ABSTRACT
AIM: To determine a position of cryptogenic epilepsy (CE) in relation to idiopathic epilepsy (IE) and symptomatic epilepsy (SE) in the aspect of patients' quality-of-life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients, including 90 with CE, 30 with SE and 30 with IE, were examined. The severity of epileptic seizures assessed with the NHS3, anxiety and depression assessed with the HADS, sleep disorders, quality-of-life measured with the Qolie-89 were studied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: CE was similar to SE in many parameters but had a favorable course. The following factors were similar for CE and IE: family history of disease, differences between the severity of seizures and Qolie-89 scores. Quality-of-life was higher in CE compared to SE, despite the marked anxiety of patients. It has been concluded that CE, which is caused by both genetic and environmental factors, has an interim position between IE and SE.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Depression , Epilepsy , Quality of Life , Adult , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/psychology , Humans , Seizures , Sleep Wake DisordersABSTRACT
The impact of high-frequency (1.2 MHz) ultrasound with a power density of 0.33 W cm(-2) on microcapsule nanocomposite shells with embedded zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated by exploring modeling simulations and direct visualization. For the first time the sonication effect has been monitored in situ on individual microcapsules upon exposure of their aqueous suspension to ultrasound. The stress distribution on the microcapsule shell for the impact of ultrasound with high (1.2 MHz) and low (20 kHz) frequency at two fixed intensities (0.33 and 30 W cm(-2)) has been modeled. As shown in silico and experimentally the nanocomposite microcapsules were destroyed more effectively by the action of high-frequency (1.2 MHz) ultrasound in comparison to the low frequency (20 kHz) one with the same power density.
ABSTRACT
Magnetic fluid-loaded liposomes (MFLs) were fabricated using magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and natural phospholipids via the thin film hydration method followed by extrusion. The size distribution and composition of MFLs were studied using dynamic light scattering and spectrophotometry. The effective ranges of magnetite concentration in MNPs hydrosol and MFLs for contrasting at both T2 and T1 relaxation were determined. On T2 weighted images, the MFLs effectively increased the contrast if compared with MNPs hydrosol, while on T1 weighted images, MNPs hydrosol contrasting was more efficient than that of MFLs. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrasting properties of MFLs and their effects on tumor and normal tissues morphology, were investigated in rats with transplanted renal cell carcinoma upon intratumoral administration of MFLs. No significant morphological changes in rat internal organs upon intratumoral injection of MFLs were detected, suggesting that the liposomes are relatively safe and can be used as the potential contrasting agents for MRI.
Subject(s)
Contrast Media/chemistry , Liposomes/chemistry , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Magnetite Nanoparticles/chemistry , Animals , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Kidney/pathology , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Neoplasm Transplantation , Particle Size , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
An elegant route for hydroxyapatite (HA) particle synthesis via ionic exchange reaction is reported. Calcium carbonate particles (CaCO3) were recrystallized into HA beads in water solution with phosphate ions. The size of initial CaCO3 particles was controlled upon the synthesis by varying the amount of ethylene glycol (EG) in aqueous solution. The average size of HA beads ranged from 0.6±0.1 to 4.3±1.1µm. Silver nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of HA and CaCO3 particles via silver mirror reaction. Surface enhanced Raman scattering of silver functionalized beads was demonstrated by detecting Rhodamine B. CaCO3 and HA particles have a great potential for design of carrier which can provide diagnostic and therapeutic functions.
Subject(s)
Calcium Carbonate/chemistry , Durapatite/chemistry , Particle Size , Spectrum Analysis, Raman , Ethylene Glycol/chemistry , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Rhodamines/chemistry , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
AIM: To analyze the influence of age on the performance of a planning and organization task, two skills included in the executive functions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Performance of the task 'Mexican pyramid' from the Evaluacion Neuropsicologica Infantil (ENI) were analyzed on 239 school age children from México and Colombia, distributed in six age groups. Five measures were analyzed: number of correct designs, number of movements per design and execution time in the correct designs, number of correct designs built with the minimum of movements and its execution time. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of age on the five measures. Comparison between groups showed that younger children (5 to 6 years old) had a smaller number of correct designs, while children from 5 to 8 years old need more movements. Execution time showed a greater number of differences between groups. Analyzing the 11 items of the task, it was evident that difficulty level is related with the number of movements and the novelty of rules. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that accuracy of performance, the number of moves as well as the speed of performance are useful markers of the development of the executive functions. Our results support the notion that the development of planning and organization; is fast in the first years of the school age, and it slows down on adolescence.
Subject(s)
Mental Processes , Neuropsychological Tests , Task Performance and Analysis , Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Colombia , Female , Humans , Male , MexicoABSTRACT
Objetivo. Conocer los cambios relacionados con la edad en una tarea de planificación y organización, como componentes de las funciones ejecutivas. Sujetos y métodos. Se analizó la ejecución en la pirámide de México de la evaluación neuropsi-cológica infantil en 239 escolares de México y Colombia de 5 a 16 años de edad, distribuidos en seis grupos. Se utilizaron cinco medidas: número de aciertos, número de movimientos y tiempo de ejecución en los diseños correctos, número de aciertos y tiempo de ejecución en los diseños correctos realizados con el mínimo de movimientos. Resultados. Se observó un efecto de la edad sobre las cinco medidas. En comparación con los otros grupos, los niños de 5 a 6 años tienen una menorcantidad de diseños correctos; los de 5 a 8 años requieren mayor número de movimientos. El tiempo de ejecución mostró un mayor número de diferencias intragrupales. El análisis por ensayo reveló que el grado de dificultad se relaciona con la cantidadde movimientos y lo novedoso de las reglas. Conclusiones. Además del número de aciertos y de movimientos invertidos para lograr cada acierto, el tiempo de ejecución es un indicador útil del desarrollo de estas funciones, dado que la rapidez enla ejecución es la que marca diferencias mayores entre los niños. Nuestros resultados apoyan la existencia de un desarrollo acelerado de las funciones de planificación y organización durante los primeros años de la etapa escolar, que sigue un cursomás lento en la adolescencia
Aim. To analyze the influence of age on the performance of a planning and organization task, two skills includedin the executive functions. Subjects and methods. Performance of the task Mexican pyramid from the Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI) were analyzed on 239 school age children from México and Colombia, distributed in six age groups.Five measures were analyzed: number of correct designs, number of movements per design and execution time in the correct designs, number of correct designs built with the minimum of movements and its execution time. Results. There was a significant effect of age on the five measures. Comparison between groups showed that younger children (5 to 6 years old) hada smaller number of correct designs, while children from 5 to 8 years old need more movements. Execution time showed a greater number of differences between groups. Analyzing the 11 items of the task, it was evident that difficulty level is related with the number of movements and the novelty of rules. Conclusions. Our results suggest that accuracy of performance, the number of moves as well as the speed of performance are useful markers of the development of the executive functions. Our results support the notion that the development of planning and organization; is fast in the first years of the school age, and it slows down on adolescence
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Mental Processes/classification , Task Performance and Analysis , Age Factors , Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data , Child Development , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
The intravascular laser irradiation of blood which was used in treatment of 100 patients decreases the level of endogenous intoxication, stimulates the defensive forces of the organism, improves the condition of the patient, contributes to quicker recovery and may be actively used in treatment of patients with a surgical infection.
