Post stroke dementia and its putative risk factors: a hospital - based study

Introduction:Dementia is common after stroke and has a considerable impact on mortality, rehabilitation and quality of life. There are some published articles regarding post stroke dementia but there are many controversies surrounding this topic. Our aim was to identify the prevalence of post stroke dementia 3 months after stroke and evaluation of some its putative risk factors in Iranian population. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 151 patients with acute stroke were evaluated. The diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination and neuroimaging. Three months after the stroke, all patients were visited again. The diagnosis of post stroke dementia was made according to the criteria in the DSM-IV. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire and data about lesion location and kind of stroke were obtained according to neuroimaging. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, and chi-square test were used. Results: In our study, 47% patients were male and the rest were female. Thirty five (23.2%) of patients had post stroke dementia(PSD) after 3 months. 70.6 % of patients were 60 years old or more. 88.7% of patients had ischemic infarction and the rest had hemorrhagic stroke . The most frequent lesion locations were temporal, frontal and parietal lobes respectively., There was no significant statistical difference between PSD and sex, age, educational status, lesion location and kind of stroke. Conclusion: Our results show that a significant portion of patients with stroke are prone to PSD. The risk of dementia occurring after a stroke does not seem to be influenced by the stroke type

The effective factors on place attachment in residential environments

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Place attachment is among the most important aspects of the interaction between people and their places, to keep residential environments safe, sustained, and resilient. This study aims to identify the factors that influence the creation and enhancement of place attachment in residential settings, with a focus on physical elements. Given the significance of these factors in architecture and facility programming, the study aims to provide architects and designers with effective strategies for designing and redesigning residential environments. The results of this study on place attachment can be utilized in the architectural facility programming process and design decision-making. METHODS: This study proposed a theoretical framework in which the relationship between subjective and objective physical and individual characteristics and time were the main components of making sense of place attachment. Using a survey method, the study investigated the significance of place attachment among residents of the 600-unit residential complex in Mashhad, Iran, through a questionnaire divided into three sections. The first section focused on individual characteristics and time spent in the complex, while the second and third sections measured the objective and subjective physical characteristics and the extent of people's attachment to the complex, respectively. The data from 158 participants were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software.FINDINGS: Results of SPSS analysis showed objective physical characteristics (p<.01, r=.241), as well as the subjective physical characteristics (p<.01, r=.223) and time (p<.01, r=.237), were the most important components affecting place attachment, highlighting the role of physical strategies used in the residential complex for creating and developing this feeling. Considering these physical factors affecting the establishment and enhancement of place attachment emphasizes the role of architects and planners in satisfying this crucial human need which directly affects people's personal and social health.CONCLUSION: The results revealed time, subjective, and objective physical characteristics are three factors that have a direct impact on place attachment. Objective physical characteristics have a direct impact on place attachment and also indirectly impact it through their effect on subjective physical characteristics. On the other hand, the relationship between individual characteristics and place attachment is indirect, as individual characteristics affect the time spent in a place, and an increase in time spent leads to a stronger place attachment. The findings can be employed extensively in architectural programming in residential environments to improve the quality of life

Long term training on sand changes lower limb muscle activities during running in runners with over-pronated feet

This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordAvailability of data and materials; The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Background Running on sand could be a promising exercise intervention for the treatment of over-pronated feet. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of running on sand on muscle activities. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of running on sand on the activities of selected lower limb muscles in individuals with OPF compared with healthy controls. Methods Sixty recreational adult male runners with over-pronated feet (foot posture index > 10) were divided into two equal groups (intervention and control). Participants ran barefoot at a pre-defined speed (⁓3.3 m/s) over level stable ground both before and after long-term training on the sand. Muscle activities were recorded using a surface bipolar electromyography system. Results For the intervention group, we found a reduced foot posture index (p < 0.001; d = 2.00) and significant group-by-time interactions for gluteus medius activity during the mid-stance phase (p < 0.028; d = 0.59). Significantly higher gluteus medius activity (p = 0.028, d = 0.569) was found during the post-test. We also observed significant group-by-time interactions for medial gastrocnemius activity during the push-off phase (p < 0.041; d = 0.54). Significantly larger medial gastrocnemius activity (p = 0.041; d = 0.636) was found during the post-test compared to the pre-test. Conclusions Long-term running on sand resulted in reduced pronation, increased medial gastrocnemius activity, and improved frontal plane pelvic stability due to higher gluteus medius activity. Trial registration: IRCT20191211045704N1. Registered 25 February 2020. Retrospectively registered

The presence of autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rod and ring particles in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with extra hepatic autoimmune disorders, while peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may exacerbate these conditions. Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic structures, called rod and ring particles (RR), have strong associations with these patients and are identified by HEp-2 cells. Objectives: Our purpose was to study the correlation of autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rod and ring particles in the serum of patients with chronic HCV infection with their response to standard therapy. Methods: Serum samples were gathered from 120 patients with HCV infection (40 naive treatments, 40 with sustained virological response (SVR), and 40 with relapse response) during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy and analyzed for the presence of RR antibodies by IIF on commercially available HEp-2 cell substrate slides from Euroimmun (Lu beck, Germany). Results: Anti-rod and ring (anti-RR) autoantibodies were detected in only the serum of 1 out of 120 patients (0.8), which belonged to a patient (out of 40) with relapse response (2.5). No correlation was found between the types of response to peg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy and the presence of anti-RR autoantibodies. Conclusions: The only HCV patient with RR autoantibodies previously had received IFN/ribavirin antiviral therapy. The presence of these autoantibodies is extremely rare in Iranian HCV patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of genetic background and geographical pattern in the prevalence of these novel autoantibodies worldwide. � 2016, Kowsar Corp

Serological assessment of gastric mucosal atrophy in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-invasive tools for gastric cancer screening and diagnosis are lacking. Serological testing with the detection of pepsinogen 1 (PG1), pepsinogen 2 (PG2) and gastrin 17 (G17) offers the possibility to detect preneoplastic gastric mucosal conditions. Aim of this study was to assess the performance of these serological tests in the presence of gastric neoplasia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Histological and serological samples of 118 patients with gastric cancer have been assessed for tumor specific characteristics (Laurén type, localisation), degree of mucosal abnormalities (intestinal metaplasia, atrophy) and serological parameters (PG1, PG2, PG1/2-ratio, G17, <it>H. pylori </it>IgG, CagA status). Association of the general factors to the different serological values have been statistically analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients with intestinal type gastric cancer had lower PG1 levels and a lower PG1/2-ratio compared to those with diffuse type cancer (<it>p </it>= 0.003). The serum levels of PG2 itself and G17 were not significantly altered. <it>H. pylori </it>infection in general had no influence on the levels of PG1, PG2 and G17 in the serum of gastric cancer patients. There was a trend towards lower PG1 levels in case of positive CagA-status (<it>p </it>= 0.058). The degree of both intestinal metaplasia and atrophy correlated inversely with serum levels for PG1 and the PG1/2-ratio (p < 0.01). Laurén-specific analysis revealed that this is only true for intestinal type tumors. Univariate ANOVA revealed atrophy and CagA-status as the only independent factors for low PG1 and a low PG1/2-ratio.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Glandular atrophy and a positive CagA status are determinant factors for decreased pepsinogen 1 levels in the serum of patients with gastric cancer. The serological assessment of gastric atrophy by analysis of serum pepsinogen is only adequate for patients with intestinal type cancer.</p

Dual application of Polyvinyl Alcohol Glutaraldehyde Methylthymol Blue Fricke hydrogel in clinical practice: Surface dosimeter and bolus

An essential issue is an accurate evaluation of surface dose distribution for such sensitive treatments. This work aimed to feasibility of the dual application of the Ferrous Polyvinyl Alcohol Glutaraldehyde Methylthymol Blue (PVA-GTA-MTB) gel as a bolus compensator and surface dosimeter in breast radiotherapy. The differences between the surface dose measured using PVA-GTA-MTB gel and film dosimetry in the medial and lateral parts of the breast were 3.74 and 4.18, respectively. A qualitative comparison of the isodose curves showed that the PVA-GTA-MTB bolus creates a uniform dose distribution similar to the superflab bolus in the target volume