Arch Med Sci
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The cause of a significant number of miscarriages remains unexplained. There is a need to identify the potential role of environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors in the risk of pregnancy loss. The present study was the first to investigate the content of miscarried embryonic material with respect to eight metals (aluminium, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc). ⋯ This study identified increased levels of aluminum, cadmium and lead in miscarried embryonic material and suggests some causative factors.
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The aim was to devise an animal model showing some of the neuropathological changes seen in senile dementia, and to investigate the effect of celastrol on cognition neuropathology in this model. ⋯ Sev/DM rats showed cognitive and neurochemical changes similar to those seen in senile dementia. Celastrol decreased these changes and should be evaluated further as a possible clinical agent in dementia.
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Tularemia and spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFG) can be transmitted by ticks and have a number of common clinical symptoms. Most characteristic are a maculopapular or vesicular rash or an eschar at the site of the tick or insect bite accompanied by painful lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to determine whether Rickettsia spp./Francisella tularensis mixed infections occurred in patients with similar symptoms who were diagnosed with either Rickettsia spp. or F. tularensis infection. ⋯ The results of our study show that in infections with fever, enlarged lymph nodes and skin lesions after tick and insect bites, laboratory testing of both diseases - SFG rickettsiosis and tularemia - should be implemented. Identification of F. tularensis and Rickettsia spp. mixed infections is crucial in order to administer appropriate antibiotics and to avoid treatment failure and relapse.
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More than 1/3 of patients with end-stage renal disease who are in a chronic dialysis program suffer from chronic pain and depression/anxiety. The aim of the study was to determine the impacts of symptoms of depression/anxiety, chronic pain and quality of life (QoL) on 6-year patient survival. ⋯ Chronic pain, although common among hemodialysis patients, did not lower survival. Depressive symptoms are an important predictor for all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients, with the relationship independent of nutritional or inflammatory status.
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Insufficient wound healing related to chronic inflammation of chronic venous leg ulcers (CVUs) represents an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a carbohydrate polymer with zinc oxide therapy on CVUs. ⋯ The carbohydrate polymer with zinc oxide treatment with venous compression enhances healing of CVUs and improves quality of life due, in part, to its anti-inflammatory properties.