Effect of Recombinant Human Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor on the Healing of Colonic Anastomosis in Rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) on the wound healing of colonic anastomosis in rats. In total, 40 male Wistar rats were taken into this study. The control group (n = 20) received subcutaneous saline injection. The experiment group (n     

The role of radiologic,clinical and biochemical parameters in prediction of stroke mortality

Objectives:To assess National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), stroke volume, biochemical, and blood parameters for the prediction of one-month mortality in stroke patientsMethods:The study had retrospective design and 75 patients were involved that presented to a hospital Emergency Department between January 2016 and December 2017 in Adiyaman, Turkey diagnosed with acute ischemic cerebral infarction. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether mortality occurred within one month. Values for NIHSS, stroke volume, Glasgow Coma Scale, and blood parameters were compared between the groups.Results:Values for Glasgow Coma Scale p=0.002, NIHSS p=0.001, stroke volume p=0.003, monocyte/HDL ratio p=0.047, neutrophils p=0.01, white blood cell p=0.007, calcium p=0.016, and albumin p=0.027 were statistically significant for the prediction of one-month mortality. There were no significant differences between the groups for other parameters.Conclusion:The clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings individually provide significant support for the short-term prognosis of stroke. The evaluation of these results together can provide a clearer advance understanding of a prognosis to better manage the course of the disease and prevent death.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death for patients presenting to emergency departments worldwide.1 Thus, to foresee possible mortality and morbidity in stroke cases, adoption of the right treatment and follow-up approach is important.2 The quality of the health service in a hospital emergency department depends on the successful prediction of the course of the disease and the clinical picture that may arise. Being aware of the prognosis of the disease in advance is important not only for making optimal treatment decisions but also for correctly informing the patient and managing health expenditures.In the literature, clinical parameters such as C reactive protein (CRP), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and routine blood parameters such as albumin, infarct volume on admission, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score have previously been defined for the prediction of mortality in stroke cases.2-5 Pro-brain natriuretic peptides and pro-atrial natriuretic peptides, 2 other biochemical parameters that are not among the routine blood parameters, have also been shown to be important markers of stroke prognosis.6,7This study aimed to evaluate the association of clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters with one-month mortality in patients that presented to the emergency service and received a diagnosis of ischemic stroke.     

Influences of Patient Sociodemographics on Cancer Information Received Through the First 9 Months of Treatment

This study evaluates the amount and change of information cancer patients report receiving related to disease, diagnostic tests, treatments, physical care, and psychosocial resources over 9 months of treatment. Information received by newly diagnosed, stages II–IV cancer patients receiving treatment (N?=?139) at baseline, 4, and 9 months is examined through a two-stage latent growth model. Each information-received category was modeled with latent variables of intercept and slope. Random intercept and slope factors are then regressed on multiple sociodemographic covariates. The mean amount of information received does not change over time, but significant inter-individual variability was observed. Age (younger) and marital status (married) are significantly associated with a higher total amount of information received while education (less) and race (African-American) are significantly associated with slower declines of information received over time. While the mean amount of information cancer patients receive is relatively constant over the course of treatment for the first 9 months, the level and rate of information received is somewhat varied based on patient characteristics. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the varying amounts of information received by patients and ensure that the amount is consistent with the patient’s individual needs.     

Psychological dysregulation during adolescence mediates the association of parent-child attachment in childhood and substance use disorder in adulthood

Objective: This prospective study tested the hypothesis that psychological dysregulation in mid-adolescence (age 16) mediates the association between parent-child attachment in late childhood (age 10–12) and development of substance use disorder (SUD) in adulthood (age 22). Method: The Youth Attachment to Parents Scale (YAPS) was developed in 10–12-year-old boys and girls (N?=?694) at baseline residing in western Pennsylvania. Psychological dysregulation was measured by the neurobehavior disinhibition trait. Substance use was assessed at ages 10–12, 12–14, 16 and 19. SUD was diagnosed at age 22 using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders. The mediation of parent-child attachment and SUD by neurobehavior disinhibition was tested separately for mothers and fathers while controlling for baseline substance use. Results: Psychological dysregulation mediates the association between attachment to mothers and SUD, and partially mediates the association between attachment to fathers and SUD. Significant mediation effects remains after controlling for baseline substance use. Conclusion: Optimal prevention of SUD should include ameliorating both psychological dysregulation predisposing to SUD and quality of the parent-child relationship.     

Another evidence for pressure transfer mechanism in incomplete partition two anomaly via enlarged vestibular aqueduct

A female patient with unilateral enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) demonstrated scala vestibuli dilatation on that side while on the contralateral side both vestibular aqueduct and scala vestibuli were normal. This important radiological finding demonstrates that modiolar defects (hence ‘cystic apex’) observed in Incomplete partition-II is due to pressure transfer via EVA during embryological development. Therefore, it supports the previous histopathological ideas radiologically. Depending on the patency of EVA, variety of modiolar defects may arise.     

Does stress mediate the development of substance use disorders among youth transitioning to young adulthood?

Background: Stress is a well-documented factor in the development of addiction. However, no longitudinal studies to date have assessed the role of stress in mediating the development of substance use disorders (SUD). Our previous results have demonstrated that a measure called Transmissible Liability Index (TLI) assessed during pre-adolescent years serves as a significant predictor of risk for substance use disorder among young adults. However, it remains unclear whether life stress mediates the relationship between TLI and SUD, or whether stress predicts SUD. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study involving 191 male subjects to assess whether life stress mediates the relationship between TLI as assessed at age 10–12 and subsequent development of SUD at age 22, after controlling for other relevant factors. Results: Logistic regression demonstrated that the development of SUD at age 22 was associated with stress at age 19. A path analysis demonstrated that stress at age 19 significantly predicted SUD at age 22. However, stress did not mediate the relationship between the TLI assessed at age 10–12 and SUD in young adulthood. Conclusions and scientific significance: These findings confirm that stress plays a role in the development of SUD, but also shows that stress does not mediate the development of SUD. Further studies are warranted to clarify the role of stress in the etiology of SUD.