The Prevalence of Spine Deformities and Flat Feet Among 10-12 Year Old Children Who Train Basketball – Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of spine and feet deformities among children who are regularly involved in basketball trainings, as well as finding differences in the prevalence of those deformities between children of different gender and age. The study included a total of 64 children, of which 43 were boys and 21 were girls, ages 10-12. All subjects have been regularly participating in basketball trainings for at least one year. Postural disorder is defined as an irregularity in posture of the spine and feet, and it is assessed by visual methods from the front, side and rear side of the body. The prevalence of spinal deformities in our group was 53.13%. The boys had a significantly higher prevalence than girls, 65.1% compared to 28.57% (p=0.006). There was no significant difference in prevalence of spine deformities between children of different ages. The prevalence of feet deformities was 64.06%. There was a statistically significant difference between the sexes, where boys had a significantly greater prevalence of the feet deformities than girls, 83.7% compared to 23.81% (p=0.001). Flat feet were the most common in 10 year old children (85.71%). In conclusion, it can be said that despite regular participation in basketball training, subjects in this study have high prevalence of deformities; especially boys who stand out with the high prevalence of flat feet

The Prevalence of Spine Deformities and Flat Feet Among 10-12 Year Old Children Who Train Basketball – Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of spine and feet deformities among children who are regularly involved in basketball trainings, as well as finding differences in the prevalence of those deformities between children of different gender and age. The study included a total of 64 children, of which 43 were boys and 21 were girls, ages 10-12. All subjects have been regularly participating in basketball trainings for at least one year. Postural disorder is defined as an irregularity in posture of the spine and feet, and it is assessed by visual methods from the front, side and rear side of the body. The prevalence of spinal deformities in our group was 53.13%. The boys had a significantly higher prevalence than girls, 65.1% compared to 28.57% (p=0.006). There was no significant difference in prevalence of spine deformities between children of different ages. The prevalence of feet deformities was 64.06%. There was a statistically significant difference between the sexes, where boys had a significantly greater prevalence of the feet deformities than girls, 83.7% compared to 23.81% (p=0.001). Flat feet were the most common in 10 year old children (85.71%). In conclusion, it can be said that despite regular participation in basketball training, subjects in this study have high prevalence of deformities; especially boys who stand out with the high prevalence of flat feet

Nitric oxide, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin: unraveling the nature of thyroid nodules

BackgroundThyroid nodules (TN) are localized morphological changes in the thyroid gland and can be benign or malignant.ObjectiveThe present study investigates the relationships between biochemical markers in serum (s) and their homologs in washout (w) after fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the TN of interest and their correlation with cytology specimen findings.MethodsWe investigated the relationships between serum biochemical markers nitric oxide (NO), thyroglobulin (TG), and calcitonin (CT), their homologs in washout after FNAB of the TN of interest, and cytology findings of biopsy samples classified according to the Bethesda system for thyroid cytopathology in this study, which included 86 subjects.ResultsWashout TG (TGw) level positively correlates with the cytology finding of the biopsy. A higher level of TGw correlates with higher categories of the Bethesda classification and indicates a higher malignant potential. The levels of serum NO (NOs), serum TG (TGs), serum CT (CTs), and washout CT (CTw) do not correlate with the cytology finding of the biopsy, and the higher levels of washout NO (NOw) correspond to the more suspicious ultrasound findings.ConclusionThe findings of our study suggest that TGw and NOw could be used as potential predictors of malignancy in TN

Values of alkaline phosphathase and their isoenzyme profiles in patients with cancer in respect to bone and liver metastasis

Background: Alkaline phosphatase is a glycoprotein that catalyzes two kinds of chemical reactions: hydrolysis of phosphorus ester breaking P-O bonds and phospho-transfer reactions in which phosphoric group is transferred to an acceptor molecule. In the human body, ALP exists in multiple molecular forms whose heterogeneity is partly due to genetic factors and partly to posttranslational modifications. The aim was to evaluate a total ALP activity and its isoforms in cancer patients with bone and liver metastasis in comparison to healthy controls. Methods: Human serum was collected from 20 healthy individuals, and 20 cancer patients with bone and liver metastases, with metastases confirmed by ultrasound, computerized tomography and a radiology scan. Determination of ALP was done by the endpoint spectrophotometric method. Isoenzymes were determined by heat inactivation method. Results: In cancer patients, the total ALP activity was significantly higher (p< 0.05) compared to healthy controls. In the sera of cancer patients with liver metastases, the remaining ALP activity was two-fold higher in comparison to bone metastases. Conclusion: Determination of ALP isoenzymes is important but a correct clinical interpretation in the context of other analyses is vital for a proper diagnosis of a disease. © 2013, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica

THE IMPORTANCE OF DETERMINING THE UROMODULIN SERUM CONCENTRATION IN DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2 PATIENTS

Introduction: In the kidney, cells in the thick ascending limb of the loop of the Henle synthesized uromodulin (UMOD). This study aims to present the evaluation of the uromodulin serum concentration in diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) patients in the early detection of kidney damage. Materials and methods: The study included 50 T2DM patients with a mean age of 60.75±11.23 years with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 114.38±22.12 ml/min and a control group of 20 healthy persons. We measured serum concentration of haemoglobin, urea, creatinine, uromodulin (ELISA method), and cystatin C (nephelometry). We determined formulas: Cockcroft-Gault# (combination Cockcroft- Gault for patients with BMI< 30 kg/m2 and Cockcroft- GaultLBW for patients with BMI≥ 30 kg/m2), CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation), and simple Cystatin C. Results: T2DM patients had lower hemoglobin serum concentration as well as eGFR calculated by formulas: Cockcroft- Gault# and CKD-EPI. T2DM patients had significantly higher BMI and cystatin C compared to control group. T2DM patients had significantly lower serum uromodulin concentration (136.51±84.34 vs 220.50±92.39 ng/ml) than in controls. Significant positive correlation between uromodulin and Cockcroft- Gault# (r= 0.432, p= 0.000), CKD- EPI (r = 0.439; p = 0.000) formulas as well as simple cystatin C (r = 0.250, p = 0.02), but negative correlation with age (r = -0.476, p =0.000), BMI (r = -0.313, p = 0.002) and cystatin C serum concentration (r = -0.293, p = 0.015) were found. Conclusion: The role of serum uromodulin concentration is not still fortified. The results of this study showed that reduced uromodulin serum concentration indicated early kidney damage in T2DM patients

Levothyroxine treatment and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias – focus on the patient submitted to thyroid surgery

This work is part of a collaboration between the Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics "VINCA" Institute in Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, and Computational Bioscience Reserach Center (CBRC) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). This work was funded by the MInistry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Contract No: 451-03-9/2021-14/200017) and KAUST grant OSR No. 4129 (awarded to E.R.I. and V.B.B.), which also supported M.O. M.E. has been supported by the KAUST Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Award No. FCC/1/1976-17-01, and T.G. by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Base Reserach Fund (BAS/1/1059-01-01).Levothyroxine (LT4) is used to treat frequently encountered endocrinopathies such as thyroid diseases. It is regularly used in clinical (overt) hypothyroidism cases and subclinical (latent) hypothyroidism cases in the last decade. Suppressive LT4 therapy is also part of the medical regimen used to manage thyroid malignancies after a thyroidectomy. LT4 treatment possesses dual effects: substituting new-onset thyroid hormone deficiency and suppressing the local and distant malignancy spreading in cancer. It is the practice to administer LT4 in less-than-high suppressive doses for growth control of thyroid nodules and goiter, even in patients with preserved thyroid function. Despite its approved safety for clinical use, LT4 can sometimes induce side-effects, more often recorded with patients under treatment with LT4 suppressive doses than in unintentionally LT4-overdosed patients. Cardiac arrhythmias and the deterioration of osteoporosis are the most frequently documented side-effects of LT4 therapy. It also lowers the threshold for the onset or aggravation of cardiac arrhythmias for patients with pre-existing heart diseases. To improve the quality of life in LT4-substituted patients, clinicians often prescribe higher doses of LT4 to reach low normal TSH levels to achieve cellular euthyroidism. In such circumstances, the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, increases, and the combined use of LT4 and triiodothyronine further complicates such risk. This review summarizes the relevant available data related to LT4 suppressive treatment and the associated risk of cardiac arrhythmia.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mutational Analysis and mtDNA Haplogroup Characterization in Three Serbian Cases of Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies and Literature Review

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (MEMP) are heterogeneous multisystem disorders frequently associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Clinical presentation varies considerably in age of onset, course, and severity up to death in early childhood. In this study, we performed molecular genetic analysis for mtDNA pathogenic mutation detection in Serbian children, preliminary diagnosed clinically, biochemically and by brain imaging for mitochondrial encephalomyopathies disorders. Sanger sequencing analysis in three Serbian probands revealed two known pathogenic mutations. Two probands had a heteroplasmic point mutation m.3243A&gt;G in the MT-TL1 gene, which confirmed mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode syndrome (MELAS), while a single case clinically manifested for Leigh syndrome had an almost homoplasmic (close to 100%) m.8993T&gt;G mutation in the MT-ATP6 gene. After full mtDNA MITOMASTER analysis and PhyloTree build 17, we report MELAS’ association with haplogroups U and H (U2e and H15 subclades); likewise, the mtDNA-associated Leigh syndrome proband shows a preference for haplogroup H (H34 subclade). Based on clinical–genetic correlation, we suggest that haplogroup H may contribute to the mitochondrial encephalomyopathies’ phenotypic variability of the patients in our study. We conclude that genetic studies for the distinctive mitochondrial encephalomyopathies should be well-considered for realizing clinical severity and possible outcomes

Normalization of Different Swedish Dialects Spoken in Finland

Our study presents a dialect normalization method for different Finland Swedish dialects covering six regions. We tested 5 different models, and the best model improved the word error rate from 76.45 to 28.58. Contrary to results reported in earlier research on Finnish dialects, we found that training the model with one word at a time gave best results. We believe this is due to the size of the training data available for the model. Our models are accessible as a Python package. The study provides important information about the adaptability of these methods in different contexts, and gives important baselines for further study.Comment: In Proceedings of the 4th ACM SIGSPATIAL Workshop on Geospatial Humanities (GeoHumanities'20