Detection of a new focus of Brugia malayi infection in Orissa

526 people were surveyed in a village called Chudamani, in Balasore district of Orissa, for detection of asymptomatic microfilaria (mf) carriers. Of these 36 (6.8 per cent) were cases found to harbour mf; 19 cases had Brugia malayi, 4 Wuchereria bancrofti and 5 cases had mixed infection. In 8 cases, species could not be ascertained. For the first time after 1955, a focus of B. malayi has been detected in Orissa.     

Influence of intestinal decontamination using metronidazole on the detection of methanogenic Archaea in bone marrow transplant recipients

Methane-forming microbes of the phylogenetic domain Archaea are part of the strictly anaerobic microflora of the human intestine. In bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, the regimen of intestinal decontamination with metronidazole is targeted to anaerobic bacteria. The effect on the anaerobic methanoarchaea, however, is unknown. Therefore, the faeces of patients undergoing BMT were investigated for methane production. The anoxic Hungate technique and an archaeal growth medium were used to culture faecal specimens. Methane production was measured in the head space of the culture bottles by gas chromatography using a thermal conductivity detector. In a testing serial specimen of 100 patients, 13 patients were found to bear methanogens, and 11 of these patients received metronidazole. The methane-producing faecal specimens occurred before metronidazole use in three patients, during the first week in five patients, and after cessation in three patients. No specimen of the 11 patients that was obtained during the 2nd-5th week of gut decontamination showed methane production. It is concluded that use of metronidazole directed against faecal anaerobic bacteria also suppresses or eliminates faecal methanogenic Archaea.     

Monitoring the effect of heparin by measurement of activated clotting time during and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The anticoagulant effect of heparin during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was monitored by measurements of the activated clotting time in two studies that compared the effects of a single bolus of heparin with those of a bolus of heparin combined with a continuous infusion of the drug. In a preliminary study 40 patients received a single heparin bolus of 10,000 units (protocol I) and a further 40 patients received both a heparin bolus of 10,000 and a continuous infusion of heparin at a rate of 2000 units per hour (protocol II). During the first 45 minutes, nine patients (23%) in protocol I but only two patients (5%) in protocol II were found to be inadequately anticoagulated. For 24 hours after angioplasty both groups received an infusion of heparin at the rate of 2000 units per hour which led to consistent anticoagulation in 73 (91%) of patients. In a subsequent randomised study, 40 patients received heparin according to either protocol I or II. Protocol II was again found to lead to a higher rate of adequate anticoagulation. During the first 60 minutes 11 patients (55%) in protocol I but only three patients (15%) in protocol II were inadequately anticoagulated. In addition, the activated clotting time of arterial blood in the first 30 minutes was significantly higher than that of venous blood in 70% of the patients. A bolus of heparin (10,000 units) together with an infusion of 2000 units per hour should be routinely given during coronary angioplasty. The effects of heparin, which can vary considerably from patient to patient, should be monitored by the measurement of the activated clotting time of arterial blood.     

Outcome of catheter ablation in the very elderly-insights from a large matched analysis

BackgroundAblation emerged as first line therapy in the treatment of various arrhythmias. Nevertheless, in older patients (pts), decision is often made pro drug treatment as more complications and less benefit are suspected.HypothesisWe hypothesized that different kind of ablations can be performed safely regardless of the pts age.MethodsWe enrolled all pts aged >80 years (yrs) who underwent ablation for three different arrhythmias (atrial flutter [AFL], atrioventricular nodal re‐entry tachycardia [AVNRT], ventricular tachycardia [VT]) between August 2002 and December 2018. Procedural data and outcome were compared with matched groups aged 60 to 80 years and 40 to 60 years, respectively. Periprocedural and in‐hospital complications were analyzed.ResultsThe analysis included 1191 patients (397 pts per group: 63% AFL, 23% AVNRT, 14% VT) who underwent ablation. Acute success was high in all types of arrhythmias irrespective of age (>80, 60‐80, 40‐60 years: AFL 97%/98%/98%, AVNRT 97%/95%/97%, VT 82%/86%/93%). Rate of periprocedural complications were similar in all groups treated for AFL and AVNRT. For VT ablations significant differences were noted between pts > 80 or 60 to 80 years and those aged 40‐60 years (16.1%/14.3%/3.6%). Most complications were infections and groin haematoma. No strokes, iatrogenic atrioventricular blocks and deaths related to the ablation occurred.ConclusionAblation appears safe in pts > 80 years. Success rates were comparable to matched younger cohorts. A significant difference was observed for VT patients.     

3D printable SiO2 nanoparticle ink for patient specific bone regeneration

Sodium alginate and gelatin are biocompatible & biodegradable natural polymer hydrogels, which are widely investigated for application in tissue engineering using 3D printing and 3D bioprinting fabrication techniques. The major challenge of using hydrogels for tissue fabrication is their lack of regeneration ability, uncontrolled swelling, degradation and inability to hold 3D structure on their own. Free hydroxyl groups on the surface of SiO₂ nanoparticles have the ability to chemically interact with alginate–gelatin polymer network, which can be explored to achieve the above parameters. Hence validating the incorporation of SiO₂ nanoparticles in a 3D printable hydrogel polymer network, according to the patient''s critical defects has immense scope in bone tissue engineering. In this study, SiO₂ nanoparticles are loaded into alginate–gelatin composite hydrogels and chemically crosslinked with CaCl₂ solution. The effect of SiO₂ nanoparticles on the viscosity, swelling, degradation, compressive modulus (MPa), biocompatibility and osteogenic ability were evaluated on lyophilized scaffolds and found to be desirable for bone tissue engineering. A complex irregular patient-specific virtual defect was created and the 3D printing process to fabricate such structures was evaluated. The 3D printing of SiO₂ nanoparticle hydrogel composite ink to fabricate a bone graft using a patient-specific virtual defect was successfully validated. Hence this type of hydrogel composite ink has huge potential and scope for its application in tissue engineering and nanomedicine.

3D printing of a complex and irregular virtual defect using SiO₂ nanoparticle and hydrogel composite ink for patient specific defect fabrication.     

Frühgeburt: Epidemiologie,Prädiktion und Prävention

Die Gynäkologie - Die Frühgeburt trägt wesentlich zur perinatalen Morbidität und Mortalität bei und gilt als einer der Hauptrisikofaktoren für...