AIM: To evaluate cut-off values and performance of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) using transient elastography [FibroScan■ (FS)] as a reference. METHODS: Six hundred and six patients were enrolled in...AIM: To evaluate cut-off values and performance of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) using transient elastography [FibroScan■ (FS)] as a reference. METHODS: Six hundred and six patients were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent liver stiffness measurement with FS (FS-LS) and ARFI (with shear wave velocity quantification; ARFI-SWV) and the performance of ARFI in comparison to FS was determined. Sixtyeight patients underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS: Significantly higher success rates for the determination of liver stiffness were found using ARFI as compared to FS [604/606 (99.7%) vs 482/606 (79.5%); P < 0.001]. ARFI-SWV correlated significantly with FS-LS (r = 0.920, P < 0.001). ARFI-SWV increased significantly with the stage of fibrosis (1.09 ± 0.13 m/s for patients with no significant fibrosis (FS-LS < 7.6 kPa); 1.46 ± 0.27 m/s for patients with significant liver fibrosis (7.6 < FS-LS ≤ 13.0 kPa); and 2.55 ± 0.77 m/s for patients with liver cirrhosis (FS-LS > 13.0 kPa)). ARFI-SWV cut-off values were identified for no significant fibrosis (1.29 m/s; sensitivity 91.4% and specificity 92.6%) and for liver cirrhosis (1.60 m/s; sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 96.5%). The optimal cut-off value for predicting liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2) was 1.32 m/s (sensitivity 87.0% and specificity 80.0%) and for liver cirrhosis (F4) 1.62 m/s (sensitivity 100% and specificity 85.7%), for patients who underwent liver biopsy. An excellent inter-and intraobserver reproducibility was observed for ARFI-SWV determinations. CONCLUSION: An ARFI-SWV cut-off value of 1.29 m/s seems to be optimal for patients with no significant liver fibrosis and 1.60 m/s for patients with liver cirrhosis.展开更多
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome,which includes hypertension,central obesity,dyslipidemia and insuli...Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome,which includes hypertension,central obesity,dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.NAFLD includes a wide spectrum of liver alterations,ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to variable degrees of fibrosis,cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma.Although the etiology and progression of the disorder remain poorly understood,insulin resistance is considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.Insulin sensitizers such as biguanides,thiazolidinediones(TZDs),glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors have been studied as therapeutic approaches for NAFLD in recent years.Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase(ALT/AST) levels in the majority of subjects; however,it has no significant effect on liver histology.TZDs improve insulin sensitivity,serum ALT/ AST levels and histology in some cases,but there are some concerns about the safety of long-term therapy.Selection of appropriate patients for avoiding side effects and the treatment of underlying disease are themain points.These drugs are the best choice for the treatment of NAFLD in patients with type 2 DM who are also candidates for treatment with an insulin sensitizer.The present review provides an overview of insulin sensitizers in the treatment of NAFLD.展开更多
This study delves into the charge transfer mechanism of boron (B)-doped 3C-SiC through first-principles investigations. We explore the effects of B doping on the electronic properties of 3C-SiC, focusing on a 12.5% im...This study delves into the charge transfer mechanism of boron (B)-doped 3C-SiC through first-principles investigations. We explore the effects of B doping on the electronic properties of 3C-SiC, focusing on a 12.5% impurity concentration. Our comprehensive analysis encompasses structural properties, electronic band structures, and charge density distributions. The optimized lattice constant and band gap energy of 3C-SiC were found to be 4.373 Å and 1.36 eV respectively, which is in agreement with previous research (Bui, 2012;Muchiri et al., 2018). Our results show that B doping narrows the band gap, enhances electrical conductivity, and influences charge transfer interactions. The charge density analysis reveals substantial interactions between B dopants and surrounding carbon atoms. This work not only enhances our understanding of the material’s electronic properties, but also highlights the importance of charge density analysis for characterizing charge transfer mechanisms and their implications in the 3C-SiC semiconductors.展开更多
Comprehending the mechanism of methane adsorption in shales is a crucial step towards optimizing the development of deep-buried shale gas. This is because the methane adsorbed in shale represents a significant proport...Comprehending the mechanism of methane adsorption in shales is a crucial step towards optimizing the development of deep-buried shale gas. This is because the methane adsorbed in shale represents a significant proportion of the subsurface shale gas resource. To properly characterize the methane adsorption on shale, which exhibits diverse mineral compositions and multi-scale pore sizes, it is crucial to capture the energy heterogeneity of the adsorption sites. In this paper, a dual-site Langmuir model is proposed, which accounts for the temperature and pressure dependence of the density of the adsorbed phase. The model is applied to the isothermals of methane adsorption on shale, at pressures of up to 30 MPa and temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 ℃. The results show that the proposed model can describe the adsorption behavior of methane on shale more accurately than conventional models, which assume a constant value for the density of adsorbed phase. Furthermore, the proposed model can be extrapolated to higher temperatures and pressures. Thermodynamic parameters were analyzed using correctly derived equations. The results indicate that the widely used, but incorrect, equation would underestimate the isosteric heat of adsorption. Neglecting the real gas behavior, volume of the adsorbed phase, and energy heterogeneity of the adsorption sites can lead to overestimation of the isosteric heat of adsorption. Furthermore, the isosteric heat evaluated from excess adsorption data can only be used to make a rough estimate of the real isosteric heat at very low pressure.展开更多
The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and its complications increase with age. The majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic throughout the life but 10%-20% develops peptic ulcer diseas...The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and its complications increase with age. The majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic throughout the life but 10%-20% develops peptic ulcer disease and 1% gastric malignancies. The incidence of ulcers and their complications are more common in the older population resulting in higher hospitalization and mortality rates. The increased use of medications causing gastric mucosal damage and the decreased secretion of protective prostaglandins in elderly are major factors increasing gastric mucosal sensitivity to the destructive effects of H. pylori. Due to higher prevalence of gastrointestinal(GI) malignancies,upper GI endoscopy is mostly preferred in elderly for the diagnosis of infection. Therefore,"endoscopy and treat" strategy may be more appropriate instead of "test and treat" strategy for dyspeptic patients in older age. Urea breath test and stool antigen test can be used for control of eradication,except for special cases requiring follow-up with endoscopy. The indications for treatment and suggested eradication regimens are similar with other age groups; however,the eradication failure may be a more significant problem due to high antibiotic resistance and low compliance rate in elderly. Multidrug usage and drug interactions should always be consid-ered before starting the treatment. This paper reviews briefly the epidemiology,diagnosis,disease manifesta-tions,and treatment options of H. pylori in the geriatric population.展开更多
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity,...Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity, marked functional impairment, reduced self-esteem, ideas or acts of self-harm or suicide. The women’s change into motherhood is a difficult period that involves significant changes in the psychological, social and physiological aspects, and is considered to increase vulnerability for the development of mental illness. In Somalia, 1 in 20 women aged 15 - 49 die due to pregnancy- or birth-related complications every year. This makes being pregnant in Somalia a risk that has its own stress and anxiety. Objective: To evaluate postpartum depression and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: The study is analytic cross sectional study design in which postpartum depression and its associated factors are measured. We used Cochran’s formula (Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 – p)/d<sup>2</sup>). Results: One fifth of the study population was found to have postpartum depression and the factors relating to it included marital status, substance abuse, mode and place of delivery. Conclusion: This shows that neglected mental health of the mothers in Somalia has its burden on the society. Recommendation: Mental health care component should be integrated with maternal care programs available in the country to work on prevention and control of motherhood related stress and depression among mothers who are giving birth under the very difficult circumstances in the country.展开更多
To augment the quality of our life,fully compliant personalized advanced health-care electronic system is pivotal.One of the major requirements to implement such systems is a physically flexible high-performance bioco...To augment the quality of our life,fully compliant personalized advanced health-care electronic system is pivotal.One of the major requirements to implement such systems is a physically flexible high-performance biocompatible energy storage(battery).However,the status-quo options do not match all of these attributes simultaneously and we also lack in an effective integration strategy to integrate them in complex architecture such as orthodontic domain in human body.Here we show,a physically complaint lithium-ion micro-battery(236μg)with an unprecedented volumetric energy(the ratio of energy to device geometrical size)of 200 mWh/cm^(3) after 120 cycles of continuous operation.Our results of 90%viability test confirmed the battery’s biocompatibility.We also show seamless integration of the developed battery in an optoelectronic system embedded in a threedimensional printed smart dental brace.We foresee the resultant orthodontic system as a personalized advanced health-care application,which could serve in faster bone regeneration and enhanced enamel health-care protection and subsequently reducing the overall health-care cost.展开更多
Objective: Acute kidney disease develops 16% - 30% of patients with preoperative impaired renal functions. Our aim of this study was to compare postoperative renal outcomes using two open heart surgery techniques, on-...Objective: Acute kidney disease develops 16% - 30% of patients with preoperative impaired renal functions. Our aim of this study was to compare postoperative renal outcomes using two open heart surgery techniques, on-pump beating heart (OPBH) and conventional on-pump (COP), in patients who have preoperative low glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as an indicator of creatinine clearance. Methods: From 2004 to 2015, 341 patients with preoperative creatinine clearance were lower than 90 ml/min/1.73m2 were selected for this study. On-Pump beating heart was performed in 111 patients (Group I). Conventional on-pump technique was used in 200 patients. In the remaining patients, we measured postoperative Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha), cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), Brain natriuretic peptid (NT-Pro- BNP), creati-nine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and postoperative eGFR daily until day four after surgery. Results: There were no differences in baseline levels of TNF-alpha, NT-Pro-BNP, BUN, cTn-I, Cr levels between the groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were much longer and cumulative inotrope use was significantly higher in patients underwent COP (P Conclusion: Our study showed that on-pump beating heart CABG technique provides a morbidity benefit and is associated with a lower risk of peroperative LOS in patients with mild renal disfunction. Our study results suggest that OPBH is superior to the COP in terms of postoperative renal injury and cardiac mediators.展开更多
AIM: To clarify the effect of SEN virus (SENV) infection on a combination therapy including interferon alfa (IFN-α) or pegylated-IFN with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis and the effect of a combination t...AIM: To clarify the effect of SEN virus (SENV) infection on a combination therapy including interferon alfa (IFN-α) or pegylated-IFN with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis and the effect of a combination therapy on SENV.METHODS: SENV DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Quantitative analysis was done for SENV H DNA.RESULTS: Twenty-one (22%) of 95 patients were positive for SENV DNA. There was no difference in clinical and biochemical parameters between patients with HCV infection alone and coinfected patients. The sustained response rate for HCV clearance after combination therapy did not differ between patients with SENV (52%) and without SENV(50%, n.s.). SENV DNA was undetectable in 76% of the initially SENV positive patients at the end of follow-up. SENV H response to combination therapy was significantly correlated with SENV DNA level (P=-0.05).CONCLUSION: SENV infection had no influence on the HCV sustained response rate to the combination therapy.Response rate of SENV to the combination therapy depends on SENV DNA level.展开更多
Background:A major impediment to the treatment of TB is a diagnostic process that requires multiple visits.Descriptions of patient costs associated with diagnosis use different protocols and are not comparable.Methods...Background:A major impediment to the treatment of TB is a diagnostic process that requires multiple visits.Descriptions of patient costs associated with diagnosis use different protocols and are not comparable.Methods:We aimed to describe the direct costs incurred by adults attending TB diagnostic centres in four countries and factors associated with expenditure for diagnosis.Surveys of 2225 adults attending smear-microscopy centres in Nigeria,Nepal,Ethiopia and Yemen.Adults>18 years with cough>2 weeks were enrolled prospectively.Direct costs were quantified using structured questionnaires.Patients with costs>75^(th) quartile were considered to have high expenditure(cases)and compared with patients with costs<75^(th) quartile to identify factors associated with high expenditure.Results:The most significant expenses were due to clinic fees and transport.Most participants attended the centres with companions.High expenditure was associated with attending with company,residing in rural areas/other towns and illiteracy.Conclusions:The costs incurred by patients are substantial and share common patterns across countries.Removing user fees,transparent charging policies and reimbursing clinic expenses would reduce the poverty-inducing effects of direct diagnostic costs.In locations with limited resources,support could be prioritised for those most at risk of high expenditure;those who are illiterate,attend the service with company and rural residents.展开更多
Transnasal endoscopy(TNE) is an upper endoscopy method which is performed by the nasal route using a thin endoscope less than 6 mm in diameter. The primary goal of this method is to improve patient tolerance and conve...Transnasal endoscopy(TNE) is an upper endoscopy method which is performed by the nasal route using a thin endoscope less than 6 mm in diameter. The primary goal of this method is to improve patient tolerance and convenience of the procedure. TNE can be performed without sedation and thus eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia. In this way,TNE decreases the cost and total duration of endoscopic procedures, while maintaining the image quality of standard caliber endoscopes, providing good results for diagnostic purposes. However, the small working channel of the ultra-thin endoscope used for TNE makes it difficult to use for therapeutic procedures except in certain conditions which require a thinner endoscope.Biopsy is possible with special forceps less than 2 mm in diameter. Recently, TNE has been used for screening endoscopy in Far East Asia, including Japan. In most controlled studies, TNE was found to have better patient tolerance when compared to unsedated endoscopy. Nasal pain is the most significant symptom associated with endoscopic procedures but can be reduced with nasal pretreatment. Despite the potential advantage of TNE, it is not common in Western countries, usually due to a lack of training in the technique and a lack of awareness of its potential advantages. This paper briefly reviews the technical considerations as well as the potential advantages and limitations of TNE with ultra-thin scopes.展开更多
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a new viral disease that has caused a pandemic in the world.Due to the lack of vaccines and definitive treatment,preventive behaviors are the only way to overcome the d...Background: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a new viral disease that has caused a pandemic in the world.Due to the lack of vaccines and definitive treatment,preventive behaviors are the only way to overcome the disease.Therefore,the present study aimed to determine the preventive behaviors from the disease based on constructs of the health belief model.Methods:: In the present cross-sectional study during March 11–16,2020,750 individuals in Golestan Province of Iran were included in the study using the convenience sampling and they completed the questionnaires through cyberspace.Factor scores were calculated using the confirmatory factor analysis.The effects of different factors were separately investigated using the univariate analyses,including students sample t-test,ANOVA,and simple linear regression.Finally,the effective factors were examined by the multiple regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05 and through Mplus 7 and SPSS 16.Results: The participants’mean age was 33.9±9.45 years;and 57.1%of them had associate and bachelor's degrees.Multiple regression indicated that the mean score of preventive behavior from COVID-19 was higher in females than males,and greater in urban dwellers than rural dwellers.Furthermore,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor scores of self-efficacy and perceived benefits increased the scores of preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.22 and 0.17 units respectively.On the contrary,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor score of perceived barriers and fatalistic beliefs decreased the scores of the preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.36 and 0.19 units respectively.Conclusions: Results: of the present study indicated that female gender,perceived barriers,perceived self-efficacy,fatalistic beliefs,perceived interests,and living in city had the greatest preventive behaviors from COVID-19 respectively.Preventive interventions were necessary among males and villagers.展开更多
A 60-year-old male patient presented with jaundice and dark urine for three days, icteric sclerae and skin rash on his legs for six months. Laboratory investigations revealed an atypical cryoglobulinemia with high hep...A 60-year-old male patient presented with jaundice and dark urine for three days, icteric sclerae and skin rash on his legs for six months. Laboratory investigations revealed an atypical cryoglobulinemia with high hepatitis C virus(HCV)-RNA levels. Imaging studies showed cholestasis was accompanying HCV. Capillary zone electrophoresis using immunosubtraction method revealed a polyclonal immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A(IgA) monoclonal cryoglobulin and that Ig A lambda was absent in immunofixation electrophoresis. After a liver biopsy, chronic hepatitis C, HCV related mixed cryoglobulinemia and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis were diagnosed and antiviral therapy was initiated. Our HCV patient presented with cryoglobulinemic symptoms with an atypical cryoglobulinemia that was detected by an alternative method: Immunosubtraction by capillary electrophoresis. Different types of cryoglobulins may therefore have a correlation with clinical symptoms and prognosis. Therefore, the accurate immunotyping of cryoglobulins with alternative methods may provide more information about cryoglobulin-generated pathology.展开更多
Coffee arabica L.is an economical crop cultivated in many countries including Yemen.The present study evaluated the phytochemical contents of the methanolic extracts,prepared by maceration,of six Yemeni green coffee b...Coffee arabica L.is an economical crop cultivated in many countries including Yemen.The present study evaluated the phytochemical contents of the methanolic extracts,prepared by maceration,of six Yemeni green coffee beans varieties namely Esmaeli,Hamadi,Harazi,Mattari,Odaini and Yafei.Antioxidant(phosphomolybdenum,antiradical,reducing power and ferrous chelating),and enzyme inhibition activity of the extracts against acetylcholinesterase butyrylcholinesterase,tyrosinase,α-glucosidase,andα-amylase were also studied.Quantification of total phenols revealed that all green beans varieties were richer in their total polyphenolic(63.77-110.98 mg gallic acid equivalent per g of extract)content than their flavonoids one(2.86-5.57 mg rutin equivalent per g of extract).HPLC-MS/MS analysis of 30 selected bioactive compounds showed that all varieties had the same types of phytoconstituents with differences in their relative abundance.Caffeine(1613.89-2466.38μg/g)followed by 5-caffeoylquinic acid(1017.63-1313.39μg/g)were the dominant compounds in all varieties with caffeine more abundant in Esmaeli variety while 5-caffeoylquinic acid in Odaini variety.All varieties displayed a pronounced antioxidant property in all the in vitro assays with Odaini variety significantly(p<0.05)exerted the highest anti-DPPH radicals(253.96 mg Trolox equivalent(TE)/g),metal chelating(19.73 mg Disodium edetate equivalents/g),Cu^(2+)(441.11 mg TE/g)and Fe3+(221.04 mg TE/g)reducing activities.Furthermore,the majority of green coffee beans varieties showed comparable enzyme inhibition property with highest activity recorded against tyrosinase(39.35-46.96 mg kojic acid equivalents/g)and acetylcholinesterase(1.80-2.17 mg galanthamine equivalents/g)enzymes.In conclusion,all Yemeni green coffee beans varieties have proven to be rich source of biochemicals with beneficial impact on human health and could be of significant applications in food,pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.展开更多
Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear posi...Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear positive TB patients as stipulated in the NTBLCP （National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program） guidelines. In addition, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 28 DOTS （directly-observed treatment strategy） clinicians to elicit information to help explain findings from the analysis of the routine data. Over 60% of children less than 6 years of age who had contacts with TB patients were not investigated in the health facilities included in the survey. The level of educational attainment of DOTS providers was associated with the screening of TB patients＇ contacts （P = 0.008）. Forgetfulness by clinicians to ask for or screen children of TB patients in the facilities is the singular most important factor undermining contact investigation. The proportion of under 6 years TB contacts screened or not screened for TB in the facilities was similar according to the age and gender of TB patients, and the type of health facilities where treatment was accessed by patients （P = 0.325）. The study underscored the need for the state program to evaluate the quality of service provision as well as counseling provided to TB patients at the facilities.展开更多
The ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, amino acid content and sugar content of spray dried Arenga pinnata juice powder were evaluated to determine the quality of sp...The ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, amino acid content and sugar content of spray dried Arenga pinnata juice powder were evaluated to determine the quality of spray dried powder obtained by spray drying of fresh Arenga pinnata juice at inlet temperature of 130 ℃, feed flow rate of 350 mL/h, outlet temperature of 70 ℃ and maltodextrin 10 DE addition at 20%. Powder obtained has a total phenolic compounds content of 5.82 mg/100 g of gallic acid equivalent （GAE） and antioxidant potential identified by free radical scavenging activity （IC50） was 0.6 μmol/g. The total sugar content ofArenga pinnata powder resulted in 30.14%. The analysis of free amino acids depicted the presence of lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine at higher levels. The nutritional profile of the powder is vital in delivering beneficial properties when reconstituted into juice.展开更多
Celiac disease(CD) is manifested by a variety of clinical signs and symptoms that may begin either in childhood or adult life.Neurological symptoms without signs of malabsorption have been observed for a long time in ...Celiac disease(CD) is manifested by a variety of clinical signs and symptoms that may begin either in childhood or adult life.Neurological symptoms without signs of malabsorption have been observed for a long time in CD.In this report,an 8-year-old girl with CD presented with rarely seen dilated cardiomyopathy and stroke.The girl was admitted with left side weakness.Her medical history indicated abdominal distention,chronic diarrhea,failure to thrive,and geophagia.On physical examination,short stature,pale skin and a grade 2 of 6 systolic murmur were detected.Muscle strength was 0/5 on the left side,and 5/5 on the right side.Coagulation examinations were normal.Tests for collagen tissue diseases were negative.Factor V Leiden and prothrombin GA20210 mutations were negative.Tandem mass spectrophotometry and blood carnitine profiles were normal.Brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography showed an infarction area at the basal ganglia level.Examinations of serologic markers and intestinal biopsy revealed CD.We emphasize that in differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke,CD should be kept in mind.展开更多
A polymethyl-methacrylate （PMMA） acrylic sample cell using flow injection is developed in this research for the determination of nitrite in an aqueous media. The research focuses on exhibiting direct absorbance spec...A polymethyl-methacrylate （PMMA） acrylic sample cell using flow injection is developed in this research for the determination of nitrite in an aqueous media. The research focuses on exhibiting direct absorbance spectrophotometry of nitrite using concentration of samples ranging from 0.1078 to 1.725 ppm. Nitrite determination is done colorimetrically using the Greiss reagent method. This method is based on the reaction of nitrite with sulphanilamide acid and N-l-napthylamine （NED） utilizing diazo coupling, and a syringe is used to administer the nitrite solution. The sample cell being used possesses a diameter of 1 mm with an overall size of 7.35×22 mm2. To gauge the direct absorbance, a wavelength range from 400 to 650 nm has been selected for the testing, and the maximum absorbance is found to be at 545 nm. The validity of the proposed cell is explained in this letter.展开更多
Introduction: Amputation is the removal of a body part through a bone, while disarticulation is a removal of a part through a joint. This common procedure has different causes depending on the geographical locations a...Introduction: Amputation is the removal of a body part through a bone, while disarticulation is a removal of a part through a joint. This common procedure has different causes depending on the geographical locations and cultural practices. These ranges from dead body part to malignancy. Our study focused on the profile of the amputees including the biodata, causes and the financial consequences of the procedure. Material and Methods: The case notes of all patients who had amputation from 1998-2012 (15 years) were collected and the biodata, intra-operative diagnosis, parts amputated and duration of hospital stay were retrospectively analysed. Results: One hundred and ninety six patients had various types of amputations for the duration of our study. 159 (81.12%) were males while 37 (18.88%) were females. 68 (34.69%) patients had below knee amputation. 54 (27.55%) had above knee amputation. 27 (13.78%) had above elbow amputation. 18 (9.18%) patients had below elbow amputation, while 30 (15.30%) patients had other forms of amputations. The highest number of amputees (72 patients) was within the age range of 21 - 30 yr and the least number (5 patients) was within the age range of 51 - 60 yr. The highest number of amputation (71 patients) was due to complications from by traditional bone setters intervention. Conclusion: In our study, we found that most cases were males with a mean age of 35 years and majority (34.69%) had below knee amputation, and that most cases suffered vascular occlusion leading to gangrene.展开更多
Anatolia, also named as Asia Minor, is known as one of the gene centers for a number of the life forms in the world. Caucasian honeybee is one of the important gene resources in Anatolia and mountain type is the most ...Anatolia, also named as Asia Minor, is known as one of the gene centers for a number of the life forms in the world. Caucasian honeybee is one of the important gene resources in Anatolia and mountain type is the most significant variant. This honeybee race is black colored and similar to the Carniola bees regarding shape, size and hair cover. Body is moderate structured, slim and long as abdomen is thin. Chitin is dark. Hair cover is black and short （0.335 ± 0.031 ram）. Hair color of worker bees is livid grey as chest hair color of drones is black. All abdominal rings are black colored. It has the longest tongue （7.046 ±0.189 mm） among the all honeybee races. Caucasian bees form strong colonies but their colonial development is slow. They swarm only very little and are good tempered. They are good pollinators for alfalfa, clover and similar plants with deep tube flowers and can work under unfavourable conditions. It is known that homeland of Caucasian bee （A. mellifera caucasica） is upper valleys of mid-Caueasia （Georgia, Azerbaijan and Northern Caucasus）. Its distribution area is extended to Kars, Ardahan and Artvin provinces in North-Eastern Anatolia of Turkey. The area including Posof district of Ardahan province and its all villages and 6 villages of Camili basin in Borka district of Artvin province is housing different eeotypes of this race. So, this area was isolated for gene conservation of Caucasian bee by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2008. In-situ conservation studies for Caucasian bee （A. mellifera caucasica Gorbachev） have been continuing under the Indigenous Gene Resources Conservation Scheme with a total of 6,960 colonies under on-farm conditions.展开更多
文摘AIM: To evaluate cut-off values and performance of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) using transient elastography [FibroScan■ (FS)] as a reference. METHODS: Six hundred and six patients were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent liver stiffness measurement with FS (FS-LS) and ARFI (with shear wave velocity quantification; ARFI-SWV) and the performance of ARFI in comparison to FS was determined. Sixtyeight patients underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS: Significantly higher success rates for the determination of liver stiffness were found using ARFI as compared to FS [604/606 (99.7%) vs 482/606 (79.5%); P < 0.001]. ARFI-SWV correlated significantly with FS-LS (r = 0.920, P < 0.001). ARFI-SWV increased significantly with the stage of fibrosis (1.09 ± 0.13 m/s for patients with no significant fibrosis (FS-LS < 7.6 kPa); 1.46 ± 0.27 m/s for patients with significant liver fibrosis (7.6 < FS-LS ≤ 13.0 kPa); and 2.55 ± 0.77 m/s for patients with liver cirrhosis (FS-LS > 13.0 kPa)). ARFI-SWV cut-off values were identified for no significant fibrosis (1.29 m/s; sensitivity 91.4% and specificity 92.6%) and for liver cirrhosis (1.60 m/s; sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 96.5%). The optimal cut-off value for predicting liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2) was 1.32 m/s (sensitivity 87.0% and specificity 80.0%) and for liver cirrhosis (F4) 1.62 m/s (sensitivity 100% and specificity 85.7%), for patients who underwent liver biopsy. An excellent inter-and intraobserver reproducibility was observed for ARFI-SWV determinations. CONCLUSION: An ARFI-SWV cut-off value of 1.29 m/s seems to be optimal for patients with no significant liver fibrosis and 1.60 m/s for patients with liver cirrhosis.
文摘Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome,which includes hypertension,central obesity,dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.NAFLD includes a wide spectrum of liver alterations,ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to variable degrees of fibrosis,cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma.Although the etiology and progression of the disorder remain poorly understood,insulin resistance is considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.Insulin sensitizers such as biguanides,thiazolidinediones(TZDs),glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors have been studied as therapeutic approaches for NAFLD in recent years.Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase(ALT/AST) levels in the majority of subjects; however,it has no significant effect on liver histology.TZDs improve insulin sensitivity,serum ALT/ AST levels and histology in some cases,but there are some concerns about the safety of long-term therapy.Selection of appropriate patients for avoiding side effects and the treatment of underlying disease are themain points.These drugs are the best choice for the treatment of NAFLD in patients with type 2 DM who are also candidates for treatment with an insulin sensitizer.The present review provides an overview of insulin sensitizers in the treatment of NAFLD.
文摘This study delves into the charge transfer mechanism of boron (B)-doped 3C-SiC through first-principles investigations. We explore the effects of B doping on the electronic properties of 3C-SiC, focusing on a 12.5% impurity concentration. Our comprehensive analysis encompasses structural properties, electronic band structures, and charge density distributions. The optimized lattice constant and band gap energy of 3C-SiC were found to be 4.373 Å and 1.36 eV respectively, which is in agreement with previous research (Bui, 2012;Muchiri et al., 2018). Our results show that B doping narrows the band gap, enhances electrical conductivity, and influences charge transfer interactions. The charge density analysis reveals substantial interactions between B dopants and surrounding carbon atoms. This work not only enhances our understanding of the material’s electronic properties, but also highlights the importance of charge density analysis for characterizing charge transfer mechanisms and their implications in the 3C-SiC semiconductors.
基金The first author thanks Dr.Nicholas P.Stadie at the Montana State University,USA,for helpful discussions.Dr.Qian Zhang would like to thank Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China(2021TQ0003)for supporting his research.
文摘Comprehending the mechanism of methane adsorption in shales is a crucial step towards optimizing the development of deep-buried shale gas. This is because the methane adsorbed in shale represents a significant proportion of the subsurface shale gas resource. To properly characterize the methane adsorption on shale, which exhibits diverse mineral compositions and multi-scale pore sizes, it is crucial to capture the energy heterogeneity of the adsorption sites. In this paper, a dual-site Langmuir model is proposed, which accounts for the temperature and pressure dependence of the density of the adsorbed phase. The model is applied to the isothermals of methane adsorption on shale, at pressures of up to 30 MPa and temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 ℃. The results show that the proposed model can describe the adsorption behavior of methane on shale more accurately than conventional models, which assume a constant value for the density of adsorbed phase. Furthermore, the proposed model can be extrapolated to higher temperatures and pressures. Thermodynamic parameters were analyzed using correctly derived equations. The results indicate that the widely used, but incorrect, equation would underestimate the isosteric heat of adsorption. Neglecting the real gas behavior, volume of the adsorbed phase, and energy heterogeneity of the adsorption sites can lead to overestimation of the isosteric heat of adsorption. Furthermore, the isosteric heat evaluated from excess adsorption data can only be used to make a rough estimate of the real isosteric heat at very low pressure.
文摘The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and its complications increase with age. The majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic throughout the life but 10%-20% develops peptic ulcer disease and 1% gastric malignancies. The incidence of ulcers and their complications are more common in the older population resulting in higher hospitalization and mortality rates. The increased use of medications causing gastric mucosal damage and the decreased secretion of protective prostaglandins in elderly are major factors increasing gastric mucosal sensitivity to the destructive effects of H. pylori. Due to higher prevalence of gastrointestinal(GI) malignancies,upper GI endoscopy is mostly preferred in elderly for the diagnosis of infection. Therefore,"endoscopy and treat" strategy may be more appropriate instead of "test and treat" strategy for dyspeptic patients in older age. Urea breath test and stool antigen test can be used for control of eradication,except for special cases requiring follow-up with endoscopy. The indications for treatment and suggested eradication regimens are similar with other age groups; however,the eradication failure may be a more significant problem due to high antibiotic resistance and low compliance rate in elderly. Multidrug usage and drug interactions should always be consid-ered before starting the treatment. This paper reviews briefly the epidemiology,diagnosis,disease manifesta-tions,and treatment options of H. pylori in the geriatric population.
文摘Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity, marked functional impairment, reduced self-esteem, ideas or acts of self-harm or suicide. The women’s change into motherhood is a difficult period that involves significant changes in the psychological, social and physiological aspects, and is considered to increase vulnerability for the development of mental illness. In Somalia, 1 in 20 women aged 15 - 49 die due to pregnancy- or birth-related complications every year. This makes being pregnant in Somalia a risk that has its own stress and anxiety. Objective: To evaluate postpartum depression and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: The study is analytic cross sectional study design in which postpartum depression and its associated factors are measured. We used Cochran’s formula (Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 – p)/d<sup>2</sup>). Results: One fifth of the study population was found to have postpartum depression and the factors relating to it included marital status, substance abuse, mode and place of delivery. Conclusion: This shows that neglected mental health of the mothers in Somalia has its burden on the society. Recommendation: Mental health care component should be integrated with maternal care programs available in the country to work on prevention and control of motherhood related stress and depression among mothers who are giving birth under the very difficult circumstances in the country.
基金the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology(KAUST)Office of Sponsored Research(OSR)under Award No.OSR-2015-Sensors-2707 and OSR-2016-KKI-2880.
文摘To augment the quality of our life,fully compliant personalized advanced health-care electronic system is pivotal.One of the major requirements to implement such systems is a physically flexible high-performance biocompatible energy storage(battery).However,the status-quo options do not match all of these attributes simultaneously and we also lack in an effective integration strategy to integrate them in complex architecture such as orthodontic domain in human body.Here we show,a physically complaint lithium-ion micro-battery(236μg)with an unprecedented volumetric energy(the ratio of energy to device geometrical size)of 200 mWh/cm^(3) after 120 cycles of continuous operation.Our results of 90%viability test confirmed the battery’s biocompatibility.We also show seamless integration of the developed battery in an optoelectronic system embedded in a threedimensional printed smart dental brace.We foresee the resultant orthodontic system as a personalized advanced health-care application,which could serve in faster bone regeneration and enhanced enamel health-care protection and subsequently reducing the overall health-care cost.
文摘Objective: Acute kidney disease develops 16% - 30% of patients with preoperative impaired renal functions. Our aim of this study was to compare postoperative renal outcomes using two open heart surgery techniques, on-pump beating heart (OPBH) and conventional on-pump (COP), in patients who have preoperative low glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as an indicator of creatinine clearance. Methods: From 2004 to 2015, 341 patients with preoperative creatinine clearance were lower than 90 ml/min/1.73m2 were selected for this study. On-Pump beating heart was performed in 111 patients (Group I). Conventional on-pump technique was used in 200 patients. In the remaining patients, we measured postoperative Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha), cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), Brain natriuretic peptid (NT-Pro- BNP), creati-nine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and postoperative eGFR daily until day four after surgery. Results: There were no differences in baseline levels of TNF-alpha, NT-Pro-BNP, BUN, cTn-I, Cr levels between the groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were much longer and cumulative inotrope use was significantly higher in patients underwent COP (P Conclusion: Our study showed that on-pump beating heart CABG technique provides a morbidity benefit and is associated with a lower risk of peroperative LOS in patients with mild renal disfunction. Our study results suggest that OPBH is superior to the COP in terms of postoperative renal injury and cardiac mediators.
文摘AIM: To clarify the effect of SEN virus (SENV) infection on a combination therapy including interferon alfa (IFN-α) or pegylated-IFN with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis and the effect of a combination therapy on SENV.METHODS: SENV DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Quantitative analysis was done for SENV H DNA.RESULTS: Twenty-one (22%) of 95 patients were positive for SENV DNA. There was no difference in clinical and biochemical parameters between patients with HCV infection alone and coinfected patients. The sustained response rate for HCV clearance after combination therapy did not differ between patients with SENV (52%) and without SENV(50%, n.s.). SENV DNA was undetectable in 76% of the initially SENV positive patients at the end of follow-up. SENV H response to combination therapy was significantly correlated with SENV DNA level (P=-0.05).CONCLUSION: SENV infection had no influence on the HCV sustained response rate to the combination therapy.Response rate of SENV to the combination therapy depends on SENV DNA level.
基金funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development through grants awarded to the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(Grant Nos.3636/9900727 and AAGG-00-99-00005-31)by a joint research programme of the Economic and Social Research Council(ESRC)the Department for International Development(DfID)(Grant Reference:RES-167-25-0387).
文摘Background:A major impediment to the treatment of TB is a diagnostic process that requires multiple visits.Descriptions of patient costs associated with diagnosis use different protocols and are not comparable.Methods:We aimed to describe the direct costs incurred by adults attending TB diagnostic centres in four countries and factors associated with expenditure for diagnosis.Surveys of 2225 adults attending smear-microscopy centres in Nigeria,Nepal,Ethiopia and Yemen.Adults>18 years with cough>2 weeks were enrolled prospectively.Direct costs were quantified using structured questionnaires.Patients with costs>75^(th) quartile were considered to have high expenditure(cases)and compared with patients with costs<75^(th) quartile to identify factors associated with high expenditure.Results:The most significant expenses were due to clinic fees and transport.Most participants attended the centres with companions.High expenditure was associated with attending with company,residing in rural areas/other towns and illiteracy.Conclusions:The costs incurred by patients are substantial and share common patterns across countries.Removing user fees,transparent charging policies and reimbursing clinic expenses would reduce the poverty-inducing effects of direct diagnostic costs.In locations with limited resources,support could be prioritised for those most at risk of high expenditure;those who are illiterate,attend the service with company and rural residents.
文摘Transnasal endoscopy(TNE) is an upper endoscopy method which is performed by the nasal route using a thin endoscope less than 6 mm in diameter. The primary goal of this method is to improve patient tolerance and convenience of the procedure. TNE can be performed without sedation and thus eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia. In this way,TNE decreases the cost and total duration of endoscopic procedures, while maintaining the image quality of standard caliber endoscopes, providing good results for diagnostic purposes. However, the small working channel of the ultra-thin endoscope used for TNE makes it difficult to use for therapeutic procedures except in certain conditions which require a thinner endoscope.Biopsy is possible with special forceps less than 2 mm in diameter. Recently, TNE has been used for screening endoscopy in Far East Asia, including Japan. In most controlled studies, TNE was found to have better patient tolerance when compared to unsedated endoscopy. Nasal pain is the most significant symptom associated with endoscopic procedures but can be reduced with nasal pretreatment. Despite the potential advantage of TNE, it is not common in Western countries, usually due to a lack of training in the technique and a lack of awareness of its potential advantages. This paper briefly reviews the technical considerations as well as the potential advantages and limitations of TNE with ultra-thin scopes.
基金This work was supported by the Golestan University of Medical Sciences,Gorgan,Iran.
文摘Background: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a new viral disease that has caused a pandemic in the world.Due to the lack of vaccines and definitive treatment,preventive behaviors are the only way to overcome the disease.Therefore,the present study aimed to determine the preventive behaviors from the disease based on constructs of the health belief model.Methods:: In the present cross-sectional study during March 11–16,2020,750 individuals in Golestan Province of Iran were included in the study using the convenience sampling and they completed the questionnaires through cyberspace.Factor scores were calculated using the confirmatory factor analysis.The effects of different factors were separately investigated using the univariate analyses,including students sample t-test,ANOVA,and simple linear regression.Finally,the effective factors were examined by the multiple regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05 and through Mplus 7 and SPSS 16.Results: The participants’mean age was 33.9±9.45 years;and 57.1%of them had associate and bachelor's degrees.Multiple regression indicated that the mean score of preventive behavior from COVID-19 was higher in females than males,and greater in urban dwellers than rural dwellers.Furthermore,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor scores of self-efficacy and perceived benefits increased the scores of preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.22 and 0.17 units respectively.On the contrary,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor score of perceived barriers and fatalistic beliefs decreased the scores of the preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.36 and 0.19 units respectively.Conclusions: Results: of the present study indicated that female gender,perceived barriers,perceived self-efficacy,fatalistic beliefs,perceived interests,and living in city had the greatest preventive behaviors from COVID-19 respectively.Preventive interventions were necessary among males and villagers.
文摘A 60-year-old male patient presented with jaundice and dark urine for three days, icteric sclerae and skin rash on his legs for six months. Laboratory investigations revealed an atypical cryoglobulinemia with high hepatitis C virus(HCV)-RNA levels. Imaging studies showed cholestasis was accompanying HCV. Capillary zone electrophoresis using immunosubtraction method revealed a polyclonal immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A(IgA) monoclonal cryoglobulin and that Ig A lambda was absent in immunofixation electrophoresis. After a liver biopsy, chronic hepatitis C, HCV related mixed cryoglobulinemia and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis were diagnosed and antiviral therapy was initiated. Our HCV patient presented with cryoglobulinemic symptoms with an atypical cryoglobulinemia that was detected by an alternative method: Immunosubtraction by capillary electrophoresis. Different types of cryoglobulins may therefore have a correlation with clinical symptoms and prognosis. Therefore, the accurate immunotyping of cryoglobulins with alternative methods may provide more information about cryoglobulin-generated pathology.
基金The authors are thankful to the research supporting project number(RSP-2021/86),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Coffee arabica L.is an economical crop cultivated in many countries including Yemen.The present study evaluated the phytochemical contents of the methanolic extracts,prepared by maceration,of six Yemeni green coffee beans varieties namely Esmaeli,Hamadi,Harazi,Mattari,Odaini and Yafei.Antioxidant(phosphomolybdenum,antiradical,reducing power and ferrous chelating),and enzyme inhibition activity of the extracts against acetylcholinesterase butyrylcholinesterase,tyrosinase,α-glucosidase,andα-amylase were also studied.Quantification of total phenols revealed that all green beans varieties were richer in their total polyphenolic(63.77-110.98 mg gallic acid equivalent per g of extract)content than their flavonoids one(2.86-5.57 mg rutin equivalent per g of extract).HPLC-MS/MS analysis of 30 selected bioactive compounds showed that all varieties had the same types of phytoconstituents with differences in their relative abundance.Caffeine(1613.89-2466.38μg/g)followed by 5-caffeoylquinic acid(1017.63-1313.39μg/g)were the dominant compounds in all varieties with caffeine more abundant in Esmaeli variety while 5-caffeoylquinic acid in Odaini variety.All varieties displayed a pronounced antioxidant property in all the in vitro assays with Odaini variety significantly(p<0.05)exerted the highest anti-DPPH radicals(253.96 mg Trolox equivalent(TE)/g),metal chelating(19.73 mg Disodium edetate equivalents/g),Cu^(2+)(441.11 mg TE/g)and Fe3+(221.04 mg TE/g)reducing activities.Furthermore,the majority of green coffee beans varieties showed comparable enzyme inhibition property with highest activity recorded against tyrosinase(39.35-46.96 mg kojic acid equivalents/g)and acetylcholinesterase(1.80-2.17 mg galanthamine equivalents/g)enzymes.In conclusion,all Yemeni green coffee beans varieties have proven to be rich source of biochemicals with beneficial impact on human health and could be of significant applications in food,pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.
文摘Facility records of 320 TB （tuberculosis） patients were examined over a one-year-period; January-December 2009 to ascertain the screening of children under 6 years of age who have had contacts with sputum smear positive TB patients as stipulated in the NTBLCP （National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program） guidelines. In addition, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 28 DOTS （directly-observed treatment strategy） clinicians to elicit information to help explain findings from the analysis of the routine data. Over 60% of children less than 6 years of age who had contacts with TB patients were not investigated in the health facilities included in the survey. The level of educational attainment of DOTS providers was associated with the screening of TB patients＇ contacts （P = 0.008）. Forgetfulness by clinicians to ask for or screen children of TB patients in the facilities is the singular most important factor undermining contact investigation. The proportion of under 6 years TB contacts screened or not screened for TB in the facilities was similar according to the age and gender of TB patients, and the type of health facilities where treatment was accessed by patients （P = 0.325）. The study underscored the need for the state program to evaluate the quality of service provision as well as counseling provided to TB patients at the facilities.
文摘The ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, amino acid content and sugar content of spray dried Arenga pinnata juice powder were evaluated to determine the quality of spray dried powder obtained by spray drying of fresh Arenga pinnata juice at inlet temperature of 130 ℃, feed flow rate of 350 mL/h, outlet temperature of 70 ℃ and maltodextrin 10 DE addition at 20%. Powder obtained has a total phenolic compounds content of 5.82 mg/100 g of gallic acid equivalent （GAE） and antioxidant potential identified by free radical scavenging activity （IC50） was 0.6 μmol/g. The total sugar content ofArenga pinnata powder resulted in 30.14%. The analysis of free amino acids depicted the presence of lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine at higher levels. The nutritional profile of the powder is vital in delivering beneficial properties when reconstituted into juice.
文摘Celiac disease(CD) is manifested by a variety of clinical signs and symptoms that may begin either in childhood or adult life.Neurological symptoms without signs of malabsorption have been observed for a long time in CD.In this report,an 8-year-old girl with CD presented with rarely seen dilated cardiomyopathy and stroke.The girl was admitted with left side weakness.Her medical history indicated abdominal distention,chronic diarrhea,failure to thrive,and geophagia.On physical examination,short stature,pale skin and a grade 2 of 6 systolic murmur were detected.Muscle strength was 0/5 on the left side,and 5/5 on the right side.Coagulation examinations were normal.Tests for collagen tissue diseases were negative.Factor V Leiden and prothrombin GA20210 mutations were negative.Tandem mass spectrophotometry and blood carnitine profiles were normal.Brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography showed an infarction area at the basal ganglia level.Examinations of serologic markers and intestinal biopsy revealed CD.We emphasize that in differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke,CD should be kept in mind.
基金University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia for the support and grant under ERGS/1/2012/TK02/UKM/02/6
文摘A polymethyl-methacrylate （PMMA） acrylic sample cell using flow injection is developed in this research for the determination of nitrite in an aqueous media. The research focuses on exhibiting direct absorbance spectrophotometry of nitrite using concentration of samples ranging from 0.1078 to 1.725 ppm. Nitrite determination is done colorimetrically using the Greiss reagent method. This method is based on the reaction of nitrite with sulphanilamide acid and N-l-napthylamine （NED） utilizing diazo coupling, and a syringe is used to administer the nitrite solution. The sample cell being used possesses a diameter of 1 mm with an overall size of 7.35×22 mm2. To gauge the direct absorbance, a wavelength range from 400 to 650 nm has been selected for the testing, and the maximum absorbance is found to be at 545 nm. The validity of the proposed cell is explained in this letter.
文摘Introduction: Amputation is the removal of a body part through a bone, while disarticulation is a removal of a part through a joint. This common procedure has different causes depending on the geographical locations and cultural practices. These ranges from dead body part to malignancy. Our study focused on the profile of the amputees including the biodata, causes and the financial consequences of the procedure. Material and Methods: The case notes of all patients who had amputation from 1998-2012 (15 years) were collected and the biodata, intra-operative diagnosis, parts amputated and duration of hospital stay were retrospectively analysed. Results: One hundred and ninety six patients had various types of amputations for the duration of our study. 159 (81.12%) were males while 37 (18.88%) were females. 68 (34.69%) patients had below knee amputation. 54 (27.55%) had above knee amputation. 27 (13.78%) had above elbow amputation. 18 (9.18%) patients had below elbow amputation, while 30 (15.30%) patients had other forms of amputations. The highest number of amputees (72 patients) was within the age range of 21 - 30 yr and the least number (5 patients) was within the age range of 51 - 60 yr. The highest number of amputation (71 patients) was due to complications from by traditional bone setters intervention. Conclusion: In our study, we found that most cases were males with a mean age of 35 years and majority (34.69%) had below knee amputation, and that most cases suffered vascular occlusion leading to gangrene.
文摘Anatolia, also named as Asia Minor, is known as one of the gene centers for a number of the life forms in the world. Caucasian honeybee is one of the important gene resources in Anatolia and mountain type is the most significant variant. This honeybee race is black colored and similar to the Carniola bees regarding shape, size and hair cover. Body is moderate structured, slim and long as abdomen is thin. Chitin is dark. Hair cover is black and short （0.335 ± 0.031 ram）. Hair color of worker bees is livid grey as chest hair color of drones is black. All abdominal rings are black colored. It has the longest tongue （7.046 ±0.189 mm） among the all honeybee races. Caucasian bees form strong colonies but their colonial development is slow. They swarm only very little and are good tempered. They are good pollinators for alfalfa, clover and similar plants with deep tube flowers and can work under unfavourable conditions. It is known that homeland of Caucasian bee （A. mellifera caucasica） is upper valleys of mid-Caueasia （Georgia, Azerbaijan and Northern Caucasus）. Its distribution area is extended to Kars, Ardahan and Artvin provinces in North-Eastern Anatolia of Turkey. The area including Posof district of Ardahan province and its all villages and 6 villages of Camili basin in Borka district of Artvin province is housing different eeotypes of this race. So, this area was isolated for gene conservation of Caucasian bee by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2008. In-situ conservation studies for Caucasian bee （A. mellifera caucasica Gorbachev） have been continuing under the Indigenous Gene Resources Conservation Scheme with a total of 6,960 colonies under on-farm conditions.
