Arch Med Sci
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The determination of goitre prevalence in children by ultrasonography is an important tool for considering iodine deficiency disorders. Our objective was to describe measurements of thyroid volumes by ultrasonography in Egyptian South Sinai schoolchildren and compare these with the WHO/International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders normative thyroid volume criteria (WHO/ICCIDD). ⋯ Prevalence of goitre is high in South Sinai schoolchildren. The body surface area reference should be preferred to the reference based on age. South Sinai schoolchildren had larger thyroids than WHO/ICCIDD thyroid volumes, perhaps due to hard polluted water with a high fluorine level.
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The aim of this multicenter, prospective study was to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDDSE) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and depressed left ventricular (LV) function. ⋯ In patients with AS and depressed LVEF, LDDSE is a useful tool for long-term risk stratification.
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Exemestane was approved in 2005 for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to assess whether it is cost-effective in comparison to available alternatives. ⋯ Regarding current evidence and related costs in terms of Iranian pharmaceutical market prices, exemestane could not be considered a cost-effective treatment in primary and advanced breast cancer compared with available alternatives. However, more evidence is still needed for more certain decisions.
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The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) in children with aortic valve stenosis (AS) and its relationship with left ventricular mass and peak transaortic valve pressure gradient (PG). ⋯ In children with AS the balance of the autonomic nervous systemic disturbed which manifests in an increase in sympathetic and decrease in parasympathetic activity. Transaortic valve pressure gradient and myocardial hypertrophy do not influence the HRV. The SDNN reduction during the day period may indicate the risk of ventricular arrhythmia in children with AS.
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Although ropivacaine and fentanyl are commonly administered intra-articularly after knee or shoulder arthroscopy for postoperative pain control, there are no studies investigating the toxicity of ropivacaine and fentanyl on human fibroblasts (hF). ⋯ These data suggest that both drugs have a concentration-dependent effect on mitochondrial activity in hF in vitro. This effect is more pronounced with fentanyl. Because the cytotoxicity of fentanyl, without the anticipated increase of caspase-3 as an apoptosis marker, remains unclear, we cannot support fentanyl as an alternative to ropivacaine.