Drug eluting stents for saphenous vein graft interventions

Drug eluting stents (DES) have improved percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes for most coronary lesion subsets and have gained widespread acceptance. This practice is supported by large-scale clinical trials. Evidence for DES use for treatment of saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions is less well defined and often conflicting. Most SVG interventions are performed in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in large caliber vascular conduits with soft and friable plaque with inflammatory debris, without a fibrous cap. In this review, we provide an up to date assessment of the published evidence on DES use in PCI of SVG lesions.

Identification of sunflower (Helianthus annuus, Asteraceae) hybrids using simple-sequence repeat markers

Hybrid identification of 16 sunflower hybrids was confirmed using simple-sequence repeat methodology. Of 20 specific simple-sequence repeat primers, 18 authenticated the purity of these hybrids; the remaining two specific primer pairs gave ambiguous DNA fragments. The results indicate that simple-sequence repeat analysis for the identification of hybrids derived from the crossing of different inbred sunflower lines can improve the accuracy of selection, save time and reduce cost.

Ovine rotaviruses

Rotavirus has been recognized as a predominant cause of acute diarrhea in young animals and humans. Rotavirus has segmented genome composed of 11 segments of double stranded RNA. The virus has a triple layered protein shell consisting of a core, an inner capsid and an outer capsid. The inner capsid protein is responsible for group specificity and based on it rotaviruses are classified into seven groups. Ovine rotavirus strains have only been identified into two serogroups (A and B). The two outer capsid proteins (VP7 and VP4) are responsible for G and P typing of rotavirus, respectively. Although rotavirus has been frequently reported in many animal species, data regarding ovine rotavirus strains is very scanty and limited. Only a few ovine rotaviruses have been isolated and characterized so far. Recently, the G and P types circulating in ovines have been identified. The ovine rotavirus strain NT isolated from a diarrheic lamb in China is being considered as a promising vaccine candidate for human infants.

Ovine rotaviruses

Rotavirus has been recognized as a predominant cause of acute diarrhea in young animals and humans. Rotavirus has segmented genome composed of 11 segments of double stranded RNA. The virus has a triple layered protein shell consisting of a core, an inner capsid and an outer capsid. The inner capsid protein is responsible for group specificity and based on it rotaviruses are classified into seven groups. Ovine rotavirus strains have only been identified into two serogroups (A and B). The two outer capsid proteins (VP7 and VP4) are responsible for G and P typing of rotavirus, respectively. Although rotavirus has been frequently reported in many animal species, data regarding ovine rotavirus strains is very scanty and limited. Only a few ovine rotaviruses have been isolated and characterized so far. Recently, the G and P types circulating in ovines have been identified. The ovine rotavirus strain NT isolated from a diarrheic lamb in China is being considered as a promising vaccine candidate for human infants.

Fibrinolysis during anaphylaxis, and its spontaneous resolution, as demonstrated by thromboelastography

A large and ever-growing number of agents used in anaesthesia can precipitate acute anaphylactic reactions after their administration. Anaphylaxis is a sudden onset (or rapidly progressive), severe systemic allergic reaction, affecting multiple organ systems. The number of people who suffer severe systemic allergic reactions is increasing. The incidence is about 1-3 reactions per 10 000 population per annum, although anaphylaxis is not always recognized; therefore, certain UK studies may underestimate the incidence. In this case report, we present an episode of acute fibrinolysis associated with life-threatening anaphylaxis, demonstrated by thromboelastography (TEG) and resolving spontaneously. This is despite an added fibrinolytic insult in the form of cardiopulmonary bypass. There is a paucity of literature detailing fibrinolysis occurring during anaphylaxis, most likely due to the limited availability of TEG in the acute setting and the primary clinical focus of delivering life-saving interventions.

Biodiversity in the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) germplasm of Pakistan

Sorghum ranks fifth in worldwide economic importance among cereal crops and is one of the most important summer annual grasses of Pakistan. As it is a very diverse crop, sorghum genetic fingerprinting requires an efficient marker system. We estimated genetic divergence among 29 sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotypes, including approved varieties and local and exotic lines collected from different ecological regions of Pakistan, using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 125 RAPD loci, with an average of 66 loci per genotype, were used to calculate genetic divergence among these genotypes, of which 119 were polymorphic, showing 95% overall polymorphism. Genetic similarity ranged from 0.36 to 0.92, indicating a relatively broad genetic base. RAPD analysis revealed maximum similarity between the Indian III and K-A-113 sorghum genotypes (both exotic lines), while the F-601 and F-606 were observed to be the most diverse genotypes. Mean band frequency revealed by these RAPD primers ranged from 0.17 to 0.56, with an average of 0.36. The data presented here support the findings that RAPDs can be effectively used for studying genetic diversity in sorghum.

The fourth element: characteristics, modelling and electromagnetic theory of the memristor

In 2008, researchers at the Hewlett–Packard (HP) laboratories published a paper in Nature reporting the development of a new basic circuit element that completes the missing link between charge and flux linkage, which was postulated by Chua in 1971 (Chua 1971 IEEE Trans. Circuit Theory 18 , 507–519 ( doi:10.1109/TCT.1971.1083337 )). The HP memristor is based on a nanometre scale TiO 2 thin film, containing a— doped region and an undoped region. Further to proposed applications of memristors in artificial biological systems and non-volatile RAM, they also enable reconfigurable nanoelectronics. Moreover, memristors provide new paradigms in application-specific integrated circuits and field programmable gate arrays. A significant reduction in area with an unprecedented memory capacity and device density are the potential advantages of memristors for integrated circuits. This work reviews the memristor and provides mathematical and SPICE models for memristors. Insight into the memristor device is given via recalling the quasi-static expansion of Maxwell’s equations. We also review Chua’s arguments based on electromagnetic theory.

A comparison of topical formulations for the prevention of human schistosomiasis

Recently, a dimeticone formulation has been shown to be effective at preventing Schistosoma cercariae infecting skin, while DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), a highly effective insecticide, has been shown to have activity against cercariae. Seven formulations, 3 containing DEET, were prepared and applied to excised human skin in Franz cells for 1 h. Schistosoma cercariae were applied for 30 min at 1 and 24 h, and the number that penetrated the skin calculated (n = 9). DEET could not be incorporated into the dimeticone formulation, yet it remained the most effective at preventing cercarial penetration, both 1 and 24 h after application. The ointments that contained DEET did prevent penetration but their mode of action was due to the toxicity of DEET against the cercariae. The persistence of the protection afforded by the dimeticone formulation after washing suggests that the formulation may be interacting with the stratum corneum to prevent cercarial recognition of skin.

Factors affecting first lactation performance of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan

Abstract. To study the environmental and genetic factors affecting productive and reproductive traits, data on 5,897 cows from five main recorded herds (for 1964–2004) of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan were used. A general linear model was applied on the data. The 305-day milk yield, total milk yield, lactation length, age at first calving, dry period, calving interval and service period averaged 1,393 ± 12 kg, 1,429 ± 11 kg, 235 ± 2, 1,390 ± 4, 244 ± 3, 464 ± 3 and 1,78 ± 3 days, respectively. The age at first calving was effected by herd, year and season of birth. The 305-day and total milk yields were affected by herd, year, season of calving, age at first calving, service period and lactation length while all other first lactation traits were affected by herd, year, season of calving and 305-day milk yield. Animal model heritability estimates for these traits were 0.11 ± 0.029, 0.11 ± 0.028, 0.09 ± 0.027, 0.02 ± 0.019, 0.05 ± 0.019, 0.12 ± 0.027 and 0.04 ± 0.020, respectively. Rate of decline in first lactation milk yield was 7 l per year over the last 35 years with genetic trend close to zero. Lactation length and service period decreased and age at first calving increased by 2, 1 and 6 days per year, respectively. Herd differences for most of the traits were significant. Improved feeding and management may improve performance traits of Sahiwal cattle. Accurate recording of pedigrees and performance traits would help improve genetic param