Assessment of Glomerular Filtration Rates by Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Equations in a Cohort of Omani Patients

Objectives: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index of renal function and is frequently assessed by corrected creatinine clearance (CCLcr). The limitations of CCLcr have inspired researchers to derive easy formulas to estimate GFR, with Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) and the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) being the most widely used. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of these equations by finding the relation between CCLcr and estimated GFR (eGFR) by C-G, modified C-G and MDRD equations. Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 158 subjects were analysed for serum creatinine and CCLcr at Bowsher Polyclinic, Muscat, Oman. The C-G equation was used to obtain eGFRC-G which was adjusted to body surface area (BSA) to obtain eGFRmC-G, and the MDRD equation was used to obtain eGFRMDRD. The eGFRMDRD, eGFRmC-G and eGFRC-G were then compared to CCLcr. Results: The eGFRMDRD, eGFRmC-G and eGFRC-G significantly correlated with CCLcr, with a slightly stronger correlation with eGFRMDRD (r = 0.701, 0.658 and 0.605, respectively). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of eGFRMDRD for diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) was higher than that of eGFRmC-G, which in turn was higher than that of eGFRC-G (area under the curve was 0.846, 0.831, and 0.791; cut-off limits were 61.9, 58.3 and 59.5, respectively). Conclusion: C-G and MDRD equations can be an alternative to the CCLcr test for assessing GFR, thus avoiding the need for the cumbersome and expensive GFR test. The MDRD formula had greater validity than the C-G equation and the C-G equation validity was improved by an adjustment to BSA

Electrospun nanomembranes at the liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interface - A review

A membrane is a thin layer or sheet at the interface of two material compartments aimed for separation and purification processes. Membranes made using nanofibers, termed as nanomembranes, are preferred at these interfaces to improve the materials and process efficiency because the extreme small size not only lowers the materials requirements but also controls the pore size and distribution. Among the nanofabrication techniques, electrospinning is an industrially viable method of preparing nanomembranes due to its tunable properties as well as affordability. Herein, techniques to modify electrospun nanomembranes (ENMs) for process improvement, such as post-heat treatment, coating, additives, interfacial polymerization, surface chemistry control, pore size and porosity control, hydrophobicity/ hydrophilicity, and flux rejection efficiency at liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interfaces are reviewed. The ENMs in desalination of seawater, textile wastewater remediation, agriculture, biomedical, renewable energy, electrical, and food industries have also been investigated. We also review ENM's potential in liquid gating, which has been cited as one of the top ten emerging technologies. This review also finds areas requiring innovation on ENMs and on the sustainability of the electrospinning technology. Thus, this review provides a one-stop center for various membrane applications at liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interfaces and areas requiring further innovation

The effect of six months aerobic exercise with moderate intensity on BDNF, IL-6, and short-term memory in 50-65 years old women with syndrome metabolic

Background : The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of six months aerobic exercise with moderate intensity on BDNF, IL-6, and short-term memory in 50-65 years old women with syndrome metabolic. Materials and Methods: 24 women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) took part voluntarily and divided in tow groups MetS exercise (ME), MetS control (MC). ME group participated in an aerobic exercise training (AT) program (six months), tree session per week, each session containing tree performing part and tow rest part (five minutes). Initially, the duration of aerobic exercise in each session was eight minutes. One minute added each week to the duration of aerobic exercise till twelve weeks. Also, blood samples were conducted before and after six months training for evaluating levels of BDNF and IL-6. Short-term memory measured by Digit span memory test, BDNF, and IL-6 measured by Radioimmunoassay before and after six months aerobic training. Data were analyzed using Pearson coefficient, Pried-sample T-Test, and independent samples T-Test. Results: BDNF and short-term memory after six months aerobic exercise significantly increased (P˃0.05). IL-6 after six months aerobic exercise significantly decreased (P˃0.05). Conclusion: Findings show that six months aerobic exercises induce to decrease IL-6 and increase BDNF level, so this trend trepan ameliorate short-term memory score

The Effect of Three-Month Aerobic Exercise with Moderate Intensity on IL1β, IL-6, and brain volume in 50-65 Years Old Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Background:&nbsp; The increasing of age, inflammatory factors&cedil; and metabolic syndrome are the effective reasons in the reduction of&nbsp; brain volume. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of twelve week aerobic exercise with moderate intensity on IL1&beta;, IL-6, and brain volume in 50-65 years old women with metabolic&nbsp; syndrome. Materials and Methods: 24 women with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) took a part voluntarily. They were divided into two groups, MetS exercise (EM), MetS control (CM). ME group participated in an aerobic exercise training (AT) program (for 12 weeks), three sessions per week, each session contained three performing parts and two relaxing parts, at the beginning, each part contained eight minutes. Also each week, one minute added to performing sets. MRI and blood samples were conducted before and after three month to evaluate the levels of IL1&beta;, IL-6, and brain volume. Data were analyzed by paired-sample of T-Test, and independent samples of T-Test. Results: Brain volume afterthree&nbsp; month doesn't significantly changed, but IL1&beta;, and IL-6 after tree month exercise were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Also, there were not significantly different in brain volume, IL1&beta;, and IL-6 pre and post test in the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that three months aerobic exercise with a moderate intensity ameliorate inflammatory factor and doesn't change brain volume. Maybe with adjusting, the time and intensity of exercise brain volume will be increased

Characteristics of the First 102 Severe COVID-19 Cases Treated With Convalescent Plasma or Tocilizumab or Both in Al-Nahdha Hospital, Oman

BACKGROUND: In the absence of an effective vaccine, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to cause more deaths. Evidence on the effectiveness of various COVID-19 management plans is inconclusive. This paper describes the characteristics of the first 102 severe COVID-19 in-patients treated with Convalescent Plasma (CP) therapy or Tocilizumab or both at Al-Nahdha hospital in Muscat, Oman. Additionally, differences in requiring critical care were explored across the treatment groups.METHODS: Data of all the positive cases in Al-Nahdha hospital were retrieved from the electronic health information system retrospectively from April 1st to July 31st 2020. The required information was recorded in a bespoke sheet and exported to SPSS for further analysis. The primary outcome was defined as improved (discharged home) vs worsening (requiring critical care).RESULTS: Out of the 102 severe cases of COVID-19 admissions, 20.6%, 59.8% and 20.6% received CP, Tocilizumab and both respectively. In average, CP was introduced at day 3.7(4.8) whereas Tocilizumab at day 7.8(5.1) from admission. The between-group differences in the proportion of patient who improved vs worsened were not significant (P = 0.7). However, the within-group difference in the proportion of patient who improved vs worsened was significant in the Tocilizumab treatment group (P = 0.03). All socio-demographics were not significantly different across the treatment groups. Most improvements in the studies parameters [CBC (total WBC, Lymph and neutrophil counts), oxygen and immune response “cytokine storm” parameters] post-treatment was attributed to the use of Tocilizumab. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean hospital stay between the improved and worsened cases across all treatment categories [at the population level: 8.2(5.0) improved vs 4.7(3.7) worsened-P &lt; 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study provided baseline information about the characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Al-Nahdha hospital who received CP, Tocilizumab or both. Results obtained seems to be promising in preventing critical care, especially for Tocilizumab. However, further randomized studies are needed