Articles Related to disease

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a widely used technique for the rapid, accurate, durable, economical, and trustworthy method for identification of bacteria, mycobacteria and fungal pathogens in the microbiology laboratory.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Cardiac myxoma are the most common primary heart tumor. It accounts for 40-50% of primary cardiac tumor. Approximately 75% occurs in left atrium and 15-20% in right atrium. Myxoma are usually polypoid, pedunculated lesion with smooth surface covered with thrombus. Most common site of attachment is at the border of fossa ovalis in left atrium but it can occur in any part of atrial wall. Symptoms are produced because of mechanical obstruction with cardiac blood flow, tumor embolization and constitutional symptoms due to increased expressions of IL-6. Echocardiography is the best diagnostic modality to localise the tumor. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment of myxoma present in any location.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Using kinetic differential equations and the Runge-Kutt algorithm, an analysis of the pathological processes occurring in the course of Alzherimer’s disease was carried out. Thanks to the appropriately selected kinetic equations, the presented model allows to explain the time course of the growth of pathological proteins: beta-amyloid and tau protein and the related loss of nerve cells. The model is based on previous experimental knowledge of Alzherimer’s diseas and is in good agreement with the experimental data.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a puzzling clinical entity, coupled with potential multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, often makes disease classification, investigation and management difficult. Despite presence of myocardial damage and increased risk for the future, many patients are discharged undiagnosed, thus the specific cause is not effectively treated.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Therapeutic response to anti-TNF antibody treatment in inflammatory bowel diseases is strongly influenced by transmembrane tumor necrosis factor (mTNF) expression in the intestinal mucosa. Fluorescent anti-TNF antibodies applied for in vivo molecular endoscopy have shown to be able to quantify mucosal mTNF expression in real-time and predict response to subsequent anti-TNF treatment in individual patients with Crohn’s.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that affects patients’ lung function and thus exercise tolerance. Elderly patients have shown to have more severe and long-term symptoms after contracting COVID-19. Limited evidence has been published on the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme for elderly patients recovered from COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study was to launch and evaluate the effectiveness of a communitybased cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Paget’s bone disease (PBD) is a benign tumor of osteoclasts. We report a case of an isolated temporal bone’s Paget disease with unusual evolution to a rapidly functional degradation of vestibulocochlear system. A 60 years old female was admitted for an isolated, left sided mastoid tumefaction without any inflammatory signs. Initial temporal bone computed tomography (CT) showed a left cotton wool appearance without any ossicles lesion or vestibulocochlear extension. Anatomo pathological tests confirmed the diagnosis. The outcome was marked by the occurrence of vestibulocochlear symptoms. Treatment had consisted on subtotal surgery in combination with oral bisphosphonate with improvement of her clinical conditions. The post operative’s follow-up was simple without any abnormalities. PBD of temporal bone is a benign disorder. Imaging is considered the most useful diagnosis modality for revealing the disorder that will be confirmed by histological tests. The treatment is based on medical approaches and surgery has few indications.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

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.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

This study was proposed to assess the distribution and importance of citrus leaf and fruit spot disease in North Western Ethiopia. The result showed that on sweet orange the prevalence of the disease was ranged from (0 to 100 %). Disease incidence was ranged from (0 to 86.48 %), and from (0 to100 %) on leaves and fruits, respectively. Disease severity was ranged from (0 to 24.18%) on leaves, and from (0 to 73.0 %) on fruits. Correlation analysis was carried out for both disease incidence and severity as response variables and altitude, average daily temperature, mean annual rainfall and tree age as predictor variables. Linear correlation was detected only between mean annual rainfall and disease severity and incidence of leaves and fruits. The regression analysis result indicated that mean annual rain fall has a significant effect over disease severity and incidence of leaves and fruits at (P ≤ 0.05).

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Autoimmune Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular junction disease caused by destruction of the acetylcholine receptor on the postsynaptic membrane, mediated by autoantibodies and clinically characterized by skeletal muscle weakness. This can be triggered by drugs, infections, and in rare cases by vaccines. During the COVID pandemic, de novo cases and exacerbations of myasthenia gravis due to viral infection have been documented. Although few cases related to COVID vaccination. A 69-year-old female patient with blurred vision, a clinic that began 10 days later after receiving first dose of COVID vaccine, and diplopia and right palpebral ptosis after the second dose, 30 days later. In the examination, Edrophonium test was clearly positive, treatment with pyridostigmine and prednisone was started and after 14 days the clinic showed improvement until the resolution of the symptoms There are few reports of exacerbations or triggers for the appearance of myasthenia gravis, a series of 27 cases has been published where there are outbreaks of immune-mediated diseases or the new appearance of autoimmune diseases, in which it is observed that the time of appearance of the outbreak was on average 4 days up to a maximum of 25 days. In conclusion, Myasthenia gravis is a rare complication of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. Its potential severity and the current lack of knowledge of the real incidence after vaccination makes it necessary to maintain an attitude of vigilance in the face of symptoms that suggest it.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

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.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

Candida infections of the gastrointestinal tract are rare and perforation caused by Candida infections is extremely rare. Herein, we present a case of duodenal perforation where laboratory culture revealed the growth of a fungus, Candida and the absence of H. pylori from a 51-year-old female who presented with an upper abdominal pain while performing her religious obligation in the month of Ramadan. The results suggest emergency exploratory laparotomy and the perforation discovered was repaired through omental patching. An antifungal agent, Fluconazole, was administered.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

The emergency committee said the spread of COVID-19 can be halted through early detection, isolation, prompt treatment and implementation of a robust contact traceability system.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text

The application of electronic-nose (E-nose) technologies in forensic science is a recent new development following a long history of progress in the development of diverse applications in the related biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Data from forensic analyses must satisfy the needs and requirements of both the scientific and legal communities. The type of data collected from electronic-nose devices provides a means of identifying specific types of information about the chemical nature of evidentiary objects and samples under investigation using aroma signature profiles of complex gaseous mixtures containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from manufactured products and parts of the human body. E-nose analyses also provide useful qualitative information about the physicochemical characteristics and metabolic conditions of human subjects without the need for time-consuming analyses to identify all chemical components in human-derived volatile mixtures.

View complete article: PDF  |  Full-text