Στην βιολογία, το περιβάλλον μπορεί να καθοριστεί σαν ενα σύνολο κλιματικών, βιοτικών, κοινωνικών και εδαφικών παραγόντων που δρουν σε έναν οργανισμό και καθορίζουν την ανάπτυξη και την επιβίωση του. Έτσι, περιλαμβάνει οτιδήποτε μπορεί να επηρεάσει άμεσα τον μεταβολισμό ή τη συμπεριφορά των ζωντανών οργανισμών ή ειδών, όπως το φως, ο αέρας, το νερό, το έδαφος και άλλοι παράγοντες. Δείτε επίσης το άρθρο για το φυσικό περιβάλλον και τη φυσική επιλογή.
Στην αρχιτεκτονική, την εργονομία και την ασφάλεια στην εργασία, περιβάλλον είναι το σύνολο των χαρακτηριστικών ενός δωματίου ή κτιρίου που επηρεάζουν την ποιότητα ζωής και την αποδοτικότητα, περιλαμβανομένων των διαστάσεων και της διαρρύθμισης των χώρων διαβίωσης και της επίπλωσης, του φωτισμού, του αερισμού, της θερμοκρασίας, του θορύβου κλπ. Επίσης μπορεί να αναφέρεται στο σύνολο των δομικών κατασκευών. Δείτε επίσης το άρθρο για το δομημένο περιβάλλον.
Στην ψυχολογία, περιβαλλοντισμός είναι η θεωρία ότι το περιβάλλον (με τη γενική και κοινωνική έννοια) παίζει μεγαλύτερο ρόλο από την κληρονομικότητα καθορίζοντας την ανάπτυξη ενός ατόμου. Συγκεκριμένα, το περιβάλλον είναι ένας σημαντικός παράγοντας πολλών ψυχολογικών θεωριών.
Στην τέχνη, το περιβάλλον αποτελεί κινητήριο μοχλό και μούσα εμπνέοντας τους ζωγράφους ή τους ποιητές. Σε όλες τις μορφές της Τέχνης αποτελεί έμπνευση και οι Καλές Τέχνες φανερώνουν την επιρροή οπού άσκησε σε όλους τους καλλιτέχνες με όποιο είδος Τέχνης κι αν ασχολούνται. Ο άνθρωπος μέσα στο περιβάλλον δημιουργεί Μουσική, Ζωγραφική, Ποίηση, Γλυπτική, χορό, τραγούδι, θέατρο, αλλά και όλες οι μορφές τέχνης έχουν άμεση έμπνευση από το περιβάλλον.

Τρίτη 31 Μαΐου 2022

Solitary Splenic Metastasis From Endometrial Carcinoma Revealed on FDG PET/CT

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imageSolitary splenic metastasis from endometrial carcinoma is rare. We report a case of imaging findings of solitary splenic metastasis in a 53-year-old woman who underwent resection surgery of endometrial carcinoma of uterus 1 year ago. On FDG PET/CT, it presented as a solitary soft tissue mass with an SUVmax of 18.44. The postoperative pathology supported metastasis from endometrial carcinoma.
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Combined 18F-FDG PET/CT Radiomics and Sarcopenia Score in Predicting Relapse-Free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients With Esophagogastric Cancer

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imagePurpose The aim of this study was to determine if radiomic features combined with sarcopenia measurements on pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT can improve outcome prediction in surgically treated adenocarcinoma esophagogastric cancer patients. Patients and Methods One hundred forty-five esophageal adenocarcinoma patients with curative therapeutic intent and available pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. Textural features from PET and CT images were evaluated using LIFEx software (lifexsoft.org). Sarcopenia measurements were done by measuring the Skeletal Muscle Index at L3 level on the CT component. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to create a model including the radiomic parameters, clinical features, and Skeletal Muscle Index score to predict patients' outcome. Results In multivariable analysis, we combined clinicopathological parameters including ECOG, surgical T, and N staging along with imaging derived sarcopenia measurements and radiomic features to build a predictor model for relapse-free survival and overall survival. Overall, adding sarcopenic status to the model with clinical features only (likelihood ratio test P = 0.03) and CT feature (P = 0.0037) improved the model fit for overall survival. Similarly, adding sarcopenic status (P = 0.051), CT feature (P = 0.042), and PET feature (P = 0.011) improved the model fit for relapse-free survival. Conclusions PET and CT radiomics derived from combined PET/CT integrated with clinicopathological parameters and sarcopenia measurement might improve outcome prediction in patients with nonmetastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma.
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Adherence Of Candida Albicans to Five Long‐Term Silicone‐Based Denture Lining Materials Bonded to CAD‐CAM Denture Base

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Abstract

Purpose

: Knowledge about quantifying the number as well as the retention and adhesion of Candida albicans blastoconidia to silicone denture liners is limited. Thus, the aim of this in vitro study was to explore the adherence of Candida albicans to the surface of five long-term silicone-based soft denture lining materials, using artificial saliva.

Materials & Methods

A total of 50 specimens (10 × 10 × 3 mm) of five long-term resilient liners (Molloplast-B; GC Reline Soft; Elite Soft Relining; Tokuyama Sofreliner S; Ufigel SC), bonded to a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing denture base, were prepared. The specimens were inoculated and incubated in artificial saliva for 1h and 24h with a standardized (2.8 × 106 cfu/ml) Candida albicans suspension. At the end of the incubation period, the specimens were stained with acridine orange and observed, using fluorescence microscopy.

Results

: After 1h and in 24h, Molloplast B demonstrated significantly earlier adherence of Candida albicans cells compared to the other chairside materials (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), where the mean number of cells also increased in the frontal parts. Regarding the rate of Candida albicans proliferation from 1h to 24 hours within the materials, there was an increase in all materials (Molloplast B: p<0.001; GC Reline Soft: p = 0.220; Elite Soft Relining: p = 0.032; Tokuyama Sofreliner S: p = 0.001; Ufigel Sc: p = 0.001). The Ufigel Sc showed a significant 2.5-fold increase at 24h.

Conclusions

: Long-term silicone denture liners accumulate a significant amount of Candida albicans blastoconidia and their coverage by them increases progressively over time.

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Development and validation of the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit (FAAT): A multidimensional nonstigmatizing measure of contemporary attitudes toward fatness and fat people

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Abstract

Many instruments recommended for measuring attitudes toward fatness and "obesity" were developed in the 1990s, a time when the "obesity epidemic" was gaining momentum and anti-fat rhetoric was normative. Consequently, these instruments have tended to focus on assessing negative appraisals of fatness and fat people and reinforce weight stigma. As fat discourse has matured and expanded to incorporate fat positive attitudes, a nonstigmatizing way of measuring contemporary fat attitudes and beliefs in quantitative research is required. To address this need, we developed the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit (FAAT). In this article, we describe the development of the FAAT and provide initial evidence for the scale's validity and psychometric properties across three studies. Study 1 included a systematic process for developing the extensive item pool that was reviewed by subject matter experts and a community panel. We explored and identified an initial multidimensional structure for the FAAT. Study 2 expanded and confirmed the factor structure with additional analyses in an independent sample and provided evidence for the overall reliability of the subscale scores and reliability as a function of gender and identification as fat. Construct and criterion validity of the subscale scores were also demonstrated. Study 3 provided evidence for the test-retest reliability of the FAAT subscales scores over time. The FAAT includes nine robust scales: Empathy, Activism Orientation, Size Acceptance, Attractiveness, Critical Health, General Complexity, Socioeconomic Complexity, Responsibility, and Body Acceptance. Specific subscales can be combined to form two composite measures: Fat Acceptance and Attribution Complexity. The scales that comprise the FAAT measure specific elements of attitudes towards fat people that are frequently targeted in weight stigma reduction research and activism; the FAAT thus offers a powerful and precise method for evaluating weight stigma reduction interventions that allows for an assessment of shifts toward more positive attitudes.

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Δευτέρα 30 Μαΐου 2022

Experimental method for haplotype phasing across the entire length of chromosome 21 in trisomy 21 cells using a chromosome elimination technique

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Resource utilization and secondary overtriage for patients with traumatic renal injuries in a regional trauma system

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imageBACKGROUND While renal trauma management has shifted to conservative nonoperative management, insufficient data exist to guide interhospital renal trauma transfer protocols. Secondary overtriage is defined as the potentially avoidable transfer of patients from a lower to a higher-level trauma center despite the lack of need for higher-level care. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of secondary overtriage in renal trauma patients to a level 1 trauma center. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed of all renal trauma patients transferred to a level 1 institution between 2005 and 2017. Secondary overtriage was defined as a potentially avoidable transfer that consisted of hospital stay
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The public health burden of geriatric trauma: Analysis of 2,688,008 hospitalizations from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient claims

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imageBACKGROUND Geriatric trauma care (GTC) represents an increasing proportion of injury care, but associated public health research on outcomes and expenditures is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe GTC characteristics, location, diagnoses, and expenditures. METHODS Patients at short-term nonfederal hospitals, 65 years or older, with ≥1 injury International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, were selected from 2016 to 2019 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Inpatient Standard Analytical Files. Trauma center levels were linked to Inpatient Standard Analytical Files data via American Hospital Association Hospital ID and fuzzy string matching. Demographics, care location, diagnoses, and expenditures were compared across groups. RESULTS A total of 2,688,008 hospitalizations (62% female; 90% White; 71% falls; mean Injury Severity Score, 6.5) from 3,286 hospitals were included, comprising 8.5% of all Medicare inpatient hospitalizations. Level I centers encompassed 7.2% of the institutions (n = 236) but 21.2% of hospitalizations, while nontrauma centers represented 58.5% of institutions (n = 1,923) and 37.7% of hospitalizations. Compared with nontrauma centers, patients at Level I centers had higher Elixhauser scores (9.0 vs. 8.8) and Injury Severity Score (7.4 vs. 6.0; p
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Factors associated with limitation of care after fatal injury

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imageBACKGROUND There is variability in end-of-life care of trauma patients. Many survive resuscitation but die after limitation of care (LoC). This study investigated LoC at a level I center. METHODS Adult trauma deaths between January 2016 and June 2020 were reviewed. Patients were stratified into "full code" versus any LoC (i.e., do not resuscitate, no escalation, or withdrawal of care) and by timing to LoC. Emergency department and "brain" deaths were excluded. Unadjusted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used for analyses. Results include n (%) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with α = 0.05. RESULTS A total of 173 patients were included; 15 patients (8%) died full code and 158 (91%) died after LoC. Seventy-seven patients (48%) underwent incremental LoC. Age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08; p = 0.0010) and female sex (OR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.01–13.64; p = 0.0487) increased the odds of LoC; number of anatomic injuries (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85–0.98; p = 0.0146), chest injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score chest, >3) (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01–0.26; p = 0.0021), extremity injury (AIS score, >3) (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.64; p = 0.0170), and hospital complications equal to 1 (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06–0.78; p = 0.0201) or ≥2 (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.87; p = 0.0319) decreased the odds of LoC. For those having LoC, final limitations were implemented in
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Κυριακή 29 Μαΐου 2022

Prenatal exposure to phthalate and decreased body mass index of children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Carglumic acid in methylmalonic acidemia: Use of breast milk as an alternative vehicle to water

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Carglumic acid in methylmalonic acidemia: Use of breast milk as an alternative vehicle to water

We aim to report the use of breast milk (BM) as an alternative vehicle in a neonate with methylmalonic acidemia rejecting carglumic acid (NCG) diluted in water. The patient presented symptomatic acidemia and hyperammonemia and after refusal of oral NCG administration, the clinician consulted the Pharmacy Department for advice. Data sheet of NCG does not recommend administration in other vehicle than water. Consequently, a dissolution test was conducted in BM showing correct dissolution. The solution was well tolerated, and plasma ammonium concentrations remained within range in subsequent analytical controls.


Abstract

What Is Known and Objective

Carbaglu® or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) is not recommended for administration in a vehicle other than water. We aim to report the use of breast milk (BM) as an alternative vehicle in a neonate rejecting NCG diluted in water.

Case Summary

A neonate diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia presented symptomatology of acidemia and hyperammonemia. After the patient refused oral NCG administration, a dissolution test was conducted in BM showing correct dissolution. The NCG-BM solution was tolerated and plasma ammonium concentrations remained within range in subsequent analytical controls.

What Is New and Conclusion

BM as a vehicle for NCG is a safe and effective option for patients who refuse suspension in water and could lead to better treatment compliance in paediatric patients.

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