Articles

A 10-year-old male child presented to the Department of Respiratory Medicine in March 2017, with complaints of dyspnea (mMRC grade 1) for last 14 months which aggravated on right lateral position, left-sided chest pain for 1 year and mild fever for 3 months. There was no hemoptysis, wheeze, and expectoration. The patient gave a past history of straw-colored pleural fluid aspiration one year ago which was diagnosed as tubercular hydropneumothorax (Figure 1) in 2016 based on pleural fluid analysis. He was given antitubercular treatment for the effusion. He took ATT for 8 months but with no improvement. 

Background and purpose: Schizophrenia (SZH) is a chronic mental disorder affecting the individuals` thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors. People with SZH may experience a wide range of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Since there are no laboratory assays for definite SZH diagnosis, the authors aimed to identify the cerebral volumetric variations in SZH patients with the most prevalent positive symptoms as a diagnostic tool. This study selected 15 SZH patients displaying the most prevalent positive symptoms based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Assessment tools included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive impairment, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptom evaluation, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WIS) for intelligence assessment. Additionally, 15 Healthy Controls (HC) without cerebral pathologies were recruited. T1w MRI images underwent analysis using Freesurfer software. Data analysis employed Mann-Whitney U and χ² tests, considering p < 0.05 as significant.Results: SZH and HC groups showed no significant differences in age and gender. However, significant (p < 0.05) alterations in Gray Matter (GM) volume were observed in SZH patients compared to HC. In the right hemisphere, several regions exhibited volume reduction, including the Fusiform sulcus, Rostral middle frontal gyrus, isthmus cingulate, Frontal pole, Middle temporal gyrus, Lateral occipital gyrus, and Inferior Parietal gyrus. Notably, the Precentral sulcus and Postcentral gyrus demonstrated volume acceleration. Similarly, in the left hemisphere, various regions showed volume reduction while the Paracentral gyrus indicated volume acceleration, all significant (p < 0.05).Conclusion: SZH patients display significant volumetric brain changes, indicating potential for future diagnostic procedures in SZH.

Known since antiquity, migraine is a complex primary disorder, an episodic painful Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) storm, generally following the stress/post-stress phase. Despite exhaustive study of neuropeptides, neurochemicals, molecules, neurogenetics, neuroimaging along with animal and human experiments over the last 50 years, the scientific basis of migraine remains unknown. Straddling eight decades from Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD) to Calcitonin-Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) and its antagonists, exponentially increasing data have failed to create a gestalt synthesis. This article lays cohesive and robust fundamental principles for the comprehension and management of migraine. The continuum between migraine and non-congestive Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG), Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG), or Low-Tension Glaucoma (LTG) is advancing. The case of sustained remission of migraine attacks (> 75%) over 3 years - 5 years with ocular hypotensive topical Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Solution (BOS) 0.3% in an N-of-1 trial in 3 patients with refractory migraine is presented. A cause-effect-adaptive process underlies the ANS-stress/post-stress-linked biology of migraine. Vasopressin-serotonin-norepinephrine ‘homeostatic-adaptive system’ Lowers Intraocular Pressure (IOP), while enhancing anti-stress, antinociception, vasomotor, and behaviour control functions, thereby selectively decreasing algogenic neural traffic in the ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve (V1), and, raising the threshold to develop migraine. Striking migraine headache-aborting feature of vomiting is also likely linked to a several hundred-fold increase in arginine-vasopressin secretion. Eye-cover tests and self-ocular digital displacement are essential to studying the visual aura. Real-time physical displacement of Scintillating Scotoma (SS) and floating ‘stars’ is reported. The basis of spontaneous onset and offset, self-limited duration of migraine attacks, as well as female preponderance, and age/menopause decline in prevalence, are elucidated. Intraocular implants with long-term ocular hypotensive effects, including bimatoprost, are the future of migraine management. Controlled trials are required to establish the migraine-preventive effect of topical bimatoprost, a revolutionary advance in neuroscience.

Introduction: The functional anatomy of the myocardium allows envisioning that it initiates and ends at the origin of the great vessels. In our research, we have always considered that it should have a point of attachment to allow its helical rotation to fulfill the fundamental movements of shortening-torsion (systole) and lengthening-detorsion (suction), which once found, was called the cardiac fulcrum. Materials and methods: A total of 31 hearts, arising from the morgue and slaughterhouse were used: 17 corresponded to bovids and 14 were human. Anatomical and histological studies were performed. The heart was fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome staining technique, and 4-micron sections were used for the histological study, and 10 % formalin was used as a buffer. Results: The anatomical investigations have revealed that all the hearts (bovids and humans) have myocardial support whose histological structure in the analyzed specimens presents with an osseous or chondroid-tendinous character. In this structure, which we have called the cardiac fulcrum, are inserted the myocardial fibers at the origin and end of the band, which correspond to the continuous myocardium coiled as a helix.Conclusion: This description of the fulcrum would end the problem of lack of support of the myocardium to fulfill its function of suction/ejection.

Being hospitalized or undergoing a surgical procedure may be quite an isolating and lonely experience. This review explored loneliness in the hospital and surgical setting, and highlights the emotional and psychological challenges experienced by patients during their healthcare journey. While hospitals traditionally provide medical and surgical care for a wide array of conditions, the irony lies in their potential to disrupt one’s daily routines, contribute to loss of control, prolong hospital stays, and limit connections with family and loved ones leading to negative psychological well-being and intensifying feelings of loneliness. The implications of loneliness in the hospital and surgical contexts are discussed along with recommendations for improving the healthcare system’s response to the negative health consequences associated with loneliness. Coping strategies are discussed, including social support mechanisms, and approaches to healthy behaviors, i.e. mindfulness, which contribute to mitigating loneliness, in the context of hospitalizations and surgery.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory multisystem disorder that commonly affects females during their reproductive years. It is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and immune complex deposition, the etiology is not known but the interaction of an environmental agent in a genetically susceptible individual is thought to be fundamental. SLE most frequently involves the skin, joints, lungs, heart, kidney, and neuropsychiatric manifestations that may occur during the course of the disease. Mood disorders among SLE patients, particularly depression, are common and important psychiatric manifestations of the disease, in addition to their high incidence and possible deleterious influence on disease progression, so early identification and treatment of depression may have a significant influence on the patient’s quality of life.

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of using a pilates exercise program on improving body mass index and body composition of non-physically active working women. The participants of the study were (16) working women at the University of Basrah, Iraq. A pre-posttest was utilized to collect the data, (after a 12-week cycle of exercises) in Pilates groups, the results of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) in the women’s mean scores on body mass index and body composition. The study concluded that the pilates exercise program is effective in the improvement of body mass index and body composition of non-physically active working women.

The superposition of non-linear waves in space refers to the phenomenon where two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave pattern. Non-linear waves are characterized by their ability to interact with each other, leading to complex behaviors that are not observed in linear wave systems. Understanding the stability and behavior of the superposition of non-linear waves in space is crucial in various fields such as physics, engineering, and oceanography.When non-linear waves superpose, their interactions can lead to a range of behaviors, including wave breaking, formation of solitons (localized wave packets), and the generation of harmonics. The stability of the superposition is determined by the balance between the non-linear effects and dispersive effects, which can either stabilize or destabilize the wave pattern. In addition, the behavior of non-linear waves in space is influenced by external factors such as boundaries, dissipation, and external forcing.In this paper, we study the behavior and characteristics of waves when they interact with each other. Superposition refers to the phenomenon where multiple waves combine to form a resultant wave. In the case of linear waves, this superposition occurs according to the principles of linear superposition, which states that the displacement or amplitude at any point is the algebraic sum of the displacements or amplitudes of the individual waves.Understanding the superposition of linear waves in space has various applications in fields such as physics, engineering, acoustics, optics, and signal processing. By studying how waves interact and combine, researchers can gain insights into wave propagation, interference patterns, wave reflections, diffraction, and other phenomena that occur when waves meet.

Light is not only a primary energy source, but it is also one of the environmental factors that affect plant growth and development. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is commonly produced in association with maize as subordinate intercrops in the Sidama region. Under such a production system, the shade effect may limit the photosynthetic and nitrogen-fixing capacity of common beans. The objective of the current study was to assess how inoculation and shade affect the ability to fix nitrogen and yield components of common beans. Three common bean varieties (Hawassa dume, Nassir, and Ibbado), two shade levels (open and 25% shade) as well as two levels of inoculation (uninoculated and inoculated) were used for these purposes. The experiment was set up in factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) in four replications. In this experiment, Rhizobium inoculation and shade significantly (p < 0.05) affected the number of pods plant-1 and the number of seeds pod-1. The inoculated treatment produced the maximum number of pods plant-1 (14.02) and the lowest number of pods plant-1 (10.95) was obtained from uninoculated treatments. The results also showed that the inoculated Hawassa dume variety from the open treatments derived the maximum percentage of N from N2 fixation, whereas the non-inoculated Ibbado variety from the 25% shade treatments derived the lowest percentage of N. Common bean grown on full light had significantly greater N content than shade.

Forеst dеgradation has bеcomе incrеasingly pronouncеd in rеcеnt timеs due to shifts in climatе pattеrns and prolongеd drought pеriods. This invеstigation aims to cultivatе high-quality vеgеtation and gain insights into thеir еcophysiological rеsponsеs undеr conditions of watеr strеss. Spеcifically, wе conductеd еxpеrimеnts on 6-month-old individuals from two dеciduous spеciеs (Quеrcus subеr and Cеratonia siliqua) and two conifеrs (Tеtraclinis articulata and Cеdrus at-lantica), subjеcting thеm to watеr strеss conditions. Wе mеasurеd and analyzеd both thе basic (Ψb) and minimum (Ψm) lеaf watеr potеntials, factoring in climatic variablеs for all four forеst spеciеs. Our findings rеvеal that Quеrcus subеr еxhibits morе nеgativе valuеs, with a basic lеaf watеr potеntial of -0. 42 MPa and a minimum lеaf watеr potеntial of -1. 43 MPa, comparеd to thе othеr studiеd forеst spеciеs. On thе contrary, Cеdrus atlantica displays lеss nеgativе valuеs for thе minimum lеaf watеr potеntial, rеcording -0. 89 MPa. Thеsе outcomеs еnablе us to idеntify thе spеciеs displaying grеatеr rеsiliеncе against watеr strеss and climatе fluctuations. Nеvеrthеlеss, they also prompt broadеr inquiriеs into thе undеrlying mеchanisms govеrning watеr utilization in forеst flora.