Appraisal of different ultrasonography indices in patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis

In this study a semi-automated image-processing based method was designed in which the parameters such as intima-media thickness (IMT), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), dicrotic notch index (DNI), and mean wavelet entropy (MWE) were evaluated in B-mode and Doppler ultrasound in patients presenting with carotid artery atherosclerosis. In a cross-sectional design, 144 men were divided into four groups of control, mild, moderate and severe stenosis subjects. In all individuals, far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI, and MWE of the left common carotid artery (CCA) were extracted using the proposed method. Our findings showed that the maximum far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI in the CCA were significantly different in the patients with mild, moderate, and severe stenosis compared to control group (p-value 0.05). The proposed method can help physicians to better identify patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases

Assessment of absorbed dose in critical organs in OPG: a phantom study

Orthopantomography is a well-established imaging technique in dental diagnosis. Although its exposure to individuals is relatively low compared to other diagnostic radiology examinations, it is still the most frequent X-ray examination. So it is important to estimate absorbed dose to critical organs in this examination. The present study was designed to determine the radiation doses to eyes, parotid, thyroid, submandibular gland and brain using Gafchromic films in an anthropomorphic head and neck phantom in three imaging centers, one digital and the remainders analogue. The absorbed dose to brain was measured globally with two vertically and horizontally embedded films in the phantom and submandibular, parotid and thyroid glands were also measured at their correct position in the phantom. The dose to the eyes was measured at the surface.Each measurement was triplicated and results were presented as mean (SD).After calibration of the films, they were embedded in the phantom and it was exposed with similar conditions for an adult patient. Absorbed doses were from 0.97-3.12 mGyfor brain, 1.23-3.02 mGy forleft parotid, 1.19-4.54 mGy for right parotid, 1.27-4.46 mGy left thyroid, 1.56-3.88 mGy for right thyroid, 1.45-2.83 mGy for Submandibular, 1.55-2.38 for right eye and 1.39-3.77 mGy for left eye.Our results showed similar depth and surface doses at all. Due to the direction of X-ray tube rotation, in the analogue devices in which the direction of rotation was right to left, doses of left sided organs were higher, and in the digital device that the direction was left to right, doses of right sided organs were higher. The absorbed doses in digital device were significantly lower than the analogue devices (p-value≤0.05)

Therapeutic options to treat mustard gas poisoning – Review

Among the blistering (vesicant) chemical warfare agents (CWA), sulfur mustard is the most important since it is known as the “King of chemical warfare agents”. The use of sulfur mustard has caused serious damages in several organs, especially the eyes, skin, respiratory, central and peripheral nervous systems after short and long term exposure, incapacitating and even killing people and troops. In this review, chemical properties, mechanism of actions and their effects on each organ, clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation of the actions triage, and treatment of injuries have been described

Neurotoxicity related exposure to ambient nanoparticles

Air pollution exposure is among the most prevalent reasons for environmentally-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are implicated in the central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The CNS has emerged as an important target for adverse health effects of exposure to air pollutants, where it can cause neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Air pollution includes various components of gases, particulate matter (PM), ultrafine particulate (UFPs), metals, and organic compounds. An important source of PM and UFPM in the ambient air is associated with air pollution-related trafficking, and primarily diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). Controlled animal studies and epidemiological studies show that exposure to air pollution, and in particular urban air pollution or DEPs, may lead to neurotoxicity. In specific, exposure to air pollutants as an important factor may be in neurodevelopmental disorders (eg Autism) and neurological disorders (eg.., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)). The most noticeable effects of exposure to air pollutants in animals and humans are oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Studies in rats exposed to DEPs showed microglial activity, increased lipid peroxidation, and neuronal accumulation in various areas of the brain, especially the olfactory bulb (OB) and the hippocampus (HI). Disorders of adult neurogenesis were also found. In most cases, the effects of DEP are more pronounced in male mice, probably due to lower antioxidant capacity due to less expression of paraoxonase 2

Indoor air pollution and behavioral factors affecting to COVID-19 transition

Environmental and behavioral factors are very important for exposure to airborne SARS-CoV-2. Indoor environments are related to infection events, including super-spreader events and outbreaks. Indoor, poorly ventilated, and crowded areas, such as restaurants, cinemas, and bars can be effective in the accumulation of aerosols full of viruses, especially if people are in conversations and stay there for a long time period. At longer distances (more than 1.5 meters), small aerosols that can stay in the air for a longer period of time are dominant. The super-spreader events in which people have been infected at a distance away show that this remote transmission occurs. The exposure risk to longer intervals is likely to be more in domestic environments and indoor spaces that lack sufficient ventilation. Layer interventions are of fundamental importance. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures as much as possible and follow them as carefully as possible, because no intervention alone will be effective in eliminating the risk. These include spacing, lining, hand hygiene, filtration, and ventilation

Cadmium toxicity and treatment: An update

Cadmium poisoning has been reported from many parts of the world. It is one of the global health problems that affect many organs and in some cases it can cause deaths annually. Long-term exposure to cadmium through air, water, soil, and food leads to cancer and organ system toxicity such as skeletal, urinary, reproductive, cardiovascular, central and peripheral nervous, and respiratory systems. Cadmium levels can be measured in the blood, urine, hair, nail and saliva samples. Patients with cadmium toxicity need gastrointestinal tract irrigation, supportive care, and chemical decontamination traditional-based chelation therapy with appropriate new chelating agents and nanoparticle-based antidotes. Furthermore it has been likewise recommended to determine the level of food contamination and suspicious areas, consider public education and awareness programs for the exposed people to prevent cadmium poisoning

Extraction of the Longitudinal Movement of the Carotid Artery Wall using Consecutive Ultrasonic Images: a Block Matching Algorithm

Introduction: In this study, a computer analysis method based on a block matching algorithm is presented to extract the longitudinal movement of the carotid artery wall using consecutive ultrasonic images. A window (block) is selected as the reference block in the first frame and the most similar block to the reference one is found in the subsequent frames. Material and Methods: The program was applied to the common carotid artery of ten healthy subjects and the longitudinal movement of the arterial wall was extracted in three cardiac cycles. Manual measurements were carried out to validate the automatic method. The maximum, minimum and average longitudinal displacements of the arterial wall were extracted from the automatic method and compared with the manual measurements, with 10 mm displacement of two blocks in first frame. Results: Paired t-test analysis showed no significant differences between the automatic and manual methods (p>0.05). There was significant correlation between the changes in the instantaneous longitudinal movement of the common carotid artery measured with the manual and automatic methods (correlation coefficient 0.97,

Computer-assisted evaluation of small airway disease in CT scans of Iran-Iraq war victims of chemical warfare by a locally developed software: comparison between different quantitative methods

Abstract Objective Diagnosis of small airway disease on computed tomography (CT) scans is challenging in patients with a history of chemical warfare exposure. We developed a software package based on different methodologies to identify and quantify small airway disease in CT images. The primary aim was to identify the best automatic methodology for detecting small airway disease in CT scans of Iran-Iraq War victims of chemical warfare. Methods This retrospective case–control study enrolled 46 patients with a history of chemical warfare exposure and 27 controls with inspiratory/expiratory (I/E) CT scans and spirometry tests. Image data were automatically segmented, and inspiratory images were registered into the expiratory images' frame using the locally developed software. Parametric response mapping (PRM) and air trapping index (ATI) mapping were performed on the CT images. Conventional QCT methods, including expiratory/inspiratory mean lung attenuation (E/I MLA) ratio, normal density E/I (ND E/I) MLA ratio, attenuation volume Index (AVI), %low attenuation areas (LAA) < -856 in exhale scans, and %LAA < -950 in inhale scans were also computed. QCT measurements were correlated with spirometry results and compared across the two study groups. Results The correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between three air trapping (AT) measurements (PRM, ATI, and %LAAExp < -856) and spirometry parameters (Fev1, Fvc, Fev1/Fvc, and MMEF). Moreover, %LAAExp < -856 had the highest significant negative correlation with Fev1/Fvc (r = -0.643, P-value < 0.001). Three AT measurements demonstrated a significant difference between the study groups. The E/I ratio was also significantly different between the two groups (P-value < 0.001). Binary logistic regression models showed PRMFsad, %LAAExp < -856, and ATI as significant and strong predictors of the study outcome. Optimal cut-points for PRMFsad = 19%, %LAAExp < -856 = 23%, and ATI = 27% were identified to classify the participants into two groups with high accuracy. Conclusion QCT methods, including PRM, ATI, and %LAAExp < -856 can greatly advance the identification and quantification of SAD in chemical warfare victims. The results should be verified in well-designed prospective studies involving a large population

Ophthalmological Aspects of Mustard Gas Poisoning (focus on management)

Background: Amongst the chemical warfare agents, blistering (vesicant) agents can be significant materials. The most important agent in this group is sulfur mustard (mustard gas) which is known as &#8220;King of chemical warfare (CW) agents &#8220;. Exposure to this agent, seriously causes damages in several organs, such as the eyes. This article reviews the ophthalmological aspects of sulfur mustard with reference of its management. Methods: A wide-ranging search in PubMed databases, Thomson Reuters and Scopus was done and different aspects of chemical properties of sulfur mustard, its mechanism of action and effects on eyes, clinical finding, diagnostic evaluation, initiate actions, pharmaceutical and surgical interventions was reported. Results: Sulfur mustard can alkylate DNA and RNA strands and break down structures of protein and lipid of cell membrane. This may impair cell energy production, and leads to cell death. Exposure to sulfur mustard, therefore, causes such problems for organs, including irreversible damage to the eyes. Conclusion: Understanding the mechanism of the sulfur mustard effect and the early training in prevention injuries will cause fewer complications and damage to organs, including the eyes. Washing the eyes with tap water or eyewash solutions, using mydriatic drops, anti- inflammatory drugs, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors and antibiotics may help to the management of poisoning. Surgical interventions including tarsorrhaphy, amniotic membrane transplantation, stem cell transplantation and corneal transplantation could reduce the harm to the victims