Search

The University of Tor Vergata G-Mett Lab University of Tor Vergata's (Rome) civil engineering department presents its land methodologies and technologies laboratory, also called G-Mett. The laboratory promotes the integration of the different instances that usually take part in the land-urban planning and management.

Diagnosis and management of patients with SLE (Systemic Lupus Eritematosus), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), involves specific diagnostic tests, such as IFA-AMA, IFA anti-dsDNA and immunoblotting for the detection of autoantibodies for specific autoantigens (mitochondria, dsDNA, M2, LKM-1, LC-1, SLA/LP). We established specific correlation between the detected autoantibodies and corresponding clinical findings. The total of 813 serum specimens were probed with IFA-anti-dsDNA, 98 of which tested positive. We also performed dilution analysis to the end point for all the positive specimens. Numerous specimens were tested by IFA, AMA and immunoblotting.

Background: Shad Karanas mentioned in Ayurveda are the means for attaining the state of Dhatusamyata. Samavaya is the sixth Karana among these and it provides the knowledge of relation between Dravya, Guna and Karma. This kind of knowledge becomes the basic tool in the field of diagnosis as well as in the selection of proper drug. Aim: To assess the Samavaya relation between Ama and its Hetu and Lakshanas along with Practical evaluation of Samavaya by using Pippalimula on Ama. Materials and Methods: The study comprising of total 23 patients of Ama and divided into two groups. Pippalimula tablet (each of 500 mg, 2 tablets four times daily) was administered in Group A (n = 13) while Group B (n = 10) was treated with placebo tablet (each of 500 mg, 2 tablets four times daily) for the duration of 10 days. Results: After the completion of treatment, all the parameters of Group A showed statistically highly signifi cant results, whereas in Group B some parameters showed significant results and others were insignificant. Conclusion: The study specified the Karanatva of Samavaya as the Laghu, Ruksha and Ushna Gunas which were present Samavayatvena in Pippalimula, and were absent in placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT An adaptive blind equalisation algorithm for high-order quadrature amplitude modulations is proposed. It is derived by combining the multi-modulus criterion and a new alphabet-matching penalty term. This penalty is based on the minimum ℓ1-norm of the deviations of the equaliser output from the alphabet elements. Numerical experiments show that the proposed criterion provides higher performance in terms of residual error and convergence speed than the conventional multi-modulus algorithm and its penalised versions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Urinary Tract Infections ( UTIs) occur more frequently in patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis ( PBC). Previous studies have compared UTI occurrence in PBC and general population controls, however, it remains unclear if UTI is a feature of all chronic liver diseases ( CLD)s, or is specific to PBC, or if this is a cause or consequence of PBC. Aims We aimed to determine if UTIs are more common after a diagnosis of PBC compared to general population and CLD controls. Methods A cohort study was conducted using the General Practice Research Database. We selected all cases of PBC plus 10 age- and sex-matched general population controls, and an unmatched group with other CLDs. We formed a Cox-proportional hazard model of time to first UTI following diagnosis. Results Two hundred and forty-eight (24.6%) of PBC cases had a UTI event compared with 2127 (21.1%) of matched and 2131 (11.7%) of the unmatched CLD controls. Comparing PBC with matched controls showed an approximately 30% increased risk of UTI [hazard ratio ( HR) 1.33 confidence interval ( CI) 1.17-1.52]. Adjusting for diabetes, smoking and previous UTI reduced this ( HR 1.25 CI 1.09-1.42). The Hazard Ratio comparing PBC with unmatched CLD controls was 2.00 ( CI 1.76-2.28), but this became non-significant when adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, smoking and previous UTI 0.98 (0.86-1.12). Conclusions There is increased risk of UTI in PBC patients compared to general population controls, but not compared to CLD controls suggesting that this association is not specific to PBC after diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association between different anthropometric parameters and metabolic profile in an overweight, adult, black Kenyan population. Methods: An opportunity sample of 245 overweight adult Kenyans (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) was analysed. A score of metabolic profile (metabolic Z-score) was constructed on the basis of levels of plasma lipids, blood pressure, blood glucose and serum insulin. Linear regressions using metabolic Z-score as outcome and six anthropometric variables (waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, arm fat area and arm muscle area) separately as independent variables were carried out. Results: Mean age of study participants was 42.1 years (SD = 9.6) and 26.5% of the participants were men. The median BMI was 28.6 kg/m2 (Q1 = 26.3; Q3 = 31.3). Of the six anthropometric variables tested, WC and VAT thickness had the strongest negative association with the metabolic profile (β = 0.17 (0.09; 0.24) and 0.15 (0.08; 0.23), respectively). Conclusions: WC and VAT thickness were the strongest anthropometric predictors for the metabolic profile in overweight adult Kenyans. WC is useful in clinical practice for the diagnosis of metabolically unhealthy fat accumulation in an African setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine possible prediction of regular menses with aging in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design: Cohort. Setting: Academic practice. Patient(s): A total of 54 anovulatory women with PCOS and 28 age- and weight-matched control subjects. Intervention(s): Blood and ovarian ultrasound at baseline and after 5 years. Major Outcome Measure(s): Serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH), gonadotropins, androgens, insulin sensitivity, and ovarian ultrasound. Result(s): After 5 years, there was a significant decrease in AMH in women with PCOS and control subjects (10 of 54 anovulatory women became ovulatory after 5 years). There was a significant negative correlation between baseline serum AMH and ovulatory function after 5 years. However, baseline serum AMH ≤4 ng/mL was associated with ovulatory function. Conclusion(s): Serum AMH may help predict ovulatory function with aging in anovulatory women with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Every year, patients leave the Emergency Department against medical advice (AMA) and before an adequate evaluation can be performed. It is well known that many of these patients are at risk of subsequent complications. Objective: The goal of this article is to explain the potential legal protections that may be created from a proper AMA discharge. Discussion: In this article, the authors review the steps that need to be taken when performing an AMA discharge, including an assessment of capacity, proper documentation, and adequate disclosure. The authors then review the potential legal protections that can result from a properly documented and performed discharge. Among these protections are: proof that the provider''s duty to the patient ended with discharge and that the patient assumed the risk of a subsequent complication. Conclusion: The authors conclude that a properly executed discharge can provide significant legal protection from liability risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although the hallmark of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the presence of anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), a significant number of patients have anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) directed primarily against two nuclear proteins, gp210 and sp100. In PBC, there are considerable data on the specificity of these anti-nuclear antibodies as well as suggestive evidence that antibodies to gp210 predict a poor outcome. However, a further understanding of the significance of these autoantibodies has been hampered by limitations in accessing human subjects in a preclinical or early asymptomatic stage. To overcome this limitation, we have taken advantage of transgenic mice with abrogated transforming growth factor-β signalling in T cells (dnTGF-βRII) that develop histological features of PBC as well as the same AMA specificity. We studied these mice for serum ANA, including specific autoantibodies against gp210 and sp100. We further examined sera from dnTGF-βRII mice with concurrent deletions of the genes encoding interleukin (IL)-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-23p19, IL-17, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Sera from all the dnTGF-βRII mouse lines contained antibodies against gp210 and sp100. Of significance, mice with germline deletions of the genes encoding IL-12p40, IL-23p19, IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α had significantly lower titres of anti-gp210 antibodies. These results provide a platform to dissect the mechanisms of gp210 and sp100 autoantibody production in dnTGF-βRII mice as well as to study the possible role of ANA in the pathophysiology of PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex interplay between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility plays an essential role in disease pathogenesis. This is especially true for autoimmunity, where clinical reports, genomic and epidemiological studies, as well as animal models have identified several environmental and genetic risk factors associated with autoimmune disease. The complexity of this relationship is demonstrated by the vast array of environmental factors that have now been implicated in the induction, and possibly the maintenance of autoimmune disease. The multitude of environmental factors implicated includes both infectious and non-infectious agents. Here, we review one specific autoimmune disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), as a model for environmental risk factors acting in concert with genetic susceptibility in the disease pathogenesis. PBC is an ideal model, as both infectious and non-infectious environmental agents have been identified as risk factors, and their study provides clues for unravelling the pathogenesis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses 2012 changes in the American Medical Association's (AMA) dermatology Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. AMA made revisions and updates to some dermatology services and procedural codes including debridement, intermediate repairs, skin replacement surgery, and smears and simple filter preparation.

The article provides an update on 2012 Dermatology International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9-CM coding. It presents a list of new and revised dermatology services and procedural codes. The author also gives the recommended steps that should be followed by practitioners in order to ensure accurate coding and higher specificity of their code selection.

The present study was aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of Rasona Rasnadi Ghanavati and Simhanada Guggulu along with Rasona Rasnadi Lepa in Amavata, and to compare the effect of these two therapies in the treatment. Total 101 patients of Amavata were registered for the present study and were randomly divided into two groups. In group A- Rasona Rasnadi Ghanavati 2 Vati thrice/day was given for 3 months, while in group B- Simhanada Guggulu 2 Vati thrice a day for 3 months was administered. Along with this, Rasona Rasnadi Lepa was applied locally over affected joints twice daily in both groups. The effects of therapy in both groups were assessed by a specially prepared proforma. The results of the study showed that both the groups showed significant relief in symptoms; however, compared to Simhanada Guggulu, Rasona Rasnadi Ghanavati showed better result in the management of Amavata. Simhanada Guggulu or Rasona Rasnadi Ghanavati along with Rasona Rasnadi Lepa can be used as an effective ayurvedic intervention in the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is ubiquitous. At some point in time it affects everyone. For many millions pain becomes chronic, a scourge that impacts every facet of life-work, hobbies, family relations, social fabric, finances, happiness, mood, and even the very essence of identity. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pain is one of our most important national public health problems, a silent epidemic. In 1998, NIH reported that the annual amount spent on health care, compensation, and litigation related to pain had reached one hundred billion dollars ($100,000,000,000). Considering that health care costs have doubled since then, it is not unreasonable to assume that the costs related to pain care have doubled as well. Millions of patients suffer needlessly with acute pain, with cancer pain, and with chronic pain. The ineffective management of pain results in an escalating cascade of health care issues. Acute pain that is not treated adequately and promptly results in persistent pain that eventually causes irreversible changes in the nervous system. This translates into progressive bio-psycho-social epiphenomena resulting in further pain and disability. It creates a vicious cycle transforming a functional human being into an invalid who becomes a burden to family, to society, and to oneself. In the face of adequate medical science, adequate technical skills, and adequate resources the reality of delayed and inadequate pain care is paradoxical. This dilemma deserves close scrutiny and effective remediation. The American Medical Association (AMA), long dedicated to the need to improve pain care in this country, has been faced with this reality. It was from this vision that the idea of holding a Pain Medicine Summit was conceived. Resolution 321 (A-08) set in motion a process that would bring together a diverse group of stakeholders for the purpose of discussing the present and future status of pain care; a process that culminated in a broad-based coalition of physicians and organizations dedicated to improving pain care, the first National Pain Medicine Summit. The process began with the adoption of Resolution 321 (A-08) at an AMA Annual House of Delegates meeting in June 2008. Resolution 321 (A-08) states, in part, that '. . . the AMA encourages relevant specialties to collaborate in studying: 1) the scope and practice and body of knowledge encompassed by the field of Pain Medicine; 2) the adequacy of undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate education in the principles and practices of the field of Pain Medicine, considering the current and anticipated medical need for the delivery of quality pain care; and 3) appropriate training and credentialing criteria for this multi-disciplinary field of medical practice.' The next step was delegating the responsibility for implementing Resolution 321 (A-08) to the Pain and Palliative Medicine Specialty Section Council (PPMSSC). The PPMSSC, under the direction of its chairman, Philipp M. Lippe, MD, FACS, assumed responsibility in November 2008 for identifying a process that would achieve the goals established by Resolution 321 (A-08). The PPMSSC in turn established an Advisory Committee, charged with strategic planning, and an Implementation Committee, charged with tactical operations. The two groups began work immediately. The process included three distinct phases centered on a Pain Medicine Summit. Phase One involved a modified Delphi process identifying the five most pressing and relevant themes in pain care. Phase Two consisted of the Pain Medicine Summit itself, including a gathering of representatives from across the pain care spectrum to address the previously identified five most pressing themes. Phase Three was the preparation of this report, which describes the conclusions drawn and recommendations developed by the attendees at the Pain Medicine Summit. Based on a recommendation from the Advisory Committee, the PPMSSC decided to retain the services of a consulting firm to help the PPMSSC implement the Pain Medicine Summit process. In August 2009, PPMSSC selected Grey Matters, a New York-based advisory firm. The PPMSSC also appointed a Steering Committee to assist Grey Matters and to coordinate all activities. The Committee consisted of Charles Brock, MD; Ronald Crossno, MD; Jose David, MD; Michel Dubois, MD; Albert Ray, MD; and Philipp M. Lippe, MD, FACS (chair). The consulting firm, Grey Matters, proposed a multi-phasic process in order to facilitate the implementation of the Pain Medicine Summit and to ensure a coordinated, efficient, and productive outcome. This process consisting of three phases-pre-summit, summit, and post-summit-is described in detail in the following section. All aspects of the project were closely coordinated and supervised by the Steering Committee, which included the selection of the team leaders of the five Workgroups, based on specific criteria. The Pain Medicine Summit, adhering to the dictates of Resolution 321 (A-08), explored the body of knowledge and the scope of practice of Pain Medicine; the education and training in medical school, graduate, and postgraduate programs; and the credentialing and certification processes in the field of Pain Medicine. It addressed the barriers hampering delivery of high quality pain care. It recognized the need for clarification and consensus in many areas. Several points of consensus emerged: There are several viable avenues to achieving our stated goal, 'excellence in the delivery of high quality, cost-effective pain care to the patients we serve,' including the development of Pain Medicine as a distinct specialty with ACGME accredited residency programs and ABMS certification. The Pain Medicine Summit concluded with a number of recommendations, including the following: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amavata is a disease caused due to the vitiation or aggravation of Vayu associated with Ama. Vitiated Vayu circulates the Ama all over the body through Dhamanies, takes shelter in the Shleshma Sthana (Amashaya, Sandhi, etc.), producing symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in small and big joints, making a person lame. The symptoms of Amavata are identical to rheumatism, which include rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever. It is observed that rheumatism is an autoimmune disorder, which is among the collagen disorders having strong and significant parlance with Amavata. Various drug trials were already carried out on Amavata, yet there is a lacuna in the management of Amavata. Hence, in the present clinical study, 28 patients were selected and kept on 'Amrita Ghrita'. All the patients were investigated for complete blood count (CBC), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) titer, Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer, C-reactive protein (CRP) titer, platelet count, urine routine, and microscopic, before and after treatment. The collected data was distributed according to age, sex, and prakruti, and a t-test was applied for the clinical assessment of the subjective and objective parameters of 'Amrita Ghrita,' and it has shown significant reduction in the positivity of the RA titer (t > 5.09, at the 0.001% level), ASO titer (t > 4.08, at the 0.001% level), and CRP titer (t > 4.82, at the 0.001% level), and weight gain (t > 5.12, at the 0.001% level), as also an increase in Hb% (t >9.22, at the 0.001% level), and platelet count (t> 5.90, at the 0.001% level), and decrease in ESR (t > 9.70, at the 0.001% level). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present clinical study, 63 patients of Amavata were registered from the Kayachikitsa out patient department/indoor patient department (OPD/IPD) of Sir Sunder Lal Hospital (Indian Medicine Wing), IMS, BHU, Varanasi-5. In group I (Rasona Pinda), 27 patients completed the study of a total of 33patients registered in the group (six patients dropped out mid--therapy). In group II (control group), 23 patients completed all three follow-ups out of 30 patients (there were seven dropouts in mid--therapy). In group I, complete remission in 29.6%, major improvement in 59.3% and minor improvement in change font so as to appear 11.1% were observed. In group II, complete remission in 13%, major improvement in 21.7%, minor improvement in 39.1% and unchanged in 26.9% of the patients were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antimycin A (AMA) inhibits mitochondrial electron transport chain between cytochrome b and c. Here, we evaluated the effects of AMA on the growth and death of endothelial cells (ECs) in relation to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. AMA inhibited the growth of calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CPAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). AMA also induced apoptosis in both ECs which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨ m). HUVEC were more sensitive to AMA than CPAEC. AMA increased ROS level in CPAEC but decreased the levels in HUVEC. Z-VAD (pan-caspase inhibitor) mildly prevented apoptosis in AMA-treated ECs without the significant changes of ROS. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC; a well-known antioxidant) decreased ROS levels in AMA-treated ECs. NAC reduced CPAEC death by AMA but enhanced HUVEC death by it. Furthermore, AMA increased GSH depleted cell numbers in ECs. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of GSH synthesis), showing a pro-apoptotic effect on AMA-treated HUVEC, significantly increased GSH depleted cell number but it did not affect cell death and GSH depletion in AMA-treated CPAEC. In conclusion, AMA inhibited the growth of ECs via caspase-dependent apoptosis. ROS level change by AMA was partially related to CPAEC death, but did not affect HUVEC death. The change of GSH contents by AMA influenced the death of ECs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of SSEM-Journal is the property of Schwiez Zschr Sportmed Sporttraumatologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To assess the potential benefit of preimplantation aneuploidy testing on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for women of advanced maternal age (AMA). Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Setting: Private IVF clinic. Patient(s): Sixty-two infertile AMA couples undergoing fertility treatment. Intervention(s): Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, and 22. Main Outcome Measure(s): Preimplantation aneuploidy testing of biopsied blastomeres on day 3 of development. Result(s): Fertilization and blastocyst developmental rates were similar for the test and control groups: 80% versus 77.4% and 49% versus 48.2%, respectively. The average number of embryos transferred was comparable at 2.2 for the test group and 2.7 for the control group. Implantation rates were also equivalent across the two groups: 37.3% in the control group versus 36.5% in the test group. Nevertheless, the spontaneous abortion rate was observed to be lower for the test group: 25.9% versus 32.26% in the control group. This resulted in an observed increase in delivery rates for the test group: 78% versus 67.74% in the control group. Conclusion(s): Preimplantation aneuploidy testing does not appear to statistically significantly improve outcome parameters in infertile AMA patients; however, a trend toward a decrease in the spontaneous abortion rate with a subsequent higher delivery rate was observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]