The acute effect of maximal exercise on plasma beta-endorphin levels in fibromyalgia patients

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of strenuous exercise on β-endorphine (β-END) level in fibromyalgia (FM) patients compared to healthy subjects. Methods: We enrolled 30 FM patients and 15 healthy individuals. All study participants underwent a treadmill exercise test using modified Bruce protocol (M.Bruce). The goal of the test was achieving at least 70 of the predicted maximal heart rate (HRMax). The serum levels of β-END were measured before and after the exercise program. Measurements were done while heart rate was at least 70 of its predicted maximum. Results: The mean � the standard deviation (SD) of exercise duration in the FM and control groups were 24.26 � 5.29 and 29.06 � 3.26 minutes, respectively, indicating a shorter time to achieve the goal heart rate in FM patients (P < 0.003). Most FM patients attained 70 HRMax at lower stages (stage 2 and 3) of M.Bruce compared to the control group (70 versus 6.6, respectively; P < 0.0001). Compared to healthy subjects, FM patients had lower serum β-END levels both in baseline and post-exercise status (Mean � SD: 122.07 � 28.56 μg/ml and 246.55 � 29.57 μg/ml in the control group versus 90.12 � 20.91 μg/ml and 179.80 � 28.57 μg/ml in FM patients, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions: We found that FM patients had lower levels of β-END in both basal and post-exercise status. Exercise increased serum the β-END level in both groups but the average increase in β-END in FM patients was significantly lower than in the control group. � The Korean Pain Society, 2016

WCM: A web content‐based method of stakeholder analysis

This article presents a systematic method to conduct stakeholder analyses using textual data from stakeholder websites. WCM, a novel web content-based method comprises stakeholder information and the use of keywords in a content analysis of relevant preselected stakeholder websites. Traditional stakeholder analysis approaches frequently rely on personal interpretation rather than empirical analysis. WCM aims to address this limitation by offering a user-friendly and empirical method that helps generate knowledge from multiple websites. With qualitative and / or quantitative application, it is particularly useful for small-scale studies in complex contexts and where resources are limited. WCM differs from many commonly used stakeholder analysis methods as it adopts replicable, systematic and transparent procedures. While not without limitations, this method provides an effective tool to support researchers, non-governmental organizations, and industry in different fields and locations, to undertake stakeholder analysis. • The WCM method is a systematic, explicit, transparent, and transferable procedure to conduct stakeholder analysis. • WCM has application in both qualitative and quantitative content analysis of stakeholder websites. • WCM provides a user-friendly method to provide a broad overview of stakeholder interests with limited resources

miR-608 rs4919510 C>G polymorphism decreased the risk of breast cancer in an Iranian subpopulation

Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that function as oncogene or tumor suppressors. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNAs potentially can alter miRNA-binding sites on target genes as well as affecting miRNAs expression. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of miR-608 rs4919510 C>G variant on breast cancer (BC) risk. Materials and Methods: This case-control study conducted on 160 women with BC and 192 age-matched healthy women. Genotyping of miR608 rs4919510 was done using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: Our findings showed that GC genotype significantly decreased the risk of BC (odds ratio (OR) = 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28–0.88, p = 0.018) compared to CC genotype. Furthermore the G allele decreased the risk of BC (OR = 0.53, 95%CI 0.30–0.92, p = 0.024). No significant association was found between miR-609 genotypes and clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that miR-608 polymorphism might be associated with decreased risk of BC in an Iranian subpopulation. Further large-scale studies with different ethnicities are needed to verify our findings

Late extensive intravenous administration of N-acetylcysteine can reverse hepatic failure in acetaminophen overdose

Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and has been shown to be a main cause of drug-induced liver failure. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) should be employed as the antidote in case of acetaminophen poisoning within the first 8-10 hours. Oral administration of NAC is universally recommended and due to the adverse effects, the intravenous administration of the agent is reserved for patients with oral intolerance and severe complications. We here report an 18-year-old man with severe liver failure due to a huge ingestion of acetaminophen, who was taken into the Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center 72 hours after attempted suicide. Regarding the poor prognostic clues as his level of consciousness and impaired liver functions, an extensive intravenous regimen of NAC was started. The patient survived the condition with an additional intravenous administration of NAC past the first 72 hours of treatment. We discuss that even in late phases of intoxication; high-dose intravenous NAC can serve a substantial improvement. © The Author(s) 2011

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1: A Urinary Biomarker of Kidney Disease.

Identifying noninvasive biomarkers of kidney disease is valuable for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) expression is known to be elevated in the kidneys in several renal disease pathologies. We hypothesized that the urinary HIF-1a mRNA level may be a suitable biomarker for expression of this protein in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We compared HIF-1a mRNA levels from urine pellets of CKD and healthy subjects. To ensure that urinary HIF-1a mRNA is of kidney origin, we examined colocalization of HIF-1a mRNA with two kidney specific markers in urine cells. We found that HIF-1a mRNA is readily quantifiable in urine pellets and its expression was significantly higher in CKD patients compared with healthy adults. We also showed that the urinary HIF-1a mRNA comes primarily from cells of renal origin. Our data suggest that urinary HIF-1a mRNA is a potential biomarker in CKD and can be noninvasively assessed in patients

Energy-Efficient Service-Oriented Architecture for Mobile Cloud Handover

Mobile cloud computing uses features to deliver outsourcing data to remotely available mobile devices. However, the flexible nature of the mobile device is a critical challenge for the mobile cloud computing environment. The mobile phone significantly degrades the data transfer performance when initiating the handover process. Thus, an energy-efficient handover process could improve the quality of service (QoS). Here, we introduce a secure energy-efficient and quality-of-service architecture (EEQoSA) for the handover process in the mobile cloud computing environment. The proposed architecture involves four layers: application, the Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IPMS), communication, and media with connectivity layers. These four layers collectively handle the energy-efficiency, security and QoS parameters. Existing service-oriented architectures designed for mobile cloud computing are based on the symmetric encryption cryptography to support different media services. However, this approach easily allows an adversary to expose the symmetric key and gain access to private data. Thus, our proposed architecture uses the secure and strong authentication (SSA) process at the IPMS layer by protecting the media services from unauthorized users, as the IPMS is the central layer that could be the entry point for an adversary. Furthermore, to extend the mobile lifetime during the handover process, an energy detection (ED) model is deployed at the communication layer to detect the energy level of the mobile device prior to the handover initialization process. The media with the connectivity layer supports the secure handover process using a priority enforcement module that allows only legitimate users to complete the re-registration process after initiating the handover. Finally, the architecture is tested using the CloudSim simulation environment and validated by a comparison with other known service-oriented architectures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-017-0079-

A cost effectiveness analysis of the preferred antidotes for acute paracetamol poisoning patients in Sri Lanka

Background: Acute paracetamol poisoning is a rapidly increasing problem in Sri Lanka. The antidotes are expensive and yet no health economic evaluation has been done on the therapy for acute paracetamol poisoning in the developing world. The aim of this study is to determine the cost effectiveness of using N-acetylcysteine over methionine in the management of acute paracetamol poisoning in Sri Lanka. Methods:Economic analysis was applied using public healthcare system payer perspective. Costs were obtained from a series of patients admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka with a history of acute paracetamol overdose. Evidence on effectiveness was obtained from a systematic review of the literature. Death due to hepatotoxicity was used as the primary outcome of interest. Analysis and development of decision tree models was done using Tree Age Pro 2008. Results: An affordable treatment threshold of Sri Lankan rupees 1,537,120/death prevented was set from the expected years of productive life gained and the average contribution to GDP. A cost-minimisation analysis was appropriate for patients presenting within 10 hours and methionine was the least costly antidote. For patients presenting 10-24 hours after poisoning, n-acetylcysteine was more effective and the incremental cost effectiveness ratio of Sri Lankan rupees 316,182/life saved was well under the threshold. One-way and multi-way sensitivity analysis also supported methionine for patients treated within 10 hours and n-acetylcysteine for patients treated within 10-24 hours as preferred antidotes.Conclusions: Post ingestion time is an important determinant of preferred antidotal therapy for acute paracetamol poisoning patients in Sri Lanka. Using n-acetylcysteine in all patients is not cost effective. On economic grounds, methionine should become the preferred antidote for Sri Lankan patients treated within 10 hours of the acute ingestion and n-acetylcysteine should continue to be given to patients treated within 10-24 hours