First Time In Life Research Articles

The primary morbidity of infectious and parasitic diseases in the structure of all diseases registered for the first time in life in the Russian Federation and the Northern Caucasian Federal okrug

In conditions of increased population migration, studying the situation on incidence of infectious and parasitogenic diseases is an actual problem. Particularly relevant is the analysis of newly detected incidence in the dynamics, which will allow to assess the well-being of the epidemiological situation in the region. Purpose of the study is to analyze the situation with incidence of some infectious and parasitogenic diseases and their share in the structure of other classes of diseases. The data from the Federal statistical monitoring in 2010-2017 were used related to the Russian Federation and the North Caucasus region. It is demonstrated that the incidence of diseases in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Stavropol region increased while it decreased at the National level. At that, there was a decreasing of incidence of some infectious and parasitogenic diseases both in the Russian Federation and in the North Caucasus Federal District with instability of indices in the Stavropol Krai. In the structure of primarily diagnosed diseases, infectious and parasitogenic diseases both in the the Russian Federation and in the North Caucasus Federal Okrug occupy the in the ranking table tenth point and sixth point in the Stavropol Krai. The results of the study demonstrated multi-directional trends in the dynamics of morbidity in the Russian Federation and the North Caucasus Federal Okrug. The decrease in the percentage of infectious and parasitogenic diseases testifies the improvement of epidemiological situation in overall.

David E. Balk: Dealing with Dying, Death, and Grief During Adolescence

In his book, Dealing with Dying, Death, and Grief during Adolescence, David E. Balk offers perspective into grief counseling and child and adolescent psychotherapy when adolescents are faced with the reality of death early in life. In his early chapters, Balk addresses adolescent development and the changes that adolescents experience. Once he has established a framework for adolescence, he examines how adolescents cope with death and grief when faced with the loss of someone they care about, or are themselves faced with a life threatening illness. He discusses interventions to assist adolescents in their coping and even brings to light recent studies and statistics relevant to adolescents dealing with life crises. Death and bereavement have hugely impact adolescents’ lives, and Balk’s book is an educational guide for clinicians and counselors who are committed to supporting adolescents during a time when they are facing these difficult experiences for the first time in life. He gives professionals and more general readers an understanding of adolescent development, their experience with death and grief, and the tools to help adolescents cope with these events in a simple but informative manner. He also offers insight into the future of thanatology, the study of death, and the progressions it has made over the years. In Chapter 1, ‘‘Adolescent Development and Serious Life Crises,’’ Balk informs readers about the reality of adolescence and how development is affected by life crises. The world and many parents view adolescence as a time of turmoil, conflict, and distress, but in actuality this is only valid for a small percentage of adolescents. Although adolescence is a perplexing time of physical, cognitive, interpersonal, and self-awareness changes, studies show that most adolescents consider their lives to be calm and satisfying. Counselors and researchers are often surprised by their resiliency in life crises, such as an adolescent becoming seriously or terminally ill, or grieving the death of someone close to them. Balk makes readers aware that, while these life crises present catalysts for growth and transformation, they also present conflicts in development. There are three phases of adolescent development: early, middle, and late. With each stage, an adolescent is expected to show growth, and the overall goal is to be able to master responsibility, intimacy, and individuality. At each stage, the adolescent has cognitive, behavioral, and affective responses. In a life crisis, any negative aspects or emotions of conflict seem to be heightened and place the adolescent in a more fragile state. In Chapter 2, ‘‘Adolescent Development,’’ Balk takes a further look into adolescents’ development and a specific look at the physical, cognitive, and personal changes that are important to note during adolescence. During this time, they achieve reproductive maturity, develop cognitive skills that far exceed those they had in childhood, and begin to use their experiences to reflect, reason, and see other points of view. On top of all these changes, adolescents’ brains are changing as well. Balk describes what has the potential to be very complex and confusing to readers, in very simple terms. The bottom line is that there are changes in the grey and white matter of the brain that allow metacognitive skills to emerge during adolescence. Throughout all of these changes is the strive for selfidentity. Balk summarizes the theories of Erikson, Marcia, and Josselon for readers to understand the extent of the process of achieving self-identity and all of the different & Taylor Burris tdburris@indiana.edu

Assessment of Air Pollution Effects on the Respiratory System Based on Pulmonary Function Tests Performed During Spirometry Days.

The Polish Spirometry Day is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the causes, symptoms, course, and effects that accompany respiratory diseases, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2013, the second edition of the Spirometry Day was held. It gathered 180 medical centers and other institution. The final analysis encompassed a total of 1187 persons from 26 different locations, including rural areas, and smaller and larger city agglomerations. Of this total, 755 persons (63.6 %) completed their spirometry tests for the first time in life. Each person fulfilled a questionnaire regarding the personal information, respiratory diseases, symptoms, lifestyle, and a place of residence. In the total group, 234 (19.7 %) cases of bronchial obstruction were diagnosed. A hundred and thirty four persons with obstruction, among those tested for the first time in life (17.8 %), were unaware of their disease. The lowest values of FEV1 and FEF(1)/FVC, corresponding to the highest percentage of persons with obstruction (27.9 %) were observed in small and medium cities (100,000-500,000 inhabitants). There were differences in the prevalence of obstruction depending on the distance of the place of residence from a busy traffic road. A significant decrease of both spirometric variables was observed among people living in cities above 100,000 inhabitants within a distance lower than 50 m from roads. In general, better spirometry results were observed among inhabitants living more than 150 m from main roads.

Characterization of Pubertal Development Phases in Female Longtooth Grouper, Epinephelus bruneus via Classification of Bodyweight.

Puberty is the developmental period which animals obtain the ability of reproducing sexually for the first time in life. In commercially important aquaculture fish species, the onset of puberty is a matter of major interest due to controlling of sexual maturation to improve broodstock management. To investigate pubertal characteristics of female longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), specimens were classified into three groups by the bodyweight, including 1, 2, and 3 kg group. Thereafter, we focused on ovarian development and level changes of endocrine regulation factors (GnRH, GTHs, steroid hormone). In the non-breeding season (April), the levels of endocrine regulation factors showed increasing trends in accordance with bodyweight gaining; nevertheless, the oocytes were growth phase belongs to almost peri-nucleous stages in all groups. In the breeding season (June), the levels of endocrine regulation factors were fluctuated that decreases in levels of sbGnRH and FSHβ mRNA expressions along with serum E2 concentrations in 3 kg of group. However, LHβ mRNA expression levels sustained increasing trends by the bodyweight. Moreover, the oocytes developed that 2 kg and 3 kg groups obtained plentiful vitellogenic oocytes while 1 kg group was still composed with greater part of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. Especially, the oocytes of 3 kg group reached over 450 μm of diameters that indicating possibility to enter the final maturations. These results suggest that the progress of pubertal development in female E. bruneus could be classify into three phases via bodyweight, including pre-puberty (1 kg), early-puberty (2 kg) and puberty (3 kg).

Antibiotic prescribing pattern in paediatric in patients with first time wheezing

BackgroundAcute wheezers for the first time in life are an important target group for efforts aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of clinical, laboratory and radiological data on the decision to prescribe antibiotics to paediatric patients with first time wheezing as well as to seek criteria that would justify antibiotic use.MethodsA prospective study was made of 47 previous healthy children admitted to our hospital with first time wheezing in life between October 2008- March 2009. All the patients were treated as per the treating unit's protocol with oxygen, bronchodilators with or without antibiotics. The cases were analyzed after discharge and the characteristics of those treated with antibiotics (n = 23) were compared with those who were not (n = 24) and analyzed statistically to find the predictors for antibiotic usage.ResultsThe mean age of the study groups was 5.8 (+/- 5.1) months. Among the clinical and investigational parameters, presence of predominant crackles and abnormalities on radiograph were the major determinants for antibiotic usage. There were no significant differences in final outcome between these groups.ConclusionAntibiotic usage in first time wheezers is still quite prevalent. Presence of crackles and radiological abnormalities often prompt the usage of antibiotics in such cases.

Refractory status epilepticus: A developing country perspective

Objective To analyse the underlying causes, therapeutic response and outcomes of convulsive refractory status epilepticus (RSE). Methodology This retrospective analysis was carried on 98 patients with RSE (age: 16.9 ± 14.5 years). All had received a combination of parenteral benzodiazepine and phenytoin or phenobarbitone followed by other anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). The clinical, EEG, imaging features of convulsive RSE and long-term seizure outcome were analysed. Results Seventy six patients had de novo RSE for the first time in life. The mean duration of RSE, before and during NICU admission was 3.4 ± 3.2 days and 2.9 ± 2.4 days respectively. The mean duration of NICU stay and mechanical ventilation was 17.4 ± 14.5 was 14.4 ± 12.8 days respectively. The precipitating factors included viral fever — 13, AEDs stoppage — 7 and alcohol — 1. EEG was abnormal in 81.5% of patients. CT and MRI were abnormal in 63.4% and 82.3% respectively. Thirty-four patients died and compared to those surviving, patients were older, had lesser duration of NICU stay and elevated CSF protein. Dependence for activities of daily living (ADL) at discharge was: recovered — 29, mild to moderate — 13 and severe — 22. Seizure outcome in 64 patients after 43.5 ± 58.2 weeks were — seizure-free: 65.6%, one seizure: 21.8%, > 1 seizure/month: 14.1%, and seizure recurrence requiring admission: 1.5%. After six and twelve months of follow up, the long-term seizure outcome were: seizure-free: 48.3% and 28.6%; one seizure: 27.6% and 38.1%; > 1 seizure/month: 20.7% and 28.6%; and seizure recurrence requiring admission: 3.4% and 4.7% respectively. Among those survived 49 de novo RSE, about one-third developed post-SE symptomatic seizures after 30.1 ± 54.4 weeks. Conclusions Seizures could still be controlled in two-thirds of patients with convulsive RSE. About 30% of patients achieved long-term seizure freedom.

Intracerebral haemorrhage due to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Sir, Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a common cause of stroke in young in India especially during post-partum period.1 It has diverse clinical presentations including headache, seizures and focal neurological deficit in various combinations. In the causes of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), CVST is not mentioned in standard text. A Medline search using terms ICH and CVST revealed only four articles comprising of eight patients.2–5 In last 3 years we have managed 33 patients with CVST and three of them had ICH and were initially misdiagnosed as aneurysmal or arteriovenous venous malformation (AVM) bleed. We report these patients and review the contemporary literature. A 65-year-old female presented with sudden onset of left sided headache for first time in life 2 weeks back associated with vomiting. For 2 days she was unable to recognize her relatives and gradually became comatose. Her blood pressure was 120/86 mm of Hg and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 7. She had bilateral papilloedema. There was no focal weakness. Tendon reflexes were brisk and plantar bilaterally extensor. Her systemic examination was normal. …

Do Individual Females Differ Intrinsically in Their Propensity to Engage in Extra-Pair Copulations?

BackgroundWhile many studies have investigated the occurrence of extra-pair paternity in wild populations of birds, we still know surprisingly little about whether individual females differ intrinsically in their principal readiness to copulate, and to what extent this readiness is affected by male attractiveness.Methodology/FindingsTo address this question I used captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) as a model system. I first measured female readiness to copulate when courted by a male for the first time in life. Second, I conducted choice-chamber experiments to assess the mating preferences of individual females prior to pair formation. I then paired females socially with a non-desired mate and once they had formed a stable pair bond, I observed the inclination of these females to engage in extra-pair copulations with various males. Females showing a high readiness to copulate when courted by a male for the first time in life were much more likely to engage in extra-pair copulations later in life than others. Male attractiveness, as measured in choice tests, was a useful predictor of whether females engaged in extra-pair copulations with these males, but, surprisingly, the attractiveness of a female's social partner had no effect on her fidelity. However, it remained unclear what made some males more attractive than others. Contrary to a widespread but rarely tested hypothesis, females did not preferentially copulate with males having a redder beak or singing at a higher rate. Rather it seemed that song rate was a confounding factor in choice-chamber experiments: song attracted the female's attention but did not increase the male's attractiveness as a copulation partner.Conclusions/SignificanceIntrinsic variation in female readiness to copulate as well as variation in the attractiveness of the extra-pair male but not the social partner decided the outcome of extra-pair encounters.