1,735 research outputs found
Thyroid Function Test Imbalance in Epileptic Children Under Anticonvulsive Therapy
How to Cite this Article: Ravi Torkaman M, Amirsalari S, Saburi A. Thyroid Function Test Imbalance in Epileptic ChildrenUnder Anticonvulsive Therapy. Iranian Journal of Child Neurology 2012;6(1):43-44. Dear Editor,There have been many studies regarding the impact of antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) on thyroid function. There are some challenging scopes which must beconsidered for conducting the study adressing the focused question. “Which oneof the thyroid hormones is related to the AEDs consumption?”. Some studiesdemonstrated that there may be alterations in all thyroid function tests (T3, T4 andTSH) after antiepileptic therapy in children (1). Some studies concluded that longtermprescription of anticonvulsive medications resulted in a decline in serum T4levels, although it had no effect on serum TSH levels. However, changes in serumT3 level was challenging and it must be investigated further (2).There were some confounding factors which may interfere with the conclusion.One of them is the type of the study. There are various study plans for this purposesuch as cross-sectional, case-control, experimental, self-controlled cohort anddouble-blind randomized clinical trial studies. It seems that the proper protocol ofstudy for this propose is a double-blind randomized clinical trial study. By usingother designs, the authors cannot interpret the effect of AEDs on thyroid function;however, they can discuss the prevalence of thyroid hormone imbalance and thecoordination among T3, T4 and TSH.Moreover, one of the confounding factors is the thyroid binding globulin (TBG)effect. It has appeared that some of the AEDs may change the amount of TBGand in this way may affect the amount of thyroid hormones (3). Clonazepamand valproic acid do not have any enzyme inducing effects, but phenobarbital,carbamazepine, phenytoin and primidone may induce the hepatic enzyme (4-6). Therefore, it seems necessary to analyze each group of patients based on thetype of drug which is prescribed and also by using the free amount of thyroidhormones, the researcher will be able to exclude the TBG effect. In addition, ageis an important factor which should be considered. The epileptic patients showextra-thyroid adverse effects such as vitamin D and bone metabolism disordersdue to antiepileptic drugs (7). Other secondary clinical disorders which interactwith the thyroid metabolism should be considered and overruled in the study withthe mentioned proposal, especially in the older population.It appears that the confounding effect of the duration of AED intake mustbe adjusted regarding the children’s age using multivariate analysis such asregression model or partial correlation test. The etiological mechanism of serumconcentrations of thyroid hormone change by AEDs has not been clarified clearlyand besides, patients with a personal or family history of thyroid disorders mayprogress to overt thyroid hormone imbalance secondary to AED consumption (6). Therefore, it is suggested that the pure etiologicalmechanism of thyroid disorders due to AEDs shouldbe studied in such cases. Previous reports suggestedthat return to normal of all parameters was observedafter withdrawal of anticonvulsive therapy and thisreversibility of the thyroid hormone imbalance may bea clue for further investigations in order to study thepatho-physiologic mechanism of this disorder (6).Recently, new pharmaceutical drugs have beensuccessfully used for epileptic patients. It is expectedthat the therapeutic role of these new medications willbecome more prominent in these patients in the futureand future studies should be focused on their adverseeffects.Disclosures: None. References: 1. Talebian A, Eslamian MR, Shiasi K, Moravveji A,Khodayari M, Abedi AR. Changing in thyroid functiontest in children underwent antiepileptic therapy. Iran JChild Neurol 2010;4(1):17-22.2. Mahyar A, Ayazi P, Dalirani R, Hosseini SM, DaneshiKohan MM. Serum thyroid hormone levels in epilepticchildren receiving ant-convulsive drugs. Iran J ChildNeurol 2011;5(4):21-4.3. Eirís-Puñal J, Del Río-Garma M, Del Río-Garma MC,Lojo-Rocamonde S, Novo-Rodríguez I, Castro-GagoM. Long-term treatment of children with epilepsy withvalproate or carbamazepine may cause subclinicalhypothyroidism. Epilepsia 1999;40(12):1761-6.4. Kirimi E, Karasalihoglu S, Boz A. Thyroid functions inchildren under long-term administration of antiepilepticdrugs. Eastern J Med 1999;4(1):23-6.5. Amirsalari S, Kayhanidost ZT, Kavemanesh Z, Torkman M, Beiraghdar F, Teimoori M, et al. Thyroid functionin epileptic children who receive carbamazepine,primidone, phenobarbital and valproic acid. Iranian JChild Neurol 2011;5(2):15-20.6. Verrotti A, Di corcia G, Trotta D, Chiarelli F. Thyroidfunction in children treated with antiepilepticdrugs: effects of treatment withdrawal. Ital J Pediatr 2003;29:242-6.7. Pack AM, Morrell MJ, McMahon DJ, Shane E. Normal vitamin D and low free estradiol levels in women onenzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsy Behav 2011;21(4):453-8
Pengembangan Objek Wisata Teluk Triton di Desa Lobo Kabupaten Kaimana Provinsi Papua Barat
Penyelenggaraan pariwisata sangat penting dalam peningkatan pembangunan di negara kita khususnya di daerah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji pengembangan pariwisata di Teluk Triton yang terletak di Kabupaten Kaimana. Provinsi Papua Barat. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu metode SWOT guna mengetahui Strength (Kekuatan), Weakness (Kelemahan), Opportunity (Kesempatan/Peluang) dan Threat (Ancaman) untuk mengoptimalkan pengembangan teluk triton sebagi objek wisata di Desa Lobo Kabupaten Kaimana Provinsi Papua Barat. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa dalam rangka mengoptimalkan pengembangan Teluk Triton sebagai objek wisata, diperlukan langkah-langkah strategis yang dapat mengatasi kelemahan dan mengambil peluang yang ada. Peningkatan sarana prasarana, peningkatan aksesibilitas, kerjasama dengan pihak swasta, promosi melalui internet, serta peran aktif pemerintah dalam pengembangan dan pelestarian objek wisata akan berperan penting dalam mewujudkan potensi Teluk Triton sebagai destinasi pariwisata yang menarik dan berkelanjutan
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Are You Applying to More Than One Specialty?
Although the majority of U.S. medical students predominantly apply to only one specialty, some apply to more than one. When it comes to emergency medicine (EM), applicants may apply to additional specialties due to several reasons: being international medical graduates as well as their inability to make a decision regarding the choice of specialty, fear from the growing competitiveness of EM, or the desire to stay in a specific geographic area. Accordingly, in this article we aim to guide medical students through the process of applying to more than one specialty, including using the Electronic Residency Application Service application, writing a personal statement, getting letters of recommendation, and an Early Match. Moreover, we elaborate on the effect of applying to more than one specialty on a student's application to a residency in EM
Biological Sequence Kernels with Guaranteed Flexibility
Applying machine learning to biological sequences - DNA, RNA and protein -
has enormous potential to advance human health, environmental sustainability,
and fundamental biological understanding. However, many existing machine
learning methods are ineffective or unreliable in this problem domain. We study
these challenges theoretically, through the lens of kernels. Methods based on
kernels are ubiquitous: they are used to predict molecular phenotypes, design
novel proteins, compare sequence distributions, and more. Many methods that do
not use kernels explicitly still rely on them implicitly, including a wide
variety of both deep learning and physics-based techniques. While kernels for
other types of data are well-studied theoretically, the structure of biological
sequence space (discrete, variable length sequences), as well as biological
notions of sequence similarity, present unique mathematical challenges. We
formally analyze how well kernels for biological sequences can approximate
arbitrary functions on sequence space and how well they can distinguish
different sequence distributions. In particular, we establish conditions under
which biological sequence kernels are universal, characteristic and metrize the
space of distributions. We show that a large number of existing kernel-based
machine learning methods for biological sequences fail to meet our conditions
and can as a consequence fail severely. We develop straightforward and
computationally tractable ways of modifying existing kernels to satisfy our
conditions, imbuing them with strong guarantees on accuracy and reliability.
Our proof techniques build on and extend the theory of kernels with discrete
masses. We illustrate our theoretical results in simulation and on real
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Biological Variability of Soluble ST2 in Patients with Stable Chronic Heart Failure and Implications for Monitoring
Nanosized silver–palm pollen nanocomposite, green synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity
Palm pollen (PP) has been widely used in nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the present study, we explored the potential of PP in the synthesis of a silver nanoparticle (Ag NP). PP was used as both reducing and stabilizing agent. The Ag/PP nanocomposite was examined by field emission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy and zeta potential measurement. The biosynthesized NPs showed surface plasmon resonance centered at 425 nm with an average particle size measured to be 23 nm and a zeta potential of −30.9 mV. Prominent FT-IR signals were obtained and ascribed to phenolic and carbohydrate compounds involved in the formation of the Ag NPs, and proteins which participated in stabilization of the Ag NPs. The biologically synthesized Ag NPs were found to be extremely effective against E. coli (13.8 ± 0.25 mm) with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 20 µg/mL. Thus, such biosynthesized Ag NPs can be used in medicinal applications
FTY720 treatment in the convalescence period improves functional recovery and reduces reactive astrogliosis in photothrombotic stroke
Background: The Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway is known to influence pathophysiological processes within the brain and the synthetic S1P analog FTY720 has been shown to provide neuroprotection in experimental models of acute stroke. However, the effects of a manipulation of S1P signaling at later time points after experimental stroke have not yet been investigated. We examined whether a relatively late initiation of a FTY720 treatment has a positive effect on long-term neurological outcome with a focus on reactive astrogliosis, synapses and neurotrophic factors.
Methods: We induced photothrombotic stroke (PT) in adult C57BL/6J mice and allowed them to recover for three days. Starting on post-stroke day 3, mice were treated with FTY720 (1 mg/kg b.i.d.) for 5 days. Behavioral outcome was observed until day 31 after photothrombosis and periinfarct cortical tissue was analyzed using tandem mass-spectrometry, TaqMan®analysis and immunofluorescence.
Results: FTY720 treatment results in a significantly better functional outcome persisting up to day 31 after PT. This is accompanied by a significant decrease in reactive astrogliosis and larger post-synaptic densities as well as changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGF α). Within the periinfarct cortex, S1P is significantly increased compared to healthy brain tissue.
Conclusion: Besides its known neuroprotective effects in the acute phase of experimental stroke, the initiation of FTY720 treatment in the convalescence period has a positive impact on long-term functional outcome, probably mediated through reduced astrogliosis, a modulation in synaptic morphology and an increased expression of neurotrophic factors
Harnessing the Power of Digital Platforms to Accelerate Adoption Rates of Emerging Technologies and Innovations
Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumThe recent Overmatch championed Artificial Intelligence and Networks (AINet) Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) demonstrated an alternative all-digital ANTX format enabled by integrated Rapid Innovation Labs (iRILs). This resulted in shortened ANTX planning and execution timelines, increased focus on technologies of interest, earlier integration into naval architectures, sharing of relevant operational data with participants, and meaningful feedback to developers throughout integration phases, informing research and development (R&D) and program acquisitions. An iRIL is a digital environment and an acquisition tool used to address priority Fleet needs, evaluate technologies and prototypes, and inform and influence external partner R&D investments. An all-digital iRIL can facilitate faster, smaller cycles of iterative experimentation of component technologies of interest within representative Fleet architectures and simulated operational environments. Future applications of iRILs could fundamentally change the way we acquire systems. The use of open competitive events such as an ANTX Prize Challenge could yield component level, containerized technologies of interest that are matured throughout the event process and can be assessed as well-behaved. Such well-behaved software containers or component technologies may enter the Overmatch Software Armory (OSA) or Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) pipelines, achieving rapid authorities to operate (ATO), cycling to a ship within days.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
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