The Value of Lung Injury Score in Assessing the Outcome of Patients with Rib Fracture

Background and Purpose:   

Management of rib fractures constitutes a major part of the trauma workload of any unit. Rib fractures result in disrupted chest wall mechanics and ventilatory insufficiency. The ability of a lung injury scoring system to predict the degree of respiratory dysfunction after rib fractures was evaluated.     

Effect of nitration on protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity in neuronal cell membranes of newborn piglets

Protein tyrosine phosphatase predominantly determines the status of protein tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins and controls the survival and death of neurons. Previous studies have shown that protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is decreased during hypoxia in cortical membranes of the newborn piglet. We have also shown that nitric oxide (NO) free radicals are generated during hypoxia, and may result in modification of protein tyrosine phosphatase via peroxynitrite-mediated modification. The present study tests the hypothesis that the hypoxia-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is NO-mediated. To test this hypothesis, in vitro experiments were conducted by measuring protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the presence of an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or peroxynitrite. Since 3-nitrotyrosine is produced as a consequence of peroxynitrite reactions, we have also examined the effect of 3-nitrotyrosine on protein phophatase activity. Cerebral cortical P(2) membranes were prepared from seven normoxic newborn piglets and each sample was divided into three aliquots: a control group, a SNP group (exposed to 200 microM SNP), and a peroxynitrite group (exposed to 100 microM peroxynitrite). Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was determined spectrophotometrically in the presence or absence of 2 microM bpV(phen), a highly selective inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase. The protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was 198+/-25 nmol/mg protein/h in the normoxic group, 177+/-30 nmol/mg protein/h in the SNP group (p=NS versus normoxic) and 77+/-20 nmol/mg protein/h in the peroxynitrite group (p<0.001 versus normoxic). The results show that peroxynitrite but not SNP exposure results in decreased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in vitro. Furthermore 3-nitrotyrosine (100 microm), a product of peroxynitrite, decreased the enzyme activity from 926+/-102 to 200+/-77 (p<0.001). We conclude that protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation is mediated by peroxynitrite. We propose that hypoxia-induced NO production leading to peroxynitrite formation is a potential mechanism of protein tyrosine phosphatase inactivation in vivo. The NO-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity, leading to Bcl-2 protein phosphorylation and loss of its antiapoptotic activity may be a NO-mediated mechanism of programmed cell death in the hypoxic brain.     

Ultrafast Studies of ZrTe3 by Transient Absorption Spectrometer

Two-dimensional (2D) tri-TMDCs carrier dynamics provide a platform for studying excitons through Ultrafast Pump-Probe Transient Absorption Spectroscopy. Here we studied the ZrTe₃ nanosheets (NTs) exciton dynamics by transient absorption (TA) spectrometer. We observed different carrier dynamics in the ZrTe₃ NTs sample at different pump powers and with many wavelengths in the transient absorption spectrometer. The shorter life decay constant is associated with electron-phonon relaxation. Similarly, the longer-life decay constant represents the long live process that is associated with charge separation. The interactions between carrier-phonons at nanoscale materials can be changed by phonons quantum confinements. The hot carrier lifetime determined the strength of carrier phonon interactions. The value of fast decay in the conduction band is due to carrier relaxation or the carrier gets trapped due to surface states or localized defects. The value of slow decay is due to the recombination of surface state and localized defects processes. The lifetime declines for long wavelengths as size decreases. Whereas, during short wavelength-independent decay, carrier characteristics have been observed. TA spectroscopy is employed to investigate insight information of the carrier’s dynamical processes such as carrier lifetime, cooling dynamics, carrier diffusion, and carrier excitations. The absorption enhanced along excitons density with the increase of pump power, which caused a greater number of carriers in the excited state than in the ground state. The TA signals consist of trap carriers and (electron-hole) constituents, which can be increased by TA changes that rely on photoexcitation and carrier properties.     

An account of the botanical anthelmintics used in traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed at documentation of botanical anthelmintics used in the traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In rapid rural appraisal, 331 traditional veterinary healers (TVH) were identified as key respondents in the study area followed by participatory rural appraisal for data collection using a well-structured questionnaire. Information was collected through interviews, focused group discussions and field visits over a period of 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 49 traditional recipes, with 41 plant species representing 39 genera and 27 families, were recorded for the treatment of helminthosis in animals. Most frequently used plants (>/=5 times) were Brassica campestris L. and Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell.-Arg. and most frequently used families (>/=5 times) were Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. Most frequently used part of the plant was leaves (n=10) followed in order by seeds (n=9), whole fruit (n=5), aerial parts and whole plant (n=4), fruit (n=3), bulb (n=2) and bark, rhizome, stem, stem plus root and twigs (n=1). Five recipes out of 49 (10.2%) contained more than one plant species and rest 44 (89.8%) contained single plant species. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty out of 41 plants (48.78%) are reported for the first time for their traditional use as anthelmintics in Pakistan. Further studies on pharmacokinetics using scientific procedures may prove these plants as promising candidates for their future use as anthelmintics.     

Fertility profile of post Fourniers gangrene patients: Does neoscrotal environment alter fertility?

ObjectiveTo ascertain changes in fertility in post Fournier's gangrene patients on account of changed scrotal environment.MethodsSixty post Fournier's patients were as cases and 50 non Fournier's individuals aptlyserved as controls. All subjects were followed up for 1 year. Aspects of fertility were investigated by means of a seminogram at 6 months and analysis for volume, viscosity, sperm concentration, motility and morphology according to WHO guidelines was done. Ability of the couples to conceive children in 1 year was also noted. The control group was investigated similarly and values were compared for significance.ResultsThe seminogram results were found out to be highly significant as there was marked difference in values (chi-square value 6.28, P-value< 0.012) whereas there was no significant association between attaining pregnancy at 1 year in two groups.ConclusionsA readily palpable difference in the seminogram values observed in Fournier's patients is the most significant finding of this study. Also highlighted was that despite such seminogram changes the overall ability of the couple to achieve pregnancy remains unaltered.     

Association of total antioxidants level with glaucoma type and severity

Objectives:

To compare the mean total antioxidant status (TAS) among 3 glaucoma types, namely: pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and study its potential association with various clinical glaucoma-parameters.

Methods:

In this case-control study, plasma samples were obtained between September 2013 and October 2014 from 340 glaucoma patients (PEG [n=54]; POAG [n=147]; PACG [n=139]), and 351 controls of matching age, gender, ethnicity, and 5 different systemic co-morbidities from King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The TAS in all samples was determined by a colorimetric-based assay.

Results:

The mean±standard deviation of TAS was significantly lower among cases: 0.77±0.32 than controls: 1.1±0.22, p<0.0001. Moreover, the TAS levels were significantly different across the 3 types of glaucoma: 0.86±0.24 in PEG, 0.47±0.32 in POAG, and 0.98±0.41 in PACG (all p<0.0001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between TAS and age at onset (Pearson correlation coefficient [R] 0.17, p<0.0001), cup/disc ratio (R: -0.13, p=0.004), and number of anti-glaucoma medications (R: -0.16, p=0.001).

Conclusion:

Our findings provide evidence that plasma TAS levels are decreased in patients with glaucoma, more so in POAG and PEG than PACG, supporting the hypothesis that decreased antioxidative defense and/or increased oxidative stress may have a critical role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy associated with optic nerve damage, and is one of the most leading cause of blindness worldwide.1 Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) as a result of reduction in normal aqueous outflow is a major causal risk factor that is well supported by animal studies.2-4 Although IOP is considered a major risk factor for glaucoma,2,3 other concomitant factors affecting the pathophysiology of glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death include retinal ischemia,5 nutritional status,6 and oxidative stress.7 There is evidence of oxidative damage in ocular diseases, such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration.8 In addition, significant oxidative damage has been demonstrated in human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells of patients with glaucoma,7 causing elevated IOP and visual field damage.9 Furthermore, our previous studies have documented mitochondrial abnormalities10-12 (oxidative stress marker), and glutathione-S-transferase (antioxidant) gene (GST) polymorphisms to be associated with various types of glaucoma.13 It is clearly evident from the literature, and our own studies, that oxidative stress mechanisms play a critical role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Previous studies had demonstrated reduced total antioxidant capacity in aqueous humor and blood samples from patients with glaucoma.14-17 To evaluate the role of oxidative stress in different types of glaucoma we had previously investigated total antioxidants status (TAS) in the plasma of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) patients,18 primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients,19 and in the plasma of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.20 As an extension to these studies, here, we compare the mean TAS level among these 3 glaucoma types, and study the potential association between the TAS level and various clinical parameters important to each type of glaucoma.18-20