Vasculitis, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Associated With Methamphetamine Intoxication: A Case Report

Amphetamines and methamphetamines are two groups of substance whose use are increasing globally. Methamphetamines poisoning may develop different sympathetic symptoms; however, developing some complications, such as vasculitis, central nervous system involvement, and kidney injury. In this study, we report a case of methamphetamine poisoning that presented with loss of consciousness and developed Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), and pulmonary pseud vasculiti

Role of resilience training on compromising of infertile couples’ applicant for divorce: A cross-sectional study

Background: Divorce is a social issue, which challenges not only the structure of family but also of a society. Studies have shown that infertility affects the marital boredom. In addition, resilience training and emphasizing on increasing piety (religiousness) can help to decrease this boredom. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the resilience training effects on the compromising of infertile couples’ applicant for divorce. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 infertile couples who had requested for divorce and referred to the Center for consolidation of the family foundation were enrolled. Participants were randomly divided in two categories (n= 50/each): the case group received some consultation classes on social services as well as resilience training by a consultant in 5 sessions lasting 2 hr. In total, 10 hr of treatment; while the control group just received the consultation and social services. Canner and Davidson questionnaires were utilized as pre- and posttest in both groups. Groups answered the resilience’s criterion of Canner and Davidson. Results: The resilience training significantly increased the compromises made by couples in the case group compared to the control (p < 0.01). The results showed that 26% of members of the case group relinquished divorce, while 10% of control group members did the same; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The resilience training leads to increased psychological well-being elements and compromises in infertile couples. Key words: Resilience, Education, Infertility, Divorce

Replacing hard coal with wind and nuclear power in Finland-impacts on electricity and district heating markets

Finland has recently adopted a high profile in climate change mitigation. Finland has declared a national target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. As a part of this, the use of coal for energy purposes has been banned from year 2029 onwards. The Finnish electricity system is already very low-carbon, and more wind and nuclear power is being constructed. However, District heating (DH) is a backbone of the Finnish energy system, and it is still quite reliant on fossil fuels and domestic high-emission fuel peat, their share being 51% of DH fuels in 2018. This paper models the impacts of this transition on the electricity markets and DH systems and develops scenarios with a large-scale transition to wind and nuclear power and heat pumps in DH systems. The study finds that large-scale introduction of heat pumps would be profitable in cities Helsinki, Espoo, Turku and Vantaa, especially with the planned decrease of electricity tax. The study indicates that the impacts on Winter time capacity adequacy could be managed, but this requires considerable increases in nuclear and wind capacity.Peer reviewe

Unintended Consequences of National Climate Policy on International Electricity Markets—Case Finland’s Ban on Coal-Fired Generation

Finland has adopted a high profile in climate change mitigation. A national target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 has been declared. As a part of this, the use of coal for energy purposes has been banned from May 2029 onwards. The Nordic electricity market was a world fore-runner in creating a liberalized, multi-national electricity market in the 1990s. At present, the electricity systems of Finland, Sweden, and Norway are already very low-carbon. The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the Nordic market about a decade ago. Estonian electricity production is the most carbon-intensive of all the EU countries due to the extensive use of domestic oil shale. Especially Lithuania still suffers from capacity deficit created by the closure of the Soviet time nuclear reactor Ignalina in Lithuania. This paper presents the ambitions of the EU and national level energy and climate policies and models the multi-national impacts of Finland’s forthcoming closure of coal-fired generation. We also take into account Sweden’s planned decrease in nuclear generation. We find that these national-level policies have an impact on the Baltic countries as reduced import possibilities and increasing electricity prices, and the expected rise of the EU CO 2 allowance prices amplifies these. We further find that the abandonment of coal and nuclear power plants increases the net import and increases CO 2 emissions in neighboring regions.Peer reviewe

Calculation of Mitral Valve Area in Mitral Stenosis: Comparison of Continuity Equation and Pressure Half Time With Two-Dimensional Planimetry in Patients With and Without Associated Aortic or Mitral Regurgitation or Atrial Fibrillation

Accurate measurement of Mitral Valve Area (MVA) is essential to determining the Mitral Stenosis (MS) severity and to achieving the best management strategies for this disease. The goal of the present study is to compare mitral valve area (MVA) measurement by Continuity Equation (CE) and Pressure Half-Time (PHT) methods with that of 2D-Planimetry (PL) in patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis (MS). This comparison also was performed in subgroups of patients with significant Aortic Insufficiency (AI), Mitral Regurgitation (MR) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF). We studied 70 patients with moderate to severe MS who were referred to echocardiography clinic. MVA was determined by PL, CE and PHT methods. The agreement and correlations between MVA’s obtained from various methods were determined by kappa index, Bland-Altman analysis, and linear regression analysis. The mean values for MVA calculated by CE was 0.81 cm (±0.27) and showed good correlation with those calculated by PL (0.95 cm, ±0.26 ) in whole population (r=0.771, P<0.001) and MR subgroup (r=0.763, P<0.001) and normal sinus rhythm and normal valve subgroups (r=0.858, P<0.001 and r=0.867, P<0.001, respectively). But CE methods didn’t show any correlation in AF and AI subgroups. MVA measured by PHT had a good correlation with that measured by PL in whole population (r=0.770, P<0.001) and also in NSR (r=0.814, P<0.001) and normal valve subgroup (r=0.781, P<0.001). Subgroup with significant AI and those with significant MR showed moderate correlation (r=0.625, P=0.017 and r=0.595, P=0.041, respectively). Bland Altman Analysis showed that CE would estimate MVA smaller in comparison with PL in the whole population and all subgroups and PHT would estimate MVA larger in comparison with PL in the whole population and all subgroups. The mean bias for CE and PHT are 0.14 cm and -0.06 cm respectively. In patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis, in the absence of concomitant AF, AI or MR, the accuracy of CE or PHT method in measuring MVA is nearly equal. But in the presence of significant AI or MR, PHT method is obviously superior to CE and in the presence of AF neither have sufficient accuracy

Comparison of oral dydrogesterone with vaginal progesteronefor luteal support in IUI cycles: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The aim of this study, we have compared the advantages of oral dydrogestrone with vaginal progesterone (cyclogest) for luteal support in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Progesterone supplementation is the first line treatment when luteal phase deficiency (LPD) can reasonably be assumed. Objective: This study was conduct to compare the effect of oral dydrogestrone with vaginal Cyclogest on luteal phase support in the IUI cycles. Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized, double blind study was performed in a local infertility center from May 2013 to May 2014. It consisted of 150 infertile women younger than35years old undergoing ovarian stimulation for IUI cycles. They underwent ovarian stimulation with oral dydrogesterone (20 mg) as group A and vaginal cyclogest (400 mg) as group B in preparation for the IUI cycles. Clinical pregnancy and abortion rates, mid luteal progesterone (7daysafter IUI) and patient satisfaction were compared between two groups. Results: The mean serum progesterone levels was significantly higher in group A in comparison with group B (p=0.001). Pregnancy rates in group A was not statistically different in comparison with group B (p =0.58). Abortion rate in two groups was not statistically different (p =0.056) although rate of abortion was higher in group B in comparison with A group. Satisfaction rates were significantly higher in group A compared to group B (p<0.001). Conclusion: We concluded that oral dydrogestrone is effective as vaginal progesterone for luteal-phase support in woman undergoing IUI cycles. Moreover, the mean serum progesterone levels and satisfaction rates in dydrogestrone group were higher than cyclogest group

Hydrochars as slow-release phosphorus fertilizers for enhancing corn and soybean growth in an agricultural soil

Abstract Hydrochars as carbonaceous amendments rich in porous structures and nutrients can be used as promising slow-release fertilizers and soil health amendments. Yet, the performance of hydrochars derived from different feedstocks in improving crop plant growth and soil phosphorus (P) availability is not well understood. Here, a batch of sewage sludge (SS) and chicken manure (CM) derived hydrochars (SSCs and CMCs) were produced at 125 and 225 °C (SS125/225 and CM125/225) to investigate their characteristics and performances in improving the seedling growth of two representative crops, soybean (Glycine max) and corn (Zea mays), as well as the P availability in an acidic agricultural soil in comparison with triple super phosphate (TSP), a conventional P fertilizer. Compared with CMCs, SSCs with more porous and rougher surfaces contained relatively lower contents of carbon (C; 32.3–33.3%), hydrogen (H; 3.9–4.69%), and potassium (K; 29.2–51 mg g−1), but higher contents of P (37.4–85.4%) and nitrogen (N; 2.26–4.9%), as well as more O-containing and N-containing functional groups. The impacts of hydrochars on soybean and corn growth showed distinct variations. The application of SSCs showed little effect on soybean growth (i.e., biomass, chlorophyl contents, and number of leaves), while CMCs significantly increased its total dry biomass by 23.2–66.2%. For corn, both SSCs and CMCs increased the total dry biomass by 32.8–92.4% and 21.8–69.7%, respectively, compared to those in the un-amended soils. In addition, compared with the higher temperature hydrochars (SS225 and CM225), the lower temperature ones (SS125 and CM125) increased the total dry biomass by 24.6% and 34.9% for soybean and 44.8% and 39.3% for corn, respectively. The significant improvement in crop growth by hydrochars was mainly due to the direct nutrient supply (particularly P) by the hydrochars, which was supported by the increased soil and shoot P concentrations. Moreover, hydrochar application led to a rise in soil water soluble P (WSP) levels. However, as time progressed, these levels fell due to the fixation and adsorption of P via precipitation, electrostatic attraction, and ion exchange on the hydrochars. Contrarily, TSP maintained persistently high soil WSP levels, increasing the leaching risk of P through the soil profile. Our results provide direct evidence for hydrochars as slow-release P fertilizers to enhance crop growth and production and give better insights for producing functionalized P-rich chars as an alternative to chemical P fertilizers to maintain sustainable agricultural production. Graphical Abstrac