Strong Significant Correlation Research Articles

Exam stress and the metacognitive strategies of reading in students with dyslexia: The role of motivational mechanisms and educational support.

Despite numerous studies on dyslexia, there is still a lack of empirical data on the factors determining the functioning of students with dyslexia in the context of written exams. Therefore, the aim of the study is to identify the relationship between sources of stress in an exam situation and the reported use of reading strategies by dyslexic students in terms of motivation and therapeutic interventions in the educational environment. This descriptive-analytical study used data from a larger project focused on children with and without dyslexia. The research sample (n = 640) included girls (n = 280) and boys (n = 360) aged between 14 and 15 years (M = 14.40, SD = 0.55), attending the 7th or 8th grade in Polish mainstream primary schools. Random and intentional sampling was used. All students completed four questionnaires. The results were analyzed using regression analysis in Model templates for PROCESS v4 for SPSS by Hayes. The study showed significant weak and moderate positive correlations between the sources of exam stress and the reading strategies reported by students, ranging from 0.186 to 0.570, as well as significant moderate and strong correlations between reading strategies and experienced educational support, ranging from 0.229 to 0.505, and between reading strategies and motivation to read, ranging from 0.582 to 0.701. The type of stress source significantly influenced the selection of specific reading strategies. Motivation acted as a mediator, while educational support was a moderator in the relationship between exam stress and the reported use of reading strategies. Based on our results, the source of stress may be perceived as factors activating metacognitive mechanisms aimed at selecting appropriate strategies for working with texts. Researchers and teachers should be aware of the need to undertake activities to support students with dyslexia focused on developing the ability to recognize the sources of exam stress and select effective coping strategies.

Bradycardic effect of endothelial-specific bradykinin type-II receptors overexpression in mice: impact on blood pressure

Abstract Background/Introduction Polymorphisms of the gene encoding for the bradykinin type-II receptors (B2R) has been shown to decrease the expression of B2R and increased vascular resistance and blood pressure in humans. Purpose We aimed to study the role of endothelial B2R on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) using a novel mice model with endothelial-specific B2R overexpression (B2tg) as compared with transgene negative littermates (B2n) and on differential expression of proteins potentially relevant to vascular tension. Methods Human and murine B2R expression levels were quantified by rtPCR. Thoracic aortic tissues were used for vascular reactivity studies and proteomic analysis. SBP and HR were measured by the tail-cuff method at baseline, after administration of the COX inhibitor diclofenac (10 mg/kg/day), B2R antagonist icatibant (1 mg/kg) or NOS inhibitor L-NAME (100 mg/kg/day). Results In aortic tissues of B2tg human B2R were exclusively expressed (n=6, P=0.0005), while murine B2R expression levels remained unchanged. Similar results were found in skeletal muscle tissues used as an estimate for resistance vessels. Aortic ring studies revealed a concentration-dependent constriction to bradykinin in wild-type mice (maximal vasoconstriction 9.6±3.0%, n=5) whereas aortic rings of B2tg showed concentration-dependent relaxation (-27.4±4.1%, n=12). SBP was significantly lower in B2tg (125.0 ±1.6 mmHg) as compared to B2n (129.9±1.1 mmHg, n=9, P=0.03). Diclofenac treatment slightly but not significantly reduced SBP in B2n (to 125.5±2.4 mmHg, P=0.09) and in B2tg (to 119.8±2.8 mmHg, n=9, P=0.12), however the difference in SBP remained (P=0.03). In a pilot study, L-NAME administration did also not change the SBP difference between B2n and B2tg (9.9±10.3 mmHg, n=3-4). In contrast, icatibant administration abolished the difference between the groups (B2n 128.6±4.6 vs B2tg 128.3±2.0 mmHg, n=8, P=ns) suggesting the involvement of endothelial B2R in SBP reduction. Interestingly, in the same mice, HR was significantly lower in B2tg (571.4±20.8 bpm) as compared to B2n (626.7±13.7 bpm, P=0.02). While diclofenac didn’t affect HR, icatibant significantly increased HR to (630.8±21.8 bpm in B2tg and 685.5±16.4 bpm in B2n, n=8, P=0.01). Only in B2tg, there was a significant strong correlation between SBP and HR (r=0.76, P=0.016). Analysis of proteomic data revealed differential upregulation of proteins related to cell adhesion (CD44), extracellular matrix (hyaluronidase), and differential downregulation of proteins related to oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase) in B2tg. Conclusion Endothelial B2R overexpression reduces SBP and HR. SBP reduction is not dependent on two major vascular pathways stimulated by products of NOS and COX but appears to be related to endothelial B2R-dependent HR reduction. Hence, agonism at B2R could be a valuable target for development of new cardiovascular drugs.

Effects of kidney perfusion on renal stiffness and tissue fluidity measured with tomoelastography in an MRI-compatible ex vivo model.

Stiffness plays a vital role in diagnosing renal fibrosis. However, perfusion influences renal stiffness in various chronic kidney diseases. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the effect of tissue perfusion on renal stiffness and tissue fluidity measured by tomoelastography based on multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography in an ex vivo model. Five porcine kidneys were perfused ex vivo in an MRI-compatible normothermic machine perfusion setup with adjusted blood pressure in the 50/10-160/120mmHg range. Simultaneously, renal cortical and medullary stiffness and fluidity were obtained by tomoelastography. For the cortex, a statistically significant (p < 0.001) strong positive correlation was observed between both perfusion parameters (blood pressure and resulting flow) and stiffness (r = 0.95, 0.91), as well as fluidity (r = 0.96, 0.92). For the medulla, such significant (p < 0.001) correlations were solely observed between the perfusion parameters and stiffness (r = 0.88, 0.71). Our findings demonstrate a strong perfusion dependency of renal stiffness and fluidity in an ex vivo setup. Moreover, changes in perfusion are rapidly followed by changes in renal mechanical properties-highlighting the sensitivity of tomoelastography to fluid pressure and the potential need for correcting mechanics-derived imaging biomarkers when addressing solid structures in renal tissue.

Possibilities of instrumental determination of volemic status in patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure

To evaluate and compare the accuracy of volemic status determination by remote dielectric sensing with computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. In 28 patients volemic status was determined by ReDS (remote dielectric sensing), chest computed tomography (CCT), and chest X-ray twice during hospitalization (the day of admission and the day of discharge from the hospital). The ReDS measurements were then compared with CT data using software that allows the use of semi-automated tools to determine mean lung density (MLD). MLD results from Hounsfield Units [HU] were then converted to fluid levels (FU%), allowing them to be compared with ReDS values. In addition, to assess the effect of physical activity on the dynamics of pulmonary stasis there was performed 6-minute walk test (6MWT) followed by determination of volumic status by ReDS method. Correlation analysis revealed an average direct significant correlation (r=+0,5; p=0.001) between the CCT and ReDS data. Hypervolemia indexes according to the CCT revealed statistically significant decrease in the dynamics, which was also reflected in the ReDS index decrease. Lung fluid content according to ReDS averaged 38.2±4.6% on admission, and 34.5±3.9% on discharge (p=0.005). According to CT scan of the CCT, MLD at admission was 23.03±3.9%, at discharge 19.6±3.3% (p=0.003). The positive dynamics of the study methods was also reflected in the positive dynamics of NT-proBNP, which decreased by 46%. In the analysis of ReDS data before and after exercise, there was an increase in ReDS value after the performed 6MWT and it was 35.09±3.9% compared with the initial value of 34.5±3.9%. A strong direct significant correlation (r=+0.7; p=0.0001) was found between the ReDS before and after 6MWT at discharge.

Does fear of re-injury affect the self-perceived level of lower limb functionality among soccer players with ACL reconstruction?: A cross-sectional study.

The fear of re-injury may persist after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in professional soccer players (PSPs) even after a successful return to sport (RTS). This study aimed to determine the extent of this fear of re-injury and the impact of demographic variables and this fear of re-injury on the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) scores in PSPs who had completed a successful RTS following ACLR. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Sixty-seven PSPs who had successfully RTS after ACLR, completed a demographic information sheet, the Athlete Fear-Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), and the LEFS. The average AFAQ scores indicated low fear (M = 10.2, SD = 6.7), while high LEFS scores were observed (M = 67.1, SD = 12.4). There were significant strong negative correlations between LEFS and body mass index (BMI; rs [65] = -0.501, P = .001) and AFAQ and BMI (rs [65] = -0.378, P = .001). A hierarchical linear regression analysis found AFAQ to be a significant predictor of LEFS (b = -0.92, s.e. = 0.19, P = .001), with a total variance (adjusted R2) of 32.9%. PSPs' fear of re-injury post-ACLR significantly reduced their perceived levels of lower limb functionality. This study highlights the need to further explore and develop strategies to manage PSP fear of re-injury to improve sports-related performance post-ACLR.

Indicators of Response to the Wee1 Inhibitor Adavosertib in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Wee1 is a nuclear kinase that regulates cell cycle progression by inhibiting Cdk1, which is essential for G2 to M phase transition. Inhibition of Wee1 leads to high Cdk1 activity, causing cells to bypass proper DNA repair at the G2/M checkpoint, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and cell death, plus increased Cdk2 activity, causing abnormal DNA replication and DNA double-stranded breaks. Inhibitors of Wee1 are being investigated for the treatment of a variety of cancers including AML. In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers for Wee1 inhibitor (Wee1i) response in AML using ex vivo drug sensitivity data, bulk RNA sequence, exome sequence, and associated clinical data for a large set of primary AML samples tested against the Wee1i adavosertib. Mononuclear cells from bone marrow aspirates (n=136) or peripheral blood samples (n=11) were collected from AML patients using approved protocols and after informed consent. 101 samples were collected at the time of diagnosis and 35 samples were from relapsed/refractory (R/R) patients. For ex vivo drug-sensitivity testing, freshly isolated cells were tested against a library of up to 634 oncology drugs (215 approved drugs) including adavosertib. The drugs were pre-plated in 5 concentrations in a 10,000-fold concentration range and incubated with cells for 72h. Cell viability was assessed using the CellTiter Glo (CTG) assay, and a drug sensitivity score (DSS) calculated based on the area under the dose response curve. Somatic alterations of the drug tested samples were identified via exome sequencing of DNA from the AML samples and matched skin biopsy controls. Gene expression data were obtained from bulk RNA sequence data of the AML samples. Out of 136 samples analyzed, the median DSS for adavosertib was 8.45. We found positive and significant correlations between sensitivity to adavosertib and two factors: 1) malignant cell percentage (R= 0.31, p-value= 0.0097), and 2) final relative viability percentage (R=0.58, p-value= 4.3e-13). Correlation analysis between the DSS of adavosertib and 633 other drugs revealed several strong positive and significant correlations. These included drugs with specific mechanisms of actions including HSP90 inhibitors (n=5), JAK2 inhibitors (n=4), topoisomerase II inhibitors (n=4), CDK4/6 inhibitors (n=3), mitotic inhibitors, vinca alkaloid microtubule depolymerizers (n=3), and PLK1 inhibitors (n=3). Since adavosertib also targets PLK1 in addition to Wee1, the correlation with PLK1 inhibitor activity confirms the similar target profiles. Based on the specific adavosertib DSS thresholds, the samples were separated in two groups. Samples sensitive to adavosertib (n=35) had DSS between 21.3 (max) and 11.9 (3rd quartile). Samples resistant to adavosertib (n=34) had DSS between 0.0 (min) and 5.65 (1st quartile). Differential gene expression analysis between the sensitive vs resistant samples showed that multiple isoforms of the PCDH and HOXB genes were upregulated in adavosertib sensitive samples. The GLI2, PI15, and SKIDA1 genes were also upregulated in the sensitive samples (Figure A). In contrast, genes such DNTT, PF4V1, TRH, CD1B, S100A16, and CD34 were overexpressed in resistant samples (Figure B). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed positive enrichment of pathways related to MYC targets v2 in the sensitive samples. On the other hand, hallmark pathways associated with cell cycle, apoptosis, RAS signaling, and p53 showed significant negative enrichment scores in the sensitive samples. No statistically significant associations were observed between drug response and frequently occuring somatic mutations in our dataset. However, genetic abberations related MLLT4-MLL/MLL-fusions were only observed in sensitive samples. Collectively, our current findings show that there may be specific gene expression signatures associated with Wee1i sensitivity such high expression of PCDH and HOXB. Also, the positive enrichment of the MYC target v2 pathway in adavosertib sensitive samples suggests that highly proliferating tumor cells might be more sensitive to Wee1i. In addition, high CD34 expression in resistant samples suggests that immature stem and progenitor cells may be less susceptible to Wee1i. In summary, targeting of Wee1 in AML - as studied in NCT05682170 azenosertib study - may be effective for a molecularly defined subset of patients.

20 The Influence of Brain Injury Severity, Anxiety, and Depression on Objective and Subjective Prospective Memory Problems

Objective:Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the majority of patients report difficulties with prospective memory (PM). However, there is not always a significant relationship between subjective and objective PM measures. Several variables may influence the degree of severity of perceived difficulties, including the severity of the injury and psychoemotional status. The aim of this study was to determine whether the severity of the TBI and anxiety and depressive symptoms were related to objective and subjective difficulties of PM.Participants and Methods:50 patients (mean age = 31,3 years old) with a TBI (20 mild and 30 moderate/severe) in the post-acute phase of recovery and 15 matched healthy control participants (mean age = 32,3 years old) were recruited. They completed inventories assessing the presence of anxiety (BAI) and depressive (BDI) symptoms and performed the Ecological test of prospective memory (TEMP), an objective measure of PM. The Comprehensive Assessment of PM (CAPM), a subjective measure of PM, was also filled out by participants and their relatives.Results:In patients with moderate/severe TBI, significant correlations were found between the CAPM and the BDI (r =.601, p&lt;.001) and the BAI (r =.507, p=.004). A negative correlation was also observed between the relatives’ CAPM scores and the performance of the patients on the TEMP (r= -.374, p=.042). In patients with mild TBI, there was only a strong significant correlation between the CAPM and the BAI scores (r =.574, p=.008). However, no other correlation was significant between this group of patients and their relatives. Additionally, results on the TEMP were not significantly correlated with the CAMP completed by healthy control participants or their relatives. A linear regression conducted in the group of participants with TBI showed that BAI and BDI scores are the only significant predictors of the results on the CAPM (31% of the variance), while TBI severity is the only significant predictor of the results on the TEMP (37% of the variance).Conclusions:The perception of PM difficulties in patients with a TBI does not seem to be related to their objective performance. Anxiety and depressive symptoms appear to influence their perception more than their objective performance. As suggested by their relatives, a decrease in self-awareness could explain the lack of relationship between subjective PM difficulties of patients with moderate/severe TBI and their objective performance. On the other hand, TBI severity is more strongly related to objective performance on PM tests. These results highlight the importance of using different measures to accurately assess PM and the various factors influencing this construct.

Utilidad de la volumetría del tercer ventrículo en pacientes con hidrocefalia a presión normal

ObjectiveTo use third ventricle morphometric variables as a tool for the selection of patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) who are candidates for ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). Material and methodsRetrospective study enrolling patients with iNPH. Katzman infusion test was performed and a Rout>12mmHg/ml/min was considered a positive result. The transverse diameter and the volume of the third ventricle were measured in the preoperative MRI. Postoperative improvement was assessed with the NPH score. The results were analysed with SPSS software. ResultsFifty-two patients with a mean age of 76 years were analysed. There was no difference in the diameter of the third ventricle among patients with a positive result and those with a negative result in the infusion test (12.28mm vs. 11.68mm; p=0.14). Neither were difference detected in the ventricle volume of both groups (3.6cm3 vs. 3.5cm3; p=0.66). Those patients who improved after VPS had a smaller third ventricle compared to those who did not respond after surgery (11.85mm vs. 12.96mm; p=0.009). Diameter and volume of third ventricle present a significant strong correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.72; p<0.0001). ConclusionMorphometric variables of third ventricle may be useful in predicting a good response to VPS in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

A Study on Morphological and Morphometrical Parameters on the Skull of the Konya Merino Sheep

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the craniometric measurements of the skull of the Konya Merino breed and to reveal the differences between it and other sheep breeds. &#x0D; Material-Method: For this study, ten Konya merino heads were used and craniometric measurements were made from 46 points on the skull. &#x0D; Result: In the study, the skull length of the Konya merino was 274.03 ± 5.23, the frontal width (ectorbitale – ectorbitale) which is the widest region of the skull 123.47 ± 2.60, zygomatic width (the distance between two zygomatic arches) 110.30 ± 1.96 and the distance between the foramen supraorbitales 49.06 ± 2.38. has been found to be. It was determined that both the fronto-nasal and palato-maxillar sutures resembled the letter "V" in Konya merino, while the pariato-frontal suture was in the form of a straight line. When the correlation between index values was examined, it was seen that there was a statistically significant strong positive correlation between I1 (Nasal index) and I2 (Facial Index), but the relationship between other examined features was insignificant. When the statistically significant correlation values of the skull measurements are examined, it is seen that there is a strong negative or positive correlation between the features. While the highest positive correlation was between L5 (premolare – prosthion) and L39 (greatest palatal breadth (measured across the outer borders of the alveoli) features (0.943), the highest negative correlation was L33 (greatest neurocranium breadth-greatest breadth of the alveoli)). braincase (euryon - euryon) and L46 (supraorbital foramina distance) features were found to be (-0.908). &#x0D; Conclusion: As a result, in this study, it is thought that the difference in the craniometric values of Konya merino, which is accepted as the native breed of Turkey, with other sheep breeds, depending on the skull morphology, may be caused by the breed of sheep.

Thermal Balance in Male Water Buffaloes Transported by Long and Short Journeys.

Transport is a stressor that can cause physiological and metabolic imbalances in livestock, resulting in stress-induced hyperthermia. In water buffaloes, studies regarding the thermal state of animals during mobilization are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the thermal response of 1516 water buffaloes using infrared thermography (IRT) during 15 short trips (783 animals, 60,291 records, average duration = 50.33 min ± 5.48 min) and 14 long trips (733 animals, 56,441 records, average duration = 13.31 h ± 47.32 min). The surface temperature was assessed in 11 regions (periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, lower eyelid, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic) during seven phases from pasture to post-transport. It was found that the surface temperature of the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic regions was significantly higher during SJs (+3 °C) when compared to LJs (p < 0.0001). In particular, the frontal-parietal region had a significant increase of 10 °C during the post-transport phase (p < 0.0001) in both groups, recording the highest temperatures during this phase. Likewise, a strong positive significant correlation between the different regions was found (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). It is worth mentioning that the herding, loading, pre-, and post-transport phases were the ones where the greatest thermal response was recorded, possibly due to the influence of human interaction. Finally, a strong positive correlation (r above 0.9, p > 0.001) between the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, pinna, and pelvic limb was found. According to the results, SJ could be considered a stressful event that hinders thermal generation, contrarily to LJ.

Estimation of age implementing pulp tooth volume ratio in maxillary canines of an Indian population by means of CBCT scans.

Forensic odontology is a subfield of forensics that can assist in determining age, gender, and other demographic factors. The focus of this research is to ascertain age by tooth volume ratio of permanent maxillary canines using a CBCT scan. In this retrospective investigation, 1000 CBCT images were gathered and focused on only fully developed maxillary canines. For each of the maxillary canines, the researchers measured and calculated the volume of the pulp chamber, root canal, and entire tooth using the ITK Snap programme. The pulp volume to tooth volume ratio was computed. The equation AGE = 59.208 - (583.652 x pulp volume/tooth volume) was then used to compute age. The samples were divided into 5 age groups; 13-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and 51-60. The age was calculated for samples in each group and it was compared to the actual age. Between individuals' actual age and computed age, the study discovered a statistically significant positive association. While groups 3, 4, and 5 demonstrated positive but weaker correlations (r= 0.854, r= 0.658, and r= 0.612, respectively), groups 1 and 2 displayed statistically significant strong positive correlations (r= 0.987 and r= 0.923, respectively). The average total discrepancy between the age that was computed and the actual age was 2.45 1.344. The study found a statistically significant positive correlation between computed age and actual age, with the younger age groups 1 (13-20) and 2 (21-30) showing the strongest relationships. This underlines its potential success in court, particularly when dealing with young criminals.

Relationship between serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and prognosis in patients infected with omicron and delta variants of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Determining the prognosis of COVID-19 is crucial for understanding disease trends and developing effective treatment strategies, particularly for severe cases. However, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding the role of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in COVID-19 and its prognostic implications. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from all patients hospitalized at Urmia Imam Khomeini Hospital between September 2021 and March 2023 with a diagnosis of COVID-19 involving the Delta and Omicron variants. Patient information, including age, sex, duration of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), strain type, and outcomes, was extracted. Exclusion criteria encompassed myocardial infarction, lung, liver, blood, skeletal muscle diseases, injury, neoplasm, pancreatitis, pregnancy, poisoning, unwillingness to participate in the study, and the use of ascorbic acid. A total of 609 patients with an average age of 54.80 years were included in this study. Among these patients, 56.3% were female, and the mortality rate was 20.7%. The serum LDH levels were significantly higher in patients who succumbed to the disease (P < 0.001), those requiring ICU admission (P < 0.001), and female patients (P = 0.02) compared to other groups. Furthermore, the LDH serum levels exhibited a strong significant correlation with the duration of hospitalization (r = −0.11, P = 0.007). The results revealed that there is a difference in the mean serum LDH levels between deceased patients and discharged patients (P < 0.001). The findings indicate that elevated serum LDH levels are associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospitalization, ICU admission, and infection with the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Erosivity and seasonal rainfall for Pelotas-RS, Brazil with the RainfallErosivityFactor package and Modified Fournier Index

One of the main factors affecting water erosion is rainfall erosivity. Knowledge of this factor can contribute to the prediction of soil losses and to the identification of the most suitable periods for agricultural cultivation operations. The use of software, based on current calculation tools, can contribute to the quick and accurate analysis of long series of rainfall data. The objective of this work is to determine the rainfall volume and rainfall erosivity (R), in different seasons of the year, through the correlation between the EI30 index, the rainfall coefficient (Rc) and the Fournier Index modified (MFI), for rainfall data from Pelotas-RS-Brazil. Rainfall data was used with an interval of 10 min, from 1993 to 2015, evaluated with the RainfallErosivityFactor package of the R-Project software. In the package, the R-factor is obtained by averaging the monthly EI30 values from the data series. Data was evaluated on a monthly, annual and seasonal scale. It was found that the average annual rainfall is 1369.46 mm, with February being the month with the highest rainfall. The series of annual precipitation data did not show a significant trend according to the Mann-Kendall test and the average annual erosivity is 8166.8 MJ mm h−1 ha−1 yr−1. Erosivity in summer is significantly higher than in winter, with the summer-autumn period accounting for 64.4% and winter represented only 17% of annual erosivity. There is a strong positive correlation between the erosivity and the rainfall coefficient, for monthly average data. Erosivity and MFI showed a very strong significant correlation for summer and autumn. The rainfall coefficient tended to show lower values in March and higher values in February. The results obtained are important to identify the periods of most critical erosivity, in which management systems must prioritize surface coverage and minimum soil disturbance.

Influence of ozone therapy on emotional and pain stress in women with adenomyosis

Relevance. Adenomyosis (or endometriosis) is a common and intractable disease, which, according to various studies, affects up to 45 % of women of reproductive age worldwide and is often aggravated by the presence of chronic pelvic pain leading to the development of psycho-emotional disorders. Objective: To study the effect of complex treatment, including ozone therapy, on emotional and pain stress in women with diffuse adenomyosis stage II. Subject and methods. An open randomized controlled study was conducted in 40 women with stage II diffuse adenomyosis aged 32.5 ± 9.4 years, who were divided into two groups. Group 1 (control, n = 10) received standard drug therapy; group 2 (main group, n = 30) received additional ozone therapy. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed using the VAS scale and the MH component of the SF-36 questionnaire, as well as statistical analysis before treatment, after treatment, and after 1, 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Results and discussion. Before the start of treatment, the patients in both groups showed significant differences in the VAS scale and the MH component compared to the norm, which confirmed a significant deterioration in their socio-psychological status, as well as the presence of severe pain. After the course of treatment and up to 6 months in the 2nd (main) group, the VAS score and MH components tended to their physiological norm. At the same time, in the patients in the 2nd (main) group, a statistically significant strong inverse correlation between VAS scores and the MH component was revealed. In the patients in the 1st (control) group, the studied parameters changed little during treatment, which was evidence of the insufficient analgesic effect of drug therapy and a high level of neuropsychic distress and emotional instability in these patients. Conclusion. The inclusion of ozone therapy in complex treatment for the patients in the 2nd (main) group contributed to a decrease in the severity of pain and symptoms of mental trauma. In addition, the trend line of the VAS indicator and the MN component tended to its normal values, which indicated a positive forecast for two more future periods. In the patients in the 1st (control) group who received only drug therapy, no significant improvement was observed.

Sonographic evaluation of maternal blood loss after childbirth using postpartum inferior vena cava diameter among parturients in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Postpartum hemorrhage has been a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality globally every year. Sonographic measurement of inferior vena cava diameter is a cheap, safe, non-invasive method and an indicator of blood loss after childbirth. The study was aimed to establish normal range values of postpartum inferior vena cava (IVC) among parturients in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. A prospective and longitudinal study from September, 2021 to September, 2022 was adopted and a minimum sample size of 210 measurements of IVC intraluminal diameter was calculated for the study using G Power sample size software. The sample comprised of two sets measurements obtained from 105 parturients before delivery and after delivery. The maternal heart rate and systolic blood pressure were measured. Blood samples from all subjects were collected. The data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Software. The range value of IVC diameter on inspiration of the subjects before childbirth was 13.2 mm – 20.3 mm, after childbirth was 9.1 mm – 16.7 mm. The IVC diameter range on expiration before childbirth was 17.3 mm – 24.8 mm, after childbirth was 12.6 mm – 21.4 mm. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) range of the subjects before childbirth was 35% – 40%, after childbirth was 18% – 33%. The heart rate before childbirth was 64 bpm – 100 bpm, after childbirth was 70 bpm – 100 bpm. The systolic blood pressure before childbirth was 110 mmHg – 120 mmHg, after childbirth was 90 mmHg – 120 mmHg. The shock index before childbirth was 0.5 – 0.9 and after childbirth was 0.6 – 0.9. A statistical significant (p&lt;0.001) difference in IVC was observed. Furthermore, a statistical significant (p&lt;0.001) difference was obtained in PCV, maternal heart rate, systolic blood pressure and shock index. There was a statistical significant strong positive correlation between IVC and PCV during inspiration and expiration before and after childbirth.

Correlation between the shear modulus measured by elastography (SSI) and tangent modulus from tensile tests of in vitro fresh-frozen human tendons

Assessing the mechanical properties of tendons in vivo allows for quantifying the degree of pathology and tracking functional improvements. The Supersonic Shearwave Imaging (SSI) technique is a state-of-the-art method for analyzing musculoskeletal tissues in vivo. This technique estimates tissue stiffness as the shear elastic modulus µ [kPa]. However, only a few studies have validated the accuracy of SSI-estimated shear modulus against the gold standard for in vitro material testing, the tensile test. This study compared the SSI-measured shear elastic modulus (µ) with the tangent modulus (Etan) obtained from mechanical tensile tests for human Achilles (AT) and patellar tendons (PT). The sample comprised eleven fresh-frozen human Achilles tendons and five fresh-frozen human patellar tendons from cadavers that were not degraded by formalin or ionizing radiation. The tendons were tested in a tensile machine, and elastography videos were collected and segmented every 5% of the total experiment time. The absolute µ values estimated from both instruments presented an up to 20-fold difference. However, a strong significant positive correlation was found between µ and Etan for both tendons (range AT: R = 0.9765–0.9972 and PT: R = 0.8719–0.9782). The two resulting curves (µ and Etan) as a function of strain (ε) were normalized by their maxima for visually comparing stiffness × strain profiles. In conclusion, despite the inaccurate absolute values, SSI has been shown to measure relative changes in human Achilles and patellar tendon stiffness. This study endorses future clinical use of SSI to provide in vivo estimations of human tendons’ mechanical properties.

Influence of Perceived Family Functioning on Depression among Postmenopausal Women in Nigeria

This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey, designed to determine the influence of perceived family functioning on depression among of post-menopausal women attending the family medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to get the respondents’ socio-demographic and clinical parameters. Data were analysed to determine: the rate and severity of depression; how some socio-demographic factors related to depression in postmenopausal women, (PMW); whether there was an association between family function and depression among the women. Our survey revealed that 66.7% of PMW had some degree of depression and their sociodemographic factors were important markers for depression. One third of the women had no form of mood disturbance but 5.7% had severe depression necessitating referral to Neuropsychiatry clinic.The participants’ family function had statistically significant association with depression (χ2 =117, p-value = &lt;.001). Women in dysfunctional milieu were more likely to have depressive illnesses than those in functional families. There was also statistically significant strong negative correlation between respondents’ family function scores and their depression scores (Spearman’s rho = -0.622; sig. (2-tailed = &lt;.001). Using Independent-samples Kruskal-Wallis test, the relationship between family function scores and depression categories was such that women with depression had significantly lower functional scores, when compared with those without depression.

Evaluation of Automated Coverage and Distance Mapping Selections to Improve Reliability and Clinical Utility of 3D Weightbearing CT Assessments

Category: Other; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD) is a complex three-dimensional (3D) deformity where adjacent structures may adopt subtle differences in positioning that result in increased contact or subluxation. Recent studies have highlighted the need for and utility of 3D analyses in PCFD using weightbearing CT (WBCT) and bone segmentation. Beyond the limitations of triplanar imaging, 3D distance and coverage mapping analyses have further highlighted key regional differences like sinus tarsi narrowing ahead of impingement and early middle facet uncoverage ahead of collapse. However, these analyses rely upon manual identification of subregions hindering the utility of 3D mapping clinically. The objective of this study was to compare an automated selection process with manual selections in the context of subtalar regional distance and coverage maps in PCFD. Methods: In this IRB-approved retrospective study, WBCT data of 20 consecutive patients with flexible PCFD and 10 controls were analyzed. Subregions of the peritalar surface (middle and posterior facets of the calcaneus and talus; sinus tarsi area) were manually selected by two experts on manually generated bone surfaces of all 30 feet. An automated algorithm for selecting coverage area was applied to identify the same regions on the semi-automatically generated bones (Figure). A 3D distance mapping (DM) technique was used to create coverage maps (CMs) across the entire peritalar surface where areas with distances less than 4mm were defined as covered. DM and CM percentages were compared using intra-class correlations and t-tests between PCFD and control groups. The Sørensen–Dice index, or Dice coefficient, was used for comparisons of selections on the semi-automated surfaces to evaluate reproducibility of expert selections. Results: The automated process produced identical selections resulting in perfect intra-method ICCs of 1.00 for all regions and Dice coefficients of 1.00. The average Dice coefficient for all manual selections was 0.903 (range: 0.865-0.935) indicating that observers were able to reliably select the same regions with 90% overlap. When assessing reliability of manual selections, intra- observer ICCs ranged from 0.41-0.92 while inter-observer ICCs ranged from 0.47-0.99 were found. Despite strong significant correlations, average coverage was significantly lower in the sinus tarsi region of the automated selections vs the manual selections (34.3±16.8% vs 23.1±12.7%, p&lt; 0.005). However, mean distances in each region were not significantly different in the middle facet or the sinus tarsi regions (p=0.323, p=0.095, respectively). Conclusion: Understanding of the complex 3D deformities that constitute PCFD requires sensitive and reproducible measures. Fully automated 3D assessments of coverage and bone relations can help improve understanding these deformities aiding in diagnosis, staging, and objective evaluation of treatment effects. Prior work with this method has specifically identified the middle facet and sinus tarsi regions as being of particular importance. Compared to manual selections, these regions were well identified by the automated process. This represents a major step toward viable use of fully automated 3D coverage and distance mapping when evaluating PCFD patients.

Correlation Between Synovial Fluid Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase's (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9) and TNF-α with the Severity of Osteoarthritis Knee in Rural Indian Population.

In India, 22% to 39% of the ageing population suffers from degenerative knee osteoarthritis (OA), making it the most prevalent joint disorder in the knee. MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 protein expression levels have all been associated with OA. The aim of the present study was to establish a relationship between synovial fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) with different Kellgren-Lawrence Grading scale as per the severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This hospital-based observational study included 87 individuals with knee osteoarthritis examined at the orthopaedics department outpatient clinic at the tertiary care teaching hospital in rural area of north India. In-person interviews were conducted to gather data, through a semi-structured, pretested interview schedule. To determine the degree and severity of OA, the levels of the enzymes matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 as well as tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) were assessed in the synovial fluid of knee of each study participant. The levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TNF-α in synovial fluid were significantly correlated with the severity of osteoarthritis as determined by the Kellgren-Lawrence Grading Scale. Age, duration of symptoms and BMI showed a strong positive and significant correlation with biochemical markers (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TNF-α) in synovial fluid of Knee. Level of biochemical markers (MMP-1, -3, -9, and TNF-α) in synovial fluid act as diagnostic markers and have a positive correlation with the severity of osteoarthritis knee, age, weight/BMI and duration of disease. However, no significant correlation was found between the level of aforementioned biochemical markers with sex, height, inflammation of the knee, morning stiffness, and age of onset of disease.

The effect of bags law on environmental behavior and habits-Mersin example

The use of plastic bags (PB) has increased continuously over time because of their multipurpose property. Due to its environmental effects, Türkiye has approved a new law to limit the use of plastic bags. According to the approved Turkish plastic bags law (PBL), plastic bags of 15 microns or more are prohibited from being given to the customer free of charge. The new law’s effects were investigated by applying a face-to-face survey consisting of 13 questions to 1537 people in four districts close to Mersin city center. In addition to that, field surveys were managed to the common markets in the target area. From the target sample, 159 males and 128 females had not bought the PB after the law. Whereas 184 males and 178 females had bought PB for 10 times or more. The monthly income has a weak correlation with the plastic bags purchasing times. Families with 1-3 capita, 4-6 capita, and larger families who never bought plastic bags have moderate negative correlations. Families with 4-6 capita and larger families have a significant strong positive correlation at the (P