SWI is a new technique for evaluating diffuse axonal injury associated with punctate hemorrhages. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of cerebral microhemorrhages in amateur boxers ...compared with nonboxers by using SWI and to evaluate the sensitivity of SWI compared with T2 FSE and T2*GE sequences.
We performed cranial MR imaging with a 1.5T scanner in 21 amateur boxers and 21 control subjects. The study protocol included conventional MR images, T2 FSE, T2*GE, and SWI sequences. The proportions of boxers and controls having CSP, DPVS, cerebral atrophy, cerebellar atrophy, ventricular dilation, PSWMD, and microhemorrhages were computed and were compared by using the χ(2) test of proportions. The relationship between microhemorrhages and boxing-related covariates was assessed by using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. The association between the categories was tested by using the Fisher exact test.
Using SWI, microhemorrhages were found in 2 (9.52%) of 21 boxers. The microhemorrhages were not visible on T2 FSE or T2*GE images. The proportion of subjects with microhemorrhages did not differ significantly between the boxers and control subjects (χ(2) = 0.525, df = 1, P = .4688). The prevalence of CSP and DPVS was significantly higher in the boxers than in the control subjects.
More microhemorrhages were detected in amateur boxers than in controls, but this difference was not statistically significant.
There has been an increased interest in speech pattern analysis applications of Parkinsonism for building predictive telediagnosis and telemonitoring models. For this purpose, we have collected a ...wide variety of voice samples, including sustained vowels, words, and sentences compiled from a set of speaking exercises for people with Parkinson's disease. There are two main issues in learning from such a dataset that consists of multiple speech recordings per subject: 1) How predictive these various types, e.g., sustained vowels versus words, of voice samples are in Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis? 2) How well the central tendency and dispersion metrics serve as representatives of all sample recordings of a subject? In this paper, investigating our Parkinson dataset using well-known machine learning tools, as reported in the literature, sustained vowels are found to carry more PD-discriminative information. We have also found that rather than using each voice recording of each subject as an independent data sample, representing the samples of a subject with central tendency and dispersion metrics improves generalization of the predictive model.
The spinal accessory nerve (SAN) is the major motor supply to the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. The superficial course of the SAN in the posterior cervical triangle makes it vulnerable ...to injuries. The most common reason is an iatrogenic injury during surgery but other causes such as stretch or traction injury have also been reported. Five iatrogenic SAN injuries were occurred after radical neck dissection (RND) for laryngeal carcinoma in two patients, lymphadenectomy for oral mucosal tumor in one patient, surgery for lipoma in one patient, and lymph node biopsy for tuberculosis in one patient, traumatic SAN injuries were occurred after the carrying and lifting in three patients. Our eight patients were followed conservatively and 6 of them had significant improvement of pain and function of the shoulder. However, the remaining two patients with radical neck dissection showed moderate improvement in both pain and function including shoulder range of motion and activities of daily living. We report the eight cases with SAN injury that had admitted to our outpatient clinic in the last one year with neck, back and shoulder pain as well as limitation in the shoulder range of motion and difficulty in the activities of daily living.
Although levodopa (LD) is the gold standard therapy for symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), the chronic use of LD leads to the development of motor complications in almost all ...patients.
We assessed the presence and risk factors for motor complications in PD patients on LD therapy. We examined 555 PD patients on LD for the presence or absence of wearing-off (WO±) and dyskinesia (DK±).
WO was present in 46.3%, and DK in 30.1% of patients. The mean age at onset of symptoms were earlier in WO(+)/DK(+) groups (
p
<
0.001). The duration of PD was longer in WO(+)/DK(+) groups (
p
<
0.001). The time between the first symptom and the occurrence of WO/DK, or LD initiation were not significantly different. The initial LD dose was significantly higher in WO(+) compared to WO(−) (300.1
mg/d versus 232.5
mg/d,
p
<
0.001), and DK(+) compared to DK(−) groups (291.4
mg/d versus 251.9
mg/d,
p
=
0.001). The time until dopamine agonist (DA) initiation was longer in WO(+)/DK(+) groups (
p
<
0.001). WO (
p
<
0.001) and DK (
p
=
0.002) were more common in patients with H&Y stages 3
+
4. UPDRS scores were higher in WO(+) and DK(+) patients (
p
<
0.001 and
p
=
0.027).
Our study showed that the development of motor complications was associated with early onset PD, longer disease duration, advanced disease, higher initial LD dose, longer LD use, and late DA initiation, but not with the timing of LD initiation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
To assess the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on corneal and lens densitometry measurements using Pentacam HR and to compare the results obtained with those in non-smokers.
This cross-sectional ...comparative study included 40 chronic-smokers and 40 age-matched healthy non-smokers between 18-40 years. After general ophthalmic examination, the Pentacam HR imaging system was used to evaluate corneal and lens densitometry measurements of smokers and non-smokers.
The mean corneal densitometry values were not statistically significantly different in all the concentric zones and layers in the eyes of the smokers and non-smokers (p > 0.05, for all). However, the mean values of zone 1, zone 2, zone 3 and average lens densitometry measurements of the smokers were statistically significantly higher compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05, for all). Additionally, significant positive correlations were detected between the number of pack-years smoked and lens densitometry measurements.
Lens densitometry measurements of smokers were significantly increased while corneal densitometry measurements were not significantly altered compared to non-smokers. Smoking may contribute to cataractogenesis and smoking and age-related changes may act synergistically to cataract development among smokers.
In this study, a combined continuous flow system was designed to remove Pb and Cd from heavily contaminated mine tailing soils. 0.05 M Na2EDTA was used as a chelating agent to remove Pb and Cd from ...polluted soil, taken from the vicinity of Kayseri ÇİNKUR, Turkey. The initial concentrations of Pb and Cd were 16381 ± 643 and 34347 ± 1310 mg kg-1, respectively. The electrochemical treatment process was applied to the waste washing solution, which emerged after being extracted from soil column and contained Pb and Cd. Metal ions were transformed to the metallic form by applying the electrochemical treatment process to the washing solution, containing Pb2+ and Cd2+.
At the end of the leaching experiment, which was done with a 50 g soil sample in the soil column system, Pb and Cd removal efficiencies from soil were 59.72% and 58.01%, respectively. Then, the soil column solution was subjected to electrolysis through a 48 h period at 10 V. The electrochemical removal efficiency of ions, which moved from column to solution, was 84.46% for Pb and 59.21% for Cd.
•The remediation performance of the continuous flow combined treatment system was evaluated for heavily contaminated soils.•The Cd concentration transferred from the soil column to the solution is greater than the Pb.•There is a linear relationship between the potential that is applied in electrochemical studies and the removal efficiency.•Cd ion, compared to Pb ion, is less reduced in the electrochemical cell.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Purpose
To assess the positive effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the structural and functional outcomes of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
Methods
This ...study included 60 patients with CSCR who were randomly allocated to one of two groups: MBSR or control (which did not practice MBSR). These groups were then evaluated in terms of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at months 1, 3, and 6.
Results
There were no significant differences in BCVA or mean CMT between the groups at the beginning of the study (
p
= 0.615 and
p
= 0.561, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of BCVA at 1, 3, and 6 months (
p
= 0.018,
p
= 0.001, and
p
= 0.002, respectively). There were also significant differences in the mean CMT across the groups at the first, third, and sixth months (
p
< 0.001,
p
= 0.001, and
p
< 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion
MBSR may have beneficial outcomes in the early treatment of patients with CSCR, resulting in faster resolution of subretinal fluid and enhancement of BCVA.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The present study aimed to investigate previously researched variables in adult people with epilepsy (PWE), which include felt stigma, perceived overprotection, concealment of epilepsy, and ...epilepsy-related concerns for adolescents with epilepsy (AWE). Another goal was to determine the reported levels of these variables and explore the relationships among them, as well as their associations with demographic and clinical factors. Additionally, we also investigated whether clinical and demographic variables create significant changes in these variables. Lastly, we aimed to determine the variables that predict felt-stigma in AWE.
On hundred and nineteen AWE aged between 10 and 18 were included in the study by using convenience sampling. Participants received the scales and demographic information form either in face to face meeting or via a Zoom session.
Nearly half of the participants stated high level of felt stigma, perceived overprotection and concealment of epilepsy, while more than half reported concerns about their future/occupational prospects. Also, felt stigma had significant relations with concealment of epilepsy and concerns related to epilepsy. Early adolescents were under more risk for perceived overprotection, while late adolescents had higher concerns related to future/occupation. Females reported more felt stigma. Finally, felt stigma was predicted by concealment, concerns related to future/occupation, and concerns related to social life.
The variables that explain the felt-stigma in AWE appear to be quite similar to those in adult PWE.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To evaluate the efficiency and safety of autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft surgery in the management of pterygium.
This study included the eyes of 124 patients who were ...divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 62 patients who received autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft, and Group 2 consisted of 62 patients who underwent conventional sutured conjunctival autograft surgery. The primary outcome measure was graft stability, and the secondary outcome measures were postoperative immediate patient comfort and recurrence rates at 12 months.
The mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in Group 1 (9.84±2.64 min) than in Group 2 (17.90±4.42 min) (p<0.001). The postoperative pain visual analog scale score was significantly lower in Group 1 (p<0.001). The postoperative complications included graft loss in four patients in Group 1 and recurrence of pterygium in six patients in Group 2.
The autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft technique seems superior to the conventional sutured autograft technique in terms of postoperative patient comfort, lower recurrence rates, and shorter duration of surgery.
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