Aggressive Factor Research Articles

Aggression by patients and their relatives against mental health nurses in the workplace

Investigation problem. Violence in healthcare facilities has become a global phenomenon that requires immediate attention. The nursing profession is particularly affected, and the vulnerability of nurses to workplace violence is particularly evident in mental health nursing. Aggression at work is a big problem for both nurses and patients and their relatives. Communication with patients deteriorates, attention and concentration to solve the patient's health problems decreases, the quality of life of the family and the nurse deteriorates, and the opportunity to improve.
 The purpose of the study is to evaluate the aggression of patients and relatives against mental health nurses in the workplace.
 Methodology of investigation. A quantitative study using an anonymous survey in online. Study participants 118 mental health nurses.
 Research results and conclusions. The most common types of aggression at work are verbal and physical, and the least common is sexual harassment. The main risk factors for aggression depended on patients and relatives, on the status and personal characteristics of the caregiver, and on the work environment. When nurses encountered an aggressor, they usually tried to calm him down by communicating, removing stimuli from the environment that promote aggression.

The Prevalence of Hypertension and its Related Factors in Children Aged 7 to 12 Years in Larestan (South Fars Province, Iran)

Background: Childhood hypertension can have serious consequences for children, especially during their adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its related factors in children aged 7 to 12 years in Larestan (Iran).
 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1110 students from 7 to 12 years old in Larestan were enrolled in the study using cluster sampling. In order to collect educational data, 10 girls' primary schools and 10 boys' primary schools were randomly selected from all the girls' and boys' primary schools. Then, considering that each school has different number of students, 55 students of each school were randomly selected. Students' blood pressure was measured as standard. Their personal information was also recorded in a checklist. A checklist containing demographic information, factors and variables that affect the prevalence of hypertension in children aged 7 to 12 years was used. To collect information, a checklist was used that included demographic information such as age, gender, and place of residence. Also, in order to identify factors and variables effective in the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP), tools such as sphygmomanometer and other risk factors including obesity, type of diet, physical activities, and body mass index (BMI) were used.
 Results: The mean age of girls was 9.11 ± 1.53 and boys were 9.19 ± 1.52, which did not differ significantly from the statistical point of view. The prevalence of pre hypertension was 6.03% (95% CI: 4.71-7.60) and the prevalence of hypertension was 4.14% (95% CI: 3.05-5.49). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure has direct relation with height and weight of children. Diastolic blood pressure also had a higher prevalence in girls (P < 0.001).
 Conclusion: Overweight and obesity as a moderate aggressive factor were significantly associated with blood pressure. Also, the prevalence of HBP in children was significant, and it is necessary to pay attention to it in childhood. Moreover, hypertension cases should be identified and treatment should start faster for the affected person to prevent the adverse consequences in the future.

Esophageal Mucosal Resistance in Reflux Esophagitis: What We Have Learned So Far and What Remains to Be Learned.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has the highest prevalence among diseases of the digestive system and is characterized by a significant decrease in patients' quality of life, comparable to arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease. One in every ten cases of reflux esophagitis leads to the formation of Barrett's esophagus, which is associated with a high risk of esophagus adenocarcinoma. The key factors determining the progression of the disease are the frequency and duration of the reflux of the stomach's contents. As a result, refluxate, which includes hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and, in the case of concomitant duodeno-gastric reflux, bile acids and lysolecithin, is thrown into the overlying sections of the digestive tract. At the same time, in addition to aggression factors, it is necessary to take into account the state of resistance in the esophageal mucosa to the effects of aggressive refluxate molecules. This review was prepared using systematized data on the protective properties of the esophageal mucosa and modern methods to assess the mucosal barrier in reflux esophagitis. Lesions of the epithelial barrier structure in the esophagus are recognized as the main pathogenetic factor in the development of reflux esophagitis and are a potentially significant therapeutic target in the treatment of GERD and Barrett's esophagus. This article presents the characteristics of the esophageal mucosal barrier and the protective mechanisms of the esophagus's mucous membrane in conditions of gastroesophageal reflux. Diagnostic approaches for assessing the course of reflux esophagitis are described for both histological criteria and the possibility of a comprehensive assessment of the state of mucins, tight-junction proteins, and the proliferative activity of the mucosa, including under the conditions of ongoing therapy.

The expression of driving anger in a sample of Italian drivers

This study examined the factor structure and the psychometric properties of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory (DAX) in a large sample of Italian drivers. After removing several items and allowing six error pairs to correlate, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n = 1007) supported a four-factor solution that broadly confirmed the four original factors, and this was confirmed in a second group (N = 1047) of drivers. The three aggressive factors (physical aggressive expression, use of a vehicle and verbal aggressive expression) were positively related, while the adaptive/constructive subscale was negatively related to measures of trait anger and aggressive driving. In addition, younger drivers reported engaging in the aggressive forms of expression more frequently, while older drivers reported more frequently engaging in the adaptive/constructive form of expression. Finally, those who had crashed in the past three years reported more frequently engaging in the three aggressive forms of expression, while those that had not crashed reported more frequently engaging in the adaptive/constructive form of expression. Although the DAX factors showed moderate correlations with social desirability, the associations between the different forms of driving anger expression, aggressive driving and crash involvement remained significant when controlling for socially desirable responding.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL ASPECTS OF DISTANCE EDUCATION IN MODERN RUSSIA

The article touches upon the issues concerning the influence of informatisation of modern society, which are network and global in nature, on educational systems, distance education in particular. It is noted that the emphasis of the development of distance education should not be on technical features of certain educational platforms, but on the development of digital forms of education, taking into account national characteristics and interests of society. Special attention is paid to the fact that in the psychological and 70 Научное мнение № 4 (2023) pedagogical aspects of distance education, fundamentally important issues are the issues of developing psychological and pedagogical tools for the formation of a new model of thinking for both teachers and students, resistant to negative and sometimes aggressive factors of the modern reality of digital communications, which actually displace the “traditional communication” of people.

ФРАГМЕНТАЦІЯ СВІТОВОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ: РИЗИКОВИЙ АСПЕКТ

Досліджено питання розвитку світової економіки в умовах її переходу від глобалізації до фрагментації. Фрагментація є одним з наслідків російської збройної агресії проти України і має перспективи призвести до розподілу світу на геополітичні блоки зі своїми власними технічними стандартами, резервними валютами і системами платежів. Визначено, що фрагментація світової економіки обумовлює розвиток і нове наповнення основних ризиків на глобальному рівні. До таких ризиків відносяться: ризики непередбачуваних глобальних потрясінь; ризики глобального потепління; ризики продовольчої і водної безпеки; ризики соціальних конфліктів. Доведено, що фрагментація світової економіки посилюється російською широкомасштабною агресією проти Україні, через яку відволікаються зусилля від вирішення питань світової економіки, а наслідки війни для неї в коротко- і середньостроковій перспективі є негативними. Усе це посилює деструктивний вплив фрагментації і робить украй проблематичним повернення світового господарства на рівень глобалізаційного розвитку попереднього десятиріччя. Головний вплив фрагментації на ризики світової економіки полягає в тому, що розворот глобалізаційних процесів сам по собі відволікає увагу від вирішення глобальних процесів людства. Якщо поєднувати це з джерелами самої фрагментації, то чим далі вона розвиватиметься – тим більше основні ризики світової економіки глобального рівня перебуватимуть поза адекватним реагуванням. Зроблено висновки стосовно економічного розвитку України в контексті ризикового аспекту фрагментації світової економіки. Фактор широкомасштабної агресії проти України залишає відкритим цілий ряд додаткових питань, пов’язаних із завершенням військових дій, повоєнною відбудовою національної економіки, розстановкою політичних і економічних сил у світі після завершення війни тощо.

Influence of Sex of Stranger on Responses of Shelter Dogs during Canine Behavioral Evaluations.

In many situations, domestic dogs display greater uneasiness with unfamiliar men than unfamiliar women. However, little is known about whether the sex of an unfamiliar person is a risk factor for stranger-directed aggression, especially with respect to behaviors less intense than biting. We analyzed data collected by behavioral staff over a 27-month period (n = 283 dogs) at a New York shelter to determine whether the sex of an unfamiliar person influenced behaviors assessed during the Stranger test of the canine behavioral evaluation. Scores ranged from 1 (calm and friendly) to 5 (will not approach stranger or unsafe to allow an approach). No concerning behaviors (scores 1-3) were assessed for 19.2% of 26 undersocialized dogs from one home and 89.9% of the remaining 257 dogs. Within the group of 257, those tested with a male stranger had significantly higher scores than those tested with a female stranger; the effect size was small to moderate. Thus, we found that dogs responded differently to male and female strangers during this testing situation, but from a practical standpoint, our findings do not warrant adjustments in how shelters conduct or interpret tests for stranger-directed aggression. Our findings also highlight the importance of early exposure to different people and situations for dogs.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ЗОЛИ ВИНОСУ В БУДІВНИЦТВІ

The prospects of using fly ash, which occurs during the burning of coal in thermal power plants, in construction were studied. Fly ash is considered as a secondary product that can be effectively used to improve the quality of building materials and reduce the negative impact on the environment.The impact of ash on the strength of building materials, as well as their resistance to aggressive factors, is considered. In addition, the impact of using ash on the energy efficiency of building materials and reducing carbon dioxide emissions is considered.Ways of processing waste, which allow to significantly reduce the negative anthropogenic impact on the environment, are considered. It was found that gold and varnish waste can be used in construction, agriculture, and water treatment technologies. Ash and slag waste is most widely used in the construction industry as a ready aggregate and raw material. In particular, the use of thermal power plant slag for road construction is widespread.An overview of modern research and experience in the use of fly ash in construction is carried out, and examples of successful cases of its application are given.The research results show that the use of fly ash in construction has great potential. It allows to reduce the use of primary materials, improve the quality of construction materials and reduce the negative impact of the construction industry on the environment.In general, the use of fly ash in construction is a promising direction that contributes to sustainable development and reducing the negative impact of the construction industry on the environment. It allows efficient use of waste and ensures the creation of environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient building materials

Addressing Cardiovascular Risk Across the Arc of a Woman's Life: Sex-Specific Prevention and Treatment.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in womenin the United States of America. Despite this, women are underdiagnosed, less often receive preventive care, and are undertreated for CVD compared to men. There has been an increase in sex-specific risk factors and treatments over the past decade; however, sex-specific recommendations have not been included in the guidelines. We aim to highlight recent evidence behind thedifferential effect of traditional risk factors and underscore sex-specific risk factors with an intention to promote awareness, improve risk stratification, and early implementation of appropriate preventive therapies in women. Women are prescribed fewer antihypertensives and lipid-lowering agents and receive less cardiovascular care as compared to men. Additionally, pregnancy complications have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality later in life. Findings from theARIC study suggest that there is a perception of lower risk of cardiovascular disease in women. The SWEDEHEART study which investigated sex differences in treatment, noted a lower prescription of guideline-directed therapy in women. Women are less likely to be prescribed statin medications by their providers in both primary and secondary prevention as they are considered lower risk than men, while also being more likely to decline and discontinue treatment. A woman's abnormal response to pregnancy may serve as her first physiological stress test which can have implications on her future cardiovascular health. This was supported by the CHAMPs study noting a higher premature cardiovascular risk after maternal complications. Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with a 1.5-4.0 fold increase in future cardiovascular events in multiple studies. In this review, we highlight the differences in traditional risk factors and their impact on women. Furthermore, we address the sex-specific risk factors and pregnancy-associated complications that increase the risk of CVD in women. Adherence to GDMT may have implications on overall mortality in women. An effort to improve early recognition of CVD risk with implementation of aggressive risk factor control and lifestyle modification should be emphasized. Future studies should specifically report on differences in outcomes between males and females. Increased awareness and knowledge on sex-specific risks and prevention are likely to lower the prevalence and improve outcomes of CVD in women.

Microvesicles and neutrophil aggression factors in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis

Background. It is known that the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes increases with the development of periodontitis. However, their role in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis has not been fully defined.
 Aim. To study the pathogenetic role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the development of chronic periodontitis, realized by microvesicles and aggression factors (metalloproteinases, myeloperoxidase, calprotectin, lipocaine 2).
 Material and methods. 30 patients aged 30 to 50 years with a diagnosis of chronic generalized periodontitis of moderate severity (K05.3) and no severe somatic pathology were under observation. The comparison group included 20 people with no inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity, comparable with the main group in terms of gender, age, nationality, and the presence of bad habits. Using a standard set of indices, the state of periodontal tissues was assessed, and all examined patients underwent X-ray examination. In the oral fluid of the examined, the total number of microvesicles and their phenotype, the concentration of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9, myeloperoxidase, calprotectin, lipocaine 2 were determined. The parameters were determined using a flow cytometer. Descriptive statistics are represented by the median and interquartile range (25th and 75th percentiles). Two independent sample sets were compared using the MannWhitney test. Correlation analysis was carried out according to the Spearman method.
 Results. The total number of microvesicles in the oral fluid in patients with chronic periodontitis was 11 times higher than in healthy volunteers (p=0.00001). More than a third of them had neutrophil markers. The levels of neutrophil aggression factors were also higher in patients with periodontitis and correlated with the value of the periodontal index, the depth of the periodontal pocket, bleeding index, indicators of periodontal health. Thus, a strong positive relationship was found between the total number of microvesicles and the value of the periodontal index (r=0.675), the depth of the periodontal pocket (r=0.763), the bleeding index (r=0.704); the number of neutrophilic microvesicles and indicators of periodontal health r=0.816, r=0.837 and r=0.776, respectively. The content of metalloproteinase-2 correlated with the depth of the periodontal pocket (r=0.754), bleeding index (r=0.811), papillary-marginal-alveolar index (r=0.675).
 Conclusion. Neutrophils contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis through the secretion of aggression factors: metalloproteinases, myeloperoxidase, calprotectin, lipocaine 2, and microvesicles.

Appraising risk factors of aggression in children and adolescents at psychiatric inpatient units

This study examined predictors of aggression and assessed whether different subgroups of children and young people (CYP) display varying risks of aggressive incidents during hospitalization. Data from 10,090 children admitted to the psychiatric inpatient units of Cincinnati Children's Hospital between April 2010 and June 2021 were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine significant predictors associated with aggression, followed by average marginal effects and cluster analyses to rank and establish clusters by the order of predictor importance. About 32.5% reported positive history of an aggressive incident. The mean BRACHA score was doubled compared to those without a prior history. The primary analysis showed that both younger and male CYPs had higher odds of aggressive incidents. We also found that CYP with an African descent, not being able to live with both biological parents, those who reported positive history of psychiatric hospitalisation, and prior externalising behaviours had higher odds of aggressive incidents. These findings have important clinical and public health implications, as they provide valuable knowledge for healthcare professionals to improve prevention strategies for aggression amongst this vulnerable population.

Factors associated with violence against nursing students at the rotary internship

Introduction: violence is a public health problem, among which we find workplace violence, which is identified when a worker suffers abuse, threats, and attacks that can be verbal and physical. Rotating internship nursing students play an important role within healthcare institutions.Objective: to determine the factors associated with violence against nursing students in the rotating boarding school.Methods: the study presents a non-experimental research design with a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach in a group of nursing students of the rotating internship, with a sample of 121 participants, to whom a questionnaire with a reliability of 0.717 of Alpha Cronbach was applied.Results: a low risk was reported about violence by the patient's family member with 88,43 %, although a small group of students is at medium risk with 11,57 %. As for the factors associated with violence, medium and high risk is shown at 56,2 %.Conclusions: nursing interns receive many physical, verbal, and psychological aggressions at work from relatives of patients and colleagues with higher hierarchies. In the current study, it was possible to observe the presence of blows in physical violence, humiliation, and rudeness in psychological violence and the individual associated factors of aggression by the immediate superior boss, by aggressors in altered mental state, and aggressors by the state of health of the relatives

Initial research on the condition of the 16th-century catacombs located in Suprasl (Poland)

The brick structure of the 16th-century catacombs located in Suprasl (N-E Poland), which naturally collapsed at the end of the 20th century, was excavated in 2012–2013. The unprotected structure was exposed to the aggressive factors of the atmospheric environment for approximately ten years, which resulted in further degradation of the historic substance. A temporary wooden covering has been made over the preserved fragment of the catacombs. The assessment of the destruction stage began with non-destructive tests, which did not require the consent of the heritage conservator. As a result of the works, requirements regarding: the method of temporary and permanent protection; the scope of further research; the possibility of reconstruction; the method and scope of renovation; and the possibility of using historical elements for the designed function were formulated. In order to determine the method of permanent protection and prevent further destruction processes, it will be necessary to perform comprehensive archaeological, architectural, structural and pathomorphological research. The work was summarized with an indication of the concept of recovering the remains of the catacombs to be visited by tourists. The possibility of performing religious ceremonies inside the catacombs with the participation of the faithful was considered.

Different Molecular Phenotypes of Progression in BRAF- and RAS-Like Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) can be classified into two distinct molecular subtypes, BRAF-like (BL) and RASlike (RL). However, the molecular characteristics of each subtype according to clinicopathological factors have not yet been determined. We aimed to investigate the gene signatures and tumor microenvironment according to clinicopathological factors, and to identify the mechanism of progression in BL-PTCs and RL-PTCs. We analyzed RNA sequencing data and corresponding clinicopathological information of 503 patients with PTC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. We performed differentially expressed gene (DEG), Gene Ontology, and molecular pathway enrichment analyses according to clinicopathological factors in each molecular subtype. EcoTyper and CIBERSORTx were used to deconvolve the tumor cell types and their surrounding microenvironment. Even for the same clinicopathological factors, overlapping DEGs between the two molecular subtypes were uncommon, indicating that BL-PTCs and RL-PTCs have different progression mechanisms. Genes related to the extracellular matrix were commonly upregulated in BL-PTCs with aggressive clinicopathological factors, such as old age (≥55 years), presence of extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and high metastasis-age-completeness of resection- invasion-size (MACIS) scores (≥6). Furthermore, in the deconvolution analysis of tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts were significantly enriched. In contrast, in RL-PTCs, downregulation of immune response and immunoglobulin-related genes was significantly associated with aggressive characteristics, even after adjusting for thyroiditis status. Conclusion: The molecular phenotypes of cancer progression differed between BL-PTC and RL-PTC. In particular, extracellular matrix and cancer-associated fibroblasts, which constitute the tumor microenvironment, would play an important role in the progression of BL-PTC that accounts for the majority of advanced PTCs.

Unveiling common psychological characteristics of proneness to aggression and general psychopathology in a large community youth cohort

Elevated aggression in individuals with psychiatric disorders is frequently reported yet aggressive acts among people with mental illness are often intertwined with proneness to aggression and other risk factors. Evidence has suggested that both general psychopathology and proneness to aggression may share common psychological characteristics. This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between general psychopathology, proneness to aggression, and their contributing factors in community youth. Here, we first examined the association between proneness to aggression and the level of general psychopathology in 2184 community youths (male: 41.2%). To identify common characteristics, we trained machine learning models using LASSO based on 230 features covering sociodemographic, cognitive functions, lifestyle, well-being, and psychological characteristics to predict levels of general psychopathology and proneness to aggression. A subsequent Gaussian Graph Model (GGM) was fitted to understand the relationships between the general psychopathology, proneness to aggression, and selected features. We showed that proneness to aggression was associated with a higher level of general psychopathology (discovery: r = 0.56, 95% CI: [0.52–0.59]; holdout: r = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.54–0.65]). The LASSO model trained on the discovery dataset for general psychopathology was able to predict proneness to aggression in the holdout dataset with a moderate correlation coefficient of 0.606. Similarly, the model trained on the proneness to aggression in the discovery dataset was able to predict general psychopathology in the holdout dataset with a correlation coefficient of 0.717. These results suggest that there is substantial shared information between the two outcomes. The GGM model revealed that isolation and impulsivity factors were directly associated with both general psychopathology and proneness to aggression. These results revealed shared psychological characteristics of general psychopathology and proneness to aggression in a community sample of youths.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized from Quercus brantii ameliorated ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats by decreasing oxidative stress and improving antioxidant systems.

Gastric ulcers are caused by an imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is becoming a new and promising method in the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers. This study was conducted to investigate the protective and antioxidant effects of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Quercus brantii extract (NSQBE) on gastric damage induced by alcohol in rats. In this study, silver nanoparticles were produced by the green synthesis method using oak extract. The structure and morphology of nanoparticles were confirmed by various techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-rayanalysis(EDX), and dynamic light scattering )DLS(. For the animal studies, 30 male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 20g were randomly selected and divided into five groups (the normal, ethanolic, NSQBE treatment (received doses of 20 and 5mg/kg), and standard (received a dose of 50mg/kg of ranitidine) groups. After the rats were euthanized, their stomach was removed. A part of the stomach tissue of rats was used for histopathological studies, and the other part was used to study biochemical parameters such as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl oxidation (PCO), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as nitric oxide (NO). Our results showed that in the ethanol group, the levels of ROS, MDA, PCO, and serum NO were higher than in the normal group. In addition, reduced GSH, CAT, SOD, tissue NO, gastric mucus, and antioxidant potential were decreased. In rats pretreated with NSQBE and ranitidine, the levels of ROS, MDA, PCO, and serum NO decreased, and the levels of GSH, CAT, SOD, tissue NO, gastric mucus, and antioxidant potential were increased in comparison to the ethanol group. The results of this study showed that silver nanoparticles synthesized using Quercus brantii are a promising approach for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Is playing violent video games a risk factor for aggressive behaviour? Adding narcissism, self-esteem and PEGI ratings to the debate.

Aggressive behaviour is a challenge for society. There continues to be considerable debate over whether the consumption of violent video games affects aggression, as violent video game content has become more accessible in recent years due to the growing use of online distribution platforms. Personality traits often linked to aggression, such as narcissism and self-esteem, have been considered in the context of violent video game play and their relationship with aggression. We surveyed an international population of 166 game players on their personality traits and their three favourite video game choices, which were classified as violent or non-violent, using Pan European Game Information (PEGI) 16 and 18 ratings. We found that violent video game choice is a predictor of verbal aggression alongside narcissism, and hostility alongside self-esteem. A categorical regression highlighted the desire to impersonate society's undesirable role models (e.g., 'be a thief or a killer') as one of the motivations for aggression and violent video game choice. These findings show that video game violence should be considered a risk factor for aggression, as in other violent media, as it provides a social reinforcement of aggressive behaviour and observational learning of aggressive models, calling for the introduction of stricter online age verification procedures on online game platforms to safeguard children from violent video game content; and increased use of parental controls on content fruition. More granularity should be considered in the PEGI classifications.

Gastro-protective Effect of Corn Diet against Indomethacin Induced Ulceration in Experimental Rats

Introduction: One of the most prevalent gastrointestinal ailments is gastric ulcer, which is caused by an imbalance between protective and aggressive factors. Zea mays Corn is a significant cereal crop containing natural phytochemical substances that are sources of nourishment. The methanolic extract of Corn, according to a previous study, lowers stomach acidity and inhibits the percentage of gastric ulceration with no knowledge on the mechanisms involved.
 Aim: This study investigated the underlying gastroprotective mechanisms of the Corn diet (ZD).
 Materials and Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were used, randomly grouped into 6; 1(Normal control), 2(Ulcerated control), 3, 4, 5 (prefed with ZD -55%, 65%, 75%) and 6 (cimetidine- 25mg/kg) for 28 days. Gastric ulcer was induced by oral administration of indomethacin (40mg/kg) and animals were sacrificed after 4 hours. The stomach was excised and cleaned, it was then homogenized and centrifuged for biochemical assays.
 Results: There is a significant reduction in gastric ulcer area in all treated groups. Significant increase in gastric tissue mucin content and gastric mucosal SOD, NO and PGE2 levels and significant reduction in the MDA was observed in the ZD and cimetidine group. Histological evaluation showed tubular glands closely packed and separated from each other by laminar propia, however there is mild presence of inflammatory cells within the laminar propia in the ZD groups compared to ulcerated control group that showed moderate oedema with infiltration of inflammatory cells with mild vascular congestion in the mucosa. There is significant reduction in the macroscopic gastric mucosal lesions with percentage inhibition of 90%, 92%, 90% and 92% in the ZD (55%, 65% and 75%) and cimetidine group respectively.
 Conclusion: Results obtained from this study suggests that Zm diet may have anti-ulcerogenic properties by enhancing antioxidant enzymes as well as, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 mechanisms.

Assessment of efficacy of carboxytherapy in management of skin aging through evaluation of gene expression profile: a 2-split randomized clinical trial.

Skin aging is a continuous and irreversible process which results in impairment of the skin role as barrier against all aggressive exogenous factors. It mainly manifests by photoaging, laxity, sagging, wrinkling, and xerosis. Carboxytherapy is considered as a safe, minimally invasive modality used for rejuvenation, restoration, and recondition of the skin. In the current study, the efficacy of carboxytherapy in the treatment of skin aging was assessed through investigation of gene expression profile for Coll I, Coll III, Coll IV, elastin, FGF, TGF-β1, and VEGF. Our study is a 2-split clinical trial in which carboxytherapy was performed on one side of the abdomen in 15 cases with intrinsically skin aging manifestations weekly for 10 sessions, while the other side of the abdomen was left without treatment. Two weeks after the last session, skin biopsies were taken from both the treated and control sides of the abdomen in order to assess gene expression profile by qRT-PCR. The analysis of gene expression levels for all of Coll I, Coll III, Coll IV, elastin, TGF-β1, FGF and VEGF genes showed a statistically significant difference between the interventional and control groups. The findings for all of these seven genes showed increase in the interventional group, among which Coll IV, VEGF, FGF, and elastin showed the higher mean changes. Our study confirmed the effectiveness of carboxytherapy in treating and reversing the intrinsically aging skin.Clinical Trial Registration Code and Date of Registration: ChiCTR2200055185; 2022/1/2.

Clinical and Biological Predictors of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Clinical and epidemiological evidence has recently revealed a link between coronary artery disease (CAD) and cancer. Shared risk factors and common biological pathways are probably involved in both pathological conditions. The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether and which conventional risk factors and novel circulating biomarkers could predict cancer incidence and death in patients with CAD. The study included 750 CAD patients, who underwent blood sampling for the evaluation of systemic inflammatory indexes (NLR and SII) and specific biomarkers of oxidative damage (leukocyte telomere length (LTL), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn)). Study participants were followed up for a mean of 5.4 ± 1.2 years. Sixty-seven patients (8.9%) developed cancer during the follow-up time, and nineteen (2.5%) died of cancer. Cox multivariable analysis revealed that age (HR = 1.071; 95% CI: 1.034-1.109; p < 0.001), smoking habit (HR = 1.994; 95% CI: 1.140-3.488; p = 0.016), obesity (HR = 1.708; 95% CI: 1.022-2.854; p = 0.041) and SII (HR = 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001-1.003; p = 0.045) were associated with cancer incidence, while only age (HR = 1.132; 95% CI: 1.052-1.219; p = 0.001) was a predictor of cancer death. Patients with lung and gastrointestinal cancers had significantly higher median mtDNAcn levels than those without cancer. Our study suggests that aggressive risk factor modification and suppression of chronic inflammation may be essential to preventing cancer in CAD patients.