In-vivo 3-dimensional spine and lower body gait symmetry analysis in healthy individuals.

Background: Numerous research studies have delved into the biomechanics of walking, focusing on the spine and lower extremities. However, understanding the symmetry of walking in individuals without health issues poses a challenge, as those with normal mobility may exhibit uneven movement patterns due to inherent functional differences between their left and right limbs. The goal of this study is to examine the three-dimensional kinematics of gait symmetry in the spine and lower body during both typical and brisk overground walking in healthy individuals. The analysis will utilize statistical methods and symmetry index approaches. Furthermore, the research aims to investigate whether factors such as gender and walking speed influence gait symmetry. Methods: Sixty young adults in good health, comprising 30 males and 30 females, underwent motion capture recordings while engaging in both normal and fast overground walking. The analysis focused on interlimb comparisons and corresponding assessments of side-specific spine and pelvis motions. Results: Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) predominantly revealed gait symmetries between corresponding left and right motions in the spine, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle during both normal and fast overground walking. Notably, both genders exhibited asymmetric pelvis left-right obliquity, with women and men showing an average degree of asymmetry between sides of 0.9 ± 0.1° and 1.5 ± 0.1°, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis suggested that neither sex nor walking speed appeared to exert influence on the 3D kinematic symmetry of the spine, pelvis, and lower body in healthy individuals during gait. While the maximum normalized symmetry index (SInorm) values for the lower thorax, upper lumbar, lower lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle displayed significant differences between sexes and walking speeds for specific motions, no interaction between sex and walking speed was observed. Significance: The findings underscore the potential disparities in data interpretations between the two approaches. While SPM discerns temporal variations in movement, these results offer valuable insights that may enhance our comprehension of gait symmetry in healthy individuals, surpassing the limitations of straightforward discrete parameters like the maximum SInorm. The information gleaned from this study could serve as reference indicators for diagnosing and evaluating abnormal gait function.

Conversion of acetone and mixed ketones to hydrocarbons using HZSM-5 catalyst in the carboxylate platform.

In this study, two different feeds were treated to produce hydrocarbons: (1) reagent-grade acetone, and (2) mixed ketones obtained from lignocellulosic biomass via the carboxylate platform. Acetone and mixed ketones underwent catalytic self-condensation over HZSM-5. For acetone, HZSM-5(80) was used, and the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary temperature (305-415°C) at P = 101 kPa (abs) and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) = 1.3 h-1; (2) vary WHSV (1.3-7.9 h-1) at T = 350 and 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone over HZSM-5(280), the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary WHSV (1.3-6.5 h-1) at T = 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs); and (2) vary WHSV (1.3-11.8 h-1) at P = 790 kPa (abs) and T = 415°C. For mixed ketones, HZSM-5(280) was used at WHSV = 1.9 h-1, T = 430-590°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone at higher temperatures, the conversion was 100% and the liquid products were aromatics centered on C8. At low temperatures, conversion was less and the carbon liquid distribution was centered on C9 (mainly mesitylene). For mixed ketones, catalyst deactivation was higher causing product concentrations to change over time, and the highest conversion reached was 40%.

Spine and lower body symmetry during treadmill walking in healthy individuals-In-vivo 3-dimensional kinematic analysis.

Although it is relevant to understand spine and lower body motions in healthy individuals for a variety of applications, such as clinical diagnosis, implant design, and the analysis of treatment outcomes, proper assessment and characterization of normative gait symmetry in healthy individuals remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo 3-dimensional (3D) spine and lower body gait symmetry kinematics during treadmill walking in healthy individuals. Sixty healthy young adults (30 males and 30 females) were evaluated during normal and fast treadmill walking using a motion capture system approach. Statistical parametric mapping and the normalized symmetry index approaches were used to determine spine, pelvis, and lower body asymmetries during treadmill walking. The spine and pelvis angular motions associated with the left and right lower limb motions, as well as the left and right lower extremity joint angles were compared for normal and fast treadmill walking. The lower lumbar left-right rotation (5.74±0.04°) and hip internal rotation (5.33±0.18°) presented the largest degrees of asymmetry during normal treadmill. Upper lumbar left-right lateral flexion (1.48±0.14°) and knee flexion (2.98±0.13°) indicated the largest asymmetries and during fast treadmill walking. Few asymmetry patterns were similar between normal and fast treadmill walking, whereas others appeared either only during normal or fast treadmill walking in this cohort of participants. These findings could provide insights into better understanding gait asymmetry in healthy individuals, and use them as reference indicators in diagnosing and evaluating abnormal gait function.

Vitamin E supplementation improves testosterone, glucose- and lipid-related metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effect of vitamin E supplementation on testosterone, glucose, lipid profile, pregnancy rate, hirsutism, and body mass index (BMI) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A multi-database search was performed from inception to January 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the effects of vitamin E supplementation with or without another nutritional supplement on women with PCOS. A random-effects model was used to obtain mean differences (MDs) and its 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Evidence certainty was assessed with GRADE methodology. RESULTS: We meta-analyzed eight RCTs reporting vitamin E supplementation alone or combined with other individual substances like omega-3, vitamin D3, or magnesium oxide in adult women ≤40 years old with PCOS. Vitamin E supplementation reduced fasting glucose (MD: -1.92 mg/dL, 95%CI: -3.80 to -0.05), fasting insulin (MD: -2.24 µIU/mL, 95%CI: -3.34 to -1.14), HOMA-IR (MD: -0.42, 95%CI: -0.65 to -0.19), total cholesterol (MD: -18.12 mg/dL, 95%CI: -34.37 to -1.86), LDL-cholesterol (MD: -15.92 mg/dL, 95%CI: -29.93 to -1.90), triglycerides (MD: -20.95 mg/dL, 95%CI: -37.31 to -4.58), total testosterone (MD: -0.42 ng/mL, 95%CI: -0.55 to -0.29), and increased sex hormone-binding globulin (MD: 7.44 nmol/L, 95%CI: 2.68 to 12.20). However, it had no impact on female sex hormones, HDL-cholesterol, BMI, and hirsutism. Two RCTs assessed pregnancy and implantation rates with inconsistent results. The certainty of the evidence was very low to moderate. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E supplementation improves glucose, lipid, and androgenic-related biomarkers in women with PCOS.

Decreased Mortality in Patients With Severe Bronchospasm Associated With SARS-CoV-2: An Alternative to Invasive Mechanical Ventilation.

The number of patients with acute episodes of severe bronchospasm needing intubation and ventilatory support has increased rapidly during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although medical consensus upholds the use of ventilatory support in this pathology, its survival benefits remain unclear. To improve the outcomes and survival rates, a bundle of early respiratory therapy with a pharmacological rescue regimen was provided to four patients with bronchospasm secondary to COVID-19. This therapeutic approach successfully delayed the need for invasive mechanical ventilation for 48 hours and decreased the mortality rate in all cases.

Narrativas de mujeres sobre la maternidad en un contexto de intervención sociosanitaria en la infancia temprana del Chile actual / Narratives of women about motherhood in a context of socio-health intervention in early childhood in Chile today

Resumen Se presentan los resultados de un estudio dirigido a conocer las narrativas sobre la maternidad y el entramado de sentidos atribuidos a las prestaciones de un sistema estatal de atención en salud infantil, en un grupo de usuarias en la ciudad de Santiago de Chile. Por medio de una estrategia cualitativa-narrativa, se exponen tres narrativas sobre la maternidad en el contexto de intervención: conversión, emprendedora y ambivalente. Se concluye que el dispositivo de atención es un referente central en la experiencia de la maternidad en tanto ofrece significados sobre una maternidad ideal y guiada por expertos. Apreciamos que los objetos para la crianza que el sistema proporciona juegan un rol importante para la construcción de los significados en torno a la propia maternidad y a las prestaciones estatales. La multiplicidad de posicionamientos que estas narrativas ofrecen muestra las formas en que las mujeres se autoproducen como madres, pero además las identificaciones con los discursos del sistema, las resistencias, confrontaciones y cuestionamientos, especialmente en el ámbito de la promoción de la lactancia materna.

Abstract The results of a study aimed at knowing the narratives about motherhood and the network of meanings attributed to the benefits of a state system of child health care, in a group of users in the city of Santiago, Chile, are presented. Through a qualitative-narrative strategy, three narratives about motherhood are presented in the context of intervention: conversion, entrepreneurial and ambivalent. It is concluded that the care device is a central reference in the experience of motherhood as it offers meanings about ideal motherhood and guided by experts. We appreciate that the objects for the upbringing that the system provides, play an important role for the construction of the meanings around the maternity itself and the state benefits. The multiplicity of positions that these narratives offer show the ways in which women self-produce as mothers but also the identifications, resistance, confrontations and questions in key areas for the system itself, such as the promotion of breastfeeding.

Sujetos cerebrales: repertorios interpretativos de los usos de la neurociencia en las políticas públicas de infancia temprana en el Chile actual / Brain Subjects: Interpretative repertoires of the uses neuroscience in early childhood policies in current Chile / Sujeitos cerebrais: repertorios interpretativos dos usos da neurociência nas políticas pública da infância no Chile atual

Resumen: Se presentan algunos resultados de una investigación más amplia, dirigida a conocer los discursos de la infancia y su cuidado de un dispositivo de intervención de la infancia temprana en Chile. Utilizando el recurso del análisis de repertorios interpretativos (Potter y Wetherell, 1987; Wetherell y Potter 1996) se analizó un corpus textual conformado por 12 documentos institucionales. De los múltiples repertorios identificados, aquí presentamos aquellos que nos permitieron captar de forma singular las relaciones entre neurociencias, política pública e infancia: el cerebro como actor social; el riesgo como alteración; y la intervención como optimización. Concluimos, que estos repertorios colaboran a la conformación de representaciones de la infancia altamente biologizadas y fuertemente vinculadas a modelos de capital humano y representaciones tradicionales del género y la maternidad. Si bien los hallazgos de la neurociencia se plantean como promesa para superar la desigualdad social, se trataría más bien de un optimismo cruel (Edwards, Gillies y Horsley, 2015) que ocultaría las profundas desigualdades de género y sociales en nuestro país y el posicionamiento de las madres pobres como responsables de los riesgos, así como del desarrollo cerebral de sus hijos.

Abstract: Some results of a broader investigation are presented, aimed at knowing the speeches of childhood and their care of an intervention device of early childhood in Chile. Using the resource of interpretive repertoire analysis (Potter and Wetherell, 1987, Wetherell and Potter, 1996), a textual corpus consisting of 12 institutional documents was analyzed. From the multiple repertories identified, we present those that allow us to capture in a singular way the relationships between neurosciences, public policy and childhood: the brain as a social actor; the risk as alteration; and the intervention as optimization. We conclude that these repertoires collaborate in the conformation of representations of childhood that are highly biologized and strongly linked to models of human capital and traditional representations of gender and motherhood. Although the findings of neuroscience are seen as a promise to overcome social inequality, it would be rather a cruel optimism (Edwards et al., 2015) that would hide the deep gender and social inequalities in our country and the positioning of poor mothers as responsible for the risks, as well as the brain development of their children.

Resumo: São apresentados alguns resultados de uma investigação mais ampla, dirigida a conhecer os discursos da infância e seu cuidado de um dispositivo de intervencao da primeira infancia temprana no Chile. Utilizando o análise de recursos de repertórios interpretativos (Potter e Wetherer, 1987) analisou-se se um corpus textual composto de 12 documentos institucionais. Dos vários repertórios identificados, apresentamos aqueles que nos permitem captar de forma singular as relações entre neurociências, políticas públicas e infancia: o cérebro como ator social; o risco como alteração; e a intervenção como otimização. Concluímos que esses repertórios colaboram com as representações da infância altamente biologizadas e fortemente ligadas aos modelos de capital humano e representações tradicionais do gênero e maternidade. Enquanto as descobertas da neurociência surgem como uma promessa para superar a desigualdade social, mais bem tratar-se-ia de um cruel otimismo (Edwards et al., 2015) que ocultaría as profundas desigualdades de gênero e sociais em nosso país, e o posicionamento das mães pobres como responsáveis pelos riscos, bem como o desenvolvimento cerebral de seus filhos.

Tranexamic acid decreases the magnitude of platelet dysfunction in aspirin-free patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot study.

This study sought to compare the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration on cardiopulmonary bypass-induced platelet dysfunction in patients who received preoperative aspirin or not. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind pilot study, including patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients without aspirin interruption were enrolled in the 'group ASPIRIN' (n = 18) and those who had never been treated with aspirin were included in the 'group NO ASPIRIN' (n = 10). Patients were then randomized to receive either TXA or the same infusion of normal saline. Multiple electrode aggregometry was used to assess platelet function at the different time points throughout the surgery: baseline, post-TXA loading dose, aortic unclamping (End CPB), and 5 min after protamine (Protamine). Compared to those included in the group NO ASPIRIN, patients included in the group ASPIRIN presented a decreased baseline platelet function measured by ASP test (P < 0.01) and collagen test (P < 0.01). In the group NO ASPIRIN, treatment group (TXA vs. placebo) significantly influenced the results for ADP test (P < 0.01), thrombin receptor-activating peptide test (P = 0.01), and ASP test (P = 0.01). We observed that TXA improved platelet function, as measured using multiple electrode aggregometry on ADP test, thrombin receptor-activating peptide test, and ASP test, at the end of CPB (P < 0.05). TXA might decrease the magnitude of platelet dysfunction in aspirin-free patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and assess a potential relationship with clinical endpoints.

Comparación de valores de proteína C-reactiva ultrasensible en pacientesedéntulos totales y pacientes con enfermedad periodontal crónica moderada y avanzada en la Facultad de Odontología de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá / Comparison of values of C-reactive protein in edentulous patients and patients with chronic moderate-to-advanced periodontal disease at the Pontificia Universidad J averiana Dental School in Bogotá

Antecedentes: La enfermedad periodontal (EP) es un factor de riesgo para desarrollar enfermedadescardiovasculares. Puede influir e iniciar una reacción autoinmune, aumentandola inflamación sistémica y acelerando la progresión de placas ateroescleróticas prexistentes.Ante inflamación aumenta la concentración de proteína C-reactiva (medida por PCR-us),que está relacionada con ateroesclerosis y riesgo cardiovascular. Se ha encontrado queel valor de PCR-us es significativamente mayor en pacientes con periodontitis. Objetivo:Determinar si existen diferencias significativas en los valores de PCR-us de pacientes conEP crónica entre moderada y avanzada no tratada y pacientes edéntulos totales comomarcador de ausencia de EP. Métodos: El diseño fue de casos y controles con una muestrade 60 pacientes mayores de 30 años de edad (30 casos con periodontitis crónica moderadaa avanzada y 30 controles edéntulos totales). Se tomó una muestra de sangre a todos lospacientes (cuadro hemático, colesterol, triglicéridos, glucemia, PCR-us) y se analizaron loshallazgos. Resultados: El promedio de PCR-us en los pacientes con periodontitis fue 2,19mg/L, y en los pacientes edéntulos, de 4,12 mg/L. Existe una tendencia a hallar valoresde PCR-us más elevados en pacientes edéntulos, al considerar que se encontró mayorexposición al riesgo en los pacientes con periodontitis. Los resultados no fueron estadísticamentesignificativos. Conclusión: La PCR-us se presentó más aumentada en los pacientesedéntulos totales y los valores de PCR-us en pacientes con periodontitis no se observaroncomo un factor de riesgo elevado para enfermedad cardiovascular...

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It caninitiate an autoimmune reaction, increase systemic inflammation, and accelerate the progressionof preexisting atherosclerotic plaques. In presence of inflammation, PD increasesthe concentration of C-reactive protein (measured through hs-CRP) that is associated withatherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. It has been found that the value of hs-CRP is significantlyhigher in patients with periodontitis. Objective: Determine if there are significantdifferences in the values of hs-CRP among patients with untreated moderate-to-advancedchronic PD and edentulous patients (marker of absence of PE). Methods: A case-controlstudy was carried out with a sample of 60 patients older than 30 years of age (30 cases withmoderate-to-advanced chronic periodontitis diagnosed and 30 edentulous controls). Bloodsamples were taken from all patients (complete blood count, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose,hs-CRP) and the results were compared. Results: The average hs-CRP in patients withperiodontitis was 2.19 mg/L and 4.12 mg/L in edentulous patients. There is a tendency tofind values higher of hs-CRP in edentulous patients, given that there was higher exposure inpatients with periodontitis. The results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: hs-CRPwas higher in edentulous patients and hs-CRP values in patients with periodontitis were notseen as a high risk factor for cardiovascular disease..