Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) as a prognostic marker in chronic hepatitis C infection

This study aims to assess the value of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), as a non‐invasive serum marker, for the evolution of chronic HCV infection and hepatic fibrosis. Seventy‐two patients with HCV positive serum RNA and 15 health volunteers were enrolled in this study. Out of 72 patients, 10 patients had decompensated liver with ascites. Quantitative analysis of CPS1 was performed in the harvested sera and corresponding liver biopsies using ELISA and immunohistochemistry techniques respectively. Also, mitochondrial count using electron microscopy, urea analysis and conventional liver tests were done. Patients were grouped into (F1 + F2) and (F3 + F4) representing stages of moderate and severe fibrosis respectively. Tissue and serum CPS1 (s.CPS1) correlated significantly in moderate and severe fibrosis. Patients with severe fibrosis showed significantly higher levels of s.CPS1 (p‐value ≤ 0.05) and significantly lower mitochondrial counts (p‐value = 0.0065) than those with moderate fibrosis. S.urea positively correlated with s.CPS1 only in the decompensated group, at which s.urea reached maximal levels. In conclusion, s.CPS1 is a potential non‐invasive marker for the assessment of severity and progression of HCV in relation to mitochondrial dysfunction. Also, increased s.urea with the progression of the disease is mainly due to a concurrent renal malfunction, which needs further investigation.     

Optic disc blood perfusion and oxygenation in glaucoma

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To investigate the haemoglobin concentration and oxygenation in the optic disc in glaucoma patients vs. controls. Thirty-one eyes...     

Corals & benthic habitat mapping using DubaiSat-2: a spectral-spatial approach applied to Dalma Island,UAE (Arabian Gulf)

Satellite remote sensing-based monitoring of coastal habitats, like those in the Arabian Gulf, presents a special challenge due to the attenuation of light through the turbid atmosphere and water, as well as the spectral similarity of many benthic habitats. The present study aims to evaluate the potential of DubaiSat-2 imagery in mapping corals and benthic habitat in the vicinity of Dalma Island, United Arab Emirates (UAE). To do so, this study proposes a spectral-spatial method that uses a combination of different remote sensing techniques in order to discern benthic communities with reference to their spatial distribution. This method involves multi-level segmentation, non-linear feature analysis and ensemble learning methods for the characterization of corals, benthic classes and underlying seabeds. Maximum Likelihood and Random Forest, pixel-based methods, were also used for comparison of classification performances. Comparative data are derived from published marine habitat maps. The spectral-spatial method achieves 96.60% overall accuracy. Maximum Likelihood and Random Forest classification methods are assessed to be 92.59% and 94.52% accurate, respectively. The application of the proposed method and the use of DubaiSat-2 imagery can help in achieving well-designed coastal management plans in the region.     

Compressed Air Injury of the Eyeball

Six cases of eye injury due to compressed air blast are reported in gasoline station attendants. The effect was varied — first degree burn of the eyelids, conjunctival and subconjunctival hemorrhage, traumatic mydriasis, posterior displacement of the iris diaphragm, traumatic retinal detachment, and orbital emphysema. The left eye was the one affected in all six cases. The nature of the lesion depended on the distance of the compressed air hose from the eye and the state of the eyeball prior to trauma.     

Relevant research from orthodontic journals

Abstract

The aim of this randomized, controlled, prospective study was to determine the reliability of computed lateral cephalometry (Fuji Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) in terms of landmark identification compared to conventional lateral cephalometry (CAWO, Schrobenhausen, Germany). To assess the reliability of landmark identification on lateral cephalographs, 20 computed images, taken at 30 per cent reduced radiation (70 kV, 15 mA, 0.35 s) were compared to 20 conventional images (70 kV, 15 mA, 0.5 s). The 40 lateral cephalographs were taken from 20 orthodontic patients at immediate post-treatment and 1 year after retention. The order and type of imaging was randomized. Five orthodontists identified eight skeletal, four dental and five soft tissue landmarks on each of the 40 films. The error of identification was analysed in the XY Cartesian co-ordinate following digitization. Skeletal landmarks exhibited characteristic dispersion with respect to the Cartesian co-ordinates. Root apices were more variable than crown tips. Soft tissue landmarks were more consistent in the X co-ordinate. Two-way ANOVA shows that there is no significant difference between the two imaging systems in both co-ordinates (P > 0.05). Moreover, the differences are generally small (< 0.5 mm), and are unlikely to be of clinical significance. Most of the variables attained statistical power of at least 0.8 in the X-co-ordinate while only the dental landmarks achieved statistical power of at least 0.78 in the Y-co-ordinate. Based on the results of the study: (1) computed lateral cephalographs can be taken at 30 per cent radiation reduction, compared to conventional lateral cephalograph; (2) each anatomical landmark exhibits its characteristic dispersion of error in both the Cartesian co-ordinates; (3) there is no trend between the two imaging systems, with equivocal result, and none of the landmarks attained statistical significance when both raters and imaging systems are considered as factorial variables; (4) the random error of raters in landmark identification after replicate tracing was highlighted and needs to be taken into consideration in all studies involving landmark identification.     

Peripheral neuropathy in burn patients

Neuropathy in burn patients is frequently overlooked. This study aimed at looking for neuropathies among burn patients. It included 55 burn patients, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, with variable depths of burn at different stages. Their ages ranged from 8 to 55 years with a mean age of 23.6 ± 11.1 years. All patients were submitted to clinical examination, electromyographic and motor conduction velocities of burned and unburned limbs. Serum electrolyte, blood urea and creatinine were measured for all patients. Sixteen patients (29 per cent) had peripheral neuropathy. Only six had symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy. The most frequently diagnosed neuropathy in this study was mononeuritis multiplex in nine patients (56 per cent), then generalized distal axonal neuropathy in five patients (31 per cent) and entrapment neuropathy in two patients (13 per cent). In patients with mononcuritis, 29 nerves were affected, 24 nerves related to the site of the burn and five nerves were away from the site of the burn. All the entrapment neuropathy developed after wound healing. Age above 20 years, electric burns, burns involving full thickness of the skin and a surface area of more than 20 per cent were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of neuropathy. Other parameters were not found to be significant in the development of neuropathy.