73 research outputs found
Sequential sampling of Bemisia tuberculata (Bondar, 1923) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on cassava crop
Quantification of fractional flow reserve based on angiographic image data
Coronary angiography provides excellent visualization of coronary arteries, but has limitations in assessing the clinical significance of a coronary stenosis. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been shown to be reliable in discerning stenoses responsible for inducible ischemia. The purpose of this study is to validate a technique for FFR quantification using angiographic image data. The study was carried out on 10 anesthetized, closed-chest swine using angioplasty balloon catheters to produce partial occlusion. Angiography based FFR was calculated from an angiographically measured ratio of coronary blood flow to arterial lumen volume. Pressure-based FFR was measured from a ratio of distal coronary pressure to aortic pressure. Pressure-wire measurements of FFR (FFRP) correlated linearly with angiographic volume-derived measurements of FFR (FFRV) according to the equation: FFRP = 0.41 FFRV + 0.52 (P-value < 0.001). The correlation coefficient and standard error of estimate were 0.85 and 0.07, respectively. This is the first study to provide an angiographic method to quantify FFR in swine. Angiographic FFR can potentially provide an assessment of the physiological severity of a coronary stenosis during routine diagnostic cardiac catheterization without a need to cross a stenosis with a pressure-wire
Photocytotoxicity of a 5-nitrofuran-ethenyl-quinoline antiseptic (Quinifuryl) to P388 mouse leukemia cells
Does the principle of minimum work apply at the carotid bifurcation: a retrospective cohort study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is recent interest in the role of carotid bifurcation anatomy, geometry and hemodynamic factors in the pathogenesis of carotid artery atherosclerosis. Certain anatomical and geometric configurations at the carotid bifurcation have been linked to disturbed flow. It has been proposed that vascular dimensions are selected to minimize energy required to maintain blood flow, and that this occurs when an exponent of 3 relates the radii of parent and daughter arteries. We evaluate whether the dimensions of bifurcation of the extracranial carotid artery follow this principle of minimum work.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study involved subjects who had computed tomographic angiography (CTA) at our institution between 2006 and 2007. Radii of the common, internal and external carotid arteries were determined. The exponent was determined for individual bifurcations using numerical methods and for the sample using nonlinear regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age for 45 participants was 56.9 ± 16.5 years with 26 males. Prevalence of vascular risk factors was: hypertension-48%, smoking-23%, diabetes-16.7%, hyperlipidemia-51%, ischemic heart disease-18.7%.</p> <p>The value of the exponent ranged from 1.3 to 1.6, depending on estimation methodology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The principle of minimum work (defined by an exponent of 3) may not apply at the carotid bifurcation. Additional factors may play a role in the relationship between the radii of the parent and daughter vessels.</p
Classical homeopathy in the treatment of cancer patients - a prospective observational study of two independent cohorts
BACKGROUND: Many cancer patients seek homeopathy as a complementary therapy. It has rarely been studied systematically, whether homeopathic care is of benefit for cancer patients.
METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study with cancer patients in two differently treated cohorts: one cohort with patients under complementary homeopathic treatment (HG; n = 259), and one cohort with conventionally treated cancer patients (CG; n = 380). For a direct comparison, matched pairs with patients of the same tumour entity and comparable prognosis were to be formed. Main outcome parameter: change of quality of life (FACT-G, FACIT-Sp) after 3 months. Secondary outcome parameters: change of quality of life (FACT-G, FACIT-Sp) after a year, as well as impairment by fatigue (MFI) and by anxiety and depression (HADS).
RESULTS: HG: FACT-G, or FACIT-Sp, respectively improved statistically significantly in the first three months, from 75.6 (SD 14.6) to 81.1 (SD 16.9), or from 32.1 (SD 8.2) to 34.9 (SD 8.32), respectively. After 12 months, a further increase to 84.1 (SD 15.5) or 35.2 (SD 8.6) was found. Fatigue (MFI) decreased; anxiety and depression (HADS) did not change. CG: FACT-G remained constant in the first three months: 75.3 (SD 17.3) at t0, and 76.6 (SD 16.6) at t1. After 12 months, there was a slight increase to 78.9 (SD 18.1). FACIT-Sp scores improved significantly from t0 (31.0 - SD 8.9) to t1 (32.1 - SD 8.9) and declined again after a year (31.6 - SD 9.4). For fatigue, anxiety, and depression, no relevant changes were found. 120 patients of HG and 206 patients of CG met our criteria for matched-pairs selection. Due to large differences between the two patient populations, however, only 11 matched pairs could be formed. This is not sufficient for a comparative study.
CONCLUSION: In our prospective study, we observed an improvement of quality of life as well as a tendency of fatigue symptoms to decrease in cancer patients under complementary homeopathic treatment. It would take considerably larger samples to find matched pairs suitable for comparison in order to establish a definite causal relation between these effects and homeopathic treatment
A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the impact of diurnal intermittent fasting during Ramadan on body weight in healthy subjects aged 16 years and above
Impact of inactivity and exercise on the vasculature in humans
The effects of inactivity and exercise training on established and novel cardiovascular risk factors are relatively modest and do not account for the impact of inactivity and exercise on vascular risk. We examine evidence that inactivity and exercise have direct effects on both vasculature function and structure in humans. Physical deconditioning is associated with enhanced vasoconstrictor tone and has profound and rapid effects on arterial remodelling in both large and smaller arteries. Evidence for an effect of deconditioning on vasodilator function is less consistent. Studies of the impact of exercise training suggest that both functional and structural remodelling adaptations occur and that the magnitude and time-course of these changes depends upon training duration and intensity and the vessel beds involved. Inactivity and exercise have direct “vascular deconditioning and conditioning” effects which likely modify cardiovascular risk
New transition metal ion complexes with benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid hydrazides with antitumor activity.
Metal complexes of 2-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid hydrazide (4a; L(1)) and its Schiff base 2-methyl-N-(propan-2-ylidene)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carbohydrazide (5a; L(2)) with transition metal ions e.g., copper, silver, nickel, iron and manganese were prepared. The complexes formed were 1:1 or 1:2 M:L complexes and have the structural formulae [Cu(L(1))Cl(H(2)O)]Cl x 3 H(2)O (6), [Ag(L(1))NO(3)(H(2)O)] (7), [Ni(L(1))Cl(2)(H(2)O)(2)] x H(2)O (8), [Fe(L(1))Cl(3)(H(2)O)] x 3 H(2)O (9) and [Mn(L(1))(2)Cl(H(2)O)]Cl x 3 H(2)O (10) for ligand L(1), and [Cu(L(2))Cl(2)(H(2)O)(2)] x H(2)O (11), [Ag(L(2))(2)]NO(3) x H(2)O (12), [Ni(L(2))(2)Cl(2)] x 5 H(2)O (13), [Fe(L(2))(2)Cl(2)]Cl x 2 H(2)O (14) and [Mn(L(2))Cl(2)(H(2)O)(2)] x H(2)O (15) for ligand L(2). The antitumor activity of the synthesized compounds has been studied. The silver complex 7 was found to display cytotoxicity (IC(50)=2 microM) against both human lung cancer cell line A549 and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7
Pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting: a perspective of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Sana’a, Yemen
Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi,1,2 Yaman Walid Kassab,3 Wafa Mohammed Alseragi,4 Masaad Saeed Almutairi,5 Ali Ahmed,6 Long Chiau Ming,7 Ali Saleh Alkhoshaiban,8,9 Muhammad Abdul Hadi10 1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 3Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences, Selangor, Malaysia; 4Faculty of Arts, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen; 5College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia; 6Unit for Medication Outcomes Research and Education (UMORE), Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; 7School of Pharmacy, KPJ Healthcare University College, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia; 8College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia; 9Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; 10Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the knowledge, attitude and barriers of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists toward pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and ADR reporting in community pharmacies in Yemen.Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the capital of Yemen, Sana’a. A total of 289 community pharmacies were randomly selected. The validated and pilot-tested questionnaire consisted of six sections: demographic data, knowledge about pharmacovigilance, experience with ADR reporting, attitudes toward ADR reporting, and the facilitators to improve ADR reporting.Results: A total of 428 pharmacy technicians and pharmacists were contacted and 179 went on to complete a questionnaire (response rate: 41.8%). Of the 179 respondents, 21 (11.7%) were pharmacists and 158 (88.3%) were pharmacy technicians, of which, 176 (98.3%) were male and 3 (1.7%) were female. The mean age of the respondents was 25.87±2.63 years. There was a significant difference between the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in terms of knowledge scores (P<0.05). The mean knowledge scores for pharmacists was 3.33±2.852 compared to 0.15±0.666 for pharmacy technicians. With regard to attitudes toward ADR reporting, all pharmacists (100%) showed a positive attitude, while only 43% of pharmacy technicians showed a positive attitude.Conclusion: Pharmacists have a significantly better knowledge than pharmacy technicians with regard to pharmacovigilance. More than half of pharmacy technicians showed a negative attitude toward ADR reporting. Therefore, educational interventions and training is very important for community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Yemen to increase their awareness and participation in ADR reporting. Keywords: pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions, knowledge, attitude, community pharmacy, Yemen 
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