Articles Related to Treatment

Tunisian mill wastewater analyzed for the first time prove high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and high Turbidity values and deserve treatment. The biodegradability index determined by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)/chemical oxygen demand (COD) ratio was only 0.072, suggesting its limited biodegradability. Primarily, settling tank showed a positive effect in COD values reduced from 2490 to 448.2 mg/L. In addition, turbidity was reduced from 140 to 65.8 NTU. The coagulation-flocculation process using chemical coagulants-flocculants prior treatment equilibrate this ratio in range 1-2 promises a feasible biological treatment

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Insomnia is a frequent condition that can be acute, intermittent, or chronic. It is an unpleasant feeling that makes it difficult to fall asleep. The main aim of the review is to determine the adverse effects of Insomnia drugs and the need to opt for Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approach as an adjuvant in treating Insomnia condition with lesser- known side effects. The Methodology involved a detailed literature survey which was performed through an online database, such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed. The study included original research and book chapters conducted on relation with Insomnia in particular with various therapies used currently and aimed to find possible alternative source which will be effective in treatment as well as with less burden of side effects

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Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have provided groundbreaking advancements for a variety of malignancies. It has been of recent interest to identify predictive indicators of response to improve cancer management using immunotherapy. The intestinal microbiome has been recognized as a potential predictor of ICI anti- tumor activity. Antibiotics reduce diversity the overall composition of the gut microbiota, with effects seen as quickly as in a single day. Post-antibiotic dysbiosis recovery varies depending on type and duration of exposure. Preclinical studies in mice with advanced cancer treated with broad spectrum antibiotics have been associated with resistance to ICI treatment.

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Diabetic macular edema (DME) has become one of the most potential complications that results in loss of vision in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Treatment outcomes that have been predicted directly with advent of machine learning (ML) methods after the initial anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection, has become extremely vital in the management of DME. Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze the efficiency of the ML regression models which were developed and validated to predict the possible post-injection central subfield thickness (CST) value and distant vision best corrected visual acuity (DV BCVA) in eyes with DME before the anti-VEGF injection is administered at either treatment initiation or during treatment monitoring. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, India from January 2010 to December 2020. The model development emphasized on an ensemble ML system consisting of four ML models that were developed and trained independently using the clinical parameters to predict the post injection CST value. The dataset consisting of 906 patients with total of 1874 samples [Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and clinical parameters] were divided into trained and test set, and the model was validated on test dataset. The predicted CST values was then compared against the respective sample’s post injection actual CST value. The comparative results were measured in terms of Correlation Coefficient and Mean Absolute Relative Error (MARE). Results: On evaluation, we found that Support Vector Regression (SVR) with linear kernel performed best among the other models with four different scenarios in term of both CST and DVBCVA prediction with correlation coefficient of 0.65, 0.73, 0.75, 0.85 and 0.83, 0.87, 0.89 and 0.92 respectively.

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Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hemoglobin disease for which there are many treatment options. Evidence supports the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of hydroxyurea (HU). Nevertheless, its use and adherence to treatment remain suboptimal, hence, the necessity to assess the factors influencing this observance. Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the factors influencing observance to HU in children with sickle cell disease from the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation (MCC of the CBF). Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from January to June 2020. Children on HU for at least six months, and followed up at MCC of the CBF were included. Data collection was done using a pre-tested questionnaire. The level of compliance was assessed using the Morisky’s observance grid, where 8 points was considered as “good”; 6-7 points as “fair”, and <6 as “poor”. Data were stored in CSPro version 7.0 software, and subsequently analyzed using the SPSS version 20.0 software. Results: Of 142 patients recruited, the level of patient observance was considered “good” in 2.1%, fair in 26.1% and poor in 71.8%. Logistic regression analyses suggested that using hydroxyurea to prevent complications was the only factor that favored good medical adherence [OR=0.37; CI (0.14-0.987)] (p=0.047). Poor compliance was mainly associated with the fear of infertility and and other sides effects associated with the use of HU. Conclusion: Children with SCD in this study have poor compliance with HU. Implementing IEC sessions would make it possible to raise patient/parent awareness and reverse this trend.

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Among patients with tuberculosis (TB), approximately 1 to 5 percent develop central nervous system (CNS) complications. A tuberculoma is a conglomerate granulomatous focus that develops from coalescing tubercles acquired during disseminated bacillaemia. Radiographically, tuberculomas are discrete, ring- enhancing lesions of the brain surrounded by perilesional edema and may present as single or multiple lesions. The diagnosis of tuberculoma should be suspected in patients with mass lesion of the brain and relevant epidemiologic factors. A definitive diagnosis of tuberculoma is established via needle biopsy of the CNS lesion for histopathology and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining and culture. In this case report, we present a 43-year-old woman with a past medical history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) managed with steroids and hydroxychloroquine, who attended to us with a two- month history of numbness and paresthesia of her left extremities and recurrent episodic jerks involving the same side. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large hemorrhagic mass (55 * 40 mm) in right temporo-parietal lobe surrounded by edema and mass effect with small nodule in left peri Rolandic cortex. Following clinical and laboratory clues, MR spectroscopy and brain biopsy, we started with corticosteroids and the following 4 anti-TB drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol (HRZE). After 2 months, her symptoms completely resolved and a subsequent MRI scan revealed considerable shrinkage of the right-sided mass and left-sided lesion.

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This study reports the adsorption capacity of copper Cu (II) and nickel Ni (II) of biochar obtained from peanut shell. The kinetics and equilibrium of biosorption were examined in detail. Two kinetic models (pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order) were used to correlate the experimental data and to determine the kinetic parameters. Two well-known adsorption isotherms were chosen to describe the biosorption equilibrium (Langmuir and Freundlich). The equilibrium isotherms showed that modified peanut shells possess high affinity, sorption capacity for Cu (II) and Ni (II) ions, sorption capacities of 37.443 mg/g Cu (II) and 28.626 mg/g Ni (II) biomass, respectively. All results showed that peanut shells biomass is an attractive, alternative low-cost bio sorbent for removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous media, therefore biomass materials find good application prospects.

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Background: In Multiple Sclerosis, more efficient disease modifying treatment (DMT) are often accompanied by higher risks and side effects. Selecting the optimal DMT demands from patients and doctors therefore a complex decision-making process weighing risks and benefits. Patients and doctors often prefer to share responsibility when making these treatment decisions, but this shared decision-making model requests decision-making competence on both sides. The aim of our online study was to investigate whether patients’ decision-making competence relates to DMT selection. Method: 197 patients participated in the online survey, advertised by two patient organizations. Patients reported their DMT and who decided for or against a DMT: their neurologist, themselves, or both. We measured decision-making competence with two tasks from the Adult Decision-Making Competence Battery (A-DMC), the ability to follow decision rules and the consistency of risk perception. Perceived impairment of the disease was measured with Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS). Results: The ability to follow decision rules varied with the potency of the DMT. Patients receiving basic DMT were better able to follow decision rules compared to patients receiving medium DMT. Patients who did not take any DMT stated more frequently that this decision was their own choice and independent of their doctor’s advice. Conclusions: If patients without DMT decided against this treatment on their own behalf, doctors and caregivers potentially have to strengthen their effort to reach out to the patient and to ensure the decision is well taken.

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Diagnosis and choice of therapeutic rational tactics in patients with closed pancreatic injuries still remain and actual problem of urgent abdominal surgery. The results of treatment of 70 patients with pancreatic injuries being treated in a surgical department of RSCUMA of Uzbekistan Public Health and its branches during 2009-20021 with analyzed. Intraoperative inspection of omental bursa is still a single reliable method to reveal injuries to the pancreas. Depending on the character and localization the differ following kinds of surgical treatment of pancreatic injuries were used: based on adequate drainage of the impaired zone; removal of lifeless pancreatic tissues; restoration of passage or rational derivation of pancreatic juice. It is necessary to underline that in all cases of pancreatic injuries antisecretory, antianzymatic, antibacterial and desintoxicating therapy must be carried out.

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The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has affected the whole world causing the lives of many victims. Africa has recorded more than a million cases and Cameroon around 18,600 cases (August 2020) since the first case was notified. The rapid spread of this disease, (among other factors), could have contributed to create a situation of fear and stigma among affected populations. It is, therefore, necessary to identify the characteristics of this stigma and its effect on the case management of this disease.

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Dasatinib is an orally bioavailable second generation TKI, more potent than imatinib. Bone marrow aplasia or hypoplasia secondary to TKI therapy is an uncommon adverse event. We report here the first case of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase shortly treated with dasatinib that developed a prolonged bone marrow hypoplasia with concomitant response on the hematological disease with gradual improvement of the cytogenetic and molecular response after dasatinib discontinuation, without use of any other TKI therapy.

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Erdhein-chester disease is a rare non-Langerhans histocytes that can involve multiple systems, with bone involvement as the most common. We reports a 39-year-old female who visited the hospital due to pain in both lower limbs, combined with clinical manifestations, imaging, and laboratory tests, Erdhein-Chester disease was prelimi narily diagnosed. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of BRAF V600E mutation and tissue cells on biopsy of the right tibia. We discussed the disease based on literature review, aiming to improve the understanding of clinicians.

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Blastomycosis is known for its propensity to mimic other illnesses, which often leads to incorrect or delayed treatment. Here we present a case report of a patient working in Wisconsin who was misdiagnosed as Tuberculosis since he was an Indian. The patient was not evaluated on endemic grounds for Blastomyces where he was working for couple of years. After he developed skin lesions along with increased shortness of breath, lesions were evaluated which showed large yeast cells resembling Blastomyces. The treating pulmonologist evaluated his occupational history and was revealed with endemicity for Blastomyces.

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The aim of this study was to measure the treatment efficiency of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) patients by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), as a novel method with an output minimizing model. Urinary stone disease is a frequent problem with increasing prevalence in recent years. Depending on the location and size, the treatment of renal stone 2 cm or more is surgical and PNL. In this context, a retrospective study in which 154 patients with kidney stones over 2 cm was conducted.

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Home water treatment is considered an effective intervention in reducing the burden of waterborne diseases in developing countries. This study aims to study the factors associated with the appropriate treatment of water in the semi-urban area of Dakar in Senegal.

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