Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative stress in the Prediction and Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome

The assessment of patients presenting with chest pain or symptoms indicative of cardiac ischemia remains a diagnostic challenge. Many types of research have focused on the search for ideal biological markers for the rapid detection of cardiac cell injuries. Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress are the way forward. At present, the biomarker most widely used for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome is cardiac troponin though it has some limitations. Apart from cardiac troponin, several other biomarkers, especially inflammation and oxidative stress markers in acute coronary syndrome, have been investigated. However, most of them still require validation in further studies. As markers of inflammation and oxidative stress address a particular aspect of the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome, these biomarkers may provide unique information to the managing clinician separate from that of markers of myocyte necrosis. Serum markers of inflammation and oxidative stress appear before cardiac necrosis markers and are valuable targets for early and timely diagnosis of an acute cardiac event. Using these markers in combination with biomarkers of plaque formation, unstable plaque development, plaque rupture, thrombosis, and myocardial necrosis (multimarker approach) could increase their diagnostic and prognostic value.

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis - Report of Two New Cases and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by the intra-alveolar accumulation of spherical calcified microliths, of a phospho-calcium nature, in the absence of any problem of phosphocalcium metabolism. The majority of patients are asymptomatic. The disease is often diagnosed on routine radiological examination.CASE REPORTS: We report two cases of PAM; A 17-year-old girl with three generations of consanguinity, who consulted for bronchial syndrome. Auscultation revealed very fine diffuse ronchi. The X-ray showed a bilateral alveolar syndrome, especially on the right, a bilateral bronchointerstitial syndrome, and diffuse bilateral calcifications. The thoracic CT scan showed calcified micro and macronodules with thickening of the septa, middle section involvement with fibrosing remodeling, fibrosis, and tractional bronchiectasis of the bases, pleural and pericardial calcifications. Respiratory function tests showed a restrictive syndrome with a vital capacity of 70% and normal GDS. This radiological and scanographic picture made us think of PAM. We then decided to carry out a family investigation with chest radiographs. All family members had normal radiographs, except for a sister who was three years old, with no particular history, no functional respiratory signs, and no particular complaints. Her chest radiograph showed the famous sandstorm appearance of microcalcifications, with pulmonary distension at the apexes and retractions at the bases. Spirometry and blood gases were normal. Chest CT found microcalcifications, with bilaterally distributed and diffuse ground-glass aspects, with a slight right-hand predominance.CONCLUSION: MLA is known to be radio-clinically dissociative. The diagnosis can be made by radiology alone in typical cases; sometimes, Transbronchial or surgical lung biopsies are needed. The prognosis is compromised in the long term. The only effective treatment nowadays is lung transplantation.

Treatment of a Case of Subtotal Maxillary Edentulism by Composite Prosthesis

In the subtotally edentulous, facing the last remaining teeth, the practitioner may be faced with a dilemma: "Keep or extract". Of course the answer is not always obvious, it must take into consideration several parameters. When the practitioner decides to keep the residual teeth, he can consider, depending on the case, the implant solution (1), the supra-radicular prosthesis or the composite prosthesis. In this article we present a case of maxillary subtotal edentulism treated by the composite prosthesis. The choice of this therapy was based on a diagnostic approach leading to the manufacture of temporary prostheses that were re-evaluated over six months, then a definitive prosthesis made according to the rules of art, giving the patient a suitable smile and optimal comfort during mastication.

Prevalence of Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Khartoum State-Sudan

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the known form of leishmaniasis affecting humans. It is a skin infection caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania from animals to humans by the bite of a vector phlebotomine sandfly. About 21 species causing leishmaniasis depending on geographical distribution and host immunity. Populations of northern areas of Sudan are commonly affected by the disease.

Clinical, Socio-Demographic Profile and Stressors in Patients with Conversion/Dissociative Disorders: An Exploratory Study from Southern India

Background Patients present with ‘conversion disorder’ as a response to the underlying stressful conditions. It is clinically important to evaluate the presence, type, and temporal relation of the stressors resulting in conversion. Further knowing the Socio-demographic and psychological profile of the conversion patient helps in their better management. Aim To study the clinical features and presentations, Socio-demographic characteristics, and underlying psychosocial stressors associated with conversion disorder.Material & Methods Fifty patients admitted to the department of psychiatry, NRI Medical College and Hospital, Vishakhapatnam, India from 1st January 2013 to 31st December, 2014 who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study were evaluated for socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, and stressors on a semi-structured proforma.Results Majority of the patients with conversion symptoms were children and young adults (74.0%), females (62.0%), students (46.0%), currently married (54.0%) and those living in nuclear families (78.0%) and having rural background (62.0%). Socioeconomic status wise, majority (66.0%) of the patients belonged to middle class. Majority of the patients (92.0%) had a recognizable precipitating factor, of which family-related/marital (36.0%) and education/school-related (18.0%) problems accounted for the major types. Purely motor symptoms were the predominant presentation (84.0%) with unresponsiveness /syncopal attack and pseudo seizure being the commonest.Conclusion Conversion disorders are commonly seen in females, children and young adults, students and in those people belonging to middle class in socioeconomic status and rural areas. Underlying psychosocial stressors could be identifiable in majority of the cases of conversion disorder.

The Reform of Primary Health Care / PHC in Algeria : A First Step Towards a More Equitable and Efficient Health System

Primary care in the national health care service in Algeria plays an important role: the execution of the National Immunization Schedule for infants, the care of mother and child, the monitoring of chronically ill patients, etc. However, offering modern primary health care to cover the real health needs of the population requires responsible and courageous self-criticism, either by health officials or by health economists.This is a descriptive and analytical study that highlights the reality of primary health care in the Algerian health system, which aims to make a constructive critique in relation to the pillars and principles of modern and effective primary health care. We have arrived that the sine qua none conditions must be realized in order to boost the role of primary health care in Algeria, among them: organizational non-accessibility, medium or poor quality care, non-availability of resources early detection of some pathologies… are recurring problems which push the care-seeker to desert primary health care structures, as well as non-compliance with the organization of care.

The Reform of Primary Health Care / PHC in Algeria : A First Step Towards a More Equitable and Efficient Health System

Primary care in the national health care service in Algeria plays an important role: the execution of the National Immunization Schedule for infants, the care of mother and child, the monitoring of chronically ill patients, etc. However, offering modern primary health care to cover the real health needs of the population requires responsible and courageous self-criticism, either by health officials or by health economists.This is a descriptive and analytical study that highlights the reality of primary health care in the Algerian health system, which aims to make a constructive critique in relation to the pillars and principles of modern and effective primary health care. We have arrived that the sine qua none conditions must be realized in order to boost the role of primary health care in Algeria, among them: organizational non-accessibility, medium or poor quality care, non-availability of resources early detection of some pathologies… are recurring problems which push the care-seeker to desert primary health care structures, as well as non-compliance with the organization of care.

A Systematic Review of the Nickel Content of the Normal Human Prostate Gland

Introduction: The prostate gland is subject to various disorders. The etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases remain not well understood. Moreover, despite technological advancements, the differential diagnosis of prostate disorders has become progressively more complex and controversial. It was suggested that the nickel (Ni) level in prostatic tissue plays an important role in prostatic carcinogenesis and its measurement may be useful as a cancer biomarker. These suggestions promoted more detailed studies of the Ni content in the prostatic tissue of healthy subjects. Materials and methods: The present study evaluated by systematic analysis the published data for Ni content analyzed in prostatic tissue of “normal” glands. This evaluation reviewed 1889 studies, all of which were published in the years from 1921 to 2020 and were located by searching the databases Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, ELSEVIER-EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. The articles were analyzed and “Median of Means” and “Range of Means” were used to examine heterogeneity of the measured Ni content in prostates of apparently healthy men. Results: The objective analysis was performed on data from the 20 studies, which included 743 subjects. It was found that the range of means of prostatic Ni content reported in the literature for “normal” gland varies widely from 0.030 mg/kg to 4.50 mg/kg with median of means 0.625 mg/kg on a wet mass basis. Conclusion: Because of small sample size and high data heterogeneity, we recommend other primary studies be performed.

An Investigation into the Vaccine for Covid-19 Within the United States

This report looks into the administering process of vaccines within the United States and the method designed to aid the decision-makers' process. The study method is based on a quantitative representation in which vaccine candidates are administered. The procedure utilizes the corresponding (incomplete) data that could theoretically be used in other decision-making methods. The information provided by the vaccine manufacture is somewhat vague. The process entails predicting the future and gaps. The study interview 1200 vaccinated patients to give an opinion based on the patients.

Benefits of Phenolic Compounds Isolated from Olive Oil on Prevention of Cancer

Traditional Mediterranean Diet has been long known to have many health benefits. The diet is associated by the low percentage of certain types of cancers such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and prostate cancer. The main source of fats in the Mediterranean diet is olive oil. In fact, the beneficial health effects of olive oil were attributed to its phenolic compounds like phenolic alcohols, hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol) and their secoiridoid derivatives (oleocanthal). Several studies have demonstrated that hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal are able to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in different tumor cell lines. The aim of this review was to give an overview of the effect of hydroxytyrosol and –oleocanthal on different types of cancer.