scholarly journals Preliminary investigation of the effects of long-term dietary intake of genistein and daidzein on hepatic histopathology and biochemistry in domestic cats (Felis catus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Whitehouse-Tedd ◽  
Nicholas J. Cave ◽  
Claudia E. Ugarte ◽  
Wendi D. Roe ◽  
David G. Thomas

SummaryDietary isoflavones have been hypothesised to play a role in hepatic veno-occlusive disease in captive exotic felids, although empirical evidence is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of long-term (>1 year) dietary genistein and daidzein exposure on the hepatic biochemistry and histology of domestic cats. Individual cats were assessed for hepatic enzyme and bile acid production before and after the removal of isoflavones from their diet in the treatment group (n = 4), and at the same times in unexposed control animals (n = 7). No significant differences were detectable in hepatic biochemistry between treatment and control groups, and all serum values were within the normal reference ranges for domestic cats. Additionally, treatment animals demonstrated slightly greater areas of fibrosis surrounding hepatic venules than control animals, but this difference was not statistically significant. On the basis of the results presented, dietary isoflavones, at the current dose and duration of exposure do not appear to modulate hepatic enzyme production or histological parameters.

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 030006051988283
Author(s):  
Wen Zhou ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Lingfeng Yang ◽  
Tieying Qiu ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
...  

Objective We aimed to investigate whether long-term regular training of diabetes liaison nurses (DLNs) could improve their diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practice. Methods We enrolled 45 diabetes liaison nurses (DLNs) and 45 non-specialist nurses (controls). DLNs received 11 days of qualifying training, followed by regular theory classes and practice sessions for 4 years. All nurses were administered a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge about diabetes mellitus (DM), attitudes toward DM, and DM management practices, before and after the 4-year DLN training period. Results At baseline, there were no significant differences between the DLN and control groups for sex, age, educational level, nurse title/grade, work experience, hospital department, or questionnaire scores. At 4 years, the DLN group had a higher overall questionnaire score and higher scores for knowledge about DM, attitudes toward DM, and DM management practices, as compared with baseline scores. Conclusion Long-term regular training provided by a multidisciplinary diabetes care team can improve the knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practice levels of DLNs.


1984 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Donald S. Martin ◽  
Ming-Shiunn Huang

The actor/observer effect was examined by Storms in a 1973 study which manipulated perceptual orientation using video recordings. Storms' study was complex and some of his results equivocal. The present study attempted to recreate the perceptual reorientation effect using a simplified experimental design and an initial difference between actors and observers which was the reverse of the original effect. Female undergraduates performed a motor co-ordination task as actors while watched by observers. Each person made attributions for the actor's behaviour before and after watching a video recording of the performance. For a control group the video recording was of an unrelated variety show excerpt. Actors' initial attributions were less situational than observers'. Both actors and observers became more situational after the video replay but this effect occurred in both experimental and control groups. It was suggested the passage of time between first and second recording of attributions could account for the findings and care should be taken when interpreting Storms' (1973) study and others which did not adequately control for temporal effects.


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 736-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Spitler

We conducted a long-term follow-up (median, 10.5 years) of patients included in a randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as surgical adjuvant therapy in 203 patients with malignant melanoma. Of the patients randomized, 104 received levamisole, and 99 received placebo. The results show that there is no difference between the treatment and control groups with regard to any of the three end points analyzed. These included disease-free interval, time to appearance of visceral metastasis, and survival. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups after adjusting for age, sex, or stage of disease.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 2005-2010
Author(s):  
Antonio Cezar de Oliveira Dearo ◽  
Vitor Bruno Bianconi Rosa ◽  
Peter Reichmann ◽  
Milton Luis Ribeiro de Oliveira

Deep digital flexor (DDF) tenotomy is a technique employed for years to treat selected disorders of the musculoskeletal system in horses. Although two different surgical approaches (i.e. mid-metacarpal and pastern) have been described for performing the procedure, in vitro quantitative data regarding the modifications induced by either technique on the distal articular angles is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of the study reported here was to investigate the viability of a proposed biomechanical system of induced-traction used to compare the two DDF tenotomy techniques by measuring the distal articular angles of equine cadaver forelimbs. Ten pairs of forelimbs were collected and mounted to a biomechanical system developed to apply traction at the toe level. Dorsal articular angles of the metacarpophalangeal (MP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints were determined by geometric lines on radiographs taken before and after performing each technique. Comparisons between each tenotomy group and its own control, for each joint, and between the two tenotomy groups using as variable the difference between the tenotomy and control groups were tested. Despite the lack of statistical significance, the DDF tenotomy technique at the pastern level produced extension, to a lesser and greater extent, of the PIP and DIP joints, respectively when compared to the mid-metacarpal level. No remarkable differences could be observed for the MP joint. The developed traction-induced biomechanical construct seemed to be effective in producing valuable quantitative estimations of the distal articular angles of equine cadaver forelimbs subjected to different DDF tenotomy techniques.


2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahele Hassanpour Moghaddam ◽  
Fatemeh Nazemian ◽  
Sedigheh Rastaghi ◽  
Mostafa Rad

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cold dialysis solution on the sexual dysfunction of patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with a before and after parallel design among 60 hemodialysis patients diagnosed with sexual dysfunction. The selected subjects were randomly allocated to the two groups of experimental and control (30 per each). Patients in the experimental and control groups underwent hemodialysis for one month using 35.5°C and 37°C dialysis solutions, respectively. Following the procedure, male and female sexual function was assessed in the study groups. Data were collected using the International Index of Erectile Functions, the female sexual function index (FSFI), and a demographic questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, t-test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon test at 95% confidence interval. Results: No significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups regarding male sexual function before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). However, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated a significant difference in the female subjects’ arousal in the experimental group before (3.68 ± 0.38) and after the intervention (3.98 ± 0.46; z = 2.216; P = 0.027). Conclusions: Cold dialysis solution could only increase the sexual arousal of the women in the experimental group, and no changes were observed in other sexual function domains of the male and female patients. Given the short duration of our intervention, it is recommended that further longitudinal studies be performed on larger cohorts of patients in different geographical regions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-532
Author(s):  
Diah Evawanna Anuhgera ◽  
Tjahjono Kuncoro ◽  
Sri Sumarni ◽  
Mardiyono Mardiyono ◽  
Ari Suwondo

Background: Post-cesarean mothers often experience anxiety and discomfort due to long-term pain. The combination of hypnobreastfeeding and acupressure is considered to be effective in reducing anxiety and pain levels. Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of combination of hypnobreastfeeding and acupressure on anxiety and pain levels in post-caesarean mothers.Methods: This study was a true experiment with pretest-posttest control group design, conducted in the Ambarawa Public Hospital on 5 November to 9 December 2016. There were 36 participants selected using stratified random sampling, with 18 assigned in the experiment and control group. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and wilcoxon test.Results: There were statistically significant differences of anxiety and pain levels before and after intervention in the experiment and control group with p-value 0.001 (<0.05).Conclusion: The combination of hypnobreastfeeding and acupressure has a significant effect in reducing anxiety and pain levels in post-cesarean mothers. This intervention could be applied as an alternative therapy in treating post-caesarean mothers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaying Song

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy for immediate repair in children with young permanent teeth crown fracture. Methods: From September 2017 to October 2018, 80 children (80 affected teeth) with young permanent teeth crown fracture who treated in the hospital were selected as the research objects. Random number table method was used to divide them into observation and control groups with each group of forty patients (40 affected teeth). The children in the control group were treated with calcium hydroxide resin, while the observation group were treated with iRoot BP Plus for immediate repair. The surgical success rate was compared between the two groups, and the pulp vitality before and after treatment were compared. Results: At 3 months and 6 months after surgery, the success rate of children in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The percentage of children with negative pulp activity in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Immediate repair with iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy in children with young permanent teeth crown fracture has significant clinical effect.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanay Muhammad Umar Saeed ◽  
Syed Muhammad Anwar ◽  
Humaira Khalid ◽  
Muhammad Majid ◽  
Ulas Bagci

Stress research is a rapidly emerging area in the field of electroencephalography (EEG) signal processing. The use of EEG as an objective measure for cost effective and personalized stress management becomes important in situations like the nonavailability of mental health facilities. In this study, long-term stress was classified with machine learning algorithms using resting state EEG signal recordings. The labeling for the stress and control groups was performed using two currently accepted clinical practices: (i) the perceived stress scale score and (ii) expert evaluation. The frequency domain features were extracted from five-channel EEG recordings in addition to the frontal and temporal alpha and beta asymmetries. The alpha asymmetry was computed from four channels and used as a feature. Feature selection was also performed to identify statistically significant features for both stress and control groups (via t-test). We found that support vector machine was best suited to classify long-term human stress when used with alpha asymmetry as a feature. It was observed that the expert evaluation-based labeling method had improved the classification accuracy by up to 85.20%. Based on these results, it is concluded that alpha asymmetry may be used as a potential bio-marker for stress classification, when labels are assigned using expert evaluation.


Author(s):  
Leila Shirmohammadi ◽  
Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan ◽  
Maryam Saberi-Karimian ◽  
Mehrdad Iranshahi ◽  
Shima Tavallaie ◽  
...  

Background: Inflammation has been shown to accompany Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its features. Cathepsin D is one of a proinflammatory mediator. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin supplementation on serum cathepsin D levels in patients with MetS. Methods: The current study was conducted on 18-65 years old individuals with MetS diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines. A total of 80 participants were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The first group (n=40) was given 2 capsules containing 500 mg of phosphatidylcholine complex of curcumin, and the other group (n=40) was given two 500 mg placebo capsules for 6 weeks. Before (week 0) and after (week 6) the intervention, anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured and blood samples were taken. Serum cathepsin D was measured using an ELISA kit. Results: There was no significant difference between treatment and control groups in terms of weight, body mass index, waist circumference and serum cathepsin D levels before and after the intervention. In addition, there was no significant difference between pre- and post-trial values of serum cathepsin D. Conclusion: The present results do not suggest any effect of curcumin on cathepsin D levels in patients with MetS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272090627
Author(s):  
Yasen Dimitrov ◽  
Tanja Vazova

The article presents the results of the preliminary survey and pilot application of the methodological toolkit for the improvement of certain competencies, which are part of the soft skills of professionals in the long-term care sector in Bulgaria. Based on the survey the authors define 2 target competencies, namely conflict management and empathic interaction. These skills are considered a part of the scope of emotional intelligence and its constituent dimensions and authors use Daniel Goleman’s ability-based model as a base for their conceptual frame and theoretical explanations. In order to present their thesis, the authors perform a soft skill analysis of the long-term care sector; define the construct emotional intelligence and justify their choice of a theoretical model for the subsequent survey. On this basis, they develop a training design for the development of these skills and present the results achieved through its pilot application. The study includes 62 participants randomly divided into a test and control groups. The level of targeted skills is measured (before and after) and the authors report a significant increase in those skills (empathic interaction, net effect 1.87; conflict management, net effect 1.75). In conclusion, the authors open a discussion on the importance of emotional management as an essential part of any profession related to health care and underline its importance for the quality of caregiving services.


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