6 research outputs found
Evaluation of health related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients
Background: Quality of life (QOL) is an important measure in the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Controversy exists in the findings of studies evaluating QOL in IBS subtypes, and little is known about this issue in Iranian patients. Determination of the factors affecting QOL in IBS patients may influence treatment outcomes. The aims of this study are to: 1) compare QOL between subtypes in a sample of Iranian IBS patients, 2) determine the factors associated with QOL in IBS. Methods: This cross sectional study included two hundred and fifty IBS patients with the mean age ( ± standard deviation) of 31.62 ( ± 11.93) years that were referred to outpatient gastroenterology clinic. IBS patients were diagnosed based on Rome-3 criteria by a gastroenterologist, and then they were categorized into three subtypes according to the predominant type of bowel habit. The âQOL specific for IBSâ, âStait-trait anxiety inventoryâ, and âBeck depression inventory-2 â questioners were used to evaluate QOL, anxiety, and depression symptoms, respectively. Results: The mean QOL scores in IBS mixed subtype (71.7 ± 25.57), constipation predominant subtype (80.28 ± 25.57), and diarrhea predominant subtype (76.43 ± 19.13) were not different. (P value: 0.05) In multivariate linear regression analysis, anxiety symptom scores were inversely correlated with QOL scores. [Standardized beta:-0.43, (95 % confidence interval:-0.70,-0.39), P value: < 0.01] Conclusion: It seems reasonable to manage anxiety symptoms properly in IBS patients since this might increase their QOL
Electronic and magnetic properties of LaV1-xO3 /
A series of LaVi^xOs compounds (x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) were prepeired using the
standard solid reaction. The samples were chareicterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourprobe
resistivity, smd magnetic susceptibility studies.
Powder X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the formation of a single-phase sample with a
orthorhombic structure which was first found in GdFeOs (space group Pnma) . The Unit Cell
program was used for calculating lattice peirameters from XFID data. The XRD spectnim
could be indexed on a cubic lattice with Og = 2ap ~ (7.8578 to 7.9414 A). The lattice
parameter was observed to increase as the Vanadium vacancy increased.
Four-probe resistivity measurements exhibited semiconductor behavior for all sajnples
from room temperature down to 19K. The resistivity of samples increased with increasing
Vanadium vacancy. The resistivity of samples demonstrated activated conduction with an
activation energy of approximately 0.2 eV. The activation energy increased with increasing
lattice parameter.
Field cool magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed with field of 500 G from
300 K to 5 K. These measurements indicated the presence of an antiferromagnetic transition
at about 140 K. The data was fitted above Neel temperature to Ciurie-Weiss law yielding a
negative parameignetic Curie temperature. This implies that antiferromagnetic ordering is
present
Plasticity in neuromagnetic cortical responses suggests enhanced auditory object representation
Abstract
Background
Auditory perceptual learning persistently modifies neural networks in the central nervous system. Central auditory processing comprises a hierarchy of sound analysis and integration, which transforms an acoustical signal into a meaningful object for perception. Based on latencies and source locations of auditory evoked responses, we investigated which stage of central processing undergoes neuroplastic changes when gaining auditory experience during passive listening and active perceptual training. Young healthy volunteers participated in a five-day training program to identify two pre-voiced versions of the stop-consonant syllable âbaâ, which is an unusual speech sound to English listeners. Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain responses were recorded during two pre-training and one post-training sessions. Underlying cortical sources were localized, and the temporal dynamics of auditory evoked responses were analyzed.
Results
After both passive listening and active training, the amplitude of the P2m wave with latency of 200Â ms increased considerably. By this latency, the integration of stimulus features into an auditory object for further conscious perception is considered to be complete. Therefore the P2m changes were discussed in the light of auditory object representation. Moreover, P2m sources were localized in anterior auditory association cortex, which is part of the antero-ventral pathway for object identification. The amplitude of the earlier N1m wave, which is related to processing of sensory information, did not change over the time course of the study.
Conclusion
The P2m amplitude increase and its persistence over time constitute a neuroplastic change. The P2m gain likely reflects enhanced object representation after stimulus experience and training, which enables listeners to improve their ability for scrutinizing fine differences in pre-voicing time. Different trajectories of brain and behaviour changes suggest that the preceding effect of a P2m increase relates to brain processes, which are necessary precursors of perceptual learning. Cautious discussion is required when interpreting the finding of a P2 amplitude increase between recordings before and after training and learning