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Thermal Physiology and Thermoregulation
Published in James Stewart Campbell, M. Nathaniel Mead, Human Medical Thermography, 2023
James Stewart Campbell, M. Nathaniel Mead
Skin temperature is normally a reliable indicator of the heat exchange activity of the body. The average temperature of the skin is about 32.5°C (90.5°F) or 4°C (7.2°F) lower than the body's core temperature under thermoneutral conditions.12 At a room temperature of 25°C (77°F), local skin temperatures may vary within a range of 4–5°C (7.2–9°F) depending on physiologic, anatomic, and pathologic factors.13 In a warmer environment, the temperature of the skin increases toward core temperature as blood flow through the skin increases. The human body is generally warmer than the ambient temperature, allowing a flow of heat from the core to the environment. Even with clothing for insulation, heat is steadily lost from the body. During cold stress, blood flow through exposed skin is reduced, leading to a decrease in skin temperature and conservation of core body heat. Skin temperature in the periphery may approach the ambient temperature during cooling, with the nose, ear, finger, and toe temperatures becoming about 17°C (30.6°F) lower than normal core temperature when the body is equilibrated to an air temperature of 20°C (68°F).
Prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality using fetal cells in maternal circulation
Published in Hung N. Winn, Frank A. Chervenak, Roberto Romero, Clinical Maternal-Fetal Medicine Online, 2021
Gian Carlo Di Renzo, Elena Picchiassi, Michela Centra, Giuliana Coata
It has been reported that a high number of fetal cells are present in maternal blood when the fetus is aneuploid. In two consecutive studies, Krabchi and coworkers (34,35) noted a significant increase in total number of fetal cells in pregnancies carrying aneuploid fetuses. The methodological approach was similar to their previous study; the only difference was in the use of appropriate chromosome-specific probes in accordance with the chromosome to be visualized in the fetal nuclei, and aneuploidies were detected when an extra autosomal signal was observed. In the case of fetus with trisomy 21, the authors found the number of fetal cells three to five times higher than that from a normal pregnancy. The range varied from 6 to 32 fetal cells/mL of whole maternal blood with an average of 12.87 fetal cells. Similar results were obtained in the second study performed by the same group (35) in pregnancies affected by fetuses with trisomies 18 and 13. Also if the number of fetal trisomic cells was slightly less than those from fetus with trisomy 21, it has been observed as an increase of two to five times than that in normal pregnancies.
Heterocyclic Drugs from Plants
Published in Rohit Dutt, Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Vandana Garg, Promising Drug Molecules of Natural Origin, 2020
Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Valeria Garcia, Felipe Gonzalez
In arrhythmia the heartbeats or rhythms become abnormal. Arrhythmia arises mainly owing to the heart related electrical impulses. If the electrical impulses do not work properly, the heart will become unable to coordinate its beats resulting in irregular rhythms. These impulses can be too fast, too slow, or too erratic causing the heart not to pump blood systematically (About Arrhythmia, 2016). If the heart does not pump blood effectively, the organs might be damaged or completely shut down. Arrhythmias have various types, e.g., tachycardia, bradycardia, and a trial fibrillation. The average heart rate is normally between 60 to 100 beats per minute under normal physical state (All About Heart Rate (Pulse), 2015). Tachycardia refers to a heart rate which is much faster, at or faster than 100 bpm (beats per minute), than the average heart rate (Tachycardia: Fast Heart Rate, 2016). Bradycardia refers to heart rate that is slower that 60 bpm (Bradycardia: Slow Heart Rate, 2016). Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib or AF, is a heartbeat which is irregular/flutters (Atrial Fibrillation, 2016). Arrhythmia occurs if the heart’s natural pacemaker develops an abnormal rhythm or rate, the conduction pathway is disrupted, or if another part takes on the role as the pacemaker.
Rituximab treatment for refractory nephrotic syndrome in adults: a multicenter retrospective study
Published in Renal Failure, 2023
Xiaoyan Ma, Lu Fang, Lili Sheng, Xun Zhou, Shoujun Bai, Xiujuan Zang, Yakun Wang, Mengke Li, Zexin Lv, Qin Zhong, Xinyu Yang, Yishu Wang, Yan Hu, Danying Yan, Yingfeng Shi, Hui Chen, Jinqing Li, Min Tao, Shougang Zhuang, Yi Wang, Na Liu
A total of 75 patients were identified with RTX therapy for RNS. After a median follow-up period of 18.5 (12.5, 29.25) months, 48 patients entered the final analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Figure 1). The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were shown in Table 1. Of a total of 48 eligible patients with an average age of 47.88 ± 16.93 years old, 33 were males and 8 were smokers. Nine patients had diabetes, and 22 had hypertension. The average blood pressure was 135.08 ± 17.34/82.75 ± 10.74 mmHg. Median disease duration of 48 patients was 29.5 (IQR 1260) months. All the patients were with biopsy-proven INS, 15 (31.3%) with MCD, 5 (10.4%) with FSGS, 26 (54.2%) with MN, and 2 (4.2%) with MPGN. The immunosuppressive therapies of patients before RTX treatment were steroid only (12, 25%), cyclosporine or tacrolimus (24, 50%), cyclophosphamide (10, 20.8%), mycophenolate (1, 2.1%), and others (1, 2.1%). One patient with other immunosuppressive agents was a male with MCD who received steroid and leflunomide therapy. All patients had received at least one course of immunosuppression therapy, with a median of 2 (IQR 1–3) courses. The reasons of refractory for patients enrolled included steroid dependent (4, 8.3%), steroid-resistant (3, 6.3%), frequent relapsing (11, 22.9%), steroid intolerant (5, 10.4%), and resistance to immunosuppression (25, 52.1%).
Investigating the effects of Citrullus colocynthis on cognitive performance and anxiety-like behaviors in STZ-induced diabetic rats
Published in International Journal of Neuroscience, 2023
Mohammad Amin Rajizadeh, Amir Hashem Aminizadeh, Khadijeh Esmaeilpour, Mohammad Abbas Bejeshk, Asie Sadeghi, Fouzieh Salimi
On day 15 after the STZ injection, the treatment was started with C. colocynthis. The aqueous extract of C. colocynthis was taken orally every day for 40days at a dose of 200mg/kg [8]. The rats were given glucose (2g/kg body weight) together with two different doses of Citrullus-colocynthis aqueous extract (CCAE), namely 100 or 200mg/kg of their body weight. The average blood glucose was 80-126mg/kg. The blood glucose was measured every 30, 60, 90, and 120min using a drop of blood taken from their tail by a glucometer. However, the dosage of 200mg/kg was more suitable for correcting the 2-h postprandial blood sugar levels compared to 100mg/kg. Consequently, it was chosen for the daily oral treatment of diabetic rats in all the treated groups.
Key considerations for the use of ketamine and esketamine for the treatment of depression: focusing on administration, safety, and tolerability
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 2022
Michael D. Kritzer, Chi-Un Pae, Prakash S. Masand
There are many unanswered questions about the practical role of i.v. ketamine and i.n. esketamine in the treatment of TRD. There are limitations to fixed dosing of i.n. esketamine in a population with a significant portion having comorbid obesity. Worldwide, the average person weighs 62 kg, however Americans have an average weight of 80 kg (177.9 lbs). Assuming 40% bioavailability of i.n. esketamine, it is estimated that 0.5 mg/kg racemic ketamine administered intravenously to an average person is equivalent to 56 mg intranasal esketamine. To achieve equivalent dosing of esketamine to the average American, one would need to administer approximately 80 mg (the current highest esketamine dose is 86 mg). Many American patients of average weight may need the equivalent of 1.0 mg/kg i.v. ketamine to achieve adequate symptom reduction, of which an equivalent dose i.n. esketamine is unattainable with commercially available products. Given the lower bioavailability of i.n. esketamine, trials investigating higher doses such as 112 mg (equivalent to approximately 100 mg i.v. racemic ketamine) may provide benefit to severely treatment-resistant patients with a higher body-mass index (BMI). Considering i.v. ketamine dosing is weight-based, it may be clinically helpful to have higher doses of i.n. esketamine commercially available for patients with comorbid obesity.