CdTe quantum dots as a novel biosensor for Serratia marcescens and Lipopolysaccharide

The main objective of this work is to synthesize CdTe quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with Concanavalin A (Con A) as a novel biosensor to be selective and specific for the detection of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the conjugated CdTe QDs-Con A was used as fluorescence labels to capture Serratia marcescens bacteria through the recognition between CdTe QDs-Con A and LPS of S. marcescens. The appearance of the lattice plans in the high resolution transmission electron photograph indicated a high crystalline with an average size of 4-5 nm for the CdTe QDs. The results showed that the relative fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs-Con A decreased linearly with LPS concentration in the range from 10 to 90 fg/mL and with correlation coefficient (R(2)) equal to 0.9713. LPS surrounding the S. marcescens bacteria was bound to the CdTe QDs-Con A and leads to quenching of PL intensity. It was found that a good linear relationship between the relative PL intensity and the logarithmic of cell population of S. marcescens in range from 1×10 to 1×10(6) CFU/mL at pH 7 with R(2) of 0.952 was established.

The role of oxytocin in plasticity, memory and attachment dynamics

The peptide hormones oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) have been implicated in the regulation of mammalian social behavior. There is considerable evidence implicating both oxytocin and vasopressin in social recognition and social memory. This review explores their role in attachment dynamics. Oxytocin is one element in a complex network of interactions observed in natural phenomena ranging from molecular biology, etology, social behavior and human psychology.

Segmental tracheal replacement in mongrel dogs

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of alcohol- and detergent-preserved tracheal allografts in dogs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Experimental segmental tracheal replacement was performed in 18 adult mongrel dogs. Three different techniques were tried in three groups of dogs. In the first group, a four-ring cervical tracheal segment was dissected out and implanted in the trachea of another dog. In the second group, the procedure was performed using a tracheal allograft that had been preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol for 20 days. In the third group, tracheal grafts were previously impregnated in 10% povidone iodine for 72 h before being implanted. Allografts were harvested 60 days after transplantation and assessed both histologically and in terms of the percentage patency. Dogs that died within 60 days were also included in the analysis.

RESULTS

The best results were found in the group in which the tracheal allograft had been preserved in ethyl alcohol and this was explained by the reduced antigenicity of the graft in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of alcohol-preserved allografts is a practical method of tracheal transplantation, and the alcohol-preservation technique markedly reduces the immunogenicity of the grafts.

Pharyngoesophageal pressure monitoring in sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVES

This study tests the sensitivity and the specificity of overnight pharyngoesophageal pressure measurement for identification and classification of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

Fifty-nine snoring patients undergoing polysomnography were invited to have simultaneous pharyngoesophageal manometry. We used a soft silicone catheter with 4 microtip pressure sensors at different levels.

RESULTS

The apnea hypopnea indexes (AHIs) measured by the 2 methods were highly correlated (r = 0.971). Manometry was 100% sensitive and specific in excluding OSA and identifying severe OSA. It was 90% sensitive in identifying moderate OSA and 80% sensitive in identifying mild OSA.

CONCLUSION

Overnight ambulatory pharyngoesophageal manometry is a reliable tool for the exclusion of OSA and identification of severe OSA. It has additional advantages of localizing the level of obstruction and identifying the upper airway resistance syndrome and can be performed at home. It is cost-effective when compared with polysomnography and may aid in treatment selection for individual patients.

The quality of life impact of snoring and the effect of laser palatoplasty

INTRODUCTION: Snoring is a common cause of marital disharmony and social embarrassment. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have further impact on Quality of Life (QoL). AIMS: First, to compare the impact of snoring and OSA on QoL; second, to assess the impact of laser palatoplasty (LAUP) on QoL in snorers. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort comparison of 191 snorers (mean age 46 years; 132 men, 59 women), 57 patients with OSA (mean age 47 years; 49 men, 8 women), and 105 patients, at a mean of 12 months (range, 4-24 months) after LAUP (mean age 45 years; 82 men, 23 women). All completed the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the results were compared with established NHP population norms. RESULTS: The results are shown in Table 1. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest QoL study of snorers to date and shows that both snoring and OSA have clear impacts on all six NHP domains. The magnitude of the impact in snoring approaches that for OSA for most parameters. The impact of OSA on the sleep domain in men is significantly higher than that of snoring. Energy and emotional reaction domains are significantly improved by LAUP in both sexes, to levels approaching those in the normal population. Also pain, sleep, social isolation and mobility in habitual snorers was helped by surgery. The NHP generic QoL health status measure is a useful tool for the assessment of sleep disorders.

Morphological assessment of the soft palate in habitual snoring using image analysis

OBJECTIVES

Define differences in palatal and uvular dimensions between habitual snorers and healthy nonsnoring control subjects. Document the changes in palatal configuration after different types of palatoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective controlled clinical study was performed analyzing video recordings of the soft palate and oropharynx of 251 subjects (121 habitual snorers, 79 patients after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty ([LAUP], and 51 healthy volunteers).

METHODS

The recordings were captured using a rigid endoscope with a reference measure applied to the soft palate and a mark at the junction of the soft and hard palate. Four parameters were studied in the captured pictures after correction for the distortion deformity in fiberoptic endoscopic images: 1) length of soft palate, 2) length of uvula, 3) width of uvula, and 4) distance between posterior pillars.

RESULTS

Analysis showed that habitual snorers, compared with healthy volunteers have significantly increased soft palate length (P = .00001), increased uvula length (P = .0002) and width (P = .00001), and narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus (distance between the posterior pillars) (P = .04). In patients studied after LAUP, the length of the soft palate is significantly shorter (P = .00001) than in the preoperative cohort, and the oropharyngeal isthmus is significantly narrower (P = .00001). Moreover, this latter distance is significantly narrower (P = .00001) when compared with healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS

Habitual snorers have a long soft palate, a long wide uvula, and a narrowed oropharyngeal isthmus. LAUP shortens and tightens the elongated palate and causes a further reduction in the space between the posterior pillars.

Bladder carcinoma in patients 40 years old or less

A total of 50 patients 40 years old or less presented with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1967 and 1982: 24 were 15 to 30 years old (group 1) and 26 were 31 to 40 years old (group 2). Of the patients 2 (8 per cent) in group 1 and 14 (54 per cent) in group 2 had recurrences. Invasion did not occur in group 1 but it did occur in 3 patients in group 2. Almost two-thirds of each group smoked roughly 20 cigarettes per day. It would appear that bladder carcinoma in patients 30 years old or less has a favorable prognosis but it still should be followed carefully. Disease occurring when the patient is 31 to 40 years old has a much worse prognosis and is no different from that affecting the older age groups.

Calcium excretion in metastatic prostatic carcinoma

In 64 men with prostatic carcinoma, calcium excretion per litre of glomerular filtrate (Cae) was persistently lower in those with bone secondaries than in those with soft tissue involvement only, despite a normal range of serum calcium in both groups. In three patients who showed an improvement in their bony metastases on bone scan 6 months after starting treatment, the Cae values had increased slightly but still remained in the low range. In a further five who showed no improvement on bone scan, Cae values were lower than before. In patients with prostatic carcinoma, Cae is an indicator of early changes in calcium homeostasis. It may also provide an objective indication of progression of bone secondaries.

Postcoital recovery of sperm in Douglas pouch aspirates of infertile patients

Tubal dysfunction is certainly involved in some cases of infertility. Clinical diagnostic procedures for tubal patency are occasionally misleading and contradictory. Moreover, they provide no information on tubal function. The recovery of viable sperm in Douglas pouch aspirates (DPA) was used to evaluate tubal function in 94 infertile patients with different tubal findings at hysterosalpingography (HS) and laparoscopy. Sperm recovery in DPA of ten infertile patients with poor or negative postcoital Sims- Huhner test results demonstrated the limitation of this test for evaluation of sperm transport in the female genital tract. Laparoscopic aspiration of DP may be performed in infertile patients undergoing chromosalpingoscopy as a part of their infertility investigation. The procedure should be supplementary to other available diagnostic parameters.