RELIABILITY OF THE BICAUDATE PARAMETER IN THE REVEALING OF THE ENLARGED LATERAL VENTRICLES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS

Introduction: In schizophrenia patients the lateral ventricle enlargement has mostly been reported in relationship with smaller cortical and/or subcortical brain volumes; and it has been observed that ventricular system growth may be a consequence of the smaller caudate nucleus volume. Bicaudate parameters have been used in the Alzheimer dementia and Huntington’s chorea diagnosing in order to evaluate brain changes and the enlargement of the lateral ventricles. Subjects and methods: This study has been carried out on 140 patients out of which 70 patients (30 men and 40 women) who met the ICD 10 criteria for schizophrenia and 70 healthy controls (30 men and 40 women) matched on sex and age with the studied group. All of them underwent direct caudatometry and volume computation based on MRI scans. Results: Except for the bicorporal line, for all the parameters were obtained the statistically highly significant differences between the examined and control groups. Significant correlation was established for the majority of bicaudate parameters and volumes of the caudate nuclei and lateral ventricles. Discussion: Enlargement of the lateral ventricles is one of the most frequent MRI finding in schizophrenia patients. Ventricles are enlarging gradually and frontal horns are more affected than other parts. The increased volumes of the caudate nuclei signalized that ventricular enlargement is not the consequence of the caudate atrophy. Conclusion: Bicaudate parameters are reliable parameters for the quick orientation in order to assess the enlarged ventricles in schizophrenia patients

Assessment of Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in the Early Phase of Infection With SARS-CoV-2 Virus

BackgroundWe are facing the outburst of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) defined as a serious, multisystem, disorder, including various neurological manifestations in its presentation. So far, autonomic dysfunction (AD) has not been reported in patients with COVID-19 infection.AimAssessment of AD in the early phase of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus).Patients and methodsWe analyzed 116 PCR positive COVID-19 patients. After the exclusion of 41 patients with associate diseases (CADG), partitioned to patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and syncope, the remaining patients were included into a severe group (45 patients with confirmed interstitial pneumonia) and mild group (30 patients). Basic cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CART) were performed, followed by beat-to-beat heart rate variability (HRV) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability (BPV) analysis, along with baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS). Non-linear analysis of HRV was provided by Poincare Plot. Results were compared to 77 sex and age-matched controls.ResultsAD (sympathetic, parasympathetic, or both) in our study has been revealed in 51.5% of severe, 78.0% of mild COVID-19 patients, and the difference compared to healthy controls was significant (p = 0.018). Orthostatic hypotension has been established in 33.0% COVID-19 patients compared to 2.6% controls (p = 0.001). Most of the spectral parameters of HRV and BPV confirmed AD, most prominent in the severe COVID-19 group. BRS was significantly lower in all patients (severe, mild, CADG), indicating significant sudden cardiac death risk.ConclusionCardiovascular autonomic neuropathy should be taken into account in COVID-19 patients’ assessment. It can be an explanation for a variety of registered manifestations, enabling a comprehensive diagnostic approach and further treatment

SYSTOLIC ALGORITHMS FOR MATRIX MULTIPLICATION ON SPACE OPTIMAL ONE-DIMENSIONAL SYSTOLIC ARRAYS

In this paper we define and discuss various systolic algorithms for synthesis of one-dimensional systolic arrays (1DSA) with two-dimensional links, suitable for implementation of product of rectangular matrices. It is shown that using those algorithms, we can obtain space optimal systolic arrays, for any relation between dimensions of matrices

Repair welding procedure and techno-economic analysis of burner pipe

The selection of the electrode for repair welding is one of the activities needed before repairing machine parts. In this case, damages that have occurred in a burner pipe welded joint during manufacture or previous repair welding have resulted in the need to replace the previously used electrodes with more suitable ones for the exploitation conditions to which the burner is subjected. For this purpose, 2 specimens welded with 2 different electrodes (Castolin and 6825 and PIVA 25/20 B) are cut from the pipes and tested. Micro- and macro-analyses of these specimens are performed, along with hardness testing. It is concluded that the Castolin 6825 electrode is better suited for burner pipe repair welding. Following this, the test repair welding of the burner pipe is performed. In addition to penetrant tests of the welded pipe, a short overview of the techno-economic analysis of the repaired pipe is given, including the ratio of repair price to the price of manufacturing a new burner

THE INFLUENCE OF EARLY LEFT VENTRICLE REMODELING OVER QTC CHANGES IN HIGHLY TRAINED PREADOLESCENT FOOTBALLERS

Aim. To assess the correlation between left ventricle remodeling induced by physical training with QTc duration in preadolescent professional football players.Material and methods. Ninety-four highly trained male footballers (mean aged 12,85±0,84) competing in the Serbian Football League (at least 7 training hours/ week) and 47 age-matched healthy male controls were enrolled in the study. Main outcome measures: They were screened by ECG and echocardiography at a tertiary referral cardio center. The control group had sedentary life style (less than 2 training hours/week). QTc values and left ventricle dimensions were compared in these two groups.Results. In all participants, normal values of QTc interval were registered. Mean QTc in athletes was significantly higher compared to non-athletes (419,89±13,07 msec vs 399,78±13,27 msec) (p<0,001). QTc interval had strong positive correlation to left atrium dilatation, LV dilatation, LV mass and LV mass index. There was no correlation between QTc interval and LV wall thickness, but there were correlations between QTc interval duration and specific LV mass indexes (LVM/BSA 1,5 and LVM/h 2.7).Conclusion. QTc interval prolongation is present in early stage of athlete’s heart remodeling, hence QTc prolongation could be the early ECG marker of physiological LV remodeling in young preadolescent footballers, without any other standard ECG and echocardiographic signs of early LV hypertrophy. This could be explained by a different pattern of left ventricle remodeling in preadolescent period, where LV wall thickness increase cannot usually be seen and the predominant characteristic is left ventricle dilatation