Two biochemical indicators are currently recommended for determining whether vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem: serum retinol and serum retinol-binding protein (RBP). After consideration of 40 data sets and the original rationale for previously proposed cut-offs, a cut-off for serum retinol concentration was proposed at <0.70 micro mol/L (20 micro g/dL) in > or =15% of the s...

BACKGROUND Hydronephrosis is a common congenital condition. The detection of fetal hydronephrosis by ultrasound presents a treatment dilemma. This study aims to examine postnatal follow-up and treatment for hydronephrosis diagnosed prenatally. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 210 infants with hydronephrosis diagnosed at the Qilu Hospital (Shangdong, China) between January ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Chronic subclinical volume overload occurs very frequently and may be ubiquitous in hemodialysis (HD) patients receiving the standard thrice-weekly treatment. It is directly associated with hypertension, increased arterial stiffness, left ventricular hipertrophy, heart failure, and eventually, higher mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess for the first time if the...

in most of the sugar beet cultivated areas including kermanshah, iran, late season irrigation is cut- off earlier than usual which causes drought stress in the crop. since root yield still increses in sept. and oct. these areas, withholding irrigation in this period reduce root yield and quality of sugar beet. for this reason, an experimente was conducted during 2004- 2005 based on split plot d...

Gliomas are common brain tumours, but obtaining tissue for definitive diagnosis can be difficult. There is, therefore, interest in the use of non-invasive methods to diagnose and grade the disease. Although positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorethyltyrosine (18F-FET) can be used to differentiate between low-grade (LGG) and high-grade (HGG) gliomas, the optimal parameters to measure ...

Many studies in Asia have demonstrated that Asian populations may require lower cut-off levels for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference to define obesity and abdominal obesity respectively, compared to western populations. Optimal cut-off levels for body mass index and waist circumference were determined to assess the relationship between the two anthropometric- and cardiovascular indi...

W hen a tree is felled, a process begins to maximize the value of that wood. The log is taken to a sawmill, where someone decides whether the wood is more valuable as lumber, veneer, or chips. If the log is made into lumber, boards cut from it must be edged and trimmed, a process that requires someone to decide how to trim off defective parts and make the board as valuable as possible. Then som...

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on thyroid nodule prevalence&#x0D; Methods: A total 384 patients who were followed up with Grade 2-3 Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver diagnosis investigated for presence multinodular and/or nodular goiter. Demographic characteristics, biochemical data, and abdominal ultrasonography reports collected from patie...

Promoting generic competition following patent expiration of innovator product is a key policy strategy in containing rising drug expenditure in both developed and developing countries. However, the effect of this measure on drug prices has not been specifically explored in Malaysia. This paper analyses the potential effect of generic competition on drug prices in the off-patent pharmaceutical ...