Effect of transnasal insufflation on sleep disordered breathing in acute stroke: a preliminary study

Background and Purpose: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is frequent in acute stroke patients and is associated with early neurologic worsening and poor outcome. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively treats SDB, compliance is low. The objective of the present study was to assess the tolerance and the efficacy of a continuous high-flow-rate air administered through an open nasal cannula (transnasal insufflation, TNI), a less-intrusive method, to treat SDB in acute stroke patients. Methods: Ten patients (age, 56.8 ± 10.7years), with SDB ranging from moderate to severe (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI, >15/h of sleep) and on a standard sleep study at a mean of 4.8 ± 3.7days after ischemic stroke (range, 1-15days), were selected. The night after, they underwent a second sleep study while receiving TNI (18L/min). Results: TNI was well tolerated by all patients. For the entire group, TNI decreased the AHI from 40.4 ± 25.7 to 30.8 ± 25.7/h (p = 0.001) and the oxygen desaturation index >3% from 40.7 ± 28.4 to 31 ± 22.5/h (p = 0.02). All participants except one showed a decrease in AHI. The percentage of slow-wave sleep significantly increased with TNI from 16.7 ± 8.2% to 22.3 ± 7.4% (p = 0.01). There was also a trend toward a reduction in markers of sleep disruption (number of awakenings, arousal index). Conclusions: TNI improves SDB indices, and possibly sleep parameters, in stroke patients. Although these changes are modest, our findings suggest that TNI is a viable treatment alternative to CPAP in patients with SDB in the acute phase of ischemic strok

Effect of Rootstock and Different Amounts of Vermicompost In Media on Yield and Qualitative Characteristics of Tomato

The effects of grafting and vermicompost on yield and quality of tomato were studied by a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with 4 replication in research greenhouse of Mohaghegh Ardabili University at 2013. Rootstocks (none-grafting, grafting on ‘Yedi’ and ‘KingKong’) and five volume of vermicompost (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60%) in substrate were considered as experimental factors. For this purpose, traits such as number of flower and truss, growth duration of fruits, number of fruits, fruits mean weight, fruit yield, TSS and TA of fruits, phosphorous and potassium content of aerial parts of plants were measured. Results showed that flowering in grafted plants significantly retarded in comparison to non-grafted plants. Addition of vermicompost into substrate significantly increased number of flowers, panicles and fruits per each plant, TSS and TA but mean weight and size of fruits was decreased. Application of vermicompost improved phosphorous and potassium content in aerial parts of plants. Interaction between grafting and vermicompost was significant on yield and growth duration of plants. In general, we can say that grafting on ‘KingKong’  and ‘Yedi’ rootstocks and application of vermicompost can improve yield and quality of tomato plants

Lauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound

Psychostimulants are used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in a wide range of sleep disorders as well as in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we tested in mice the wake-promoting properties of NLS-4 and its effects on the following sleep as compared with those of modafinil and vehicle. C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle, NLS-4 (64 mg/kg), or modafinil (150 mg/kg) at light onset. EEG and EMG were recorded continuously for 24 h after injections and vigilance states as well as EEG power densities were analyzed. NLS-4 at 64 mg/kg induced significantly longer wakefulness duration than modafinil at 150 mg/kg. Although no significant sleep rebound was observed after sleep onset for both treatments as compared with their vehicles, modafinil-treated mice showed significantly more NREM sleep when compared to NLS-4. Spectral analysis of the NREM EEG after NLS-4 treatment indicated an increased power density in delta activity (0.75–3.5 Hz) and a decreased power in theta frequency range (6.25–7.25 Hz), while there was no differences after modafinil treatment. Also, time course analysis of the delta activity showed a significant increase only during the first 2 time intervals of sleep after NLS-4 treatment, while delta power was increased during the first 9 time intervals after modafinil. Our results indicate that NLS-4 is a highly potent wake-promoting drug with no sign of hypersomnia rebound. As opposed to modafinil, recovery sleep after NLS-4 treatment is characterized by less NREM amount and delta activity, suggesting a lower need for recovery despite longer drug-induced wakefulness

An overview of amenorrhea and respective remedies in Traditional Persian Medicine

Amenorrhea is described as complete absence or cessation of menstruation. Besides conventional treatment approaches, traditional and complementary medical systems have suggested numerous natural medications for management of amenorrhea. Current study aimed to compile the pharmacological reports on amenorrhea from the standpoints of early Persian scholars. Medical and pharmaceutical manuscripts of Persian medicine from 9th to 18th centuries A.D. have been reviewed to extract the critical points and natural remedies. Based on Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), impairment in uterus, brain and circulation are main causes of amenorrhea. Any obstruction, either anatomical or functional, in uterus and allied organs or tissues may lead the body to this disorder. Concerning herbal therapy of amenorrhea in TPM, 71 medicinal plants related to 35 families were found. The most prevalent families were Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae, respectively. Usual routes of administration were oral, vaginal and topical. However, there was one report on a medicament, spoken to be effective nasally. Traditionally, emmenagogue medicines should possess diuretic activity to be effective for amenorrhea. All reported remedies were known as diuretic agents. However, this description is not corresponded with what is now accepted as diuretic. On the other hand, only Foeniculum vulgare showed therapeutic effects on amenorrhea in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Despite lack of novel information on emmenagogue activity of these remedies, design and conducting evidence-based animal or human studies may be beneficial for new drug discovery from traditional knowledge. </p

The impacts of type and proportion of five different asphalt modifiers on the low temperature fracture toughness and fracture energy of modified HMA

Low temperature fracture toughness and fracture energy are two important measures that could be used to investigate the impacts of using asphalt modifiers on the performance of asphalt pavements in cold regions. The aim of this research was to identify the impacts of using various proportions of five different asphalt modifiers on the fracture toughness and the fracture energy of Hot Mix Asphalts (HMA) under mode I loading and at low environmental temperatures. The asphalt modifiers used for this purpose were: Elastoplastomer Polymer Strings (EPS), Parafiber, Sulfur Polymer, Polyolefin-Aramid Compound Structural Fibers (PACSF) and Sasobit. These modifiers were individually used at three different proportions to produce Semi-circular Bend Specimens containing vertical edge crack. Each specimen was then tested under symmetric monotonic three-point bend loading at -15°C. The results indicated that, except for the EPS, both measures were increased with an increase in the modifier proportion. The most increase in the both measures was observed in the specimens modified with the PACSF, closely followed by specimens modified with the Parafibers. The least increase in these two measures were observed in the specimens modified with the Sulfur Polymer. The results indicated the applicability of examined modifiers to improve the resistance of HMA to crack initiation and crack growth at low temperatures

The impacts of type and proportion of five different asphalt modifiers on the low-temperature fracture toughness and fracture energy of modified HMA

Low-temperature fracture toughness and fracture energy are two important measures that could be used to investigate the impacts of using asphalt modifiers on the performance of asphalt pavements in cold regions. The aim of this research was to identify the impacts of using various proportions of five different asphalt modifiers on the fracture toughness and the fracture energy of Hot Mix Asphalts (HMA) under mode I loading and at low environmental temperatures. The asphalt modifiers used for this purpose were: Elastoplastomer Polymer Strings (EPS), Parafiber, Sulfur Polymer, Polyolefin-Aramid Compound Structural Fibers (PACSF) and Sasobit. These modifiers were individually used at three different proportions to produce Semi-circular Bend Specimens containing vertical edge crack. Each specimen was then tested under symmetric monotonic three-point bend loading at 15�C. The results indicated that, except for the EPS, both fracture toughness and fracture energy were increased with an increase in the modifier proportion. The highest increase in both measures was observed in the specimens modified with the PACSF, closely followed by specimens modified with the Parafibers. The least increase in these two measures was observed in the specimens modified with the Sulfur Polymer. The results indicated the applicability of examined modifiers to improve the resistance of HMA to crack initiation and crack growth at low temperature

Flange Wrinkling in Flexible Roll Forming Process

AbstractFlexible roll forming is an advanced sheet metal forming process for producing variable cross section profiles. Flange wrinkling at the transition zone where the cross section changes is a major defect in the flexible roll forming process. In this paper, the flange wrinkling at the transition zone is studied using finite element analysis. The results showed that the strip deformation at the transition zone can be considered as a combination of two strip deformations observed in the conventional roll forming process and the flanging process. According to finite element analysis results, when the flange wrinkling occurs, compressive longitudinal strain is smaller than the necessary compressive longitudinal strain calculated by mathematical modeling to obtain the intended profile geometry in the compression zone. Therefore, comparison of compressive longitudinal strain obtained from the finite element analysis and the necessary compressive longitudinal strain is a good criterion to predict the flange wrinkling occurrence. A flexible roll forming setup was developed. Longitudinal strain history is obtained from the finite element simulation and is compared with the experimental data from the flexible roll forming setup. Results show a good agreement and confirm the finite element analysis