Iodixanol in Abdominal Digital Subtraction Angiography

The safety, tolerability and efficacy of iodixanol 270 mg I/ml were compared to those of iohexol 300 mg I/ml in a double-blind, randomized, parallel abdominal intra-arterial DSA phase III trial. Fifty-nine patients were included in the trial; 39 patients received iodixanol and 20 received iohexol. The mean volume of iodixanol administered was 235.8 ml (0.93 g I/kg b.w.) while the mean volume of iohexol was 254.7 ml (1.10 g I/kg b.w.). No differences in diagnostic information and radiographic density were apparent in spite of the difference in the concentration of iodine. No serious adverse events occurred. Four patients (10%) in the iodixanol group and 2 (10%) in the iohexol group experienced adverse events. Eight percent of the injections of iodixanol promoted discomfort, compared to 12%) of the injections of iohexol. An increase in S-urea and S-creatinine was seen with both agents the first day after injection, but appeared to be less pronounced with iodixanol than with iohexol. Other serum tests revealed no changes of clinical importance. Both iodixanol and iohexol were found to be effective, safe and well tolerated contrast media for abdominal intra-arterial DSA.

Multiple pterygium syndrome: Challenge for anesthesiologist

Multiple pterygium syndrome (MPS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by flexion of joint and digit contractures, skin webbing, cleft palate, deformity of the spine, and cervical spine fusion. Difficult airway is associated mainly due to micrognathia, retrognathia, webbing of the neck, and limitation of the mouth opening and neck extension. We are reporting a case of a 5-year-old female diagnosed with MPS and exhibiting a bilateral club foot and congenital vertical talus. The patient was posted for manipulation and above the knee casting under general anesthesia.

Granulomatous and Eosinophilic Rhinitis in a Cow Caused by Pseudallescheria boydii Species Complex (Anamorph Scedosporium apiospermum)

A 2-year-old Hereford cow was presented to the teaching hospital for increased respiratory noise and bilateral bloody nasal discharge. A nodular rhinitis was detected clinically, and the nasal biopsy revealed a granulomatous and eosinophilic rhinitis with intralesional fungi. The cow was euthanized due to financial constraints. Grossly multifocal-to-coalescing, raised, ulcerated firm nodules were present in both nares. Histologically, the lamina propria was expanded by intense infiltrates of eosinophils, epithelioid macrophages, multinucleate giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Associated with the inflammatory cells were variably sized, septate hyphae, 5–8 μm in diameter, admixed with numerous, terminal conidia, 6–30 μm in diameter, with a discrete outer wall identified by culture as Pseudallescheria boydii species complex (anamorph Scedosporium apiospermum). The infection was localized to the nasal cavity with no gross or microscopic evidence of a systemic dissemination.

Pharmacological Actions of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide, and Glucagon

Glucagon family of peptide hormones is a group of structurally related brain-gut peptides that exert their pleiotropic actions through interactions with unique members of class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They are key regulators of hormonal homeostasis and are important drug targets for metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and dysregulations of the nervous systems such as migraine, anxiety, depression, neurodegeneration, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The current review aims to provide a detailed overview of the current understanding of the pharmacological actions and therapeutic advances of three members within this family including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon.

The clinical development process for a novel preventive vaccine: An overview

Each novel vaccine candidate needs to be evaluated for safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy in humans before it is licensed for use. After initial safety evaluation in healthy adults, each vaccine candidate follows a unique development path. This article on clinical development gives an overview on the development path based on the expectations of various guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The manuscript describes the objectives, study populations, study designs, study site, and outcome(s) of each phase (Phase I-III) of a clinical trial. Examples from the clinical development of a malaria vaccine candidate, a rotavirus vaccine, and two vaccines approved for human papillomavirus (HPV) have also been discussed. The article also tabulates relevant guidelines, which can be referred to while drafting the development path of a novel vaccine candidate.

Ultrasonography to investigate the effect of supplementing whole milk with complex carbohydrates and specific amino acids on curd retention in the abomasum of dairy calves

AIM

To determine whether the retention time of curd in the abomasum of calves was influenced by supplementing milk with a plant-derived carbohydrate and amino acid supplement, evaluated non-invasively using ultrasonography.

METHODS

Female dairy calves aged between 2-6 days of age were sourced from a commercial farm in March 2013. All calves were fed whole milk until weaning (4 L per day); 21 calves were supplemented with a probiotic until 18 days of age, and thereafter with a plant-derived complex carbohydrate and amino acid supplement until weaning, and 22 calves were just fed whole milk. Treatment groups were balanced for age, weight and breed. At 9-14, 24-29 and 52-57 days of age, the abomasum of each calf was examined using ultrasonography immediately before and after feeding, 1 and 2 hours after feeding, and then at 30 minute intervals until curd was no longer visible in the abomasum. Abomasal volume and curd size were recorded to assess retention time of curd in the abomasum.

RESULTS

At 9-14 days of age, mean retention time of curd in the abomasum was similar (4.6 hours) in both groups. At 24-29 days of age, when the supplemented calves had been receiving the supplement for approximately 10 days, mean curd retention time was longer by 1.4 (SE 0.28) hours in supplemented compared with unsupplemented calves (p<0.001). At 52-57 days of age, mean retention time was longer by 0.7 (SE 0.34) hours compared to unsupplemented calves (p=0.05).

CONCLUSION

Using ultrasonography, changes in abomasal content could be followed non-invasively over time and it was demonstrated that the plant-derived complex carbohydrate supplement increased the curd retention time in the abomasum. We speculate that the increased retention time enables an increased availability of nutrients following a more complete digestion of milk, thereby improving animal performance.

Integrated immunohistochemical and DNA copy number profiling analysis provides insight into the molecular pathogenesis of canine follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphomas (FLs) typically exhibit a chromosome translocation that induces constitutive expression of the anti-apoptotic bcl2 protein and accumulation of additional molecular defects. This rearrangement offers a promising therapeutic target, but its nature as a fundamental driver of FL pathogenesis remains unclear as 15% of cases lack the translocation. We performed an integrated immunohistochemical and genomic investigation of 10 naturally occurring FL cases from domestic dogs, showing that, as with human tumours, they exhibit marked heterogeneity in the frequency and intensity of bcl2 protein expression. Genomic copy number aberrations were infrequent and broadly consistent with those of other canine B-cell lymphoma subtypes. None of the canine FL specimens exhibited a rearrangement consistent with the hallmark translocation of human FL, despite their remarkable histomorphologic similarity. Parallel exploration of canine and human cases may reveal alternative tumour-initiating mechanisms other than BCL2 disruption, yielding a more complete definition of the molecular pathogenesis of FL.

Agricultural wastes as a resource of raw materials for developing low-dielectric glass-ceramics

Agricultural waste ashes are used as resource materials to synthesize new glass and glass-ceramics. The as-prepared materials are characterized using various techniques for their structural and dielectric properties to check their suitability in microelectronic applications. Sugarcane leaves ash exhibits higher content of alkali metal oxides than rice husk ash, which reduces the melting point of the components due to eutectic reactions. The addition of sugarcane leaves ash in rice husk ash promotes the glass formation. Additionally, it prevents the cristobalite phase formation. These materials are inherently porous, which is responsible for low dielectric permittivity i.e. 9 to 40. The presence of less ordered augite phase enhances the dielectric permittivity as compared to cristobalite and tridymite phases. The present glass-ceramics exhibit lower losses than similar materials synthesized using conventional minerals. The dielectric permittivity is independent to a wide range of temperature and frequency. The glass-ceramics developed with adequately devitrified phases can be used in microelectronic devices and other dielectric applications.

Efficacy of modified rapid economic acetic acid-based Papanicolaou stain

BACKGROUND

Papanicolaou (Pap) staining is used with various modifications for the staining of cervical smears. It gives a good contrast with sharp nuclear features which aid in accurate interpretation. However, it utilises ethyl alcohol, which is expensive and difficult to purchase. We have attempted to devise a rapid Pap technique which uses acetic acid instead of ethyl alcohol, and yet provides good staining for correct diagnosis.

METHODS

Liquid-based cytology samples were collected from 102 patients as a part of routine screening. Two smears were prepared from each sample, which were stained with conventional as well as rapid Pap. In the rapid Pap method, the smears were fixed in methanol and dehydration was performed before and after OG6 with 0.5% acetic acid. The final dehydration was performed with methanol. Smears from both techniques were compared by two independent observers for staining quality.

RESULTS

With the rapid Pap stain, nuclear staining was comparable with that of conventional Pap (P < 0.05). Cytoplasmic staining was optimal in 69.6% of cases; however, the suboptimal staining in the rest of the smears did not pose any diagnostic problem.

CONCLUSION

The rapid Pap technique is a cost-effective alternative to conventional Pap which also saves time and provides good staining quality without compromising the diagnostic interpretation.

The effects of milking frequency on insulin-like growth factor I signaling within the mammary gland of dairy cows

In dairy cows, short-term changes in milking frequency (MF) in early lactation have been shown to produce both an immediate and a long-term effect on milk yield. The effect of MF on milk yield is controlled locally within mammary glands and could be a function of changes in either number or activity of secretory mammary epithelial cells (MEC). Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) signaling is one candidate factor that could mediate these effects, as it can be controlled locally within mammary glands. Both MEC number and activity can be affected by IGF-I signaling by activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathways. To investigate the relationship between MF and IGF-I signaling, udder halves of 17 dairy cows were milked either 4 times a day (4×) or once a day (1×) for 14 d in early lactation. On d 14, between 3 and 5 h following milking, mammary biopsies were obtained from 10 cows from both udder halves, and changes in the expression of genes associated with IGF-I signaling and the activation of the PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 pathways were measured. The mRNA abundance of IGF type I receptor, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, and IGFBP-5 were lower following 4× milking relative to 1× milking. However, the mRNA abundance of IGF-I was not affected by MF. Both IGFBP3 and IGFBP5 are thought to inhibit IGF-I; therefore, decreases in their mRNA abundance may serve to stimulate the IGF-I signal in the 4×-milked mammary gland. The activation of PI3K/Akt pathway was lower in response to 4× milking relative to 1×, and the activation of the ERK1/2 was unaffected by MF, suggesting that they do not mediate the effects of MF.

Histopathological correlation of splenic disease with radiological and surgical findings: should we incorporate splenectomy into standard procedures for disseminated Millerian adenocarcinoma?

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

To determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of both preoperative radiological and intraoperative identification of splenic disease in cases of advanced and recurrent gynaecological malignancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of all splenectomies performed during surgeries for disseminated gynaecological malignancy at the Pan Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre between May 21st, 2008 and January 31st, 2015.

RESULTS

Forty-one women were identified, most of whom had Stage 3C, high grade, serous Milllerian adenocarcinomas. Thirty-seven (90.2%) spleens were removed because of intraoperative suspicion of disease and the remaining four (9.8%) were removed following inadvertent injury. No spleens were detected radiologically that did not have obvious macroscopic disease. The PPV for the preoperative and intraoperative detection of splenic disease were 88.9% and 91.9%, respectively. Half of the spleens removed following inadvertent injury had disease identified following histopathological examination.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative identification of splenic disease correlates well with histopathological examination. However, in 50% of splenectomies performed following inadvertent trauma and where disease was not suspected, metastases were identified.

Combined and individual doxorubicin/vancomycin drug loading, release kinetics and apatite formation for the CaO–CuO–P2O5–SiO2–B2O3 mesoporous glasses

The novel mesoporous glass series based on (25 − x)CaO–xCuO–10P₂O₅–5B₂O₃–60SiO₂ (x = 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10) has been prepared using the sol–gel technique.

Acute Effect of Electromagnetic Waves Emitted from Mobile Phone on Visual Evoked Potential in Adult Male : A Preliminary Study

Electromagnetic waves (EMW) emitted from mobile phone (MP) may cause variety of ocular effects, e.g., cataract, corneal edema and lacrimation of eyes. Currently very little information is available on acute effects of EMW emitted from MP on human visual system. So, study was planned to see the effects of EMW emitted from MP on visual evoked potential (VEP). This study was conducted in 9 healthy male subjects in the age group of 20 40 years with history of exposure to MP for around 1 hour/day for the last 3-9 years. After explaining the whole procedure to the subject, written consent was taken. Recording was done on RMS EMG EP MK-2 machine, using 10/20 system of electrode placement. The electrodes were placed at Cz (active electrode), O1-O2 (reference electrodes) and Fz (ground electrode). In dark room, subject was made to sit 1 meter away from screen of TV (275/350 mm size). The black and white checks of 16/16 mm size (subtending an angle of 32 minutes of an arc) were generated on the monitor by an electronic pattern generator. The contrast between black and white checks was 67%. The checks were made to reverse at a rate of 1 Hz and 100 responses were recorded. The subject was instructed to fix on small dot at its center with one eye; and the other eye was closed with hand. Waves of VEP were recorded before and after exposure to MP kept near to right ear (as right ear was found to be dominant ear, used by subjects to hear the MP, so right eye was near to MP and had more exposure compare to left eye) for 10 min. Statistical analysis was done by student ‘t’ test. After exposure to MP in left eye, there was significant increase (P<0.001) in latency of P100 wave without affecting the latency of other waves. Although amplitude of P100– N 75 waves was reduced but not statistically significant. But in right eye, after exposure to MP, latency of N75 (P<0.001), P100 (P<0.05) and N145 (P<0.001) waves were increased without any alteration in amplitude of P100 – P75 waves. Effect on right eye was slightly different. This study suggests that EMW emitted from MP may affect the VEP.