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Background: Dyslipidemia is an imbalance of lipid profiles. It increases the chance of clogged arteries and may cause heart attacks, strokes, and other circulatory disorders. Dyslipidemia affects the general population, but its severity is higher in diabetic populations. As a result, the chance of dyslipidemia-associated morbidity and mortality is highest in diabetic patients. In Ethiopia, around 2 to 6.5% of the population live with diabetes, but their lipid profiles are inconsistent across the studies. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of diabetic dyslipidemia and its predictors among people with diabetes in Ethiopia. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. The searches were carried out in MEDLINE via PubMed and OVID, EBSCO, Embase, and other supplementary gateways such as Google and Google Scholar, for articles published up to June 2023. The articles were searched and screened by title (ti), abstract (ab), and full text (ft). The quality of the eligible studies was assessed by the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The heterogeneity was detected by the Cochrane Q statistic test and the I-squared (I2) test. Then subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were used to identify the source of the variations. A random or fixed-effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the overall pooled prevalence and average effects. The publication bias was assessed by the funnel plot asymmetry test and/or Begg and Mazumdar's test for rank correlation (p-value < 0.05). The protocol has been registered in an international database, the prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with reference number CRD42023441572. Result: A total of 14 articles with 3662 participants were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of diabetic dyslipidemia in Ethiopia was found to be 65.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 57.5, 73.9), I2 = 97%, and p-value < 0.001. The overall prevalence of triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were found to be 51.8% (95% CI: 45.1, 58.6) and 44.2% (95% CI: 32.8, 55.7), respectively, among lipid profiles. In meta-regression analysis, the sample size (p value = 0.01) is the covariate for the variation of the included studies. Being female (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.9, 95% CI: 1.5, 10.1), physical inactivity (AOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.3), and uncontrolled blood glucose (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.9, 9.4) were found to be the determinants of dyslipidemia among diabetic patients. Conclusion: This review revealed that the prevalence of diabetic dyslipidemia is high among people with diabetes in Ethiopia. Being female, having physical inactivity, and having uncontrolled blood glucose were found to be predictors of dyslipidemia among people with diabetes. Therefore, regular screening of lipid profiles and the provision of lipid-lowering agents should be strengthened to reduce life-threatening cardiovascular complications. Furthermore, interventions based on lifestyle modifications, such as regular physical activity and adequate blood glucose control, need to be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater the viscosity of the blood, the more difficult its flow becomes, leading to an increased incidence of diseases caused by blood circulation disorders. These diseases are commonly associated with the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.High blood viscosity is a primary cause of circulatory system diseases. Studies have shown that accurately measuring blood viscosity and applying this data in clinical trials can help prevent circulatory system diseases.Viscosity data can vary depending on the measurement methods used, even when these methods are based on hydrodynamic principles. Despite using approved blood viscometers, the results often differ depending on the type of viscometer used, potentially causing confusion within the medical field. Informing the medical community about these differences and the level of error associated with each measurement method can help reduce this confusion.To our knowledge, the degree of difference in viscosity measurement results due to different measurement methods and the reasons for these differences have not yet been thoroughly explored. In this study, we selected three blood viscosity measurement methods registered with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea to analyze the same canine blood. The viscosity measurements were carried out using each device and compared. The parallel plate and scanning capillary methods yielded similar viscosity values, while the cone plate method showed lower viscosity values.The viscosity of blood, as measured by the three viscometers, differed, indicating that more experimental data must be accumulated to evaluate the cause of these differences. In this paper, we identified several causes of inconsistency and suggested measures to avoid this confusion. However, confirming that the test results show systematic differences is expected to assist clinicians who diagnose and prescribe treatments based on blood viscosity results. The findings of this comparative study are anticipated to serve as a starting point for establishing guidelines or standards for blood viscosity measurement methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on participation of neurochemical compounds of brain, including neuroactive amine acids in regulation of cerebral circulation, in our previous study it was discovered the stimulating effects of new synthetized dipeptide - nicotinoyl prolin on impaired after ischemia brain blood flow. It was demonstrated, that nicotinoyl prolin increases local cerebral circulation in brain cortex without any changes from systemic blood pressure. The aim of presented study was to investigate the details of cerebrovascular activity of nicotinoyl prolin by evaluation of its effects on cerebrocortical microcirculation. In this purpose it was evaluated morphology changes on capillary network of brain cortex after acute ischemia, caused by left common carotid artery occlusion. Obtain results by non-injectional calcium adenosinetryphosphate method for evaluation of cerebrocortical capillary network density evident, that left common carotid artery occlusion is accompanied by noticeable decrease in mean diameter of all types of capillaries and the ratio of cortical network capillaries number with various diameter, which was prevented by intraperitoneal injection of nicotinoyl prolin in dose 10 mg/kg. Under the condition of acute disorder of cerebral blood circulation, caused by left common carotid artery occlusion, in animals treated by nicotinoyl prolin it was registered the increasing of mean diameter of all capillaries and number of functioning capillaries with simultaneous decreasing number of compressed and permeable only for plasma capillaries compare with ischemia. Thus, obtained data indicated, that one of the possible ways of brain blood flow stimulation by nicotinoyl prolin could be its ability to improve the disturbed during acute ischemia cerebral microcirculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory disorder characterized by the accumulation of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries that restrict blood flow to the extremities, especially the legs. The ankle brachial index (ABI) is a highly reliable and valid non-invasive test for diagnosing PAD. However, the traditional method has limitations. These include the time required, the need for Doppler equipment, the training of clinical staff, and patient discomfort. PWV refers to the speed at which an arterial pressure wave propagates along the arteries, and this speed is conditioned by arterial elasticity and stiffness. To address these limitations, we have developed a system that uses electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) signals to calculate pulse wave velocity (PWV). We propose determining the ABI based on this calculation. Validation was performed on 22 diabetic patients, and the results demonstrate the accuracy of the system, maintaining a margin of ±0.1 compared with the traditional method. This confirms the correlation between PWV and ABI and positions this technique as a promising alternative to overcome some of the limitations of the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of circulatory disorders can be brought on by stenosis, which restricts a bodily passage artery or orifice. It may cause of brain disorders, heart diseases and legs disabilities. With the assistance of the Prandtl fluid model, the present investigation proposes an analytical strategy for monitoring blood flow through a stenosed artery. The artery is depicted as a tube with a cross-sectional view of an ellipse form. The flow-regulating equations are derived in the dimensionless form under the assumption of mild stenosis. The solution of mathematical equations is obtained by employing the perturbation technique via polynomial of degree four. It is analyzed graphically how flow-related parameters such as artery length L, stenosis height δ l , fluid parameters α , and K influence the velocity distribution, wall shear stress, and flow resistance. It is observed that the non-Newtonian effects dominate in the surrounding stenosed wall of the artery along the minor axis. The wall shear stress is found to attain its maximum value at the peak of stenosis. The height of stenosis considerably impacts the flow resistance, and as it increases, so does the opposition, which develops the disorder in the confined area. The streamlines are also plotted to analyze the flow behavior, and it is observed that the contours are produced in the constricted zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS) is one of the surfactants used worldwide in detergents which, due to high residual discharges, has great potential to cause ecotoxicological impacts. Therefore, the sublethal effects of SDBS on the gills and skin of male Danio rerio fish were investigated. 2. The fish were distributed into three groups: GC (control), GT1 (0.25 mg/L of SDBS), and GT2 (0.5 mg/L of SDBS) and exposed for 21 days. After the experiment, histopathological analyses of the gills, histochemical analyses (counting of mucous cells), and biochemical analyses (antioxidant defense enzyme analysis, SOD, and CAT) were conducted. 3. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in the incidence of circulatory disorders, progressive, and regressive alterations occurred in the GT1 and GT2 groups. Due to these changes, the total histopathological index of the gills was higher in these groups. Mucous cells in the gills and skin increased. There was an increase in SOD activity and a reduction in CAT activity in these groups. Haematology revealed neutrophilia and lymphocytosis in the blood of GT1 and GT2. 4. The results clearly demonstrate that a 21-day exposure to SDBS causes severe morphophysiological damage to the gills, skin, and blood of D. rerio fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies suggest that distress is associated with various health conditions such as hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. However, only few studies focused on Asian Americans and little is known about the association with multiple comorbidity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 400 Chinese and Korean American participants (aged 50–75 years) of the STOP CRC randomized controlled trial. Perceived distress was assessed using the distress thermometer scale (range 0–10). Disease diagnosis was self-reported by the participants. Multimorbidity (MM) was defined as having ≥2 chronic conditions. Complex multimorbidity (CMM) was defined as having ≥3 of the following body system disorders: circulation disorder, endocrine-metabolic disorder, cancer, anxiety or depression, breathing problem, and other health problems. We performed logistic regression for CMM and Poisson regression with robust error variance for MM to estimate associations with distress, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The mean age was 58.4 years and mean distress score was 3.65. One-unit increase in distress score was associated with a 1.22-fold increase in the odds of having CMM (95% CI: 1.04–1.42). The magnitude of association slightly increased after additional adjustment for socioeconomic factors and health insurance status (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.10–1.52). Higher distress score was positively associated with MM but the association was only marginally significant (PR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.99–1.10), adjusting for socioeconomic factors and health insurance status. Conclusion: Our data suggest that higher perceived distress may be associated with simultaneous dysfunction of multiple distinct body systems among Chinese and Korean American older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the results of a study on the use of balloon angioplasty for the treatment of recurrent aortic coarctation in children under one year of age. The study found that balloon angioplasty was a safe procedure with good results, reducing the peak-to-peak gradient and increasing the diameter of the stenosis. Re-coarctation was more common in patients with concomitant malformations. Complications occurred in 15.2% of cases, and 42.4% of patients required further cardiac catheter interventions. Overall, the study concluded that early dilatation of recurrent aortic coarctation is a safe intervention with a high success rate. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Adherence to medication in chronic conditions may be influenced by interventions from pharmacists. This study aimed to assess the impact of guidance and reminders from pharmacists on adherence to medication for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic venous circulation disorders (CVCD) in Greece.Methods: The prospective CONCORD study aimed to record and report on change in self-reported adherence to medication following pharmacist reminders amongst a cohort of adult patients, diagnosed with at least one or a combination of these health conditions. All study participants were regular patients of a network of pharmacies in Attica and southern Greece. Pharmacists were trained to provide adherence reminders over 4 months. Impact on self-reported adherence of the intervention was reported at baseline and again in month 4.Results: Of the 1146 participants, 48% were men and 60% were aged 55– 74 years. Among them, 23.7% were diagnosed with hypertension, 16.5% with dyslipidemia, 3% with CVCD, 42.5% with hypertension and dyslipidemia, 3.1% with hypertension and CVCD, 2.6% with dyslipidemia and CVCD, and 8.6% with dyslipidemia, hypertension, and CVCD. In month 4 vs month 0, patients were less likely to forget to take their prescribed medications (p< 0.001), to be careless about their medications during the last 30 days (p< 0.001), and to temporarily discontinue their medications without prior doctor's advice (p< 0.001). Patients with CVCD were more prone to lower self-reported adherence compared to patients who were not diagnosed with CVCD or a combination of conditions that included CVCD.Discussion: Reminders and advice from pharmacists resulted in higher adherence to medication amongst participants in month 4 versus month 0.Conclusion: Pharmacist-enabled interventions, including reminders and advice, following targeted training, may positively impact on patient medication adherence in chronic health conditions.Plain Language Summary: This study aimed to measure the impact of reminders and advice on adherence to medication provided by private pharmacists to patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or chronic venous circulation disorders (CVCD) in Greece. Patients were asked to self-report adherence to medication at months 0 and 4, following advice and reminders received from trained pharmacists. Self-reported adherence was significantly improved at month 4 vs month 0 across our sample. Our study showed that pharmacist-enabled interventions, following targeted training, can quickly and significantly improve adherence to medication in patients with chronic diseases in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early pressure injury (PI) progression is associated with multi-circulatory disorders and they interplay with each other, resulting in a lack of a satisfactory diagnostic method. We generated early PI and blanchable erythema hairless rat models. Transparent disc method and capillary refilling time test (CRTT) results were recorded with ultraviolet camera to capture the dynamics changes, and the blanching index and refilling index were set for comprehensive analysis. The deteriorated areas of early PI showed non-blanchable erythema (NBE) and an increase in erythema at 0.5 and 6 h with the transparent disc method. CRTT showed a marked refilling delay at 12 h. The comprehensive analysis of blanching index and refilling index showed a significant change in erythema from NBE at 0.5 h and ischemia progressing to hemorrhage at 18 h. There was also a marked difference in the deteriorating and improving areas within the same erythema. Pathological analysis showed inflammatory cell infiltration, with marked edema accompanied by increased hemorrhage and tissue necrosis. Furthermore, small arteries and veins with thrombosis and microthrombi were observed. Consistent ischemia after decompression and subsequent hemorrhage are important indicators, and comprehensive analysis can help increase the positive diagnosis rate over that for other circulatory disorders alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes are catastrophic natural disasters. Staying under rubble for a long time may cause compartment syndrome, especially in the extremities, and crush injuries due to severe trauma. In addition, frostbite injuries may occur due to extreme climate in the winter. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), patients breathe 100% oxygen in a closed chamber at pressures greater than 1 atmosphere absolute. HBOT provides elevated partial oxygen pressure, increased oxygen diffusion distance, decreased edema of the areas with circulatory disorder, augmented bactericidal effect, additive-synergistic effect with antibiotics, and enhanced wound healing. HBOT is a successful adjunctive treatment option for crush injuries, acute skeletal compartment syndromes, and frostbite injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effect of long-term constant light exposure on the severity and reversibility of morphological changes in the liver of laboratory rats. Modeling of light exposure was carried out by means of 24 h exposure to artificial light (in the daytime—300 lk, at night—500 lk). During the study we found that morphological changes in the liver were represented by damage to the parenchyma and circulatory disorders, the degree of which increased with increasing duration of exposure. After providing natural light in the laboratory, gradual recovery of the morphological structure of the organ was observed, which indicates the reversibility of the changes detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the toxic dose of the muscle relaxant baclofen on the parameters of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems was studied in adult male Wistar rats (n=20). Systolic and diastolic BP, HR, and respiratory rate were measured; histological changes in the lungs 3, 4.5, and 24 h after drug administration. Baclofen was administered orally in a sublethal toxic dose of 85 mg/kg under anesthesia. Cardiac activity was analyzed using RSM physiological indicators monitoring system with MouseMonitor S (Indus Instruments) software. Histological examination was performed by light microscopy. Baclofen significantly decreased the respiratory rate and increased HR and BP. Histological examination of the lungs revealed a complex of general pathological processes, such as local circulatory disorders (venular and capillary fullness, sludge), leukocyte infiltration of the interalveolar septa and their thickening due to edema. These findings can be used to estimate the time elapsed after baclofen treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interrupting prolonged sitting acutely lowers blood pressure in nonstroke populations. However, the dose–response effect in stroke survivors is unknown. The authors investigated different doses of light-intensity standing exercises that interrupt prolonged sitting and reduce blood pressure immediately and over 24 hours in stroke survivors. Methods: Within-participant, laboratory-based, dose escalation trial. Conditions (8 h) were prolonged sitting and 2 experimental conditions of standing exercises with increasing frequency (3 cohorts, 2 × 5 min to 6 × 5 min). The primary outcome is the mean systolic blood pressure. Results: Twenty-nine stroke survivors (aged 66 [12] y) participated. Frequent bouts of standing exercises lowered the mean systolic blood pressure following the 4 × 5-minute (−2.1 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −3.6 to −0.6) and 6 × 5-minute conditions (−2.3 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.2 to −0.5) compared with prolonged sitting. Diastolic blood pressure was lowered following the 6 × 5-minute condition (−1.4 mm Hg; 95% CI, −2.7 to −0.2). The 24-hour systolic blood pressure increased following the 2 × 5-minute condition (6.9 mm Hg; 95% CI, 3.1 to 10.6). Conclusions: Interrupting prolonged sitting with more frequent bouts of standing exercises lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure in stroke survivors. However, reductions may only be short term, and investigations on sustained effects are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathology caused by three different isolates of lumpy skin disease virus, classical field cluster 1.2 strain Dagestan/2015, recombinant vaccine-like cluster 2.1 strain Saratov/2017, and cluster 2.2 strain Udmurtiya/2019, in cattle was compared from experimental infections. The infection of cattle was performed using intravenous administration of 2 mL of 105 TCID50/mL of each specific LSDV. Both classical and recombinant forms of LSDV cause pathological changes in the skin and lymph nodes, as well as the trachea and lungs. Due to circulatory disorders in the affected organs, multiple areas of tissue necrosis were observed, which, with the resurgence of secondary microflora, led to the development of purulent inflammation. Observed pathological changes caused by the recombinant vaccine-like strain Udmurtiya/2019 were characterized by a more pronounced manifestation of the pathoanatomical picture compared to the classical field strains Dagestan/2015 and Saratov/2017. Interestingly, Dagestan/2015 and Udmurtiya/2019 caused damage to the lymph nodes, characterized by serous inflammation and focal purulent lymphadenitis caused by purulent microflora. "Saratov/2017" did not cause pathology in the lymph nodes. All LSDVs were virulent and caused pathology, which was not distinguishable between viruses. This data set will serve as the experimentally validated basis for the comparative examination of novel LSDV strains in gross pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Introduction. Disorders of peripheral blood circulation affect people all around the world. Balneotherapy, in the form of carbonated mineral water baths and mofettes, could be considered one of the treatment options. The current study aims to investigate, in an experimental study, the effects of carbonated natural mineral water, with a known composition, and natural mofettes from Băile Tușnad (Romania) on peripheral arterial blood flow. (2) Material and method. A total of 16 rat subjects were studied, divided equally into 4 groups, all evaluated at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the intervention. Group 1 was considered the control-group, and no treatment was applied. Group 2 was taken to the mofettes daily, for 2 weeks, for exposure to carbon dioxide, dry gas, for 20 minutes/day. Group 3 performed daily mofettes and baths with carbonated mineral water, for two weeks, 20 minutes/day, each procedure. Group 4 took a daily bath with carbonated mineral water, for 2 weeks, 20 min/day. At the end of the two-week treatment, they were evaluated by doppler ultrasound at the femoral artery, respectively at 2 and 4 weeks, to evaluate the effect over time of these treatments. Femoral artery diameter (mm), peak systolic velocity (PVS, cm/s), heart rate (HR, bpm) were quantitatively determined in all 4 groups, at 2, 4 and 6 weeks respectively, and ultrasound images were captured. (3) Results and discussions. In the control group, there were no differences at 2 weeks vs. 4 weeks vs. 6 weeks regardless of the studied parameter. The diameter of the femoral artery increased significantly in group 3 (mofetta and carbonated mineral water, p=0.0183), respectively in group 4 (mineral water p=0.007). Heart rate changed significantly p=0.0183 in the mofette group, as well as in the one treated with carbonated mineral water p= 0.024. The results of the study suggest that carbonated mineral water and mofettes were responsible for the changes in femoral artery flow, compared to the data from the control group. (4) Conclusions. Carbonated mineral water baths and mofettes could increase the peripheral arterial blood flow, during repeated immersion, and the results were beneficial 2 weeks after the end of the treatment, and were maintained after treatment at 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence of hip fracture among aging patients has been increasing annually in Japan; patients aged ≤74 years may be inappropriately classified as elderly. This study aimed to identify differences in the incidence of serious perioperative complications and in-hospital, 90-day, 6-month, and 1-year mortality rates according to three age groups among patients with hip fractures. Patients aged ≥65 years treated for hip fracture by our multidisciplinary treatment system were included in this study. They were divided into the pre-old age (65–74 years), old age (75–89 years), and super-old age (≥90 years) groups. The baseline characteristics and outcomes of the three groups were compared, and variables associated with in-hospital, 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year mortality were analyzed. In the older population, there was a higher proportion of female participants; those with trochanteric fractures, low bone mineral density, dementia, decreased walking ability and independence in performing activities of daily living; and those not living at home. Moreover, the proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and circulatory disorders, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status scores, and serum albumin levels significantly differed. Further, there was a significant difference in the incidence of serious complications among males and the 6-month and 1-year mortality rates among females. In addition, female patients in the pre-old age group had a higher mortality rate at any period compared with those in the old age group. Patients with hip fracture who were aged 65–74, 75–89, and ≥90 years differ in terms of baseline characteristics, incidence of complications, and mortality rates. Female patients aged<75 who had fragility hip fractures potentially had worse prognosis. Our findings may be useful in preoperative explanation, postoperative management, and prognostic prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms in the acute phase of Chagas disease are usually mild and nonspecific. However, after several years, severe complications like dilated heart failure and even death may arise in the chronic phase. Due to the lack of specific symptoms in the acute phase, the aim of this work was to describe and analyze the cardiac histopathology during this phase in a CD1 mouse model by assessing parasitism, fibrotic damage, and the presence and composition of a cellular infiltrate, to determine its involvement in the pathogenesis of lesions in the cardiac tissue. Our results indicate that the acute phase lasts about 62 days post-infection (dpi). A significant increase in parasitemia was observed since 15 dpi, reaching a maximum at 33 dpi (4.1 × 106). The presence of amastigote nests was observed at 15–62 dpi, with a maximum count of 27 nests at 35 dpi. An infiltrate consisting primarily of macrophages and neutrophils was found in the cardiac tissue within the first 30 days, but the abundance of lymphocytes showed an 8 ≥ fold increase at 40–62 dpi. Unifocal interstitial fibrosis was identified after 9 dpi, which subsequently showed a 16 ≥ fold increase at 40–60 dpi, along with a 50% mortality rate in the model under study. The increased area of fibrotic lesions revealed progression in the extent of fibrosis, mainly at 50–62 dpi. The presence of perivasculitis and thrombus circulation disorders was seen in the last days (62 dpi); finally, cases of myocytolysis were observed at 50 and 62 dpi. These histopathological alterations, combined with collagen deposition, seem to lead to the development of interstitial fibrosis and damage to the cardiac tissue during the acute phase of infection. This study provides a more complete understanding of the patterns of histopathological abnormalities involved in the acute phase, which could help the development of new therapies to aid the preclinical tests of drugs for their application in Chagas disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory disorder associated with increased hospitalizations and significant health care-related expenditures. Among patients with PAD, insurance status is an important determinant of health care utilization, treatment of disease, and treatment outcomes. However, little is known about PAD-costs differences across different insurance providers. In this study we examined possible disparities in length of stay and total charge of inpatient hospitalizations among patients with PAD by insurance type. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of length of stay and total charge by insurance provider for all hospitalizations for individuals with PAD in South Carolina (2010–2018). Cross-classified multilevel modeling was applied to account for the non-nested hierarchical structure of the data, with county and hospital included as random effects. Analyses were adjusted for patient age, race/ethnicity, county, year of admission, admission type, all-patient refined diagnostic groups, and Charlson comorbidity index. Results: Among 385,018 hospitalizations for individuals with PAD in South Carolina, the median length of stay was 4 days (IQR: 5) and the median total charge of hospitalization was $43,232 (IQR: $52,405). Length of stay and total charge varied significantly by insurance provider. Medicare patients had increased length of stay (IRR = 1.08, 95 CI%: 1.07, 1.09) and higher total charges (β: 0.012, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.178) than patients with private insurance. Medicaid patients also had increased length of stay (IRR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.24,1.28) but had lower total charges (β: -0.022, 95% CI: -0.003. -0.015) than patients with private insurance. Conclusions: Insurance status was associated with inpatient length of stay and total charges in patients with PAD. It is essential that Medicare and Medicaid individuals with PAD receive proper management and care of their PAD, particularly in the primary care settings, to prevent hospitalizations and reduce the excess burden on these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, expressing their ability to change their shape, allows them to minimize their resistance to flow and optimize oxygen delivery to the tissues. RBC with reduced deformability may lead to increased vascular resistance, capillary occlusion, and impaired perfusion and oxygen delivery. A reduction in deformability, as occurs during RBC physiological aging and under blood storage, is implicated in the pathophysiology of diverse conditions with circulatory disorders and anemias. The change in RBC deformability is associated with metabolic and structural alterations, mostly uncharacterized. To bridge this gap, we analyzed the membrane protein levels, using mass spectroscopy, of RBC with varying deformability determined by image analysis. In total, 752 membrane proteins were identified. However, deformability was positively correlated with the level of only fourteen proteins, with a highly significant inter-correlation between them. These proteins are involved in membrane rafting and/or the membrane–cytoskeleton linkage. These findings suggest that the reduction of deformability is a programmed (not arbitrary) process of remodeling and shedding of membrane fragments, possibly mirroring the formation of extracellular vesicles. The highly significant inter-correlation between the deformability-expressing proteins infers that the cell deformability can be assessed by determining the level of a few, possibly one, of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated injuries sustained by Pimelodus maculatus caused by transient operating conditions in a Brazilian hydroelectric power plant. Fish (n = 43) that inhabited the tailrace and appeared on the water surface after changes in the operating conditions were evaluated (IF). Additionally, fish (n = 10) captured using longline in the vicinity of the tailrace were used for comparisons (NF). Blood samples were evaluated for cortisol, glucose, and lactate concentrations. Tissue samples (gill, liver, brain, and muscle) were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, protein carbonyl content, and catalase activity) and histology (gill, liver, and spleen). The most prominent findings in IF were barotraumas with intra-abdominal hemorrhage and swim bladder rupture. Cortisol and glucose concentrations were lower for IF when compared to NF. IF also suffered from oxidative stress, as indicated by increased TBARS in the liver and brain, as well as increased protein carbonyl content in the gills and liver. The main histological alterations induced by the adverse conditions were circulatory disorders, such as telangiectasia and gill aneurysm, hepatic congested veins, and hemorrhage in the liver and spleen. The abrupt drop of pressure resulting from changes in the operating conditions of the turbines caused barotraumas and oxidative stress, which were the leading causes of fish mortality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is currently one of the most common metabolic disorders in the body. Experimental alimentary obesity leads to changes in the structural and functional organization of the liver, including disorders of blood circulation and lymph flow, the development of fatty degeneration in the parenchyma of the organ. The central links in the metabolism of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates take place in the liver, and it is also a barrier to all foreign substances entering the body. The problem of studying morphological changes in organs in obesity based on the effective use of medicinal plants as a means for the treatment and prevention of diseases is urgent. To assess the morphological changes in the liver in obesity, a natural medicinal plant "Frangula alnus" was used in the experiment. Changes in the structural organization of the liver are reflected in its functional state and the process of lipid metabolism. The article studies pathological changes in the activity of liver cells, which lead to a decrease in the detoxification function of the liver and destructive changes. Feeding rats with fatty food in combination with powder from the bark of the medicinal plant buckthorn "Frangula alnus" showed that the use of such a combination in the diet contributes to the normalization of morphological processes and restoration of the structural and functional organization of the rat liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional molecules mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and a-ketoglutarate (aKG) are crucial players in the regulatory mechanisms that maintain cell homeostasis in an ever-changing environment. Cerebral ischemia is associated primarily with oxygen-glucose deficiency (OGD) due to circulatory disorders. Upon exceeding a threshold of resistance to OGD, essential pathways of cellular metabolism can be disrupted, leading to damage of brain cells up to the loss of function and death. This mini-review focuses on the role of mTOR and aKG signaling in the metabolic homeostasis of brain cells under OGD conditions. Integral mechanisms concerning the relative cell resistance to OGD and the molecular basis of aKG-mediated neuroprotection are discussed. The study of molecular events associated with cerebral ischemia and endogenous neuroprotection is relevant for improving the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks. Topics include Sabin-strain serotypes 1, 2, and 3 strains undergoing prolonged circulation in under-vaccinated populations resulting in genetically reverted neurovirulent virus; and improving routine immunization coverage and strengthening poliovirus surveillance.

Thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive imaging method used in the imaging of the thoracic cavity. In comparison with thoracotomy, thoracoscopy provides better visualization of even the smallest lesions localized in the thoracic cavity. With the use of thoracoscopy, the operation stress in the patient and tissue trauma are reduced, and operating time is shortened. The aim of this study was to evaluate 20 dogs with severe pericardial effusion, which manifested as severe circulation disorder and respiratory distress. The patients determined with pericardial effusion as a result of radiographic and echocardiographic examinations were applied with partial pericardiectomy to achieve permanent health and it was decided to apply this with the minimally invasive thoracoscopic method. The paraxiphoid-transdiaphragmatic approach was applied to the first ten patients and the intercostal approach to the latter. Applicability of thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy, advantages compared to open surgery, differences between two approach techniques, disadvantages, complications, and success rates were evaluated. It was concluded that this procedure was a successful procedure for dogs and the transdiaphragmatic approach was more useful. In conclusion, thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy was determined to be easy to apply and more advantageous than open thoracotomy operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]