Effects of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis on cardiac autonomic nervous activity

ObjectiveEndoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is performed to treat primary hyperhidrosis. The second and third sympathetic thoracic ganglia excised also innervate the heart. Some studies have shown decreased heart rate but have not been conclusive regarding other cardiac effects of sympathectomy. We studied the cardiac autonomic effects of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in a group of patients with primary hyperhidrosis. Heart rate variability is a simple, noninvasive electrocardiographic marker reflecting the activity and balance of the sympathetic and vagal components of the autonomous nervous system.MethodsWe performed a prospective study in 38 patients with primary hyperhidrosis with 24-hour Holter recordings obtained before endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy and 6 months later.ResultsWe found statistically significant differences (P < .05) in both time and frequency domains. Parameters that evaluate global cardiac autonomic activity (total power, SD of normal R-R intervals, SD of average normal R-R intervals) and vagal activity (rhythm corresponding to percentage of normal R-R intervals with cycle greater than 50 ms relative to previous interval, square root of mean squared differences of successive normal R-R intervals, high-frequency power, high-frequency power in normalized units) were statistically significantly increased after sympathectomy. Low-frequency power in normalized units, reflecting sympathetic activity, was statistically significantly decreased after sympathectomy. Low-/high-frequency power ratio also showed a significant decrease, indicating relative decrease in sympathetic activity and increase in vagal activity.ConclusionThese results provide, for the first time to our knowledge, clear evidence of increased vagal and global cardiac autonomic activity and decreased sympathetic activity after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy

Environmental and human health risks associated with exposure to hazardous elements present in urban dust from Barranquilla, Colombian Caribbean

Urban dust is a mixture of deposited particles from different sources usually linked to potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Despite the industrialization of many South American countries, little is known about the impact of particulate matter in large cities, data necessary to promote environmental policies aiming to protect human health. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the particle size distribution, composition, as well as environmental and human health risks of settled dust particles from Barranquilla, a Colombian Caribbean industrialized area. Trace elements were analyzed by ICP‐MS from thirty‐five different sites, covering all city areas. Dust was mostly composed of 10–70 μm particles. The average concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb, and Bi were above background. High spatial heterogeneity was observed for Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, and Bi. Concentration factors suggest urban dusts are extremely contaminated by Zn and Cu. The ecological risk associated with specific elements decreased in the order Cd > Cu > As > Hg > Pb > Ni > Co ≈ Zn ≈ Cr, and the contamination load index showed that 91% of the samples are polluted by PTEs. Although the carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, As, Co, and Cd were low, chronic exposure to several PTEs may be impacting the quality of life. Educational programs, as well as monitoring and greater control on traffic, industry, and construction activities, are needed in order to protect environmental and human healt

Evaluation of factors influencing road dust loadings in a Latin American urban center

Vehicle non-exhaust emissions are a major component of particle matter, including the direct wear of tires, brakes, road, and the resuspension of deposited particles. It is suggested that resuspended PM (RPM) emissions can be at the same magnitude or even larger than combustion emissions in urban centers. Factors affecting RPM can be included in four categories: road characteristics, traffic condition, land use, and meteorology. In order to study and evaluate these influencing factors, road dust less than 10 micrometers (RD10) was collected in 41 sites across Bogotá. The sampling points had diverse characteristics. RD10 levels varied between 1.0 and 45.8 mg/m2 with an average of 8.9 ± 8.4 mg/m2. Lower RD10 values were observed when vegetation density was high, pavement condition good, driving speeds fast and construction activities absent. On the contrary, RD10 increased under heavy-duty traffic influence and dry conditions. Among dust mitigation measures, management of land-use variables could be as important as traffic control and road maintenance.Implications: This study documented for the first time in Latin America dust loadings less than 10 micrometers, information that can be used to estimate resuspended particle matter emissions in the region. The influence of meteorology, traffic characteristics, road condition, and land-use variables was analyzed and quantified. The management of land-use variables could be as important as traffic control and road maintenance for road dust mitigation. Further research interests are discussed

Volcanic emissions and atmospheric pollution: a study of nanoparticles

The influence of emissions of an active volcano on the composition of nanoparticles and ultrafine road dust was identified in an urban area of the Andes. Although many cities are close to active volcanoes, few studies have evaluated their influence in road dust composition. Air quality in urban areas is significantly affected by non-exhaust emissions (e.g. road dust, brake wear, tire wear), however, natural sources such as volcanoes also impact the chemical composition of the particles. In this study, elements from volcanic emissions such as Si > Al > Fe > Ca > K > Mg, and Si Al with K were identified as complex hydrates. Similarly, As, Hg, Cd, Pb, As, H, Cd, Pb, V, and salammoniac were observed in nanoparticles and ultrafine material. Mineral composition was detected in the order of quartz> mullite> calcite> kaolinite> illite> goethite> magnetite> zircon> monazite, in addition to salammoniac, a tracer of volcanic sources. The foregoing analysis reflects the importance of carrying out more studies relating the influence of volcanic emissions in road dust in order to protect human health. The road dust load (RD10) ranged between 0.8 and 26.8 mg m−2 in the city

Study of the magnetohydrodynamic flow of a Newtonian fluid using Laplace transform / Estudo do escoamento magnetohidrodinâmico de um fluido Newtoniano via transformada de Laplace

The present work studies the magnetohydrodynamic flow of a Newtonian fluid as a complementary case of the simple flow in a parallel plate channel. The effects of kinematic parameters and the influence of the transverse and uniform magnetic field on the fields of speed, flow and shear rate are analyzed. To solve the equations that govern movement, the Laplace Transform technique was used, and the Python programming language and wxMaxima program for the construction of graphs and convergence analysis, respectively. The results obtained were analyzed for different values of the Hartmann’s number and the limit case in which this parameter tends to zero compared to the simple flow in the absence of a field. The study showed the effect of the magnetic field on the velocity profile and other derived properties. And the limit case proved to be compatible with the case in which there is no magnetic field applied. In general, the work proved to be valid as a complementary study of the simple case, since the results obtained for the limit case clearly express its tendency towards the simple case presented by the literature

Inflammation, Diabetes, and Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of Aerobic Capacity

The persistent inflammatory state is common in diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients present exercise intolerance and increased arterial stiffness. Long-term aerobic exercise has been associated with better arterial compliance, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory benefits. We assessed the hypothesis that in patients with diabetes and CKD, better aerobic capacity is associated with less inflammatory state and arterial stiffness. Thirty-nine CKD patients (17 in hemodialysis) were evaluated. According to CKD etiology two patient groups were obtained: group of diabetics (GD) was formed by 11 patients and nondiabetics (GND) formed by 28 patients. Central blood pressure and arterial stiffness were evaluated by Sphygmocor device. Carotida intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was evaluated by ultrasonography. Aerobic capacity was measured by estimated VO2max according to treadmill test by Bruce protocol. The GD showed a higher frequency of C-reactive protein above laboratory cutoff (P = 0.044), higher frequency of male gender, and a non significant higher value of VO2max (P = 0.099). The CA-IMT was similar. Only better aerobic capacity was associated with lower frequency of high C-reactive protein when adjusted to diabetes and gender in a logistic regression model. In conclusion, aerobic capacity was associated with inflammatory state, in CKD patients, independently of diabetes presence

Inflammation, Diabetes, and Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of Aerobic Capacity

The persistent inflammatory state is common in diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients present exercise intolerance and increased arterial stiffness. Long-term aerobic exercise has been associated with better arterial compliance, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory benefits. We assessed the hypothesis that in patients with diabetes and CKD, better aerobic capacity is associated with less inflammatory state and arterial stiffness. Thirty-nine CKD patients (17 in hemodialysis) were evaluated. According to CKD etiology two patient groups were obtained: group of diabetics (GD) was formed by 11 patients and nondiabetics (GND) formed by 28 patients. Central blood pressure and arterial stiffness were evaluated by Sphygmocor device. Carotida intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was evaluated by ultrasonography. Aerobic capacity was measured by estimated VO2max according to treadmill test by Bruce protocol. The GD showed a higher frequency of C-reactive protein above laboratory cutoff (P = 0.044), higher frequency of male gender, and a non significant higher value of VO2max (P = 0.099). The CA-IMT was similar. Only better aerobic capacity was associated with lower frequency of high C-reactive protein when adjusted to diabetes and gender in a logistic regression model. In conclusion, aerobic capacity was associated with inflammatory state, in CKD patients, independently of diabetes presence

Efeito da umidade relativa do ar na volatilidade de herbicidas / Effect of relative humidity in the volatility of herbicides

O processo de volatilidade pode reduzir a eficiência de controle de plantas daninhas por herbicidas e causar contaminação ambiental e fito intoxicação de culturas sensíveis, sendo que as condições ambientais no momento das aplicações podem influenciar neste processo. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de duas condições controladas de umidade relativa do ar na volatilidade de herbicidas. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. Foi avaliada a volatilidade dos herbicidas 2,4-D, Trifluralina, Haloxyfope-P metil ester, Glyphosate e Clomazona em sete tempos (1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h e 7h após a deposição), em duas condições de umidade relativa do ar 47 e 70% (±2%) e temperatura 25 °C (±2°C). A volatilidade foi determinada conforme a Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas-ABNT (NBR 13238:2014) e expressa em percentual de material volatilizado. Os resultados indicaram que a volatilidade aumenta ao longo do tempo e se estabilizou para todos os herbicidas após três horas da deposição. Na metodologia de determinação da volatilidade de herbicidas será necessário a indicação da umidade relativa do ar, pois com a elevação de 47% para 70% houve redução da volatilidade da Trifluralina. A volatilidade foi decrescente para os herbicidas Haloxyfope &gt; Glyphosate &gt; 2,4-D &gt; Trifluralina = Clomazona

Mismatch between midline shift and hematoma thickness as a prognostic factor of mortality in patients sustaining acute subdural hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a traumatic lesion commonly found secondary to traumatic brain injury. Radiological findings on CT, such as hematoma thickness (HT) and structures midline shift (MLS), have an important prognostic role in this disease. The relationship between HT and MLS has been rarely studied in the literature. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prognostic accuracy of the difference between MLS and HT for acute outcomes in patients with ASDH in a low-income to middle-income country. METHODS: This was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study conducted in a university-associated tertiary-level hospital in Brazil. The TRIPOD (Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis) statement guidelines were followed. The difference values between MLS and HT (Zumkeller index, ZI) were divided into three categories (3). Logistic regression analyses were performed to reveal the OR of categorized ZI in predicting primary outcome measures. A Cox regression was also performed and the results were presented through HR. The discriminative ability of three multivariate models including clinical and radiological variables (ZI, Rotterdam score, and Helsinki score) was demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included. Logistic regression demonstrated an OR value equal to 8.12 for the ZI >3 category (OR 8.12, 95% CI 1.16 to 40.01; p=0.01), which proved to be an independent predictor of mortality in the adjusted model for surgical intervention, age, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that this category was associated with 14-day survival (HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.38 to 6.16; p=0.005). A multivariate analysis performed for three models including age and GCS with categorized ZI or Helsinki or Rotterdam score demonstrated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.745, 0.767, and 0.808, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the potential usefulness of the difference between MLS and HT as a prognostic variable in patients with ASDH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, epidemiological study