Dexamethasone 8 mg in combination with ondansetron 4 mg appears to be the optimal dose for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: The combination of antiemetic drugs could be a solution to prevent severe postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this randomized double blind, dose-ranging study was to determine the minimum single effective dose of dexamethasone combined with ondansetron for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: One hundred eighty patients were allocated randomly to one of six groups to receive saline (P group), ondansetron 4 mg (O group), or ondansetron 4 mg and dexamethasone at doses of 2 mg (OD2 group), 4 mg (OD4 group), 8 mg (OD8 group), and 16 mg (OD16 group). A standardized general anesthetic was used. All episodes of PONV during the intervals of zero to six hours, 6-12 hr and 12-24 hr after surgery were evaluated using a numeric scoring system. Mean visual analogue scale pain scores at rest and on movement, the time to first demand of analgesia, total analgesic consumption in 12 hr epochs, duration of hospital stay, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV in the OD8 (16%) and OD16 (16%) groups was lower than in the 83% (P < 0.001) and O groups (50%) at the 12-24 hr epoch (P < 0.05). There were no differences in antiemetic effect between the O, OD2 and OD4 groups and between the OD8 and OD16 groups. Pain scores, total analgesic consumption, duration of hospital stay and side effects were similar among groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that 8 mg is the minimum dose of dexamethasone that, combined with ondansetron 4 mg will effectively prevent PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Benign osteoblastoma of the parietal bone

A 5-year-old girl presented with a 1-year history of a subcutaneous swelling in the right parietal region. There were no cerebral symptoms or signs. Plain X-ray of the skull showed a lytic bony lesion with sclerotic margin. Computed tomography showed a hypodense, osteolytic lesion with thinned and bulged inner and outer skull tables with intact continuity. There was no intracranial lesion. At operation, the mass was found to be pink and granular, and was totally enucleated. Histology revealed it to be a benign osteoblastoma.     

Histochemistry of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP) II and IV in reactive lymphoid tissues and malignant lymphoma.

A modified histochemical method was used to show the presence of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP) II and IV in fixed, freeze dried, cryostat sections of tonsils, lymph nodes, and skin. In 14 reactive tonsils and lymph nodes both enzyme reactions were largely confined to T dependent areas where scattered positive lymphocytes were shown in the paracortical zones, while lymphocytes of germinal centres (B dependent areas) were negative. In either site some macrophages showed strong positivity for both enzymes. In 23 lymph node and two skin biopsy specimens of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma the neoplastic lymphocytes of 12 B cell lymphomas were completely unstained, whereas in the 13 cases of T cell lymphoma the neoplastic lymphocytes showed variable reactions with positivity for DAP II in eight and for DAP IV in seven, both reactions being positive in four and negative in two. Touch imprints of a lymph node from a case of Hodgkin's disease showed that the Reed-Sternberg cells were unreactive for both enzymes. The histochemistry of DAP II and IV may supplement other histochemical and immunological markers in the cytological classification of lymphomas.     

Allergic conversion of protective mucosal immunity against nasal bacteria in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis

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Influence of age on iminodipropionitrile-induced vestibular and neurobehavioral toxicities in rats

A direct association between aging and drug-induced dyskinesia has been reported by several investigators. Iminiodipropionitrile (IDPN), a prototype nitrile compound produces a motor syndrome in rodents, which resembles neuroleptic drug induced dyskinesia. In this investigation attempt has been made to study the effect of age on IDPN induced vestibular hair cell degeneration and resulting dyskinetic syndrome. Male Wistar rats aged 3, 6 and 12 weeks received IDPN in the doses of 0, 200 and 400 mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days. IDPN-induced dyskinesia was assessed using a behavioral testing battery on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The rats were sacrificed on day 28; temporal bones were excised for vestibular histopathology and sera were collected for measuring the indices of oxidative stress (glutathione and conjugated dienes). IDPN in the dose of 200 mg/kg produced dyskinesia in 12 weeks old rats, but failed to do so in 3 and 6 weeks old rats. The high dose of IDPN (400 mg/kg) caused dyskinesia in all age groups, however, its onset and severity were age-dependent. Older rats showed an early onset and significantly high incidence of dyskinesia as compared to younger rats. The susceptibility of rats to IDPN-induced behavioral deficits was proportional to oxidative stress and degeneration of sensory hair cells in the crista ampullaris.     

Enhanced Nitrate Ions Remediation Using Fe0 Nanoparticles from Underground Water: Synthesis,Characterizations, and Performance under Optimizing Conditions

The presence of nitrates in water in large amounts is one of the most dangerous health issues. The greatest risk posed by nitrates is hemoglobin oxidation, which results in Methemoglobin in the human body, resulting in Methemoglobinemia. There are many ways to eliminate nitrates from underground water. One of the most effective and selective methods is using zero-valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles. ZVI nanoparticles can be easily synthesized by reducing ferric or ferrous ions using sodium borohydride. The prepared ZVI nanoparticles were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, and zeta potential. We aim to eliminate or reduce the nitrates in water to be at the acceptable range, according to the world health organization (WHO), of 10.0 mg/L. Nitrate concentration in water after and before treatment is measured using the UV scanning method at 220 nm wavelength for the synthetic contaminated water and electrochemical method for the naturally contaminated water. The conditions were optimized for obtaining an efficient removing process. The removal efficiency reaches about 91% at the optimized conditions.     

Could Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Regions count mirror DNA Ploidy in Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors?

Objective: Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are DNA coils that transcribe to ribosomal RNA. The NOR-associated protein, termed argyrophilic NOR (AgNOR), was visible within the nucleus by staining with silver nitrate examination via the light microscope. AgNOR counting is a proliferation marker and may help in the diagnosis and prognosis of various neoplastic lesions. Aneuploidy (abnormal DNA content) can predict the progression, survival and prognosis of the tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of AgNORs, DNA ploidy status, and total S-phase fraction (TSPF) as prognostic parameters in malignant salivary gland tumors (MSGTs). Methods: The current study is a retrospective study on a cohort of MSGTs (N=47), to assess AgNORs using Silver Nitrate stain, DNA index (DI), and TSPF using flow cytometry (FCM). Data including tumor size and site, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), lymph node metastasis (LNM) were collected. Results: The AgNORs count was statistically significant with MSGT type. DI was found to have a significant association with tumor site, tumor size and MSGT type. In addition, TSPF was found to be significantly associated with LVI. A moderate positive correlation was noted between AgNORs count and TSPF. LNM, tumor site, high AgNORs and low DI were all associated with short disease-free survival (DFS) and poor overall survival (OS). Conclusion: The present study revealed that high AgNORs count, DNA aneuploidy and TSPF had a poor influence on MSGTs prognosis.     

Outpatient hysteroscopy and subsequent IVF cycle outcome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review of studies evaluating the influence of outpatient (office) hysteroscopy on the outcome of the subsequent IVF cycle was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, National Research Register, ISI Conference Proceedings, ISRCTN Register and Meta-register were searched for randomized controlled trials (up to July 2007). All trials comparing the outcome of IVF treatment performed in patients who had outpatient hysteroscopy in the cycle preceding their IVF treatment with a control group in which hysteroscopy was not performed were included. Study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. Study authors were contacted for additional information. The main outcome measure was pregnancy rate. In total, 1691 participants were included in two randomized (n = 941) and three non-randomized controlled studies (n = 750). The quality of the studies was variable. Meta-analyses of the results of five studies showed evidence of benefit from outpatient hysteroscopy in improving the pregnancy rate in the subsequent IVF cycle (pooled relative risk = 1.75, 95% CI 1.51-2.03). The evidence from randomized trials was consistent with that from non-randomized controlled studies. Future robust randomized trials comparing outpatient hysteroscopy or mini-hysteroscopy with no intervention before IVF treatment would be a useful addition to further guide clinical practice.     

Design,Structural Inspection and Bio-Medicinal Applications of Some Novel Imine Metal Complexes Based on Acetylferrocene

Some novel imine metal chelates with Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ cations were produced from 2-acetylferrocene and 3-aminophenol. The new acetylferrocene azomethine ligand ((Z)-cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl(2-(1-((3-hydroxyphenyl)imino)ethyl)cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-yl)iron) and its metal ion chelates were constructed and elucidated using FT-IR, UV/Vis, ¹HNMR, DTA/TGA, CHNClM studies, mass spectrometry and SEM analysis. According to the TGA/DTG investigation, the ferrocene moiety spontaneously disintegrates to liberate FeO. The morphology of the free acetylferrocene azomethine via SEM analysis was net-shaped with a size of 64.73 nm, which differed in Cd(II) complex to be a spongy shape with a size of 42.43 nm. The quantum chemical features of the azomethine ligand (HL) were computed, and its electronic and molecular structure was refined theoretically. The investigated acetylferrocene imine ligand behaves as bidinetate ligand towards the cations under study to form octahedral geometries in case of all complexes except in case of Zn²⁺ is tetrahedral. Various microorganisms were used to investigate the anti-pathogenic effects of the free acetylferrocene azomethine ligand and its metal chelates. Moreover, the prepared ligand and its metal complexes were tested for anticancer activity utilizing four different concentrations against the human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and the normal melanocyte cell line (HBF4). Furthermore, the binding of 3-aminophenol, 2-acetylferrocene, HL, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺ metal chelates to the receptor of breast cancer mutant oxidoreductase was discovered using molecular docking (PDB ID: 3HB5).