Recently Published Articles
Relationship between Trauma-Related Psychotic Reactions and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Alcohol Use
Abstract:
This study examined the mediating role of alcohol use in the relationship between PTSD symptoms and trauma-related psychotic reactions. A total of 231 participants including 181 females were recruited via web advertisement and flyers. Alcohol use condition, trauma-related psychotic experience, and PTSD symptoms were measured by Feeling the need to Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty about drinking, and need for an Eye-opener in the morning (CAGE), Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSU) and Short screening scale for posttraumatic stress disorder (SSSP). All the participants were asked to finish the questionnaire package on the Internet and were interviewed later to validate the screening. Logistic regression was used to estimate the mediating effect of alcohol use. Results showed that alcohol use played a mediating role between PTSD symptoms and auditory hallucination while this effect didn’t exist between PTSD symptoms and paranoia. Findings indicated that h...
Rapid Calcification of Myocardium as Sequela from Severe Sepsis
Abstract:
A rare case of rapid myocardial calcification following severe sepsis is presented. The report outlines the temporal course, imaging findings, and plausible pathophysiologic mechanisms, including septic cardiomyopathy and calcium‑phosphate imbalance. Implications for critical care follow‑up and cardiology evaluation are discussed.
Morphological and Functional Abnormalities of the Thyroid Gland among End Stage Kidney Disease Patients
Abstract:
Several interactions exist between thyroid and kidney function in many disorders. Many publications explored the relationship between thyroid diseases (TD) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, the morphological thyroid changes in patients with CKD or End Stage Kidney disease (ESKD) were not fully explored. The aim of this study is to explore the morphological and the functional abnormalities of the thyroid gland among ESKD patients as detected by Doppler ultrasound. All of the 92 ESKD patients at our center were consented and included in the study. Demographic and clinical data and biochemical and hormonal profiles were recorded. Every patient received a dedicated ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland. GE ultrasound system with Doppler capabilities and high frequency transducer was used. Grey scale imaging and Doppler ultrasound were used to image the thyroid gl...
Monitoring the Changes in Certain Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Camels (Camelus Dromedaries) during Postpartum Period
Abstract:
The postpartum period in camel are considered the most critical period for camel's health and for future fertility. The objective of the present study was to compare the clinical examination results and the concentration of hemoglobin, total protein, calcium and progesterone at different instances (1st, 3rd and 9th days) postpartum. Fifteen female camels during the postpartum period (1st, 3rd and 9th days) were included in the present study. Hematological, biochemical profiles and ultrasonographic examination were performed. The clinical examination results were normal and no evidence of clinical disease. The results of the hematological and biochemical findings were within the reference range obtained previously by our research team. The concentrations of hemoglobin, total protein, calcium and progesterone were measured at the 1st, 3rd and 9th days postpartum. Hem...
Statistical Analysis of Malignant Brain Neoplasms (ICD-10: C71) in the Lower Silesia Region of Poland in the Years 2006-2012
Abstract:
It is crucial for the society, the government and the medical community to retrieve the full and reliable statistical information on malignant brain neoplasms (C71-C71.9 ICD-10) to adjust the medical financing, staff and equipment properly. In order to retrieve information useful for public health policies, data from the years 2006-2012 concerning relevant cases registered by the Polish public healthcare insurance provider Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia in Lower Silesia region of Poland (NFZ) and by the Polish national neoplasms registry Krajowy Rejestr Nowotworow (KRN) were analyzed. The number of new malignant brain neoplasms cases registered by the KRN has risen slightly in the years 2006-2012. At the same time the number of cases reported by the NFZ rose dynamically, which means a significant increase in medical care intensity, and thus also workload on the medical facilities and stuff associated with the care for grossly the same amount of brain malignant ...
A Role for in Vitro Disease Models in the Landscape of Preclinical Cardiotoxicity and Safety Testing
Abstract:
Drug-induced cardiotoxicity is one of the predominant reasons for drug attrition and withdrawals. This is of critical concern when potentially cardiotoxic drugs are administered to individuals with inherited arrhythmogenic cardiac diseases or with metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which are key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Pathophysiological alteration prevalent under such conditions can alter or exacerbate cardiotoxic responses. The growing incidence of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome subject a significant percentage of the population to drug treatments, thereby augmenting their risk for drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity. Hence, screening for drug-induced cardiotoxicity early in the preclinical stages of drug development, by using appropriate human disease models, can be effective in ensuring safety in clinical trials and preventing late stage and post-marketing drug withdrawals owing to cardiotoxicity. The advent of human ...
Expression of Estrogen Receptor β in Hypothalamic Stem Cells
Abstract:
Neural stem cell activity at least partially accounts for the postweaning development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and estrogen selectively mobilizes neural stem cells in the 3rd ventricle stem cell niche (3VSCN). Here, we examined the expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the SDN-POA and the 3VSCN. A subset of cells within the SDN-POA--delineated with or without calbindin D28K (CB28)-immunoreactivity (ir)--exhibited ERβ-ir. The ependymal cells that expressed nestin within the 3VSCN also expressed ERβ. Interestingly, a few proliferating (Ki67 positive) cells within the 3VSCN and the hypothalamic parenchyma, including the SDN-POA, displayed ERβ-ir. In parallel, a subset of cells in the subventricular zone was double-labeled with nestin and ERβ or Ki67 and ERβ while the subgranular zone exhibited few such double-labeled cells. ERβ is expressed in hypothalamic stem cells that may regulate cell regenerative c...
Venous Thromboembolism after Orthopaedic Surgery – How Long is the Patient at Risk?
Abstract:
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospital with orthopaedic surgery already an established risk factor. This study aims to establish the length of time that a patient is at risk of sustaining a VTE post orthopaedic surgery. A retrospective case series of all patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery between 2010 and 2014 whom re-presented with a VTE within one year of their initial operation. Demographic, operative and clinical information was obtained in order to identify potential risk factors. 53 patients were identified as having a VTE within one year of discharge. The majority (63.4%) underwent lower limb arthroplasty. 29% of the cohort had either a family or ...
Mycosis Fungoides Presenting as a Pigmented Purpuric Dermatosis in a Renal Transplanted Patient
Abstract:
Cutaneous lymphoma after organ transplantation is rare and its diagnosis may be delayed by both atypical clinical manifestations and failure to consider it in the differential diagnosis. Beside skin-directed therapy for the stage, immunosuppression reduction is also important for disease control. We describe a clinical case of mycosis fungoides after renal transplantation and discuss the therapeutic options.
Increased Level of Lactate Dehydrogenase Correlates with Disease Growth in Algerian Children with Lymphoma
Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the relation of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels with stage of the disease and it role in monitoring tumor response to therapy in lymphoma patients. LDH levels were evaluated on 65 diagnosed Algerian children and compared to healthy control. Our results revealed that LDH levels were significantly higher in untreated children with both hodgkin’s and non hodgkin’s lymphomas compared to control. Moreover, it was observed that the higher is the stage of disease, the more serum LDH level will be. However, there was a significant fall in serum LDH activity by completion of the chemotherapeutic courses.