Study of Serum Leptin in Well-differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Correlation with Patient and Tumor Characteristics

Background There is a proven relationship between obesity and several cancers including breast, endometrium, colorectal, and esophagus. With the increasing incidence of both obesity and thyroid cancer, we designed the present study to investigate a causal relationship between leptin, which is one of the well known adipokines, and well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). Methods Serum leptin levels were measured in 30 patients with WDTC and compared to 30 healthy control subjects before and 1 month after surgery. Other parameters studied included age, sex, body mass index, menopausal status in women, lymph node status, tumor size, and disease multifocality. Results There were no differences between the two groups regarding age and sex. Preoperative leptin levels were higher in the WDTC patients when compared to the control patients [19.25 (1.50–109.60) vs 0.90 (0.50–11.80) ng/ml, p < 0.001, group 1 vs group 2, respectively]. A significant drop in leptin levels 1 month after surgery occurred in the WDTC group, falling from 19.25 (1.50–109.60) to 0.90 (0.60–8.90) ng/ml (p < 0.001). This did not occur in the control group (p = 0.274). Lymph node involvement, tumor size, and multifocality had no effect on leptin levels, although trends were observed (p = 0.48, 0.079, and 0.064), respectively. Conclusions Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in WDTC patients when compared to control group patients, with a significant drop after surgery. Leptin may play a role in diagnosis of WDTC; however, its prognostic value is still undetermined

Preparation and Characterization of Copper-Doped and Silver-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nano-Catalysts for Photocatalytic Applications

The goal of this work was to improve the performance of TiO2 nanomaterials by increasing their optical activities by shifting the onset of the response from the UV to the visible-light region. Among the several ways to achieve this goal, doping TiO2 nanomaterials with other elements (e.g. metals) was selected to narrow the band gap and enhance the optical properties of TiO2 nanomaterials. In this work, we have prepared Cu-doped TiO2 nano-catalysts, characterized them and studied their properties, and the optical ones in particular. The Ag-doped TiO2 catalyst was prepared by the sol-gel method while the Cu-doped TiO2 catalyst was prepared by using two different techniques for comparison purposes: the sol-gel method and the inert gas condensation technique under ultra-high vacuum. The Ag-doped TiO2 nano-catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer (EPMA) for surface morphology and chemical composition, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis for surface area and porosity measurements, x-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine their crystal structure and UV-visible absorption spectrometry (UV-Vis) to measure the optical properties. The same characterization methods have been applied on the Cu-doped TiO2 photocatalysts prepared by the sol-gel method, in addition to some rheological measurements to determine their flow behavior. Furthermore, x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible absorption spectrometry (UV-Vis) analyses have been conducted to characterize the Cu-doped TiO2 catalyst prepared by inert gases condensation technique. The experimental work conducted here revealed promising results for improving the performance of the TiO2 nanomaterial by doping it with Cu and Ag metals where the optical was enhanced and shifted to the visible region causing an appreciable increase in its effectiveness for photocatalytic application

Learning of Patient Safety in Health Professions Education

The awareness of patient safety became one of the emerging topics over the last two decades. However, in medical curricula, the knowledge of its principles is still facing challenges concerning its proper timing and the suitable methods of instruction. Many studies have shown several trials dealing with the introduction, implementation, and evaluation of patient safety courses in health professions institutions. Moreover, the training of healthcare professionals focuses on the clinical and curative competencies rather than preventive skills. Therefore, the knowledge about patient safety is a necessity for all graduates in health professions careers. Thus the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed a curriculum guide for patient safety to help health professions institutions integrating patient safety principles in their curricula. This chapter will focus on the educational aspects of patient safety topics in health professions education

Epithelial lining of the endometrium during the luteal phase in patients under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

The endometrium is receptive for the embryo and presents an implantation window for a limited time. This study is aimed at highlighting an alternation in pinopod expression and to provide more analysisof the structural characteristics of epithelial lining of the endometrium during luteal phase in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimmulation (COH). Twelve oocyte donors were used. Theyunderwent two endometrial biopsies 2-7 days after human chronic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. Endometrial epithelial surface appearance was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Microvillibecame more uniformly distributed as the luteal phase progressed. Also the central aspects of the cells appeared to protrude more into the endometrial lumen as the cycle progressed. Apical protrusions(pinopods) were noted to develop and regress during the midluteal phase after HCG administration. Pinopods began development in the region of the glandular orifices to become much denser at the glandular orifices than in regions further away from the glands. In conclusion, epithelial lining ofendometrium in stimulated cycle during the luteal phase progresses in an orderly manner. This advanced development may result in an alteration of the window of implantation between the developing endometrium and the developing blastocyst and affect pregnancy rates in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimmulation

Permanent biventricular ICD-implantation in a heart failure second re-do-CABG patient: a case report

Biventricular pacing has been suggested in end-stage heart failure. We present a 59-year-old patient undergoing second re-do CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) and carotid artery endarterectomy. Ejection fraction was 15%, QRS-width 175 ms. Following the carotid and CABG procedure, an implanted single-chamber ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) was upgraded to permanent biventricular DDD pacing by implantation of one epicardial left ventricular and one epicardial atrial electrode. At follow-up two months postoperatively ejection fraction had significantly improved to 45%, the patient underwent stress test with adequate load and reported a good quality of life

Comparative analysis of optimal damped and undamped passive filters using MIDACO-solver

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Harmonic pollution is one of the challenging problems facing power networks recently due to the widespread non-linear loads and inverter-based renewables. In this regard, this work presents the optimal design of damped and undamped passive filters using a solver called Mixed-Integer Distributed Ant Colony Optimisation (MIDACO). This solver is employed to obtain an optimal design strategy for single-tuned passive power filters by investigating three primary criteria – minimisation of active power losses of the Thevenin’s resistor, maximisation of the true power factor, and maximisation of the transmission efficiency. Several constrictions associated with the designed filters have been considered, in which the global maximum or minimum criterion was attained by retaining the quality factors of the designed filters within a particular range, damping harmonic resonance, achieving a permissible range of the power factor, limiting voltage harmonic distortion by complying with IEEE Std. 519–2014 restrictions. Besides, the performance limits of capacitors operating in distorted systems have been met while complying with IEEE Std. 18–2012. Further, the results obtained using the MIDACO solver in four different case studies are compared to those obtained using particle swarm optimisation and genetic algorithm. In addition, this work depicts the damping resistor of the inductance in the single-tuned filters. The benefits and drawbacks of damping over an undamped filter are discussed. Finally, the results validate the effectiveness of the MIDACO solver employed in this paper.The authors did not receive support from any organisation for the submitted work

Histological evidence for a supraspinous ligament in sauropod dinosaurs

Supraspinous ossified rods have been reported in the sacra of some derived sauropod dinosaurs. Although different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin ofthis structure, histological evidence has never been provided to support or reject any of them. In order to establish its origin, we analyse and characterize the microstructure of thesupraspinous rod of two sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. The supraspinous ossified rod is almost entirely formed by dense Haversian bone. Remains ofprimary bone consist entirely of an avascular tissue composed of two types of fibre-like structures, which are coarse and longitudinally (parallel to the main axis of the element) oriented. These structures are differentiated on the basis of their optical properties under polarized light. Very thin fibrous strands are also observed in some regions. These small fibres are all oriented parallel to one another but perpendicular to the element main axis. Histological features of the primary bone tissue indicate that the sacral supraspinous rod corresponds to an ossified supraspinous ligament. The formation of this structure appears to have been a non-pathological metaplastic ossification, possibly induced by the continuous tensile forces applied to the element.Fil: Cerda, Ignacio Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; ArgentinaFil: Casal, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Rubén Darío. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia ; ArgentinaFil: Ibiricu, Lucio Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Inner-sphere oxidation of ternary iminodiacetatochromium(III) complexes involving DL-valine and L-arginine as secondary ligands. Isokinetic relationship for the oxidation of ternary iminodiacetato-chromium(III) complexes by periodate

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this paper, the kinetics of oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺and [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺(HIDA = iminodiacetic acid, Val = DL-valine and Arg = L-arginine) were studied. The choice of ternary complexes was attributed to two considerations. Firstly, in order to study the effect of the secondary ligands DL-valine and L-arginine on the stability of binary complex [Cr^III(HIDA)(IDA)(H₂O)] towards oxidation. Secondly, transition metal ternary complexes have received particular focus and have been employed in mapping protein surfaces as probes for biological redox centers and in protein capture for both purification and study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results have shown that the reaction is first order with respect to both [IO₄^-] and the complex concentration, and the rate increases over the pH range 2.62 – 3.68 in both cases. The experimental rate law is consistent with a mechanism in which both the deprotonated forms of the complexes [Cr^III(IDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂] and [Cr^III(IDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂] are significantly more reactive than the conjugate acids. The value of the intramolecular electron transfer rate constant for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺, <it>k</it>₃(1.82 × 10^-3s^-1), is greater than the value of <it>k</it>₁(1.22 × 10^-3s^-1) for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺at 45.0°C and <it>I </it>= 0.20 mol dm^-3. It is proposed that electron transfer proceeds through an inner-sphere mechanism <it>via </it>coordination of IO₄^-to chromium(III).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺and [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺by periodate may proceed through an inner-sphere mechanism via two electron transfer giving chromium(VI). The value of the intramolecular electron transfer rate constant for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Arg)(H₂O)₂]⁺, <it>k</it>₃, is greater than the value of <it>k</it>₁for the oxidation of [Cr^III(HIDA)(Val)(H₂O)₂]⁺. A common mechanism for the oxidation of ternary iminodiacetatochromium(III) complexes by periodate is proposed, and this is supported by an excellent isokinetic relationship between ΔH* and ΔS* values for these reactions.</p

Profile of subjective quality of life and its correlates in a nation-wide sample of high school students in an Arab setting using the WHOQOL-Bref

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The upsurge of interest in the quality of life (QOL) of children is in line with the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stressed the child's right to adequate circumstances for physical, mental, and social development. The study's objectives were to: (i) highlight how satisfied Kuwaiti high school students were with life circumstances as in the WHOQOL-Bref; (ii) assess the prevalence of at risk status for impaired QOL and establish the QOL domain normative values; and (iii) examine the relationship of QOL with personal, parental, and socio-environmental factors.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A nation-wide sample of students in senior classes in government high schools (N = 4467, 48.6% boys; aged 14-23 years) completed questionnaires that included the WHOQOL-Bref.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using Cummins' norm of 70% - 80%, we found that, as a group, they barely achieved the well-being threshold score for physical health (70%), social relations (72.8%), environment (70.8%) and general facet (70.2%), but not for psychological health (61.9%). These scores were lower than those reported from other countries. Using the recommended cut-off of <1<it>SD </it>of population mean, the prevalence of at risk status for impaired QOL was 12.9% - 18.8% (population age-adjusted: 15.9% - 21.1%). In all domains, boys had significantly higher QOL than girls, mediated by anxiety/depression; while the younger ones had significantly higher QOL (<it>p </it>< 0.001), mediated by difficulty with studies and social relations. Although poorer QOL was significantly associated with parental divorce and father's low socio-economic status, the most important predictors of poorer QOL were perception of poor emotional relationship between the parents, poor self-esteem and difficulty with studies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Poorer QOL seemed to reflect a circumstance of social disadvantage and poor psychosocial well-being in which girls fared worse than boys. The findings indicate that programs that address parental harmony and school programs that promote study-friendly atmospheres could help to improve psychosocial well-being. The application of QOL as a school population health measure may facilitate risk assessment and the tracking of health status.</p

Clinical characteristics and role of early cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with suspected ST-elevation myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries

A variety of conditions other than acute myocardial infarction may cause ST-elevation. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) on differential diagnosis from a prospective series of patients with suspected ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and completely normal coronary arteries. Among 1,145 patients with suspected STEMI, 49 patients had completely normal coronary arteries and entered a prospective registry. CMR was done within 24 h, if possible, and included function analyses, T2-weighted imaging (T2 ratio), T1-weighted imaging before and after gadolineum administration (global relative enhancement; gRE), and late gadolineum enhancement (LGE). All patients were asked for a follow-up CMR after approximately 3 months. The incidence of patients with suspected STEMI and normal coronary arteries was 4.3% and mean age was 45 ± 14 years (STEMI group 64 ± 13 years; P < 0.001). 55% had a recent history of infection. Cardiac biomarkers showed a moderate elevation on admission. There was a significant change from baseline to follow-up for LV end-diastolic volumes (EDV) (P < 0.001), LV mass (P < 0.05), mean T2 ratio (P < 0.05), and LGE volume (P < 0.05). Major diagnostic groups were myocarditis (29%), pericarditis (27%), and takotsubo cardiomyopathy (10%). 18% were regarded as non-diagnostic. The study showed an incidence of 4.3% of patients with suspected STEMI and completely normal coronary arteries. Early CMR was valuable in the evaluation of the differential diagnoses and to exclude myocardial abnormalities in patients with uncertain aetiology. Further studies are needed for the assessment of long-term outcome