Effects of sediment deposit on the hydraulic performance of the urban stormwater drainage system

Sediment deposit is a critical factor strongly affecting the drainage capacity of the conduits due to its cross-section area narrowing and roughness increasing. In this study, a numerical model was applied to investigate the influences of sediment deposit on the hydraulic performance of the drainage conduits. The Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe (NL-TN) basin, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was selected as a case study. The drainage network of the NL-TN basin was simulated by using the EPA-SWMM model. The effects of sediment deposit were assessed by a non-dimensional comparison of the simulated peak flows of the sediment-deposited conduits and the clean ones. The results indicated that the sediment deposit significantly affects the flow capacity of the conduits and could cause severe inundation. Narrowing of the cross-section area has more impact on the hydraulic performance of the conduit than the increase in the roughness. A 40% increase in the Manning coefficient could decline the peak flow to approximately 80-90%, while a 40% increase in sediment thickness depth could degrade the peak flow by about 60-70% to compare with the peak flow of the clean conduit. The findings could support decision makings on the operation and maintenance of the sewer system and adaptation to extreme rainfall events.

A Comparison of Effectiveness of Thai Traditional Massage and Tamsulosin in Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The prospective clinical, non-inferiority study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Thai traditional massage on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) compared with Tamsulosin in Thai men. It was conducted on men aged 50 to 75 years old with LUTS (N = 45). Participants were blocked four randomly assigned into 2 groups. The control group (n = 25) was received 0.4 mg Tamsulosin daily and the study group (n = 20) was given Thai traditional massage for 4 weeks. The efficacy evaluation was performed by the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), a Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO-QoL Brief), Uroflowmetry, and Post-void residual urine (PVR) at baseline and end of study. The background characteristics of participants were not significantly different between groups. Both interventions relieved LUTS in the total IPSS and the quality of life score associated with urination were decreased, described as symptoms and quality of life due to urination improvement after 4 weeks of intervention. Interestingly, the Thai traditional massage has significant improvement in total IPSS and voiding score (p < .05). Additionally, the time to peak flow rate, peak flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qave) and voided volume of both interventions were improved with no statistical significance. PVR was decreased in both interventions. The WHO-QoL brief score was improved the total score. There was no significant difference in terms of uroflowmetry, PVR, and WHO-QoL brief scores compared between groups. The result suggests that Thai traditional massage has the potential to be an alternative treatment for LUTS.

Effect of combined glucocorticoid therapy on bronchial asthma dynamics

This work is aimed to compare the effectiveness of parenteral and inhalation bronchial asthma treatment in combination with glucocorticosteroids and bronchodilators. The study was conducted in 2020 in Botkin City Clinical Hospital (Moscow, the Russian Federation). Case histories of 106 patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma exacerbation of moderate severity were analyzed. Patients were divided into two equal groups based on the therapy method: (1) Group 1 received systemic glucocorticosteroids parenterally in combination with inhalation glucocorticosteroids; (2) Group 2 received systemic glucocorticosteroids parenterally, but inhalation therapy was performed with a nebulizer. Clinical manifestations of bronchial asthma have been recorded. During hospital admission, the breath rate was 22.0 for Group 1 and 21.5 for Group 2, P ≥ 0.05, and heart rates were 93.0 and 92.5, respectively (P ≥ 0.05). All indices (blood saturation, breath rate, peak output rate) in Group 1 remained unchanged 4 h after the start of the therapy, while in Group 2, peak flow rate changed to 53.5% with a median increase of 72.0 ml over 4 h, P ≤ 0.05. On Day 3, patients of Group 1 demonstrated a peak flow rate of 59.5%, P ≤ 0.05, and on Day 10, patients of Group 2 had a peak output rate of 53.0 and 59.5%, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Systemic glucocorticoids were eliminated in 47 patients of Group 1 and in all patients of Group 2. The treatment tactics applied in Group 2 resulted in faster and more significant improvement in patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma exacerbation. Both treatment regimens showed high results.

RELAÇÃO DO NÍVEL DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA COM O PICO DE FLUXO EXPIRATÓRIO MÁXIMO DOS COLABORADORES DE UMA CRECHE NO MUNICÍPIO DE RIO VERDE-GO

A inatividade física é um desafio para a saúde, pois tem sido um fator de risco para inúmeras doenças entre elas as cardiovasculares e pulmonares. Sabe-se que atividade física é essencial para prevenção da obesidade e reabilitação de tais disfunções. O objetivo deste trabalho é relacionar o nível de atividade física com o pico de fluxo expiratório máximo dos colaboradores de uma creche no município de Rio Verde - GO. O estudo foi realizado com uma amostra de 28 colaboradores entre 18 e 75 anos de ambos sexo, os mesmos foram submetidos a aplicação do questionário IPAQ versão curta para verificar o nível de atividade física e logo após, executaram três picos de fluxo expiratório máximo por meio do dispositivo peak flow meter. Através da análise dos resultados da presente pesquisa foi encontrada correlação positiva (0,483) significativa (P=0,031) entre o Nível de Atividade Física e o do pico de fluxo expiratório e também foi encontrada correlação negativa (-0,604) significativa (P=0,005) entre a Idade e o Pico de Fluxo Expiratório. Conclui-se que a prática de atividade física interfere significativamente no aumento do pico de fluxo expiratório máximo e que processo de envelhecimento fisiológico contribui para diminuição do pico de fluxo expiratório. Vale ressaltar que a prática de exercícios físico é indispensável tanto para o sistema músculo esquelético bem como para o sistema cardiorrespiratório melhorando a função pulmonar.

Monitoring Adult Subglottic Stenosis With Spirometry and Dyspnea Index: A Novel Approach

Objective The aim was to examine the correlations among the anatomic Cotton-Myer classification, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and patient-perceived dyspnea or dysphonia in patients with subglottic stenosis and identify measurements accurately reflecting treatment effects. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Method Fifty-two adults receiving endoscopic treatment for isolated subglottic stenosis were consecutively included. Correlations were calculated among the preoperative Cotton-Myer scale, PFTs, the Dyspnea Index (DI), and the Voice Handicap Index. Receiver operating characteristic curves were determined for PFT, DI, and Voice Handicap Index pre- and postoperative measurements. Results The Cotton-Myer classification correlated weakly with peak expiratory flow ( r = −0.35, P = .012), expiratory disproportion index ( r = 0.32, P = .022), peak inspiratory flow ( r = −0.32, P = .022), and total peak flow ( r = −0.36, P = .01). The DI showed an excellent area under the curve (0.99, P < .001), and among PFTs, the expiratory disproportion index demonstrated the best area under the curve (0.89, P < .001), followed by total peak flow (0.88, P < .001), peak expiratory flow (0.87, P < .001), and peak inspiratory flow (0.84, P < .001). Patients treated endoscopically with balloon dilatation showed a 53% decrease in expiratory disproportion index (95% CI, 41%-66%; P < .001) and a 37% improvement in peak expiratory flow (95% CI, 31%-43%; P < .001). Conclusion Expiratory disproportion index or peak expiratory flow combined with DI was a feasible measurement for the monitoring of adult subglottic stenosis. The percentage deterioration of peak expiratory flow and increase in expiratory disproportion index correlated significantly with a proportional percentage increase in DI.

The Viral Respiratory Diseases of Sorok Island at Pandemic

Background: Dapsone is helpful in the molecular regulation of Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3).Objective: To study the targeting of NLRP3 itself or up-/downstream factors of the NLRP3 inflammasome by Dapsone should be responsible for its observed preventive treatment effects, functioning as a competitor against Pandemic viral inflammasome.Methods: We compared Hansen's disease (HD) patients with viral respiratory diseases (VRD) after prescribing Dapsone to standard treatment from 2005 to 2020. Results: The 3022 VRD participants who received the dapsone intervention (M = 201, SD = 34) compared to the 3961 VRD participants in the control group (M = 264, SD = 84) demonstrated significantly better peak flow scores, t(28) = -2.7, p = .01. It demonstrated significantly more prevalences of VRD in the DDS unprescribed group. Conclusion: This study is theoretical clinical data to warrant a pilot study with Dapsone for deteriorating leprosy patients at Pandemic.

Peak flow measurements in patients with severe aortic stenosis: a prospective comparative study between cardiovascular magnetic resonance 2D and 4D flow and transthoracic echocardiography

Background Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular disease in the developed countries. Four-dimensional (4D) flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is an emerging imaging technique, which has been suggested to improve the evaluation of AS severity compared to two-dimensional (2D) flow and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We investigated the reliability of CMR 2D flow and 4D flow techniques in measuring aortic transvalvular peak systolic flow in patients with severe AS. Methods We prospectively recruited 90 patients referred for aortic valve replacement due to severe AS (73.3 ± 11.3 years, aortic valve area 0.7 ± 0.1 cm2, and 54/36 tricuspid/bicuspid), and 10 non-valvular disease controls. All the patients underwent echocardiography and 2D flow and 4D flow CMR. Peak flow velocity measurements were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and Bland–Altman analysis. Results 4D flow underestimated peak flow velocity in the AS group when compared with TTE (bias − 1.1 m/s, limits of agreement ± 1.4 m/s) and 2D flow (bias − 1.2 m/s, limits of agreement ± 1.6 m/s). The differences between values obtained by TTE (median 4.3 m/s, range 2.7–6.1 m/s) and 2D flow (median 4.5 m/s, range 2.9–6.5 m/s) compared to 4D flow (median 3.1 m/s, range 1.7–5.1 m/s) were significant (p < 0.001). The difference between 2D flow and TTE were insignificant (bias 0.07 m/s, limits of agreement ± 1.5 m/s). In non-valvular disease controls, peak flow velocity was measured higher by 4D flow than 2D flow (1.4 m/s, 1.1–1.7 m/s and 1.3 m/s, 1.1–1.5 m/s, respectively; bias 0.2 m/s, limits of agreement ± 0.16 m/s). Conclusions CMR 4D flow significantly underestimates systolic peak flow velocity in patients with severe AS. 2D flow, in turn, estimated the AS velocity accurately, with measured peak flow velocities comparable to TTE.

Are aerosols generated during lung function testing in patients and healthy volunteers? Results from the AERATOR study

Pulmonary function tests are fundamental to the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases. There is uncertainty around whether potentially infectious aerosols are produced during testing and there are limited data on mitigation strategies to reduce risk to staff. Healthy volunteers and patients with lung disease underwent standardised spirometry, peak flow and FENO assessments. Aerosol number concentration was sampled using an aerodynamic particle sizer and an optical particle sizer. Measured aerosol concentrations were compared with breathing, speaking and voluntary coughing. Mitigation strategies included a standard viral filter and a full-face mask normally used for exercise testing (to mitigate induced coughing). 147 measures were collected from 33 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with lung disease. The aerosol number concentration was highest in coughs (1.45–1.61 particles/cm3), followed by unfiltered peak flow (0.37–0.76 particles/cm3). Addition of a viral filter to peak flow reduced aerosol emission by a factor of 10 without affecting the results. On average, coughs produced 22 times more aerosols than standard spirometry (with filter) in patients and 56 times more aerosols in healthy volunteers. FENO measurement produced negligible aerosols. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) masks reduced aerosol emission when breathing, speaking and coughing significantly. Lung function testing produces less aerosols than voluntary coughing. CPET masks may be used to reduce aerosol emission from induced coughing. Standard viral filters are sufficiently effective to allow guidelines to remove lung function testing from the list of aerosol-generating procedures.