Vitrification within a nanoliter volume: oocyte and embryo cryopreservation within a 3D photopolymerized device

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics - Vitrification permits long-term banking of oocytes and embryos. It is a technically challenging procedure requiring direct handling and movement of...     

Oral and perioral herpes simplex virus infection type I in a five-month-old infant: A case report

BACKGROUNDHerpes simplex virus (HSV) is a highly infectious pathogen that is easily transmitted via the bodily fluids of an infected individual. This virus usually affects individuals older than six months of age, and rarely causes lesions or symptoms in younger patients.CASE SUMMARYWe present the case of a five-month-old healthy girl who presented with painful herpetic gingivostomatitis and perioral vesicles. We discuss the pathophysiology of primary HSV infection and the effect of maternal antibodies on the infant’s immune system. In addition, we explain the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of HSV infection in young infants. CONCLUSIONThis case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of HSV infections to decrease the risk of developing severe complications and death.     

Paediatric autoimmune liver diseases: A descriptive study of patients from Saudi Arabia

Background and study aimsAutoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) are a clinico-pathologic spectrum of disorders that share some similarities. They are formally classified as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), isolated autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC), and the overlap syndrome of these. We describe the clinical, biochemical, and outcomes data of a cohort of autoimmune ALDs patients in a tertiary care centre.Patients and methodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected in 2007–2018. All cases were 18 years old or younger at the time of diagnosis. The data collection comprised clinical, laboratory, imaging, treatment, and longitudinal follow-up data.ResultsTwenty-five patients were identified; 14 (56%) were females. Twenty-one patients (84%) had AIH-1,1 patient (4%) had AIH-2, and 3 patients (12%) had autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC). An insidious course was found in 21 (84%) cases. Acute hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure was found to be very rare. Eight cases (32%) had cirrhosis at diagnosis. A total of 20 cases (80%) had complete remission following therapy. The median follow-up period was 45 months. There was no mortality, and only one patient was referred for transplant. Thus, the transplant-free survival was 96%.ConclusionsOur study showed predominance of AIH-1 over AIH-2. Response to treatment in our cohort was found to be similar to the results found in some other key studies. Prognosis and transplant-free survival is better than many published paediatric studies.     

Tuberculous infection of the elbow joint

Tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide with musculoskeletal involvement reported to be infrequent. A resurgence of pulmonary tuberculosis is being evidenced, especially along with the increasing incidence of immunocompromised states and with this a concomitant rise in musculoskeletal tuberculosis. Unusual presentations of tubercular arthritis and equivocal investigations along with clinician inexperience can result in delay in diagnosis. The morbidity of delayed or untreated tubercular arthritis can be devastating, ending in painful ankylosis or a requirement for salvage procedures like excisional arthroplasty or arthrodesis. The early diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis can be difficult. Presentation of the disease can mimic other conditions like neoplasia, non-tubercular infections and inflammatory arthropathy. Reports of tuberculous infection of the elbow are few. We report a case of a primary tuberculous infection of the elbow joint that presented as an isolated abscess in the cubital fossa, without pulmonary or systemic involvement. To prevent considerable morbidity, a diagnosis of tuberculosis should be included in the repertoire of diagnostic possibilities when confronted with unusual musculoskeletal manifestations.     

Clinical patterns and major causes of infertility among Sudanese couples

An understanding of the medical causes of infertility is crucial in order to reduce incidences of Infertility and for improving the clinical management of infertility. Although there were much data on infertility in other African countries, no data exist on infertility in Sudan. Seven hundred and ten Sudanese couples were investigated for the infertility in Khartoum Fertility Center, Sudan: 443 (62.4%) had primary infertility and 267 (37.6%) had secondary infertility. The mean (standard deviation) duration of the infertility was 5.2 (4.3) years. A positive male factor alone was found in 257 (36.2%) couples and a female factor in 350 (49.3%) couples: eleven (1.5%) couples had a combination of male and female factors: and the cause of infertility was unexplained in 92 (13.0%) couples. Oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia were factors responsible for 16.8% and 17.5% of male infertility, respectively. Failure of ovulation (60.3%) was the most common cause of female infertility. The study revealed a high proportion of secondary infertility and a greater contribution of the female factors to infertility.     

Long Persistent Luminescent HDPE Composites with Strontium Aluminate and Their Phosphorescence,Thermal, Mechanical,and Rheological Characteristics

In this work, HDPE/strontium aluminate-based auto glowing composites (SrAl₂O₄: Eu, Dy (AG₁) and Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅: Eu, Dy (AG₂)) were prepared, and their phosphorescence studies were conducted. In HDPE/AG₁ composites, the green emission was observed at ~500 nm after the UV excitation at 320 nm. The HDPE/AG₂ has a blue emission at ~490 nm and, in both cases, the intensity of emission is proportional to the AG₁ and AG₂ content. The DSC data show that the total crystallinity of both the composites was decreased but with a more decreasing effect with the bulky AG₂ filler. The melting and crystallization temperatures were intact, which shows the absence of any chemical modification during high shear and temperature processing. This observation is further supported by the ATR-FTIR studies where no new peaks appeared or disappeared from the HDPE peaks. The tensile strength and modulus of HDPE, HDPE/AG₁, and HDPE/AG₂ composites were improved with the AG₁ and AG₂ fillers. The rheological studies show the improvement in the complex viscosity and accordingly the storage modulus of the studied phosphorescent HDPE composites. The SEM images indicate better filler dispersion and filler–matrix adhesion, which improves the mechanical characteristics of the studied HDPE composites. The ageing studies in the glowing composites show that there is a decrease in the intensity of phosphorescence emission on exposure to drastic atmospheric conditions for a longer period and the composites become more brittle.     

Effect of low-level laser therapy on the fracture healing process

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a biophysical form of intervention in the fracture-repair process, which, through several mechanisms, accelerates the healing of fractures and enhances callus formation. The effect of laser on fracture healing is controversial. Some authors affirm that LLLT can accelerate bone formation by increasing osteoblastic activity. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of laser therapy on fracture healing. Thirty rabbits were subjected to tibial bone open osteotomies that were stabilized with external fixators. The animals were divided into two study groups: laser group and control group. Callus development and bone mineral density were quantitatively evaluated by CT; the animals were then killed and the fractures were assessed for biomechanical properties. The results demonstrated that the increasing rate of bone mineral density was higher in the laser (L) group than in the control (C) group. CT at 5 weeks revealed a mean callus density of 297 Hounsfield units (HU) for the control group and 691 HU for the L group, which was statistically significant (P?=?0.001). In the L group, the mean recorded fracture tension was 190.5 N and 359.3 N for healed and intact bones, respectively, which was statistically significant (P?<?0.001). The result of the study showed that the use of laser could enhance callus development in the early stage of the healing process, with doubtful improvement in biomechanical properties of the healing bone; therefore, laser therapy may be recommended as an additional treatment in non-union fractures in humans.     

Camel milk protein hydrosylate alleviates hepatic steatosis and hypertension in high fructose-fed rats

ContextCamel milk is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus hypertension and other metabolic disorders.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the antisteatotic and antihypertensive effects of camel milk protein hydrolysate (CMH) in high fructose (HF)-fed rats and compared it with the effects afforded by the intact camel milk protein extract (ICM).Materials and methodsAdult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 8 each) as 1) control, 2) ICM (1000 mg/kg), 3) CMH (1000 mg/kg), 4) HF (15% in drinking water), 5) HF (15%) + ICM (1000 mg/kg), and 6) HF (15%) + CMH (1000 mg/kg). All treatments were given orally for 21 weeks, daily.ResultsBoth ICM and CMH reduced fasting glucose and insulin levels, serum and hepatic levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and serum levels of ALT and AST, angiotensin II, ACE, endothelin-1, and uric acid in HF-fed rats. In addition, both ICM and CMH reduced hepatic fat deposition in the hepatocytes and reduced hepatocyte damage. This was associated with an increase in the hepatic activity of AMPK, higher PPARα mRNA, reduced expression of fructokinase C, SREBP1, SREBP2, fatty acid synthase, and HMG-CoA-reductase. Both treatments lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, the effects of CMH on all these parameters were greater as compared to ICM.Discussion and conclusionsThe findings of this study encourage the use of CMH in a large-scale population and clinical studies to treat metabolic steatosis and hypertension.