Nineteenth Day Research Articles

Anesthesia Management for Evacuation of Cerebral Abscess in Geriatric Patient with Myasthenia Gravis

A Cerebral abscess is an intracranial focal abscess which is a life-threatening emergency. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies targeting the neuromuscular junction’s post-synaptic receptor. A seventy-three-year-old male, with an intra-axial tumor in the frontoparietal region underwent craniotomy for abscess evacuation. The Patient also has a history of hypertension and myasthenia gravis under treatment of dexamethasone and pyridostigmine. Anesthesia induction was performed with thiopental, opioid analgesics with fentanyl, neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) with rocuronium, and scalp block. The Patient’s depth of neuromuscular block was monitored with a Train-of-Four (TOF). Surgery was performed in a supine position, duration of surgery was 4.5 hours. The Patient was extubated in the operating theatre, monitored in the intensive care unit, and discharged home on the nineteenth day. Anesthetic management in geriatric patients with cerebral abscesses accompanied by myasthenia gravis has become complex due to the interaction of disease state, medical treatment, anesthetic drugs especially neuromuscular blocking agents, and surgical stress. The Patient was at risk for residual paralysis and had high sensitivity to nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents, so the use of train-of-four (TOF) was very helpful for extubating this patient safely.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Infectious Complications of EBUS-TBNA: Prospective Multicenter Study

The aim of our study was to describe the incidence of infectious complications of endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and to analyze the potential risk factors in a prospective cohort of patients. MethodsWe conducted a prospective multicenter study, with all consecutive patients referred for an EBUS-TBNA with patients at risk of developing an infectious complication (considering>10 nodal samplings, known immunosuppression, bronchial colonization and cavitated or necrotic lesions) and a second group without any risk factor. ResultsThree hundred seventy patients were included: 245 with risk factors and 125 without risk factors (as the control group). Overall, 15 patients (4.05%) presented an acute infectious complication: fourteen in cases (5.7%) and 1 in controls (0.8%). Of these, 4 patients presented pneumonia, 1 mediastinitis, 4 obstructive pneumonitis and 6 mild complications (respiratory tract infection that resolved with antibiotic). Also 7 (1.9%) patients had self-limited fever. One-month follow-up showed 1 mediastinitis at sixteenth day post-EBUS, which required surgical treatment, and 3 pneumonias and 3 respiratory tract infections at nineteenth day (1.9%). All patients had a good evolution and there were no deaths related with infectious complication. We observed an increased risk of complication in patients with risk factors and in patients with necrosis (p=0.018). ConclusionsThe incidence of infectious complications in a subgroup of patients with risk factors was higher than in patients without risk factors. Nevertheless, it remains low, and no fatal complication occurred, which reinforces the idea that EBUS-TBNA is a safe technique for the assessment of the mediastinum. Necrotic lesions are a risk factor of post-EBUS infection, and their puncture should be avoided.

Pengaruh Pemberian Jus Buah Sirsak (Annona Muricata Linn) Terhadap Kadar Malondialdehyde (MDA) Plasenta Tikus Putih Strain Wistar (Rattus novergicus) Bunting dengan Paparan Asap Rokok)

Cigarettes contain many toxic free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can trigger cell membrane lipids, proteins, enzymes, and DNA to undergo oxidative damage. The amount of ROS (reactive oxygen species) during pregnancy can increase if pregnant women are exposed to cigarette smoke which are toxic due to the risk of oxidative stress so as to form Malondialdehyde (MDA) compounds caused by lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation and increased levels of MDA can cause damage to cell membranes, one of which is the placental endothelial cell membrane. The content of vitamin C and sufficient polyphenols in soursop has the potential as a source of antioxidants that can inhibit or slow down the formation of free radicals and ROS. Objective: To determine the benefits or effect of giving soursop fruit juice (Annona muricata Linn) on the placental MDA levels of pregnant rats with wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) exposed to cigarette smoke. Methods: A true experimental laboratory with a randomized posttest-only control group design. Different doses of exposure to cigarette smoke and soursop juice were selected at random and divided into 3 treatment groups and 2 control groups. Giving soursop fruit juice was carried out on the first day until the nineteenth day of pregnancy, while cigarette smoke was exposed on the seventh day until the nineteenth day of pregnancy. Results: The significance value calculated by the Kruskal-Wallis test was 0.350 (p>0.05), which showed that there was no significant effect on the MDA value of the placenta of pregnant rats given soursop fruit juice and exposed to cigarette smoke. Conclusion: Soursop fruit juice with a dose of 0.5gr/200gr BW/day can prevent the increase in MDA levels of pregnant rat placenta exposed to cigarette smoke.

COVID–19後に成人多系統炎症性症候群および特徴的な眼症状を呈した1例(A case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults and characteristic ocular symptoms after COVID–19)

ABSTRACTMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS–A) is a rare but serious condition which occurs after weeks of getting sick from COVID–19. Here, we report a 54–year–old MIS–A female patient who presented with multiple organ failure (cardiovascular and gastrointestinal involvement) and markedly elevated inflammatory markers three weeks after recovering from COVID–19. The patient was characterized by photophobia and epiphora, suggestive of uveitis. Symptoms improved upon intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids. The patient was discharged on the nineteenth day of hospitalization without any recurrences. Clinicians should be highly suspicious of MIS–A in recent COVID–19 patients presenting with multiple organ failure and ocular symptoms.

Surgical treatment of a newborn in critical condition with intrapericardiac teratoma: a case report

This article presents a clinical case of the successful surgical treatment of a newborn with intrapericardial teratoma, which was initially diagnosed in the postnatal period, complicated by multiple organ failure, including severe cardio-respiratory disorders and acute renal damage. The systematized results of clinical, electrophysiological, radiation, and morphological diagnostics during the initial examination and at the stages of supervision of the newborn are reported. On the nineteenth day of life, significant multidisciplinary cooperation was implemented to perform a radical surgical intervention to remove the intrapericardial teratoma in a patient in critical condition due to heart compression and intrathoracic tension syndrome, which determined the needed prosthetics for vital functions. Two months after the operation, the efficiency of the intervention and complex therapy was confirmed by the direct results and data of the infants examination. The organizational aspects provided newborns with emergency multidisciplinary specialized medical care.

Efek Pemberian Jus Paprika Merah (Capsicum annuum L.) Terhadap Kadar Kolesterol Tikus Putih (Rattus norvegicus) Bunting

During pregnancy, the cholesterol level in pregnant women can increase by 50-60%. This increase has occurred since the second trimester and continue to increase until the third trimester. Continuous increase in cholesterol level can causes cholesterol build up in blood vessels so that il narrows the blood vessels which can causes atherosclerotic. In this increase of cholesterol level can be suppressed by choosing the right foods, one of them is consumption of foods that contain vitamin C. Red Paprika is one of the foods that contain high vitamin C, where vitamin C inhibits the work of HMG Ko-A reduktase which play a role in enzyme in the synthesis of cholesterol. The study aims to determine the effect of red paprika juice administration to cholesterol level of pregnant rat. This study used 24 white rats with randomly divided groups into 4 group, the control group, treatment 1 with a dose of 0.85 cc (95 gr), treatment 2 with a dose of 1.7 cc (1.9 gr), treatment 3 with a dose of 3.4 cc (3.8 gr) per head per day. Cholesterol level obtained in this study were cholesterol obtained on first day and the nineteenth days of pregnancy. The post hoc test result showed P1 p=0.33, P2 p=0.008, P3 p=0.008 paired with the control group. The ANOVA test result showed significant result, p=0.004 (p<0.05). in this study it can be concluded that administration of red paprika juice can reduce the cholesterol level in pregnant rats.

FORMING OF SOME ORGANS OF HEMATOPOIESIS IN PRE-LARVAE, LARVAE AND FRY OF COMMON BREAM (ABRAMIS BRAMA L.)

Ability for hematopoiesis of spleen, intestinal mucosa, and liver is investigated for early ontogenesis of common bream Abramis brama L., a species of bony fish widespread in the Russian waters, including Astrakhan region. The samples (24 ind.) were collected in the fish farm in Kamyzyaksky district of the region in middle May 2018, after hatching. Histological analysis was made by conventional methods. Both spleen, liver, and intestinal mucosa were formed in the first days after hatching. In the spleen, such signs of hematopoiesis as dispersed new developing blood particles were found just in the first day. In the intestinal mucosa, the first foci of hematopoiesis appeared in the nineteenth day. These organs were formed completely by the end of larval development, and the most intense level of hematopoiesis was observed in that time, with forming of blood cells of all rows of hematopoiesis. On the contrary, no signs of hematopoiesis were found in the liver throughout the larval and juvenile periods.

Acute kidney injury due to multiple bee stings in a 3 years old girl

Background:
 Bee stings can lead to mild to severe allergic reaction . Serious complications of bee stings include hypersensitivity to the venom, which can develop after a single sting, and acute renal failure which has been reported mostly secondary of intravascular hemolysis developing after multiple bee stings. We report here a child who developed multiorgan system involvement.
 Case presentation: A-3 years-old-girl was admitted to Kariadi Hospital with multiple bee stings and referred due to acute kidney injury stage failure by local hospital. Clinical finding were anasarca edema, gastrointestinal bleeding, oliguria (0.8ml/kgBW/hours), stage II hypertension (124/99mmHg), flaccid paraparesis inferior. Laboratory finding were hypoalbuminemia (2.4g/dL), anemia (6g/dl), leukocytosis (35.800/mm3), electrolyte imbalance (hypocalsemia:1.66mg/dL) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 8.09 ml/min/1.73m2. Chest-X ray showed pulmonary edema and duplex pleural effusion. The renal function recovered with supportive management including four sessions of haemodialysis. Patient discharged from the hospital on the nineteenth day.
 Conclusions: Multiple bee stings can lead multiorgan system involvement
 Keyword: Bee sting, acute kidney injury, hemodialisys

Antiallodynic Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen on Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in a Model of Rat and Its Mechanism

Objective: To investigate the antiallodynic effect of Hyperbaric oxygen treat-ment (HBOT) on paclitaxel (PTX)-induced peripheral neuropathy in a model of rat and the influence on Astrocyte activation-Inflammatory pathway. Method: 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 3 groups, the Control group (Control), the Model group (PTX), the Therapy group (PTX HBOT). Except for the Control group, all groups were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel 2 mg/kg on day 1, 3, 5, 7, respectively, and a stable peripheral neuralgia model was established on the 14th day. The Therapy group was treated with HBOT on 2.5 ATA for 7 days after modeling. We used the UP and Down method to test the mechanical withdraw threshold (MWT) of rats before and after modeling, during and after treatment. One week after the end of treatment, each group of rats was taken spinal cord L4-L6 for subsequent molecular biology experiments. The expression and location of astrocyte activation marker GFAP in spinal cord were assayed by Immunohistochemistry. The expression of GFAP, TNF-α, IL-1β was assayed by western blot analysis. The expression of mRNA of GFAP, TNF-α, IL-1β was assayed by realtime-RT PCR. Results: On the nineteenth day of the experiment (the fifth day of treatment), the MWT of Treatment group was significantly higher than that of Model group (p < 0.001). This effect persisted for one week after the end of treatment (day 21 - 28, p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of GFAP was significantly lower in Treatment group than in Model group (p < 0.01). Western Blot Analysis showed that the expression of GFAP, IL-1β, TNF-α was significantly lower in Treatment group than in Model group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01). Realtime-RT PCR showed that the expression of mRNA levels of GFAP was slightly higher in Model group than in Control group (p = 0.0467), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The expression of mRNA of IL-1β, TNF-α was significantly lower in Treatment group than in Model group (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment alleviates paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuralgia which has a long-term therapeutic effect, and inhibits the activation of spinal astrocytes and the level of in-flammatory cytokines for neuroinflammation.

Food allergens are transferred intact across the rat blood-placental barrier in vivo

We investigated the mechanism of transplacental macromolecular transport in rats on the nineteenth day of pregnancy using tracers, transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The blood-placental barrier of full-term rat placentas was composed of a trilaminar layer of trophoblast cells that separates the fetal capillaries from the maternal blood spaces: a layer of cytotrophoblasts lining the maternal blood space and a bilayer of syncytiotrophoblast surrounding the fetal capillaries. Horseradish peroxidase, intravenously injected into the maternal circulation, was found in the maternal blood spaces, the interspaces between the cytotrophoblasts and the syncytiotrophoblast I, many pits and small vesicles in the syncytiotrophoblast I, vesicles of the syncytiotrophoblast II, fetal connective tissue and fetal capillaries. Intravenously injected ovalbumin was detected in the maternal blood spaces, a trilaminar layer and the fetal capillaries. Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), a receptor for IgG, was localized at the maternal side of the blood-placental barrier. These results show that the structure of the rat blood-placental barrier is quite similar to the human blood-placental barrier, and non-specific macromolecules and food allergens may penetrate through the blood-placental barrier of the full-term placenta from the maternal to fetal circulation mediated by FcRn.

The Preclinical Development of FTY720, A Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator, as a Novel Targeting Therapy Against Breast Cancer

Introduction: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), is a bioactive lipid mediator and a ligand for five specific G-protein coupled receptors (S1P1-5), that regulates critical processes of cancer progression, such as cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. As such, this molecule is expected to provide a good target against breast cancer. FTY720, a sphingosine analogue that antagonize the S1P1 receptor, is currently in clinical use for multiple sclerosis with FDA approval. Phase 3 clinical trials of FTY720 for the transplant population dosed the drug at 5mg po daily (equivalent to 0.8mg/kg po daily for mice) for up to 2 years with minimal side effects. Previously, FTY720 has been shown to inhibit breast cancer growth in a mouse model which required a notably higher dose (over 2mg/kg ip daily) above any other used in clinical trials. Thus, FTY720 has not been developed as an anti-cancer drug to date. Recently it has been shown that oral administration is more potent than intraperitoneal injection of FTY720. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of FTY720 against breast cancer in an acceptable dosing under an appropriate route of administration, using oral instead of intaperitoneal injections. Methods: We used a syngeneic model with orthotopically implanted 4T1-luc2 murine breast cancer cells, which best mimics human breast cancer progression.FTY720 was then administered orally in either 1, 0.5 or 0.3mg/kg daily dosing. the overall tumor burden was quantified using bioluminescence technology over 19 days, and tumor weights were measured at the nineteenth day. Pathological analysis was performed to determine the anti-cancer effect of FTY720. Results: Overall tumor burden increased exponentially after 4T1-luc2 cell implantation, where lymph node metastases were confirmed from day 2, and lung metastasis from day 8 by bioluminescence. the groups treated with 1mg/kg and 0.5mg/kg FTY720 showed significantly reduced tumor burden compared with the control group and the 0.3mg/kg FTY720 group. at time of sacrifice, the tumor weights in the control groups were significantly heavier than in those groups treated with either the 1mg/kg or 0.5mg/kg FTY720 (p=0.005, p<0.001 respectively). the 0.3mg/kg FTY720 group, on the other hand, showed no difference in tumor weight or overall tumor burden compared with control group. Conclusions: They key role of S1P in breast cancer progression suggests that FTY720 would be an effective treatment against this disease. Previous studies required the dose of the drug in levels far exceeding tolerable dose for humans. in our study, we demonstrated that lower doses of FTY720 to 0.5mg/kg in mouse, which is equivalent to 3mg in human, are effective in inhibiting breast cancer progression when administered orally.

浮床空心菜对氮循环细菌数量与分布和氮素净化效果的影响

The effect of Ipomoea aquatica floating-bed on the quantity and distribution of nitrogen cycling bacteria and nitrogen removal was investigated in plastic tanks using I.aquatica as floating-bed plant.The results showed that the number of total nitrogen cycling bacteria,ammonifying bacteria,nitrosobacteria,nitrobacteria in the I.aquatica floating-bed system was significantly higher than that in the control(P0.01).No significant difference was found for the number of denitrifying bacteria between I.aquatica floating-bed system and the control(P0.05).The number of total nitrogen cycling bacteria in I.aquatica floating-bed(7×105—3×108 MPN/g) was 2 to 5 orders of magnitude higher than that in the control(3×102—5×106MPN/g).The dominant group in the I.aquatica floating-bed system was ammonifying bacteria throughout the test period(P0.01).But the dominant group in the control had changed during the test period.The dominant bacteria group in the control was ammonifying bacteria at the sixth and twelfth day of sampling(P0.05),while ammonifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria were dominant at the nineteenth and thirty-third day of sampling(P0.05).The dominant group in the control was denitrifying bacteria at the twenty-sixth day of sampling(P0.05).The difference in the distribution of ammonifying bacteria was not significant among endo-rhizosphere,rhizoplane and water.Nitrosobacteria was mainly distributed in the endo-rhizosphere and rhizoplane.Nitrobacteria was mainly distributed in the rhizoplane and denitrifying bacteria was mainly distributed in the water.The removal rate of NH+4-N was 91.8% in the I.aquatica floating-bed system and 88.5% in the control,respectively.NH3 volatilization could be the main way of NH+4-N removal in the control.Microbial nitrification could be the main way of NH+4-N removal in the I.aquatica floating-bed system.Since I.aquatica covered only 10% of the water surface in the floating-bed system,NH+4-N removal rates in the two systems were not significantly different.The removal rate of total nitrogen was 48.2% in the I.aquatica floating-bed system and 62.1% in the control,respectively.Due to the decay of I.aquatica induced by insects after the 19th day,the removal rate of total nitrogen in the I.aquatica floating-bed system was lower than that in the control.But the interference of insects offered a possibility to have a thorough knowledge of purification mechanism of nitrogen with ecological floating-beds.Based on the correlation analysis between the number and distribution of the nitrogen cycling bacteria and the nitrogen concentration,we found that the contribution of ammonifying bacteria and nitrosobacteria in the rhizoplane is higher than that in the endo-rhizosphere and water.The contribution of nitrobacteria and denitrifying bacteria in the water is higher than that in the endo-rhizosphere and rhizoplane.Nitrogen removal is the combined effect of plant absorption,ammoniation in the rhizoplane,nitrification and denitrification in the water in the I.aquatica floating-bed system.But the main way of nitrogen removal is microbial nitrification,denitrification and NH3 volatilization in the control.The results provide sound basis for further understanding about the purification mechanism of nitrogen with ecological floating-beds.

Isolated Full Thickness Jejunal Necrosis Following Sulphuric Acid Cocktail Ingestion – A Clinical Case Report—Isolated Corrosive Jejunal Necrosis

Isolated involvement of the lower gastrointestinal tract with relative sparing of the oesophagus and the stomach is extremely rare following corrosive agent ingestion. We report a case of isolated full thickness jejunal necrosis following sulphuric acid cocktail ingestion. A 42 year old man presented with history of consuming 200ml of sulphuric acid mixed with alcohol, with suicidal intent. On exploration there were multiple, full thickness necrotic areas in the proximal jejunum with minimal congestion of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Inversion of the jejunal necrotic areas with feeding jejunostomy was carried out. However postoperatively patient developed progressive pulmonary insufficiency with features of sepsis and expired on the nineteenth day following a bout of massive haematemesis. Corrosive agents when taken in considerable amount mixed with other fluids can lead to full thickness small bowel necrosis with relative sparing of the proximal gastrointestinal tract.

Laser-Induced Alveolar Bone Changes During Orthodontic Movement: A Histological Study on Rodents

The aim of this study was to assess by light microscopy changes in alveolar bone during orthodontic movement in rats. Orthodontic movement causes both removal and deposition of bone tissue. The use of laser phototherapy (LPT) is considered an enhancement factor for bone repair. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into two groups (n = 15) and subdivided according to animal death (7,13, and 19 days). Half of the animals in each group were treated with LPT during orthodontic movement. After animal death, specimens were processed and underwent histological and semi-quantitative analyses (HE and Sirius red). LPT-irradiated specimens showed significantly higher numbers of osteoclasts when compared with controls at both 7 (p = 0.015) and 19 (p = 0.007) days, as well as significant increases in the number of osteoblasts (p = 0.015) between days 7 and 13. The amount of collagen matrix was significantly reduced between days 7 and 13 at both pressure and tension sites in controls (p = 0.015) but not in LPT-treated animals. LPT-treated subjects showed significantly greater deposition of collagen matrix at the pressure site at both the thirteenth (p = 0.007) and nineteenth days (p = 0.001). At the tension site, a significant increase in the amount of collagen matrix was observed in non-irradiated specimens (p = 0.048) between days 7 and 19. LPT caused significant histological changes in the alveolar bone during induced tooth movement, including alterations in the number of both osteoclasts and osteoblasts and in collagen deposition in both pressure and tension areas.

Three Cases of Synchronous Laparoscopic Resection for Gastric and Colonic Cancer

Case 1 was an 84-year-old female who suffered from a superficial elevated lesion within depressed area (0 IIc+IIa) from the lesser curvature to the posterior wall at the middle corpus of the stomach and a depressed lesion with a circumferential embankment (type 2) at the sigmoid colon. Case 2 was a 70-year-old male who suffered from a superficial depressed lesion (0 IIc) at the lesser curvature of the gastric angle and a superficial elevated lesion (0 IIa) at the cecum. Case 3 was a 58-year-old male who suffered from a superficial depressed lesion (0 IIc) from the lesser curvature to the posterior wall at the middle corpus of the stomach, and an elevated lesion (type 1) and a depressed lesion with a circumferential embankment (type 2) at the sigmoid colon. In 3 cases, we first inserted 5 or 6 trocars and performed laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with groups 1 and 2 lymph node dissection according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. Subsequently, in case 1, 1 additional port was inserted at the right lower quadrant for sigmoidectomy; in case 2, two trocars were added for ileocecal resection; and in case 3, one additional port was inserted at the median hypogastric region for sigmoidectomy. In cases 1 and 2, Billroth II reconstruction was performed using a laparoscopic linear stapling device (endo-GIA) and, in case 3, Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed using endo-GIA, after distal gastrectomy. The double stapling technique using a conventional circular stapling device was performed after pulling out the specimen from the paraumbilical port after colectomy in case 1, whereas an end-to-end triangular suture using endo-GIA was used extracorporeally through the paraumbilical port in case 2 and the median hypogastric port in case 3. The operative durations of cases 1, 2, and 3 were 315, 340, and 495 minutes and the amounts of blood loss were 80, 300, and 440 mL, respectively. Except for the need to retain the drain until the tenth postoperative day because of serous discharge in case 1, no postoperative complications occurred. The postoperative commencement of oral feeding was on the fifth day in case 1 and on the third day in cases 2 and 3. All cases made a quick recovery and they were discharged from hospital on the nineteenth, thirteenth, and tenth day after operation, respectively. Double cancer patients with gastric and colonic carcinomas were thought to be very suitable for laparoscopic surgery because by avoiding a total median skin incision, there is less wound pain and quicker postoperation recovery.

A safety and tolerability study of differently-charged nanoparticles for local pulmonary drug delivery

Nanoparticle (NP) based drug delivery systems provide promising opportunities in the treatment of lung diseases. Here we examined the safety and tolerability of pulmonary delivered NPs consisting of PEG-PLA as a function of particle surface charge. The rationale for such a comparison should be attributed to the differential pulmonary toxicity of positively and negatively charged PEG-PLA NP. Thus, the local and systemic effects of pulmonary administered NPs were investigated following 5 days of daily endotracheal instillation to BALB/c mice that were euthanized on the eighth or nineteenth day of the experiment. We collected bronchoalveolar lavages and studied hematological as well as histochemistry parameters. Notably, the cationic stearylamine based PEG-PLA NPs elicited increased local and systemic toxic effects both on the eighth and nineteenth day. In contrast, anionic NPs of similar size were much better tolerated with local inflammatory effects observed only on the eighth experimental day after pulmonary instillation. No systemic toxicity effect was observed although a moderate change was noted in the platelet count that was not considered to be of clinical significance. No pathological observations were detected in the internal organs following instillation of anionic NPs. Overall these observations suggest that anionic PEG-PLA NPs are useful pulmonary drug carriers that should be considered as a promising therapeutic drug delivery system.

Scope for Interspecific Hybridization of Chicken and Quail

Low fertility and hatchability rate is a hindrance in chicken-quail hybridization. An investigation was undertaken to increase fertility and consequently hatchability of quail eggs inseminated with chicken semen through increasing quantity of semen used and modifying the insemination schedule. Pooled fresh and non-diluted semen from two males each pertaining to three breeds (Chandigar Dark Cornish, Red Cornish and White Plymouth Rock) inseminated into Japanese quails twice a week. From 400 eggs set, seven hybrids (1.74 per cent) hatched on the nineteenth days of incubation. The hybrids obtained weighed 5.3-7.6g with an average of 6.42 at hatch (1.28g heavier than quail chicks from the same hatch) and 23.5g at 7 days of age (10g heavier than quail chicks). Further examination of non hatched eggs showed 25.29 per cent fertility with 17.74, 1.82, 2.20 and 1.25 per cent very early dead (preincubation and 0-2 days), early dead (3-5 days), death at 6-14 days and death at 15-19 days, respectively. The remarkable achievement of the present study was considerably greater fertility per cent of the eggs obtained from quails inseminated with chicken semen. Higher fertility rate could be attributed to insemination method as 150μL neat semen inseminated to each quail hen twice a week and insemination postponed by 12 hours for any bird with an advanced egg in oviduct.

Effect of a nucleoside/nucleotide-free diet in rat allogenic small intestinal transplantation.

The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of nucleoside (NS) and nucleotide (NT) on the recipient and graft immune response after rat allogenic small intestinal transplantation. Seven-week-old Lewis rats were randomly assigned to two groups, including the NS/NT free group ( n=6) and the NS/NT supplemented group ( n=6), according to the diet received. The recipient Lewis rats were each given diet for 12 days, and then, on the nineteenth day of gestation, a 2 cm jejunum from the donor fetal Fischer rat was transplanted into the abdominal wall of the recipient rats using a non-vascular anastomotic technique. The recipient rats were killed on day 2 after transplantation, and then the recipient plasma interleukin-2 (IL-2) level was measured. In addition, the histological findings of the graft were analyzed. The IL-2 level of the NS/NT free group was significantly lower than that of the NS/NT supplemented group. In order to determine the grade of rejection, the morphological findings were blindly graded on a scale of 0-4. The mean grade of the NS/NT free group was also significantly lower than that of the NS/NT supplemented group. The NS/NT free diet is therefore considered to have an immunosuppressive effect on rat allogenic small intestinal transplantation based on the recipient plasma IL-2 levels and the histological findings of the grafts.

Application of Thiamine in Preventing Malformations, Specifically Cleft Alveolus and Palate, during the Intrauterine Development of Rats

Animal experiments were conducted to test the reproducibility of previously documented antiteratogenic effects of thiamine on cleft formation in the craniofacial system.Thirteen gravid Wistar rats carrying 98 fetuses were given the hydrazine derivative procarbacine (200 mg/kg BW) on the fourteenth day postconception (PC) to induce malformations, chiefly cleft alveolus and palate (day of determining presence of sperm was called the first day PC). Seven of the treated gravid rats carrying 48 fetuses were additionally given a daily dose of 200 mg/kg thiamine from the thirteenth to the nineteenth day PC.A comparative analysis of the fetuses in both experimental groups was conducted externally and, for the skeleton, macroscopically using special staining techniques; the heads were analyzed using successional histologic sections; bodies were examined stereomicroscopically using the razor-blade sectioning technique.In 12 of the 16 parameters evaluated, no statistically significant differences were found between experimental groups. In some cases, we even observed an amplifying effect of thiamine on the development of malformations in the rat strain used in our study.Because several previous authors have repeatedly described treatment with thiamine as one of the sufficient prophylactic measures in slowing the development of viscerocranial malformations, especially cleft alveolus and palate, it is of utmost importance that the timing of treatment and dosage of thiamine be taken into consideration not only in animal experiments but also when applying results to humans.

Effects of Cereal Prolamin Peptides on Differentiated CaCo-2 Cells

The effects of peptic-tiyptic (PT) digests of prolamins derived from several cereals on differentiated CaCo-2 cells were studied on the nineteenth day of culture. Cell viability was determined by using the MTT assay and the colony-forming ability method. The metabolic consequences of peptide exposure were evaluated by measuring RNA, protein and glycoprotein synthesis. While PT digests from bovine serum albumin and durum wheat did not exert any effects, those derived from bread wheat, barley, rye and oats caused a dramatic inhibitory effect on metabolic synthesis and, when measured by using the colony-forming technique, a decrease in cell viability. The MTT assay did not indicate any changes in cell viability. These observations support the hypothesis that, although prolamin-derived peptides from these cereals do not exert an immediate cytotoxic effect, they are responsible for cell damage by impairment of metabolic processes.