Grip Strength is a Predictor of Bone Mineral Density Among Adolescent Combat Sport Athletes

The aim of this study was firstly to investigate the correlation between bone parameters and grip strength (GS) in hands, explosive legs power (ELP), and hormonal parameters; second, to identify the most determinant variables of bone mineral density (BMD) among adolescent combat sport athletes. Fifty combat sport athletes aged 17.1 ± 0.2 yr were compared with 30 sedentary subjects matched for age, height, and pubertal stage. For all subjects, the BMD in deferent sites associated with anthropometric parameters were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TESTO) concentrations were tested. The GS in dominant (GSDA) and nondominant arms (GSNDA) and ELP were evaluated. All BMD measured were greater in athletes than in sedentary group (p < 0.01). The GS and ELP showed higher values in athletes than in sedentary group (p < 0.01). The BMD in all sites were correlated with weight, but without correlation with height. The GSNDA and ELP were significantly correlated with BMD of both spine and legs. The GH was correlated with the BMD of whole body and spine (p < 0.05). The TESTO was only correlated with BMD of the arms (p < 0.01). The best predictor of BMD measurements is GSNDA. This study has proved the osteogenic effect of combat sports practice, especially judo and karate kyokushinkai. Therefore, children and adolescent should be encouraged to participate in combat sport. Moreover, it suggested that the best model predicting BMD in different sites among adolescent combat sports athletes was the GSNDA.     

Cervical cancer screening by Pap smear: experience of the National Research Center in Reproductive Health. ONFP

We have analysed the result of 17,173 pap smears screened in the national research center in reproductive health of Ariana from 1 may 1993 to 30 april 1997. Among these pap smears, 613 colposcopy and 380 biopsy have been performed. The results show that: 1.9% of pap smears present cytological anomalies with 0.79% of low Squamous Intraepithelial lesions and 0.66% high Squamous Intraepithelial lesions. The incidence of CIN III is 1.8% and 0.9% for invasive cancer. The age interval 35-44 years is at high risk of CIN III and invasive cancer of the cervix. evaluation of our diagnostic approach shows that: positive predictive value of pap smears with low SLI is 43.2% positive predictive value of pap smears with high SLI is 37.3%.     

Long-term survival and prognostic factors in multiple myeloma treated with conventional chemotherapy. Report of 109 cases

Our study is retrospective. We report the results of conventional chemotherapy ins previosly untreated patients with myeloma. Survival and prognostic factors were analysed in 109 patients diagnosed from 1983 to 1992. The median age was 65 years, 87 patients (80%) were including in the stage III according the Durie Salmon staging system. The median survival time was 27 months and 10 years survival rate is 3.66%. In the univariate analysis, two prognostic variables were retained namely the hemoglobin and creatinine level. The study suggest that conventional therapy is a good treatment for old patients. However, patients younger than 55 years, must benefit from intensive chemotherapy supported by autologous bone marrow, pheripheral blood stem cells, or allogenic bone marrow transplantation. A considerable encrace in duration of remission and survival is possible.     

What is the Cost of Free Cleft Surgery in the Middle East?

Background

This project explores the costs of cleft lip and/or palate surgeries in Palestine and Sudan, two low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in the Middle East. Our purpose is to examine the veracity of advertisements from international cleft organizations claiming that “250 US dollars (USD) covers the cost of a single cleft surgery.” We hypothesize that the actual cost of surgery is greater than 250 USD.

Methods

Costs for each cleft surgery were organized broadly into 5 categories: hospital charges, personnel (time and money spent for health professionals to travel to LMIC, including lost wages), tests, consumables, and reusables. Each item was priced at market value during the time of data collection. Following itemization of actual costs, we compared the costs per cleft surgery among four surgical practice models: (1) visiting international surgical teams, (2) visiting international surgeon working with local teams, (3) local teams working at government hospitals, and (4) local teams working at private hospitals.

Results

Our results suggest that 250 USD is an underestimate of actual costs per cleft surgery in all models. The most expensive model in both Palestine and Sudan was the first model, visiting international teams performing all team functions; the cheapest surgical model in both countries was a local team working at government hospitals. The largest cost for any of these models is travel and lost wages for international team members. Eliminating this single cost (travel) decreases overall cost tremendously, but still does not approach the advertised cost of 250 USD.

Conclusions

We conclude that 250 USD underestimates the actual costs to perform a single cleft surgery in Palestine and Sudan. If international cleft organizations are genuinely committed to creating sustainable international cleft programs, they should focus exclusively on training local professionals to perform surgery in hospitals of their own choosing.

     

CNC Edge Finishing of Granite: Effect of Machining Conditions on Part Quality,Cutting Forces,and Particle Emissions

Edge finishing is a shaping process that is extremely important in the granite and marble processing industries. It does not only shape the edge but also makes it shiny and durable. However, this process generates dust (fine and ultrafine particles) that can have a significant impact on air quality in the workshop and can put workers’ health at risk. While environmental requirements and occupational health and safety regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, at the same time, industries must continue to produce quality parts at competitive prices. The purpose of this study was to examine the surface quality, the cutting forces, and the emission of fine (FP) and ultrafine (UFP) particles during wet and dry edge finishing of granite edges as a function of the machining parameters and abrasive grit sizes. Three machining operations were investigated: roughing, semi-finishing, and finishing, using diamond abrasives (with grit sizes 45, 150, 300, 600, 1500, and 3000). The experiments were carried out on two granites, one being black and the other white. The tested spindle speeds ranged from 1500 rpm to 3500 rpm and the feed rates from 500–1500 mm/min. It was found that roughing operations produce more fine particles while finishing operations produce more ultrafine particles. These particle emissions, as well as the part quality and the cutting forces are strongly dependent on cutting speed and on the grit size of the abrasive used.     

Effect of seqA mutation on Salmonella typhimurium virulence

It is well established that lack of SeqA protein leads to reinitiation at the same origin more than once per cell cycle, in E. coli. Aberrant cell division and filament formation in SeqA-deficient strains suggest that this protein might be involved in cell cycle process other than transient inhibition of replication initiation. The aim of our work was to examine the effect of lack of this protein on Salmonella typhimurium virulence. In the present study, Swiss albino mice were used for the determination of LD50, the competitive index and detection of bacteria in target organs. In vitro assays were used to determine the sensitivity of either wild-type and seqA mutant to hydrogen peroxide and bile salts. The seqA mutant strain of Salmonella typhimurium is attenuated for virulence in mice. seqA mutant is highly sensitive towards hydrogen peroxide and bile salts compared with the isogenic wild-type. The 50% lethal dose of seqA mutant were found to be significantly increased compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, enumeration of bacteria from target organs (spleen and liver) showed that the number of wild-type bacteria recovered from these organs was higher than SeqA-deficient cells during the infection. Also, competitive index demonstrated that seqA mutant was significantly out competed by the wild-type strain in both intraperitoneal and oral infections. In addition, our data showed that both adhesion and invasion of Salmonella typhimurium seqA mutant are reduced. According to these results, we can suggest that Salmonella typhimurium seqA mutant is attenuated for virulence in mice.