Bone marrow imaging: magnetic resonance studies related to age and sex

Measurements of T1 and T2 relaxation values and spin density of the lumbar vertebral bone marrow were performed in 212 patients, and the results were correlated with the patients' age and sex. T1 and T2 relaxation times for bone marrow in the lumbar vertebral bodies showed a progressive decrease with age for both sexes (except for the T2 relaxation values in female patients). The replacement of hematopoietic marrow by fatty marrow could explain the decrease in T1 and T2. The T1 and T2 values were in the same range for the first two age groups (age 1-10 years and age 21-40 years) and became slightly greater for the older female patients (age 51 years and older) than for the older males. This could be due to the loss of bone and mineral content, which is more rapid and significant for women. These normal T1 and T2 values may provide a baseline for future evaluation of diseases involving the lumbar spine.     

A Study of Cases of Hereditory Ectodermal Dysplasia - A Rare Dental Anomaly

Hereditary ectodermal dysplasia is a group of disorder running in the family where more than one manifestation occurs involving skin, nail, hair, glands and teeth In the present study, five cases were detected in district of Bangalore,Karnataka and studied in detail. Out of them three were girls and two boys showing manifestation dysplasia of teeth, skin & sweat glands between the age groups of 5 years to 14 years of age. There are three girls between 5 to 18 years showing oligodentia (0.13%) in 2 girls and anodentia in one girl (0.67%) associated with periorbital wrinkling and mild mid facial hypoplasia.The other 2 were boys between 8years and 15 years of age showed oligodentia, anhydosis brittle nails with vertical ridges, and 15 years old boy also showed periorbital wrinkling. The mothers of these five patients were also studied. Consanguity along with heredity and hypertension has played a vital role in the development of ectodermal dysplasia These 5 cases were compared and correlated with available literatures.     

Unusual developing sites of dengue vectors and potential epidemiological implications

Objective

To identify the unusual breeding sites of two dengue vectors, i.e. Aedes albopictus (Ae. albopictus) and Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti).

Methods

During the second half of 2010, we performed an occasional survey in rural (Teluk Tempoyak) and urban (Gelugor) areas of Penang Island, Malaysia, to identify cryptic breeding sites.

Results

In the rural area, we found heterogeneous immature stages of Ae. albopictus in the water bowl of an encaged bird. We also observed Ae. aegypti eggs deposited in the flush tank of a toilet in the urban area.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that both breeding patterns can increase contact with hosts (humans and birds) and presumably population densities of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, thereby potentially boosting the risks for spread and transmission of arboviral diseases.     

Control of Tetranychus urticae Koch by extracts of three essential oils of chamomile,marjoram and Eucalyptus

Objective

To evaluate the acaricidal activity of extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus against Tetranychus urticae (T. urticae) Koch.

Methods

Extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus with different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% and 4.0%) were used to control T. urticae Koch.

Results

The results showed that chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) represented the most potent efficient acaricidal agent against Tetranychus followed by marjoram (Marjorana hortensis) and Eucalyptus. The LC₅₀ values of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus for adults were 0.65, 1.84 and 2.18, respectively and for eggs 1.17, 6.26 and 7.33, respectively. Activities of enzymes including glutathione-S-transferase, esterase (α-esterase and β-esterase) and alkaline phosphatase in susceptible mites were determined and activities of enzymes involved in the resistance of acaricides were proved. Protease enzyme was significantly decreased at LC₅₀ of both chamomile and marjoram compared with positive control. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) proved that the major compositions of Chamomilla recutita are α-bisabolol oxide A (35.251%), and trans-β-farersene (7.758%), while the main components of Marjorana hortensis are terpinene-4-ol (23.860%), p-cymene (23.404%) and sabinene (10.904%).

Conclusions

It can be concluded that extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus possess acaricidal activity against T. urticae.     

Correlates and trend of HIV prevalence among female sex workers attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Pune, India (1993-2002)

In India, substantial efforts have been made to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS among female sex workers (FSWs). We assessed the impact of awareness regarding safe sex in a cohort of FSWs by studying trends in HIV prevalence, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and risk behaviors measured from 1993 to 2002 in Pune, India. A total of 1359 FSWs attending 3 STD clinics were screened for HIV infection, and data on demographics, sexual behaviors, and past and current STDs were obtained. The overall HIV prevalence among FSWs was 54%. Not being married (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17 to 2.59), being widowed (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.80), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.50), clinical presence of genital ulcer disease (GUD; AOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.56), and genital warts (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 1.57 to 14.08) were independently associated with HIV infection among FSWs. The prevalence of HIV remained stable over 10 years (46% in 1993 and 50% in 2002; P = 0.80). The prevalence of GUD decreased over time (P < 0.001), whereas that of observed genital discharge remained stable. Reported consistent condom use as well as the proportion of FSWs who refused sexual contact without condoms increased over time (P < 0.001). These data collectively suggest that safe sex interventions have had a positive impact on FSWs in Pune, India.     

Healthcare resource utilization in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving first-line therapy with dabrafenib + trametinib versus nivolumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy

Objective: To compare healthcare resource utilization (HRU) between patients with metastatic melanoma (MM) initiated on first-line (1L) combination therapy with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib (D?+?T; oral) and those initiated on 1?L monotherapy with the anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies nivolumab or pembrolizumab (N/P; intravenous).

Methods: Patients with melanoma initiated on D?+?T or N/P from Q1/2014 to Q2/2016 (defined as 1?L treatment for MM) were identified in the Truven MarketScan database. Entropy balancing was used to reweight the N/P cohort in order to make it comparable to the D?+?T cohort with respect to the mean and variance of baseline covariates. HRU outcomes during 1?L therapy, reported per patient-year (PPY), were described and compared between the two cohorts post-weighting (i.e. independently of baseline covariates).

Results: Of the 445 patients included, 202 and 243 were initiated on D?+?T and N/P, respectively. After weighting, patients initiated on N/P had more outpatient visits for drug administration during 1?L therapy than those initiated on D?+?T (difference?=?18.6 visits PPY [95% CI?=?16.0–21.1]). Patients initiated on N/P also had more outpatient office visits for reasons other than drug administration (difference?=?8.1 visits PPY [95% CI?=?1.9–13.7]). No significant differences were observed for other HRU parameters (i.e. inpatient admissions, inpatient days, and emergency department visits during 1?L therapy).

Conclusions: HRU during 1?L therapy was generally similar between patients initiated on D?+?T and N/P. Nonetheless, patients initiated on N/P had more outpatient visits, including more outpatient visits for reasons unrelated to drug administration.     

3D QSAR studies on 5-(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-N-alkylthiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives as P. falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) inhibitors

Malaria is currently one of the world’s most severe endemic diseases, responsible for majority of morbidity and mortality. A large number of drugs are available for its treatment; however, the development of resistance has become more widespread with most of the frontline drug therapies. Inhibitors of PfDHODH have proven efficacy for the treatment of malaria. 3D QSAR studies on some 5-(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-N-alkylthiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives as PfDHODH inhibitors were performed by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods to rationalize the structural requirements responsible for the inhibitory activity of these compounds. The alignment strategy was used for these compounds by means of Distill function defined in SYBYL x 1.2. The best CoMFA and CoMSIA models obtained for the training set were statistically significant with q ² of 0.669 and 0.727, cross-validated coefficient (r ² _cv) of 0.603 and 0.698, and conventional coefficients (r ²) of 0.971 and 0.966, respectively. Both the models were validated by an external test set of five compounds giving satisfactory prediction (r ² _pred) of 0.799 and 0.815 for CoMFA and CoMSIA models, respectively. Further the robustness of the model was verified by bootstrapping analysis. Generated CoMFA and CoMSIA models provide useful information for the design of novel inhibitors with better PfDHODH inhibitory activity.