A dynamic interplay between phytohormones is required for fruit development, maturation, and ripening

Plant species that bear fruit often utilize expansion of an ovary (carpel) or accessory tissue as a vehicle for seed dispersal. While the seed(s) develop, the tissue(s) of the fruit follow a common progression of cell division and cell expansion, promoting growth of the fruit. Once the seed is fully developed, the fruit matures and the surrounding tissue either dries or ripens promoting the dissemination of the seed. As with many developmental processes in plants, plant hormones play an important role in the synchronization of signals between the developing seed and its surrounding fruit tissue(s), regulating each phase of fruit development. Following pollination, fruit set is achieved through a de-repression of growth and an activation of cell division via the action of auxin and/or cytokinin and/or gibberellin. Following fruit set, growth of the fruit is facilitated through a relatively poorly studied period of cell expansion and endoreduplication that is likely regulated by similar hormones as in fruit set. Once the seeds reach maturity, fruit become ready to undergo ripening and during this period there is a major switch in relative hormone levels of the fruit, involving an overall decrease in auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin and a simultaneous increase in abscisic acid and ethylene. While the role of hormones in fruit set and ripening is well documented, the knowledge of the roles of other hormones during growth, maturation, and some individual ripening components is sketchy.

Varieties of foetal congenital abnormality

The purpose of the study is to determine the type of fetal congenital abnormalities found among high risk pregnancies admitted in Fetomaternal Unit of Obs & Gynae Department in BSMMU. This is a cross sectional study done during the period July 2007 to June 2010. All the patients admitted with congenital abnormality in fetomaternal unit during this study period were included in this study. One hundred five cases had congenital abnormality of fetus among 1134 deliveries. Out of which 46.66% had CNS abnormalities and 19.04% had renal abnormalities. Out of CNS abnormalities Hydrocephalous (40.81%) was the most common, 31.42% patients were of age between 20-24 years, 69.52% patients had parity between 1-3, 35.37% had deliveries ≥ 37 weeks, 69.52% patients had vaginal deliveries, 82.89% patients were terminated by prostaglandins, 96.19% patients had no drug history other than intake of iron and calcium, 26.67% babies had birth weight between 1.1-1.5 kg and 70.4% were of male babies. Advances in ultrasound technology have made possible the prenatal identification of an increasingly large number of fetal congenital malformations. Now fetal anatomical survey is performed routinely between 18 to 22 weeks.

A painful perineal lump: an unusual case of ectopic breast tissue

We report the case of a 40-year-old lady who presented with an episodically painful perineal lump. Clinical and radiological investigations were inconclusive. Excision biopsy confirmed an ectopic breast mass. Ectopic breast tissue is difficult to diagnose but close attention to clinical findings can help to guide further investigation and diagnosis.

Effect of crystallographic texture on magnetic characteristics of cobalt nanowires

Cobalt nanowires with controlled diameters have been synthesized using electrochemical deposition in etched ion-track polycarbonate membranes. Structural characterization of these nanowires with diameter 70, 90, 120 nm and length 30 μm was performed by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The as-prepared wires show uniform diameter along the whole length and X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that [002] texture of these wires become more pronounced as diameter is reduced. Magnetic characterization of the nanowires shows a clear difference of squareness and coercivity between parallel and perpendicular orientations of the wires with respect to the applied field direction. In case of parallel applied field, the coercivity has been found to be decreasing with increasing diameter of the wires while in perpendicular case; the coercivity observes lower values for larger diameter. The results are explained by taking into account the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropies with respect to the applied field and domain transformation mechanism when single domain limit is surpassed.

Study to see the efficacy and toxicity profile of docetaxel-based chemotherapy in advanced stomach cancer in Bangladeshi patient population

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Background: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. In Bangladesh it is one of the major causes of cancer death. Advanced gastric cancer patients have a poor prognosis of 3 to 5 months. Docetaxel has shown activity against gastric cancer as monotherapy and in combination with other agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity profile of docetaxel based chemotherapy in advanced stomach cancer in Bangladeshi patient population. Methods: From January 2004 to December 2006, thirty patients with advanced inoperable gastric cancer (Gastric or esophagogastric adenocarcinoma) were included in the study. Patients received no prior chemotherapy. Patients were given docetaxel 75mg/m2 I/V in 1 hour infusion and Cisplatin 75mg/m2 (d1) plus 5-fluorouracil 750mg/m2/d (days 1 to 5) I/V with adequate hydration every 3 weeks. The primary end point was time to tumour progression. Secondary end point was overall survival and toxicity profile. Results: Among the 30 evaluable patients time to tumour progression was 11.5 months. Overall response rate was 87% (26 patients). Complete response rate was 20% (6 patients), 27% (8 patients) had stable disease, 7% (2 patients) had developed progressive disease. Two-year survival rate was 21%. Grade 3 to 4 treatment related adverse events occurred in 63%. Among the toxicities there were: neutropenia (80%), stomatitis (19%), and diarrhea (15%). There was no treatment related death. Conclusions: Adding docetaxel to CF regimen significantly improved time to tumour progression and survival rate in advanced gastric cancer patients. In context with the survival benefit the toxicities of this regimen are acceptable. Docetaxel in combination with Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is a very safe and active in patients of Bangladesh with advanced gastric cancer. Larger studies involving higher number of patients are needed to evaluate these results in case of Bangladeshi patient population.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Tuning the characteristics of electrochemically fabricated gold nanowires

We have developed different electrochemical procedures for the production of gold nanowires with variable and controllable crystallographic and morphological properties using etched ion track templates. The texture of the nanowires is tuned by the variation of the electrodeposition parameters. Potentiostatic plating at low overvoltage provides strongly (110) textured wires for diameters below 100 nm. With the increase in diameter above 100 nm, this texture decreases and the signal from ({111} planes becomes more pronounced. Under reverse pulse deposition conditions, (100) textured wires are generated. The growth mechanism is discussed in detail in terms of the surface energy minimum principle. In addition, wires are shaped in a reliable way from cylindrical to conical geometry by engineering the pore structure in the template.

Cholinesterase inhibitors for delirium

BACKGROUND

Delirium is now the preferred term to describe acute confusional states. It is experienced by 10 to 30% of all hospital inpatients. Delirium is potentially reversible and is related to several adverse outcomes, including increased hospital length of stay, poor functional status, persistent cognitive impairment, need for institutional care and probably mortality. Disruption of the cholinergic system has been proposed as a key mechanism of delirium. Cholinesterase inhibitors enhance the cholinergic system and there have been reports that they might be beneficial in treating delirium.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of delirium.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's Register of Clinical Trials (which includes records from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, LILACS and other databases) was searched for relevant randomised controlled trials using the terms: donepezil or aricept, galantamine or reminyl, rivastigmine OR exelon and tacrine OR cognex on 19 April 2005. As this Specialised Register only contains trials relating to dementia and cognitive impairment, in addition all years of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched for trials of cholinesterase inhibitors for delirium in non-demented people.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Unconfounded, blinded randomised controlled trials, published or unpublished in which treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors was administered and compared with alternative interventions in patients with delirium are included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers (RO, SK) independently assessed the quality of the studies according to parameters such as randomisation, blinding and how dropouts were managed. Each cholinesterase inhibitor was to be examined separately and together as a group. The primary outcome measures of interest are length of delirium, severity of delirium and presence and severity of behavioural symptoms (e.g. agitation and hallucinations). Other outcomes of interest include: cognition, need for institutionalisation, length of hospital admission and adverse effects.

MAIN RESULTS

There was one included trial of donepezil compared with placebo in 15 patients. No significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups was found in the duration of delirium. The mean duration of postoperative delirium for the donepezil group was 1.0 day (Standard Error 0.0) while for the placebo group it was 1.3 days (Standard Error 0.19). No other outcomes were measured for the patients who developed delirium.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is currently no evidence from controlled trials that donepezil is effective in the treatment of delirium. Further trials using cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of delirium are needed.

Development of the Dementia Quality of Life questionnaire (D-QOL): UK version

The importance of using quality of life measures for clinical practice and research in dementia is well established. Quality of life being people's perception of their position in life in context of their culture, hence the need for developing culturally sensitive quality of life measures. This study aimed at producing the UK version of the US Dementia-Quality of Life (D-QOL), a validated instrument for measuring quality of life in people with mild to moderate dementia. The study was conducted in three stages--adaptation, piloting and validation. In the adaptation stage, the US D-QOL was translated by a panel comprising lay people and researchers. In the piloting stage the draft was tested by administering it to fifteen patients with dementia and their feedback on acceptability, relevance and clarity. In the validation stage, 36 patients with mild to moderate dementia were administered UK D-QOL on two occasions with an interval of two weeks. The results showed that the UK version of D-QOL has comparable psychometric properties to the US version. We conclude that the UK version of D-QOL is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in UK population with mild to moderate dementia.