analogies drawn from their day-to-day experience were used. The type of biological sample sought and gender were the two most important factors affecting the recruitment process. Most researchers and IRB members indicated that reporting incidental findings to participants is not a priority in an Ethiopian context. Conclusions: Understanding the concerns of local people in areas where research is to be conducted facilitates the design of contextualized consent processes appropriate for all parties and will ultimately result in getting genuine consent.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. e080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Agúndez Leal ◽  
Soumana Douma ◽  
Javier Madrigal ◽  
Almudena Gómez-Ramos ◽  
Barbara Vicenti ◽  
...  

Aim of study: Indigenous woody species play an important role as a complement on the diet of rural populations in Niger, especially in periods of food scarcity. However, these species are nowadays overexploited and management programmes are necessary to conserve them. In order to design a conservation programme for edible woody species, this paper presents a sociological analysis about the use of edible woody species and their products during shortage periods in Niger.Area of study: Four villages in two distinct agro-ecological regions were selected to conduct structured enquiries based on focus group discussions and surveys with key informants.Material and Methods: Perceptions of the conservation status of these species were identified; as well the factors affecting food values, perceptions, management and collection practices.Main results: Results show that B. senegalensis was a staple food in the driest areas, and M. crassifolia was used for fodder and human consumption in the most critical situations. The local communities related the drivers of species conservation status specific to the agro-ecological regions, and gender and ethnic differences were also identified.Research highlights: Understanding these factors constitutes a first step towards adaptive management strategies for the conservation of woody food species in rural communities of Niger.Keywords: Africa; biodiversity; cultural preferences; food; NTFPs.


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