Global Navigation Satellite Systems as Signals of Opportunity for Environmental Applications: Reflectometry and Scintillation

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Magnesium: a cation still forgotten in clinical practice!

Magnesium is among the trace elements that play a crucial role in the proper functioningof the body,it has long occupied a place of «forgotten cation» in medicine, in theabsence of solid knowledge about its physiology and its potential therapeutic uses.In this article we report the results of recent data concerning its involvement in differentbiological functions

If current inhibitor ivabradine in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: Impact on the exercise tolerance and quality of life

Background: Evidence supported a beneficial effect of ivabradine on clinical outcome of patients with systolic heart failure, and a sinus heart rate (HR) ≥ 70 bpm. We explored the effect of ivabradine, vs. placebo, added to evidence-based treatment on exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods: We enrolled 43 consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of no apparent cause, a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%, New York Heart Association class ≥ II, sinus HR ≥ 70 bpm, and background evidence-based anti-failure medications. Ischemic heart disease was ruled out. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive ivabradine or placebo. Ivabradine was titrated up gradually till 7.5 mg twice daily, or a HR < 60 bpm, and continued for 3 months. Symptom-limited exercise tolerance test was performed, and quality of life was assessed by the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire at 0, and 3 months. Results: Forty-three patients were randomized to ivabradine (n = 20), or placebo (n = 23). Mean age was 50.8 ± 14.5 years (53.5% males). Mean HR was 85 ± 12 bpm, and mean LVEF was 32 ± 6%. Mean dose of carvedilol was 31.2% of the target dose. Baseline HR, blood pressure, exercise tolerance, Minnesota questionnaire score, and left ventricular systolic function were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05 for all). At 3 months, mean dose of ivabradine was 6.8 mg bid. Ivabradine-treated patients had a lower HR, and improved left ventricular dimensions and systolic function, versus placebo-treated ones (p < 0.05 for all). HR dropped by a mean of 14 bpm in the ivabradine group, corrected for placebo. Both exercise tolerance, and Minnesota questionnaire score were better in the ivabradine group (p < 0.05 both). Ivabradine was well-tolerated. Conclusions: In symptomatic patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, the addition of ivabradine, vs. placebo, to evidence-based treatment, reduced HR, and improved functional capacity, at short-term follow-up

Fibroma of Buccal Mucosa: Case Report and Literature Review

The fibroma, also referred to as irritation fibroma, is by far the most common of the oral fibrous tumorlike growths. While the terminology implies a benign neoplasm, most if not all fibromas represent reactive focal fibrous hyperplasia due to trauma or local irritation. Although the term focal fibrous hyperplasia more accurately describes the clinical appearance and pathogenesis of this entity, it is not commonly used. We present a case report of oral fibroma in the left side of the buccal mucosa in 50 years old Saudi patient

Comparison between oxytocin, ergometrine and misoprostol in active management of the third stage of labour: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of sublingual misoprostol, intravenous infusion of oxytocin, and intravenous infusion of Ergometrine in reducing blood loss during the third stage of labor.Methods: This is a no-random trial study conducted in in Ribat University Hospital, Khartoum among 150 laboring ladies with a healthy singleton pregnancy. After obtaining their written informed consent to participate in the study, they were randomly assigned to one of three possible treatment groups: 400 μg of sublingual misoprostol; 10 IU of intravenous infusion oxytocin; and 0.5 mg of intravenous infusion of Ergometrine. Blood loss was estimated by weighing the collected blood and converting the weight to milliliters.Results: The shortest mean duration of the third stage of labor was seen in patients who received misoprostol (3.89±0.37 min), followed by oxytocin (4.6±0.9 min), and Ergometrine (5.45±0.9 min). The lowest mean blood loss was seen in the patients who received 400 µg misoprostol (168.36±24.83 ml), followed by those who received 10 IU oxytocin (205.56±34.82 ml), and 0.5 mg Ergometrine (214.49±35.97 ml).Conclusions: Present study showed that 400 µg sublingual misoprostol was more effective than the conventional parenteral uterotonics in reducing the amount of the blood loss during the third stage of labor and has comparable effect to that of 10 IU intravenous oxytocin in shortening the duration of third stage of labor. It also showed that the use of misoprostol reduces the need for extra-uterotonics and blood transfusion

Progesterone utility in the synthesis of steroidal heterocyclic compounds with antitumor activity

One–pot and efficient method for the synthesis of progesteronpyridine 5a-c, 6a-c and 7a,b and/or progesteronpyran derivatives 9a-c and 10a,b by condensation reaction of progesterone 1 with different aldehydes and active methylene compounds in the presence of ammonium acetate or piperidine.  New progesteronopyrimidine derivatives 12a-d and 13a, b were synthesized via interaction of progesterone 1 with urea or thiourea and/or guanidine reagents and aldehyde. Progesterone 1 was examined to synthesize heterocyclic compound 16 containing ?-Lactone chiral carbon via the reaction of hydrazone derivative 14 with phenyl isothiocyanate followed by boiling with chloroacetic acid in benzene. The biological activity of compounds 5a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 9b, 9c, 12a, 12c, and 13a were evaluated as growth inhibitors of the liver and the breast carcinoma human cell line (HEPG2 & MCF7). Compounds 13a, 12a and 7a showed a higher potency than the standard. Key Words: Progesterone, MCR’s (multicomponents reaction), (pyridine, pyran, pyrimidine, ?-Lactone) derivatives, HEPG2 & MCF7

Correlation of ultrasonographic estimated fetal weight with actual birth weight at a rural setting

Background: Ultrasound estimation of fetal weight in term pregnancies is used to determine fetal growth. The objective of this study was to assess the precision of sonographic estimation of fetal weight in normal vaginal deliveries at a rural setting.Methods: The study was cross-sectional. A group of 74 pregnant women delivered normally in Muglad hospital in West Kordofan, Sudan, were considered in the study. Fetal weight was estimated by Hadlock and shephards formulae within one week prior to delivery and then newborn weight was taken within 24 hours after delivery. Data were collected by a questionnaire and medical examination as well as sonographic examination. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 23 and Kruskal Wallis Test (post-hoc analysis) Pearson’s correlation coefficient within 95% confidence interval. p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: The correlation, by Paired sample, to assess fetal weight was as follows: between Hadlock and shephards was 0.901 (p < 0.001), between Hadlock and AFW was 0.908 (p < 0.001) and between Shephards and AFW was 0.781 (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Estimation of fetal weight by Hadlock has been more correlated with actual fetal weight (AFW) than that done with shephards. The study recommends using Hadlock formula which is more accurate in estimation of fetal weight by sonography

Impacto da pobreza sobre a escolaridade e o trabalho das crianças de 6 a 14 anos no Brasil / Impact of poverty on schooling and work of children from 6 to 14 years in Brazil

A pobreza é um fenômeno destrutivo na vida de crianças de famílias pobres. Ela retarda a educação dessas crianças e empurra a família a enviar crianças no mercado de trabalho. Com base nos dados da PNAD 2015, esta pesquisa examina os determinantes da escolaridade e o trabalho infantil, e principalmente, faz ligação com a pobreza. A partir de um modelo probit bivariado, este estudo tenta verificar as implicações testáveis do quadro teórico do efeito da pobreza sobre a escolaridade e o trabalho infantil no contexto do Brasil. Os resultados obtidos mostram uma correlação positiva entre o trabalho infantil e a pobreza, e uma correlação negativa entre a frequência escolar das crianças. Eles também revelam o papel preponderante do capital social que tem sido negligenciado na análise econômica da participação infantil em atividades socioeconômicas