基于太赫兹时域光谱技术的名贵动物药材龟甲的真伪品鉴别

目的： 建立一种利用太赫兹时域光谱和多种化学计量学方法鉴别龟甲真伪的新方法。方法： 选用正品乌龟和伪品红耳彩龟的腹甲进行实验,先用经典的性状鉴别、显微鉴别方法比较两种样品的典型性状特征,后利用太赫兹时域光谱仪测得样品的光谱信息,对样品谱图进行平滑处理和基线校准,并运用化学计量方法进行数据分析以区分正品和伪品龟甲。结果： 性状鉴别结果显示完整正、伪品龟甲样品仅有细微差异,且其碎片或粉末基本无差异;显微鉴别未在两种样品中发现明显的特征差异性结构;两种样品的太赫兹时域光谱曲线图经快速傅里叶变换滤波器平滑滤波处理、正交偏最小二乘法判别分析处理后呈现显著差异。结论： 利用太赫兹时域光谱技术结合正交偏最小二乘法判别分析可以实现龟甲真伪品的精准鉴别。     

Quality of life among epileptic patients in Qassim Region,KSA

Objectives:To explore the influence of epilepsy on quality of life (QoL) among people with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia, and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristic aspects in the Qassim region.Methods:A cross-sectional multi-centered study done in the Qassim region from June 2018 to May 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was provided to 216 participants who attended the neurology clinic. We used a validated Arabic version of the QoL in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) to measure the QoL.Results:The mean of the overall QOLIE-31 score was 64.23 ± 17.8. we found that employment status had a significant influence on the overall score (p<0.001) and all other QOL domains (rho ranged from -.136 for energy fatigue to -.193 for social function) Patients with focal seizures were significantly higher in emotional wellbeing (rho=-.159), seizure worry (rho=-.226), cognitive function (rho=-.166) and overall score (p=0.010) than patients with the generalized type. Monotherapy patients have higher scores in total (p<0.001) and all subscales except seizure worry and emotional wellbeing than those on polytherapy.Conclusion:Employment status, type of seizure, and AED number are the most important factors affecting Saudi patient’s QoL.

Many studies in multiple countries have tested quality of life (QoL) in epilepsy, and have highlighted areas of common concern. It has been shown that among Arabian people, epileptic patients are generally more susceptible to having higher levels of anxiety and depression.1 In Kenya, researchers have compared QoL between persons with epilepsy (PWE) and healthy people who have the same environment, social relationship, and living circumstances. These authors found that low education level, unemployment rate, unskilled employment, and low income were higher in PWE compared to their non-epileptic accompanying people.2 Despite the high prevalence rate in Saudi Arabia (6.54 per 1000),3 there has been limited research about the impact of QoL in epileptic patients. To better identify the factors that influence Saudi epilepsy patients, here we explore the influence of epilepsy on QoL among Saudi epileptic patients.     

Complications in paediatric liver transplant from Kuwait when transplanted abroad

Background and study aimsSince the introduction of liver transplantation (LTx) in children suffering from liver failure in 1963, many centres around the world have offered this service to children that have no other alternative. The aim of this retrospective study is to analyse the results of paediatric liver transplant in Kuwait over the last decade.Patients and methodsA retrospective chart review was done involving paediatric patients during the time period of 1995–2004. The information collected included patient demographics, indications for liver transplantation, survival of both patient and allograft, and complications.ResultsA total of 16 cases were found and analysed. The mean age was 3.6 years (ranged 5 months–17 years). There were nine boys and seven girls. The most common indications for LTx were biliary atresia and metabolic liver disease. All the liver transplants were done abroad. There were totally nine deceased donor and seven living related cases. The complications were acute cellular rejection in five, hypertension in two, biliary complications in four, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in three and post lymphoproliferative disease in two cases. All but one patient are presently alive.ConclusionThe above information demonstrates that LTx in Kuwati children is safe and improves the quality of life for those that would otherwise have no other alternative.     

Association of IL-8 gene polymorphisms with non small cell lung cancer in Tunisia: A case control study

Interleukin 8 (IL-8), is a proinflammatory chemokine, has been reported to have angiogenic activity and to be responsible for tumor-associated angiogenesis in several cancers. In this study, we aimed to study the (IL-8) gene polymorphism in relation with risk development of non small cell lung cancer in Tunisian patient. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (−251T/A [rs4073], +781C/T [rs2227306]) of the IL-8 gene were screened in 170 patients with NSCLC and 225 healthy controls by PCR–RFLP.     

Acute cardiac injury is associated with adverse outcomes,including mortality in COVID-19 patients: A single-center experience

Objectives:To evaluate acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and its association with adverse outcomes including mortality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.Methods:A retrospective study conducted between February and June 2020 in Dubai, UAE, for all laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus disease-19 patients. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without acute cardiac injury.Results:During the study period, 203 patients were included, of which, 44 (21.7%) had evidence of acute cardiac injury. Compared with patients without acute cardiac injury, patients with acute cardiac injury were: older, had more shortness of breath, diabetes, hypertension, and more bilateral airspace shadowing on admission chest radiography. These patients also had a higher neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimers and lactate dehydrogenase but lower lymphocyte count. Regarding outcomes, these patients had higher intensive care admissions; a higher rate of complications including acute kidney and liver injury, acidosis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, needed more mechanical ventilation, and had a significantly higher risk of death.Conclusion:Acute cardiac injury is common among Coronavirus disease-19 patients. These patients present with higher comorbidities, have high inflammatory markers and have greater risk for in-hospital multi-organ damage, need for mechanical ventilation, and death. Prompt full assessment and intervention are recommended.     

The influence of resin infiltration system on enamel microhardness and surface roughness: An in vitro study

Objective

To investigate the effect of a resin infiltrant on the surface microhardness and roughness of healthy enamel and, as a subsidiary aim, to compare it with a fissure sealant.

Materials and methods

Twenty freshly extracted premolars were used. Sound enamel surfaces were treated with a resin infiltrant (Icon) or fissure sealant (Seal-Rite). The average roughness (R_a, μm) of the specimens was measured with a profilometer (Surtronic 10 Tylor Hobson). Surface hardness was determined by utilizing Vicker’s surface hardness (VHN) with a Micromet II Microhardness tester. Each specimen acted as its own control. Data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mean values were compared with independent t-test. All analyses were performed with the SPSS program version 16 (USA). Differences with a P-value of ⩽0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Comparison of enamel surfaces before and after application of resin infiltrant revealed no significant differences in surface hardness; however, enamel surfaces treated by infiltrant showed significantly higher VHN (244.0 ± 79.8) values than those treated with fissure sealant (37.5 ± 14.2). Surface roughness did not differ before and after application of either material to sound enamel. Enamel surfaces treated with fissure sealant (5.3 ± 1.4) were significantly smoother than those treated with infiltrant (6.9 ± 2.0).

Conclusion

Within the limitations of the study, the results showed that enamels treated with the resin infiltrant showed approximately the same microhardness and surface roughness as sound enamel, indicating that this material might be suitable for the treatment of enamel subsurface lesions.     

An accessory mitral valve leaflet causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and associated with severe aortic incompetence

This case report describes a 20-year-old woman with Turner's syndrome who presented with reduced effort tolerance limited by dyspnea. She had previously been on pediatric cardiology follow-up for congenital subvalvular aortic stenosis first diagnosed at age 7. Unfortunately she defaulted after two visits before any intervention could be done. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated severe aortic incompetence (AI) with a membrane-like structure in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The mean pressure gradient across the LVOT on continuous wave Doppler was 41 mmHg. The membranous interventricular septum appeared aneurysmal and it was observed that the "subaortic membrane" had a connection to the anterolateral papillary muscle via a strand of chordal tissue. Further images were captured using two-dimensional and three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (iE33, Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA). After a review of the literature it was concluded that this appeared to be an accessory mitral valve (AMV) leaflet causing LVOT obstruction associated with AI. AMV tissue is a rare congenital malformation causing LVOT obstruction. Because it is so unusual, it may not be immediately recognizable even in a high volume echocardiography laboratory. The clue which helped with the diagnosis was the strand of chordal tissue which connected the mass to the papillary muscle. This anomaly is often associated with LVOT obstruction.