Recent Articles

Longevity has always been a desire and expectation since ancient times. Exploring the influencing factors of longevity is the goal of many scholars. Longevity has spatial aggregation. The influence of natural geographical environment on longevity is the focus of research. The content and distribution of elements in environmental media are one of the important factors affecting longevity. At present, there is still a lack of systematic exposition of regional health and longevity, and a lack of overall grasp of the relationship between elements in environmental media and health and longevity. Based on the research of environmental elements and longevity in typical longevity areas, this paper explores the key dominant elements affecting longevity and provides scientific basis for improving the health level of the elderly population.

The prevalence of sleep problems in youth during COVID-19 has ranged widely across different countries from 19% to 66%. Some researchers reported different prevalence for the different types of sleep problems including difficulties initiating sleep or maintaining sleep. Others reported as many as 49% failing to meet WHO global guidelines for sleep. Surprisingly, only a few effects studies were found suggesting that stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation had occurred following sleep disturbances. In contrast, most of the research in this literature has focused on risk factors/predictors of sleep problems. Several risk factors have been noted for sleep problems in youth during COVID-19 including excessive screen time, snacking and lack of physical activity. Negative mood states were also predictors or correlates including worrying about COVID, being bored, lonely, anxious and depressed. Limitations of the literature include that many studies are cross-sectional so that causality cannot be determined, the studies are highly variable on age of the youth and assessment measures and parents have typically been the reporters of their youth’s sleep problems. Nonetheless, the literature has highlighted sleep problems in youth that can inform potential intervention protocols.

Acquired diverticula of the small intestine are formed by a herniation of mucosa and submucosa through the muscular layer of the intestinal wall. These diverticula remain asymptomatic in 60 to 70% of cases. Symptoms, when present, are not very specific and may imitate other acute intra-abdominal conditions. The etiological diagnosis is often difficult to make after initial assessment. In most cases, an exploratory laparoscopy is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. We report the case of a giant perforated and abscessed jejunal diverticulum. A review of the literature about this pathology is carried out.

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are living longer, bringing into focus the need to better understand the cognitive trajectories associated with normal and abnormal aging in this population. ….

Aim: Graves’ disease or endocrine orbitopathy (EO) is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). EO is characterized by the symptomatic triad of hyperthyroid goiter, orbitopathy, and dermatopathy. The surgical techniques used to correct EO can be fat decompression by using the Olivari technique, 3-wall bony decompression, or the combination of these surgical strategies. Fat decompression is indicated when the intraconal and extraconal fat tissue is increased, whereas bony decompression is used when there is extraocular muscle involvement associated with a normal quantity of intraconal-extraconal fat. Surgical techniques include the transconjunctival approach and ostectomy of the medial wall (when possible, through endoscopy), orbital floor, and lateral wall of the orbit. Complications of bony decompression are often represented by sensitivity disorders of the second branch of the trigeminal nerve, compressed by the intraorbital contents when they prolapse into the sinus. Possible sensitivity disorders are paresthesia, anesthesia, hypoesthesia, dysesthesia, and hyperesthesia. Methods: The technique consists of performing a mini-osteotomy around the infraorbital foramen with removal of a small bony fragment. This causes the nerve to relax and makes it easier for the descent of periorbital tissue into the maxillary sinus, allowing a larger expansion of the orbit contents. The absence of compression significantly reduces sensitive complications. Conclusion: The use of the mini osteotomy of the infraorbital foramen combined with a 3-wall bony expansion leads to a significant reduction of sensitive complications that otherwise often cause patient discomfort.

Eating problems and disorders in youth have been increasingly prevalent during COVID-19. Unhealthy eating has resulted in short-term effects like sleep problems and long-term effects including significant weight gain. Several risk factors have been noted for eating problems in these mostly parent questionnaire studies including demographics such as low income and female gender, experiences of the youth including boredom, activities of youth including excessive social media and limited physical activity and parent reinforcement for snacking. Eating disorders have worsened including symptoms and behaviors as well as medical instability and hospitalizations. Although this literature is limited by variability in sampling, measures and data analyses, it highlights the need for further research.

Cash flow based corporate finance (CFCF) model (Yilmaz,2022) determined 29 cash flow ratios and assigned them to eight functions. In this article, a new cash flow ratio was added to the cash flow ratios and then the 30 ratios were separated into three groups. Meanwhile, two of six function, financial analysis and leverage were cancelled. Their functions were distributed to the remaining functions the working capital management, capital budgeting, merger&acquisition, capital structure, dividend policy, and corporate valuation. Then, the 30 ratios were assigned to the six functions. At the last section, the six functions were explained in more detail. The 30 cash flow ratios were used 46 times while the six functions were being explained.

Any organ of the body can be affected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which is an auto immune. Patients can present with clinical features of mild joint and skin involvement to life-threatening kidney, hematologic, or central nervous system involvement. Peripheral neuropathies in SLE is not an uncommon presentation but Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is considered as an unusual and one of the least neuropsychiatric syndromes in SLE. In this case report we are aiming to report a rare association of GBS as an initial presentation for an SLE in a male patient. A 46-year-old male patient present with overlapping symptoms and required admission to intensive care unit. He was diagnosed initially as case of GBS treated with Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for five days with improvement. Patient developed overlapping symptoms of fever, palindromic polyarthralgia with active urine sediment, and proteinuria lead to diagnosis of class V lupus nephritis. Prednisolone and Mycophenolate mofetil given and he received rituximab injection for extra renal manifestation of SLE.

Zn is one of the main ore-forming elements and has important economic value. However, as a heavy metal element, excessive emission will cause serious environmental pollution. At the same time, Zn is a trace element needed for life activities, which is an important component of a variety of enzymes or coenzymes in organisms, and has great significance for biological life activities. But in high concentrations it becomes toxic and affects the health of the organism. This study is based on the first-principles calculation method of density functional theory (DFT) to accurately quantify Zn isotope balance fractionation during the internal formation of organic matter. The calculated results are as follows: Δ66/64Zn=-0.232~-3.036‰ at 25 0C. The more N and S atoms present in the donor atom, the greater the equilibrium fractionation and the greater the enrichment of lighter Zn isotopes.

Esophageal perforations (Boerhaave’s syndrome) are uncommon and potentially life-threatening conditions, while recurrent esophageal perforations are extremely rare. Esophageal perforations are generally managed surgically with Kehr’s T-tube and drains or primary surgical repair. We present a patient with recurrent esophageal perforation due to Barrett’s esophageal ulcer. He was successfully managed with an endoluminal vacuum suction drain without a sponge.