Anatomical and histological morphometry of the sural nerve in human fetuses

Introduction

In our study, the aim was to anatomically and histologically investigate the morphometric structures of the branches involved in the sural nerve and sural nerve formation.

Beneficial effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on liver regeneration in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: Underlying hepatic injury and cirrhosis are leading factors that interfere with the post-operative liver regeneration and function. Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) has been reported to ameliorate the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver, to induce compensatory hypertrophy of the predicted remnant liver in rats after portal vein ligation and to augment liver regeneration after hepatectomy in non-cirrhotic rats. Our aim was to determine the effect of HBO treatment on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in normal and cirrhotic mice in this experimental study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of HBO on liver regeneration was studied in a mice model combining carbon tetrachloride induced cirrhosis and partial hepatectomy. Mice were divided into four groups: Control, cirrhotic, non-cirrhotic HBO-treated, and cirrhotic HBO-treated. All animals underwent 40% hepatectomy. Liver regeneration was evaluated by the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were measured to evaluate liver injury. RESULTS: Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly decreased in HBO-treated cirrhotic group compared to cirrhosis group after hepatectomy (P = 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively). The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was significantly higher in HBO treated cirrhotic group than in cirrhotic group after hepatectomy (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HBO treatment improves liver functions and augments hepatocyte regeneration in cirrhotic mice after hepatectomy. Post-operative HBO treatment may have a beneficial effect on post-operative liver function and regeneration in cirrhotic patients.     

Biodiesel production from candlenut oil using a non-catalytic supercritical methanol transesterification process: optimization,kinetics, and thermodynamic studies

The present study was conducted to determine the feasibility of biodiesel production from candlenut oil using supercritical methanol (scMeOH) as a non-catalytic transesterification process. The influence of the scMeOH transesterification process was determined with varying pressure (85–145 bar), temperature (260–300 °C), methanol to oil (M : O) ratio (15 : 1–35 : 1), and reaction time (15–25 min). The experimental conditions of the scMeOH transesterification process were designed using central composite design (CCD) of experiments, and the process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). It was found that scMeOH temperature, pressure, M : O ratio, and reaction time substantially influenced the transesterification process. The maximum biodiesel yield of 96.35% was obtained at an optimized scMeOH transesterification process at the pressure of 115 bar, the temperature of 285 °C, M : O ratio of 30 : 1, and reaction time of 22 min. A second-order kinetics model and Eyring equations were utilized to determine the kinetics and thermodynamics of biodiesel production from candlenut oil. The activation energy value was determined to be 28.35 KJ mol⁻¹. Analyses of the thermodynamic properties of biodiesel revealed that the transesterification process was non-spontaneous and endothermic. The physicochemical properties of produced candlenut biodiesel via scMeOH complied with most of the biodiesel properties as per ASTM D6751 and EN14214, thereby referring to good quality biodiesel production. The findings of the present study reveal that the scMeOH is an effective non-catalytic transesterification process for biodiesel production from candlenut oil.

The present study was conducted to determine the feasibility of biodiesel production from candlenut oil using supercritical methanol (scMeOH) as a non-catalytic transesterification process.     

Agenesis of the Inferior Vena Cava in H Syndrome Due to a Novel SLC29A3 Mutation

We present a 10‐year‐old girl with typical clinical features of H syndrome. Complete agenesis of the inferior vena cava was found on echocardiography and radiologic studies. Mutation analysis of the SLC29A3 gene revealed a novel nonsense mutation. This unique case extends the clinical and mutation spectrum associated with H syndrome and underlines the importance of routine cardiac screening in this disorder.     

Permeability studies of artificial and natural cancellous bone structures

In the development of artificial cancellous bones, two major factors need to be considered: the integrity of the overall structure and its permeability. Whilst there have been many studies analysing the mechanical properties of artificial and natural cancellous bones, permeability studies, especially those using numerical simulation, are scarce. In this study, idealised cancellous bones were simulated from the morphological indices of natural cancellous bone. Three different orientations were also simulated to compare the anisotropic nature of the structure. Computational fluid dynamics methods were used to analyse fluid flow through the cancellous structures. A constant mass flow rate was used to determine the intrinsic permeability of the virtual specimens. The results showed similar permeability of the prismatic plate-and-rod model to the natural cancellous bone. The tetrakaidecahedral rod model had the highest permeability under simulated blood flow conditions, but the plate counterpart had the lowest. Analyses on the anisotropy of the virtual specimens showed the highest permeability for the horizontal orientation. Linear relationships were found between permeability and the two physical properties, porosity and bone surface area.     

Obstetrical and gynaecological bleeding: a common presenting symptom

Excessive haemorrhage is one of the commonest symptom when women present to obstetricians and gynaecologists. In the majority of cases the cause is related to the primary obstetric and gynaecological pathology and is easily identified. However, less commonly, the bleeding is unexpected and due to an undiagnosed underlying coagulation defect, the commonest of which is von Willebrand (vWD) disease. Menorrhagia is a common, and may be the only, clinical manifestation of an inherited bleeding disorder. Screening 150 women with menorrhagia, vWD was diagnosed in 13% of patients and other hereditary haemorrhagic disorders in another 4%. Menorrhagia with onset at the menarche was predictive of an inherited bleeding disorder in 65% of vWD and 67% of FXI deficient patients. Therefore, testing for bleeding disorders should be considered in women with menorrhagia especially those with early onset and no obvious pelvic pathology. Childbirth and puerperium present a special risk for excessive haemorrhage. The risk of postpartum haemorrhage is very high in women with inherited bleeding disorders. In our centre, the incidence of primary and secondary postpartum haemorrhage was 22% and 11% in carriers of haemophilia 18.5% and 20% in vWD and 16% and 24% in FXI deficient women, respectively. Acquired haemophilia can be an unusual cause of severe and unexpected postpartum haemorrhage with a very high mortality rate. Unexplained postpartum and postoperative haemorrhage that does not respond to general measures should alert clinicians to the possibility of bleeding disorders as a causative factor. In addition, increased awareness among obstetricians and gynaecologists of these less common causes and close collaboration with the local haemophilia centre and availability of management guidelines are essential for optimal outcome.     

Effects of long-term solvent exposure on blood cytokine levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in house painters

The aim of this study was to examine solvent-associated effects on blood cytokine levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in house painters. Trace element (Cu and Zn) and nitrite and nitrate levels as well as protein concentrations in erythrocytes and serum were determined. Thirty male house painters and 30 male clerical workers were included in the study. There were 13 smokers and 17 nonsmokers in each group. Hemoglobin concentrations were significantly lower in house-painter blood compared to controls. House painters had significantly higher concentrations of erythrocyte protein (excluding hemoglobin), whereas no significant difference was observed between serum protein levels. Proinflammatory cytokine levels, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8, were significantly increased in house painters' sera. Interleukin-6 was below the detection limit of the assay in both groups. Interleukin-1beta and cytokine receptor interleukin 2R concentrations were not significantly affected. Furthermore, a three- to fourfold increase in nitrite and nitrate concentrations was found in house painters' sera. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities were significantly lower in house painters compared to controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, a measure of lipid peroxidation, was found to be significantly elevated. In house painters, erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase and catalase activities were elevated approximately 11- fold and 2-fold, respectively. Zinc levels were significantly decreased in house painters' sera. Smoking was not found to be a major confounder for the association between solvent exposure and blood parameters.