Anatomical parameters of cardiopulmonary system in three different lines of chickens: further evidence for involvement in ascites syndrome.

The present study was designed to compare the anatomical parameters of the cardiopulmonary system in three different lines of chickens with different susceptibility to ascites syndrome. Eggs from three different genetic lines-commercial broiler and layer lines and one native to Iran--were incubated and hatched, and 1-day-old chicks used. The relative heart and lung weights, the volumes of the heart, lung and thorax cavity, the incidence of ascites, and the related physiological parameters in these chickens were followed. Lung weight as a percentage of body weight, the relative lung and heart volume, and the volumes of the thorax cavity, before and after removing heart and lung tissues, were lower in fast-growing broiler chickens compared with the layer and native chickens. Additionally, most of these parameters (e.g. relative lung weight, lung volume and thorax cavity) were significantly decreased with age in broiler chickens but were increased in layer and native chickens, which was concomitant with the incidence of ascites in broiler chickens. Our data indicate that all cardiopulmonary parameters investigated are extremely unfavourable to broiler chickens and suggest a reduction in gas exchange area in broilers, and therefore higher susceptibility to pulmonary hypertension and ascites.     

Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall in heterotopic pancreas: A case report

Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall is a rare benign disease characterized by development of multiple cysts in heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the duodenal wall. A forty-five-year-old male came to the emergency department of our hospital complaining of severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis had been done. The patient was treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy.     

Green and ecofriendly bio-removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution using biologically activated banana peel waste

Using of bio-wastes in dye adsorption is one of the greenest influential applied techniques for the removal of dyestuff from the industrial effluents and it considered as waste management. In the current study, banana peel waste (BPW) was used as an inexpensive and eco-friendly adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) dye. Mechanical pretreatment of BPW was carried out and followed by biological activation using Rhizopus microspores. MB dye was adsorbed by mechanically pretreated BPW (mBPW) by 31%. Moreover, the day nine fermented BPW fibers (mbBPW) is the best time for R. microspores to complete activation, where adsorption ratio reached to about 96.5%. Likewise, enzymes activity was recorded the highest activity after this period of fermentation, where enzymes activity of cellulase, xylanase, lignin peroxidase, poly phenol oxidase and laccase were 0.75, 0.68, 0.38, 0.55 and 0.32 U/ml, respectively. The FT-IR, SEM and BET were used to observe the effect of treatment on the BPW. Otherwise, the kinetics study is illustrated that the adsorption of MB with mbBPW fitted with pseudo-first-order kinetic models. However, the adsorption parameters indicated that the Langmuir model is better to describe the adsorption of dye with excellent maximum adsorption capacity 991 mg/g. In conclusion, biologically activated BPW is very efficient for dye adsorption as well as waste management.     

Stress Changes the Spatial Arrangement of Neurons and Glial Cells of Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Sertraline and Curcumin Prevent It

Objective

The present study explored the three-dimensional spatial arrangements of the neurons and glial cells within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats.

Methods

It evaluated the arrangement for differences after stress with or without treatment with curcumin and sertraline using second-order stereology. Orientator method was applied to obtain isotropic uniform random sections of mPFC. The pair correlation g(r) and cross-correlation functions were estimated by counting dipole probes superimposed on histological sections of mPFC.

Results

The mean total volume of neurons and glial cells was 0.80 (0.05) and 0.40 (0.07), respectively in the control group. The corresponding values decreased by 50% in the stressed group. The curve of g(r) for the neurons and glial cells showed a wider gap between the stressed rats'' mPFC. Theses indicate a negative correlation (repulsion) between the neurons and glial cells in the stressed rats. Evaluation of the cross-correlation function of the neurons and glial cells also showed a negative correlation in the stressed group. The estimated values of the global degree of order in the spatial point pattern for neurons and glial cells were 0.62 and 0.20 in control and stressed animals, respectively. Curcumin and sertraline protected the spatial arrangements of the cells after stress induction in rats. In addition, the volume of the neurons and glial cells remained unchanged after stress.

Conclusion

Dissociation of the neurons and glial cells can is seen at some places in the stressed rats'' cortex. However, the spatial arrangement of the cells was remained unchanged in curcumin+stress and sertraline+stress rats.     

A case report of cecal plasmablastic lymphoma in a HIV-negative patient

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a unique type of diffuse proliferation of large neoplastic lymphoid cells most of which resemble B immunoblasts, but all tumor cells show the immunophenotype of plasma cells. It has a strong predilection for jaw and oral cavity in HIV-positive patients. Incidences of extraoral location of this tumor is increasingly being recognized especially in HIV-negative patients for example, stomach, jejunum, omentum, anorectum, lungs, testes, soft tissues, lymph nodes, bone marrow, skin, and central nervous system. We present a case of PBL found in cecum in an HIV-negative patient. It was accompanied by lung and lymph node involvement and presented as abdominal mass. This is only the second reported case of PBL originating in cecum.     

Hydroxychloroquine augments early virological response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in genotype‐4 chronic hepatitis C patients

The therapeutic effect of pegylated interferon (peg‐IFN) alfa‐2a combined with ribavirin (RBV) on chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients is low and further efforts are required to optimize this therapy for achievement of higher rates of virological response. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin on early virological response (EVR) in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients. Naïve 120 Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection were divided into two groups. Group 1 have administered the standard of care therapy (pegylated interferon alfa‐2a plus ribavirin) for 12 weeks, (n = 60). Group 2 have administered hydroxychloroquine plus standard of care therapy for 12 weeks, (n = 60). Therapeutics included hydroxychloroquine (200 mg) oral twice daily, peginterferon alfa‐2a (160 μg) subcutaneous once weekly and oral weight‐based ribavirin (1000–1200 mg/day). Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The percentage of early virological response was significantly more in patients given the triple therapy than in patients given the standard of care [54/60 (90%) vs. 43/60 (71.7%); P = 0.011; respectively]. Biochemical response at week 12 was also significantly higher in patients given the triple therapy compared with the standard of care [58/60 (96.7%) vs. 42/60 (70%); P < 0.001; respectively]. Along the study, the observed adverse events were mild and similar across treatment groups. Addition of hydroxychloroquine to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin improves the rate of early virological and biochemical responses in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients without an increase in adverse events. J. Med. Virol. 88:2170–2178, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

     

Knowledge of Repetitions Range Affects Force Production in Trained Females

Most studies have examined pacing strategies with cyclical activities (running and cycling). It has been demonstrated that males employ different pacing strategies during repeated maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) dependent upon a known endpoint. Since different fatiguing mechanisms have been identified between the genders, it is not known if females use comparable pacing strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine if informing female subjects regarding the number of MVCs to perform would affect force and electromyography (EMG). Twenty well-trained females completed 3 fatiguing protocols in a randomized order. In the control condition participants were informed they would perform twelve MVCs and then actually completed twelve. In the unknown condition they were not told how many MVCs to perform but were stopped after twelve. In the deception condition they were initially informed to perform 6 MVCs, but after the 6^th MVC they were asked to perform a few more MVCs and were stopped after twelve. During the first 6 MVCs, forces in the deception condition were greater compared to the unknown (p = 0.021, ES = 0.65, 5%) and control (p = 0.022, ES = 0.42, 3%) conditions. No differences were found between conditions in the last 6 MVCs. A main effect for repetitions showed force deficits during the first 6 MVCs (p = 0.000, ES = 1.81, 13%) and last 6 MVCs (p = 0.05, ES = 0.34, 3%). No differences were found between conditions in biceps and triceps EMG. However, EMG decreased during the first 6 MVCs for biceps (p = 0.001, ES = 1.0, 14%) and triceps (p = 0.001, ES = 0.76, 14%) across conditions. No differences were found in the last 6 MVCs. The anticipation of performing fewer MVCs led to increased force, whereas no endpoint led to decreased force production.

Key points

• Pacing strategies occur during repeated (fatiguing) MVCs as a function of end point expectations.
• Females use similar pacing strategies as previously published results with males.
• Without a known end point, females will tend to pace themselves by decreasing force output even when asked to perform maximal contractions.

Key words: Fatigue, electromyography, deception, pacing     

Immunotherapy for solid tumors—a review for surgeons

Immunotherapy has evolved considerably in the last decade and is becoming an integral component of the armamentarium for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors. It is important for clinicians, especially surgeons, to understand the basic principles of novel immunotherapies and the immune system. This review summarizes the evolution of the most relevant immunotherapies, their mechanisms of action, the data supporting their clinical use, and integration of immunotherapy into multidisciplinary management of solid tumors. This review should serve as a primer for clinicians and surgeons to understand the rapidly evolving field of immunotherapy.