Prophylactic use of chlorpromazine to improve survival of random skin flaps in pigs

On the basis of earlier success in rat studies, chlorpromazine was evaluated as a probable agent for improving survival of random skin flaps in pigs. The aim was to exclude the possibility that the effect of the chlorpromazine is species specific and to find out if it is dose dependent. One hundred and five dorsally-based 12×4 cm flaps were raised unilaterally on the backs of 15 pigs. The animals were divided into three groups using 15 mg/kg chlorpromazine, 7.5 mg/kg chlorpromazine, and a saline-treated control group. Flaps in the control group averaged 40.57±3.17% necrosis, while flaps in the 15 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg chlorpromazine-treated groups averaged 31.53±4.77% and 11.47±2.22% necrosis respectively. These results demonstrate dose dependent beneficial affects of chlorpromazine and the survival of random skin flaps in the pig. Although ideal dose levels are still to be determined, flap survival improved with the prophylactic use of chlorpromazine at the lower 7.5 mg/kg dosage.     

Comparison of positive allergy skin tests among asthmatic children from rural and urban areas living within small geographic area.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of increased asthma and allergic response among urban versus rural residents has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of allergic response among asthmatic children from urban and rural areas living within close proximity. METHODS: In all, 448 asthmatic children from urban (363) and rural (85) areas were studied. The study group consisted of 234 9-year-olds and 214 12-year-olds. A health questionnaire was completed on each child who subsequently underwent allergic skin prick tests (SPTs). RESULTS: There was significantly more positive SPT response to house-dust mite, mold, cat, and cypress among asthmatic children from urban areas compared with children living in rural areas: 58.3% versus 37.6%, 46.1% versus 31.8%, 17.45 versus 5.9%, and 26.2% versus 15.3%, respectively. Positive SPT for indoor allergens were significantly greater among asthmatic urban residents than asthmatic rural residents: 63.3% versus 45.5%, respectively (P < 0.02). Positive SPT response to all the allergens checked was higher among the 12-year-old age group when compared with the 9-year-olds, 34.6% versus 22.7%, respectively (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Allergic response measured by SPT is significantly more common among asthmatic children from urban areas as opposed to rural, even though both areas are within small distance of one another. Further, asthmatic children living in urban areas demonstrated more allergic response to both indoor and outdoor allergens. The allergic response tends to increase with increased age in both urban and rural asthmatic children.     

A randomized,double-blind placebo-controlled add-on trial to assess the efficacy,safety, and anti-atherogenic effect of spirulina platensis in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus

The efficacy of spirulina platensis (S. platensis) as an add-on therapy to metformin and its effect on atherogenic keys in patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to S. platensis (2 g/day) or placebo group for three months while continuing metformin as their usual treatment. The efficacy of S. platensis was determined using the pre- and post-intervention HbA1c levels (primary outcome) as well as tracking FBS and lipid profiles levels (TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C) as secondary outcomes at the different treatment time points (0,30,60,90 days). During the three–month intervention period, supplementation with S. platensis resulted in a significant lowering of HbA1c (↓1.43, p < 0.001) and FBS (↓ 24.94 mg/dL, p < 001) levels. Mean TG in the intervention group was found to be significantly lower in the intervention group than in controls (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol (TC) and its fraction, LDL-C, exhibited a fall (↓41.36 mg/dL and ↓38.4 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001) coupled with a marginal increase in the level of HDL-C (↑3 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Add-on therapy with S. platensis was superior to metformin regarding long-term glucose regulation and controlling blood glucose levels of subjects with T2DM. Also, as a functional supplement, S. platensis has a beneficial effect on atherogenic keys (TG and HDL-C) with no adverse events.     

Investigation of Bamboo Fibrous Tensile Strength Using Modified Weibull Distribution

Ethiopia has a large coverage of bamboo plants that are used for furniture making and house building. So far, researchers have not studied the strength of Ethiopian bamboo fibers, which are utilized for composite applications. The current study measured the strength of bamboo fibers based on various testing lengths and calculated the predictive tensile strength using a modified Weibull distribution. Moreover, the quality of the extraction machine is evaluated based on shape and sensitivity parameters. This research paper incorporates the coefficient of variation of the fiber diameters, considering the defects distribution through the length for measuring the predictive strength of the fibers. The fiber diameters were calculated using the area weight methods, which had its density measured using a Pycnometer. It has been examined that as the testing gauge length and coefficient variation of fiber diameter simultaneously increased, the tensile strength of the bamboo fibers decreased. The shape parameter, sensitivity parameter, and characteristic strength of Injibara bamboo (Y. alpina) are 6.02–7.83, 0.63, and 459–642 MPa, whereas Kombolcha bamboo (B. oldhamii) are 5.87–10.21, 0.33, and 408–638 MPa, as well as Mekaneselam bamboo (Y. alpina) are 5.86–9.63, 0.33 and 488–597 MPa, respectively.     

Activating point mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase 4 are not seen in sporadic pituitary adenomas,insulinomas or Leydig cell tumours

Cell cycle dysregulation is one of the defining features of cancer. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), together with its regulatory subunit cyclin D, governs cell cycle progression through the G1 phase. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p16(INK4A) (encoded by CDKN2A), in turn regulate CDK4. In particular, dysregulation of the p16/CDK4/cyclin D complex has been established in a variety of types of human tumours. Dominant activating mutations affecting codon 24 of the CDK4 gene (replacement of Arg24 by Cys or His) render CDK4 insensitive to p16(INK4) inhibition and are responsible for melanoma susceptibility in some kindreds. However, 'knock-in' mice homozygous for the CDK4(R24C) mutation were noted to develop multiple neoplasia, most commonly including endocrine tumours: pituitary adenomas, insulinomas and Leydig cell testicular tumours. We therefore speculated that sporadic human endocrine tumours might also harbour such mutations. The aim of the current study was to analyze the CDK4 gene for the two characterized activating mutations, R24C and R24H, in sporadic human pituitary adenomas, insulinomas and Leydig cell tumours. We used DNA extracted from 61 pituitary adenomas, and paired tumorous and neighboring normal genomic DNA extracted from 14 insulinoma and 6 Leydig cell tumour samples. Genomic DNA from patients with familial melanoma harbouring the R24C or the R24H mutations served as positive controls. All samples were subjected to PCR, mutation-specific restriction digests and/or sequencing. Both methodologies failed to detect mutations at these two sites in any of the sporadic endocrine tumours including pituitary adenomas, benign or malignant insulinomas or Leydig cell tumours, while the positive controls showed the expected heterozygote patterns. Protein expression of CDK4 was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in pituitary and pancreatic samples. These data suggest that the changes in the regulatory 'hot-spot' on the CDK4 gene, causing various endocrine tumours in CDK4(R24C/R24C )mice, are not a major factor in sporadic pituitary, insulin beta-cell or Leydig cell tumorigenesis.     

Hybrid BiOBr/UiO-66-NH2 composite with enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic activity toward RhB dye degradation

Metal–organic framework (MOFs) based composites have received more research interest for photocatalytic applications during recent years. In this work, a highly active, visible light photocatalyst BiOBr/UiO-66-NH₂ hybrid composite was successfully prepared by introducing various amounts of UiO-66-NH₂ with BiOBr through a co-precipitation method. The composites were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB (rhodamine B) dye. The developed BiOBr/UiO-66-NH₂ composites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than the pristine material. In RhB degradation experiments the hybrid composite with 15 wt% of UiO-66-NH₂ shows degradation efficiency conversion of 83% within two hours under visible light irradiation. The high photodegradation efficiency of BUN-15 could be ascribed to efficient interfacial charge transfer at the heterojunction and the synergistic effect between BiOBr/UiO-66-NH₂. In addition, an active species trapping experiment confirmed that photo-generated hole⁺ and O₂⁻ radicals are the major species involved in RhB degradation under visible light.

Metal–organic framework (MOFs) based composites have received more research interest for photocatalytic applications during recent years.     

Are some patient-perceived migraine triggers simply early manifestations of the attack?

Journal of Neurology - To study the agreement between self-reported trigger factors and early premonitory symptoms amongst a group of migraineurs in both spontaneous and pharmacologically provoked...     

Short-term course and outcome of treatments of pleural empyema in pediatric patients: repeated ultrasound-guided needle thoracocentesis vs chest tube drainage

BACKGROUND: Several reports have suggested that early chest tube drainage (CTD) may not be necessary in the treatment of severe pleural empyema (PE) in pediatric patients if appropriate antibiotic therapy and supportive care are provided. OBJECTIVES: A prospective open study to compare the short-term course of two treatment protocols of severe PE in pediatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: One group of 32 patients was treated with early insertion of a chest tube for CTD, and a second group of 35 patients was treated by a repeated ultrasound-guided needle thoracocentesis (RUSGT). The severity of the empyema was assessed by chest radiograph, the amount of fluid drained, the number of days the patient had experienced a fever, and the duration of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups (RUSGT vs CTD) in all of the following measurements: mean (plus minus SD) duration of a temperature > or = 39 degreesC, 6.2 +/- 2.4 vs 6.5 +/- 1.8 days, respectively; mean duration of a temperature > or = 38 degreesC, 9 +/- 3.9 vs 8.2 +/- 4.5 days, respectively; fluid drained, 35.1 + 23.8 vs 30 +/- 28.2 mL/kg, respectively; duration of antibiotic treatment, 30 +/- 13.2 vs 30.2 +/- 7.3 days, respectively; and length of hospitalization and home IV treatment, 22 +/- 7.6 vs 24.2 +/- 7.5 days, respectively. A failure to respond to treatment occurred in three patients in the RUSGT-treated group and in five patients in the CTD-treated group. The failure to respond occurred in the RUSGT-treated group only in those patients with very large empyemas that caused mediastinal deviation. CONCLUSION: The treatment of PE by RUSGT is as efficacious as CTD, unless PE causes mediastinal deviation.