Long term video-EEG monitoring findings in children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy

Introduction:   In spite of appropriate management, seizures are not controlled in10 to 20 percent of epileptic children. If we can find the epileptogenic focus and resect it by surgery, patient may be cured from refractory seizures. Long Term Video-EEG Monitoring (LTM) may give us important information in the preoperative assessment of these patients. We performed this study for the first time in pediatric age group in Iran.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 43 children between 4 to 18 years, with intractable epilepsy who were Referred to Shefa Neuroscience Research Center between 1386_1391, were enrolled to study in order to evaluate their long-term video EEG findings.Results: Forty-three children were enrolled to this study with mean age of 10.07 years, that 24(65.9%) were boys and 19(44.1%) were girls.Seven patients with definite epileptogenic zone were advised to perform lesionectomy surgery, in 2 patients there was not any seizure onset focus but corpus callosotomy was advised to control their frequent falling. Eight cases were recommended to perform Electrocorticography or invasive EEG monitoring. Twenty-six cases were recommended to adjust medical treatment. In 3 cases there was not any electrical seizure activity during clinical attacks, so discontinuing anti-epileptic drugs were recommended with diagnosis of conditions that mimic epilepsy.Conclusions:   It is necessary to perform LTM in patients with refractory epilepsy in order to determine their treatment strategy. If there is any doubt about pseudoseizure LTM can help to differentiate epilepsy from conditions that mimic epilepsy

Effects of Transfer Training on Musculoskeletal Pain in the Caregiver of a Stroke Patient: a Case Report

The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the effectiveness of training of transfer techniques to a caregiver of a person who had suffered a stroke in decreasing musculoskeletal pain, depression and anxiety. This study adopted a single subject research design to evaluate the effectiveness of transfer-techniques training on musculoskeletal pain, depression, and anxiety in a 25-year-old female caregiver of a person with a stroke. The study was completed in four phases, including a baseline evaluation (1st and 3rd week), training (3rd, 5th and 7th week), post-training (9th week), and follow-up evaluation (11th week). During the 1st week, demographic and descriptive information (such as age, time since diagnosis, cognition and independence of daily living) were collected from the stroke patient. Also, pain severity, anxiety and depression levels of the caregiver were evaluated. In weeks 3, 5 and 7, transfer training was undertaken. The patient was involved in the training with the caregiver under the supervision of an occupational therapist in their own home. The effectiveness of the training with regard to musculoskeletal pain and depression and anxiety levels of the caregiver was evaluated in the 5th, 9th and 11th weeks. The data were analyzed using a visual analysis of trends and levels. The results showed a decrease in pain severity, anxiety and depression during training and post-training. The changes continued during the follow-up stage. This study suggests promising results for the effectiveness of the transfer-techniques training and justifies further clinical trials. A larger trial is required to confirm the effectiveness of transfer training in improving pain management in caregivers of stroke survivors

Synthèse de nanotubes de carbone par pyrolyse catalytique à partir des hydrocarbures

107 p. ; ill. ; 30 cmNous traitons dans ce mémoire, le problème de Graetz étendue vers les fluides nonnewtonien en régime laminaire, dans les conduits circulaires ou entre plaques parallèles. L'effet de la dissipation visqueuse est pris en compte. L’étude comprend quatre chapitres essentiels : Dans le premier chapitre, une synthèse bibliographique concernant les travaux réalisés sur ce sujet est développée, ensuite, une présentation des différents types de fluides nonnewtoniens, ainsi que les modèles mathématiques utilisés pour modéliser ces fluides. Dans le deuxième chapitre, nous traitons le cas d'un écoulement entre deux plaques parallèles, par la méthode variationnelle de Ritz, en variant le type du fluide, nous déterminons les distributions de la température axiale et du mélange, ainsi que l'évolution du nombre de Nusselt. Deux conditions aux limites seront traitées. Le troisième chapitre est consacré aux conduits circulaires, nous utilisons la même méthode variationnelle, pour traiter ce problème. Dans le quatrième chapitre, une simulation numérique par la méthode des volumes finis du problème est présentée. En plus, une troisième condition aux limites est développée dans cette partie. Les nombres de Brinkman et de Biot sont les paramètres utilisés, cela pour étudie leurs influences sur l'évolution du nombre de Nusselt. Les résultats obtenus sont comparées avec ceux des études préexistante

The effect of CPR educational package on knowledge and performance of nurses working in intensive care units: A review study

Because nurses are present at the bedside of patients with cardiopulmonary arrest at the earliest opportunity, they should be sufficiently skilled in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Since 1980s, several studies have been performed on the skill of CPR. These studies showed the effect of the presence of trained people on the outcome of resuscitation, so the results of one of these studies indicated that the presence of a more skilled person can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of resuscitation. Researchers believe that each training leads to learning, but the depth and stability of learning are different in various teaching methods. Recent Studies have examined the effectiveness of various educational programs in creating sustainable learning. One of the most common methods for teaching CPR is the workshop method, which has been used in nursing since 1941. Considering the importance of the subject and the need to study the effect of training courses on the level of knowledge and CPR performance of health care professionals, especially nurses, the present study aimed to review the effect of training package on knowledge and CPR performance of nurses working in intensive care units (ICU). A review of the literature showed that the level of knowledge and performance of nurses about CPR increased significantly after training compared to before training. However, most nurses perform CPR based on old protocols, it is necessary to express these changes during retraining courses. In addition, due to the decrease in the level of knowledge and skills, it is necessary to repeat these courses overtime. Keywords: CPR educational package; intensive care units; resuscitation

The effects of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells viability, growth and differentiation: a cheminformatics and in vitro study

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the cheminformatics and qualitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. The effects of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on the viability, doubling time and adipogenic or osteogenic differentiations of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) were also investigated.  Materials and Methods: QSAR and toxicity indices of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol were evaluated using cheminformatics tools including Toxtree and Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T) and molinspiration server. Besides, their effects on the hASCs viability, doubling time and differentiation to adipogenic or osteogenic lineages were evaluated. Results: Cinnamaldehyde is predicted to be more lipophilic and less toxic than eugenol. Both phytochemicals may be developmental toxicants. They probably undergo hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions by cytochrome-P450. The 2.5 µM/ml cinnamaldehyde and 0.1 µg/ml eugenol did not influence hASCs viability following 72 hr of treatment. But higher concentrations of these phytochemicals insignificantly increased hASCs doubling time till 96 hr, except 1 µg/ml eugenol for which the increase was significant. Only low concentrations of both phytochemicals were tested for their effects on the hASCs differentiation. The 2.5 µM/ml cinnamaldehyde and 0.1 µg/ml eugenol enhanced the osteogenesis and decreased the adipogenesis of hASCs meaningfully. Conclusion: According to the cheminformatics analysis and in vitro study, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol are biocompatible and low toxic for hASCs. Both phytochemicals may be suitable for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering when used at low concentrations, but maybe useful for neoplastic growth inhibition when used at high concentrations

The effect of minimally invasive suturectomy with postoperative cranial remolding orthotic treatment for an infant with bilateral coronal craniosynostosis

Key Clinical Message Minimally invasive suturectomy has been reported to significantly decrease the economic cost of treating infants with craniosynostosis. Nonetheless, treatment should be accompanied by a cranial remolding orthosis to maintain the constant correction and reshaping of the skull throughout the infant's development

Effects of Transfer Training on Musculoskeletal pain in the Caregiver of a Stroke Patient: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the effectiveness of training of transfer techniques to a caregiver of a person who had suffered a stroke in decreasing musculoskeletal pain, depression and anxiety. This study adopted a single subject research design to evaluate the effectiveness of transfer-techniques training on musculoskeletal pain, depression, and anxiety in a 25-year-old female caregiver of a person with a stroke. The study was completed in four phases, including a baseline evaluation (1st and 3rd week), training (3rd, 5th and 7th week), post-training (9th week), and follow-up evaluation (11th week). During the 1st week, demographic and descriptive information  (such as age, time since diagnosis, cognition and independence of daily living) were collected from the stroke patient. Also, pain severity, anxiety and depression levels of the caregiver were evaluated. In weeks 3, 5 and 7, transfer training was undertaken. The patient was involved in the training with the caregiver under the supervision of an occupational therapist in their own home. The effectiveness of the training with regard to musculoskeletal pain and depression and anxiety levels of the caregiver was evaluated in the 5th, 9th and 11th weeks. The data were analyzed using a visual analysis of trends and levels. The results showed a decrease in pain severity, anxiety and depression during training and post-training. The changes continued during the follow-up stage. This study suggests promising results for the effectiveness of the transfer-techniques training and justifies further clinical trials. A larger trial is required to confirm the effectiveness of transfer training in improving pain management in caregivers of stroke survivors

Human wild-type superoxide dismutase 1 gene delivery to rat bone marrow stromal cells: its importance and potential future trends

Objective(s): Human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is the cytosolic form of this enzyme it detoxifies superoxide anions and attenuates their toxicities and concomitant detrimental effects on the cells. It is believed that the amount of these enzymes present in the oxidative stress-induced diseases is crucial for preventing disease progression. Transfection of rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) by a constructed vector carrying the human wild-type SOD1 gene, a non-viral gene transfer method, was the main aim of this study. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, the rat BMSCs were transfected with the vector using Turbofect reagent and then stabilized. Western-blot and real-time PCR were also used for evaluation of SOD1 expression. Results: Data analysis from RT-PCR and Western-blot techniques revealed that the stable transfected cells could secrete human wild-type SOD1 in the supernatant. Also, the total activity of SOD1 was about 0.5±0.09 U/ml and 0.005±0.002 U/ml in the supernatants of the transfected and not-transfected of rat BMSCs, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that expansion of the stable transfected rat BMSCs by a constructed vector carrying the human wild-type SOD1 gene is capable of secreting the active SOD1 enzyme under ex-vivo conditions.  The recommendation of this study is that the same experiment would be applicable for expression of the other form of this enzyme, SOD3, as well. More valuable information could probably be provided about the variety of the diseases caused by superoxide anions toxicities by intervention and application of the non-viral method for expressions of SOD1 and SOD3 enzymes