Perceived stigma and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease with additional health conditions

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with perceived stigma and affects quality of life (QoL). Additional health conditions may influence these consequences of PD.AimsThis study assessed the impact of health conditions on perceived stigma and QoL in persons with PD. We hypothesised that individuals with more health conditions would report more stigma and poorer QoL. We also examined the contributions of demographic and clinical characteristics to the correlations between health conditions and perceived stigma/QoL.MethodsWe identified 196 eligible participants from the Boston University Online Survey Study of Parkinson’s Disease and examined their health history, performance on multiple stigma measures, and scores on the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire assessing QoL.ResultsAt least one health condition was reported by 79% of the sample, with a median of 2 and a range of 0–7 health conditions. More perceived stigma and poorer QoL were associated with thyroid disease, depression, anxiety, and the total number of health conditions. These correlations were related to younger age, less education, and earlier disease onset. Other health conditions (high blood pressure, back/leg surgery, headache, cancer/tumours, and heart disease) were not significantly correlated with stigma or QoL.ConclusionsHaving more health conditions, or thyroid disease, depression, or anxiety, was associated with more perceived stigma and poorer QoL, with younger age, less education, and earlier disease onset affecting the associations. It is important to consider the burden of health conditions and how they affect persons with PD with specific clinical characteristics.     

Post-coital antifertility activity of the seeds of Coriandrum sativum in rats

Effect of the aqueous extract of fresh coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seeds has been studied on female fertility in rats. Parameters included effects on oestrus cycle, implantation, foetal loss, abortion, teratogenicity and serum progesterone levels on days 5, 12 and 20 of the pregnancy. The extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg orally produced a dose-dependent significant anti-implantation effect, but failed to produce complete infertility. Treatment of animals during day-8 to day-12 and day-12 to day-20 of the pregnancy did not produce any significant abortifacient activity. There was no significant change in the weight and length of the foetuses delivered by rats treated with the extract and no abnormalities were seen in the organs of the offsprings. The extracts produced a significant decrease in serum progesterone levels on day-5 of pregnancy which may be responsible for the anti-implantation effect observed in this study.     

Recurrent Metastatic Chordoma to the Liver: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Chordoma is a rare malignant neoplasm derived from notochordal tissue that primarily affects the axial skeleton. Almost 40% of patients have non-cranial chordoma metastases. The most common metastatic sites are the lungs, bones, lymph nodes, and subcutaneous tissue. We present a 52-year female with a history of sacral chordoma presenting with abdominal fullness, early satiety, and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an isolated, highly vascularized, and multilobed liver mass in the left lateral segment. The mass was surgically removed using a clean surgical margin. A histological examination and immunohistochemical staining were consistent with a metastatic chordoma. Two years later, follow-up imaging studies showed a 6.5 × 4.0 × 2.0 cm right liver lesion with multiple lungs, chest wall, pleural, and diaphragmatic lesions. Microscopic- and immunohistochemical staining revealed a recurrent metastatic chordoma. Herein, we present a unique case of metastatic recurrent chordoma in the liver with the involvement of other sites. To the best of our knowledge, no other case of recurrent liver metastasis has been reported.     

Implications of Crop Rotation and Fungicide on Fusarium and Mycotoxin Spectra in Manitoba Barley, 2017–2019

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most important diseases of barley in Manitoba province (western Canada), and other major barley producing regions of the world. Little is known about the Fusarium species and mycotoxin spectra associated with FHB of barley in Manitoba. Hence, barley grain samples were collected from 149 commercial fields from 2017 to 2019, along with information on respective cropping history, and analyzed with respect to Fusarium species spectra, abundance, chemotype composition, and mycotoxin profiles. Fusarium poae was the predominant Fusarium species associated with FHB of barley in Manitoba, followed by F. graminearum, and F. sporotrichioides; F. equiseti and F. avenaceum were also detected but at low levels. F. poae strains with the nivalenol (NIV) chemotype and F. graminearum strains with 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) chemotypes were commonly detected in the barley grain samples. Nivalenol (597.7, 219.1, and 412.4 µg kg⁻¹) and deoxynivalenol (DON) (264.7, 56.7, and 65.3 µg kg⁻¹) were the two most prevalent mycotoxins contaminating Manitoba barley in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. A substantially higher DON content was detected in grain samples from barley fields with cereals as a preceding crop compared to canola and flax. Furthermore, F. poae proved less sensitive to four triazole fungicides (metconazole, prothioconazole+tebuconazole, tebuconazole, and prothioconazole) than F. graminearum. Findings from this research will assist barley producers with improved understanding of FHB threat levels and optimizing practices for the best management of FHB in barley.     

An Update on the Status of Potent Inhibitors of Metallo-β-Lactamases

The production of metallo-β-lactamases is the most important strategy by which pathogenic bacteria become resistant to currently known β-lactam antibiotics. The emergence of these enzymes is particularly concerning for the future treatment of bacterial infections. There are no clinically available drugs capable of inhibiting any of the metallo-β-lactamases, so there is an urgent need to find such inhibitors. In this review, an up-to-date status of the inhibitors investigated for the inhibition of metallo-β-lactamases has been given so that this rich source of structural information of presently known metallo-β-lactamases could be helpful in generating a broad-spectrum potent inhibitor of metallo-β-lactamases.     

Comparative study of dose distribution between carbon ion radiotherapy and photon radiotherapy for head and neck tumor

PURPOSE: A comparative treatment planning study has been performed between carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) and photon radiotherapy [three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)] to assess the potential improvements and limitations that could result for locally advanced, nonresectable head and neck tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients, originally treated with CIRT, were randomly selected for the comparative study. The evaluations analyzed using dose-volume histogram parameters, conformity index, inhomogeneity coefficient, and dose to the organs at risk (OARs). RESULTS: The mean conformity index was 1.46, 1.43, and 1.22 for 3D-CRT, IMRT, and CIRT, respectively. The mean inhomogeneity coefficient was 0.05, 0.07, and 0.02 for 3D-CRT, IMRT, and CIRT respectively. Photon plans resulted in greater volumes of normal tissues at 10% to 95% isodose levels compared with the corresponding carbon ion plans where the volumes increased by a factor of 1.2 to 2.7 for 3D-CRT and 1.2 to 2.0 for IMRT. CONCLUSION: CIRT has the potential to improve the target dose conformity, inhomogeneity coefficient, and OAR sparing when compared with 3D-CRT and IMRT. Compared with 3D-CRT, normal tissue exposure was reduced mainly in the mid-to low-isodose levels using IMRT. Additional improvement was obtained using CIRT.     

Outcome of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in surgical and medical neonates

Background/Purpose

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are commonly used for neonatal vascular access. The aim of this study was to look at PICC line complication rates and possible predictors of PICC infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Method

This was a prospective study of 226 neonates who had PICCs on our neonatal intensive care unit between January 2006 and June 2009. Complete data was available on 218 neonates who had 294 PICC lines. Criteria for catheter-related sepsis was positive blood cultures (peripheral/central) and/or a positive catheter tip culture after removal in the presence of a clinical suspicion of line sepsis.

Results

Of 218 neonates, 132 (169 lines) were medical, and 86 (125 lines) were surgical. Our PICC line infection rate was 17 infections per 1000 catheter-days. Surgical neonates had infection rates of 24.8% compared with 18.3% of medical neonates (P < .18). The odds ratio for a PICC infection was 3.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.64-5.87) if the catheter was in situ for 9 days or more, P < .01. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated from 55 (89%) of 62 blood cultures.

Conclusions

Our PICC infection rate was 17 per 1000 catheter-days. The length of catheter stay was the only predictor of PICC infection.     

Extension of fusions to the pelvis in idiopathic scoliosis

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of patients after extension of previous scoliosis fusions to the pelvis. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether modern instrumentation and surgical techniques provide for increased fusion rates with fewer complications. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Traditionally, long fusions to the pelvis in adults with idiopathic scoliosis have resulted in high complication rates, including pseudarthrosis. METHODS: The hospital and clinic charts of 41 patients (40 female, 1 male) were reviewed 41 months (range: 24-116) after surgery for extension to the pelvis of previous scoliosis fusions. Thirty-nine of 41 had a combined anteroposterior fusion extension; two had posterior extension only. In 37 of 41 patients, Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) instrumentation was used; in two, Isola (Acromed Corp., Cleveland, OH), in one, TSRH; (Sofamor-Danek, Memphis, TN), and in one, Synergy (Cross Medical Products, Columbus, OH). Parameters analyzed were fusion rate, sagittal and coronal balance, lumbar lordosis, length of fusion extension, and distal fixation method. RESULTS: Complications were seen in 30 of 41 patients. The pseudarthrosis rate was 37% (15/41) and was significantly related to the method of distal posterior fixation. With sacral fixation only, the rate was 53% (8/15), with iliac fixation only 42% (3/7), and with both iliac and sacral fixation 21% (4/19; P < 0.05). This was not correlated with fusion rate, and the length of fusion extension did not affect the pseudarthrosis rate or sagittal balance. CONCLUSION: When fixed to the ilium and sacrum, modern instrumentation appears capable of maintaining sagittal balance with lower rates of pseudarthrosis when previous scoliosis fusions are extended to the pelvis. The complication rate remains significant.