TheScientificWorldJournal
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Study of the genetics of the malignant hyperthermia syndrome began in families in which both malignant hyperthermia (MH) episodes had been experienced and individuals had strongly positive contracture tests diagnostic of susceptibility to MH. Linkage studies associated this MH phenotype to the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1) at chromosome 19q13.1 in many families. ⋯ Other candidate genes exist, but few MH-susceptible families have variants of these genes. Hundreds of MH-susceptible people have variants of RYR1.
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TheScientificWorldJournal · Jan 2006
ReviewHubble bubble equals trouble: the hazards of water pipe smoking.
A Narghile, one of the names for a water pipe, is an instrument for tobacco smoking that has became a trend among the youth in Israel. The mistaken opinion that smoking a Narghile is not as dangerous as smoking cigarettes makes the youngsters and their parents take it lightly and contributes to the expansion of its use. ⋯ The health hazards that the Narghile smoker is exposed to include interference with oxidation, damage to genetic compounds, increased risk of developing malignancies, infectious diseases, damage to the fetus and newborn, and exposure to commonly abused chemicals. It is concluded that increased awareness of the expanded use of the Narghile is imperative and education programs about the prevention of cigarette smoking and substance abuse should also include Narghile smoking.
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Empathy is the ability to experience and understand what others feel without confusion between oneself and others. Knowing what someone else is feeling plays a fundamental role in interpersonal interactions. ⋯ Furthermore, awareness of a distinction between the experiences of the self and others constitutes a crucial aspect of empathy. We discuss data from recent behavioral and functional neuroimaging studies with an emphasis on the perception of pain in others, and highlight the role of different neural mechanisms that underpin the experience of empathy, including emotion sharing, perspective taking, and emotion regulation.
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TheScientificWorldJournal · Jan 2006
ReviewPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and shock state.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors that are related to retinoid, steroid, and thyroid hormone receptors. Three isotypes of PPARs have been identified: alpha, beta/delta, and gamma, encoded by different genes and distributed in various tissues. ⋯ Moreover, PPARs modulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of immune cells. This review presents the current state of knowledge regarding the involvement of PPARs in the control of inflammatory response, and their potential therapeutic applications in several types of shock, as well as hemorrhagic, septic, and nonseptic shock.
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TheScientificWorldJournal · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyTherapeutical intervention, relaxation, mental images, and spirituality (RIME) for spiritual pain in terminal patients. A training program.
Therapeutic intervention involving the technique of Relaxation, Mental Images, and Spirituality (RIME) can foster the redefinition of spiritual pain in terminal patients. A training course was developed to instruct health care professionals in its use, and the results were followed up by evaluating reactions of professionals to its use in intervention with patients. Six subjects (a nurse, a doctor, three psychologists, and an alternative therapist), all skilled in palliative care, were invited to take part in the experience. ⋯ The analysis of the nature of spiritual pain revealed 6 categories and 11 subcategories. The administration of RIME revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001), i.e., patients reported a greater level of well-being at the end than at the beginning of sessions, which suggests that RIME led to the redefinition of spiritual pain for these terminal patients. The training program proposed has shown itself to be effective in preparing health care professionals for the use of RIME intervention.