Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common form of entrapment neuropathy. Several authors have investigated the anatomical and pathophysiological features of CTS and have identified several ...parameters that, in combination, play a significant role in its pathophysiology. Advancement in biological research on CTS has enabled the advent of efficient diagnostic techniques such as provocative tests and nerve conduction studies. Sophisticated technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US), have facilitated the diagnosis of CTS. This review article aims at consolidating the relevant medical literature pertaining to the symptoms, pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies of CTS. It also compares the various methods of diagnosis and discusses their benefits and disadvantages. Finally, it sheds light on the conservative vs. surgical approach to treatment and compares them. While the surgical approach has proved to be more efficient relative to the conservative methods of steroid injections and splinting, many studies have demonstrated both advantages and adverse effects of the surgical methods. Surgical options and complications are discussed in detail. This article comprehensively summarizes all medical aspects of CTS to update medical professionals’ knowledge regarding the disease.
Our goal was to determine if venlafaxine has a negative effect on bone metabolism.
Rats were divided into three groups. The sham-operated control group (SHAM), the control group after orchidectomy ...(ORX), and the experimental group after orchidectomy received venlafaxine (VEN ORX) in standard laboratory diet (SLD) for 12 weeks. Bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone marker concentrations of carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), osteoprotegerin (OPG), amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), sclerostin and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) were examined in bone homogenate. The femurs were used for biomechanical testing.
Compared to the ORX group we found lower BMD in the diaphysis area of the femur in the VEN ORX group, suggesting a preferential effect on cortical bone. Of the bone metabolism markers, there was significant decrease (ORX control group versus VEN ORX experimental group) in BALP levels and increase in sclerostin and CTX-I levels, suggesting a decrease in osteoid synthesis and increased bone resorption.
The results suggest that the prolonged use of venlafaxine may have a negative effect on bone metabolism. Further studies are warranted to establish whether venlafaxine may have a clinically significant adverse effect on bone.
Provider: Czech digital library/Česká digitální knihovna - Institution: National Medical Library/Národní lékařská knihovna - Data provided by Europeana Collections- Martin Šimko, P. Blažíček, K. ...Holomáň- Lit: 21- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
Abstract Background Cardiac troponins (cTns) seem to be more sensitive for the detection of anthracycline cardiotoxicity than the currently recommended method of monitoring LV systolic function. ...However, the optimal timing of blood sampling remains unknown. Hence, the aims of the present study were to determine the precise diagnostic window for cTns during the development of chronic anthracycline cardiotoxicity and to evaluate their predictive value. Methods Cardiotoxicity was induced in rabbits with daunorubicin (3 mg/kg, weekly, for 8 weeks). Blood samples were collected 2–168 h after the 1st, 5th and 8th drug administrations, and concentrations of cTns were determined using highly sensitive assays: hs cTnT (Roche) and hs cTnI (Abbott). Results The plasma levels of cTns progressively increased with the rising number of chemotherapy cycles. While only a mild non-significant increase in both cTn levels occurred after the first daunorubicin dose, a significant rise was observed after the 5th and 8th administrations. Two hours after these administrations, a significant increase occurred with a peak between 4–6 h and a decline until 24 h. Discrete cTn release continued even after cessation of the therapy. While greater variability of cTn levels was observed around the peak concentrations, the values did not correspond well with the severity of LV systolic dysfunction. Unlike AMI in cardiotoxicity, cTn elevations may be better associated with cumulative dose and concentrations at steady state than cmax. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to precisely describe the diagnostic window and predictive value of cTns in anthracycline cardiotoxicity.
We identified transcriptomic heterogeneity within Gleason pattern 4 subtypes. Our findings demonstrate there is additional biological diversity not fully captured by histologic subtypes. This ...heterogeneity can be used to develop novel signatures and transcriptomic subtypes, which may help in further refining risk stratification following radical prostatectomy.
Prostate cancers featuring an expansile cribriform (EC) pattern are associated with worse clinical outcomes following radical prostatectomy (RP). However, studies of the genomic characteristics of Gleason pattern 4 subtypes are limited.
To explore transcriptomic characteristics and heterogeneity within Gleason pattern 4 subtypes (fused/poorly formed, glomeruloid, small cribriform, EC/intraductal carcinoma IDC) and the association with biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival.
This was a retrospective cohort study including 165 men with grade group 2–4 prostate cancer who underwent RP at a single academic institution (2016–2020) and Decipher testing of the RP specimen. Patients with Gleason pattern 5 were excluded. IDC and EC patterns were grouped. Median follow-up was 2.5 yr after RP for patients without BCR.
Prompted by heterogeneity within pattern 4 subtypes identified via exploratory analyses, we investigated transcriptomic consensus clusters using partitioning around medoids and hallmark gene set scores. The primary clinical outcome was BCR, defined as two consecutive prostate-specific antigen measurements >0.2 ng/ml at least 8 wk after RP, or any additional treatment. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to determine factors associated with BCR-free survival.
In this cohort, 99/165 patients (60%) had EC and 67 experienced BCR. Exploratory analyses and clustering demonstrated transcriptomic heterogeneity within each Gleason pattern 4 subtype. In the multivariable model controlled for pattern 4 subtype, margin status, Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Post-Surgical score, and Decipher score, a newly identified steroid hormone–driven cluster (hazard ratio 2.35 95% confidence interval 1.01–5.47) was associated with worse BCR-free survival. The study is limited by intermediate follow-up, no validation cohort, and lack of accounting for intratumoral and intraprostatic heterogeneity.
Transcriptomic heterogeneity was present within and across each Gleason pattern 4 subtype, demonstrating there is additional biologic diversity not captured by histologic subtypes. This heterogeneity can be used to develop novel signatures and to classify transcriptomic subtypes, which may help in refining risk stratification following RP to further guide decision-making on adjuvant and salvage treatments.
We studied prostatectomy specimens and found that tumors with similar microscopic appearance can have genetic differences that may help to predict outcomes after prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Our results demonstrate that further gene expression analysis of prostate cancer subtypes may improve risk stratification after prostatectomy. Future studies are needed to develop novel gene expression signatures and validate these findings in independent sets of patients.
Precise investigation of part of the phase diagram of KF–Al2O3 system was performed in an experiment combining different techniques. Solidified mixtures of KF–Al2O3 were studied by X-ray powder ...diffraction and high-field solid-state NMR spectroscopy over a wide range of compositions. To help with the interpretation of the NMR spectra of the solidified samples found as complex admixtures, we synthesized the following pure compounds: KAlO2, K2Al22O34, α-K3AlF6, KAlF4, and K2Al2O3F2. These compounds were then characterized using various solid-state NMR techniques, including MQ-MAS and D-HMQC. NMR parameters of the pure compounds were finally determined using first-principles density functional theory calculations. The phase diagram of KF–Al2O3 with the alumina content up to 30 mol % was determined by means of thermal analysis. Thermal analysis was also used for the description of the thermal stability of one synthesized compound, K2Al2O3F2.
The effects of aluminium phosphate dissolution on speciation in Na
3
AlF
6
-Al
2
O
3
melts was studied. The structural description was performed
via
multinuclear (
17
O,
19
F,
23
Na,
27
Al, and
31
P) ...NMR measurements
in situ
at high temperature (HT) in melts of the Na
3
AlF
6
-Al
2
O
3
-AlPO
4
system. Consistent with our previous findings, the PO
4
3−
, AlF
5
2−
, Al
2
OF
6
2−
, Al
2
O
2
F
4
2−
, and (AlF
4
-O-PO
3
)
4−
anions are present in the melt. When AlPO
4
is introduced in the melt containing alumina, the formation of Al-O-P linkages become more favorable compared with the system without alumina.
The formation of complex oxofluoroaluminate species containing bridging oxygen atoms from the chemical processes between AlPO
4
, Al
2
O
3
, and Na
3
AlF
6
.
Abstract The article presents a theoretical analysis of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and experimental measurement of effects of radiation and acoustic emission of high-voltage transformers for ...electronic equipment and working personnel in a control room. Electromagnetic compatibility and safety of equipment are not considered as two distinct areas of study in electric and electronic safety. Economic criteria cannot compromise safety but at the same time immunity levels must be relevant in order to establish a “Functional Safety”. Introducing Special Immunity Levels in the level of equipment testing allows us to combine the two areas of EMC and safety. The measurement was carried out in high-current of very high-voltage distribution station. A real-life analysis of effects of electric and electromagnetic field was carried out. FFT was used for mathematical processing of data which were later presented in a graphical form of a spectrally analyzed area. In the last part of the paper we discuss the suitability of acoustic camera to perform contactless monitoring of the health and operation conditions of the power transformer by analyzing acoustic field generated by the transformer core and windings in near control room.
Precise research on the RbF–Al2O3 system was carried out by means of combining X-ray powder diffraction, high-field solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis methods. α-Rb3AlF6, RbAlO2, ...Rb2Al22O34, and new phase, Rb2Al2O3F2, were identified in the system. The structure of this new rubidium oxofluoroaluminate was determined. It is built up from single layers of oxygen-connected AlO3F tetrahedra, those layers beeing separated by fluorine atoms. This type of structure exhibits a decent ionic conductivity at ambient temperature, 1.74 × 10–6 S cm–1. The similar structural arrangement of O3Al–O–AlO3 and FO2Al–O–AlO2F tetrahedra of the conduction planes in Rb2Al22O34 and Rb2Al2O3F2 were confirmed by 27Al NMR measurements. A thermal analysis of the RbF–Al2O3 system revealed that it can be defined as a pseudobinary subsystem of the more general quaternary RbF–AlF3–Al2O3–Rb2O phase diagram. From a phase analysis of individual phase fields, the mutual metastable behavior of all founded phases can be considered. It was observed that fluoro- and oxoaluminates exist together. Rb2Al2O3F2 is more stable under high temperature. Rubidium fluoro- and oxoaluminates are metastable precursors of the thermodynamically more stable structure of rubidium oxofluoroaluminate.
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