Group Of Normal Subjects Research Articles

The normalization trend of ventricular morphology after lateral ventricular tumor resection without additional diversion

Intraventricular tumors frequently provoke alterations in ventricular morphology. This study aims to quantificational assess perioperative dynamic fluctuations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume within the lateral ventricles of patients harboring lateral ventricular tumors. A retrospective review encompassing 90 patients who underwent surgical intervention for lateral ventricular tumors at our institution was undertaken. Comprehensive observations at multiple perioperative time points were conducted, and LVCV analyses were performed to delineate the longitudinal dynamic alterations in ventricular morphology. Additionally, LVCV measurements were juxtaposed with data from 19 healthy subjects to stratify patients into two cohorts: those exhibiting preoperative increased LVCV and those without such changes. After surgical excision of intraventricular tumors, alterations in LVCV were compared between these cohorts, with a factor analysis undertaken specifically among patients demonstrating increased LVCV to elucidate potential influencing variables. 40 patients (44.4%) diagnosed with intraventricular tumors presenting with enlarged preoperative LVCV [74.6 (49.3–101.8) cm3] compared with the normal subject group, and the LVCV demonstrated a significant postoperative [41.3 (27.6–67.5) cm3] reduction in 3 months (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, 50 patients (55.6%) without LVCV enlargement [14.5 (8.1–21.0) cm3] experienced a notable increase following surgery in 3 months [20.2 (14.1–33.3) cm3, p = 0.002]. Preoperative increased LVCV is an important factor leading to the increased LVCV postoperatively (p = 0.022, OR = 26.239), however, compared to healthy subjects, both groups exhibited a trend toward normalization of LVCV value postoperatively (p = 0.165, p = 0.072, respectively). Following appropriate surgical excision of the tumor, the preoperative increased LVCV associated with intraventricular tumors does not hinder the normalization trend of ventricular morphology. Not all ventricular dilation requires preventive long-term external ventricular drainage and aggressive ventriculoperitoneal shunt treatment.

Evaluation of anterior teeth crown-root morphology and alveolar bone structure in patients with closed deep overbite using cone beam computed tomography

This retrospective study used cone-beam computed tomography to investigated the crown-root morphology and alveolar bone structure in incisors region in subjects with closed deep overbite and comparison the difference between gender and age. The CBCT images for 40 subjects (group C) with Angle II division 2 were selected from patients of the HeFei Stomatological Hospital from November 2023 to March 2024.20 individual normal occlusion subjects (group A),20 patients with Angle II division 1(group B) were included. The crown-root ratio of the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, crown-root angle and alveolar bone structure were measured on the CBCT images, the data were statistically analyzed. In addition to mandibular lateral incisor, the crown-root ratio of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth in the Class II division 2 group was higher than that in the individual normal occlusion group and the Class II division 1 (P < 0. 05). The crown-root angle of maxillary anterior teeth in the Class II division 2 group was smaller than that in the individual normal occlusion group and the Class II division 1 (P < 0. 05). The alveolar bone thickness of the maxillary central incisor was comparatively smaller, while the alveolar bone height was relatively higher in the Class II division 2 group. Age and gender were associated with change in root lengths and crown-root angle for the Class II division 2 group (P < 0. 05). Patients with closed deep overbite malocclusion exhibit a significant difference compared to the controls for most measurements. The patients presenting with Class II division 2 malocclusion exhibit excessive inward positioning of the anterior teeth, resulting in evident crown-root angle, a large crown-root ratio, and minimal labial alveolar bone. In order to keep the tooth movement within the safe range of alveolar bone movement, it is necessary to strictly control the torque and use appropriate orthodontic force to reduce the risk of bone fenestration, bone dehiscence, gingival recession and root resorption.

Effects of Shugan Tiaoshen intradermal needling intervention on attentional networks in subthreshold depression: a randomized controlled trial

To analyze the effects of Shugan Tiaoshen (regulating liver and harmonizing spirit) intradermal needling protocol on the attentional networks of patients with subthreshold depression using the attention network test (ANT). Eighty patients with subthreshold depression were randomly divided into an intradermal needling group (40 cases) and a sham needling group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped out), with an additional 43 healthy subjects as a normal group. The intradermal needling group received intradermal needling treatment, while the sham needling group received sham intradermal needling, with the needle tip not penetrating the skin. The bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18), Shentang (BL 44) as well as auricular points Xin (CO15) and Gan (CO12) were selected alternately. Treatments were administered twice a week for a total of 6 weeks in the two groups. The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scores were observed before treatment, after 3 weeks of treatment, after treatment, and at 1 month after the end of treatment (follow-up), and the ANT of the two groups of patients with subthreshold depression before and after treatment as well as the normal group of healthy subjects was compared. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of the patients with subthreshold depression were decreased after 3 weeks of treatment, after treatment, and in follow-up in the two groups (P<0.05), the differences in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores before and after treatment were greater in the intradermal needling group than those in the sham needling group (P<0.01). Before treatment, the executive control network reaction time of the subthreshold depression group (the intradermal needling group and the sham needling group) was higher than that of the normal group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the executive control network reaction time of the patients in the intradermal needling group and the sham needling group was decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the alerting network reaction time of the intradermal needling group was increased after treatment (P<0.05); the difference in alerting network reaction time before and after treatment was greater in the intradermal needling group than that of the sham needling group (P<0.01). Regulating liver and harmonizing spirit intradermal needling protocol could effectively improve depressive and anxious symptoms in patients with subthreshold depression, and enhance the efficiency of the alerting network.

Using artificial intelligence and deep learning to optimise the selection of adult congenital heart disease patients in S-ICD screening

IntroductionThe risk of complications associated with transvenous ICDs make the subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) a valuable alternative in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). However, higher S-ICD ineligibility and higher inappropriate shock rates-mostly caused by T wave oversensing (TWO)- are observed in this population. We report a novel application of deep learning methods to screen patients for S-ICD eligibility over a longer period than conventional screening. MethodsAdult patients with ACHD and a control group of normal subjects were fitted with a 24-h Holters to record their S-ICD vectors. Their T:R ratio was analysed utilising phase space reconstruction matrices and a deep learning-based model to provide an in-depth description of the T: R variation plot for each vector. T: R variation was compared statistically using t-test. Results13 patients (age 37.4 ± 7.89 years, 61.5 % male, 6 ACHD and 7 control subjects) were enrolled. A significant difference was observed in the mean and median T: R values between the two groups (p < 0.001). There was also a significant difference in the standard deviation of T: R between both groups (p = 0.04). ConclusionsT:R ratio, a main determinant for S-ICD eligibility, is significantly higher with more tendency to fluctuate in ACHD patients when compared to a population with normal hearts. We hypothesise that our novel model could be used to select S-ICD eligible patients by better characterisation of T:R ratio, reducing the risk of TWO and inappropriate shocks in the ACHD patient cohort.

Evaluation of a Lipid Profile in Normoglycemic and Pre-diabetic Saudi Office Employees in Makka Region: A Case-Control Study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant health challenge worldwide. The impact of a sedentary lifestyle in predicting and managing complications of diabetes represents an urgent need for health strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the lipid profile among normoglycemic and prediabetic Saudi office workers. The research was a case-control study carried out in Makkah al-Mukarramah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA).Seventy-five office worker volunteers between the ages of 19 and 45 years were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups: a control group of non-diabetic normal subjects (NGT) and prediabetic subjects with impaired fasting plasma glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), based on the American Diabetes Association recommendations. Measurements of glucose, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were performed using standard procedures and commercial kits. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the lipid profile in the two groups, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A proportion (58.7%) of the office workers are prediabetics; prediabetic office workers had higher total cholesterol compared to the controlgroup (p < 0.05). Triglyceride levels were higher in office workers with prediabetes compared to the normoglycemic group (p < 0.05). LDL levels were elevated in the prediabetic office workerscompared to the control group (p < 0.05). Office employees with prediabetes exhibit elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL. The disturbance in lipid profile may be linked to impaired glucose tolerance in individuals with a sedentary lifestyle, such as office workers.

Lipoprotein Ratios: Correlation With Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) Among Thyroid Disorders' Patients.

Thyroid disorders and diabetes mellitus are prevalent conditions in the modern era. Moreover, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the established (prognostic as well as diagnostic) marker for long-term glycemic control, whereas the lipid profile is the marker for cardiovascular risks. The association of hypothyroidism with dyslipidemia is also a well-established fact. The current study explores a correlation between thyroid profile, glycemic status, and various lipoprotein indices. To look for an association between thyroid profile, glycemic status, and various lipoprotein indices. The cross-sectional study conducted at AIIMS Gorakhpur included a total of 108 subjects, with 37 normal subjects (Group I) and 71 patients) with T2DM (Type-2 diabetes mellitus) (Group II). Baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared for age, sex, presence of hypertension, fasting blood glucose, and body mass index (BMI). Blood samples were collected from the patients. The sera were analyzed for HbA1c and lipid profile, which included total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Serum samples were also used to estimate the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and triiodothyronine (fT3). The association between thyroid profile, glycemic status, and various lipoprotein indices was calculated. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality of the data. Spearmann correlation was used for nonparametric data. There were significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C levels in T2DM subjectsthan in non-diabetic subjects. There was also a significant positive correlation observed between TSH and TC among the normal control group (ρ =0.348, P=0.04). Similarly, significant positive correlations were found for TG (ρ =0.354, P=0.04) and LDL-C (ρ =0.431, P=0.03) among non-diabetic subjects. Among patients with T2DM, TSH was significantly correlated positively with TG (ρ =0.530, P=0.006) and LDL-C (ρ =0.443, P=0.03). Similarly, in the same group, among lipid ratios, TG/HDL-C (ρ =0.311, P=0.04) and LDL-C/HDL-C (ρ =0.227, P=0.05) were significantly correlated to TSH. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between TSH and HbA1c (ρ =0.301, P=0.04). fT3 was found to have a strong negative correlation with HbA1c among patients with T2DM (ρ =-0.454, P=0.02). Thyroid disorders exert significant effects on glycemic control and lipid metabolism, which may impact HbA1c levels and lipid profile parameters.

Dental and Alveolar Arch Widths in Normal Occlusion and Class II Division 1 Malocclusion

This study was to evaluate and compare dental arch and alveolar widths of patients with Class II division one malocclusion with group of untreated normal occlusion subjects. This study was performed using measurement on dental casts of 30 normal occlusion and 30 Class II division 1 malocclusion of Iraqi sample aged 15-22 years. T-test was applied for comparing the groups , the finding of this study indicated that maxillary interpremolar width, maxillary canine, maxillary premolar and maxillary first molar and mandibular premolar and molar alveolar widths were found significantly narrower in the Class II division 1 group when compared with the normal occlusion sample (P&lt;.001). The maxillary and mandibular intermolar and mandibular intercanine alveolar widths were statistically significantly larger in the Class II division 1 group ( P&lt;.01) . Maxillary molar teeth in subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion tend to incline to the buccal to compensate the insufficient alveolar base therefore rapid maxillary expansion rather than slow maxillary expansion should be considered during treat ment of Class II division 1 patients. The results of our study sugg ested that transverse discrepancy in Class II division one maloccl usion originated from upper posterior teeth and maxillary alveolar base.

Influence of diet and exercise adherence in diabetic cases and its impact on HbA1c

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;In a current cross-sectional experimental study, it was observed that the impact of diet and exercise on healthy life adherence in mature diabetes cases and their influence on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, average glucose) The diabetic patients (male and female) were anatomized in relation to adherence and suggested a diet with exercise plans that control the adverse effect of producing less insulin. A sample of 30 subjects, 30–50 years old, were selected randomly from 3 major hospitals (Jinnah, Mayo, and Services) and some private laboratories. A group of normal control subjects (N = 10) was also selected for further comparison. The HbA1c test has been taken before and after the implementation of the 12-week diet and exercise plan. This study utilized a simple random sampling technique, and normality was checked through the Shapiro-Wilk test. The data was analyzed through SPSS-22, and a paired sample t-test was utilized for further comparison. The lower HbA1c values indicate a better diabetes operation. These results clearly depicted that it controlled the worse effects of sugar patients, which also emphasizes the significance of adherence in achieving optimal glycaemic control. The result also concluded that a balanced diet and a combination of exercises control the glycaemic patients efficiently and effectively.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Technical aspects and validation of custom digital algorithms for hand volumetry.

Establishing baseline measurements on normative data is essential to evaluate standards of care and the impact of clinical or surgical treatments. Hand volume determination is relevant in pathological conditions where the anatomical structures might undergo modifications like post-treatment chronic edema. For example, one of the consequences of breast cancer treatment is the possibility of developing uni-lateral lymphedema on the upper limbs. Arm and forearm volumetrics are well-studied techniques, whereas hand volumetry computation poses several challenges both from the clinical and digital perspectives. The current work has explored routine clinical and customized digital methodologies for hand volume appraisal on healthy subjects. Clinical hand volumes computed by water displacement or circumferential measurements were compared to digital volumetry calculated from 3D laser scans. Digital volume quantification algorithms exploited the gift wrapping concept or cubic tessellation of acquired 3D shapes. This latter digital technique is parametric, and a calibration methodology to define the resolution of the tessellation has been validated. Results on a group of normal subjects demonstrated that the volumes computed from digital hand representations extracted by tessellation return values similar to the clinical water displacement volume assessment at low tolerances. The current investigation suggested that the tessellation algorithm could be considered a digital equivalent of water displacement for hand volumetrics. Future studies are needed to confirm these results in people with lymphedema.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of longitudinal and non-longitudinal components of right ventricular contraction: results from the World Alliance of Societies of Echocardiography study.

Right ventricular (RV) functional assessment is mainly limited to its longitudinal contraction. Dedicated three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) software enabled the separate assessment of the non-longitudinal components of RV ejection fraction (EF). The aims of this study were (i) to establish normal values for RV 3D-derived longitudinal, radial, and anteroposterior EF (LEF, REF, and AEF, respectively) and their relative contributions to global RVEF, (ii) to calculate 3D RV strain normal values, and (iii) to determine sex-, age-, and race-related differences in these parameters in a large group of normal subjects (WASE study). 3DE RV wide-angle datasets from 1043 prospectively enrolled healthy adult subjects were analysed to generate a 3D mesh model of the RV cavity (TomTec). Dedicated software (ReVISION) was used to analyse RV motion along the three main anatomical planes. The EF values corresponding to each plane were identified as LEF, REF, and AEF. Relative contributions were determined by dividing each EF component by the global RVEF. RV strain analysis included longitudinal, circumferential, and global area strains (GLS, GCS, and GAS, respectively). Results were categorized by sex, age (18-40, 41-65, and >65 years), and race. Absolute REF, AEF, LEF, and global RVEF were higher in women than in men (P < 0.001). With aging, both sexes exhibited a decline in all components of longitudinal shortening (P < 0.001), which was partially compensated in elderly women by an increase in radial contraction. Black subjects showed lower RVEF and GAS values compared with white and Asian subjects of the same sex (P < 0.001), and black men showed significantly higher RV radial but lower longitudinal contributions to global RVEF compared with Asian and white men. 3DE evaluation of the non-longitudinal components of RV contraction provides additional information regarding RV physiology, including sex-, age-, and race-related differences in RV contraction patterns that may prove useful in disease states involving the right ventricle.

Impact of learning effect on reliability factors and global indices in visual field testing by standard automated perimetry in normal healthy subjects and primary open-angle glaucoma patients to obtain an accurate baseline perimetry chart.

To record and evaluate the reliability parameters (fixation loss (FL) %, false positive (FP) %) and global indices (mean sensitivity (MS), mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation in dB) in three visual field test sessions within two weeks to assess the learning effect in normal healthy subjects and POAG patients and comparison of learning effect gender wise and age wise in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. This study was a prospective observational study. An oculus visual field testing was done and analyzed in 30 eyes of POAG patients and 30 eyes of normal healthy subjects in three visits. There were 16 (53.3%) males and 14 (46.6%) females in the POAG group and 16 (53.33%) males and 14 (46.66%) females in the normal healthy subject group. A significant difference in data change between each visit in FL, FP, MD, MS was found though the difference was more pronounced in the second visit than in the third visit. The pattern standard deviation does not change significantly in subsequent visits in both groups. Gender wise and age wise no significant difference was found in the POAG group. Significant improvement in reliability parameters and global indices with each subsequent visit in both the POAG group and normal patients signifies the importance of learning effect on these parameters and the need to perform at least three tests to get the baseline perimetry chart, especially in POAG patients, while in normal subjects, second perimetric result can be accepted. It was also concluded that the learning effect is not influenced by age and gender.

Apical sparing pattern during exercise echocardiography in patients with cardiac amyloidosis

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Apical sparing (AS) is an useful marker of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, this pattern can also be found in other conditions that lead to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVI), like hypertension (HT) or hypertropic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to assess the AS pattern at rest and exercise in patients with CA and LVI-no CA. We hypothesize that patients with CA may have the AS pattern preserved at exercise on the contrary to LVI-no CA, therefore increasing the specificity of this sign. Methods Teen patients with confirmed CA, 31 patients with LVI-no CA (17 HCM, 14 HT plus LVI), and 6 normal subjects were studied by treadmill exercise echocardiography, with assessment of global longitudinal strain (LS) and AS pattern at rest and at peak exercise (Pk-Ex). LVI-no CA and normal subjects should have age &amp;gt;60 y-o, no data of coronary artery disease, absence of ischemia, and LVEF&amp;gt;55%. A relative apical LS of 1.0, by the equation: average apical LS/(average basal LS + mid-LS)) was used for considering AS. Results Patients with CA were older (81±5 yo; LVI-no CA 70±8 yo; normal subjects 74±4 yo; p = 0.001), had lower LVEF (51±14; vs 66±9 the LVI-no CA, and 67±10 the normal subjects group; p = 0.001), and higher E/e´values (21±7, vs 18±10 the LVI-no CA, and 9±1 the normal subjects group; p = 0.03), but achieved similar workload in metabolic equivalents (METs) during exercise (6.3±2.9 METs vs 7.1±2.2 the LVI-no CA, and 7.6±2.7 METs the normal subjects group). AS at rest and Pk-Ex were 0.7±0.2 and 0.6±0.2 in LVI-no CA patients; 0.7±0.5 and 0.7±0.3 in normal subjects; and 1.6±0.8 and 1.2±0.4 in CA (&amp;lt;0.001 between groups either at rest or at Pk-Ex). The highest area under the ROC curve for diagnosing CA corresponded to AS at rest or Pk-Ex (0.86; 95% CI = 0.72–0.99, p = 0.001), followed by AS at Pk-Ex (0.81; 95% CI=0.63–0.99, p = 0.003), AS at rest (0.80; 95% CI=0.62–0.98, p 0.004) and AS at rest plus Pk-Ex (0.75; 95% CI=0.54–0.96, p = 0.02). Among CA patients 5/10 had AS at rest plus at Pk-ex, but none in non-CA subjects, given specificity and positive predictive value of 100%. (figure) In conclusion, AS during exercise adds information for the diagnosis of CA. In our sample, an AS pattern that persists during exercise was pathognomonic of cardiac amyloidosis.

Cellular diameter in desquamated cells of smokeless tobacco users

Background: Tobacco-induced mucosal changes have been identified in exfoliated cells. The morphology of the exfoliated cells depends on the nature of the changes taking place in the epithelial layer; conversely, alteration in cytological pattern may be attributed to the changes occurring in the epithelial layer. Applying this possibility, exfoliative cytological techniques have been applied to examine the effect of tobacco on the oral mucosa. Aims and Objectives: The study was conducted to study the alterations in the cellular diameter of buccal mucosal cells. Materials and Methods: In a case controlled study, 240 participants were divided into four groups according to their habit of consumption of tobacco leaves, tobacco with areca nut, participants with oral lesions, and participants without any such habit. The groups were, further, subdivided according to their age. Desquamated cells from the buccal mucosa of were collected and smeared on a slide. The cells were stained with Papanicolou (rapid kit). Fifty cells per slide were studied and photomicrographs were obtained at ×40 magnification. The cellular diameter was obtained using the Leica 1000 software. Results: The mean cell diameter was found to be highest in the group of normal subjects (49.51±7.31 micron), followed by the group of tobacco users (43.52±1.92 micron) and Gutkha users (39.05±3.57 micron). The mean cell diameter was minimum (24.97±3.13 micron) in the group of oral lesion patients. According to the ANOVA test, the difference in cell diameter among various groups is found to be highly significant (P&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: Tobacco used in any form can induce changes in the buccal mucosa. In our study, mean cellular diameter decreased from normal-cells to cells affected by oral lesions.

Virtual reality set-up for studying vestibular function during head impulse test.

Virtual reality (VR) offers an ecological setting and the possibility of altered visual feedback during head movements useful for vestibular research and treatment of vestibular disorders. There is however no data quantifying vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during head impulse test (HIT) in VR. The main objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and performance of eye and head movement measurements of healthy subjects in a VR environment during high velocity horizontal head rotation (VR-HIT) under a normal visual feedback condition. The secondary objective is to establish the feasibility of VR-HIT recordings in the same group of normal subjects but under altered visual feedback conditions. Twelve healthy subjects underwent video HIT using both a standard setup (vHIT) and VR-HIT. In VR, eye and head positions were recorded by using, respectively, an imbedded eye tracker and an infrared motion tracker. Subjects were tested under four conditions, one reproducing normal visual feedback and three simulating an altered gain or direction of visual feedback. During these three altered conditions the movement of the visual scene relative to the head movement was decreased in amplitude by 50% (half), was nullified (freeze) or was inverted in direction (inverse). Eye and head motion recording during normal visual feedback as well as during all 3 altered conditions was successful. There was no significant difference in VOR gain in VR-HIT between normal, half, freeze and inverse conditions. In the normal condition, VOR gain was significantly but slightly (by 3%) different for VR-HIT and vHIT. Duration and amplitude of head impulses were significantly greater in VR-HIT than in vHIT. In all three altered VR-HIT conditions, covert saccades were present in approximatively one out of four trials. Our VR setup allowed high quality recording of eye and head data during head impulse test under normal and altered visual feedback conditions. This setup could be used to investigate compensation mechanisms in vestibular hypofunction, to elicit adaptation of VOR in ecological settings or to allow objective evaluation of VR-based vestibular rehabilitation.

Correlation Analysis of Interleukin-6 on Blood Glucose in Prediabetes and Normal Glycemic Status

Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem whose incidence rate continues to increase yearly. Most people with diabetes mellitus go through the prediabetes phase. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are elevated but have not yet reached the criteria for diabetes mellitus. Low-grade chronic inflammation is one of the pathways known to interfere with insulin signalling that ultimately affects blood glucose levels. One of the most studied inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is interleukin-6 (IL-6). This study aims to determine whether there were differences in IL-6 levels between groups of prediabetes subjects and normal subjects and to observe the correlation between IL-6 levels and blood glucose. This study is useful in providing additional scientific evidence on the development of diabetes mellitus, especially in blood glucose regulation through inflammatory pathways. The design of this study was analytic observational in 71 subjects with prediabetes or normal glycemic status. Prediabetes status was established based on fasting blood glucose levels and glucose levels 2 hours post oral glucose tolerance test. Subjects with fasting blood glucose levels&gt; 125mg/ dl and who had a fever in the last week were excluded from the study. Interleukin 6 levels were measured based on the principle of enzyme-linked immunoassay. The correlation of interleukin 6 with glucose levels and other variables was analyzed using the spearmen test. The results showed that interleukin 6 levels did not differ between the prediabetes group and the normal group ((5.27 ± 2.55 pg/ml) vs (4.44 ± 2.46) respectively; (p=0.105)). There was no correlation between interleukin 6 level and fasting blood glucose level (r=0.014, p=0.908) and glucose level after the oral glucose tolerance test (r=-0.085, p=0.480). In this study, there was a significant correlation between body mass index with waist circumference (r=0.772, p=0.000) and glucose levels after the oral glucose tolerance test (r=0.240; p&lt;0.001). Recommends the addition of anti-inflammatory cytokines and variable insulin to assess further the effect of the inflammatory process on the glucose metabolism of subjects in future studies.

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome in chronic diseases: role of irisin as modulator of antioxidants.

Non-thyroidal-illness syndrome (NTIS) refers to condition found in chronic diseases that is an adaptive mechanism. However, oxidative stress is related to NTIS in a vicious circle, due to deiodinases alteration and negative effects of low T3 on antioxidant levels or activity. Muscle is one of the main targets of thyroid hormones and it can secrete a myokine named irisin, which is able to induce the browning of white adipose tissue, energy expenditure and protect against insulin resistance. Inconclusive data have been reported about irisin role in chronic diseases. Moreover, no correlation with antioxidants has been investigated. Therefore, we performed a case-control study with the primary endpoint to evaluate irisin levels in two models of NTIS, such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) during haemodialytic treatment. The secondary endpoint was the correlation with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) to establish a possible role of irisin in the modulation of antioxidant systems. Three groups of subjects were enrolled. Group A included CHF patients (n=18; aged 70.22 ± 2.78 ys; BMI ± 27.75 ± 1.28 kg/m2); Group B included CKD patients (n=29; aged 67.03 ± 2.64; BMI 24.53 ± 1.01); finally, 11 normal subjects (Group C) have been enrolled as controls. Irisin has been evaluated by ELISA method and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) by spectrophotometric method. Irisin was significantly higher in Group B vs. A and C groups (Mean ± SEM: 20.18 ± 0.61 ng/ml vs. 2.77 ± 0.77 and 13.06 ± 0.56, respectively; p<0.05); a significant correlation between irisin and TAC was observed in group B. These preliminary data suggest a possible role of irisin in the modulation of antioxidants in two chronic syndromes with low T3 (i.e., CHF and CKD) with differential pattern in these two models studied. Further insights are needed to confirm this pilot study, which could be the basis for a longitudinal investigation, to assess a prognostic role of irisin with possible therapeutic implications.

Loss of colour vision in patients at risk of developing diabetes

AbstractRecent studies carried out in diabetic patients with no more than moderate maculopathy revealed that over 70% had significant losses of both Yellow/Blue (YB) and Red/Green (RG) colour vision (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.F073.x). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether clinically ‘normal’ subjects, identified as being at ‘risk’ of developing diabetes show significant changes in rod‐ and cone‐mediated rapid flicker sensitivity as well as RG and YB colour vision.Three groups of subjects were recruited; a normal subject group (n = 40), a ‘high‐risk’ group (n = 150) and subjects diagnosed with diabetes (n = 23). The inclusion criteria for ‘high‐risk’ group required 3 or more recognized risk factors for diabetes (e.g., age &gt; 45, HbA1C &gt;5.7, high blood pressure, smoking history, high BMI, family history of diabetes, FPG levels &gt;100 mg/dL). All subjects had full ophthalmic assessment and their RG and YB colour vision, Functional Contrast Sensitivity (FCS), Visual Acuity (VA) and Rod‐ and Cone‐mediated flicker sensitivity were measured using AVOT tests (https://researchcentres.city.ac.uk/applied-vision/avot).Consistent with previous findings, the diabetic group show significant loss of both RG and YB colour vision. Our findings show that these subjects also exhibit higher thresholds for rod and cone mediated vision. In addition, the ‘high‐risk’ group who are clinically classified as ‘normal’, also show significant loss of colour vision and rod and cone sensitivity. The latter group, do not, however, show significant differences in either VA or FCS. These findings suggest that accurate assessment of colour vision and rod‐ and cone‐ mediated rapid flicker sensitivity qualify as important risk factors in prediabetic screening.

Seismocardiography as a tool for assessment of bi-ventricular pacing

Objective. Conduction-induced heart failure in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) can benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, some patients are non-responders to the therapy with one contributing factor being poor optimization of the atrioventricular (AV) pacing delay. In this study, we have investigated the pacing-induced changes in the seismocardiogram (SCG). Approach. 14 patients with heart failure, LBBB, and CRT were included. SCG was recorded with pacing turned on and off. Based on a mean SCG heartbeat from each patient, fiducial points were annotated, and cardiac timing intervals (CTI) and amplitudes were derived. These were compared between the CRT group and a group of healthy normal subjects (n = 14). Echocardiography was also used to derive CTI. Intervals derived from the SCG and echocardiogram were correlated. Main results. The isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT) derived from SCG was significantly shorter in the CRT group when the pacemaker was turned on (63.2–52.6 ms, p = 0.027). The first peak-to-peak amplitude in the systolic complex was significantly larger with the pacemaker turned on (p = 0.002), as well as the ∣max-min∣ amplitude in the systolic complex (p = 0.003). Isovolumetric relaxation time and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) were not significantly different between pacemaker settings. Compared to normal subjects, IVCT was significantly prolonged with the pacemaker turned off. All amplitudes were significantly larger in the healthy subject group. IVCT and LVET derived from SCG were significantly correlated to the echocardiogram. Significance. IVCT shortened and SCG amplitudes increased in response to CRT, indicating a more efficient ventricular contraction. This demonstrates the possibility to detect cardio-mechanic changes in response to treatment with the SCG. However, for the patients the systolic part of the SCG was abnormal and difficult to characterize, raising concerns about the correct interpretation of the SCG.

Structure-Function correlation using optical coherence tomography in normal subjects, preperimetric and manifest primary open-angle glaucoma.

Background Primary open-angle glaucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy. Diagnosis and monitoring require several functional and structural investigations. Structure-function correlation is a capital step of the management. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between tomographic and functional parameters in normal, preperimetric and manifest glaucoma cases. Methods This retrospective analytical study included 275 eyes (152 cases). Participants were divided into 3 groups: 33 normal subjects, 32 patients with preperimetric glaucoma and 87 patients with manifest glaucoma. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, a visual field and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Results Correlation between functional and tomographic parameters was non-significant in the group of normal or preperimetric glaucoma subjects. Regarding manifest glaucoma group, mean deviation (MD) was significantly correlated with all tomographic parameters (p&lt;0.001). The loss variance (LV) was significantly correlated with tomographic assessment of Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC). The regression studies of (MD - RNFL /GCC) and (LV - GCC) had significant results with nonlinear models (p &lt;0.001). Linear and polynomial models were used to correlate LV and average RNFL (p=0,275). Conclusions No structure-function correlation was observed at the preperimetric stage. However, MD correlated with tomographic parameters more than LV in manifest glaucoma group. Curvilinear function might be the appropriate model for the structure-function relationship assessment. Key words Primary open-angle glaucoma; Retinal ganglion cells; Retinal nerve fiber; Optical coherence tomography; Correlation.

Fecobionics characterization of female patients with fecal incontinence

Defecatory disorders including fecal incontinence (FI) are diagnosed on the symptom pattern supplemented by anorectal manometry (ARM), the balloon expulsion test (BET), and endo-anal ultrasonography. In this study, we used a simulated stool named Fecobionics to study distinct defecation patterns in FI patients using preload-afterload diagrams and to provide comparative data on defecation indices (DIs) between passive and urge incontinent patients. All subjects had Fecobionics, endo-anal ultrasonography and ARM-BET done. The Fecobionics bag was distended in rectum until urge in 37 female patients (64.1 ± 1.5 yrs) and a group of normal subjects (NS, 12F, age 64.8 ± 2.8 yrs). Rear-front pressure (preload-afterload) diagrams and DIs were compared between groups. The FISI score in the patients was 8.6 ± 0.6. The NS did not report FI-related symptoms. All patients and NS defecated Fecobionics and ARM-BET within 2 min. The urge volume was 46.1 ± 3.6 and 35.3 ± 5.9 mL in the FI and normal groups (P > 0.1). The expulsion duration was 14.8 ± 2.4 and 19.8 ± 5.1 s for the two groups (P > 0.1). The preload-afterload diagrams demonstrated clockwise loops that clearly differed between the FI subtypes and NS. The DIs showed profound difference between patients and NS. Fecobionics data showed higher correlation with symptoms in FI patients than ARM-BET. Fecobionics obtained novel pressure signatures in subtypes of FI patients and NS. Fecobionics provides DI data that cannot be obtained with ARM-BET.