The articular surfaces of the proximal segment of ulna: Morphometry and morphomechanics based on digital image analysis and concepts of fractal geometry

Introduction

The elbow joint is a compound joint made of articulations in between the humerus, ulna and the radius. The coupling areas (joints) are of prime importance from the kinetic-biomechanical perspective and of potential inter-ethnic significance. These articulations can be affected by several pathologies that may require medical and surgical interference. This experimental analysis aims to infer data in relation to the morphometry of the proximal segment of the ulna and its articular surfaces represented by the greater sigmoid notch (trochlear notch) and lesser sigmoid notch (radial notch).

Improving cognitive task in kindled rats by using low frequency stimulation during epileptogenesis

Numerous studies indicate that one of the bad effects of epilepsy is cognitive impairment. In this study we focused on the effect of LFS as a potential anticonvulsant agent, during epileptogenesis on cognitive impairments induced by amygdala kindling in rat. Twenty-one adult rats were divided into 3 groups including control (n?=?7), kindled (n?=?7), and Kindled+LFS (KLFS) (n?=?7). Animals in the kindled group received kindling stimulation in a rapid kindling manner (a 3 s train of 50 Hz monophasic pulses of 1 ms duration, 12 times a day) in amygdala whereas control animals had no stimulation. Four packages of LFS (each package consisting of 200 monophasic square pulses, 0.1 ms pulse duration at 1 Hz) were applied daily after termination of kindling stimulation in KLFS group. Spatial memory of all animals was tested using radial arm maze after termination of stimulation on acquisition trial days and 14 days after the final acquisition trial test. Epileptogenesis process significantly increased working and reference memory error compared to control groups whereas application of LFS immediately after kindling stimulation prevented this impairment in 8 arm radial maze and there was no significant difference between KLS and control groups. Our results indicated that application of LFS during kindling acquisition suppresses memory impairment in epileptogenesis by kindling stimulation.     

Expanding applications,accuracy, and interpretation of laser speckle contrast imaging of cerebral blood flow

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) provides a rapid characterization of cortical flow dynamics for functional monitoring of the microcirculation. The technique stems from interactions of laser light with moving particles. These interactions encode the encountered Doppler phenomena within a random interference pattern imaged in widefield, known as laser speckle. Studies of neurovascular function and coupling with LSCI have benefited from the real-time characterization of functional dynamics in the laboratory setting through quantification of perfusion dynamics. While the technique has largely been relegated to acute small animal imaging, its scalability is being assessed and characterized for both chronic and clinical neurovascular imaging.     

Genotoxicity of trichloroethylene in the natural milieu

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a suspected genotoxic and carcinogenic compound which is usually present in the air, soil and water as pollutant. To estimate the genotoxic potential of TCE in a pure chemical form as well as an ingredient of the complex sample, Ames fluctuation test using TA98 and TA100 strains and Allium cepa genotoxicity assay were performed. For the genotoxicity analysis of TCE in natural milieu, the above mentioned tests were performed on the waste waters collected from two different stations of northern India namely Saharanpur and Aligarh, U.P., and these waste waters were supplemented with 50 and 100 mg/l of trichloroethylene. TCE alone was found to be non-genotoxic by both the testing system up to the range of 1000 mg/l concentration (data not shown). However, the test water samples supplemented with 100 mg/l of TCE, exhibited a significant increase in the genotoxicity compared with control by both the testing systems. In Ames fluctuation test, Mi(f) value was found to be increased by 41% and 53% with 100 mg/l of TCE supplemented Saharanpur and Aligarh waste water samples respectively, in the presence of S9 fraction compared with their respective controls. Allium cepa genotoxicity test also showed around 25% increase in total chromosomal aberration frequency following 100 mg/l TCE supplementation. However, supplementation of 50 mg/l TCE to the test water samples could not enhance the genotoxicity to a significant extent. From these results, we can conclude that TCE itself was non-genotoxic but it may promote mutation and/or DNA damage at a concentration of 100 mg/l under certain environmental conditions. We suggest that some chemicals in the test water samples might be interacting with TCE and/or metabolite(s) to cause the enhancement in genotoxicity. The mechanism of these synergistic effects should be explored further.     

Patient-reported benefit from oculoplastic surgery

Purpose

It is vital that surgeons undertaking oculoplastic procedures are able to show that the surgery they perform is of benefit to their patients. Not only is this fundamental to patient-centred medicine but it is also important in demonstrating cost effectiveness. There are several ways in which benefit can be measured, including clinical scales, functional ability scales, and global quality-of-life scales. The Glasgow benefit inventory (GBI) is an example of a patient-reported, questionnaire-based, post-interventional quality-of-life scale that can be used to compare a range of different treatments for a variety of conditions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was undertaken using the GBI to score patient benefit from four commonly performed oculoplastic procedures. It was completed for 66 entropion repairs, 50 ptosis repairs, 41 ectropion repairs, and 41 external dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR). The GBI generates a scale from −100 (maximal detriment) through zero (no change) to +100 (maximal benefit).

Results

The total GBI scores of patients undergoing surgery for entropion, ptosis, ectropion, and external DCR were: +25.25 (95% CI 20.00–30.50, P<0.001), +24.89 (95% CI 20.04–29.73, P<0.001), +17.68 (95% CI 9.46–25.91, P<0.001), and +32.25 (95% CI 21.47–43.03, P<0.001), respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant benefit from all procedures.

Conclusion

Patients derived significant quality-of-life benefits from the four most commonly performed oculoplastic procedures.     

Effect of exposure to occupational noise and shift working on blood pressure in rubber manufacturing company workers

This study aimed to assess the relationship between shift working and occupational exposure to noise with blood pressure (BP). The study was carried out in a rubber manufacturing company in 2010. Demographic, medical and occupational information for carrying out the study were collected through direct interview. All 331 under study workers were divided into four groups according to work shift and noise exposure severity, from non-noise exposed day time workers (Group 1) to noise exposed shift workers (Group 4). Finally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were compared among these four groups. The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between average systolic and diastolic BP and hypertension (HTN) frequency in the four groups (p<0.05). The highest rate of HTN and mean systolic and diastolic BP were observed among shift workers who were exposed to noise higher than permissible limit (Group 4). Also the results of logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between simultaneous exposures to noise more than the permitted limit and shift work with HTN (p<0.05). The results of our study showed that shift working and simultaneous exposure to noise have an additive effect on occurrence of HTN. It is recommended that during periodic physical examinations of noise exposed shift workers, assessment of the cardiovascular system and BP should be done as well as the auditory system.     

Antibody persistence in mothers one year after pneumococcal immunization in pregnancy

Background

Pneumococcal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and young infants are particularly vulnerable to infection. Maternal immunization can protect infants, but there are limited data on the duration of pneumococcal vaccine antibody in pregnant women. We report on maternal antibody concentrations one year after immunization with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPS) vaccine.

Method

The Mother's Gift study randomly assigned 340 pregnant Bangladeshi mothers between ages 18 and 36 to receive either inactivated influenza vaccine (Fluarix^®) or the 23vPPS vaccine (Pneumovax^®) during the third trimester. Sera were collected before immunization, at delivery, and at one year post-delivery. We determined anti-capsular IgG antibody to 9 pneumococcal serotypes by a multiplex Luminex ELISA. We report antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) for 9 serotypes, 12 month/delivery geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and proportions seroprotected (>0.35 mcg/mL) in 23vPPS vaccine recipients and controls at delivery and at 12 months.

Results

Among pneumococcal vaccinees, GMCs remained stable, with an overall 12 month/delivery GMR of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75–0.92). In the control group, GMCs increased with a mean ratio of 1.98 (95% CI, 1.81–2.17; P < 0.0001). GMCs in these vaccinees did not decline significantly in the 12 months after antenatal immunization.

Conclusion

GMCs in these adult vaccinees and controls did not decline significantly in the 12 months after antenatal immunization. Interestingly, mothers who did not receive 23vPPS in pregnancy show a substantial increase of GMC for most serotypes in the first year after immunization. Further studies are needed to determine the need for repeat doses of 23vPPS vaccine in subsequent pregnancies more than a year later.