Annals of medicine
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The present study aimed to construct and validate a Swedish translation (VVAS-S) of the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale (VVAS). ⋯ The VVAS-S was found to be comparable to the original VVAS in terms of internal reliability. The translation was perceived as easy to implement by all participants and can be considered ready for clinical use in a Swedish-speaking setting. Item-specific correlations may be valuable for developing future vertigo questionnaires.Key messagesThe Swedish version of the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale is a questionnaire suitable for evaluating visually induced dizziness in a Swedish population. This study found that the Swedish questionnaire was comparable to the original in terms of internal consistency. The Swedish Visual vertigo Analogue Scale can be found as an appendix to this article.
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Hypokalaemia is a side-effect of diuretics. We aimed to use machine learning to identify features predicting hypokalaemia risk in hypertensive patients. ⋯ Our predictive model based on the random forest algorithm performed best among the tested and evaluated five algorithms. Hypokalaemia-associated key features have been identified in hypertensive patients and the subgroup with CVD. These findings from machine learning facilitate the development of artificial intelligence to highlight hypokalaemia risk in hypertension patients.
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Poor quality and inadequate of antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy may increase the risk of preventable adverse pregnancy outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that the adequacy of ANC utilization combined with quality of ANC services will reduce the risk of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (P T D) in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana. ⋯ Individually and jointly, inadequate ANC contacts and content associatedsignificantly with preterm delivery than LBW.Key messagesLimited evidence exists on the joint effect of ANC services timing, contacts and content on adverse pregnancy outcomes.Total adherence to recommended ANC initiation, attendance and receipt of essential services had greater protection against PTD and LBW, compared to any single element/component of ANCWomen who had adequate overall ANC services utilization in terms of timing, contacts and content were 71 % protected from PTD, AOR = 0.29 (95 % CI: 0.15, 0.59) and 56 % protection from LBW AOR = 0.44 (95 % CI: 0.23, 0.83).
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The purpose of this study was to explore the changes in blood cellular and biochemical parameters of rats in a natural environment of low pressure and low oxygen on the plateau. ⋯ 1. The indexes related to red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and some biochemical indexes in the blood of rats at high altitude have changed. 2. Under the high altitude environment, the oxygen carrying capacity of SD rats is improved, the resistance to disease may be reduced, the coagulation and hemostasis functions may be affected, and there is a risk of bleeding. The liver function, renal function, heart function and skeletal muscle energy metabolism may be affected. 3. This study can provide an experimental basis for the research on the pathogenesis of high-altitude diseases from the perspective of blood.KEY MESSAGESIn this study, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and blood biochemical indicators were included in the real plateau environment to comprehensively analyze the changes of blood cellular and biochemical parameters in rats under the chronic plateau hypobaric hypoxia environment.From the perspective of blood, this study can provide an experimental basis for research on the pathogenesis of high-altitude diseases.Explore the data support of oxygen-carrying capacity, disease resistance and energy metabolism of the body in the natural environment at high altitude.
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Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction (SMYAD) is a conventional therapeutic formula for treat thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), consisting of four Chinese herbs: Lonicerae japonicae Thunb. (Jinyinhua), Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (Xuanshen), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Gancao). However, the mechanism of SMYAD in TAO treatment remains unclear. ⋯ This study showed that SMYAD improves TAO symptoms and inhibits the development of TAO. The mechanism could be associated with anti-inflammatory and therapeutic angiogenesis.