Relationship between levels of thyroid stimulating hormone,age, and gender,with symptoms of depression among patients with thyroid disorders as measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between levels of depression symptoms and age, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, and stressful life events of the participants.

Malignant glioma: the involvement of loss of allelic heterozygosity and PTEN mutations in a group of Malay patients

Frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted from chromosome 10) have been found in sporadic gliomas. The most documented regions of allelic losses include 9p21, 10q23-25 and 17p1 3 whereas PTEN aberrations are preferentially found in glioblastoma multiformes. This research aimed to detect the incidence of allelic losses on chromosomes 10q, 9p, 17p and 13q and mutations on exons 5, 6 and 8 of PTEN in malignant gliomas. Malignant glioma specimens obtained were classified histopathologically according to the WHO criteria. Each tumor was then subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-LOH analysis using microsatellite markers and single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Twelve of 23 (52%) malignant glioma cases showed allelic losses whereas 7 of 23 (30%) samples showed aberrant band patterns and mutations of PTEN. Four of these cases showed LOH in 10q23 and mutations of PTEN. The data on LOH indicated the involvement of different genes in the genesis of glioma whereas mutations of PTEN indicated the role of PTEN tumor suppressor gene in the progression of glioma in Malay population.     

A screen printed carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles as a sensitive electrochemical sensor for determination of thiamphenicol residue in milk

Antibiotic residues in milk are of great concern for health regulatory agencies, milk consumers, and dairy farmers due to their destructive effects, ranging from allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance and the ability to interfere with the production of fermented products (i.e. cheese and yogurt). Therefore, a reliable, fast, and simple method needs to be developed to monitor antibiotic residues in milk samples before distribution to consumers. In this study, the first sensitive electrochemical sensor is presented for the determination of thiamphenicol (TAP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic in bovine milk. In the fabrication process, a screen printed electrode (SPE) was modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using ethylenediamine (en) as a cross linker. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed an adsorptive control process for the electro-oxidation of TAP at −0.1 V on the modified electrode of SPE/CNT/en/AuNPs. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was applied for the quantitative determination of TAP under optimized conditions (0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 6.0, accumulation potential −0.7 V, and accumulation time 150 s). A DPV study for TAP shows a wide linear calibration range of 0.1–30 μM with the detection limit of 0.003 μM. Furthermore, the developed sensor displays high sensitivity, reproducibility, repeatability, and good stability for the detection of TAP. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of spiked TAP in bovine milk with satisfactory results.

The first portable electrochemical sensor was constructed for monitoring of thiamphenicol residue in fresh milk based on electro-oxidation of thiamphenicol on the surface of CNTs and AuNPs.     

Le vidéolaryngoscope permet une intubation avec un tube à double lumière plus rapide que le laryngoscope standard

Purpose

This study was designed to compare videolaryngoscopy with direct laryngoscopy with respect to ease of intubation when inserting a double lumen tube (DLT).

Methods

In this prospective randomized study 68 patients American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II were included. Patients with criteria indicating possible difficult intubation were excluded. The patients were randomized into two groups, depending on the tool used to facilitate intubation: videolaryngoscope (VL group) or direct laryngoscopy (DL group). The time required for intubation was the primary endpoint. Cormack and Lehane glottic visualization (CL) scores, the need for external laryngeal maneuvers and the number of attempts were measured.

Results

Glottic visualization was better in the VL group than in the DL group. The CL scores were I, II and III in 24, eight and two patients, respectively, in the VL group compared with 13, 11 and eight in the DL group (P = 0.025). Patients in the VL group required fewer attempts than the DL group (P = 0.019). Intubation time was 39.9 ± 4.4 sec in the VL group and 47.9 ± 5.4 sec in the DL group (P < 0.001). No intubation failure was noted in group VL compared with two in the DL group (not significant).

Conclusion

The use of a videolaryngoscope reduces the time required for intubation with a DLT compared with the direct laryngoscopy in elective thoracic surgery.     

Avulsion of flexor digitorum profundus combined with articular fracture of distal phalanx: a case report

Avulsion fracture of flexor digitorum profundus is uncomun and usualy related to sports injurys. IV type of Jersey finger is very rare and only few cases have been reported so far. A minimal traumatic form is reported in 34 years old patient; surgery which included open reduction and pullout fixation followed by physiotherapy, led to restoration of a full range of motion of the involved digit.     

Conversion from sirolimus to everolimus in maintenance renal transplant recipients within a calcineurin inhibitor-free regimen: results of a 6-month pilot study

AIM: To provide data on conversion of kidney transplant patients from sirolimus to everolimus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this 6-month prospective, open-label pilot study, maintenance renal transplant patients receiving sirolimus, mycophenolic acid and corticosteroids without concomitant calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) therapy were converted to everolimus 8 mg/day (8 - 15 ng/ml), and followed for 6 months. Mycophenolic acid and corticosteroid therapy were continued unchanged. Patients with acute rejection within the previous 3 months were excluded. RESULTS: 11 patients were recruited and completed the study (mean 5.1 +/- 1.8 years post transplant). Mean everolimus trough level remained within target throughout the study. Mean GFR remained stable (Day 0, 48.4 +/- 8.4 ml/min/1.73 m2, Month 6, 49.5 +/- 17.3 ml/ min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.966), as did mean renal phosphate threshold (TmPO4/GFR) (Day 0, 0.41 +/- 0.15 mmol/l, Month 6, 0.40 +/- 0.17 mmol/l (p = 0.966)). Serum phosphates increased significantly from 0.71 to 0.77 mmol/l (p = 0.01), but tubular reabsorption of phosphates and 24-h phosphaturia remained unchanged and mean PTH concentration tended to decrease. No patient died, lost their graft or experienced biopsy-proven acute rejection after conversion. There were no cases of CMV infection. Tolerability remained similar post conversion. Hematological and lipid parameters remained stable. Liver enzymes and sex hormones remained within normal ranges. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that converting kidney transplant patients receiving CNI-free maintenance immunosuppression from sirolimus to everolimus, at relatively high exposure levels, is safe and easily manageable. There was no consistent evidence for a change in GFR or proximal tubular function.