Creatine Supplementation Prior to Strength Exercise Training Is Not Superior in Preventing Muscle Mass Loss Compared with Standard Nutritional Recommendations in Females After Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.

Background: This study examines whether creatine supplementation combined with strength training mitigates muscle mass loss in women during early rehabilitation post-bariatric surgery, as its effectiveness remains untested in this context.

Methods: Fifteen women (37.8 ± 9.

Antifibrotic and Pro-regenerative Effects of SMAD3 siRNA and Collagen I mRNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles in Human Tenocytes.

Tendinopathy involves the inflammation and degeneration of the tendon due to repetitive strain injury. Current treatments primarily target inflammation resolution, yet they do not aim at tissue regeneration. In this study, a microfluidics approach is harnessed to develop a platform of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded simultaneously with SMAD3 siRNA and collagen I mRNA, aiming to explore its potential dual antifibrotic and regenerative effects in human tenocytes.

Study of the Synergistic Immunomodulatory and Antifibrotic Effects of Dual-Loaded Budesonide and Serpine1 siRNA Lipid-Polymer Nanoparticles Targeting Macrophage Dysregulation in Tendinopathy.

Musculoskeletal diseases involving tissue injury comprise tendon, ligament, and muscle injury. Recently, macrophages have been identified as key players in the tendon repair process, but no therapeutic strategy involving dual drug delivery and gene delivery to macrophages has been developed for targeting the two main dysregulated aspects of macrophages in tendinopathy, i.e.

Biomimetic Platelet-Cloaked Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Anti-Inflammatory Curcumin in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis still represents a major driver of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Together with accumulation of lipids in the plaque, inflammation is recognized as one of the key players in the formation and development of atherosclerotic plaque. Systemic anti-inflammatory treatments are successful in reducing the disease burden, but are correlated with severe side effects, underlining the need for targeted formulations.

Superiority of wall motion score index over left ventricle ejection fraction in predicting cardiovascular events after an acute myocardial infarction.

Background:: There are few data on the prognostic significance of the wall motion score index compared with left ventricle ejection fraction after an acute myocardial infarction. Our objective was to compare them after the hyperacute phase.

Methods:: Transthoracic echocardiograms were performed in 352 consecutive patients with myocardial infarction, after the first 48 hours of admission and before hospital discharge (median 56.

Non-Classical Monocytes and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Correlate with Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in Chronically HIV-1 Infected Adults on Stable Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: Persistent inflammation and immune activation has been hypothesized to contribute to increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with chronic HIV infection. In this study, we examined the correlation of peripheral monocyte subsets and soluble biomarkers of inflammation to coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression, as measured by cardiac computed tomography scan.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis utilizing baseline data of 78 participants with HIV infection on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Hawaii Aging with HIV-Cardiovascular study who had available baseline monocyte subset analysis as well as CAC measurement at baseline and at 2-year follow up.

A new approach for SSVEP detection using PARAFAC and canonical correlation analysis.

This paper presents a new way for automatic detection of SSVEPs through correlation analysis between tensor models. 3-way EEG tensor of channel × frequency × time is decomposed into constituting factor matrices using PARAFAC model. PARAFAC analysis of EEG tensor enables us to decompose multichannel EEG into constituting temporal, spectral and spatial signatures.

Comparison between wire and wireless EEG acquisition systems based on SSVEP in an Independent-BCI.

This paper presents a comparison between two different technologies of acquisition systems (BrainNet36 and Emotiv Epoc) for an Independent-BCI based on Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP). Two stimuli separated by a viewing angle <; 1° were used. Multivariate Synchronization Index (MSI) technique was used as feature extractor and five subjects participated in the experiments.

Outcome of trauma patients immobilized by emergency department staff, but not by emergency medical services providers: a quality assurance initiative.

Background: Prehospital selective cervical spine immobilization (CSI) is a relatively new concept. In our emergency medical services (EMS) system, protocols for selective CSI are widely used; yet, some patients who are brought to the hospital without CSI undergo secondary immobilization and cervical spine imaging in the emergency department (ED). Immobilization in the ED, after a decision not to immobilize by EMS, suggests that either the prehospital assessment is not trusted or the patient has developed new symptoms over time.

Feature extraction and classification of sEMG signals applied to a virtual hand prosthesis.

This paper presents the classification of motor tasks, using surface electromyography (sEMG) to control a virtual prosthetic hand for rehabilitation of amputees. Two types of classifiers are compared: k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) and Bayesian (Discriminant Analysis). Motor tasks are divided into four groups correlated.

Diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in an Amazonic community of Peru using multiple diagnostic techniques.

An observational descriptive study was conducted in a Shipibo-Conibo/Ese'Eja community of the rainforest in Peru to compare the Kato-Katz method and the spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique (SSTT) for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites as well as to report the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in this area. A total of 73 stool samples were collected and analysed by several parasitological techniques, including Kato-Katz, SSTT, modified Baermann technique (MBT), agar plate culture, Harada-Mori culture and the direct smear examination. Kato-Katz and SSTT had the same rate of detection for Ascaris lumbricoides (5%), Trichuris trichiura (5%), hookworm (14%) and Hymenolepis nana (26%).

Highly effective and inexpensive parasitological technique for diagnosis of intestinal parasites in developing countries: spontaneous sedimentation technique in tube.

Millions of low-income people in the world are affected by intestinal parasites. Inexpensive, simple, and effective techniques for diagnosis are necessary. The spontaneous sedimentation technique in tube (SSTT), for application in poor healthcare settings and under field-work conditions, was described 25 years ago in Peru by Tello.

Increased consistency and efficiency in routine potency testing by bioassay with direct use of cryopreserved (ready-to-plate) cells.

The use of cells as a cryopreserved, readily available reagent has facilitated high-throughput screening of new drug candidates by bioassay. This practice is considerably less labor intensive and allows more flexibility in laboratory testing than traditional continuous cell culture. We have shown that this practice can be adapted to cell proliferation and reporter gene assay formats used in routine sample testing for determination of relative potency of commercial product in a Quality Control Laboratory.

[Spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique (SSTT) for diagnosis of intestinal parasites].

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the Spontaneous Sedimentation in Tube Technique (SSTT) described by Tello, in comparison with the direct smear and other concentration techniques, when it is used to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in field and laboratory studies in rural areas of the Andean Region.

Methods: A prospective study (2000-2004) was carried out including 1 802 fecal samples from several areas around Peru: Iquitos (N = 74), Puno (N = 399), Junín (N = 1241), Lima (N = 88).

Results: SSTT showed more sensitivity to detect helminthes and protozoa in comparison to other conventional techniques carried out simultaneously (P;0.

Management of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma: experience of a single center.

Primary sarcoma of the pulmonary artery (PSPA) is extremely rare. Many cases are misdiagnosed as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) because of chronic thromboembolic disease (CTD). Four cases of PSPA with the initial misdiagnosis are reported.

Efficacy of sildenafil as a rescue therapy for patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and given long-term treatment with prostanoids: 2-year experience.

Background: Both prostanoids and sildenafil are effective treatments for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The combined use of these drugs to maximize the clinical benefit is an emerging treatment option. This study describes a 2-year experience with adjunct sildenafil as a rescue therapy for patients with severe PAH treated long term with prostanoids and who showed clinical deterioration or onset of heart failure.

[Thiabendazole for the control of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a hyperendemic area in Peru].

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a disease caused by an intestinal parasite. This helminth is highly prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. The preferred treatment is ivermectin, and thiabendazole as a second option available in certain Peruvian institutions.

Observer performance in assessing anemia on thoracic CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of expert reviewers to differentiate an anemic from a nonanemic state on the basis of visual assessment of the relative attenuation of blood in the left ventricle on noncontrast thoracic CT images and to compare reviewer performance with quantitative measurement of CT density in Hounsfield units.

Materials And Methods: One hundred two noncontrast thoracic CT examinations were qualitatively reviewed by three independent reviewers. Hounsfield unit measurements of the blood in the left ventricle were recorded by a fourth individual.

Unsaturated diterpenoids with a novel carbocyclic skeleton from Salvia xalapensis.

Two diterpenoids with an unprecedented carbocyclic skeleton, salvixalapadiene (3) and isosalvixalapadiene (4), have been obtained from the leaves of Salvia xalapensis. The rearranged skeleton of these products may be derived biogenetically from a salvigenane precursor. In addition, two new rearranged diterpenoids (1 and 2) belonging to already known skeletons were isolated.

Gadolinium-enhanced MDCT angiography of the abdomen: feasibility and limitations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a protocol for gadolinium-enhanced MDCT angiography of the abdomen and to identify technical parameters that optimize image quality.

Conclusion: The degree of enhancement and image quality achieved using this gadolinium-enhanced MDCT angiography appear adequate for angiographic evaluation of the abdominal aorta and its major branches.

Presence of a yolk sac on transvaginal sonography is the most reliable predictor of single-dose methotrexate treatment failure in ectopic pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine which imaging characteristics can be used as prognostic indicators in conjunction with beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy (EP) with single-dose methotrexate (MTX).

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 62 patients (age range, 16-47 years; mean, 29 years) treated with MTX for EP from November 2000 to August 2003. The transvaginal sonographic findings in each case were analyzed for the presence and size of an extraovarian mass or a pseudogestational sac, amount of free fluid, presence of a yolk sac, and fetal heart motion.

Chronic cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxiciy in heart transplant patients: long-term benefits of treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose cyclosporine.

Background: Cyclosporine-induced nephropathy is a major limitation in heart transplant patients. Cyclosporine dose reduction may lead to substantial early improvement in renal function. Our aim was to study the long-term benefits of therapy with low doses of cyclosporine plus mycophenolate mofetil in heart transplant patients with drug-induced nephrotoxicity.