349 research outputs found
Chiropractic in Australia: A survey of the general public
Background: An increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine was identified in several countries including Australia. There is a need to assess the current position of chiropractic within the Australian health system. Objectives: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of the use of chiropractic in Australia; to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Australian general public about: their health status, the chiropractic profession, chiropractic and health services in general. Methods: A survey was carried out in which a novel 21-item questionnaire was utilised. To obtain a sample whose opinions would be representative of the Australian general population with a 95% level of significance and 4% margin of error, 600 respondents were required. Descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to present and analyse the data. Results: 757 respondents completed the survey. A high prevalence of pain and discomfort relating to the musculoskeletal system were found, particularly in the lower back (71.1 % of the respondents) and neck (55.6%). The first contact with respect to therapy for the greatest proportion of respondents was general medicine (35.5%), followed by chiropractic (16%), physiotherapy (13.8%) and massage (10.2%). Physiotherapy was rated highest in its ability to relieve the symptoms (18%) followed by chiropractic (15.9%), massage (15.5%) and medicine (14%). In our sample 302 (39.9%) participants used chiropractic before and 75.9% of these consumers were satisfied or highly satisfied with the services provided. No significant differences in income, age and gender were found with regards to those individuals who reported a previous use of chiropractic services. The main reasons for not using chiropractic were: that there was no perceived need for a chiropractic intervention, associated cost, lack of information about chiropractic, lack of referral, being attended by another health professional, and concern about the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Most of the respondents considered that attending to general health and well-being was more important than simply alleviating symptoms and their personal philosophy was a major determinant when it came to the choice of health services. Conclusions: This study suggests that chiropractic is a thriving profession in Australia. It would appear that there is a need for chiropractic services in Australia, particularly in attending to the highly prevalent realm of musculoskeletal disorders. A considerable number of Australians already utilise chiropractic services. Encouragingly, the vast majority of these consumers are satisfied with the service provided. Chiropractic could play an even greater role within the Australian health if better integrated with the mainstream and allied medicine. A more active approach should be taken by chiropractic practitioners and institutions to improve the general public's knowledge about chiropractic
Effect of Au addition on hydrogen permeation and the resistance to H2S on Pd-Ag alloy membranes
In order to make a detailed comparison between Pd-Ag and Pd-Ag-Au membranes according to their H2 permeation properties and sulfide resistance Au was deposited by the electroless plating (ELP) technique onto one half of Pd-Ag membranes. Membranes' thicknesses are ranged between 2.45 and 3.13 ”m. Permeation tests have been carried out from 400 to 600 °C under single gas conditions. The Pd91.7Ag4.8Au3.5 membrane has shown a H2 permeance of 4.71·10â3 mol sâ1 mâ2 Pa0.5 at 600 °C, which is one of the highest values ever reported in the literature, where the Pd-Ag-Au membranes have exhibited higher hydrogen permeation rates compared to their respective Pd-Ag membranes above 550 °C. The H2 permeation properties have been determined in terms of the degree of H2S inhibition, up to 17 ppm, and subsequent H2 flux recovery rate. Pd-Ag membranes alloyed with gold resisted 12.5 h of H2S exposure showing recovery rates of 85% and 83% for Pd91.5Ag4.7Au3.8 and Pd90.5Ag4.6Au4.9 membranes, respectively, whereas the hydrogen flux of non-gold membranes decreased below detectable values. H2/N2 ideal perm-selectivity of the Pd-Ag membrane was reduced to 18 after H2S tests (starting from > 1308) while Pd-Ag-Au membranes showed a better resistance to sulfur with H2/N2 selectivity values of 793 and 121 (starting from > 4115 and > 2557 respectively). No evidence of the formation of a crystalline sulfide phase on the Pd-Ag-Au alloy membrane surfaces was found in the XRD patterns after H2S exposure and also XPS characterization did not show important changes in the composition before and after the H2S exposure tests. However, SEM images showed a decrease in the thickness of the Pd-Ag membrane and signs of corrosion and roughening on its surface, while gold-alloyed membranes did not show any damage. Keywords Palladium-silver-gold membrane; Electroless plating; H2 permeation; H2S poisoning; H2 recover
Effect of Au addition on hydrogen permeation and the resistance to H2S on Pd-Ag alloy membranes
In order to make a detailed comparison between Pd-Ag and Pd-Ag-Au membranes according to their H2 permeation properties and sulfide resistance Au was deposited by the electroless plating (ELP) technique onto one half of Pd-Ag membranes. Membranes' thicknesses are ranged between 2.45 and 3.13 ”m. Permeation tests have been carried out from 400 to 600 °C under single gas conditions. The Pd91.7Ag4.8Au3.5 membrane has shown a H2 permeance of 4.71·10â3 mol sâ1 mâ2 Pa0.5 at 600 °C, which is one of the highest values ever reported in the literature, where the Pd-Ag-Au membranes have exhibited higher hydrogen permeation rates compared to their respective Pd-Ag membranes above 550 °C. The H2 permeation properties have been determined in terms of the degree of H2S inhibition, up to 17 ppm, and subsequent H2 flux recovery rate. Pd-Ag membranes alloyed with gold resisted 12.5 h of H2S exposure showing recovery rates of 85% and 83% for Pd91.5Ag4.7Au3.8 and Pd90.5Ag4.6Au4.9 membranes, respectively, whereas the hydrogen flux of non-gold membranes decreased below detectable values. H2/N2 ideal perm-selectivity of the Pd-Ag membrane was reduced to 18 after H2S tests (starting from > 1308) while Pd-Ag-Au membranes showed a better resistance to sulfur with H2/N2 selectivity values of 793 and 121 (starting from > 4115 and > 2557 respectively). No evidence of the formation of a crystalline sulfide phase on the Pd-Ag-Au alloy membrane surfaces was found in the XRD patterns after H2S exposure and also XPS characterization did not show important changes in the composition before and after the H2S exposure tests. However, SEM images showed a decrease in the thickness of the Pd-Ag membrane and signs of corrosion and roughening on its surface, while gold-alloyed membranes did not show any damage. Keywords Palladium-silver-gold membrane; Electroless plating; H2 permeation; H2S poisoning; H2 recover
Lipoic acid inhibits leptin secretion and Sp1 activity in adipocytes
Lipoic acid (LA) is an antioxidant with therapeutic potential on several diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Hyperleptinemia and oxidative stress play a major role in the development of obesity-linked diseases. The aim of this study was to examine in vivo and in vitro the effects of LA on leptin production, as well as to elucidate the mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in LA actions. Methods and results: Dietary supplementation with LA decreased both circulating leptin, and adipose tissue leptin mRNA in rats. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LA caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of leptin secretion and gene expression. Moreover, LA stimulated the anaerobic utilization of glucose to lactate, which negatively correlated with leptin secretion. Furthermore, LA enhanced phosphorylation of Sp1 and inhibited Sp1 transcriptional activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, LA inhibited Akt phosphorylation, a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 mimicked LA actions, dramatically inhibiting both leptin secretion and gene expression and stimulating Sp1 phosphorylation. Conclusion: All of these data suggest that the phosphorylation of Sp1 and the accompanying reduced DNA-binding activity are likely to be involved in the inhibition of leptin induced by LA, which could be mediated in part by the abrogation of the PI3K/Akt pathway
Axillary lymph node imaging in mRNA, vector-based, and mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine recipients: ultrasound features
Objectives To assess ultrasound characteristics of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes after two doses of four different COVID-19
vaccination protocols, to determine whether these parameters differed with age, and to describe how they changed on follow-up
imaging.
Methods A total of 247 volunteer employees from our center who had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination were
recruited and followed prospectively. Axillary ultrasound of the ipsilateral vaccinated arm was performed the week after
receiving the second dose to analyze lymph node features (number, long-axis, cortical thickness, morphology, and vascular
imaging). Axillary lymphadenopathy resulting from four vaccination protocolsâmRNA (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273),
ChAdOx1-S, and mix-and-matchâwas compared. Analysis was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc analysis
with Bonferroni corrections. Nodal reactogenicity was evaluated for two age groups: young (< 45 years old) and middle-aged ( â„
45 years old). All parameters were compared between both groups using an unpaired-sample Student t test. A p value < 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
Results Significantly higher values for total number of visible nodes, cortical thickness, Bediâs classification (p < 0.001), and
vascularity (p < 0.05) were observed in mRNA vaccine recipients compared to full ChAdOx1-S protocol recipients. Moreover,
mix-and-match protocol recipients showed greater nodal cortical thickness and higher Bediâs classification than full ChAdOx1-S
recipients (p < 0.001). Analyses between age groups revealed greater cortical thickness, Bediâs classification, and color Doppler
signal in younger patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusions Nodal parameters of Bediâs classification and cortical thickness were more often increased in mRNA and mix-andmatch vaccine recipients when compared to ChAdOx1-S vaccine alone, especially in younger patients.
Key Points
âą Hyperplastic lymphadenopathy was observed more frequently in mRNA and mix-and-match vaccine protocols compared to full
vector-based vaccination.
âą Higher values for cortical thickness, Bediâs classification, and color Doppler signal parameters were identified in younger
patients.
âą Observed lymph node findings normalized in greater than 80% of patients by the third month following vaccination
Modeling the Effect of Propofol and Remifentanil Combinations for Sedation-Analgesia in Endoscopic Procedures Using an Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)
BACKGROUND:
The increasing demand for anesthetic procedures in the gastrointestinal endoscopy area has not been followed by a similar increase in the methods to provide and control sedation and analgesia for these patients. In this study, we evaluated different combinations of propofol and remifentanil, administered through a target-controlled infusion system, to estimate the optimal concentrations as well as the best way to control the sedative effects induced by the combinations of drugs in patients undergoing ultrasonographic endoscopy.
METHODS:
One hundred twenty patients undergoing ultrasonographic endoscopy were randomized to receive, by means of a target-controlled infusion system, a fixed effect-site concentration of either propofol or remifentanil of 8 different possible concentrations, allowing adjustment of the concentrations of the other drug. Predicted effect-site propofol (C(e)pro) and remifentanil (C(e)remi) concentrations, parameters derived from auditory evoked potential, autoregressive auditory evoked potential index (AAI/2) and electroencephalogram (bispectral index [BIS] and index of consciousness [IoC]) signals, as well as categorical scores of sedation (Ramsay Sedation Scale [RSS] score) in the presence or absence of nociceptive stimulation, were collected, recorded, and analyzed using an Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System. The models described for the relationship between C(e)pro and C(e)remi versus AAI/2, BIS, and IoC were diagnosed for inaccuracy using median absolute performance error (MDAPE) and median root mean squared error (MDRMSE), and for bias using median performance error (MDPE). The models were validated in a prospective group of 68 new patients receiving different combinations of propofol and remifentanil. The predictive ability (P(k)) of AAI/2, BIS, and IoC with respect to the sedation level, RSS score, was also explored.
RESULTS:
Data from 110 patients were analyzed in the training group. The resulting estimated models had an MDAPE of 32.87, 12.89, and 8.77; an MDRMSE of 17.01, 12.81, and 9.40; and an MDPE of -1.86, 3.97, and 2.21 for AAI/2, BIS, and IoC, respectively, in the absence of stimulation and similar values under stimulation. P(k) values were 0.82, 0.81, and 0.85 for AAI/2, BIS, and IoC, respectively. The model predicted the prospective validation data with an MDAPE of 34.81, 14.78, and 10.25; an MDRMSE of 16.81, 15.91, and 11.81; an MDPE of -8.37, 5.65, and -1.43; and P(k) values of 0.81, 0.8, and 0.8 for AAI/2, BIS, and IoC, respectively.
CONCLUSION:
A model relating C(e)pro and C(e)remi to AAI/2, BIS, and IoC has been developed and prospectively validated. Based on these models, the (C(e)pro, C(e)remi) concentration pairs that provide an RSS score of 4 range from (1.8 Όg·mL(-1), 1.5 ng·mL(-1)) to (2.7 Όg·mL(-1), 0 ng·mL(-1)). These concentrations are associated with AAI/2 values of 25 to 30, BIS of 71 to 75, and IoC of 72 to 76. The presence of noxious stimulation increases the requirements of C(e)pro and C(e)remi to achieve the same degree of sedative effects
Multiparametric renal magnetic resonance imaging: A reproducibility study in renal allografts with stable function
Monitoring renal allograft function after transplantation is key for the early detection of allograft impairment, which in turn can contribute to preventing the loss of the allograft. Multiparametric renal MRI (mpMRI) is a promising noninvasive technique to assess and characterize renal physiopathology; however, few studies have employed mpMRI in renal allografts with stable function (maintained function over a long time period). The purposes of the current study were to evaluate the reproducibility of mpMRI in transplant patients and to characterize normal values of the measured parameters, and to estimate the labeling efficiency of Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (PCASL) in the infrarenal aorta using numerical simulations considering experimental measurements of aortic blood flow profiles. The subjects were 20 transplant patients with stable kidney function, maintained over 1 year. The MRI protocol consisted of PCASL, intravoxel incoherent motion, and T1 inversion recovery. Phase contrast was used to measure aortic blood flow. Renal blood flow (RBF), diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), flowing fraction (
f
), and T1 maps were calculated and mean values were measured in the cortex and medulla. The labeling efficiency of PCASL was estimated from simulation of Bloch equations. Reproducibility was assessed with the within-subject coefficient of variation, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. Correlations were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level was p less than 0.05. Cortical reproducibility was very good for T1, D, and RBF, moderate for
f
, and low for D*, while medullary reproducibility was good for T1 and D. Significant correlations in the cortex between RBF and
f
(r = 0.66), RBF and eGFR (r = 0.64), and D* and eGFR (r = -0.57) were found. Normal values of the measured parameters employing the mpMRI protocol in kidney transplant patients with stable function were characterized and the results showed good reproducibility of the techniques
Dog Burials Associated with Human Burials in the West Indies during the Early Pre-Columbian Ceramic Age (500 BC-600 AD)
Across the Caribbean, the widespread presence of canine remains at archaeological sites from the Saladoid period raises questions about the role of âmanâs best friend.â Dog (Canis familiaris) remains have been found located in both refuse middens and burials adjacent to human graves in a number of sites in the French Antilles and Barbuda, West Indies. This paper will critically examine dog remains and discuss the varied duality of the dogâs role in the Saladoid world: from food source to lifelong companion. The importance of dogs within Amerindian sites from Saint Martin, the Guadeloupe archipelago, Martinique and Barbuda will be explored from a zooarchaeological perspective, concluding with a critical discussion of changes in cultural patterns, as seen through the decline in dog remains during the Troumassoid and Suazoid period at the sites in the French Antilles.
Résumé
SĂ©pultures de chiens associĂ©es Ă des sĂ©pultures humaines dans les Petites Antilles Ă lâĂge du NĂ©oindien ancien (500 av. â 600 ap. J.-C.). Dans les Antilles, la prĂ©sence gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©e de restes de chiens sur les sites de la pĂ©riode cĂ©ramique ancienne SaladoĂŻde soulĂšve des questions sur le rĂŽle de ce « meilleur ami de lâhomme ». En effet, des chiens (Canis familiaris) ont Ă©tĂ© trouvĂ©s aussi bien dans des zones de rejets, quâenterrĂ©s aux cĂŽtĂ©s de sĂ©pultures humaines dans un certain nombre de sites des Petites Antilles. Ce document examinera ces restes de chiens de façon critique et dĂ©crira les morphologies particuliĂšres des chiens des sites amĂ©rindiens de lâĂźle de Saint-Martin, l\u27archipel de la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et de lâĂźle de Barbuda, dans une perspective archĂ©ozoologique. Une discussion critique portera sur l\u27Ă©volution des changements des modĂšles culturels, comme celui de la chute drastique des chiens enterrĂ©s pendant les pĂ©riodes archĂ©ologiques plus tardives, TroumassoĂŻde et SuazoĂŻde, des sites des Antilles françaises. Enfin, la discussion portera sur la dualitĂ© du rĂŽle du chien dans le monde SaladoĂŻde, Ă la fois source de nourriture et compagnon de vie
Burden and challenges of heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease. A call to action
Patients with the dual burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic congestive heart
failure (HF) experience unacceptably high rates of symptom load, hospitalization, and mortality. Currently, concerted efforts to identify, prevent and treat HF in CKD patients are
lacking at the institutional level, with emphasis still being placed on individual specialty
views on this topic. The authors of this review paper endorse the need for a dedicated
cardiorenal interdisciplinary team that includes nephrologists and renal nurses and jointly manages appropriate clinical interventions across the inpatient and outpatient settings.
There is a critical need for guidelines and best clinical practice models from major cardiology
and nephrology professional societies, as well as for research funding in both specialties to
focus on the needs of future therapies for HF in CKD patients. The implementation of crossspecialty educational programs across all levels in cardiology and nephrology will help train
future specialists and nurses who have the ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent HF in CKD
patients in a precise, clinically effective, and cost-favorable manner.Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crĂłnica (ERC) que desarrollan insuficiencia cardĂaca (IC)
congestiva crĂłnica presentan cifras inaceptablemente altas de sĂntomas, hospitalizaciĂłn y
mortalidad. Actualmente, se echan en falta iniciativas institucionales dirigidas a identificar,
prevenir y tratar la IC en los pacientes con ERC de manera multidisciplinar, prevaleciendo
las actuaciones de las especialidades individuales. Los autores de este artĂculo de revisiĂłn
respaldan la necesidad de crear equipos multidisciplinares cardiorrenales, en los que participen nefrĂłlogos y enfermeras renales, que gestionen colaborativamente las intervenciones
clĂnicas apropiadas en los entornos de pacientes con ERC e IC hospitalizados y ambulatorios.
Es necesario y urgente que se elaboren guĂas y modelos de prĂĄctica clĂnica sobre la ERC con IC
por parte de las sociedades profesionales de cardiologĂa y nefrologĂa, asĂ como financiaciĂłn
para la investigaciĂłn concertada entre ambas especialidades sobre la necesidad de futuros
tratamientos para la IC en pacientes con ERC. La implementaciĂłn de programas educativos
cardiorrenales a todos los niveles en cardiologĂa y nefrologĂa ayudarĂĄ a formar a los futuros
especialistas y enfermeras para que tengan la capacidad de diagnosticar, tratar y prevenir
la IC en pacientes con ERC de manera precisa, clĂnicamente efectiva y econĂłmicamente
favorabl
Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the `ankle' in the cosmic-ray spectrum
We report a first measurement for ultra-high energy cosmic rays of the
correlation between the depth of shower maximum and the signal in the water
Cherenkov stations of air-showers registered simultaneously by the fluorescence
and the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Such a correlation
measurement is a unique feature of a hybrid air-shower observatory with
sensitivity to both the electromagnetic and muonic components. It allows an
accurate determination of the spread of primary masses in the cosmic-ray flux.
Up till now, constraints on the spread of primary masses have been dominated by
systematic uncertainties. The present correlation measurement is not affected
by systematics in the measurement of the depth of shower maximum or the signal
in the water Cherenkov stations. The analysis relies on general characteristics
of air showers and is thus robust also with respect to uncertainties in
hadronic event generators. The observed correlation in the energy range around
the `ankle' at differs significantly from
expectations for pure primary cosmic-ray compositions. A light composition made
up of proton and helium only is equally inconsistent with observations. The
data are explained well by a mixed composition including nuclei with mass . Scenarios such as the proton dip model, with almost pure compositions, are
thus disfavoured as the sole explanation of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray
flux at Earth.Comment: Published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Added Report
Numbe
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