Acute Embolic Occlusion of Renal Artery after the Bentall Procedure: the Role of Primary Renal Angioplasty

Acute renal occlusion is an uncommon emergency problem in daily practice. The diagnosis is often missed or delayed not only because of its rarity but also nonspecific of clinical presentation. Sudden and complete termination of arterial blood supply to the kidney may lead to renal infarction and a complete loss of renal function. Although the need of early revascularization is uniformly recommended, but the methods has not been established. We presented a case of acute thromboembolic renal artery occlusion in patient who had a history of Bentall''s surgery. Renal infarction and artery occlusion were clearly visualized by computed tomography angiogram (CTA). The patient was successfully treated with angioplasty and stenting of main renal artery with complete disappearance of symptoms and recovery of his renal function.     

Mesenteric panniculitis does not confer an increased risk for cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a non-specific, localized inflammation at the mesentery of small intestines which often gets detected on computed tomography. An association with malignant neoplasms remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of malignancy with MP.Methods:MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published from inception to 2020 that evaluated the association of malignant neoplasms with MP in comparison with control groups. Using random-effects method, a summary odds ratio (OR) estimate with 95% confidence intervals for malignant neoplasms in MP was estimated.Results:Four case-control studies reporting data on 415 MP patients against 1132 matched-controls met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The pooled OR for finding a malignant neoplasm in patients with MP was 0.907 (95% CI: 0.688–1.196; P = .489). The heterogeneity was mild and non-significant. Also, there was no heightened risk of any specific type of malignancy with MP. Three more case-series with unmatched-control groups (MP: 282, unmatched-controls: 17,691) were included in a separate analysis where the pooled OR of finding a malignant neoplasm was 2.963 (95% CI: 1.434–6.121; P = .003). There was substantial heterogeneity in this group.Conclusion:This meta-analysis of matched controlled studies proves absence of any significant association of malignant neoplasms with MP. Our study also demonstrates that the putative association of malignancy with MP is mainly driven by uncontrolled studies or case-series.     

Theoretical investigation of the optoelectronic response of highly correlated Cu3P photocatalyst

Photocatalytic materials attract immense scientific interest due to their possible applications in energy harvesting. These applications are strongly dependent on the material''s band gap and efficient visible light absorption, which ultimately relies on the underlying electronic structure of the material. In this work, we have theoretically studied the electronic and optical response of a Cu₃P semiconductor. We have used Density Functional Theory (DFT), and the Many-Body Perturbation Theory (MBPT) based Bethe–Salpeter Equation (BSE). Cu₃P has intriguing band gap nature, as DFT predicts a semi-metallic state which was corrected by employing the Hubbard potentials. Only astronomically large values of Hubbard potentials reproduced the semiconducting state of Cu₃P. The optical response of the material is computed within a Random Phase Approximation (RPA) and using the BSE on top of DFT+U wavefunctions and on the ground state computed with the PBE0 functional. The BSE captures the excitonic physics, and the optical absorption obtained from it was red-shifted compared to the RPA, which shows the significance of electron–hole interactions in Cu₃P. The comparison of the BSE with experiments suggests that BSE@PBE0 reproduces the optical absorption much more closely to the experimental data.

The optical absorption from BSE@PBE0 is in better agreement with the experiment than BSE@DFT+U. The electron–hole interaction and strong correlation between electrons play a vital role in the optoelectronic response of Cu₃P.     

Predicting Compressive and Splitting Tensile Strengths of Silica Fume Concrete Using M5P Model Tree Algorithm

Compressive strength (CS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) are paramount parameters in the design of reinforced concrete structures and are required by pertinent standard provisions. Robust prediction models for these properties can save time and cost by reducing the number of laboratory trial batches and experiments needed to generate suitable design data. Silica fume (SF) is often used in concrete owing to its substantial enhancements of the engineering properties of concrete and its environmental benefits. In the present study, the M5P model tree algorithm was used to develop models for the prediction of the CS and STS of concrete incorporating SF. Accordingly, large databases comprising 796 data points for CS and 156 data records for STS were compiled from peer-reviewed published literature. The predictions of the M5P models were compared with linear regression analysis and gene expression programming. Different statistical metrics, including the coefficient of determination, correlation coefficient, root mean squared error, mean absolute error, relative squared error, and discrepancy ratio, were deployed to appraise the performance of the developed models. Moreover, parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of different input parameters, such as the SF content, water-to-binder ratio, and age of the specimen, on the CS and STS. The trained models offer a rapid and accurate tool that can assist the designer in the effective proportioning of silica fume concrete.     

Effects of DDT on Amyloid Precursor Protein Levels and Amyloid Beta Pathology: Mechanistic Links to Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Background: The interaction of aging-related, genetic, and environmental factors is thought to contribute to the etiology of late-onset, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously reported that serum levels of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), a long-lasting metabolite of the organochlorine pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), were significantly elevated in patients with AD and associated with the risk of AD diagnosis. However, the mechanism by which DDT may contribute to AD pathogenesis is unknown.Objectives: This study sought to assess effects of DDT exposure on the amyloid pathway in multiple in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: Cultured cells (SH-SY5Y and primary neurons), transgenic flies overexpressing amyloid beta (Aβ), and C57BL/6J and 3xTG-AD mice were treated with DDT to assess impacts on the amyloid pathway. Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, multiplex assay, western immunoblotting and immunohistochemical methods were used to assess the effects of DDT on amyloid precursor protein (APP) and other contributors to amyloid processing and deposition.Results: Exposure to DDT revealed significantly higher APP mRNA and protein levels in immortalized and primary neurons, as well as in wild-type and AD-models. This was accompanied by higher levels of secreted Aβ in SH-SY5Y cells, an effect abolished by the sodium channel antagonist tetrodotoxin. Transgenic flies and 3xTG-AD mice had more Aβ pathology following DDT exposure. Furthermore, loss of the synaptic markers synaptophysin and PSD95 were observed in the cortex of the brains of 3xTG-AD mice.Discussion: Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease risk involves contributions from genetic and environmental factors. Here, we used multiple model systems, including primary neurons, transgenic flies, and mice to demonstrate the effects of DDT on APP and its pathological product Aβ. These data, combined with our previous epidemiological findings, provide a mechanistic framework by which DDT exposure may contribute to increased risk of AD by impacting the amyloid pathway. https://doi.org/10.1289/{"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"EHP10576","term_id":"372009961","term_text":"EHP10576"}}EHP10576     

Mapping the global literature output on nocturia: A bibliometric and visualized analysis

Purpose:This study aims to facilitate researchers’ and clinicians’ understanding of research frontiers and trends in nocturia. It explores the scientific research outcomes and key bibliometric indices and plots global research on nocturia.Methods:A bibliometric retrospective study was designed, and an online search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database using the potential search keywords related to nocturia in the title field with some specific filtration. HistCite™ and VOSviewer software for windows were used to analyze the data obtained for authors, journals, countries, institutions, keywords, and visualization mapping.Results:The initial search retrieved 1479 hits. A total of 1445 publications were included in the final analysis. Of these, 43.53% were published as articles. The most studied area in nocturia is urology nephrology. The most productive year was 2019 (n = 121, citations = 335), and the most prolific author, both in terms of publications (n = 97) and citations (1658) was Weiss JP. The most cited journal in nocturia research was the Journal of Urology (n = 293, citations = 3050). The most widely used keyword in nocturia publications was nocturia (n = 1249). Visualization mapping shows that the USA was the most influential and highly cited country in nocturia research.Conclusion:This study showed that there has been an increasing research trend in nocturia over the past few years. The current findings provide important empirical evidence for researchers, clinicians, and physicians to understand research frontiers and trends, achievements, collaborative networks, and hotspot research topics in the research field of nocturia.     

An account of the botanical anthelmintics used in traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed at documentation of botanical anthelmintics used in the traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In rapid rural appraisal, 331 traditional veterinary healers (TVH) were identified as key respondents in the study area followed by participatory rural appraisal for data collection using a well-structured questionnaire. Information was collected through interviews, focused group discussions and field visits over a period of 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 49 traditional recipes, with 41 plant species representing 39 genera and 27 families, were recorded for the treatment of helminthosis in animals. Most frequently used plants (>/=5 times) were Brassica campestris L. and Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell.-Arg. and most frequently used families (>/=5 times) were Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. Most frequently used part of the plant was leaves (n=10) followed in order by seeds (n=9), whole fruit (n=5), aerial parts and whole plant (n=4), fruit (n=3), bulb (n=2) and bark, rhizome, stem, stem plus root and twigs (n=1). Five recipes out of 49 (10.2%) contained more than one plant species and rest 44 (89.8%) contained single plant species. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty out of 41 plants (48.78%) are reported for the first time for their traditional use as anthelmintics in Pakistan. Further studies on pharmacokinetics using scientific procedures may prove these plants as promising candidates for their future use as anthelmintics.     

The nature of intrauterine adhesions following reproductive hysteroscopic surgery as determined by early and late follow-up hysteroscopy: clinical implications

Objective To evaluate the rate and characteristics of postoperative intrauterine adhesions (IUA) that might be formed following hysteroscopic reproductive surgery from both a gross and a histologic perspective as determined by early and late follow-up diagnostic hysteroscopy. Methods Retrospective analysis of 61 women wishing a pregnancy and suffering from a significant intrauterine pathology affecting their reproductive outcome were reviewed. All patients were treated hysteroscopically. Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to perform a follow-up diagnostic hysteroscopy at a variable intervals from their initial surgery. Multiple hysteroscopic-guided biopsies from IUA, when present, were obtained in several cases. Twenty patients were in the early group and had follow-up hysteroscopy performed 2–4 weeks after the initial operation. The late diagnostic group consisted of 41 patients with follow-up hysteroscopy at about 12 months (8–16 months). The two groups were similar to composition. Postoperatively, none of the early diagnostic group underwent hysterosalpingography (HSG) whereas all of the late group performed HSG 4 months following the initial surgery, which showed at least one-third of the cavity free of adhesions. When adhesions were present, no effort was made to lyse them. Results At follow-up hysteroscopy, 25% of both groups had no significant adhesions. Grade I adhesions (thin, filmy) occurred in 60% of the early hysteroscopy patients and in only 12% of the late group (P < 0.05). Grade II adhesions were present in 10% of the early group and in up to 41% in the late group (P < 0.05), whereas Grade III adhesions were present in only 5% of the early hysteroscopy group, but in 22% of the late one (P < 0.05). Correlation between hysteroscopic and histologic findings were good in most of cases in both groups. Follow-up to determine the subsequent reproductive outcome revealed similar conception rates in both groups. Conclusion The IUA that might be formed immediately following hysteroscopic reproductive surgery are histologically different from those appearing a longer time after the original operation. Routine early follow-up hysteroscopy can influence the prognosis resulting from the original surgery.     

Kiwi Omnicup versus Malmstrom metal cup in vacuum assisted delivery: a randomized comparative trial

AIM: To compare the success, clinical outcomes, and maternal and neonatal complications between the Kiwi Omnicup and the Malmstrom metal cup in vacuum assisted delivery. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized comparative trial. Women who required vacuum assisted vaginal delivery were randomized into the Kiwi Omnicup (KO) group and the Malmstrom metal cup (MM) group. The vacuum assisted deliveries were conducted according to hospital protocol. Details of the procedure and delivery outcomes including success and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four women were recruited - 85 were assigned to vacuum assisted delivery using the KO and 79 the MM. One hundred percent delivery success was achieved with no significant differences between the two instruments in terms of maternal morbidity (P = 0.66). Six women in the MM group sustained post delivery complications in comparison to five in the KO group. Three babies were diagnosed with birth asphyxia in each group. More babies in the MM group were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (10 babies versus 5 babies) and suffered complications (14 versus 12 babies), compared to the KO group, although the difference was not statistically significant. There were no intrapartum or neonatal deaths and of those admitted to the NICU, all were discharged within a week without any serious consequences. CONCLUSION: Kiwi Omnicup is an effective alternative to the currently available Malmstrom metal cup for vacuum assisted delivery with no increase in maternal or neonatal morbidity or mortality.     

Effect of Carbon Nanofibers on Physical,Adhesion and Rheological Properties of Liquid Epoxidized Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the performance of liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR)-modified asphalt. The physical, adhesion and rheological properties were determined by several tests such as penetration, elastic recovery, ring and ball softening point, Brookfield rotational viscometer, AFM and dynamic shear rheometer. LENR was used at concentrations of 3, 6, and 9%, while CNFs were used at contents of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% by weight of asphalt. Conventional test results showed that the increases in LENR and LENR/CNFs composite contents in binder leads to an increase in the hardness and consistency and a reduction in the temperature susceptibility of base asphalt. Adhesion results revealed that the addition of CNFs significantly increases the adhesion and bonding properties of base and rubberized binders. Rheological properties analysis exhibited that LENR improved the viscoelastic properties and permanent deformation resistance of asphalt at different temperatures and frequencies. On the other hand, it was found that the addition of CNFs significantly improves the stiffness, elasticity, and hardness of LENR-modified binders. The 6% LENR and 0.4% CNFs were found to be the optimum to enhance the physical, adhesion, and rheological properties of asphalt in this study. Thus, it can be stated that the addition of CNFs is promising to improve the performance of rubberized binders for high temperature applications.