Increased incidence of kidney diseases in general practice after a nationwide albuminuria self-test program

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To study the influence of a nationwide albuminuria self-test program on the number of GP contacts for urinary complaints and/or kidney diseases and the number of newly diagnosed patients with kidney diseases by the GP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were used from the Netherlands Information Network of General Practice (LINH), including a representative sample of general practices with a dynamic population of approximately 300.000 listed patients. Morbidity data were retrieved from electronic medical records, kept in a representative sample of general practices. The incidence of kidney diseases and urinary complaints before and after the albuminuria self-test program was compared with logistic regression analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data were used from 139 general practices, including 444,220 registered patients. The number of GP consultations for kidney diseases and urinary complaints was increased in the year after the albuminuria self-test program and particularly shortly after the start of the program. Compared with the period before the self-test program, more patients have been diagnosed by the GP with symptoms/complaints of kidney disease and urinary diseases (OR = 1.7 (CI 1.4 - 2.0) and OR = 2.1 (CI 1.9 - 2.3), respectively). The odds on an abnormal urine-test in the period after the self-test program was three times higher than the year before (OR = 3.0 (CI 2.4 - 3.6)). The effect of the self-test program on newly diagnosed patients with an abnormal urine test was modified by both the presence of the risk factors hypertension and diabetes mellitus. For this diagnosis the highest OR was found in patients without both conditions (OR = 4.2 (CI 3.3 - 5.4)).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A nationwide albuminuria self-test program resulted in an increasing number of newly diagnosed kidney complaints and diseases the year after the program. The highest risks were found in patients without risk factors for kidney diseases.</p

Electromyographic assessment of muscle fatigue in massive rotator cuff tear

Shoulder muscle fatigue has not been assessed in massive rotator cuff tear (MRCT). This study used EMG to measure fatigability of 13 shoulder muscles in 14 healthy controls and 11 patients with MRCT. A hand grip protocol was applied to minimise artifacts due to pain experience during measurement. The fatigue index (median frequency slope) was significantly non-zero (negative) for anterior, middle, and posterior parts of deltoid, supraspinatus and subscapularis muscles in the controls, and for anterior, middle, and posterior parts of deltoid, and pectoralis major in patients (p ≤ 0.001). Fatigue was significantly greater in patients compared to the controls for anterior and middle parts of deltoid and pectoralis major (p ≤ 0.001). A submaximal grip task provided a feasible way to assess shoulder muscle fatigue in MRCT patients, however with some limitations. The results suggest increased activation of deltoid is required to compensate for lost supraspinatus abduction torque. Increased pectoralis major fatigue in patients (adduction torque) likely reflected strategy to stabilise the humeral head against superior subluxing force of the deltoid. Considering physiotherapy as a primary or adjunct intervention for the management of MRCT, the findings of this study generate a base for future clinical studies aiming at the development of evidence-based protocol

Antifertility activity of aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae) in rats

Background: Despite the availability of modern (orthodox) medicine, many developing countries, especially in the rural areas, still rely heavily on traditional healers and medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs and that of their domestic animals. This has been attributed to easy accessibility and low cost of herbal medicine. In Eastern Nigeria, fresh leaves of Spondias mombin is widely used by the natives to aid delivery and to expel the placenta in small ruminants (sheep and goats), especially during difficult labour. Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo effects of leaf extracts of S. mombin on reproductive performance of female rats. Methods: Acute toxicity test of the plant extract was carried out in rats of both sexes. The anticonceptive and abortifacient activity of the extract were investigated, including the Fertility Index or embryo score of control and treated animals. The estrogenic activity was determined using ovariectomized rats. Results: The results revealed a relatively non-toxic plant extract. The extract displayed anticonceptive but not abortifacient activity as judged by the number of pregnant animals at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. The extract did not exhibit any oestrogenic activity. Conclusion: Aqueous ethanol leaf extract of S. mombin has significant anticonceptive activity attributed to a direct action of the extract on the uterus

Detection of Rabies Antigen in the Brain Tissues of Apparetly Healthy Dogs Slaughteres in Ogoja - Cross River State, Nigeria

Rabies is a serious public health hazard and recently outbreaks of the disease have been reported in three local government areas in Cross River State. Detection of rabies antigen in the brain tissues of apparently healthy dogs indicates the presence of rabies virus and this is a significant factor in the transmission and spread of the disease. A cross sectional study was set up to investigate the presence of rabies antigen in the brain tissues of dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Ogoja. The results showed that out of 177 brain samples tested by Fluorescent Antibody Technique, 6(3.39%) were positive for rabies antigen. The rate of infection was higher in females 5(6.33%) than in males 1(1.02%). All the positive samples were from adult dogs. Observations during sampling revealed that processors of dog meat were not wearing protective clothings and had no pre or post exposure prophylaxis against rabies. These findings imply that those involved in handling and processing of dog meat are greatly at risk of exposure to rabies either from bite by these dogs or from infected nervous tissues or saliva that may accidentally contaminate open wounds or bruises and even intact mucous membrane (oral and ocular) during dog meat processing. Therefore public health intervention is required to create awareness about the dangers of the disease.Key words: Rabies antigen, slaughtered dogs, Ogoja, Nigeria.

Characterisation of Purified Gypsum and Insoluble Impurities Obtained from Phosphogypsum Waste

In this study, the chemical and phase composition of two samples of phosphogypsum from the waste dumps of the Industry of Chemical Products "Elixir - Prahovo" (Serbia) were examined, as well as the possibility of recrystallization of gypsum from an aqueous suspension of phosphogypsum. 'the negative effect of higher temperatures on the solubility of calcium sulfate (13.08 mmol/dm(3) at 95 degrees C vs. 15.43 mmol/dm(3) at 40 degrees C) was utilized. In several repeated cycles, calcium sulfate component was progressively dissolved in water at room temperature and then precipitated at 100 degrees C, using the same liquid phase throughout the experiment. Therefore, phosphogypsum was separated into recrystallized (purified) gypsum, insoluble residue and supernatant, and the mass balance for the experiment was calculated. Elemental, XRD and SEM-EDS analyses were performed on raw phosphogypsum, purified gypsum and insoluble residue. The whiteness of raw phosphogypsum and purified gypsum were determined and compared. The main objective of the study was to investigate the nature of insoluble impurities, in order to define and optimize the methods for their removal during a potential industrial processing of phosphogypsum

Oleje pirolityczne we flotacji węgla

The aim of this article was the research of new flotation reagents, which were formed through pyrolysis of different types of waste. Potential new flotation reagents are liquid organic phase pyrolysis of tires, plastic and wooden materials. Another goal is to achieve the coal flotation ash content quality below 10%. The results imply that it is possible to produce flotation collectors from various types of waste, which may be applicabe in black coal flotation. Producing and application of a suitable collector, which would be ecologically as well as economically interesting, makes an inseparable part of the flotation process.Celem tego artykułu jest zbadanie nowych reagentów do flotacji, które były wytworzone w procesie pirolizy różnego typu odpadów. Potencjalne nowe reagenty do flotacji są organiczną fazą ciekłą z pirolizy opon, plastiku i materiałów drewnianych. Kolejnym celem do osiągnięcia jest flotacja węgla o zawartości popiołu poniżej 10%. Uzyskane wyniki sugerują, że możliwe jest produkowanie kolektorów flotacyjnych z odpadów różnego typu, które mogą znaleźć zastosowanie we flotacji węgla kamiennego. Produkowanie i zastosowanie odpowiednich kolektorów, które mogłyby być interesujące pod względem ekologicznym jak i ekonomicznym, jest nieodłączną częścią procesu flotacji

Refinement of waste phosphogypsum from Prahovo, Serbia: characterization and assessment of application in civil engineering

Two samples collected from the phosphogypsum deposits of the chemical products industry Elixir Prahovo (Serbia) were subjected to a recrystallization experiment performed over several repeated cycles. In these tests, phosphogypsum was separated into recrystallized (purified) gypsum, insoluble residue and supernatant. Both raw phosphogypsum and recrystallized gypsum were examined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry. The activity concentrations of (238)u, (235)u, Ra-226, Pb-210,Th- 232 and 40 K were investigated using gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on the activity concentration results, a number of radiometric parameters were calculated for the original and recrystallized phosphogypsum (i.e. radium equivalent activity, y indices for construction materials, a index and external and internal hazard indices). Raw phosphogypsum samples showed greater mean activity concentration levels of U-238 and Ra-226 than the international recommended limits, while the recrystallized gypsum demonstrated notably lower activity concentrations for these two isotopes. The activity concentration of Ra-226 in recrystallized gypsum is similar to 6 times lower than in raw phosphogypsum. Therefore, recrystallized gypsum does not present a radiation hazard when used as a building material, while raw phosphogypsum meets the requirements only for road construction materials

Normal shoulder muscular activation and co-ordination during a shoulder elevation task based on activities of daily living: An electromyographic study

Studies of normal shoulder function have often failed to consider the inter-relationship between different muscle groups in activities relevant to daily life. Upper limb functional status was assessed in 12 healthy male volunteers using the Functional Impairment Test-Hand, Neck, Shoulder and Arm test (FIT-HaNSA). Electromyography was then used to study the activity and coordination of 13 muscles (10 by surface electrodes, 3 by fine-wire intramuscular electrodes) around the shoulder during a dynamic movement task based on the shelf-lifting task in FIT-HaNSA. Muscles were grouped for analysis into deltoid (anterior, middle, and posterior divisions), adductors (latissimus dorsi and teres major), rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis), and elbow flexor (brachioradialis, biceps brachii) groups. There were no significant inter-session effects. Using cross-correlation analysis to investigate the whole time-course of activation, there were highly significant positive correlations (p < 0.001) between the deltoid and rotator cuff, the deltoid and adductor and the adductor and rotator cuff groups, and a significant negative correlation between the deltoid and elbow flexor groups (p = 0.031). We conclude that the deltoid, adductor, and rotator cuff muscles all contribute to the muscular component of glenohumeral joint stability. Muscular stability can be adapted as required to meet task-specific demand