High Stroke Volume Para-aortic Counterpulsation Device versus Centrifugal Pump in Cardiogenic Shock: Experimental Study

p < 0.001), the tension time index (712 ± 381 versus 1333 ± 694, p < 0.01), and the double product (5629 ± 2574 versus 7440 ± 3294, p < 0.01) were significantly lower during assistance with the PACD than with the CBP. It was concluded that PACD is at least as effective as CBP for restoring hemodynamic status during acute experimental cardiogenic shock. Moreover, the PACD unloads the left ventricle more effectively than CBP, making it suitable for left ventricular mechanical support in cases with reversible myocardial damage.     

Diverse Effects of Combinations of Maternal-Neonatal VDR Polymorphisms and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations on Neonatal Birth Anthropometry: Functional Phenocopy Variability Dependence,Highlights the Need for Targeted Maternal 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Cut-Offs during Pregnancy

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been associated with a plethora of adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of maternal and neonatal VDR polymorphisms (ApaI, TaqI, BsmI, FokI, Tru9I) and different maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D cut-offs on neonatal birth anthropometry. This cross-sectional study included data and samples from a cohort of mother–child pairs at birth. A detailed neonatal anthropometry analysis at birth was also conducted. Different 25(OH)D cut-offs for neonates and mothers were included, according to their vitamin D status at birth: for neonates, cut-offs of [25(OH)D ≤ 25 and > 25 nmol/L] and [25(OH)D ≤ 50 nmol/L] were adopted, whereas for mothers, a 25(OH)D cut-off of [25(OH)D ≤ 50 and > 50 nmol/L)] was investigated. Following this classification, maternal and neonatal VDR polymorphisms were evaluated to investigate the potential different effects of different neonatal and maternal 25(OH)D cut-offs on neonatal birth anthropometry. A total of 69 maternal-neonatal dyads were included in final analysis. Weight, neck rump length, chest circumference, abdominal circumference, abdominal circumference (iliac), high thigh circumference, middle thigh circumference, lower arm radial circumference, and lower leg calf circumference of neonates who had the TAQl SNP TT genotype and maternal 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L were significantly higher than that of neonates who had the Tt or tt genotypes (p = 0.001, Hg = 1.341, p = 0.036, Hg = 0.976, p = 0.004, Hg = 1.381, p = 0.001, Hg = 1.554, p = 0.001, Hg = 1.351, p = 0.028, Hg = 0.918, p = 0.008, Hg = 1.090, p = 0.002, Hg = 1.217, and p = 0.020, Hg = 1.263, respectively). Skin fold high anterior was significantly lower in neonates who had the BSMI SNP BB genotype compared to that of neonates with Bb or bb genotypes (p = 0.041, Hg = 0.950), whereas neck rump length was significantly higher in neonates who had the FOKI SNP FF genotype compared to that of neonates who had Ff or ff genotypes (p = 0.042, Hg = 1.228). Regarding neonatal VDR polymorphisms and cut-offs, the abdominal circumference (cm) of neonates who had the TAQI SNP TT genotype and 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L were significantly higher than that of neonates who had the Tt or tt genotypes (p = 0.038, Hg = 1.138). In conclusion, these results indicate that the maternal TAQI VDR polymorphism significantly affected neonatal birth anthropometry when maternal 25(OH) concentrations were <50 nmol/L, but not for a higher cut-off of >50 nmol/L, whereas this effect is minimally evident in the presence of neonatal TAQI polymorphism with neonatal 25(OH)D values <25 nmol/L. The implication of these findings could be incorporated in daily clinical practice by targeting a maternal 25(OH)D cut-off >50 nmol/L, which could be protective against any effect of genetic VDR variance polymorphism on birth anthropometry.     

Effects of Two Workload-Matched High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols on Regional Body Composition and Fat Oxidation in Obese Men

The effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on regional body composition and fat oxidation in men with obesity were compared using a parallel randomized design. Sixteen inactive males (age, 38.9 ± 7.3 years; body fat, 31.8 ± 3.9%; peak oxygen uptake, VO_2peak, 30.9 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; all mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to either HIIT10 (48 × 10 s bouts at 100% of peak power [W_peak] with 15 s of recovery) or HIIT60 group (8 × 60 s bouts at 100% W_peak with 90 s of recovery), and subsequently completed eight weeks of training, while maintaining the same diet. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed only a main effect of time (p < 0.01) and no group or interaction effects (p > 0.05) in the examined parameters. Total and trunk fat mass decreased by 1.81 kg (90%CI: −2.63 to −0.99 kg; p = 0.002) and 1.45 kg (90%CI: −1.95 to −0.94 kg; p < 0.001), respectively, while leg lean mass increased by 0.86 kg (90%CI: 0.63 to 1.08 kg; p < 0.001), following both HIIT protocols. HIIT increased peak fat oxidation (PFO) (from 0.20 ± 0.05 to 0.33 ± 0.08 g/min, p = 0.001), as well as fat oxidation over a wide range of submaximal exercise intensities, and shifted PFO to higher intensity (from 33.6 ± 4.6 to 37.6 ± 6.7% VO_2peak, p = 0.039). HIIT, irrespective of protocol, improved VO_2peak by 20.0 ± 7.2% (p < 0.001), while blood lactate at various submaximal intensities decreased by 20.6% (p = 0.001). In conclusion, both HIIT protocols were equally effective in improving regional body composition and fat oxidation during exercise in obese men.     

Hydrocephalus in primary intradural spinal cord tumors: a systematic review of the literature in the pediatric population

Neurosurgical Review - Hydrocephalus in children with primary intradural spinal cord tumors is exceedingly rare. Herewith, we performed a systematic literature review to address epidemiology,...     

Effects of orthodox religious fasting versus combined energy and time restricted eating on body weight,lipid concentrations and glycaemic profile

Abstract

For seven weeks, 37 overweight adults followed a hypocaloric diet based on Orthodox Fasting (OF). A hypocaloric, time restricted eating (TRE) plan (eating between 08:00 to 16:00?h, water fasting from 16:00 to 08:00?h) was followed by 23 Body Mass Index (BMI)-matched participants. Anthropometric, glycaemic and inflammation markers and serum lipids were assessed before and after the diets. Both OF and TRE groups demonstrated reductions in BMI (28.54?±?5.45 vs 27.20?±?5.10?kg/m², p?<?0.001 and 26.40?±?4.11 vs 25.81?±?3.78?kg/m² p?=?0.001, respectively). Following the intervention, the OF group presented lower concentrations of total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, compared with the pre-fasting values (178.40?±?34.14 vs 197.17?±?34.30?mg/dl, p?<?0.001 and 105.89?±?28.08 vs 122.37?±?29.70?mg/dl, p?<?0.001, respectively). Neither group manifested significant differences in glycaemic and inflammatory parameters. Our findings suggest that OF has superior lipid lowering effects than the TRE pattern.     

Immunolocalization of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with intravesically administered technetium-99m labelled HMFG1 monoclonal antibody

The aim of this study was the immunolocalization of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with a radiolabelled murine tumour-associated monoclonal antibody and the measurement of the absolute uptake of the antibody by the tumour. Fourteen patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder received 3–6 mCi (111–222 MBq) of technetium-99m labelled HMFG1 monoclonal antibody intravesically and one patient, 2 mCi (74 MBq) of iodine-131 labelled 11.4.1, which is a non-tumour-specific monoclonal antibody. Four of the 15 patients were evaluated with singlephoton emission tomography (SPET) 1 1/2 to 2 h post administration. All patients underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumour within 12–20 h following intravesical administration of the radiolabelled antibody. The radioactivity of biopsy specimens from normal urothelium and tumour areas were counted in a gamma counter. The mean uptake of the radiolabelled antibodies from normal and tumour sites was expressed as a percentage of the administered dose per kilogram of tissue. Conventional histology and immunohistochemistry using HMFGI monoclonal antibody were performed on paraffin sections of the biopsy specimens. Although our results are preliminary, it can be concluded that: (a) bladder tumours are well imaged by SPET when using^99mTc-HMFG1; (b) intravesically administered radiolabelled antibody remains on the bladder tissue and does not escape into the systemic circulation; (c) the wide range of tumour uptake values (0%–9.3% administered dose/kg) observed probably can be attributed to heterogeneity of the antigenic expression of the tumour; (d) values of^99mTc-HMFGI monoclonal antibody uptake by the tumour do not justify future attempts at radioimmunotherapy.     

Usefulness of thoracoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and management of thoracic diseases

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been recently utilised in the diagnosis and management of thoracic diseases. In this article we report our series of patients with established indications for VATS treatment. METHODS: Over the past 6 years we performed 104 VATS procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in 95 men and 39 women. The specific indications for VATS were: lung biopsy for undiagnosed diffuse lung disease, mediastinal biopsy and cysts, pleural effusion, empyema, pneumothorax and bullous lung disease, pericardial effusion and cyst, parvertebral abscess and solitary pulmonary nodules. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. Postoperative non-fatal complications were seen in 7 cases. The overall median duration of chest tube drainage was 2.5 days and the mean postoperative stay 3 days. In diffuse lung disease a tissue diagnosis was obtained in all cases. Definitive diagnosis in the patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion was obtained in 90% of cases and the overall diagnostic rate was 98.5%. The success rate of the empyema (stage II) treatment and the therapeutic procedures is 100% after a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 6-30). Conversion to thoracotomy was needed in 6 cases. In all patients the postoperative pain was controlled with intake of non-narcotic analgesics with satisfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: VATS is worth considering and has been established as procedure of choice, with exceptional results in various chest diseases such as undiagnosed pleural effusions, recurrent, post-traumatic or complicated spontaneous pneumothorax, stage II empyema, accurate staging for lung cancer in the resection of peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule less than 3 cm, and lung biopsy for pulmonary diffuse disease.     

Outcome factors in surgically treated patients for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Context/Objective: To investigate prospectively preoperative parameters that might be related to the outcome of surgically treated patients for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Single Center in Ioannina, Greece.

Participants: Thirty-six patients were included in the study. There were 21 males and 15 females, mean age 50.8 years, range 39–70 years. The mean BMI was 27.3.

Outcome measures: From each patient, we recorded age, sex, BMI, symptoms, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, lifestyle, myelopathy grade based on MRI and levels of compression. All patients completed the modified JOA (mJOA) and NPE questionnaires preoperatively and at 1, 3, 12 months and 5-years postoperatively.

Results: The mean mJOA score significant improved from 10.8?±?1.9 points preoperatively to 16.6?±?2.2 points at 12 months postoperatively. The mean mJOA score at 5-years postoperatively was 15.5?±?3 points. The difference was still highly significant. The mean NPE score significant improved from 59.8?±?12.2 points preoperatively to 28.2?±?8.5 points at 1 month, to 35.8?±?8.1 points at 3 month and to 28.2?±?8.8 points at 12 months postoperatively. Younger patients had significant higher baseline mJOA scores and significant higher mJOA scores 5-year postoperatively. No correlation was found between sex, BMI, symptom duration, baseline mJOA or myelopathy grade and outcome at 12 months or 5-year postoperatively.

Conclusion: Age was highly predictive factor of outcome for patients undergoing surgical treatment of CSM.