Much work has investigated beneficial effects of mindfulness-based meditation methods, but less work has investigated potential risks and differences across meditation methods. We addressed this in a large pre-registered online survey including 613 mediators where we correlated participants' experience with fifty meditation techniques to psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and mystical experiences. We found a positive correlation for both PLEs and mystical experiences with techniques aiming at reducing phenomenological content ('null-directed', NDM) or classified as non-dual or less embodied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA priori, early exposure to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and parasites appears to fortify and regulate the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases. However, improving hygiene conditions in numerous societies has led to a reduction in these microbial exposures, which, according to certain theories, could contribute to an increase in autoimmune diseases. Indeed, molecular mimicry is a key factor triggering immune system reactions; while it seeks pathogens, it can bind to self-molecules, leading to autoimmune diseases associated with microbial infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUntil recently, the main pharmaceuticals used to control cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) were statin-related drugs, known for their historical side effects. Therefore, there is growing interest in exploring alternatives, such as nutritional and dietary components, that could play a central role in CVD prevention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how natural phytosterols found in various diets combat CVDs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDate palms are a vital part of oasis ecosystems and are an important source of income in arid and semi-arid areas. Crossbreeding is limited due to the long juvenile stage of date palms and their dioecious nature. The aim of this study was to create triploid date palms to obtain larger and seedless fruits and to increase resilience to abiotic stresses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxidative stress results from a persistent imbalance in oxidation levels that promotes oxidants, playing a crucial role in the early and sustained phases of DNA damage and genomic and epigenetic instability, both of which are intricately linked to the development of tumors. The molecular pathways contributing to carcinogenesis in this context, particularly those related to double-strand and single-strand breaks in DNA, serve as indicators of DNA damage due to oxidation in cancer cases, as well as factors contributing to epigenetic instability through ectopic expressions. Oxidative stress has been considered a therapeutic target for many years, and an increasing number of studies have highlighted the promising effectiveness of natural products in cancer treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe regulation of gene expression is fundamental to health and life and is essentially carried out at the promoter region of the DNA of each gene. Depending on the molecular context, this region may be accessible or non-accessible (possibility of integration of RNA polymerase or not at this region). Among enzymes that control this process, DNA methyltransferase enzymes (DNMTs), are responsible for DNA demethylation at the CpG islands, particularly at the promoter regions, to regulate transcription.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Ital Chir
September 2022
Right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is rare, but its rupture is common. It carries a high mortality rate if not successfully timely managed. In laparoscopic era, surgeons and physicians in general must be aware of this entity and its therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuccess artificial pollination with viable pollen is crucial process in the production chain of date palms. This study evaluated the impact of pollen storage temperature and duration, pollination time following spathe cracking, and the hour of daytime on pollen viability, germinability, fruit set and yield of 'Deglet Nour' date palm cultivar. In tests, fresh pollen showed the maximum viability (96.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the publication of this paper, it has become apparent that an error was made in the legend to Fig. 3 and the colours referring to occidental and oriental are the wrong way round. The authors apologise for this error, and a correct version of the legend to Fig.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae) are of great economic and ecological value to the oasis agriculture of arid and semi-arid areas. However, despite the availability of a large date palm germplasm spreading from the Atlantic shores to Southern Asia, improvement of the species is being hampered by a lack of information on global genetic diversity and population structure. In order to contribute to the varietal improvement of date palms and to provide new insights on the influence of geographic origins and human activity on the genetic structure of the date palm, this study analysed the diversity of the species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe practice of crushing drugs is very common in geriatric units. In 2009 a first study, performed in all geriatric units of a university hospital, showed that numerous errors were made during prescription, preparation and administration. The aim of this second prospective study was to assess the impact of regional and national recommendations in the same geriatric units.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Pediatr
January 2015
Recurrent bacterial meningitis is an uncommon disease of childhood. It occurs most often in children who have an underlying predisposing disorder that can result from anatomic fistula or immunodeficiency. Cochleovestibular dysplasia is a rare malformation of the inner ear that is often associated with translabyrinthine cerebrospinal fistula and then can cause recurrent bacterial meningitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the MR features of primary intracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) on conventional imaging, diffusion and MR spectroscopy and aim to determinate distinguishing features from meningiomas.
Methods: From 2006 to 2012, seven patients with pathologically confirmed primary intracranial HPCs were included. The clinical data, conventional MR findings (n=7), DWI features (n=7) and MR spectroscopy (n=5) were retrospectively analyzed.
Duodenal adenocarcinoma is frequent. Aneurysmal dilatation of the small bowel is reported to be a lymphoma characteristic imaging finding. A 57-year-old male was found to have a duodenal adenocarcinoma with aneurismal dilatation on imaging which is an exceptional feature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Three cases of histopathologically confirmed central neurocytoma (CN) are presented, emphasizing diagnostic imaging issues: conventional magnetic resonance imaging with Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings of CN.
Materials And Methods: Patients age ranged from 17 to 32 years, Imaging include a CT scan and MR examination with DWI and proton MRS on a 1.5-T system.
Purpose: Swallowing disorders or psycho-behavioural distress frequently interfere on drug administration in elderly inpatients. Crushing drugs is a common although non validated practice. The objective of this first prospective study, performed in all geriatric units of the Rouen university hospital by a multidisciplinary group, was to assess the crushing practice, from the prescription to the administration of the drugs in order to elaborate corrective measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report a case of drug-drug interaction between ferrous sulfate and l-thyroxin. A 95-year-old woman treated successfully with l-thyroxin for many years received ferrous sulfate for anemia. This association led rapidly to recurrence of hypothyroidism with elevated serum than TSH level which completely resolved after withdrawal of iron therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To report a unique case of wide-necked mycotic cerebral aneurysm treated with a new generation of intracranial stent.
Clinical Presentation: A 10-year-old girl presented with meningitis complicated by an infectious intracavernous large aneurysm revealed by cranial nerve palsy.
Intervention: The aneurysm was treated by a new-generation, flow-diverting, endoluminal implant (SILK; BALT EXTRUSION, Montmorency, France) placed across the aneurysm neck without coiling.