Exploring Biomarkers Beyond Exercise Testing: The Impact of Smoking on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Health among CKD Patients

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients often face complex health challenges, including cardiovascular and pulmonary issues. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for these conditions, but its specific impact on CKD patients remains less understood. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between smoking habits and cardiopulmonary health among CKD patients. We examined baseline characteristics, including demographics, medical history, and biochemical markers, in a cohort of CKD patients. Cardiopulmonary parameters were assessed during exercise testing, including oxygen consumption, ventilation rates, ventilation-perfusion matching markers, and oxygen saturation levels. Results: Our findings revealed no statistically significant differences in cardiopulmonary parameters between smokers and non-smokers within the CKD patient population. This suggests that the relationship between smoking and exercise capacity in CKD patients is complex and influenced by multiple factors. Our analysis of demographics, comorbidities, and medication history provided critical context for interpreting these results. Conclusion: This study contributes to our understanding of the intricate relationship between smoking habits and cardiopulmonary health in CKD patients. While smoking is recognized as a risk factor, its specific impact on exercise capacity within this population may be influenced by individual variables. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in larger and more diverse cohorts. These findings underscore the importance of considering multiple variables when assessing the impact of smoking on the health of CKD patients

Liquid Film Formation by Spray Droplet Impact on a Solid Surface

Formation of liquid films through the deposition of droplets and spray onto a solid surface was studied experimentally. Experiments were done to observe the coalescence of highly viscous liquid droplets (87 wt% glycerin-in-water solutions) deposited onto a flat, solid steel plate. Droplets were deposited sequentially in straight lines or square droplet arrays. Droplet center-to-center distance was varied and the final dimensions of lines and sheets measured from photographs. When overlapping droplets were deposited surface tension forces pulled impacting droplets towards those already on the surface, a phenomena known as drawback. At large overlaps droplets deposited in a line or square array coalesced to form a circular film. When the droplet center-to-center distance increased, leading to less interaction, long, thin lines and square sheets were formed. As overlap was further decreased lines and sheets became discontinuous. A simple model was developed to predict the conditions under which rupture occurred. The lowest droplet overlap ratio (defined as droplet overlap distance divided by droplet spread diameter) at which a continuous liquid film could be formed was 位 = 0.293. Further studies with a pneumatic droplet generator that put down multiple droplets simultaneously confirmed this finding. In addition, spray experiments also exhibited the drawback effect during droplet coalescence and showcased the need to spray small droplets with large overlap in order to form a uniform thin film. Bubble entrapment and escape from sprayed paint films of different thickness was analyzed and the number, diameter and velocity of air bubbles were determined. Bubbles were observed to escape from both upward and downwards facing surfaces. Concentration gradients due to solvent evaporation in a paint film create surface tension variations that drive Marangoni flows, which bring bubbles to the paint surface. An analytical one-dimensional model of solvent diffusion was used to calculate solvent concentration variations in the paint film and the Marangoni number.Ph.D

Effect of some fungicides against the growth inhibition of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelial compatibility groups

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot, is one of the most important pathogens of Brassica napus L. in northern Iran. In this study, 13 mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) of the fungus were identified among 31 isolates sampled from four regions of Mazandaran province, Iran. Effective fungicides are useful in the integrated management of the disease. So, the effect of tebuconazole, propiconazole, cyproconazole, and Rovral-TS at five doses (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 ppm) was studied on the growth inhibition of S. sclerotiorum as in vitro tests. Maximum inhibition (100%) of S. sclerotiorum mycelial growth was obtained by the highest dose (1 ppm) of all tested fungicides, as well as by the doses of 0.1 and 0.01 ppm of propiconazole, cyproconazole, and tebuconazole. In this investigation, the reaction of S. sclerotiorum isolates belonging to different MCGs was evaluated against tebuconazole, propiconazole, cyproconazole, and Rovral-TS at their EC50 ranges. The results revealed that there was high variation of S. sclerotiorum MCGs against different fungicides. The inhibition percentage varied between 4.29% and 71.72%

Comparison of Fecal Calprotectin in Exclusively Breastfed and Formula or Mixed Fed Infants in the First Six Months of Life

We conducted this study to compare fecal calprotectin between exclusively breastfed and formula or mixed fed infants aged one month and six months. Sixty term infants were enrolled from the labor ward of Valiasr Hospital between Oct 2011 and July 2015 and their fecal calprotectin was checked by the ELISA method and Hycult biotech kits. The enrolled infants had a birth weight of 2500-4000 g and no perinatal insults or hospitalization. Stool sampling was done at 1±1 week and at 6n±1 months. The six-month infants had no recent disease, antibiotic use or vaccination. The mean fecal calprotectin was higher in exclusively breastfed infants at first and sixth months than formula and mixed fed infants (368.85±204.49 and 283.21±381.41 µg/g versus 152.59±139.13 and 113.62±92.75 µg/g respectively). (P=0.0001 and 0.018) Fecal calprotectin was higher in infants with GERD than healthy babies in the first and sixth months (P=0.0001 and 0.004). Based on the role of calprotectin in inflammation, its higher levels in exclusively breastfed infants is contrary to breast milk benefits and may be a sign of enhanced mucosal immune maturity in them

Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms Are Rare, Indolent Pancreatic Tumors in Young Women

Introduction. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare and indolent pancreatic tumor with low malignant potential which frequently occurs in reproductive-age females. Complete resection is almost always the curative option. Case Presentation. We present a 20-year-old woman with acute epigastric pain and vomiting in multiple episodes. Abdominal ultrasound showed a hypoechoic lesion with the probable source in the pancreas. Following that, CT scans and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) manifested a 9×7.5 cm-sized hypodense mass with heterogeneous well-defined margins in the pancreas suggesting the diagnosis of SPN. Whipple’s procedure was performed. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed SPN without evidence of malignancy. Discussion. SPN is known as a tumor with a favorable prognosis and a long survival rate after complete resection. However, some literature focused on minimally invasive surgery as an alternative surgical approach

A rare presentation of gastro‐pleural fistula after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass, simultaneous fistula of gastric pouch, and remnant to the pleural space

Key Clinical Message Although gastro‐pleural fistulas after bariatric surgeries are rare, they are life‐threatening complications that should be suspected in patients who present with gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms after bariatric surgery. Abstract Previous studies showed an incidence rate of 0.2%–0.37% for gastro‐pleural fistulas after bariatric surgery. We report a 56‐year‐old female with a rare presentation of gastro‐pleural fistula after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass, simultaneous fistula of the gastric pouch, and remnant to the pleural space

Neonatal mortality rate in Iran: the Iranian Perinatal Mortality Surveillance System

Background: Neonatal mortality is the major proportion of children mortality under five years and it is considered as the main health indicator in the first year of life. This paper has aimed to review the neonatal mortality in the numbers recorded at the Iranian Perinatal Mortality Surveillance System (IPMSS) by Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Methods: A descriptive study was done in 2014. For assessment of sampling quality and quantity, 24 hospitals randomly were selected. Recorded information, related to perinatal mortality (deaths from 22 completed weeks of gestation until 30 completed days after birth inclusive of stillbirths and neonatal mortality) from selected hospitals, was compared with recorded data in IPMSS. Results: Results showed that, out of 1,725 perinatal deaths occurred in hospitals, 1,480 (85.80%) deaths were recorded in IPMSS. Of 1,041 neonatal deaths that occurred in hospitals (in hospital wards and delivery rooms), 875 (84.05%) were in IPMSS. It shows that a correction coefficient for hospital neonatal mortality was 1.1904. Based on analyzing process, correction coefficients for stillbirth reported by hospitals, stillbirth for all over the country and perinatal death were 1.130, 1.1775 and 1.2443, respectively. Considering these correction coefficients – that enabled to calculate 15,130 neonatal deaths – and 1,421,689 live births (according to Statistics Center) in 2012, neonatal mortality rate was 10.64 in 1,000 live births. Conclusion: Our data showed some problems in the registration system. Although implementation and supervision of such Surveillance System are not easy, they are essential and provide valuable data in perinatal audit and neonatal health care practices