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1.
Med J Malaysia ; 79(2): 141-145, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38553917

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: The rise in the cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension is a major public health concern in Malaysia. This results in the many cases of chronic kidney disease being managed in primary healthcare clinics. This study examines the pre- and post-clinical outcomes of scheduled nephrologist visits on CKD patients in a primary health care clinic in Ipoh, Perak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective crosssectional study reviewing the medical records of patients seen by visiting nephrologists from January 2019 to December 2021 in Greentown Health Clinic. The study population are patients with CKD stage 3b, 4 and 5 who are followed up in Greentown Health Clinic. Universal sampling was done, a total of 87 patients reviewed at least once by the visiting nephrologist and with retrievable medical records were included in the study. Those whose medical records were irretrievable were excluded. Blood pressure, urine protein, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, eGFR and fasting lipid profile (FLP) pre- and post-visits were collected by reviewing patient medical records and laboratory results. The results were then analysed and compared using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: The median age of patients in this study was 66 years of age, the majority were male patients (54%) and Malay ethnicity (62.1%). Absence of urine microalbuminuria pre and post referral remain the same (n = 11). During prenephrologist visits, a higher percentage of patients exhibited moderate (30-300 mg/g) and severe (>300 mg/g) increase in urine albuminuria (15.7% and 7.2%, respectively) compared to the post-referral period. In patients with significant urine protein pre-referral, patient group with urine protein 3+ showed the highest increment of 30.1% (n = 22), in comparison to 19.3% (n = 16) observed during prereferral. Statistically significant clinical outcomes between pre- and post-referral to the nephrologist include reduction of systolic blood pressure [141±15 mmHg versus 135 ±12 mmHg, p = 0.001] and diastolic blood pressure [median = 80 mmHg (IQR: 10) versus median=71 mmHg (IQR: 17), p < 0.001]. Similarly, total cholesterol [median = 4.4 mmol/L (IQR: 1.4) versus median = 4.0 mmol/L (IQR: 1.5, p = 0.001] and LDL [median = 2.5 mmol/L (IQR: 1.2) versus median = 2.2 mmol/L (IQR: 1.2), p < 0.001)] exhibited statistically significant differences between pre- and post-referral. However, HDL remained unchanged and other outcome variables showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Incorporating nephrologist visits in primary care seems to have positive impact towards patient clinical outcomes. Results shown in this study can aid other primary care clinics in the decision to initiate nephrologist services in the primary care setting as a multidisciplinary approach to managing CKD patients.


Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Insuficiência Renal Crônica , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Idoso , Nefrologistas , Estudos Retrospectivos , Insuficiência Renal Crônica/terapia , Atenção Primária à Saúde
2.
Osteoporos Int ; 32(11): 2217-2224, 2021 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33959793

RESUMO

Hip fractures are common in the elderly, and many patients with hip fractures have low vitamin D levels. This study found that severe vitamin D deficiency is linked to poorer recovery of function and quality of life after hip fracture surgery. INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in hip fracture patients and associated with increased mortality and complications. However, there is limited long-term data on how vitamin D levels affect functional outcomes after hip fracture surgery. The aim of this study is to ascertain the association between vitamin D levels and recovery from hip surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent hip fracture surgery from January 2012 to December 2016 and had vitamin D levels assessed during admission were included. Retrospective analysis was performed on patients' demographic data such as age, gender and clinical parameters such as preoperative vitamin D, haemoglobin levels, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and type and site of surgery. Patients were divided according to four different vitamin D levels-severe vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/mL), mild deficiency (10-20 ng/ml), insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml), and normal (>30ng/ml). Functional outcomes were measured by Harris Hip Score (HHS), Parker Mobility Score (PMS), and individual domains of 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF36). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between vitamin D deficiency and functional outcome scores. RESULTS: Out of 664 patients identified, 9% had severe vitamin D deficiency and 39% mild deficiency. Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency had significantly poorer baseline and 6-month PMS and SF36 Physical Functioning (PF). In multivariate analysis, severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with lower 6-month PMS and SF36 PF. CONCLUSION: Preoperative severe vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for poorer recovery of function and quality of life after hip fracture surgery.


Assuntos
Fraturas do Quadril , Deficiência de Vitamina D , Idoso , Fraturas do Quadril/epidemiologia , Fraturas do Quadril/etiologia , Fraturas do Quadril/cirurgia , Humanos , Qualidade de Vida , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Vitamina D , Deficiência de Vitamina D/complicações , Deficiência de Vitamina D/epidemiologia
3.
Resour Conserv Recycl ; 164: 105169, 2021 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32982059

RESUMO

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, but the world is still reeling from its aftermath. Originating from China, cases quickly spread across the globe, prompting the implementation of stringent measures by world governments in efforts to isolate cases and limit the transmission rate of the virus. These measures have however shattered the core sustaining pillars of the modern world economies as global trade and cooperation succumbed to nationalist focus and competition for scarce supplies. Against this backdrop, this paper presents a critical review of the catalogue of negative and positive impacts of the pandemic and proffers perspectives on how it can be leveraged to steer towards a better, more resilient low-carbon economy. The paper diagnosed the danger of relying on pandemic-driven benefits to achieving sustainable development goals and emphasizes a need for a decisive, fundamental structural change to the dynamics of how we live. It argues for a rethink of the present global economic growth model, shaped by a linear economy system and sustained by profiteering and energy-gulping manufacturing processes, in favour of a more sustainable model recalibrated on circular economy (CE) framework. Building on evidence in support of CE as a vehicle for balancing the complex equation of accomplishing profit with minimal environmental harms, the paper outlines concrete sector-specific recommendations on CE-related solutions as a catalyst for the global economic growth and development in a resilient post-COVID-19 world.

4.
Lett Appl Microbiol ; 70(6): 431-439, 2020 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32031273

RESUMO

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotics on growth, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. During 8 weeks, the fish were fed the five experimental diets such as a basal commercial diet (CON), oxytetracycline (OTC) and three basal diets containing Bacillus subtilis (BS), a commercial microbial product (CES) and a mixture of yeast and bacterium (PI), respectively. Fish fed all the probiotics diets and OTC showed a significantly higher growth than fish-fed CON (P < 0·05). Fish-fed PI had a significantly higher nitroblue tetrazolium activity, whereas fish-fed CES showed a higher lysozyme level (P < 0·05). A 7-day challenge test also showed that fish-fed PI had a cumulative survival rate equivalent to that of fish-fed OTC (P < 0·05). Moreover, the diet (PI) appeared to increase the diversity of microbial community in the fish. All these results suggest that the probiotics diet could function as a potential antibiotic replacer in the olive flounder. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is unique in revealing that a diet mixture of yeast, Groenewaldozyma salmanticensis and bacterium Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens can enhance growth, innate immunity and diversity of microbial community including dominant species in the olive flounder. All these indicate that the diet mixture could function as a potential antibiotic replacer in one of the most commercially important fisheries in South Korea.


Assuntos
Ração Animal/microbiologia , Linguado/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Linguado/imunologia , Gluconacetobacter/fisiologia , Probióticos/farmacologia , Saccharomycetales/fisiologia , Ração Animal/análise , Animais , Bacillus subtilis/fisiologia , Dieta , Resistência à Doença/fisiologia , Doenças dos Peixes/microbiologia , Linguado/microbiologia , República da Coreia
5.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol ; 34(8): 1842-1850, 2020 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31919901

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Several studies have achieved high-level performance of melanoma detection using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, few have described the extent to which the implementation of CNNs improves the diagnostic performance of the physicians. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at developing a CNN for detecting acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) and investigating whether its implementation can improve the initial decision for ALM detection made by the physicians. METHODS: A CNN was trained using 1072 dermoscopic images of acral benign nevi, ALM and intermediate tumours. To investigate whether the implementation of CNN can improve the initial decision for ALM detection, 60 physicians completed a three-stage survey. In Stage I, they were asked for their decisions solely on the basis of dermoscopic images provided to them. In Stage II, they were also provided with clinical information. In Stage III, they were provided with the additional diagnosis and probability predicted by the CNN. RESULTS: The accuracy of ALM detection in the participants was 74.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.6-76.8%) in Stage I and 79.0% (95% CI, 76.7-81.2%) in Stage II. In Stage III, it was 86.9% (95% CI, 85.3-88.4%), which exceeds the accuracy delivered in Stage I by 12.2%p (95% CI, 10.1-14.3%p) and Stage II by 7.9%p (95% CI, 6.0-9.9%p). Moreover, the concordance between the participants considerably increased (Fleiss-κ of 0.436 [95% CI, 0.437-0.573] in Stage I, 0.506 [95% CI, 0.621-0.749] in Stage II and 0.684 [95% CI, 0.621-0.749] in Stage III). CONCLUSIONS: Augmented decision-making improved the performance of and concordance between the clinical decisions of a diverse group of experts. This study demonstrates the potential use of CNNs as an adjoining, decision-supporting system for physicians' decisions.


Assuntos
Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutâneas , Dermoscopia , Humanos , Melanoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Redes Neurais de Computação , Neoplasias Cutâneas/diagnóstico por imagem
6.
Med J Malaysia ; 75(3): 292-294, 2020 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32467547

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Lower extremity vascular injury can result in either temporary or permanent disability. METHODS: This is a clinical audit involving all patients admitted to our institution from January 2008 to June 2018 of those who had undergone revascularization surgery for lower limb trauma. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were in this study with a mean age of 28.1 years. Most of the patients were motorcyclist involved in road traffic accidents with cars (n=30, 50.8%). The popliteal artery was most commonly seen injury (n=41, 69.5%). The mean duration of ischaemia was 14.1 hours. The limb salvage rate was 89.8%. CONCLUSION: Lower extremity vascular injury caused by RTA treated in our institution predominantly involved young patients aged between 18-30 years associated with long bone fractures causing contusion and thrombosis of the popliteal artery.


Assuntos
Acidentes de Trânsito , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Extremidade Inferior/irrigação sanguínea , Extremidade Inferior/cirurgia , Lesões do Sistema Vascular/cirurgia , Adolescente , Adulto , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Humanos , Malásia , Masculino , Adulto Jovem
7.
Arch Virol ; 164(9): 2255-2263, 2019 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31183556

RESUMO

Samples of leaves exhibiting symptoms resembling those caused by virus infection were collected from ornamental street flowers in a rural town in Western Australia. Thirty-seven leaf samples were collected from plants of iris, tulip, lily, daffodil, stock and grape hyacinth. Shotgun sequencing of cDNA derived from leaf samples was done, and analysis showed that about 6% of the sequences obtained were of viral origin. Assembly of virus-like sequences revealed complete or partial genome sequences of 13 virus isolates representing 11 virus species. Eight of the isolates were of potyviruses, one was of a macluravirus, three were of potexviruses, and one was of a bunya-like virus. The complete genome of an isolate originally classified as ornithogalum mosaic virus was genetically divergent and differed in polyprotein cleavage motifs, and we propose that this isolate represents a distinct species. The implications of importing to Australia live plant propagules infected with viruses are discussed.


Assuntos
Doenças das Plantas/virologia , Vírus de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Plantas/virologia , Austrália , Flores/virologia , Genes Virais , Genoma Viral , Filogenia , Folhas de Planta/virologia , Vírus de Plantas/classificação , Vírus de Plantas/genética
8.
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact ; 17(4): 334-340, 2017 12 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29199195

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread clinical use of weight bearing exercises to manage low bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), previous studies have reported heterogeneous results on the effect of weight bearing exercise on BMD. PURPOSE: We performed the current meta-analysis to assess the effects of weight bearing exercise on increasing BMD in children who have CP with low BMD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase from inception through to October 2016 for studies that aims to investigate the effect of weight bearing exercise on BMD in children with CP. Following the searching result, the 118 relevant studies were reviewed and undergone selection process. Standardized mean difference (SMD), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values were calculated for analysis. RESULTS: Three studies were ultimately included in the meta-analysis: one randomized-controlled study and two case-controlled studies. No significant difference was observed in the BMD of the lumbar spine between before treatment and after treatment (SMD,0.341; 95% CI,-0.647-1.330; p=0.449) but the BMD of the femur significantly improved after applying weight bearing exercise compared to pre-treatment values (SMD, 0.916; 95% CI, 0.382-1.114; p⟨0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Weight bearing exercise has a significant effect on improving BMD of the femur in children with CP.


Assuntos
Densidade Óssea , Paralisia Cerebral/reabilitação , Treinamento Resistido/métodos , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino
10.
Transpl Infect Dis ; 17(5): 647-54, 2015 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26134140

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolones are widely used for antibacterial prophylaxis during neutropenia following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Nevertheless, data are inadequate as to whether fluoroquinolones decrease mortality rate compared with other antibiotics. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the efficacy of antibacterial prophylaxis using non-absorbable polymyxin B (PB) (n = 106) or systemic levofloxacin (LVFX) (n = 140) after allogeneic SCT at our institute between 2004 and 2013. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in the cumulative incidences of failure of prophylaxis (P = 0.21), clinically documented infections (P = 0.70), or non-relapse mortality within the first 100 days after transplantation (P = 0.42). With bacteremia, the rate of resistance to LVFX was 82% in the PB group and 100% in the LVFX group (P = 0.41). Also, no significant difference was found in overall survival between the 2 groups (P = 0.78). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate no difference in the effectiveness of antibacterial prophylaxis between systemic antibiotic LVFX and non-absorbable antibiotic PB.


Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Antibioticoprofilaxia/métodos , Infecções Bacterianas/prevenção & controle , Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas , Levofloxacino/uso terapêutico , Infecções Oportunistas/prevenção & controle , Polimixina B/uso terapêutico , Administração Tópica , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Infecções Bacterianas/imunologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Hospedeiro Imunocomprometido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infecções Oportunistas/imunologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Transplante Homólogo , Adulto Jovem
11.
Clin Radiol ; 69(6): e285-90, 2014 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24630134

RESUMO

AIM: To assess the relationship between chest computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with toxocariasis and levels of serological markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 cases of patients diagnosed with toxocariasis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), CT, and serological markers were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of nodule with or without ground-glass opacity (GGO) halo, consolidation, focal GGO, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy at chest CT were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The most common chest CT findings were nodule (n = 12, 31.6%) and focal GGO (n = 12, 31.6%). In patients with normal eosinophil levels, focal GGO (n = 9, 37.5%) was the most common finding. In contrast, nodule with a GGO halo (n = 7, 50%) was the most common finding in the eosinophilia group. Nodule with a GGO halo was more common in the eosinophilia group, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.017). Nodule was more common in the eosinophilia group, and focal GGO was more common in the normal eosinophil group. CONCLUSION: The most common chest CT findings in toxocariasis were nodule with or without GGO halo, and focal GGO. In the eosinophilia group, nodule with a GGO halo was significantly more frequent. Other CT findings did not show a statistically significant relationship with serological markers.


Assuntos
Pneumopatias Parasitárias/diagnóstico por imagem , Toxocaríase/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biomarcadores/sangue , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Eosinófilos , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina E/sangue , Contagem de Leucócitos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tomografia Computadorizada Multidetectores , Estudos Retrospectivos , Nódulo Pulmonar Solitário , Adulto Jovem
12.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol ; 28(11): 1436-41, 2014 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25493315

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated an association between psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the concurrence of the two diseases reportedly has higher morbidities in Caucasian populations. However, reports on the concurrence of psoriasis with IBD in the Asian population in the literature are scarce. Objective To analyse the characteristics of psoriasis concurrent with IBD and investigate the associated morbidity in the Asian population. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the medical records of 15 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of both psoriasis and IBD. Sixty age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched patients with a confirmed diagnosis of only psoriasis were included as controls. Both cases and controls had visited the Seoul National University Hospital or Seoul National University Boramae Hospital between 1990 and 2012. The characteristics of psoriasis, presence of comorbidity and laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared to controls with psoriasis only, cases of psoriasis concurrent with IBD had a younger age of onset, longer duration of psoriasis and a higher Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. A larger proportion of cases was treated with phototherapy, systemic therapy and biologics. However, all these differences above were not statistically significant. Cases of psoriasis with concurrent IBD showed higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels compared with the controls (both P = 0.000). Furthermore, this case group had a higher proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis and with more than one autoimmune disease as compared with the control group (P = 0.007 and 0.005 respectively). CONCLUSION: Asian patients having psoriasis concurrent with IBD exhibited different characteristics as compared with those having psoriasis only, particularly in terms of psoriasis severity, risk of psoriatic arthritis, systemic inflammatory parameters and presence of autoimmune comorbidity. However, further studies elucidating the exact pathogenesis and including a larger number of patients are required.


Assuntos
Povo Asiático , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/diagnóstico , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/epidemiologia , Psoríase/diagnóstico , Psoríase/epidemiologia , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Produtos Biológicos/uso terapêutico , Sedimentação Sanguínea , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Proteína C-Reativa/uso terapêutico , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Comorbidade , Feminino , Humanos , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/terapia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fototerapia , Psoríase/terapia , República da Coreia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento
13.
Int Nurs Rev ; 61(4): 543-54, 2014 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25358873

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: While fathers are increasingly expected to participate during their partners' pregnancies and childbirth and many studies have reported their experiences during these periods, no review studies have examined fathers' experiences and needs during pregnancy and childbirth together. AIM: To provide an overview of evidence on fathers' experiences and needs during their partners' pregnancies and childbirth to identify any gaps in the existing literature and practice. METHODS: An integrative literature review was performed to analyse and synthesize fathers' experiences and/or needs during pregnancy and/or childbirth based on articles published in CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases between the years 2002 and 2012. Only articles found in the National University of Singapore's online library collection were retrieved. RESULTS: Altogether, 25 studies (six quantitative and 19 qualitative studies) that reported fathers' experiences during pregnancy (n = 8), childbirth (n = 13) or during both periods (n = 4) were reviewed. Fathers experienced mixed feelings both during pregnancy and childbirth. They required support from their partners and healthcare professionals and wanted to be informed, involved and respected. However, more studies are needed to explore this phenomenon in different cultural contexts or care models. CONCLUSION: This review provides evidence for healthcare professionals to pay more attention to fathers when delivering perinatal care. Sociocultural-sensitive interventions should be developed to facilitate a smoother transition to fatherhood. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Father-specific information should be given to prepare fathers for pregnancy and childbirth. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should take fathers' feelings and concerns into consideration and provide family-centred care to the couple during the antenatal and intrapartum periods.


Assuntos
Emoções , Pai/psicologia , Parto/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Avaliação das Necessidades , Gravidez , Cuidado Pré-Natal
14.
Sci Total Environ ; 946: 174239, 2024 Oct 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38936723

RESUMO

Integrated renewable-based power cycles should be employed to produce more sustainable electricity. This is a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of three combined power plants, encompassing: case 1 involving combined geothermal and wind, case 2 featuring combined geothermal and solar, and case 3 integrating wind and solar systems. The base case perovskite solar cell (PSC) modelling assumes a 3-year lifespan and a power conversion efficiency of 17 %. However, diverse scenarios are evaluated through a sensitivity assessment involving enhancements in lifetime and efficiency. The base case evaluation emphasizes that the phases with the most significant negative environmental effects which includes the drilling of geothermal wells, construction of wind plants, and manufacturing and installation of PSCs. The midpoint findings indicate that boosting the power conversion efficiency of PSC from 17 % to 35 % yields a notable decrease in environmental impact. Moreover, extending the lifetime from 3 to 15 years led to reduction in CO2 emissions from 0.0373 and 0.0185 kg CO2 eq/kWh to 0.026 and 0.0079 kg CO2 eq/kWh in cases 2 and 3, respectively. Assessing worst and best-case scenarios highlights significant declines in certain impact categories. In case 3, terrestrial ecotoxicity (TE), photochemical oxidant formation (POF), human toxicity (HT), marine ecotoxicity (ME), and marine eutrophication (MU) saw reductions exceeding 88 % compared to worst-case results. The environmental effects observed in cases 2 and 3 stem from toxicity and metal depletion, mainly linked to the PSC. Endpoint results revealed that when considering a PSC lifespan of 10 years or more, the detrimental ecosystem impacts of cases 2 and 3 become less severe than those of case 1. Uncertainty assessment has been done for different cases and impact categories. The study's results are also novel in which it evaluated the innovative PSC technology when integrated with other renewable resources, contrasting it with other integrated plants.

15.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 8298, 2024 Apr 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38594329

RESUMO

The Ecological Footprint evaluates the difference between the availability of renewable resources and the extent of human consumption of these resources. Over the past few decades, historical records have shown an accelerated decline in the availability of resources. Based on national footprint and biocapacity accounts, this analysis aims to advance the forecasting of the G20 countries' ecological footprints over a 30-year time frame. We employed a time series forecasting approach implemented in Python, which included-modular regression (Prophet) and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA & Auto-ARIMA) methods. We evaluated and combined the performance of these three methods. The results indicated that among the largest economies of the G20, only four countries are projected to have a positive ecological footprint balance by 2050. These countries share the common denominator of large land areas and a moderate population growth projection. However, the overall trend of the indicator suggests that it will continue to decline.

16.
Diabetologia ; 56(1): 204-17, 2013 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23090186

RESUMO

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Many of the effects of resveratrol are consistent with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), which play key roles in the regulation of lipid and glucose homeostasis, and in the control of oxidative stress. We investigated whether resveratrol has protective effects on the kidney in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Four groups of male C57BLKS/J db/m and db/db mice were used in this study. Resveratrol was administered via gavage to diabetic and non-diabetic mice, starting at 8 weeks of age, for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The db/db mice treated with resveratrol had decreased albuminuria. Resveratrol ameliorated glomerular matrix expansion and inflammation. Resveratrol also lowered the NEFA and triacylglycerol content of the kidney, and this action was related to increases in the phosphorylation of AMPK and the activation of SIRT1-PGC-1α signalling and of the key downstream effectors, the PPARα-oestrogen-related receptor (ERR)-1α-sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Furthermore, resveratrol decreased the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt phosphorylation and class O forkhead box (FOXO)3a phosphorylation, which resulted in a decrease in B cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2)-associated X protein (BAX) and increases in BCL-2, superoxide dismutase (SOD)1 and SOD2 production. Consequently, resveratrol reversed the increase in renal apoptotic cells and oxidative stress, as reflected by renal 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), urinary 8-OH-dG and isoprostane concentrations. Resveratrol prevented high-glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured mesangial cells through the phosphorylation of AMPK and activation of SIRT1-PGC-1α signalling and the downstream effectors, PPARα-ERR-1α-SREBP1. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The results suggest that resveratrol prevents diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice by the phosphorylation of AMPK and activation of SIRT1-PGC-1α signalling, which appear to prevent lipotoxicity-related apoptosis and oxidative stress in the kidney.


Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Nefropatias Diabéticas/prevenção & controle , Rim/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Mesangiais/efeitos dos fármacos , Substâncias Protetoras/uso terapêutico , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Estilbenos/uso terapêutico , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/química , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/genética , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patologia , Ativação Enzimática/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/metabolismo , Rim/patologia , Rim/fisiopatologia , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Lipotrópicos/farmacologia , Lipotrópicos/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Células Mesangiais/metabolismo , Células Mesangiais/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Mutantes , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Substâncias Protetoras/farmacologia , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional/efeitos dos fármacos , Interferência de RNA , Resveratrol , Sirtuína 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Sirtuína 1/química , Sirtuína 1/genética , Sirtuína 1/metabolismo , Estilbenos/farmacologia , Fatores de Transcrição/agonistas , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo
17.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 20633, 2023 Nov 23.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37996607

RESUMO

Various heat pump technologies are examined from an environmental perspective using a life cycle assessment approach. The investigated heat pump systems utilize air, ground, and water as their energy sources. Additionally, an innovative heat pump powered by green hydrogen is investigated in this study, to evaluate its environmental impacts and potential to commercialise on a large scale. A range of supply chain scenarios is explored, considering the main suppliers of the UK market. The reshoring heat pump industry and supply chain are evaluated to enhance energy resilience and security within the UK. The findings indicate that the hydrogen-based heat pump presents a promising option for the UK market, offering the advantages of reducing stress on the national grid network and minimizing the environmental impacts associated with the supply chain. Furthermore, a forecasting analysis is conducted based on the UK's net-zero emission plan to provide insight into future developments.

18.
Sci Total Environ ; 896: 165178, 2023 Oct 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37392889

RESUMO

This paper aims to understand the critical areas for sustainable behavioural change on a university campus in order to achieve the net zero­carbon ambition pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery. For this purpose, the current empirical study is the first attempt to statistically examine the whole campus as a system, considering staff and student views (campus users), by developing an index measuring propensity for sustainable behavioural change to achieve a net zero­carbon campus. The novelty of this study is based on the following: (i) The impact of environmental sustainability measures due to COVID-19 is examined on three themes: physical activity routines on a daily basis, research, and teaching and learning, and (ii) the index that is compatible with quantifying the behavioural change. A multi-indicator questionnaire is used to collect empirical data for each of the three themes. Based on 630 responses, descriptive statistical analysis, normality tests, significance tests, and t-tests are performed using statistical and graphical software, and conducting uncertainty and sensitivity analyses on this quantitative data. The study found that 95 % of campus users agreed to use reusable materials on campus, and 74 % were willing to pay more for sustainable products. In addition, 88 % agreed to seek alternative and sustainable transportation for short research trips, while 71 % prioritised online conferences and project meetings for sustainable hybrid working. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the frequency of reusable material usage among campus users, as indicated by the index analysis, which showed a significant decrease from 0.8536 to 0.3921. The statistical findings show that campus users are more likely to initiate and endorse environmental sustainability measures in research and daily life than in teaching and learning, and there is no difference in their propensity for change. This research provides net zero­carbon sustainability researchers and leaders with a crucial baseline for scientific advances in the sustainability field. It also offers practical guidelines for implementing a net zero­carbon campus, engaging users from various disciplines, which has important implications and contributions.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Desenvolvimento Sustentável , Humanos , Universidades , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Exercício Físico
19.
Nanomaterials (Basel) ; 13(5)2023 Feb 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36903687

RESUMO

A radiator is used to remove a portion of the heat generated by a vehicle engine. It is challenging to efficiently maintain the heat transfer in an automotive cooling system even though both internal and external systems need enough time to keep pace with catching up with evolving engine technology advancements. The effectiveness of a unique hybrid's heat transfer nanofluid was investigated in this study. The hybrid nanofluid was mainly composed of graphene nanoplatelets (GnP), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) nanoparticles suspended in a 40:60 ratio of distilled water and ethylene glycol. A counterflow radiator equipped with a test rig setup was used to evaluate the hybrid nano fluid's thermal performance. According to the findings, the proposed GNP/CNC hybrid nanofluid performs better in relation to improving the efficiency of heat transfer of a vehicle radiator. The suggested hybrid nanofluid enhanced convective heat transfer coefficient by 51.91%, overall heat transfer coefficient by 46.72%, and pressure drop by 34.06% with respect to distilled water base fluid. Additionally, the radiator could reach a better CHTC with 0.01% hybrid nanofluid in the optimized radiator tube by the size reduction assessment using computational fluid analysis. In addition to downsizing the radiator tube and increasing cooling capacity over typical coolants, the radiator takes up less space and helps to lower the weight of a vehicle engine. As a result, the suggested unique hybrid graphene nanoplatelets/cellulose nanocrystal-based nanofluids perform better in heat transfer enhancement in automobiles.

20.
J Viral Hepat ; 19(2): e89-96, 2012 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22239531

RESUMO

Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may exhibit neuropsychological symptoms and cognitive impairment. Post-mortem studies of hepatitis C virus HCV quasispecies and replicative intermediates indicate that the brain might act as a separate compartment for viral replication and microglia may be the locus for infection and subsequent neuroinflammatory activity. We sought to use two independent in vivo imaging techniques to determine evidence of neuroinflammation in patients with histologically mild chronic hepatitis C. Using positron emission tomography (PET) with a ligand for microglial/brain macrophage activation, (11)C-(R)-PK11195 (PK11195) and cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we determined whether there was evidence of neuroinflammation in a pilot study of 11 patients with biopsy-proven mild chronic hepatitis C, compared to healthy volunteers. Patients were characterized by cognitive testing and the fatigue impact scale to assess for CNS impairment. PK11195 binding potential was significantly increased in the caudate nucleus of patients, compared to normal controls (P = 0.03). The caudate and thalamic binding potential were more significantly increased in six patients with genotype 1 infection (P = 0.007) and positively correlated with viraemia (r = 0.77, P = 0.005). Basal ganglia myo-inositol/creatine and choline/creatine ratios were also significantly elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared to normal controls (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.01, respectively). Using PET, we demonstrated evidence of microglial activation, which positively correlated with HCV viraemia and altered cerebral metabolism in the brains of patients with mild hepatitis C. This provides further in vivo evidence for a neurotropic role for HCV.


Assuntos
Encéfalo/imunologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Hepatite C Crônica/imunologia , Hepatite C Crônica/patologia , Microglia/imunologia , Adulto , Idoso , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Encéfalo/virologia , Feminino , Humanos , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Microglia/virologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Radiografia
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