Prevalence and Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Thyroid gland dysfunction (TGD) has been increasingly recognized as a potential comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was designed to determine the prevalence of TGD in COPD patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

Utilizing the derivative of unwrapped phase in ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of elastic properties of polymer filaments.

Polymer filaments represent the fundamental materials employed in fused filament fabrication additive manufacturing. This paper uses an innovative nondestructive evaluation technique for gauging the elastic properties of these polymer filaments. The method hinges on acoustic wave scattering theory, wherein a polymer filament is immersed in water and exposed to an incident acoustic wave.

Increased β1-adrenergic receptor antibody confers a vulnerable substrate for atrial fibrillation via mediating Ca2+ mishandling and atrial fibrosis in active immunization rabbit models.

Background: Autoimmune disorder is the emerging mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF). The β1-adrenergic receptor antibody (β1-AAb) is associated with AF progress. Our study aims to investigate whether β1-AAbs involves in atrial vulnerable substrate by mediating Ca2+ mishandling and atrial fibrosis in autoimmune associated AF.

The challenges in managing the growth of indigenous children in Perak State, Malaysia: A qualitative study.

Indigenous peoples in Peninsular Malaysia, known as Orang Asli, have been associated with the problem of malnutrition. Approximately 40% of their children are underweight. Indigenous peoples' distinct social, cultural, and economic traits, which differ from those of the dominant communities in which they live, may pose significant challenges for health care providers (HCPs) in addressing the malnutrition issue.

Correlation length ratio as a parameter for determination of fiber-like structures in soft tissues.

Quantitative ultrasound methods can provide valuable information about the microstructure of a material or tissue. This works well when the common assumptions of homogeneity, isotropy, and diffuse scattering conditions are valid. In biological tissues, however, these assumptions are often violated because the microstructure of biological tissues is often heterogeneous and anisotropic.

Glucocorticoids, sodium transport mediators, and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants.

Background: Antenatal glucocorticoids (GCs) reduce respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants and are associated with reduced lung liquid content. Our aim was to assess whether airway gene expression of mediators of pulmonary epithelial sodium and liquid absorption, and further, respiratory morbidity, associate with cord blood GC concentrations.

Methods: The study included 64 infants delivered <32 weeks gestation.

Genome-wide association study of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a potential role for variants near the CRP gene.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the main consequence of prematurity, has a significant heritability, but little is known about predisposing genes. The aim of this study was to identify gene loci predisposing infants to BPD. The initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) included 174 Finnish preterm infants of gestational age 24-30 weeks.

Characterization of immersed transversely isotropic rods by inversion of acoustic scattering data.

An ultrasonic technique is proposed for measurement of the elastic constants of a transversely isotropic cylindrical sample. This technique can measure all five elastic constants of a transversely isotropic rod or fiber nondestructively. The immersed rod is insonified first by a normally incident, and then by an obliquely incident, ultrasonic wave and the backscattered pressure amplitude spectra, form functions, are measured.

Randomised trial of early neonatal hydrocortisone demonstrates potential undesired effects on neurodevelopment at preschool age.

Aim: We evaluated the neurodevelopment and growth of five- to seven-year-old children who had participated in a randomised trial of early low-dose hydrocortisone treatment to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Methods: The 51 infants in the original study had birthweights of 501-1250 g and gestational ages of 23-30 weeks, required mechanical ventilation during the first 24 hours and received hydrocortisone or a placebo for 10 days. The majority (80%) of the 90% who survived to five- to seven years of age participated in this follow-up study and their growth, neuromotor, cognitive and speech development were evaluated.

A study of genes encoding cytokines (IL6, IL10, TNF), cytokine receptors (IL6R, IL6ST), and glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and susceptibility to bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic lung disease associated with very preterm birth. The major risk factors include lung inflammation and lung immaturity. In addition, genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility to moderate-to-severe BPD.

Characterization of a cylindrical rod by inversion of acoustic scattering data.

In this paper, a new approach is proposed for nondestructive characterization of immersed and embedded isotropic rod-shaped samples by inversion of acoustic scattering data. The normal mode expansion technique is used for modelling the scattered field and the compression incident and compression scattered waves are considered. Genetic algorithm is the inversion technique used for estimating the elastic wave velocities and density of the rods from their measured backscattered pressure spectrum.

Trends in maternal BMI, glycaemic control and perinatal outcome among type 1 diabetic pregnant women in 1989-2008.

Aims/hypothesis: Our objective was to examine the trends in prepregnancy BMI and glycaemic control among Finnish type 1 diabetic patients and their relation to delivery mode and perinatal outcome.

Methods: We analysed the obstetric records of 881 type 1 diabetic women with a singleton childbirth during 1989-2008. Maternal prepregnancy weight and height were obtained from the maternity cards, where they are recorded as reported by the mother.

Repeated antenatal corticosteroid treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of repeated antenatal corticosteroid on neonatal morbidity, growth and later development.

Design: MEDLINE, Cochrane database and a bibliography of identified articles were searched for English language studies. Design.

Can a single dose of 300 mg of pregabalin reach acute antihyperalgesic levels in the central nervous system?

Background And Objectives: Central spinal cord sensitization can occur during surgery and may lead to persistent pain after surgery. Pregabalin has been shown to decrease central sensitization in experimental pain paradigms, and so the same antihyperalgesic effect of pregabalin may occur during and immediately after surgery. Our study investigated whether a single 300-mg dose of pregabalin in patients has sufficient central nervous system bioavailability to be useful under acute conditions where brain or spinal cord excitability may lead to long-term disease, such as chronic pain.

Enhancing functional maturity before preterm birth.

Enhancing functional maturity of the high-risk preterm fetus is aimed at decreasing the life-threatening neonatal disorders that increase the burden of chronic disease. A course of antenatal glucocorticoids before 35 weeks of pregnancy substitutes endogenous activation of the hypothalamic-adrenal axis that spontaneously enhances functional maturity and augments cytokine-induced preterm lung maturity. It is the main fetal therapy that decreases the functional prematurity-related neonatal morbidity in the era of surfactant therapy.

Cellular characteristics of non-allergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis.

Purpose: This study examines the histology of conjunctival biopsy samples from patients with persistent allergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis (AEC) or non-allergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis (NAEC).

Methods: Fourteen patients with conjunctivitis and eosinophilia in cytology samples were included in the study. Seven had positive skin-prick tests (the AEC group) and seven had negative skin-prick tests (the NAEC group).

Perioperative oral pregabalin reduces chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Despite the enormous success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), chronic neuropathic pain can develop postoperatively and is both distressing and difficult to treat once established. We hypothesized that perioperative treatment with pregabalin, a chronic pain medication, would reduce the incidence of postsurgical neuropathic pain.

Methods: We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of pregabalin (300 mg) administered before TKA and for 14 days after TKA (150-50 mg twice daily).

Expression of airway epithelial sodium channel in the preterm infant is related to respiratory distress syndrome but unaffected by repeat antenatal beta-methasone.

Background: The airway epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is rate limiting for postnatal alveolar fluid clearance. Increased lung water content is a feature of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which is reduced by antenatal corticosteroid treatment in preterm infants.

Objectives: Since corticosteroids also induce ENaC gene expression, we studied whether a repeat dose of antenatal beta-methasone affects postnatal expression of airway ENaC.

Two-year follow-up of a randomised trial with repeated antenatal betamethasone.

Background: Weekly repeated antenatal corticosteroid treatment improves respiratory outcome but decreases fetal growth and may impair neurodevelopmental outcome. We have previously reported that a single repeat betamethasone (BM) dose neither decreased fetal growth nor improved the outcome of preterm infants during the first hospitalisation.

Objective: To study prospectively whether a single repeat dose of BM influences neurodevelopment and growth within 2 years.

Tear fluid concentration of mmp-8 is elevated in non-allergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis and correlates with conjunctival inflammatory cell infiltration.

Background: To investigate tear fluid concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and its relation to conjunctival inflammatory cell infiltration in persistent non-allergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis (NAEC).

Methods: Two groups were included: 26 consecutive adult patients with NAEC (conjunctival eosinophils at least 1+ [1-10 eosinophils/slide], skin prick test [SPT] to common allergens negative), and 26 asymptomatic adult persons (no conjunctival eosinophils, SPT negative). MMP-8 tear fluid concentrations were determined by immunofluorometric assay, and conjunctival brush cytology samples from NAEC patients were used for MMP-8 immunocytochemistry.

Antenatal betamethasone and fetal growth in prematurely born children: implications for temperament traits at the age of 2 years.

Objective: We explored whether repeated dose of antenatal betamethasone and variation in intrauterine growth of prematurely born children predict temperament characteristics at the age of 2 years.

Patients And Methods: The patients (n = 142) were prematurely born children (mean gestational age: 31.0 weeks; range: 24.

Occult cervical (C1-2) dural tear causing bilateral recurrent subdural hematomas and repaired with cervical epidural blood patch.

The authors report the case of a 56-year-old previously healthy man who presented with a 4-month history of postural headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The results of initial imaging studies of the brain were normal. Repeated MR imaging demonstrated bilateral subdural hematomas which were drained and reaccumulated over a period of time.

Trial of early neonatal hydrocortisone: two-year follow-up.

Background: Dexamethasone treatment is associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP). Early hydrocortisone (HC) treatment may decrease the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia; however, the long-term effects are still under evaluation. Follow-up of randomized studies concerning early HC treatment is essential to confirm the long-term safety.

A new knee surgery model in rats to evaluate functional measures of postoperative pain.

Introduction: With the increase in the number of total knee surgeries being performed, postoperative analgesic management remains a challenge. We used a new animal knee surgery model to characterize pain-related behavior in the rat, and its therapeutic modulation with systemic and intrathecal drug treatment.

Methods: Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and an incision was made over the left knee to expose the patella tendon.