RESUMEN

Lymphedema following surgical treatment for breast cancer can impair balance and predispose patients to falling. Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) Scale is a reliable and valid tool which can identify persons with different balance levels, but its responsiveness has not been investigated in patients with lymphedema secondary to breast surgery. Thirty women with stage 2 lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment received complex decongestive therapy (CDT) for 2 weeks as a routine treatment method. They were evaluated with FAB Scale and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), volumetric measurements and circumferential measurements of the upper limbs before and after CDT. A moderate change was found in FAB score after CDT (Cohen's effect size = 0.65). For FAB, the computed standard error of the mean was 0.85 and minimal detectable change was 2.33. Significant improvement in FAB score and TUGT results, and significant reductions in circumferential and volumetric measurements were seen after 2 weeks of CDT. The FAB score change showed a moderate correlation with circumference change and volumetric change (r = -0.41) but a very weak correlation with TUGT change (r = -0.1). The FAB Scale showed acceptable responsiveness in detecting treatment effects in patients with unilateral secondary lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.

Asunto(s)

Pesos y Medidas Corporales/métodos , Linfedema del Cáncer de Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/complicaciones , Adulto , Brazo/patología , Pesos y Medidas Corporales/normas , Linfedema del Cáncer de Mama/etiología , Linfedema del Cáncer de Mama/terapia , Neoplasias de la Mama/cirugía , Estudios Transversales , Descompresión/métodos , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tamaño de los Órganos , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del Tratamiento

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Infectious keratitis is a serious ocular infection that can lead to severe visual impairment and blindness. Bacterial pathogens are responsible for nearly half of infectious keratitis cases. This study was performed to determine the virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and biofilm formation ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from corneal infections. METHODS: A total of 56 corneal scraping samples were collected over 8 months. P. aeruginosa and staphylococcal strains were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Determination of multidrug resistance was performed according to its definition of multidrug resistance (MDR). Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes and determinants of virulence were also performed using standard procedures. Biofilm formation ability of the isolates was determined by colorimetric microtitration plate assay and Modified Congo red agar (MCRA). RESULTS: In the present study, P. aeruginosa, MSSA, MRSA, MS-CoNS and MR-CoNS strains were isolated from corneal infections. Multidrug resistance was observed in 42.9% and 57.1% of P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp., respectively. The most frequent virulence genes among P. aeruginosa strains were exoA and exoS (100%) followed by exoU (71.4%) and lasB (28.6%). All the P. aeruginosa isolates were biofilm producers and carried the algD gene (100%). All staphylococcal strains were negative for pvl gene amplification. Biofilm formation was also observed in 4 (57.1%) isolates. Both icaA and icaD genes were detected in the biofilm producers. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp. were the most prevalent bacterial agents that cause corneal infections. However, their virulence traits and biofilm formation ability were noteworthy.

Asunto(s)

Biopelículas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Úlcera de la Córnea/microbiología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple , Infecciones Bacterianas del Ojo/microbiología , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/fisiología , Staphylococcus/fisiología , Factores de Virulencia/análisis , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Biopelículas/efectos de los fármacos , Úlcera de la Córnea/tratamiento farmacológico , ADN Bacteriano/análisis , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Infecciones Bacterianas del Ojo/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Irán , Queratitis/tratamiento farmacológico , Queratitis/microbiología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/microbiología , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genética , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/aislamiento & purificación , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/patogenicidad , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Staphylococcus/genética , Staphylococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Staphylococcus/patogenicidad , Factores de Virulencia/genética

RESUMEN

Reducing cognitive decline in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) may slow their progression to develop dementia. In this 12-week single-arm intervention trial, elderly patients (n = 127, age 70.69 +/-10.53, 63% female) with a diagnosis of MCI were enrolled in a multi-disciplinary Brain Fitness Program. The main outcome measure was changes in a battery of 10 cognitive domains. Each patient received weekly personalized cognitive stimulation, neurofeedback training, and brain coaching/counseling for eating a Mediterranean diet, taking omega-3 supplements, increasing fitness, and practicing mindfulness meditation. The post-program testing showed 84% of the patients experienced statistically significant improvements in their cognitive function (p< 0.05). Among the random sample of 17 patients who had a post-program quantitative MRI, 12 patients had either no atrophy or an actual growth above the baseline volume of their hippocampus. These preliminary findings support the concept that a personalized Brain Fitness Program can improve cognitive function and either reverse or grow the volume of hippocampus in elderly with MCI.

RESUMEN

Chemical analyses, magnetization, Mössbauer spectrum, and x-ray diffraction measurements were made on solids removed from tap water by means of membrane filters. The taps from which this water was obtained had previously been unused for prolonged periods of time. When these taps were reactivated and water was first drawn, it was observed that the quantity of coarse solids in the water gradually decreased with flow, while at the same time the quantity of fine solids gradually increased. The magnetization, Mössbauer spectra, and x-ray diffraction patterns of the solids showed the presence of a significant number of superparamagnetic particles of magnetite. In the temperature range of our measurements (77 K

Asunto(s)

Metales/análisis , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Abastecimiento de Agua/análisis , Agua/química , Arsénico/análisis , Cobre/análisis , Corrosión , Óxido Ferrosoférrico , Filtración/métodos , Plomo/análisis , Magnetismo , Nanopartículas del Metal/análisis , Tamaño de la Partícula , Espectroscopía de Mossbauer , Difracción de Rayos X