Molecular verification of transplacental transmission of Theileria lestoquardi in goat

Parasitology Research - Ovine and caprine malignant theileriosis (OCMT), a critical condition in small ruminant production, causes lethal infections. In September 2016, a total number of 400 goats...     

Fe3O4@Au core–shell hybrid nanocomposite for MRI-guided magnetic targeted photo-chemotherapy

Lasers in Medical Science - The combination of multiple therapeutic and diagnostic functions is fast becoming a key feature in the area of clinical oncology. The advent of nanotechnology promises...     

Methanolic extract of Chlorella vulgaris protects against sodium nitrite-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

The current study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) extract against the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity. Forty-five male Wistar albino rats were assigned into five groups (n = 9). Control group received normal saline orally for 3 months, CV-treated: administered CV extract (70 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, sodium nitrite-treated: received sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, co-treated: simultaneously received CV along with sodium nitrite treatment, orally, daily for 3 months, and CV-pre-treated: pre-treated with CV extract for 4 weeks followed by simultaneous treatment with sodium nitrite and CV extract for additional 8 weeks. Treatment with sodium nitrite significantly decreased serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations, sperm count, motility, and viability. Besides, it decreased testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while increased malondialdehyde concentration. This effect of sodium nitrite was associated with degenerative, necrotic, vascular, and inflammatory changes in testicular tissues. Treatment of sodium nitrite-intoxicated rats with CV in co-treated and pre-treated groups significantly prevented sodium nitrite-induced alterations of sperm parameters, hormonal concentrations, testicular oxidative–antioxidant status, and histological architecture. This study indicates that CV extract ameliorates the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity via improving reproductive hormonal levels and testicular antioxidant activities.     

Prevalence and causes of blindness and diabetic retinopathy in Southern Saudi Arabia

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Jazan district, Southern Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Using the standardized Rapid Assessment for Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) and DR cross-sectional methodology, 3800 subjects were randomly selected from the population of ≥50 years of age in Jazan, Saudi Arabia between November 2011 and January 2012. Participants underwent screening comprised of interview, random blood glucose test, and ophthalmic assessment including visual acuity (VA) and fundus examination. Among participants with VA <6/18 in either eye, the cause(s) of visual impairment was determined. Participants were classified as diabetic if they had previous diagnoses of diabetes, or random blood glucose >200 mg/dl. Diabetic participants were assessed for DR using dilated fundus examination. All data were recorded using the RAAB + DR standardized forms.

Results:

The prevalence of bilateral blindness <3/60 was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.74 - 3.90). Cataract was the leading cause of blindness (58.6%); followed by posterior segment diseases (20%), which included DR (7; 3.3%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was 22.4%, (95% CI: 21.09 - 23.79), among them; 27.8% had DR. The prevalence of sight-threatening DR was 5.7%.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of DM and the corresponding proportion of DR in this region is lower than that reported in other regions of Saudi Arabia. However, the prevalence of blindness not related to DR is relatively higher than the other studies.The Kingdom of Saudi (KSA) ranks seventh in the global burden of diabetes mellitus (DM), with an estimated prevalence of 23.5% for age groups 20-79 years.1 Ocular complications are quite common among diabetic patients. It is well established that within 15 years of diabetes approximately 2% of diabetics may turn legally blind, and approximately 10% may develop severe visual impairment. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the serious potential complications. It occurs in approximately 77% of the type 2 diabetics within 10 years of the diabetes onset, and almost in all type 1 diabetics.2 A global review of diabetic retinopathy reported that on average, 34.6% of all diabetic patients have some forms of DR.3 Recent studies in KSA have reported a high prevalence of DR among diabetics in different regions of the country. A recent population based study in Taif,4 in the Western region of KSA reported that 33% of all diabetics have some form of DR; while another hospital based study in the Madinah region reported the same estimate at 36%.5 With this high burden of the disease, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the Saudi National Prevention of Blindness Committee (NPBC) commissioned more studies to determine the magnitude of the problem in other regions of the vast country. Thus, a population-based survey was conducted to estimate both prevalence and pattern of DR, in addition to the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment in the Jazan district, in the Southwestern region of KSA. Jazan covers an area of 11,670 Km², and has a population of 1,533,496 inhabitants. It lies to the Southwest coast of the Red Sea and is bordered by Yemen to the south. The study adopted the Rapid Assessment for Avoidable Blindness and Diabetic Retinopathy (RAAB+DR) technique, which is a survey methodology developed by the International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (ICEH-LSHTM), London, United Kingdom.6 The RAAB+DR is a simple and cost effective cross-sectional community-based survey of persons 50 years and older, that focuses primarily on the prevalence of avoidable blindness. It estimates the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment, their causes, and magnitude of DR in a specific geographical area, usually at the district, or province level. The RAAB+DR methodology has concrete proven reliability and validity.4,7     

Comparative study of local anesthetic efficacy of 5% tramadol versus 2 %Lignocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline for extraction of fully erupted maxillary 3rd molars using infiltration anesthesia

IntroductionThe majority of dental procedures need local anesthesia for pain control, and lidocaine/ lignocaine is the most commonly used anesthetic agent in dentistry. Although effective and safest, the anesthetic agent still has some complications. To overcome these many alternatives have been used. Tramadol has been shown to have some local anesthetic (LA) effects when used for infiltration anesthesia in dentistry.MethodsIn the present study, the local anesthetic efficacy of tramadol was compared with 2% lignocaine containing 1: 100,000 adrenaline for the extraction of maxillary fully erupted 3rd molar teeth. The parameters recorded included the onset of action, duration of action, intraoperative pain, post-operative analgesic effect, and incidence of an allergic reaction. A total of 200 patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group A -Each patient received 0.6 ml of 5% tramadol (Tramataj- 50 mg prepared by Taj pharma company) 0.4 ml buccally and 0.2 ml palatally for extraction of maxillary 3rd molar as local infiltration following strict aseptic precaution. In Group B- patients received 0.6 ml of 2% lignocaine containing 1: 100,000 adrenaline buccally and 0.2 ml palatally as infiltrations.ResultsIt was found that 5% tramadol has a local anesthetic efficacy similar to 2% lignocaine with adrenaline but was found to be a comparatively weaker agent.Conclusiontramadol is a valid alternative for performing extractions in normal patients or patients allergic to lidocaine.     

Sympathetic activation triggers endogenous opioid release and analgesia within peripheral inflamed tissue

Stress induces analgesia by mechanisms within and outside the brain. Here we show that the sympathetic nervous system is an essential trigger of intrinsic opioid analgesia within peripheral injured tissue. Noradrenaline, injected directly into inflamed hind paws of male Wistar rats, produced dose-dependent antinociception, reversible by alpha(1)-, alpha(2)- and beta(2)-antagonists. alpha(1)-, alpha(2)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors were demonstrated on beta-endorphin-containing immune cells and noradrenaline induced adrenergic receptor-specific release of beta-endorphin from immune cell suspensions. This antinociceptive effect of noradrenaline was reversed by micro - and delta-opioid antagonists as well as by anti-beta-endorphin. Stress-induced peripheral analgesia was abolished by chemical sympathectomy and by adrenergic antagonists. These findings indicate that sympathetic neuron-derived noradrenaline stimulates adrenergic receptors on inflammatory cells to release beta-endorphin, which induces analgesia via activation of peripheral opioid receptors.     

Antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties of Neovastat (Æ-941), an orally active extract derived from cartilage tissue

A novel naturally occurring antiangiogenic agent isolated from cartilage, referred to as Neovastat (AE-941), was examined for its efficacy against tumor neovascularization and progression. Exposure to Neovastat results in ex ovo antiangiogenic properties in the chorioallantoid membrane of chicken embryo (71% decrease in the angiogenic index as compared to the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treated control embryos, P < 0.0001). Oral administration of Neovastat inhibits bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the Matrigel mouse model (87.5% decrease in hemoglobin as compared to the bFGF-treated control implants, P < 0.0001). Neovastat also induces a dose response decrease of lung metastases in the Lewis lung carcinoma model (oral administration; 69.1% of inhibition obtained at the maximal dose of 0.5 ml/day, P < 0.0001). Combined with a sub-optimal dose of cisplatinum (2 mg/kg, i.p.), Neovastat (0.5 ml/day) improved the therapeutic index by increasing the antimetastatic efficacy and by exerting a protective activity against cisplatinum-induced body weight loss and myelosuppression. In summary, our experimental data provide evidence of antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties of Neovastat, following oral administration.     

Interleukin‐33 Triggers B1 Cell Expansion and Its Release of Monocyte/Macrophage Chemoattractants and Growth Factors

B1 B lymphocytes are natural IgM‐producing cells primarily found in peritoneum and mucosal sites. They perform vital functions during the early defence against viral and bacterial infections. Murine B1 cells express IL‐33 receptor complex on activation. IL‐33 is a new addition to the IL‐1 family with a strong role in Th2 immunity. B1 cells have been recognized to exacerbate contact sensitivity by producing IgM and IL‐5 in response to interleukin‐33. However, the exact response of IL‐33/ST2 signalling in B1 cells is not completely understood. In this study, we report that murine B1 cells respond directly to IL‐33 in a ST2‐dependent manner. This interaction instigates B1b cell proliferation in a time‐dependent manner in vivo. Furthermore, it also mediates monocyte/macrophage and granulocyte recruitment via B1 cell release of chemokines (MCP‐1 and MIP‐1 alpha). It was noted that upon stimulation, B1b cells additionally release an angiogenic inducer vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte–monocyte colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF). Our findings suggest that these IL‐33‐mediated B1 cells might be able to play a vital role in the recruitment and growth of monocytes and granulocytes.