Relationship between Social Determinants of Health and General Health Status of the Elderly in Alborz Province: Path Analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social determinants of health (SDH), quality of life, lifestyle, and general health of the aging people in Alborz province. A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2000 aging people. A two-stage cluster sampling was applied to select participants. We used a four-section questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed with AMOS 22. We used path analysis to examine whether SDH, QOL and lifestyle would directly or indirectly affect general health and whether the pathway model was acceptable. The general health status of the most of participants was low. The results of path analysis show that general health is affected by the SDH, lifestyle and quality of life. Our pathway model was an acceptable model. Variables such as marital status, educational level, job, income, number of family members, QOL, and lifestyle can be considered as predictors of general health status in the aging people. It can be concluded that it is necessary to provide appropriate strategies to promote general health of the elder person. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Traumatic Pulmonary Pneumatoceles (Pseudocyst)

Introduction: Traumatic pulmonary parenchymal cavitary lesions (TPPCs) are pulmonary pseudocysts raiding secondary to lung contusion. Method: To provide an overview of the etiology, presentation, diagnosis and treatment of TPPCs, and to discuss this in the context of a cohort of 12 retrospectively reviewed patients with TPPCs presenting to Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, from January 2014 to December 2016. Between January 2014 and December 2016, a total of twelve trauma patients presented to Sahlgrenska University Hospital with TPPC following blunt trauma. Results: TPPCs are of limited clinical consequence. Inexperienced clinicians may treat these inappropriately. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan is the investigation of choice. Treatment is symptomatic. Intervention is indicated only in case of complications

Prevalence of Cannabis Lifetime Use in Iranian High School and College Students: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analyses,and Meta-Regression

Cannabis is the most widely used substance in the world. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of cannabis lifetime use (CLU) in high school and college students of Iran and also to determine factors related to changes in prevalence. A systematic review of literature on cannabis use in Iran was conducted according to MOOSE guideline. Domestic scientific databases, PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar, relevant reference lists, and relevant journals were searched up to April, 2014. Prevalences were calculated using the variance stabilizing double arcsine transformation and confidence intervals (CIs) estimated using the Wilson method. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran's Q statistic and I-2 index and causes of heterogeneity were evaluated using meta-regression model. In electronic database search, 4,000 citations were retrieved, producing a total of 33 studies. CLU was reported with a random effects pooled prevalence of 4.0 (95 CI = 3.0 to 5.0). In subgroups of high school and college students, prevalences were 5.0 (95 CI = 3.0 to -7.0) and 2.0 (95 CI = 2.0 to -3.0), respectively. Meta-regression model indicated that prevalence is higher in college students (beta = 0.089, p < .001), male gender (beta = 0.017, p < .001), and is lower in studies with sampling versus census studies (beta = -0.096, p < .001). This study reported that prevalence of CLU in Iranian students are lower than industrialized countries. In addition, gender, level of education, and methods of sampling are highly associated with changes in the prevalence of CLU across provinces

Kinetic CRAC uncovers a role for Nab3 in determining gene expression profiles during stress

RNA-binding proteins play a key role in shaping gene expression profiles during stress, however, little is known about the dynamic nature of these interactions and how this influences the kinetics of gene expression. To address this, we developed kinetic cross-linking and analysis of cDNAs (\u3c7CRAC), an ultraviolet cross-linking method that enabled us to quantitatively measure the dynamics of protein\u2013RNA interactions in vivo on a minute time-scale. Here, using \u3c7CRAC we measure the global RNA-binding dynamics of the yeast transcription termination factor Nab3 in response to glucose starvation. These measurements reveal rapid changes in protein\u2013RNA interactions within 1\u2009min following stress imposition. Changes in Nab3 binding are largely independent of alterations in transcription rate during the early stages of stress response, indicating orthogonal transcriptional control mechanisms. We also uncover a function for Nab3 in dampening expression of stress-responsive genes. \u3c7CRAC has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of in vivo dynamics of protein\u2013RNA interactions

Premeasured neochordae loop maker: A new technology in mitral valve repair

The exact length of neochordae loops plays the major role in the success of mitral valve repair. The Neochordae Loop Maker is a novel device that models the left ventricular structure in an individual patient. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography is used to identify the geometry of each papillary muscle and set up the device for the patient. All required neochordae loops are made in the operating room before initiating the cardiopulmonary bypass. In the calibration phase, seven consecutive patients who were candidates for mitral valve replacement underwent transthoracic echocardiography. The device was set up for each patient, and the length of their normal chordae and their respective neochordae was compared by the Bland-Altman analysis. From seven excised mitral valves, 21 chordae were considered normal (gold standard). The length of these gold standards (1.92 ± 0.67 cm) and their respective neochordae (1.93 ± 0.69 cm) showed agreement by the Bland-Altman analysis. The proposed technology showed satisfactory preliminary results in creating the premeasured neochorda loops inasmuch as it reduced the complexity of minimally invasive surgeries. Copyright © 2013 by the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery

Mortality and morbidity after aortic root replacement: 10-year experience

Aortic root reconstruction remains a challenging surgical procedure. This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes of aortic root replacement over a 10-year period. There were 83 patients with a mean age of 43.2 ± 14 years (range, 10 to 78 years). Type A aortic dissection and Marfan syndrome were found in 28 and 24, respectively. The most common technique used for repair of this condition was the Bentall operation. The mean duration of follow-up was 29.6 ± 28 months, ranging from 1 to 120 months. Hospital (30-day) mortality was 13.3 (11 patients). Two patients died during the late follow-up. The mortality was significantly higher in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock, those with long cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamp times, and the group who had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. Emergency operation was not a significant risk factor for early death in our patients. The most common complications were bleeding and neurological sequelae. Aortic root replacement can be achieved with acceptable mortality and morbidity in a high-risk group of patients. Improvements in the outcome may be achieved by faster transport of patients in cardiogenic shock, and by reducing the cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamp times

Lens antenna adjustment for telecommunication and imaging modes in a sub-THz radio system

Abstract This article presents a concept of a dual-mode operated sub-THz frequency radio system by adjusting the lens-antenna distance for either telecommunication or imaging modes. The signal transmittance and imaging capabilities are demonstrated using a continuous wave operated transceiver with operation frequency 220 to 330 GHz where the 6G wireless radio system could be allocated. A high-gain bullet-shape lens antenna was investigated for imaging the natural object (Bergenia leaf) in the short-range line-of-sight radio link. The bullet lens performed with the gain of 28 dB and the 1° beamwidth over the frequency band. For the demonstration of dual-mode operation, the leaf was placed into the middle of the radio link path and then its image was synthesized at three lenses to the antenna-distances by utilizing the inverse synthetic-aperture radar technique. For image synthesizing, the movement pattern area (100 mm × 100 mm) is defined with 5 mm steps to sweep the object area. Three 100 mm × 100 mm images by 5 mm steps from different lens positions in focal axis distances (4, 15, and 30 mm were synthesized. The comparison shows that 15 mm distance has the highest gain and 30 mm distance has the higher image quality. Therefore, there is the possibility to switch from the high gain low-resolution mode to the low gain high-resolution mode by changing the lens position in terms of the feed. The imaging feasibility can be applied at 6G radio systems if adjustable lens systems are used revealing the new potential features in future radios

Effects of intravenous and transdermal photobiomodulation on the postoperative complications of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

Although coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the most worldwide commonly performed cardiac surgeries to enhance myocardial perfusion in high-grade myocardial occlusion, it remains a high-risk procedure. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is one of the methods which have been shown to have positive effects on the healing process after CABG and postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PBM in patients who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Ths study was conducted with 192 volunteers who electively submitted to CABG. The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups: laser-treated (transdermal: 980 nm, 200 mW, continuous, average energy fluency of 6 J/cm2 and intravenous: 405 nm, 1.5 mW, continuous for 30 min) and standard treatment and control group (standard treatment only). Intravenous laser was illuminated the day before the surgery, immediately after transferring the patient to CCU post-operation and IV laser in addition to transdermal laser was applied every day after surgery for 6 days. A total of 170 out of 192 participants completed the study, 82 (48.2) in the PBM group and 88 (51.8) in the control group. Level of LDH and CPK was significantly lower in the PBM group (P &lt; 0.05) in the 4th day postoperatively. The PBM group also showed significantly lower post-surgery complications, including pericardial effusion, ejection fraction, pathologic ST changes, pathologic Q, rehospitalization, heart failure, and mediastinitis (P &lt; 0.05). Likewise, the VAS pain score after surgery was significantly lower in patients in the laser group (P &lt; 0.05). PBM seems a promising, safe, cost-benefit therapeutic modality to reduce postoperative complications of CABG. Trial registration number: IRCT2016052926069N4. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd. part of Springer Nature