COVID-19 is a multisystem disease that can cause various symptoms which last even after the acute stage and negatively impact the quality of life of patients. It is of utmost importance to comprehensively evaluate how...COVID-19 is a multisystem disease that can cause various symptoms which last even after the acute stage and negatively impact the quality of life of patients. It is of utmost importance to comprehensively evaluate how COVID-19 affects not only patients’ physical and mental health, but also their family and social life. This knowledge plays a significant role in the creation of effective ways to assist those suffering from long COVID to address health-related quality of life issues in a timely manner.展开更多
Protein-based therapeutics (PPTs) are drugs used to treat a variety of different conditions in the human body by alleviating enzymatic deficiencies, augmenting other proteins and drugs, modulating signal pathways, and...Protein-based therapeutics (PPTs) are drugs used to treat a variety of different conditions in the human body by alleviating enzymatic deficiencies, augmenting other proteins and drugs, modulating signal pathways, and more. However, many PPTs struggle from a short half-life due to degradation caused by irreversible protein aggregation in the bloodstream. Currently, the most researched strategies for improving the efficiency and longevity of PPTs are post-translational modifications (PTMs). The goal of our research was to determine which type of PTM increases longevity the most for each of three commonly-used therapeutic proteins by comparing the docking scores (DS) and binding free energies (BFE) from protein aggregation and reception simulations. DS and BFE values were used to create a quantitative index that outputs a relative number from −1 to 1 to show reduced performance, no change, or increased performance. Results showed that methylation was the most beneficial for insulin (p < 0.1) and human growth hormone (p < 0.0001), and both phosphorylation and methylation were somewhat optimal for erythropoietin (p < 0.1 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Acetylation consistently provided the worst benefits with the most negative indices, while methylation had the most positive indices throughout. However, PTM efficacy varied between PPTs, supporting previous studies regarding how each PTM can confer different benefits based on the unique structures of recipient proteins.展开更多
Banana (Musa spp.) is a highly perishable fruit that requires special handling. In Eritrea, post-harvest handling practices are characterized to be poor and as a result, poor fruit quality and high post-harvest loss a...Banana (Musa spp.) is a highly perishable fruit that requires special handling. In Eritrea, post-harvest handling practices are characterized to be poor and as a result, poor fruit quality and high post-harvest loss are common. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different post-harvest handling and ripening methods on quality and shelf-life of banana. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used for evaluating a combination of two levels of post-harvest handling and four ripening methods in a factorial combination conducted in the laboratory of Horticulture at Hamelmalo Agricultural College. Peel colour change, physiological weight loss, pulp to peel ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), pulp pH, ripening period and shelf life were parameters studied. The results showed fruits treated with ripened tomato showed improved characteristics in all parameters compared to those treated with smoke from kerosene burning or mixed with moringa leaf. Similarly, fruits brought directly from the farm were better than those collected from the ripening room after passing the conventional post-harvest handling. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that ripening of banana with the help of tomato improves fruit quality and shelf life. Thus, it can be a safe and better alternative to smoking from kerosene burning. While moringa leaf has no potential as an alternative.展开更多
Background: Nowadays, a substantial number of women spend more than one-third of their lives in the postmenopausal period. It is characterized by a marked decrease in the production of estrogen, which leads to urogeni...Background: Nowadays, a substantial number of women spend more than one-third of their lives in the postmenopausal period. It is characterized by a marked decrease in the production of estrogen, which leads to urogenital atrophy. The symptoms stemming from vulvovaginal atrophy and the lower urinary tract are currently referred to as the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), which can have a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). Estrogen replacement is the ideal treatment for GSM, and vaginal administration is the most recommended. Objective: To assess the impact of the use of topical vaginal estriol on the quality of life (QoL) of postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: This is an interventional, prospective study, performed in 49 women at the Antonio Pedro Hospital, at the Universidade Federal Fluminense, in Niterói, Brazil, from August 2014 to April 2015. It included postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms who were not using any estrogen hormone therapy, and it excluded those with contraindications for the use of estriol. A specific questionnaire on QoL and urinary tract symptoms, the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), which identifies LUTS and assesses to what extent those symptoms interfere with QoL, has been used as a research tool. Results: The average age was 62.24 years. Urinary urgency and urge incontinence were reported by 91.8% of women. The average scores of the domains of the KHQ decreased in the domains General Health Perception (before: 46.42 ± 21.65;after: 40.81 ± 22.64), Incontinence Impact (before: 74.82 ± 27.66;after: 41.49 ± 30.83), Role Limitations (before: 43.20 ± 32.80;after: 21.09 ± 24.71), Physical Limitations (before: 38.09 ± 32.09;after: 14.62 ± 24.20), Social Limitations (before: 30.38 ± 28.75;after: 12.62 ± 19.85), Emotions (before: 43.31 ± 32.96;after: 20.18 ± 26.41), Sleep/Energy (before: 41.48 ± 37.74;after: 15.98 ± 23.31) and Severity Measures (before: 48.02 ± 24.68;after: 22.31 ± 20.25). All the differences were statistically significant (p-value ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: In the group of postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms included in the study, the use of topical vaginal estriol led to a decrease in the frequency of each symptom and the average scores in all domains of the KHQ, suggesting a positive effect on women’s QoL.展开更多
目的探讨基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预对卒中后抑郁(post-stroke depression,PSD)的效果影响。方法选择武汉科技大学附属天佑医院神经内科2019年1月—2023年1月住院的110例PSD患者作为研究对象,对上述患者入院的前后顺序进行标号,随...目的探讨基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预对卒中后抑郁(post-stroke depression,PSD)的效果影响。方法选择武汉科技大学附属天佑医院神经内科2019年1月—2023年1月住院的110例PSD患者作为研究对象,对上述患者入院的前后顺序进行标号,随机分为2组,对照组(n=55)予以常规护理措施干预,在此基础上观察组(n=55)予以基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预。2组患者干预前和干预后1个月,分别采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression scale,HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton anxiety scale,HAMA)、简易精神状态检查量表(mini-mental state examination,MMSE)、Barthel指数(barthel index,BI)、生活质量综合评定问卷-74(generic quality of life inventory 74,GQOLI-74)评估患者的精神症状、认知状况、日常生活能力、生活质量。结果与观察组护理干预前和对照组干预后比较,观察组护理干预后HAMD(16.01±1.97)分、HAMA(14.37±1.48)分均明显降低(P<0.05);观察组护理干预后MMSE(28.74±3.16分)、BI(83.09±7.81分)及生活质量评分均明显升高(P<0.05)。结论基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预可明显改善PSD患者的精神症状、认知状况及日常生活能力,同时生活质量也得到明显地提高。展开更多
Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and ...Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and fatal complications of CLD and it also has its negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Aim: To assess impact of CLD and HCC on the quality of life of group of hospitalized elderly patients. Methodology: Ninety elderly patients were divided into three groups: 30 elderly with post hepatitis C virus CLD, 30 elderly with HCC and 30 others free of liver disease as control group (Cn), all were recruited from the in-patient ward and the outpatient clinic of the Geriatric Department, Ain-Shams University Hospital. After giving consent, comprehensive geriatric assessment was done with assessment of their quality of life by using the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36). Investigations including liver enzymes, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and abdominal ultrasound were done. Results: All QOL domains were the highest among control group, followed by HCC group and the least among CLD group. The differences were statistically significant in most subscales and total score [Mean of Cn = 81.9 ± 12.4, Mean of CLD = 47.5 ± 21.9, Mean of HCC = 62.3 ± 16.1;P Cn/CLD ≤ 0.001, P Cn/HCC ≤ 0.001, P CLD/HCC = 0.004]. Albumin was the only biochemical marker correlated positively with total SF score and two subscales (PF and EF) [r = 0.408;P = 0.025]. Conclusion & Recommendation: Our study showed a decrease in the QOL of Egyptian post hepatitis C virus CLD and HCC patients compared with Egyptian population norms. The results showed that CLD were more affected than HCC patients. This had a particularly serious negative impact on their life. The findings indicate a need for updated counseling and educational materials designed to provide adequate information and consistent healthcare service to this patient setting.展开更多
文摘COVID-19 is a multisystem disease that can cause various symptoms which last even after the acute stage and negatively impact the quality of life of patients. It is of utmost importance to comprehensively evaluate how COVID-19 affects not only patients’ physical and mental health, but also their family and social life. This knowledge plays a significant role in the creation of effective ways to assist those suffering from long COVID to address health-related quality of life issues in a timely manner.
文摘Protein-based therapeutics (PPTs) are drugs used to treat a variety of different conditions in the human body by alleviating enzymatic deficiencies, augmenting other proteins and drugs, modulating signal pathways, and more. However, many PPTs struggle from a short half-life due to degradation caused by irreversible protein aggregation in the bloodstream. Currently, the most researched strategies for improving the efficiency and longevity of PPTs are post-translational modifications (PTMs). The goal of our research was to determine which type of PTM increases longevity the most for each of three commonly-used therapeutic proteins by comparing the docking scores (DS) and binding free energies (BFE) from protein aggregation and reception simulations. DS and BFE values were used to create a quantitative index that outputs a relative number from −1 to 1 to show reduced performance, no change, or increased performance. Results showed that methylation was the most beneficial for insulin (p < 0.1) and human growth hormone (p < 0.0001), and both phosphorylation and methylation were somewhat optimal for erythropoietin (p < 0.1 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Acetylation consistently provided the worst benefits with the most negative indices, while methylation had the most positive indices throughout. However, PTM efficacy varied between PPTs, supporting previous studies regarding how each PTM can confer different benefits based on the unique structures of recipient proteins.
文摘Banana (Musa spp.) is a highly perishable fruit that requires special handling. In Eritrea, post-harvest handling practices are characterized to be poor and as a result, poor fruit quality and high post-harvest loss are common. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different post-harvest handling and ripening methods on quality and shelf-life of banana. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used for evaluating a combination of two levels of post-harvest handling and four ripening methods in a factorial combination conducted in the laboratory of Horticulture at Hamelmalo Agricultural College. Peel colour change, physiological weight loss, pulp to peel ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), pulp pH, ripening period and shelf life were parameters studied. The results showed fruits treated with ripened tomato showed improved characteristics in all parameters compared to those treated with smoke from kerosene burning or mixed with moringa leaf. Similarly, fruits brought directly from the farm were better than those collected from the ripening room after passing the conventional post-harvest handling. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that ripening of banana with the help of tomato improves fruit quality and shelf life. Thus, it can be a safe and better alternative to smoking from kerosene burning. While moringa leaf has no potential as an alternative.
文摘Background: Nowadays, a substantial number of women spend more than one-third of their lives in the postmenopausal period. It is characterized by a marked decrease in the production of estrogen, which leads to urogenital atrophy. The symptoms stemming from vulvovaginal atrophy and the lower urinary tract are currently referred to as the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), which can have a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). Estrogen replacement is the ideal treatment for GSM, and vaginal administration is the most recommended. Objective: To assess the impact of the use of topical vaginal estriol on the quality of life (QoL) of postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: This is an interventional, prospective study, performed in 49 women at the Antonio Pedro Hospital, at the Universidade Federal Fluminense, in Niterói, Brazil, from August 2014 to April 2015. It included postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms who were not using any estrogen hormone therapy, and it excluded those with contraindications for the use of estriol. A specific questionnaire on QoL and urinary tract symptoms, the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), which identifies LUTS and assesses to what extent those symptoms interfere with QoL, has been used as a research tool. Results: The average age was 62.24 years. Urinary urgency and urge incontinence were reported by 91.8% of women. The average scores of the domains of the KHQ decreased in the domains General Health Perception (before: 46.42 ± 21.65;after: 40.81 ± 22.64), Incontinence Impact (before: 74.82 ± 27.66;after: 41.49 ± 30.83), Role Limitations (before: 43.20 ± 32.80;after: 21.09 ± 24.71), Physical Limitations (before: 38.09 ± 32.09;after: 14.62 ± 24.20), Social Limitations (before: 30.38 ± 28.75;after: 12.62 ± 19.85), Emotions (before: 43.31 ± 32.96;after: 20.18 ± 26.41), Sleep/Energy (before: 41.48 ± 37.74;after: 15.98 ± 23.31) and Severity Measures (before: 48.02 ± 24.68;after: 22.31 ± 20.25). All the differences were statistically significant (p-value ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: In the group of postmenopausal women with lower urinary tract symptoms included in the study, the use of topical vaginal estriol led to a decrease in the frequency of each symptom and the average scores in all domains of the KHQ, suggesting a positive effect on women’s QoL.
文摘目的探讨基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预对卒中后抑郁(post-stroke depression,PSD)的效果影响。方法选择武汉科技大学附属天佑医院神经内科2019年1月—2023年1月住院的110例PSD患者作为研究对象,对上述患者入院的前后顺序进行标号,随机分为2组,对照组(n=55)予以常规护理措施干预,在此基础上观察组(n=55)予以基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预。2组患者干预前和干预后1个月,分别采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression scale,HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton anxiety scale,HAMA)、简易精神状态检查量表(mini-mental state examination,MMSE)、Barthel指数(barthel index,BI)、生活质量综合评定问卷-74(generic quality of life inventory 74,GQOLI-74)评估患者的精神症状、认知状况、日常生活能力、生活质量。结果与观察组护理干预前和对照组干预后比较,观察组护理干预后HAMD(16.01±1.97)分、HAMA(14.37±1.48)分均明显降低(P<0.05);观察组护理干预后MMSE(28.74±3.16分)、BI(83.09±7.81分)及生活质量评分均明显升高(P<0.05)。结论基于认知-行为的多层次护理干预可明显改善PSD患者的精神症状、认知状况及日常生活能力,同时生活质量也得到明显地提高。
文摘Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and fatal complications of CLD and it also has its negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Aim: To assess impact of CLD and HCC on the quality of life of group of hospitalized elderly patients. Methodology: Ninety elderly patients were divided into three groups: 30 elderly with post hepatitis C virus CLD, 30 elderly with HCC and 30 others free of liver disease as control group (Cn), all were recruited from the in-patient ward and the outpatient clinic of the Geriatric Department, Ain-Shams University Hospital. After giving consent, comprehensive geriatric assessment was done with assessment of their quality of life by using the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36). Investigations including liver enzymes, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and abdominal ultrasound were done. Results: All QOL domains were the highest among control group, followed by HCC group and the least among CLD group. The differences were statistically significant in most subscales and total score [Mean of Cn = 81.9 ± 12.4, Mean of CLD = 47.5 ± 21.9, Mean of HCC = 62.3 ± 16.1;P Cn/CLD ≤ 0.001, P Cn/HCC ≤ 0.001, P CLD/HCC = 0.004]. Albumin was the only biochemical marker correlated positively with total SF score and two subscales (PF and EF) [r = 0.408;P = 0.025]. Conclusion & Recommendation: Our study showed a decrease in the QOL of Egyptian post hepatitis C virus CLD and HCC patients compared with Egyptian population norms. The results showed that CLD were more affected than HCC patients. This had a particularly serious negative impact on their life. The findings indicate a need for updated counseling and educational materials designed to provide adequate information and consistent healthcare service to this patient setting.
