Trial of Trachoma Rapid Assessment in a subdistrict of northern Nigeria

PURPOSE. To assess the usefulness of Trachoma Rapid Assessment (RA) in priority ranking of trachoma areas. METHODS. RA was conducted concurrently with a cross-sectional trachoma prevalence survey in some villages selected from the communities at risk for trachoma in the Kaita Local Government Area of northern Nigeria. The RA team consisted of two ophthalmic nurses. Pen torches and loupes were used for the examination. Data were collected on the seven components of the RA ‘information pyramid’ for all the selected villages. The data were analyzed using the RA methodology guidelines to determine the priority villages for trachoma intervention. This was compared with the ranking from the cross-sectional trachoma prevalence survey. RESULTS. The results of RA were found to be in agreement with the cross-sectional survey in 53.3% of the villages in the priority ranking of trichiasis, while in the priority ranking of active trachoma the agreement between the two methods was found to be 60%. The risk factors for trachoma were shown to be of high magnitude in all the villages using both the RA method and the prevalence survey. CONCLUSION. RA may be a more useful tool when applied to a vast area where the risk of trachoma is likely to differ greatly between different parts of the area. In the determination of the trichiasis pattern of a community by RA, it may be more useful to use the actual number of trichiasis cases in the area rather than the prevalence of trichiasis. The operational definition of some risk factor indicators seems very subjective and vague. The RA method needs more validation to sharpen the indicators used.     

A systematic review of the use of rituximab for the treatment of antibody-mediated renal transplant rejection

Rituximab is a B-lymphocyte depleting agent that is used to treat hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Recently, it has gained interest as an immunomodulatory agent in renal transplantation. This systematic review evaluates the evidence for its use in the treatment of acute and chronic antibody-mediated renal transplant rejection (AAMR; CAMR). A systematic search of four databases and three trial registries was conducted. The small number and heterogeneous nature of included studies precluded meta-analysis and thus a narrative review was conducted. A total of 28 records met the inclusion criteria (AAMR, 18 records relating to 9 studies; CAMR, 10 records relating to 7 studies). Two systematic reviews were identified that had differing inclusion criteria to this current review. Of seven primary studies in the setting of AAMR, four reported increased graft survival and one reported improved graft function with rituximab. This contrasts with CAMR in which only one of seven studies reported improved graft outcomes with a rituximab-based regimen; three studies reported inferior outcomes and three reported no difference. Only one study reported that rituximab was associated with an increase in adverse effects. The included studies suggest that rituximab may be of some benefit in the setting of AAMR but a lack of high quality evidence precludes firm conclusions from being drawn. Rituximab does not appear to reliably improve outcomes in CAMR. Further well-conducted studies are required to better define the effects and long-term safety profile of rituximab in the treatment of antibody-mediated renal transplant rejection.     

脉冲电磁场和功能矫形对大鼠下颌髁突IGF-I表达影响的研究

将２０只青春期雄性ＳＤ大鼠随机等量分为对照组,脉冲电磁场（ＰＥＭＦ）组,戴功能矫治器（ＦＡ）组及二者共同作用（ＰＥＭＦ＋ＦＡ）组,研究脉冲电磁场和功能矫治器对大鼠下颌髁突胰岛素样生长因子Ｉ（ＩＧＦ—Ｉ）表达变化。经过１０天的实验,结果发现ＰＥＭＦ和功能矫治器都可显著性增加髁突软骨细胞的ＩＧＦ—Ｉ表达,提示二者具有协同作用,为临床联合使用ＰＥＭＦ和ＦＡ进行下颌骨的矫形治疗提供了实验依据。     

Utility of a multidisciplinary tumor board in the management of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal diseases: an observational study

Background & objectives

Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTBs) are frequently employed in cancer centers but their value has been debated. We reviewed the decision-making process and resource utilization of our MDTB to assess its utility in the management of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal tract conditions.

纳米羟基磷灰石/涂层双相磷酸钙人工骨移植脊柱后外侧融合：组合磁场的辅助作用

BACKGROUND: Autologous bone is considered the main material for spinal fusion, while synthetic materials overcome the shortcomings caused by the autologous bone (complications and limited source) and become the most promising bone graft substitute materials. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) coating and combined magnetic field (CMF) on the biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) transplantation for rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion. METHODS: Forty-eight rabbits underwent bilateral intertransverse processes fusion at the level of L5-6, and were then randomly divided into six groups: rabbits in group G1 received autologous iliac bone graft and CMF treatment; group G2 was given nano-HA/BCP and CMF treatment; group G3 received BCP and CMF treatment; group G4 received autologous iliac bone graft and placebo; group G5 underwent nano-HA/BCP and placebo; group G6 received BCP and placebo. CMF treatment was performed 30 minutes each day for 8 consecutive weeks beginning at 1 week after surgery. These rabbits were euthanized at 9 weeks after surgery to evaluate spinal fusion effects through palpation, X-ray examination, CT examination, histological analysis (decalcified and undecalcified sections) and biomechanical assessment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The palpation, X-ray and histological examinations showed that there was significant difference in the fusion rate between groups G2 and G6, the highest in the group G2, and the lowest in the group G6 (P < 0.05). The bone ingrowth rate in the group G2 was significantly higher than those in the groups G3, G4 and G6 (P < 0.05). The normalized optical density index of fusion mass and bending stiffness in the group G2 were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). CT and histological observations found that new bone trabecula grew into the biological scaffold, exhibiting osseointegration. Factorial analysis showed that CMF and nano-HA coating could significantly improve the spinal fusion rate, fusion score, bone ingrowth rate and bending stiffness (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CMF combined with nano-HA/BCP for rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion can significantly ameliorate the fusion rate, which is analogous to the single autologous bone; therefore, it can be used as a new spinal fusion method.     

What is adverse effect of wireless local area network,using 2.45 GHz,on the reproductive system?

Aim: To investigate the inflammatory effect and testicular damage on rats exposed to low level of electromagnetic fields (EMF) at 2.45?GHz microwave radiation.

Methods: Twenty two Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 was the control group and not exposed to EMF. Group 2 was exposed to low level EMF (average E-field 3.68?±?0.36 V/m, whole body average SAR, 0.0233 W/kg, in 10?g tissue) at 2.45?GHz for 1?hour/day for 30 consecutive days. At the end of the study, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-32 (IL-32), C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in rat serum and IL-6, IL-10, IL-32 were measured in rat testis tissue. Furthermore, testicular tissues were evaluated histopathologically in terms of spermatogenesis and coagulation necrosis.

Results: Serum IL-6 and CRP levels were found to be significantly different in the study group compared to the control group (p?<?.05), but no significant difference was found in serum IL-10, IL-32 levels and testis tissue IL-6, IL-10, IL-32 levels compared to the control group (p?>?.05). On the other hand, histopathological evaluation of testicular tissue revealed a significant difference in necrosis and spermatogenesis when compared with the control group (p?<?.05).

Conclusions: It may be concluded that low level EMF at 2.45?GHz increases inflammation and testicular damage and negative impact on male reproductive system function.     

Relationship between Structure and Antibacterial Activity of α-Aminophosphonate Derivatives Obtained via Lipase-Catalyzed Kabachnik−Fields Reaction

We reported a new method dealing with the synthesis of novel pharmacologically relevant α-aminophosphonate derivatives via a lipase-catalyzed Kabachnik−Fields reaction with yields of up to 93%. The advantages of this protocol are excellent yields, mild reaction conditions, low costs, and sustainability. The developed protocol is applicable to a range of H-phosphites and organic amines, providing a wide substrate scope. A new class of α-aminophosphonate analogues possessing P-chiral centers was also synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of their antimicrobial activities against E. coli. The impact of the various alkoxy groups on antimicrobial activity was demonstrated. The crucial role of the substituents, located at the aromatic rings in the phenylethyloxy and benzyloxy groups, on the inhibitory action against selected pathogenic E. coli strains was revealed. The observed results are especially important because of increasing resistance of bacteria to various drugs and antibiotics.     

脉冲电磁场治疗绝经后骨质疏松症46例临床观察

目的 :对脉冲电磁场 (PEMFs)治疗绝经后骨质疏松症疗效进行观察和探讨。方法 :对本院骨科门诊相关绝经后的妇女进行骨质疏松症问卷调查及跟骨骨密度 (BMD)及相关生化项目检测而确诊为绝经后骨质疏松症患者进行PEMFS治疗 ,治疗中及治疗后观察其自觉症状改善情况及骨密度的变化 ,并与治疗前对比分析。结果 :① 10 0 %患者疼痛明显减轻 ,② 76 .0 1%患者治疗后BMD增加 >5 .6 %以上。结论 :PEMFS治疗绝经骨质疏松症可有效控制疼痛 ,提高患者存在的质量 ,对患者骨密度也有一定程度的提高