Point-counting Technique Research Articles

Studying the effect of adding growth factors to the autologous melanocyte keratinocyte suspension in segmental vitiligo

Addition of different growth factors to the medium used in autologous melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP) was reported in the literature. The aim of the current study was comparison of response to MKTP in segmental vitiligo (SV) with and without adding growth factors to the suspension medium. Eighteen cases with SV were randomly divided into two groups. In group A: Ham F12 medium was used for suspension and in group B: 5 ng/mL recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 25 mg/500 mL 3'5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were added to the medium. All cases received NB-UVB twice weekly for 24 weeks. The area of vitiligo lesions was measured before and after therapy by point-counting technique and complications were recorded. Excellent response (90%-100% repigmentation) occurred in 5/9 cases (56%) in group A and 7/9 cases (78%) in group B (with growth factors). A significant decrease in the area of treated lesions before and after therapy was found in both groups A and B (P = .0012 and .0004, respectively), however, a higher percentage of reduction in area of vitiligo was seen in group B cases (70% in group A vs 90% in group B; P value: .028). Marginal halo was seen in five cases in group A and six in group B. In conclusion addition of bFGF and cAMP to MKTP medium improved the results of the procedure. It could be considered if economically feasible.

Population Density of Avian Species in a Man-Made Wetland of Peninsular Malaysia

This study determined the density and diversity of water and terrestrial dependent avian species in man-made Putrajaya wetlands, Peninsular Malaysia using the distant point count techniques. A total sum of 36,544 bird’s individuals (25water bird and 75 terrestrial bird species) was identified from November 2016 to July 2018. The overall bird’s density is 1.17 ± 0.04 birds’ ha−1 at 95.00% confidence limit. The terrestrial bird species (TBS) had a higher density (1.35 ± 0.04 birds’ ha−1), while the water bird species (WBS) had a lower density (0.98 ± 0.16 birds’ ha−1). For WBS, Nycticorax nycticorax and Casmero diusalbus recorded the highest (5.31 ± 3.27 birds’ ha1) and least (0.13 ± 0.15 birds’ ha−1) densities respectively. Also, Columba livia and Arachnothera flavigaster recorded the highest (7.15 ± 1.77 birds’ ha−1) and least (0.07±0.02 birds’ ha−1) densities respectively in TBS. The TBS had higher Shannon– Wiener species diversity index (N1 = 5.67), Margalef’s species richness index (R1 = 15.06) and Pielou’s J species evenness index (E = 1.29) in contrast to the WBS (N1 = 3.71; R1 = 4.58 and E = 1.18). The study revealed the potentials of the man-made Putrajaya wetlands to harbour diverse avian species. This implied the needs to conserve this enclave in order to increase the population, perpetuity and sustainability of the avian species.

Birds species composition and abundance of a relativelly undisturbed vegetation at Mount Pati, Lokoja, Kogi State

Avifauna of a relatively undisturbed vegetation at Mount Patti of Lokoja was surveyed from January to June, 2018. Line transect and point count techniques were used for data collection. This was done by weekly visits to the site between 6:00 h and 10:00 h of the day. Bird identification was done with the aid of a pair of binoculars, Field Guide of birds of western Africa and recorded bird calls. Monthly variation and season variation in bird composition and abundance were compared using Shannon-Wiener diversity index and equitability index. There were 39 species in 21 families encountered during the survey. The Family Nectarinidae had the highest number of 5 species, followed by Columbidae and Estrildidae with 4 species each. A total of 1,148 individuals were encountered during the six months survey with village weaver having the highest encountered rate of 107 while yellow-throated Long-claw had the least encountered rate of 4 individuals. Fluctuation was observed in the monthly encountered rate of the birds. Diversity and equitability indices had their highest values of 5.24 and 1.51 in January. More birds (696) were encountered in the wet season than the dry season (452). Four species were seen only in the wet season. Species effort curve showed that there are more species to be discover. The number of species encountered in this study revealed that the mountain is rich composition of bird species, even though the site seems to favour species that show preference to disturbed areas. The on-going anthropogenic activities probably paved way to these species to move in. Monthly and seasonal fluctuation of bird species diversity and abundance may be due to a combination of physical and biological factors. The physical and biological factors observed at the site which we speculate could be reasons for the observed fluctuations include slash and burnt system of farming, fuel-wood harvesting, intensive sporting activities creation of foot paths etc. High encountered rate indicate abundance and high activity level of the species. The village weaver was the most encountered species probably because they are known to be lousy, move in flocks and breed in colonies. In view of the rich composition and abundance of bird species on Mount Patti and the site being a suitable breeding site for the weavers. We recommend further study of the place as there are yet more species to be discovered as indicated by the species effort curve. There is need for conservation procedures to be initiated at the place and this study should serve as a baseline to initiate such programme by the state government.

Clinimetric analysis of recently applied quantitative tools in evaluation of vitiligo treatment.

Vitiligo affects about 1% of the world's population, however, there is currently no universally used standardized measure to assess its response to treatment. To find the most effective technique for the quantitative assessment of therapeutic results in vitiligo patients. The study was performed in three stages: (1) Conducting an adapted Delphi survey to check current dermatologists' attitudes regarding the topic of study. (2) Conducting a pilot study that involves testing the selected digital image analysis software in the laboratory to validate future tasks. (3) The chief clinimetric study that implicates selecting actual vitiligo lesion models and evaluating them. Regarding the surface area measuring techniques, the most accurate results were gained through the digital image analysis for surface area, followed by point-counting technique. The digital image analysis for color measurement was accurate and reliable in getting a percentage representation of color improvement within the vitiligo lesions, in response to therapy. Many dermatologists lack understanding of basic concepts about imaging techniques. The study does not include a traditional assessment method such as vitiligo area scoring index. Our designated digital image analysis technique was able to efficiently assess the changes that occur both on surface area and the color of vitiligo lesions in response to therapy.

Impacts of Inundation on Bird Assemblages in Forests in and around a Hydrodam in Terengganu, Malaysia

Despite the increasing numbers of hydrodam worldwide, only a handful of studies evaluated their impacts on biodiversity. Compared to terrestrial animals, birds were thought to be less affected by inundation process, following impoundment. At the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Dam in Peninsular Malaysia, our study compared species assemblages and diversity of birds within the dam area (i.e. the dam reservoir and catchment area) after recent logging and inundation in relation to a nearby forest logged 30 years ago. Using point count and mist-netting techniques, we recorded a total of 64 species (Shannon Index (H’) = 3.827) in the dam area and 91 species (H’=3.99) in historically-logged forests. Insectivore species richness was significantly higher in the historically-logged forests (Mann-Whitney: Z=4.339, N=205, p<0.005). These results indicated that richness and diversity of bird species assemblages appear to decline following recent inundation phase. Nevertheless, the forests in the dam area still harbour charismatic species such as eagles (Family: Accipitridae) and hornbills (Family: Bucerotidae) which suggests that this habitat is relatively important for birds.

Changes in land use/cover mapped over 80 years in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia

Despite many studies on land degradation in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia, quantitative information regarding long-term changes in land use/cover (LUC) is rare. Hence, this study aims to investigate the LUC changes in the Geba catchment (5142 km2), Northern Ethiopia, over 80 years (1935–2014). Aerial photographs (APs) of the 1930s and Google Earth (GE) images (2014) were used. The point-count technique was utilized by overlaying a grid on APs and GE images. The occurrence of cropland, forest, grassland, shrubland, bare land, built-up areas and water body was counted to compute their fractions. A multivariate adaptive regression spline was applied to identify the explanatory factors of LUC and to create fractional maps of LUC. The results indicate significant changes of most types, except for forest and cropland. In the 1930s, shrubland (48%) was dominant, followed by cropland (39%). The fraction of cropland in 2014 (42%) remained approximately the same as in the 1930s, while shrubland significantly dropped to 37%. Forests shrank further from a meagre 6.3% in the 1930s to 2.3% in 2014. High overall accuracies (93% and 83%) and strong Kappa coefficients (89% and 72%) for point counts and fractional maps respectively indicate the validity of the techniques used for LUC mapping.

On Representation of Integers from Thin Subgroups of SL(2, ℤ) with Parabolics

Abstract Let $\Lambda &amp;lt;SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ be a finitely generated, nonelementary Fuchsian group of the 2nd kind, and $\mathbf{v},\mathbf{w}$ be two primitive vectors in $\mathbb{Z}^2\!-\!\mathbf{0}$. We consider the set $\mathcal{S}\!=\!\{\left \langle \mathbf{v}\gamma ,\mathbf{w}\right \rangle _{\mathbb{R}^2}\!:\!\gamma\! \in\! \Lambda \}$, where $\left \langle \cdot ,\cdot \right \rangle _{\mathbb{R}^2}$ is the standard inner product in $\mathbb{R}^2$. Using Hardy–Littlewood circle method and some infinite co-volume lattice point counting techniques developed by Bourgain, Kontorovich, and Sarnak, together with Gamburd’s 5/6 spectral gap, we show that if $\Lambda $ has parabolic elements, and the critical exponent $\delta $ of $\Lambda $ exceeds 0.998317, then a density-one subset of all admissible integers (i.e., integers passing all local obstructions) are actually in $\mathcal{S}$, with a power savings on the size of the exceptional set (i.e., the set of admissible integers failing to appear in $\mathcal{S}$). This supplements a result of Bourgain–Kontorovich, which proves a density-one statement for the case when $\Lambda $ is free, finitely generated, has no parabolics, and has critical exponent $\delta&amp;gt;0.999950$.

Presence of microporosity in Miocene carbonate platform, Central Luconia, offshore Sarawak, Malaysia

The Luconia Province—offshore Sarawak—is a key hydrocarbon province in Malaysia. However, the gas reservoirs in Central Luconia pose unique problems and challenges as they have partially water-filled microporosity that overprint wireline logs. Microporosity in Central Luconia occurs throughout the Miocene carbonates and is a crucial element that influences fluid flow properties and ultimately the recovery of hydrocarbons. Quantification of macroporosity was achieved using petrographic analysis of thin sections and the FESEM images. The point counting technique was used to estimate the amount of macroporosity from the thin section, which was then subtracted from the total porosity to derive microporosity. The qualitative investigation of the Miocene carbonates indicates the presence of three different types of microporosity namely grain-based microporosity, matrix-based microporosity, and cement-based microporosity. Quantification of microporosity showed that the microporosity varies from sample to sample, ranging from 10 to 60% of the total measured porosity. The depositional texture, mineralogy, and microtexture control this microporosity variation including its abundance and type. The microporosity in Central Luconia is diagenetically controlled based on four major diagenetic mechanisms namely (1) mechanical process/endolithic grains/marine diagenesis; (2) leaching/meteoric diagenesis; (3) cementation/shallow diagenesis; and (4) deeper diagenesis environment.

Mineralogy and spectroscopy of Owen Group sandstones, Australia: implications for the provenance, diagenesis, and origin of coloration

Mineralogical studies were conducted on sandstones of Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician Owen Group, southern West Coast Range, Tasmania, Australia. Several samples were analysed using conventional thin section and point counting techniques, while others were further analysed under a Scanning Electron Microscope with back scattering and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy capabilities. The result of petrographic analyses includes provenance, possible sources and controls over coloration in sandstone samples. The sandstones are mainly comprised of quartz, mica, lithic grains (volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary), clays, zircon, tourmaline, leucoxene, rutile, and chert grains. These were derived from a Proterozoic Tyennan metamorphic and a Middle Cambrian Mount Read Volcanic provenance. Following deposition, sediments underwent severe diagenesis including quartz overgrowth, iron coatings, haematite, chlorite and sericite alterations, linings and cements. Multi-phase haematite-related diagenesis is present and late stage hydrothermal fluid alterations assemblages have severely altered and colored the sediments.

Assessment of Bird Diversity and Abundance from Waste Disposal Sites in and Around Gubre Subcity, Wolkite Town, Southwestern Ethiopia

Waste disposal sites are predominantly used as feeding sites for generalist birds. The main objective of this study was to assess the diversity and abundance of birds from three waste disposal sites in and around Gubre sub city, Guraghe zone in 2017. Data were collected using point count techniques from 6:00−10:00 a.m. in the morning and 4:00−6:00 p.m. in the afternoon for three consecutive days each in three study sites. During this study, a total of 2566 birds belonging to 17 species, 7 Families and 6 Orders were recorded. From the 17 identified species of birds, 11 species each were from site I and III, while the remaining 7 species were recorded from site II. Among the seven identified families, Accipitridae was numerically the dominant family represented with 7 species, while Columbidae and Scopidae were the least dominant families represented with 1 species each. At species level, Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes manachus) was the most abundant bird species. The total abundance of birds was significant (ANOVA result, p=0.00) difference among the three sites. In general, highest number of individual birds were counted in site I (1210) followed by site III (974) and site II (382). A significant difference in the abundance of birds between morning and afternoon was also observed (t- test, p=0.044). Greater numbers of birds were counted in morning in all study sites (range: 93 in site II and 651 in site I). Site I was found to be with relatively higher value of species diversity (H’=1.2) than Site III (H’=1.01) and Site II (H’=0.90). In the study area, waste collectors, domestic dogs, cats and vehicles were considered as threats for waste dependent birds. More studies are required to make a complete list of available bird species in the study area.

STRUKTUR KOMUNITAS BURUNG DI TAMAN SITULEMBANG, TAMAN SUROPATI , DAN TAMAN MENTENG, JAKARTA PUSAT

Birds are one of the animals that can be encountered utilizing City Park as a habitat. The existence of birds in a habitat influenced by factors such as life support shelter and feed availability. Situlembang Park, Suropati Park, and Menteng Park has a different characteristic. The purpose of this research was to observe differences in the structure of bird communities in the three parks. This study was conducted in January-March 2015 using descriptive method with point count technique. Results of the research the highest abundance of species in the Situlembang park is Pycnonoctus aurigaster, while bird species in Menteng Park and Suropati Park is Passer mountanus. The highest levels of bird diversity found in Situlembang park is 2,37 then Suropati Park (2.18), and Lowest Menteng Park (2.17). Bird species evenness index in the three parks is high (0.80 to 0.81) and and the dominance index is low (0.13 to 0.15) .The level in similarity index of bird species in the three parks is high (0,80- 0.88).

Avian Occupancy along Multiple Land Use Type Gradients in Miombo Dominated Landscapes of the Copperbelt Province, Zambia

The persistence of bird species is negatively affected by forest fragmentation and deforestation. Inadequate knowledge on specific impacts of such factors as forest fragmentation and deforestation on bird occupancy of miombo dominated landscapes masks the efficacy of conservation interventions over declining avian populations. This study investigates bird occupancy in various land use types in the Zambian miombo dominated landscapes to establish impacts of anthropogenic stressors on avian species. Five land use types: (1) privately managed natural forest, (2) publicly managed national forest, (3) pine forest, (4) corporate mining areas, and (5) woodlands in urban areas were compared for bird abundance, richness, evenness and diversity. Using indices of bird abundance, diversity, evenness and richness based on point count technique, this study revealed that human-dominated areas such as publicly managed national forest, pine forest, corporate mining areas, and woodlands in urban areas support lesser bird occupancy than natural miombo forests of the Copperbelt province, Zambia. The variations in occupancy could probably be attributed to availability of nesting sites and forage, largely influenced by the nature of land use types. The nature of a particular land use type was expressed by levels of human disturbance, spatial setting of the land use types in relation to others and adaptability of birds to their emerging non-native environments. Therefore, integrative land use types coupled with restoration programmes for the persistence of avian populations across disturbed environments need to be promoted and implemented.

Comparison of the planimetry and point-counting methods for estimating kidney volume using magnetic resonance imaging

IntroductionKidney volume (KV) is an important parameter for clinical assessment of patients with diabetes or renal artery stenosis and for assessment of kidney transplant candidates. The purpose of this study was to compare KV estimations obtained by using the Cavalieri principle combined with point-counting and planimetry techniques. In addition, we evaluated the results to construct a confidence interval value for KV according to a new approach. MethodsThe KV of 15 volunteers (30 kidneys) with no known history of renal diseases. Their age ranged from 18 to 25 years. A 3D- fast spoiled gradient-echo dual echo array spatial sensitivity encoding technique axial plan was performed using 1.5-T scanner. We used magnetic resonance (MR) images using the point-counting and planimetry methods to estimate KV. ResultsKidney volumes obtained by the two different methods were not statistically different and correlated well with each other. The reference values of KV parameters with 95% confidence interval (CI) for lower and upper mean values were 121.50cm3 and 144.90cm3 respectively. The mean coefficient of error (CE) for KV estimates derived from the stereologic technique was between 0.5 and 1%. DiscussionFor accurate and precise estimation of KV, MR imaging with use of the two methods: should be preferred using our MR protocol. We also evaluated a satisfactory predicted CE values and this provided a relatively narrow confidence interval.

Age Related Changes in Pinealocytes of the Pineal Gland in Bangladeshi Cadavers

Background: The pineal gland (epiphysis cerebri) contains cords and follicles of pinealocytes and neuroglia.Objective: To determine the number of the pinealocytes and neuroglial cells per sq. mm of microscopic field in different age group in a Bangladeshi population to view the age related change.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from July 2009 to June 2010, based on the collection of 60 pineal glands from whole human brains of unclaimed dead bodies from the morgue. All the samples were divided into four age-groups: 15-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years and &gt;50 years. Histological slides were prepared by using routine Harris’ Haematoxylin and Eosin (H &amp; E) stain. The number of pinealocytes and neuroglial cells per sq. mm of the microscopic field were determined by point counting technique, using ocular micrometer. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and independent sample t test were used.Results: The mean number of pinealocytes and neuroglial cells were found 10875.00±649.75 and 606.31±94.52 in group15-30 years, 9738.83±761.35 and 631.57±94.52 in group31-40 years 31-40 years, 9637.78±382.02 and 568.41±69.57 in group 41-50 years and 8134.64±358.07 and766.31±248.00 in group &gt;50 respectively. Age related significant differences were found in number of pinealocytes in 15-30 years vs 31-40 years, 15-30 years vs 41-50, 15-30 years vs &gt;50, 31-40 years vs &gt;50 and 41-50 vs &gt;50 years. However, no differences were found in number of neuroglial cells among different age groups.Conclusion: This study showed progressive degeneration of pinealocytes with advancing age. However, no age related changes were found in number of neuroglial cells.Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2016, June; 11(1): 18-22

Simultaneous improvement and worsening of vitiligo lesions during the course of NB-UVB phototherapy; vitiligo may not act as one unit.

Re-pigmentation and stabilization are the two ultimate goals of any re-pigmenting plan designed for vitiligo management. Furthermore, whether the improvement of some vitiligo lesions could be considered a guarantee for a similar response and/or stabilization of the rest of the lesions or not, remains to be clarified. To evaluate the behavior of non-segmental vitiligo (NSV), while on narrow band-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy. 25 patients with stable generalized NSV were included and received NB-UVB twice weekly. For the sake of ensuring accuracy of follow up, up to four lesions were randomly chosen in each patient and regularly measured using the point counting technique. The over-all point counting technique of all included patients showed a significant reduction (18.5 ± 8.4 cm2 to 8.2± 3.1 cm2 ) after 6 months of therapy (p < .001). Nine patients (36%), showed mixed response in the different lesions. Improvement was documented in some lesions, while other lesions showed no response or even worsening. No significant correlations were detected between the behavior of vitiligo during NB-UVB and any of the demographic or clinical data of the patients. NB-UVB is a pillar in the management of vitiligo, however close follow-up of the patient as a whole and his lesions, by both subjective and objective measures are mandatory to detect activity as early as possible, as vitiligo at many times may not act as one unit. This early detection of activity and the subsequent change in the treatment policy may ultimately change the final outcome of treatment.

Stereological Analysis of Liver Biopsy Histology Sections as a Reference Standard for Validating Non-Invasive Liver Fat Fraction Measurements by MRI.

Background and AimsValidation of non-invasive methods of liver fat quantification requires a reference standard. However, using standard histopathology assessment of liver biopsies is problematical because of poor repeatability. We aimed to assess a stereological method of measuring volumetric liver fat fraction (VLFF) in liver biopsies and to use the method to validate a magnetic resonance imaging method for measurement of VLFF.MethodsVLFFs were measured in 59 subjects (1) by three independent analysts using a stereological point counting technique combined with the Delesse principle on liver biopsy histological sections and (2) by three independent analysts using the HepaFat-Scan® technique on magnetic resonance images of the liver. Bland Altman statistics and intraclass correlation (IC) were used to assess the repeatability of each method and the bias between the methods of liver fat fraction measurement.ResultsInter-analyst repeatability coefficients for the stereology and HepaFat-Scan® methods were 8.2 (95% CI 7.7–8.8)% and 2.4 (95% CI 2.2–2.5)% VLFF respectively. IC coefficients were 0.86 (95% CI 0.69–0.93) and 0.990 (95% CI 0.985–0.994) respectively. Small biases (≤3.4%) were observable between two pairs of analysts using stereology while no significant biases were observable between any of the three pairs of analysts using HepaFat-Scan®. A bias of 1.4±0.5% VLFF was observed between the HepaFat-Scan® method and the stereological method.ConclusionsRepeatability of the stereological method is superior to the previously reported performance of assessment of hepatic steatosis by histopathologists and is a suitable reference standard for validating non-invasive methods of measurement of VLFF.

Integrin αDβ2 (CD11d/CD18) mediates experimental malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS).

BackgroundMalaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS) is a potentially lethal complication of clinical malaria. Acute lung injury in MA-ARDS shares features with ARDS triggered by other causes, including alveolar inflammation and increased alveolar-capillary permeability, leading to leak of protein-rich pulmonary oedema fluid. Mechanisms and physiologic alterations in MA-ARDS can be examined in murine models of this syndrome. Integrin αDβ2 is a member of the leukocyte, or β2 (CD18), sub-family of integrins, and emerging observations indicate that it has important activities in leukocyte adhesion, accumulation and signalling. The goal was to perform analysis of the lungs of mice wild type C57Bl/6 (aD+/+) and Knockout C57Bl/6 (aD−/−) with malaria-associated acute lung injury to better determine the relevancy of the murine models and investigate the mechanism of disease.MethodsC57BL/6 wild type (aD+/+) and deficient for CD11d sub-unit (aD−/−) mice were monitored after infection with 105Plasmodium berghei ANKA. CD11d subunit expression RNA was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction, vascular barrier integrity by Evans blue dye (EBD) exclusion and cytokines by ELISA. Protein and leukocytes were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples. Tissue cellularity was measured by the point-counting technique, F4/80 and VCAM-1 expression by immunohistochemistry. Respiratory function was analysed by non-invasive BUXCO and mechanical ventilation.ResultsAlveolar inflammation, vascular and interstitial accumulation of monocytes and macrophages, and disrupted alveolar-capillary barrier function with exudation of protein-rich pulmonary oedema fluid were present in P. berghei-infected wild type mice and were improved in αDβ2-deficient animals. Key pro-inflammatory cytokines were also decreased in lung tissue from αD−/− mice, providing a mechanistic explanation for reduced alveolar-capillary inflammation and leak.ConclusionsThe results indicate that αDβ2 is an important inflammatory effector molecule in P. berghei-induced MA-ARDS, and that leukocyte integrins regulate critical inflammatory and pathophysiologic events in this model of complicated malaria. Genetic deletion of integrin subunit αD in mice, leading to deficiency of integrin αDβ2, alters lung inflammation and acute lung injury in a mouse model of MA-ARDS caused by P. berghei.

The effects of chronic smoking on the pathology of alcohol-related brain damage

Both pathological and neuroimaging studies demonstrate that chronic alcohol abuse causes brain atrophy with widespread white matter loss limited gray matter loss. Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that tobacco smoking also causes brain atrophy in both alcoholics and neurologically normal individuals; however, this has not been confirmed pathologically. In this study, the effects of smoking and the potential additive effects of concomitant alcohol and tobacco consumption were investigated in autopsied human brains. A total of 44 cases and controls were divided into four groups: 16 non-smoking controls, nine smoking controls, eight non-smoking alcoholics, and 11 smoking alcoholics. The volumes of 26 gray and white matter regions were measured using an established point-counting technique. The results showed trends for widespread white matter loss in alcoholics (p<0.007) but no effect on gray matter regions. In contrast, smoking alone had no effect on brain atrophy and the combination of smoking and alcohol showed no additional effect. Neuronal density was analyzed as a more sensitive assay of gray matter integrity. Similar to the volumetric analysis, there was a reduction in neurons (29%) in the prefrontal cortex of alcoholics, albeit this was only a trend when adjusted for potential confounders (p<0.06). There were no smoking or combinatorial effects on neuronal density in any of the three regions examined. These results do not support the hypothesis that smoking exacerbates alcohol-related brain damage. The trends here support previous studies that alcohol-related brain damage is characterized by focal neuronal loss and generalized white matter atrophy. These disparate effects suggest that two different pathogenic mechanisms may be operating in the alcoholic brain. Future studies using ultrastructural or molecular techniques will be required to determine if smoking has more subtle effects on the brain and how chronic alcohol consumption leads to widespread white matter loss.

Quartz types of the Eocene Broken River Formation, Mount Somers, South Island, New Zealand

ABSTRACTQuartz arenites are a very common geological feature on the South Island of New Zealand. The provenance of the quartz grains that form these arenites is not well constrained because standard point-counting techniques do not provide enough detailed information. In this study we distinguish different quartz types using scanning electron microscopy–cathodoluminescence combined with standard optical microscopy on the same individual quartz grains. This is done on a suite of samples collected from shallow marine quartz arenites of the Paleocene–Eocene Blondin Sand Member of the Broken River Formation (Eyre Group) at Mt Somers in the Canterbury basin on the South Island of New Zealand. Our results show that the volcanic quartz grains were derived from local volcanic source rocks, whereas metamorphic quartz grains may have been derived from either local source rocks of the Torlesse Supergroup or from distant metamorphic sources rocks via longshore transport. Plutonic quartz grains were exclusively derived by long-distance transport. Warm and humid climatic conditions and the presence of humic acids in the associated coal-forming depositional environment probably increased the proportion of quartz in the sampled rocks.

A postmortem histological study on the alpha and beta cells of the islets of Langerhans

A cross-sectional, descriptive type of study was done was done in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from August 2005 to December 2006, based on collection of 75 postmortem male human pancreas, to determine the number of alpha and beta cells per islet of Langerhans in different parts of the pancreas with advancing age. The collected samples were divided into seven age groups, i.e. A (10-19 years), B (20-29 years), C (30-39 years), D (40-49 years), E (50-59 years), F (60-69 years) and G (?70 years), for convenient description of their various age related changes. Histological slides were prepared by using Gomori’s chromium haematoxylin phloxine stain. The number of alpha and beta cells per islet of Langerhans was measured by point counting technique on a grid square drawn by Visio basic 2000 software with high magnification under the compound light microscope. The mean number of alpha cells per islet in the head of the pancreas were 17.60±2.51, 21.40±2.07, 27.40±3.13, 20.80±2.59, 15.40±2.51, 14.60±3.58 and 11.40±1.67; in the body of the pancreas were found 24.60±1.67, 31.40±2.60, 40.00±2.45, 26.80±2.05, 22.60±2.51, 19.20±2.68 and 20.00±2.45; in the tail region were 37.80±4.09, 42.20±4.82, 53.20±2.94, 55.60±6.69, 43.60±6.69, 39.20±8.01 and 35.60±1.34 in group A, B, C, D, E, F and G respectively. The mean number of beta cells per islet in the head of the pancreas were 32.60±2.51, 36.40±2.07, 42.40±3.13, 35.80±2.59, 30.40±2.51, 29.60±3.58 and 26.40±1.67; in the body of 141 the pancreas were found 39.60±1.67, 46.40±2.07, 55.00±2.45, 41.80±2.05, 37.60±2.51, 34.20±2.68 and 35.00±2.45; in the tail region were 52.80±4.09, 57.20±4.82, 68.20±2.94, 69.50±6.58, 70.60±6.69, 58.20±8.01 and 50.60±1.34 in group A, B, C, D, E, F and G respectively. In the present study, the number of alpha cells of islets of Langerhans gradually increased up to the 4th decade of life in head and body of the pancreas and up to the 5th decade in the tail region, later it decreased. Besides, the number of beta cells gradually increased up to the 4th decade of life in head and body of the pancreas and up to the 6th decade in the tail region, then decreased. Here, females were excluded due to less availability of the female cadaveric pancreas during study period.Bangladesh Med J. 2014 Sep; 43 (3): 141-145