Second Group Of Subjects Research Articles

Baclofen in alcohol use disorder: An analysis of the data provided by the French "Temporary Recommendation for Use" 2014-2017 cohort.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a devastating illness for which effective treatments are lacking. Studies over the last two decades have shown that baclofen, a GABA-B agonist, could be a promising treatment for AUD. However, the efficacy of baclofen is still controversial, and studies have shown that it may be associated with an excess of hospitalizations and deaths. In March 2014, the French Health Safety Agency granted a “Temporary Recommendation for Use” (TRU) regulating the prescription of baclofen in subjects with AUD. The TRU allowed physicians to prescribe high-dose baclofen (up to 300 mg/d). The doses were adjusted, and tailored to the needs of each patient. Between March 2014 and March 2017, TRU clinical data were collected for a total of 6,939 subjects. The recorded data included information on alcohol consumption, the intensity of alcohol cravings, and adverse events. The present article proposes an analysis of the data provided by the TRU. Subjects for which data were missing regarding baclofen daily dosage, alcohol consumption or craving scores were discarded from the analyses. A cohort of two groups of subjects was analyzed. The first group included all TRU subjects suitable for analyses (5,550 subjects), and the second group included subjects followed for at least 365 days (169 subjects). Comparisons were made between baseline and endpoint of the follow-up period. The results show that a majority of subjects in the whole cohort had received doses of over 80 mg/d. The mean dose of baclofen at the endpoint was >110 mg/d in the second group of subjects. Doses of >80 mg/d were not associated with an increase in adverse events after adjustment for the follow-up duration. In terms of efficacy, comparisons between baseline and endpoint show that baclofen treatment significantly decreased alcohol consumption and alcohol cravings, and significantly increased the number of subjects with null or low-risk alcohol consumption according to WHO criteria.

Suitability of online and offline remote recording for vowel reduction analysis

Increasing demand for remote research techniques has led to several initial investigations of the suitability of remote recording for vowel production research. An initial consensus has emerged that remote recording may provide broadly accurate data for broad-strokes analysis, such as analyzing the relative positions of a speaker’s vowels, although some minor distortions may occur; fine-grained analysis of sociolinguistic variation suffers greatly from remote data collection (Freeman and De Decker, 2021). This study investigates the quality of data obtainable through two remote recording methods (online recording through Gorilla and offline recording via smartphone) for a vocalic phenomenon requiring a medium level of sensitivity of analysis, namely vowel reduction. Ten subjects completed a shadowing task eliciting target words containing one of five English vowels in reduced or unreduced form, taking simultaneous online and offline remote recordings. To determine whether the variability introduced through the remote recording process was sufficient to alter the findings of the study, results were compared to data from a second group of subjects who completed the task in person in a traditional laboratory setting. This comparison to in-person data allows for an assessment of the suitability of online and offline remote recordings for vowel reduction research.

Myopia Progression During COVID19 Pandemic at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose: The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to many countries implementing a population lockdown. This study was designed to investigate the myopic changes that occurred during lockdown due to the COVID19 pandemic in Pakistan. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study, was conducted on patients presenting to the out-patients department with symptoms suggesting a refractive problem. Subjects with a Mean Spherical Equivalent (MSE) level of myopia of at least -0.50DS were included. The second group of subjects that had emmetropia (MSE between -0.25DS and +0.25DS) was recruited. All subjects (including adults) underwent cycloplegic refraction and used objective and subjective techniques, to exclude any pseudo-myopia due to accommodation. Results: A total of 900 subjects were enrolled from 4 to 24 years. The myopia group consisted of 473 subjects (256 females) and the emmetropia group consisted of 427 subjects (224 females). There was no statistical difference in the ages of the groups. Both groups showed an increase in their level of myopia, which was statistically higher in the emmetropic group (p<0.001). Further analysis was conducted, splitting the subjects into four age groups: 4-8 years; 9-12 years; 13-19 years; and 19-24 years. All age groups showed an increase in the magnitude of myopia, with the oldest age group showing the least increase, which was statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusions: An increase in the magnitude of myopia was seen in all subjects and across all age groups, but more so in the younger subjects.

COMPARISON OF FREE RADICAL LIPID PEROXIDATION PROCESSES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GLAUCOMA.

The aim: To investigate and compare the effects of free radical lipid peroxidation, antioxidant supply and the state of hydro- and hemodynamics of the eye on the course and progression of the glaucoma process in patients with primary and secondary glaucoma. Materials and methods: We observed 123 patients with primary and secondary glaucoma and 58 apparently healthy individuals, constituting the control group. The first group included 62 patients diagnosed with primary compensated glaucoma. The remaining 61 patients, who constituted the second group of subjects, were included in the study with a diagnosis of secondary compensated glaucoma. Results: Clinical examination of patients with primary compensated glaucoma in winter demonstrates a statistically significant decrease in intraocular fluid production, decreased outflow and reduced actual intraocular pressure, whereas in summer and autumn these figures were less pronounced. Observations of patients with secondary compensated glaucoma also showed a statically significant decrease in the production of chamber fluid and a decrease in the coefficient of outflow in winter. Similar tendencies were confirmed by hemodynamic changes. During this period, the relative pulse volume of the blood entering the eye is significantly reduced, in the summer and autumn period, the deficit of blood supply to the eye is less pronounced. Conclusions: The results of the research indicate the proliferative form of peroxide mechanisms in the pathogenesis of glaucoma of both types, which is the basis for using inhibitors of free radical lipid oxidation - antioxidant preparations - in the comprehensive therapy of these diseases. The identified features of clinical and biochemical disorders, based on the season of examination, are the basis for the development of differentiated regimens for the use of antioxidants in the treatment of glaucoma.

Comparison of Effect of Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry) with and without Honey on Hemoglobin, RBC and PCV among Adolescents

Introduction: Phyllanthus emblica commonly known by names such as Indian gooseberry, amla belongs to the Phyllanthaceae. The plant is used as a medicine and tonic which is highly nutritious and forms an important dietary source of vitamin C and amino acids. Honey is rich in iron which helps in boosting the hemoglobin content in blood by increasing their synthesis. Complete blood count (CBC) is an array of tests to evaluate the cells in the blood which are the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. 
 Aim: The aim of the study is to compare the effect of Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry) with and without honey on hemoglobin, RBC (Red Blood Cell) and PCV (Packed cell volume) among adolescents. 
 Materials and Methods: Ten adolescents including both male and female were selected as subjects for the study. The first group of subjects were categorised to consume gooseberry alone and the second group of subjects were categorised to consume gooseberry along with honey. After 15 days, CBC was taken for the subjects of both groups to analyse the results. Independent ‘t’ test was applied to evaluate the significance of clinical trials performed in two groups. 
 Results and Discussion: The participant history included fatigueness, pallor, menstrual history, blood pressure, pulse. There is an increase in the mean value of Hb (Hemoglobin), RBC (Red Blood Cell), HCT (Hematocrit), MCV (Mean corpuscular volume), MCH (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin) and RDW (Red cell distribution width). Independent statistical analysis showed that p value is not significant as all the values are not <0.05.
 Conclusion: The present study concludes that gooseberry with honey supplementation has shown better results than gooseberry supplementation but it is not statistically significant. It is evident that gooseberry has nutritive and restorative properties. Daily use of gooseberries is safe and can show more significant increase in counts of RBC, Hb in longer duration.

Persons participating in notarial proceedings

The article is devoted to the characteristics of the second group of subjects of notarial procedural legal relations, which includes persons involved in notarial proceedings, their concept and composition. The signs (features) of the persons participating in notarial proceedings are formulated. Such features are: 1) the presence of a legal interest in notarial proceedings; 2) implementation of procedural actions aimed at the emergence, development and termi-nation of notarial proceedings; 3) such persons should be recognized as subjects of proving the facts that need to be established in the notarial process. The debatable issue in legal science on the structure, range and name of indi-vidual subjects of notarial procedural legal relations within the circle of persons involved in notarial proceedings is analyzed. The position is expressed and substantiated that the basis of construction of the structure of the specified subjects of notarial process, can be the corresponding doctrine about participants of civil procedural legal relations in the theory of civil process. However, the notarial process requires the formation of its conceptual apparatus. In this regard, the author proposes to call the parties or participants in the substantive legal relationship (participants in the notarial process) as parties to the notarial proceedings, within which to distinguish between applicants, ie persons who apply to a notary and whose application is notarized, and persons involved , as persons who have a material and legal interest in the case, are involved in notarial proceedings in order to protect or defend their rights and interests.It is concluded that the parties in the notarial process are such subjects of notarial procedural legal relations, which act in the notarial process in their own interests and based on their legal status: participate in the creation of a substantive legal relationship, which is submitted to a notary or relevant legal fact (1); are persons whose material rights and obligations arise from a legal fact certified by a notary (2); are persons-participants of a substantive legal relationship in which a notary certifies the relevant substantive law (3).

PECULIARITIES OF DETERMINING THE GASTRIC ACID SECRETION AND DIABETIC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PANCREATITIS AND TYPE 2 DIABETES

The aim: Is to determine the peculiarities of changes in the gastric acid secretion against the background of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Materials and methods: We investigated 64 patients with CP and T2DM, who were included in the first group of the patients examined; Group II consisted of 40 patients with T2DM; and Group III of the patients examined consisted of 34 patients with CP. Results: Differences were found in assessing the degree of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in the examined patients, namely - the most pronounced ANS dysfunction according to the Wayne questionnaire was diagnosed in patients Group I, while patients of Group III. Analysis of gastric acid secretion indicates that no patients of Group III had normal acidity. Normal acidity is more often found in the second group of subjects. Both in patients with CP and T2DM, and in isolation with CP, moderate hyperacidity was more often determined. Conclusions: The predominance of the parasympathetic division of the ANS, as well as manifestations of severe ANS dysfunction, are observed in patients with CP and T2DM. The prevalence of gastric hyperacidity on the background of DAN was established in patients with CP and T2DM. In this case, the absence of clinical symptoms or their minimal severity is determined, which indicates the lesion of the digestive tract in these patients.

In Vivo Human Gastrocnemius Architecture With Changing Joint Angle at Rest and During Graded Isometric Contraction of Normal and Weak Muscle

Architectural properties of the triceps surae muscles complex were determined In Vivo for thirty subjects. These subjects were assigned to two groups. The first group of subjects consisted of 8 healthy men and the second group of subjects was composed of 22 patients with motor disorders. The ankle was positioned at -15 ° (dorsiflexion), and 0 ° (neutral anatomical position), and 15 °, and 30 ° (plantarflexion), with the knee set at 120 °and with an angle in the ankle joint of 90 °. At each position, longitudinal ultrasonic images of the Medial (MG) and Lateral (LG) Gastrocnemius and Soleus (SOL) muscles were obtained while the subject was relaxed (passive) and performed 50 % maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion (active), from which fascicle Lengths (L) and angles (Θ) with respect to the aponeuroses were determined. From the ultrasonic image, it was observed that and Θ changed during an isometric contraction of the triceps surae muscle. Changes in L and were expressed as a function of relative torque. The Θ change was not identical for the three muscles. The fascicle Θ of MG demonstrated the greatest variation in three muscles. The effects of activation and relaxation positions were significant in all three muscles. The differences in MG fascicle Θ because of changes in ankle positions were significant among control and patients both in the passive and active conditions. Fascicle Θ of LG and SOL not differed among control and patient in the relaxation condition but not in the activation condition. For LG, and SOL ol fascicle Θ were changes were larger in control with the patients. The mean values fascicle Θ of MG, LG, and SOL an isometric contraction (50 % MVC) in the control groups increased by 60 %, 41 %, and 41 %, respectively; in the patient groups were a smaller increase, by 28 %, 26 %, and 36 %, respectively. Different lengths and angles of fascicles, and their changes bу contraction by patients and normal subjects, might bе related to differences in force-producing capabilities of the muscles and elastic characteristics of tendons and aponeuroses.

Development and Characterization of a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) Lexicon for Virginia Hard (Alcoholic) Ciders

In the United States, the market for “hard” (alcoholic) ciders is growing rapidly, with over $1 billion USD in sales in 2018. These ciders present a broad range of sensory profiles, especially for small-production ciders from craft and local cideries, which represent at least 25% of the market. Unfortunately, the sensory profiles that characterize craft ciders are not well-defined in comparison to wine and beer. The cider industry and small, local craft cideries in particular could benefit from a uniform language to identify sensory attributes that are desirable (or undesirable) among their products—this study explores the feasibility and utility of one such descriptive lexicon. For lexicon development, a first group of panelists (N 1 = 28) smelled and tasted Virginia ciders (K 1 = 6) and described, in their own words, their impressions of each cider. These open-ended comments were analyzed using classical text analysis to generate 26 sensory attributes for the Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) lexicon. A second group of subjects (N 2 = 56) smelled and tasted a second set of Virginia ciders (K 2 = 6) for the CATA validation; subjects rated overall liking (9-point hedonic scale) and selected CATA attributes for each sample. Twenty-one of the CATA attributes discriminated among the samples, correspondence analysis (CA) indicated that the attributes adequately spanned the sensory space for Virginia ciders, and penalty-lift analysis revealed attributes that were associated with consumer liking. This study demonstrates that a uniform descriptive language like a CATA can be used to describe hard cider and can be linked to consumer liking.

Plukdymo poveikis kūdikių motorinei raidai ir fizinei sveikatai

Tyrimo pagrindimas. Kūdikių motorikos sutrikimai ir sulėtėjęs judesių tobulinimo etapas yra opios šiuolaikinės visuomenės problemos. Viena iš pagrindinių to priežasčių – vaiko fizinė sveikata, nes kūdikystėje organizmas yra jautresnis lengvai plintančioms ligoms. Remiantis per pastarąjį šimtmetį sukaupta moksline literatūra, efektyviausia reabilitacijos priemonė, skirta imuninės sistemos stiprinimui ir sutrikusiai motorinei raidai koreguoti, yra individuali fizinė Tikslas – įvertinti plukdymo poveikį kūdikių motorinei raidai ir fizinei Metodai. Buvo tiriami 34 kūdikiai (6–18 mėn. amžiaus), neturintys įgimtų sveikatos sutrikimų ar įgytų traumų. Pirmą tiriamųjų grupę sudarė 17 kūdikių, lankiusių plukdymo užsiėmimus daugiau nei 3 mėnesius, antrą – 17 kūdikių, nelankiusių baseino. Tyrimo metu buvo vertinama kūdikių motorika pagal Peabody motorinės raidos skalę ir analizuojama fizinės sveikatos būklė naudojantis anketinės apklausos Rezultatai. Lyginant abiejų grupių surinktų procentilių, amžiaus ekvivalento, amžiaus ekvivalento ir chronologinio amžiaus vidurkių skirtumus, pasiskirstymą pagal atitinkamas reikšmes, apibūdinančias tiriamojo motorinę raidą, pastebėta, kad pirmos grupės, lankiusios plukdymo užsiėmimus, rodikliai yra statistiškai reikšmingai geresni nei antros (p < 0,05). Išanalizavus sergamumo dažnio pasiskirstymą tarp grupių nustatyta, kad pirmoje grupėje yra statistiškai reikšmingai daugiau nė karto nesirgusių tiriamųjų nei antroje, abiejose grupėse buvo vienodas skaičius tiriamųjų, sirgusių 1–2 kartus, antroje grupėje buvo daugiau tiriamųjų, sirgusių 3–4 kartus (p < Išvada. Tiriamųjų, lankiusių plukdymo užsiėmimus, motorinio išsivystymo lygio ir fizinės sveikatos būklės rodikliai buvo statistiškai reikšmingai geresni nei tiriamųjų, kuriems plukdymo užsiėmimai nebuvo taikomi.Raktažodžiai: kūdikiai, plukdymas, motorinė raida, fizinė sveikata.

INFLUENCE OF SELF-ATTITUDE AND ATTITUDE TO OTHERS ON THE SUCCESS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF PROFESSIONS “PERSON-PERSON” TYPE

The article considers the categories of self-attitude and attitude to others as specific for representatives of the professions of “person-person” type, because the subject of their professional activity is direct interpersonal interaction. In a professional environment, a person learns certain “behavioral patterns” typical of representatives of a particular profession and related to the specifics of the activity performed. The attitude to people around is determined by the framework of these patterns, therefore, representatives of each particular profession are characterized by specific self-attitude and have characteristic features of their attitude to others.By means of the factor analysis steady complexes of variables are revealed that allow to describe five main types of interrelation of self-attitude and the attitude to others: 1) positive self-attitude at the protective-negative attitude to others. This factor combines the characteristics of timid, insecure people who seek to avoid a hurtful relationship with others; 2) positive self-attitude and selective attitude to others. Representatives of this group are characterized by the ability to effectively manage their own emotions and experiences. Assessment of others is based mainly on external criteria. The sphere of individual psychological characteristics is ignored, because the area of close interaction with other people does not seem particularly significant; 3) conscious positive and indulgently-negative attitude to others. These are self-confident, strong people for whom others are not of particular interest; 4) unconscious positively-inflated self-attitude with a selective attitude to others, which is determined by the level of self-favor. Respondents are not characterized by a tendency to deep reflection, they are quite satisfied with themselves, and their attitude to others is selective: positive to those who treat them favorably and negatively to others; 5) consciously critical self-attitude with a positive attitude to others. These are people who are characterized by a tendency to self-reflection of themselves and doubts about their “I”. When the attitude to others is more positive, a person is inclined to better assess others and experiences less sense of superiority.Three types with a specific combination of self-attitude and attitude to others who experience a “leading” feeling are identified and described: 1) self-esteem, 2) autosympathy, and 3) self-humiliation. Each of the groups has a specific combination of self-attitude and attitude to others, which leaves an imprint on all spheres and areas of life. Especially significant is the impact of this relationship on professional success. The most optimal in this sense will be a combination of positive self-attitude and positive attitude to others, characteristic of the second group of subjects. This is the main criterion for the professional success of professions such as “person-person”.

An investigation of far and near transfer in a gamified visual learning paradigm.

After training, visual perceptual learning improvements are mostly constrained to the trained stimulus feature and retinal location. The aim of this study is to construct an integrated paradigm where the visual learning happens in a more natural context and in parallel for multiple stimulus types, and to test the generalization of learning-related improvements towards untrained features, locations, and more general cognitive domains. Half the subjects were trained with a gamified perceptual learning paradigm for ten hours, which consisted of an orientation discrimination task and a novel object categorization task embedded in a three-dimensional maze. A second group of subjects, an active control group, played ten hours of Candy Crush Saga. Before and after training, all subjects completed a ‘near transfer’ orientation discrimination and novel object categorization task, as well as a set of ‘far transfer’ general cognitive and attentional tasks. During the perceptual learning tasks, two different stimulus features and two retinal location pairs were assessed in each task. For the experimental group, one stimulus feature and retinal location pair was trained, whilst the other one remained untrained. Both features and location pairs were untrained in the control group. Far transfer did occur in some domains across all subjects irrespective of the training regimen (i.e. executive functioning, mental rotation performance, and multitask performance and speed). Near transfer was present in both groups, however only more pronounced for one particular task in the experimental group, namely novel object categorization. To conclude, all but one near transfer task did not generalize more than the control group.

DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE

The frequency of the combination of coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highlighted in the work, and it is concluded that there is a fairly significant stratum of patients, namely 25,9%, with combined pathology of the respiratory system and cardiovascular. On the basis of the therapeutic department of the Poltava central regional clinical hospital, 97 patients (84 men and 13 women) with a combination of COPD and CHD were examined: stable angina pectoris, grade II, which were hospitalized due to exacerbation of respiratory pathology. They were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 patients (51 people) received only basic therapy (β2-agonists, anticholinergics, methylxanthines, inhaled glucocorticosteroids, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors). In addition to basic therapy, patients of the 2nd group (46 people) were additionally prescribed L-arginine («Tivomax») in the form of a 4,2% solution of 100 ml intravenously once a day for 10 days. As a result of the treatment, a positive dynamics of the regression of clinical manifestations of acute exacerbation of COPD was revealed in both study groups. However, in the second group of subjects who receive L-arginine on the basis of basic therapy, clinical indicators, indicators of the function of external respiration and exercise tolerance, indicators of cardiohemodynamics significantly (p<0,05) improved compared with the control group. It was concluded that the inclusion of L-arginine in the complex treatment of patients with exacerbation of COPD and concomitant CHD increases the effectiveness of the treatment of respiratory pathology and improves cardiodynamics. The addition of L-arginine to complex therapy for patients with COPD in combination with CHD leads to a statistically significant improvement in clinical and instrumental parameters, which is due to the antihypoxic, antiplatelet, cytoprotective and vasodilatory effects, detoxification activity of L-arginine (“Tivomax”), which is safe improves the effectiveness of treatment.

Digital Eye Strain in a Population of Young Subjects.

The main goal of our study was to prove short-term objective influence of near addition and relieving prism on accommodative and vergence facility in group of young healthy persons. Further, we wanted to prove objective and subjective difference between two types of soft contact lenses during working with digital device. We had in total 37 subjects in our study. The first group contained 37 subjects with average age 23 years without important eye pathology. The second group contained 8 subjects with the same average age without important eye pathology. In the first group of subjects, we measured binocular accommodative facility (BAF) and binocular vergence facility (BVF) with and without addition 1 D and with and without relieving prism 2 pD BO at working distance 45 cm. In the second group, we evaluated BAF, BVF and standardized questionnaire (Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire - CVS-Q, Sequí M. 2015) during usage of two types of soft contact lenses. The first type of contact lenses (type 1) contained relieving prism for PC working and type 2 was soft contact lens with aspheric design. In the first group of subjects, we measured these values: BAF without addition = 12.78 cpm, BAF with addition = 11.57 cpm, BVF without prism = 12.32 cpm, BVF with prism = 11.59 cpm. In the second group of subjects, we measured with contact lens type 1 these values: BAF = 12.13 cpm, BVF = 13.63 cpm and questionnaire score 9.43 points. With contact lens type 2 we measured BAF = 11.75 cpm, BVF = 11.63 cpm and questionnaire score 12.86 points. We proved statistically important different between two variable only in the first group between BAF with and without addition and BVF with and without relieving prism. In conclusion, we found statistically important decrease in variable BAF and BVF with usage of addition and relieving prism. We found that neither addition nor prism have positive influence on increase of BAF and BVF. Subjects in second group had higher BAF and BVF values with both types of contact lenses in comparison with natural values. We found that with contact lens type 1 (with addition) subjects had higher BAF and BVF values in comparison with contact lens type 2 (aspheric). Subjects with contact lens type 1 had also lower (better) questionnaire score, i.e. 9.43 versus 12.86 point. Key words: Digital eyestrain syndrome, accommodative and vergence facility, addition, relieving prism.

Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Activity Monitors during Wheelchair Use and Arm Ergometry

Recently, the use of wrist worn activity monitoring devices using tri-axial accelerometers to estimate step counts has become widespread in the general population. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether common, commercially available fitness monitoring devices can accurately estimate wheelchair stroke counts and arm ergometer revolutions. METHODS: 30 able-bodied wore three commercially available activity trackers using tri-axial accelerometers on the right wrist in random order. Participants propelled a wheelchair on a roller treadmill at three separate frequencies (30, 45 and 60 strokes per minute), 3 minutes each. They also propelled the wheelchair on the rollers at pre-determined varied frequencies, ranging from 30 bpm to 80 bpm for 2 minutes. Each frequency was performed 3 times in random order. The participants were shown a video recording of a metronome at each of the frequencies to maintain the prescribed frequencies for each task. Participants also freely wheeled through an obstacle course twice. Two experimenters used tally counters to count actual wheelchair strokes. A second group of subjects performed an arm ergometry task at three different frequencies (40, 60 and 80 cycles per minute) for three minutes each in randomized order. RESULTS: Mean (SD) percentage error for 30, 45 and random stroke frequencies were ≥20 (11)% for all monitors. At 60 rpm, mean percent error was 12 (13), 12 (11), 5 (5)% for monitors A, B and C, respectively. For obstacle course strokes, intraclass correlation coefficients (95% CI) were 0.888 (.767-.946), 0.853 (.693-.930), 0.917 (.828-.961) and Lin’s concordance coefficient (95% CI) were 0.792 (0.655-0.879), 0.740 (0.531-0.864), 0.846 (0.715-0.919) for monitors A, B and C, respectively. For arm ergometry, standard error of the measurement varied widely for each monitor across all frequencies from 20, 33 and 261 strokes for monitors A, B and C, respectively at 40 rpm; 49, 190 and 8 strokes at 60 rpm; to 268, 267 and 107 strokes at 80 rpm. CONCLUSION: At low wheel chair stroke frequencies, and at low and high ergometer cycling frequencies, commercially available wrist worn fitness monitors perform rather poorly in estimating counts. Activity monitors specific to activities commonly performed by persons with lower limb paralysis are necessary to accurately estimate their activity.

A cytogenic monitoring approach of hospital workers occuptionally exposed to ionizing radiations using micronucleus assay

Background: The objective of this study was to determine chromosomal damage in occupational workers of the radiation department from three different hospitals, Faisalabad, Pakistan exposed for a long term to ionizing radiations using micronucles (MN) assay. A comparison between exposed and non-exposed subjects (controlled) of same age exhibited a significant an increase in the number of micronuclei in occupational workers. MN frequency increases with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes but higher in females.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the District Head Quarter Hospital (DHQ), Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine (PINUM) and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The total 145 subjects were selected from these hospitals. The subjects were divided into two groups. The control group (N= 40) (20 males and 20 females) of healthy subjects (no exposure) and the second group of subjects (N=105) (68 males and 37 females) subjects of occupational workers who were indirectly exposed to radiation. Blood samples (2ml) were collected in sodium heparinised vaccutainer tubes through venipuncture from both the groups. Disposable syringes were used for this purpose. For the evaluation of MN yield, slides were prepared by following the method of Jorge et al. (2004).Results: A significant difference in micro nuclear induction was observed between the occupational subjects and the control subjects and as well as in females and in males (P < 0.01). Females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiation than males. In females, MN yield was two times higher than males. MN frequency was increased with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes, but higher in females and may be due to an increase in chromosomal loss in hospital workers. There is an individual response to the physical noxa, depending on sex, age and exposure. Smoking and drinking habits do not have a significant effect in increasing the number of MN in occupationally exposed workers.Conclusion: It was concluded that females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiations than males. MN test can be used as a biomarker with a predictive value for the estimation in occupationally exposed subjects.Key Words: Radiations; Hospital workers; Sex; Micronucleus assay; Chromosomal damage

A CYTOGENIC MONITORING APPROACH OF HOSPITAL WORKERS OCCUPTIONALLY EXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATIONS USING MICRONUCLEUS ASSAY

Background: The objective of this study was to determine chromosomal damage in occupational workers of the radiation department
 from three different hospitals, Faisalabad, Pakistan exposed for a long term to ionizing radiations using micronucles (MN) assay. A
 comparison between exposed and non-exposed subjects (controlled) of same age exhibited a significant an increase in the number of
 micronuclei in occupational workers. MN frequency increases with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes but higher
 in females.
 Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the District Head Quarter Hospital (DHQ), Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine
 (PINUM) and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The total 145 subjects were selected from these hospitals. The subjects were divided
 into two groups. The control group (N= 40) (20 males and 20 females) of healthy subjects (no exposure) and the second group of subjects
 (N=105) (68 males and 37 females) subjects of occupational workers who were indirectly exposed to radiation. Blood samples (2ml)
 were collected in sodium heparinised vaccutainer tubes through venipuncture from both the groups. Disposable syringes were used for
 this purpose. For the evaluation of MN yield, slides were prepared by following the method of Jorge et al. (2004).
 Results: A significant difference in micro nuclear induction was observed between the occupational subjects and the control subjects and
 as well as in females and in males (P < 0.01). Females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiation than males. In females, MN yield was
 two times higher than males. MN frequency was increased with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes, but higher in
 females and may be due to an increase in chromosomal loss in hospital workers. There is an individual response to the physical noxa,
 depending on sex, age and exposure. Smoking and drinking habits do not have a significant effect in increasing the number of MN in
 occupationally exposed workers.
 Conclusion: It was concluded that females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiations than males. MN test can be used as a biomarker
 with a predictive value for the estimation in occupationally exposed subjects.

Muscle focal vibration in healthy subjects: evaluation of the effects on upper limb motor performance measured using a robotic device.

Muscle vibration is a technique that applies a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using robot-based outcomes, the effects of focal muscle vibration, at different frequencies, on the motor performance of the upper limb in healthy subjects. Forty-eight volunteer healthy subjects (age: 31 ± 8 years) were enrolled. Subjects were assigned to three different groups: the first group, in which subjects underwent muscle vibration treatment with a frequency of 100 Hz; the second group of subjects underwent the same treatment protocol, but using a frequency of vibration of 200 Hz; finally, the control group did not undergo any treatment. The robot-based evaluation session consisted of visually guided reaching task, performed in the sagittal plane. Our results showed that the vibration treatment improved upper limb motor performance of healthy subjects from the baseline (T0) to 10 days after the end of the treatment (T2), but only the group treated with a frequency of 200 Hz reached statistical significance. Specifically, in this group we found an increase of the number of repetitions (T0: 51.4 ± 22.7; T2: 66.3 ± 11.8), and the smoothness of the movement, as showed by a decrease of the Normalized Jerk (T0: 10.5 ± 2.8; T2: 7.7 ± 0.5). The results of our study support the use of focal muscle vibration protocols in healthy subjects, to improve motor performance.

Study on Diastolic Dysfunction in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its Correlation with Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1C).

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) represents the first stage of diabetic cardiomyopathy preceding changes in systolic function, reinforcing the importance of early examination of ventricular function in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the incidence of asymptomatic LVDD in newly diagnosed normotensive cases of type 2 diabetes subjects, and its relation to glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), age at the time of diagnosis, body mass index (BMI) and serum total cholesterol. To study the incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and its correlation with HbA1C in normotensive, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. This cross-sectional study was done in western U.P. on 100 patients of newly diagnosed (within 1 month) type 2 DM between patients 30 and 60 years of age, visiting the Medicine and Endocrinology outpatient Department of LLRM Medical College, Meerut. Patients with established type 2 diabetes and already taking antidiabetic treatment, cardiac diseases like valvular heart disease, ischemic and hypertensive heart disease, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, renal failure, chronic pulmonary disease, severe anaemia and haemoglobinopathies were excluded from the study. These patients were informed about the study and informed consent was obtained before proceeding with the investigations. Patients selected were evaluated with relevant investigations like fasting and post prandial blood sugar, HbA1C level, lipid profile and 2D echocardiography to assess LVDD. These selected patients were divided in 2 groups; one with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and second group of subjects without LVDD. Various parameters like HbA1C, age, body mass index and serum cholesterol were evaluated between these 2 groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t-test, Chi-square and Fisher Exact-test. Out of 100 patients 65 were males and 35 females. Mean age of the population was 50.08 ± 6.32 years. Overall incidence of LVDD was 41%. Grade 1 LVDD was most common. Mean HbA1C level of LVDD group was found higher as compared to those without LVDD. LVDD is very common at the time of diagnosis of type 2 DM even in normotensive patients independent of confounding effect of hypertension, ischemia and BMI. HbA1C and age, were found to be strong indicators of LVDD in newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 DM.

Адаптация опросника PASS на российской выборке

We present the results of the PASS questionnaire adaptation on the Russian sample. The description of the PASS and differences from the original version are provided. The study was conducted in two stages. The first stage involves the allocation of a fixed number of factors – causes of procrastination and personality traits of a procrastinator, and the allocation of the normal frequency distribution of procrastination in the Russian-speaking population. The second stage involves checking the stability of selected factors with the test-retest studies with 30 days delay. The first stage of the study involved 148 subjects, the second stage - 31 subjects. Subjects in both groups were men and women aged 18 to 25 years with at least completed secondary education. Fixed factors of procrastination causes and personality traits of procrastinators were found in the first group of subjects. In the second group of subjects, these data have been verified by test-retest.