Occupation and changes in the electrocardiogram

U 1969. godini ispitan je uzorak od 3.265 osoba obaju spolova, dobi života 35 do 54 godine, izabranih slučajnim izborom iz šest regija Hrvatske. U ovom radu analizirane su promjene elektrokardiograma prema zanimanju i prema spolu. Prema zanimanju ispitanici su podijeljeni u sedam skupina: poljoprivrednici, nekvalificirani radnici, domaćice, kvalificirani radnici, administratori, intelektualci, umirovljenici i ostali. Nije bilo veće razlike prosječne dobi prema grupama, osim što je grupa umirovljenika bila najviše dobi. EKG promjene analizirane u ovom radu su slijedeće: postinfarktni O-zubac, depresija S-T-segmenta, inverzija T-vala, atrioventrikularni blok I stupnja, inkompletni i kompletni dekstrokruralni blok, kompletni sinistrokruralni blok i česte ekstrasistole. Postinfarktni O-zubac nađen je u 0,6% ispitanika, bez veće razlike među zanimanjima. Depresija S-T-segmenta nešto je češće nađena u intelektualaca i umirovljenika, inverzija T-vala također, ali razlike nisu statistički značajne. U žena depresija S-T-segmenta češće je nađena u domaćica i kvalificiranih radnica, a inverzija T-vala u umirovljenica i domaćica (p < 0,05). Nije bilo veće razlike učestalosti ostalih navedenih EKG promjena prema zanimanju.A sample of 3265 persons of both sexes aged 35-54 selected at random from six regions of Croatia was examined in 1969. In this paper changes in the electrocardiogram are analyzed according to occupation and sex. The subjects were divided in seven categories: farmers, unskilled workers, housewives, skilled workers, office workers, intellectuals, pensioners and others. There was no significant difference in the mean age among professions, with the exception of the group of pensioners which was older. ECG changes were analyzed as follows: myocardial infarction by Q wave, S-T segment depression, T wave inversion, atria-ventricular block of first degree, incomplete and complete right bundle branch block, left bundle branch block and often extrasystole. Q wave as a sign of myocardial infarction was seen in 0.6 per cent of persons regardless of profession. S-T segment depression and T wave inversion were higher in intellectuals and pensioners than in others, but differences were not statistically significant in men. In women S-T segment depression was higher in housewives and skilled workers, T wave inversion in pensioners and housewives (p < 0.05). The frequency of other ECG changes did not greatly differ among professions

Malignant melanoma of the stomach presenting in a woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Malignant melanoma is reported to metastasize to all organs of the human body. Although it is common for it to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract, a melanoma located primarily in the gastric mucosa is an uncommon tumor. Gastrointestinal metastases are rarely diagnosed before death with radiological and endoscopic techniques.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this case report the clinical course and treatment of a woman with melanoma of the stomach, without any other detectable primary lesion, is presented and discussed. A 55-year-old Turkish woman presented to our clinic with complaints of muscle pain and bone pain in the left side of her chest. During an upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy, dark cherry-colored, light elevated, round-shaped lesions were taken from her gastric fundus and from the first part of her duodenum. Biopsies from these samples were determined to be malignant melanoma by the pathologist.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Metastatic malignant melanoma cases should be examined through endoscopy for gastrointestinal metastases.</p

Observational Effects of Anomalous Boundary Layers in Relativistic Jets

Recent theoretical work has pointed out that the transition layer between a jet an the medium surrounding it may be more complex than previously thought. Under physically realizable conditions, the transverse profile of the Lorentz factor in the boundary layer can be non-monotonic, displaying the absolute maximum where the flow is faster than at the jet spine, followed by an steep fall off. Likewise, the rest-mass density, reaches an absolute minimum (coincident with the maximum in Lorentz factor) and then grows until it reaches the external medium value. Such a behavior is in contrast to the standard monotonic decline of the Lorentz factor (from a maximum value at the jet central spine) and the corresponding increase of the rest-mass density (from the minimum reached at the jet core). We study the emission properties of the aforementioned anomalous shear layer structures in kiloparsec-scale jets aiming to show observable differences with respect to conventional monotonic and smooth boundary layers.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures (1 in color), accepted in Ap

Antioxidant activity relationship of phenolic compounds in Hypericum perforatum L.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The St John's Wort (<it>Hypericum perforatum</it>; Clusiaceae) has been used in traditional and modern medicine for a long time due to its high content of biologically active phenolics. The purpose of this work was to develop a method for their fractionation and identification, and to determine the most active antioxidant compounds in plant extract.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An LC-MS method which enables fast qualitative and semiquantitative analysis was developed. The composition determined is in agreement with the previous results, where 6 flavonoids, 4 naphthodianthrones and 4 phloroglucinols have been identified. Significant antioxidant activity was determined for most of the fractions by DPPH assay (the lowest IC₅₀of 0.52 μg/ml), NO scavenging (6.11 μg/ml), superoxide scavenging (1.86 μg/ml), lipid peroxidation (0.0079 μg/ml) and FRAP (the highest reduction capacity of 104 mg Fe equivalents/g) assays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LC-MS technique has been successfully applied for a quick separation and identification of the major components of <it>H. perforatum </it>fractions. Majority of the fractions analyzed have expressed a very high antioxidative activity when compared to synthetic antioxidants. The antioxidant activity could be attributed to flavonoids and phenolic acids, while phloroglucinols and naphthodianthrones showed no significant activity. It is demonstrated that it is possible to obtain, by fractionation, <it>H. perforatum </it>preparations with significantly increased phloroglucinols-to-naphthodianthrones ratio (up to 95:5).</p

Effect of ketogenic mediterranean diet with phytoextracts and low carbohydrates/high-protein meals on weight, cardiovascular risk factors, body composition and diet compliance in Italian council employees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There has been increased interest in recent years in very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets (VLCKD) that, even though they are much discussed and often opposed, have undoubtedly been shown to be effective, at least in the short to medium term, as a tool to tackle obesity, hyperlipidemia and some cardiovascular risk factors. For this reason the ketogenic diet represents an interesting option but unfortunately suffers from a low compliance. The aim of this pilot study is to ascertain the safety and effects of a modified ketogenic diet that utilizes ingredients which are low in carbohydrates but are formulated to simulate its aspect and taste and also contain phytoextracts to add beneficial effects of important vegetable components.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study group consisted of 106 Rome council employees with a body mass index of ≥ 25, age between 18 and 65 years (19 male and 87 female; mean age 48.49 ± 10.3). We investigated the effects of a modified ketogenic diet based on green vegetables, olive oil, fish and meat plus dishes composed of high quality protein and virtually zero carbohydrate but which mimic their taste, with the addition of some herbal extracts (KEMEPHY ketogenic Mediterranean with phytoextracts). Calories in the diet were unlimited. Measurements were taken before and after 6 weeks of diet.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant changes in BUN, ALT, AST, GGT and blood creatinine. We detected a significant (p < 0.0001) reduction in BMI (31.45 Kg/m²to 29.01 Kg/m²), body weight (86.15 kg to 79.43 Kg), percentage of fat mass (41.24% to 34.99%), waist circumference (106.56 cm to 97.10 cm), total cholesterol (204 mg/dl to 181 mg/dl), LDLc (150 mg/dl to 136 mg/dl), triglycerides (119 mg/dl to 93 mg/dl) and blood glucose (96 mg/dl to 91 mg/dl). There was a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in HDLc (46 mg/dl to 52 mg/dl).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The KEMEPHY diet lead to weight reduction, improvements in cardiovascular risk markers, reduction in waist circumference and showed good compliance.</p

XIPE: the x-ray imaging polarimetry explorer

XIPE, the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer, is a mission dedicated to X-ray Astronomy. At the time of writing XIPE is in a competitive phase A as fourth medium size mission of ESA (M4). It promises to reopen the polarimetry window in high energy Astrophysics after more than 4 decades thanks to a detector that efficiently exploits the photoelectric effect and to X-ray optics with large effective area. XIPE uniqueness is time-spectrally-spatially- resolved X-ray polarimetry as a breakthrough in high energy astrophysics and fundamental physics. Indeed the payload consists of three Gas Pixel Detectors at the focus of three X-ray optics with a total effective area larger than one XMM mirror but with a low weight. The payload is compatible with the fairing of the Vega launcher. XIPE is designed as an observatory for X-ray astronomers with 75 % of the time dedicated to a Guest Observer competitive program and it is organized as a consortium across Europe with main contributions from Italy, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden

Smoking habit and changes in the electrocardiogram

Tijekom 1969. godine ispitan je uzorak od 4 210 muškaraca i žena dobi 35 do 54 godine iz šest regija SR Hrvatske. U radu je analizirana navika pušenja prema elektrokardiogramu. Prema navici pušenja ispitanici su podijeljeni u nepušače, bivše pušače, pušače do 20 godina i pušače više od 20 godina. Postinfarktni O-zubac nađen je nešto češće u bivših pušača i u pušačica. Depresija S-T-segmenta u muškaraca nije bila povezana s pušenjem, u žena češće je nađena u bivših pušačica. Inverzija T-vala češće je nađena u pušača i bivših pušača, kao i u bivših pušačica, nego u ostalim skupinama. Lijeva električna osovina nije pokazivala razlike u muškaraca s obzirom na pušenje, u žena češće je nađena u pušačica i bivših pušačica. Blok desne grane Risova snopa češće je nađen u pušača i pušačica nego u ostalih. Sinusna tahikardja češće je nađena u pušača i pušačica. Elevacija S-T-segmenta i visoki T-val češće su nađeni u pušača do 20 godina nego u ostalim skupinama. Naglašena je potreba provođenja prospektivnog istraživanja promjena u elektrokardiogramu koje upućuju na koronarnu bolest, navike pušenja i smrtnosti od koronarne bolesti. U ovom istraživanju nije jasno uočena povezanost EKG promjena koje upućuju na koronarnu bolest i navike pušenja, studijom prevalencije.Smoking habit in relation to changes in the electrocardiogram was analysed in a sample of population consisting of 2 161 women and 2 049 men aged 35 - 54 years from six regions of Croatia. Data on smoking habits were collected by means of a questionnaire. Non-smokers were considered to be the subjects who had never smoked or who smoked less than one cigarette a day or less than 25 grams of tobacco per month over a period of less than one year. Former smokers were considered to be the subjects who had ceased to smoke at least a month before examination. Present smokers were classified in two categories: those who have been smoking for a period of up to 20 years and those who have been smoking for over 20 years. In smokers there were no significant Q wave findings. S-T segment depression was not present in male smokers; it was significantly more frequent among female smokers than in other groups. Inverted T-wave was more often present in male smokers and former smokers and in women former smokers than in others. Left axis deviation was more often found in women smokers and former smokers. Incomplete right bundle branch block, sinus tachycardia, S-T segment elevation and high T wave amplitude were frequent findings in male smokers, and incomplete right bundle branch blook and sinus tachycardia in women smokers. The necessity for prospective investigations of the relationship between smoking habit and ECG signs of coronary heart disease is pointed out