Autonomic Dysfunction Predicts Early Cardiac Affection in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Objective: To detect the early preclinical alterations in cardiac autonomic control as well as altered cardiac function in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and their relevance to the clinical features of the disease using noninvasive methods. Methods: 30 SSc patients and 15 healthy controls matched for age and sex underwent clinical examination, serological analysis, and echocardiographic assessment including Doppler flow imaging to evaluate cardiac function, and 24-hour Holter monitoring analyzed for arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) in the time and frequency domains. Results: The trans-mitral Doppler of early to atrial wave (E/A) ratio was reversed in five patients (16.6%) and the tricuspid E/A ratio was reversed in 10 patients (33.3%). Holter analysis for SSc patients revealed an increased prevalence of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) $ 10/h (P = 0.02), supra-ventricular tachycardias (SVTs) (P = 0.2), and total PVC count (P = 0.0000). Highly significant (P = 0.000) impairment in all HRV parameters was demonstrated in the SSc patients. Total skin thickness score (TSS), Raynaud’s phenomenon and anti-scleroderma 70 (anti-SCL70) showed significant positive correlations with all arrhythmia parameters, while showing a significant negative correlation with the impaired ventricular diastolic function and various HRV parameters. No correlation was found between arrhythmia and HRV parameters and disease duration, disease type, or presence of anti-centromere antibodies. Conclusion: Low heart rate variability, increased TSS and the presence of anti-SCL70 are correlated with preclinical cardiac involvement in SSc patients and may predict the likelihood of malignant arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, noninvasive HRV evaluation before clinical cardiac involvement in these patients might be beneficial when added to the clinical and laboratory assessments in detecting high-risk patients, and may allow for implementation of preventive measures and initiation of appropriate therapy early in the course of the disease

Tapered Plasmonic Nanoantennas for Energy Harvesting Applications

In this chapter, novel designs of tapered-dipole nanoantennas are investigated for energy harvesting applications. A full systematic analysis for the proposed structure is presented where the harvesting efficiency, return loss, radiation pattern, and near-field enhancement are calculated using a finite-element frequency domain solver. Simulation results show that the proposed nanoantennas can achieve a harvesting efficiency of 60% at a wavelength of 500 nm where the antenna input impedance is matched to that of fabricated rectifying devices. Additionally, the cross-tapered nanoantenna offers a near-field enhancement factor of 252 V/m, which is relatively high compared to previously reported nanoantennas. The spatial and spectral resonance modes are investigated, and the simulation results indicate the ability of the cross geometry to be utilized in color-sorting applications. Moreover, the particle swarm optimization technique is adapted to configure the proposed designs for maximum performance

New Media and Crisis Management in Jordan: COVID 19 Perspective

The study aimed at identifying the relationship between the most effective digital media in managing the Corona crisis in Jordan; and the contribution of digital media in managing the (Covid 19) crisis. To achieve the aims of the study, the researcher adopted the quantitative survey method using an electronic questionnaire designed to collect data. It was distributed to an intentional sample of 50 employees (males and females) from the communication and media staff in the Jordanian government institutions. The study concluded that the most effective digital communication technologies in managing the Corona crisis were press conferences (media briefings), press coverage through digital platforms, electronic news, video reports and community initiatives through social media platforms. The results also showed that digital media contributed to managing the Corona crisis in Jordan by relying on effective and organized digital crisis communication, which helped to coordinate efforts with the relevant health and security authorities in the country about the disease developments and the decisions related, besides the immediate responses to inquiries and questions of reviewers and callers about preventive health procedures and measures of safety from the Corona virus. In light of these results, the study recommended that media briefings in crises through digital media should be adopted due to their effectiveness in managing health crises facing countries, as one of the most effective methods of digital communication technologies

The place of the modified palmer technique for articular calcaneal fractures

Surgical treatment of displaced articular fractures of the calcaneus is currently recommended by most authors. Different surgical procedures are described in literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional and anatomic results of articular fractures of the calcaneus surgically treated with the modified Palmer method and precise the place, the conditions, and the advantages of this technique for articular fractures of the calcaneus. This is a retrospective study assessing the outcomes of surgical treatment of articular calcaneal fractures surgically treated using the modified Palmer technique. Twenty-two patients underwent this surgery for 6 years. All patients have diabetes and/or smoking history, and physical examination revealed a severe swelling within the hindfoot. Sanders classification Type II was found in 6 cases, whereas 18 cases fell below Type III. The mean preoperative Bohler angle was about 2.7°. An extended lateral approach was performed, and the void caused by elevating the intra-articular surface was filled by an iliac crest graft firmly impacted in all cases. Additional limited fixation was performed in 71 of patients. On follow-up, the functional and anatomic results were analyzed, respectively, by Kitaoka and Babin's quotations, and the radiological assessment was based on Bohler angle. No cutaneous or infectious complications were observed after surgery. The mean postoperative Bohler angle was 21.9°, and it was 19.8° at the last follow-up with a significant difference. At follow-up, the mean functional Kitaoka score was 75; it was considered as excellent in four cases, good in ten, fair in eight, and poor in two patients. The modified Palmer technique is a simple surgical procedure to treat intra-articular calcaneal fractures. It provides encouraging results. This method is recommended in the case of Sander's II and III calcaneal fracture for patients with a high risk of cutaneous complications to avoid infection and cutaneous complications

The impact of creative thinking of marketing ideas on the design structure of the modern Jorda-nian advertisement: Evidence from the Jordanian telecommunications companies

The study aimed to investigate the impact of creative thinking on marketing ideas and their influence on the structure of modern Jordanian advertisements for telecommunications companies. The methodology involved developing a survey instrument with four independent variables and one dependent variable. The independent variables were Creative Marketing (CM), Marketing Strategy (MS), Online Marketing (OM), and Social Media Marketing (SMM). The dependent variable was the Structure of the Modern Jordanian Advertisement (SMJA). The study population is customers of Jordanian telecommunications companies who reside in Jordan. A sample size of 270 respondents was selected through a convenience sampling method. The data were analyzed using statistical software, such as SPSS and AMOS 27 version, to test the research hypotheses. The results indicate that all four paths are statistically significant. The first hypothesis, which relates to creative marketing, has the highest estimated result of 0.62, while the second, third and the fourth hypotheses have estimated results of 0.152, 0.133, and 0.111, respectively. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that all four marketing domains have a significant impact on SMJA

Load and speed effects on the cervical flexion relaxation phenomenon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) represents a well-studied neuromuscular response that occurs in the lumbar and cervical spine. However, the cervical spine FRP has not been investigated extensively, and the speed of movement and loading effects remains to be characterized. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the influence of load and speed on cervical FRP electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic parameters and to assess the measurement of cervical FRP kinematic and EMG parameter repeatability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighteen healthy adults (6 women and 12 men), aged 20 to 39 years, participated in this study. They undertook 2 sessions in which they had to perform a standardized cervical flexion/extension movement in 3 phases: complete cervical flexion; the static period in complete cervical flexion; and extension with return to the initial position. Two different rhythm conditions and 3 different loading conditions were applied to assess load and speed effects. Kinematic and EMG data were collected, and dependent variables included angles corresponding to the onset and cessation of myoelectric silence as well as the root mean square (RMS) values of EMG signals. Repeatability was examined in the first session and between the 2 sessions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistical analyses revealed a significant load effect (P < 0.001). An augmented load led to increased FRP onset and cessation angles. No load × speed interaction effect was detected in the kinematics data. A significant load effect (P < 0.001) was observed on RMS values in all phases of movement, while a significant speed effect (P < 0.001) could be seen only during the extension phase. Load × speed interaction effect was noted in the extension phase, where higher loads and faster rhythm generated significantly greater muscle activation. Intra-session and inter-session repeatability was good for the EMG and kinematic parameters.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The load increase evoked augmented FRP onset and cessation angles as well as heightened muscle activation. Such increments may reflect the need to enhance spinal stability under loading conditions. The kinematic and EMG parameters showed promising repeatability. Further studies are needed to assess kinematic and EMG differences between healthy subjects and patients with neck pain.</p

Neuroprotection by adenosine in the brain: From A1 receptor activation to A2A receptor blockade

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that operates via the most abundant inhibitory adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) and the less abundant, but widespread, facilitatory A2ARs. It is commonly assumed that A1Rs play a key role in neuroprotection since they decrease glutamate release and hyperpolarize neurons. In fact, A1R activation at the onset of neuronal injury attenuates brain damage, whereas its blockade exacerbates damage in adult animals. However, there is a down-regulation of central A1Rs in chronic noxious situations. In contrast, A2ARs are up-regulated in noxious brain conditions and their blockade confers robust brain neuroprotection in adult animals. The brain neuroprotective effect of A2AR antagonists is maintained in chronic noxious brain conditions without observable peripheral effects, thus justifying the interest of A2AR antagonists as novel protective agents in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic brain damage and epilepsy. The greater interest of A2AR blockade compared to A1R activation does not mean that A1R activation is irrelevant for a neuroprotective strategy. In fact, it is proposed that coupling A2AR antagonists with strategies aimed at bursting the levels of extracellular adenosine (by inhibiting adenosine kinase) to activate A1Rs might constitute the more robust brain neuroprotective strategy based on the adenosine neuromodulatory system. This strategy should be useful in adult animals and especially in the elderly (where brain pathologies are prevalent) but is not valid for fetus or newborns where the impact of adenosine receptors on brain damage is different

Laparoscopy in management of appendicitis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Differences between high- and low-income settings in the availability of laparoscopic appendectomy, alternative management choices, and outcomes are poorly described. The aim was to identify variation in surgical management and outcomes of appendicitis within low-, middle-, and high-Human Development Index (HDI) countries worldwide. METHODS: This is a multicenter, international prospective cohort study. Consecutive sampling of patients undergoing emergency appendectomy over 6 months was conducted. Follow-up lasted 30 days. RESULTS: 4546 patients from 52 countries underwent appendectomy (2499 high-, 1540 middle-, and 507 low-HDI groups). Surgical site infection (SSI) rates were higher in low-HDI (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.33-4.99, p = 0.005) but not middle-HDI countries (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.76-2.52, p = 0.291), compared with high-HDI countries after adjustment. A laparoscopic approach was common in high-HDI countries (1693/2499, 67.7%), but infrequent in low-HDI (41/507, 8.1%) and middle-HDI (132/1540, 8.6%) groups. After accounting for case-mix, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.71, p < 0.001) and SSIs (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.33, p < 0.001). In propensity-score matched groups within low-/middle-HDI countries, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.23 95% CI 0.11-0.44) and SSI (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.09-0.45). CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic approach is associated with better outcomes and availability appears to differ by country HDI. Despite the profound clinical, operational, and financial barriers to its widespread introduction, laparoscopy could significantly improve outcomes for patients in low-resource environments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02179112