Progression Of Age Research Articles

Clinical Results of Accelerated Iontophoresis-Assisted Epithelium-on Corneal Cross-linking for Progressive Keratoconus in Children.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with progression of keratoconus after accelerated iontophoresis-assisted epithelium-on corneal cross-linking (I-ON CXL) and to assess the efficacy and safety of re-treatment using accelerated epithelium-off CXL (epi-OFF CXL). Sixteen eyes of 16 patients (mean age: 14.6 ± 2.5 years) with keratoconus underwent I-ON CXL. The main outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, maximum keratometry index (Kmax), minimum corneal thickness, elevation front and elevation back measured at the thinnest point, total higher order aberrations root main square (HOA RMS), coma RMS, and spherical aberration. An increment of Kmax greater than 1.00 diopter (D) and a decrease of greater than 20 µm in pachymetry were considered to determine the progression of keratoconus. Patients with progression of keratoconus after I-ON CXL were re-treated using an epi-OFF CXL protocol. Two years after I-ON CXL, 12 patients showed progression of keratoconus, whereas 4 patients were stable. There was significant worsening of Kmax (P = .04) and steepest keratometric reading (P = .01). Furthermore, a significant correlation was documented between progression of keratoconus and age (P = .02). These patients were re-treated using an epi-OFF protocol and after 2 years all patients were stable, and a statistically significant reduction of the mean Kmax (P = .007), HOA RMS (P = .05), and coma RMS (P = 05) was observed. I-ON CXL was ineffective in the treatment of pediatric keratoconus in younger children, whereas it had an efficacy of 2 years in older children. Re-treatment using epi-OFF CXL proved effective to halt progression of keratoconus after I-ON CXL failure. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(1):44-50.].

Timed Up and Go na avaliação da fragilidade de pessoas idosas agricultoras do Rio Grande do Sul: estudo transversal

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the sensitivity of the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) as a predictor of frailty syndrome in the elderly (IFS) in the elderly rural population of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and to identify the prevalence of IFS in this population. Method Cross-sectional study, carried out with 604 farmers over 60 years of age (321 men and 283 women) identified through clusters structured from the regions of the Federation of Agricultural Workers of Rio Grande do Sul (FETAG-RS) and respective unions. In addition to demographic variables (gender, age), functional mobility was assessed by performing the TUG and reported frailty. The Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess a TUG test cutoff point for frailty. Results IFS or frailty was identified in 52.5% (n=317) of the surveyed population; 35.1% (n=212) pre-frail and 12.4% (n=75) non-frail. And the mean time to perform the TUG varied according to gender was 11.6 seconds for women and 10.8 seconds for men – (p=0.0001). The progression of age was related to longer time spent on the age test (young elderly - 60-64 years old; older elderly -75-79 and oldest old - 80+ - p=0.0001). The ROC curve indicated 10 seconds in the execution of the TUG test as the best cutoff point for diagnosing the SF frailty syndrome in rural elderly. Conclusion The frequency of frailty and pre-frailty in this research indicates a condition of vulnerability of rural workers in RS in their aging process. Demonstrating, from the TUG test, characteristics of functional mobility and risk of frailty of older farmers, important for future considerations on the singularities of the health of this population and necessary professional interventions.

Ageing at Molecular Level: Role of MicroRNAs.

The progression of age triggers a vast number of diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Regardless ofour plentiful knowledge about age-related diseases, little is understood about molecular pathways that associatethe ageing process with various diseases. Several cellular events like senescence, telomere dysfunction, alterations in protein processing, and regulation of gene expression are common between ageing and associated diseases. Accumulating information on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) suggests targeting miRNAs can aid our understanding of the interplay between ageing and associated diseases. In the present chapter, we have attempted to explore the information available on the role of miRNAs in ageing of various tissues/organs and diseases and understand the molecular mechanism of ageing.

Female reproductive system in terms of Artavaha Srotas and changes seen in Uterovaginal prolapse

Srotas are a unique feature of Ayurvedic medicine that describe the body's systems. Every living organism is made up of a Srotas. Garbhashaya and Artavavahi Dhamani are the Moolasthanas of Artavavaha Srotas, a physio-anatomical structure found in the female pelvic cavity. It is closely linked to the contemporary female reproductive system, in which the uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary are the most significant morphological and functional components. In two ways, the concept of Artavavaha Srotas has been defined i.e., macroscopically and microscopically. It is a reproductive tract where menstruation, fertilisation, and foetal development take occur on a macroscopic level. And for microscopic level we must understand physiological aspect. Several organs of the female reproductive system are described in detail in Ayurvedic Samhitas. In Ayurveda, the name Bhaga refers to the Smaramandira and Yoni, which are related to Vulva. Smaratpatra is found in the top region of the vagina, near the clitoris, which is a highly stimulated during sexual activity. Yoni is made up of three different Avarta. Vagina and related structures are included in Prathamavarta, cervix and accompanying structures are included in Dwitiyavarta, and the uterus and its appendages are included in Tritiyavarta. The organ that contains the Garbha is known as the Garbhashaya (the foetus). Human body undergoes changes since the foetal stage and with the progression of age some problems also arise in the body systems. Acharyas have mentioned clearly about the gynaecological disorders under the term Yonivyapads. Laxity of vaginal canal and uterine descent is one of the conditions commonly seen in post-menopausal age with more of Vata predominance and Mamsa shaithilya. In this article, we are trying to explain the female reproductive system in terms of Artavaha Srotas according to Ayurveda and changes seen in it during Uterovaginal prolapse.

Quantification of placental extracellular vesicles in different pregnancy status via single particle analysis method

BackgroundThe nano-sized, lipid bilayer-delimited placental extracellular vesicles (PEVs) released by the placenta are now regarded as important mediators involved in various physiological and pathological processes of pregnant women. The number and contents of PEVs are significantly altered in preeclampsia and are considered as potential biomarkers. However, the distribution pattern of PEVs in the maternal circulation in different pregnancy status is still unclear for the limitation of the traditional method with low sensitivity. MethodsIn this work, we recruited 561 pregnant women with different pregnancy status and investigated the distribution pattern of PEVs in the maternal circulation based on a single extracellular vesicle analysis method and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), a placenta-specific marker. ResultsThe concentration of PEVs in pregnant women increased with the progression of gestational age, while the ratio of PEVs decreased to about 10% in the third trimester. Surprisingly, the PLAP+ EVs also presented in the plasma of non-pregnant women and normal male about 5%. The change in the ratio of PEVs can reflect the pregnancy status and also had a better diagnostic value in severe preeclampsia (AUC = 0.7811). ConclusionsOur study not only reveals the distribution pattern of PEVs, but also identifies the diagnostic potential of PEVs as biomarkers.

Effects of age, body weight, semen collection frequency and holding duration on semen traits of broiler breeder reared under different housing systems

Semen traits play the vital role in determining the fertility of a broiler breeder flock; however, it can be influenced by several factors. This experiment was carried out to assess some of these factors affecting the semen. A total of 89 male birds and 960 hens of 20-week-old broiler breeder (2215g ± 7.5%) were divided into two main groups; one was kept in cages (AIC) and another group was kept on deep litter floor (AIF), while both these groups were subjected to AI. The male birds of aforementioned groups (44 males and 480 females) were further divided into 4 sub-groups (11 males and 120 females) to execute different semen collection frequencies i.e., 2, 3, 4, and 5th days' interval. The impact of time duration between semen collection and insemination on sperm kinematics was monitored. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of semen including sperm concentration and sperm kinematics of the collected semen was conducted through a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and ONGO machine (working on the CASA principle). Resultantly, the data revealed that the studied parameters of semen were deteriorated with the progression of age of male birds, while the group of males with standard body weight produced the best semen quantitatively and qualitatively followed by overweight particularly during the post peak phase (46-65 = 20weeks). Although the 3rd day, semen collection frequency was found better for quality, the higher quantity of semen was achieved when males were being collected at the intervals of 4th and 5th day respectively regardless of housing systems. Significant decline in sperm kinematics was recorded with the progression of semen holding duration at the temperature of poultry farm. Furthermore, the highest contamination of E. coli, Salmonella, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum was recorded in the reproductive tract of hens and semen of the AIF group as compared to AIC. Thus, conclusion can be settled that the semen properties are significantly affected by age, body weight, and semen collection intervals in both housing systems, while sperm kinematics is being disrupted with the progression of holding duration. Although housing systems could affect the semen insignificantly, yet lesser contamination was recorded in semen and in the reproductive tract of hens of AIC.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue and recombinant human growth hormone treatment for idiopathic central precocious puberty in girls.

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) in combination with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). Clinical data of 80 girls diagnosed with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) between January 2017 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment strategy involved GnRHa alone (group A: n=34) and GnRHa+rhGH (group B: n=46). Children's heights (Ht), weights (Wt) and sex hormone levels were measured every 3 months after treatment and bone age (BA) every six months. Heights, growth velocity (GV), predicted adult height (PAH), weights, body mass index (BMI), sex hormone levels and bone age were compared between the two groups. Children in group B showed greater height gain at the 12th, 24th and 30th months after treatment (p<0.05) than those in group A, had faster growth rates in the first and second year following treatment (p<0.05) and better PAH (p<0.05). No statistical differences in weight or BMI were found between the two groups before treatment or at any time after treatment (p>0.05). Levels of LH and FSH were lower in both groups after treatment with no statistical differences between groups (p>0.05). The gap between bone age and chronological age gradually decreased in both groups and no abnormal progression of bone age or other adverse side effects occurred. The combination of GnRHa with rhGH produced better height gains than GnRHa alone for patients with CPP. The gonadal axis was suppressed and progression of bone age delayed with good safety and efficacy.

Gene Expression Profile in the Sandhoff Mouse Brain with Progression of Age.

Sandhoff disease (SD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder belonging to the family of diseases called GM2 Gangliosidosis. There is no curative treatment of SD. The molecular pathogenesis of SD is still unclear though it is clear that the pathology initiates with the build-up of ganglioside followed by microglial activation, inflammation, demyelination and apoptosis, leading to massive neuronal loss. In this article, we explored the expression profile of selected immune and myelination associated transcripts (Wfdc17, Ccl3, Lyz2, Fa2h, Mog and Ugt8a) at 5-, 10- and 16-weeks, representing young, pre-symptomatic and late stages of the SD mice. We found that immune system related genes (Wfdc17, Ccl3, Lyz2) are significantly upregulated by several fold at all ages in Hexb-KO mice relative to Hexb-het mice, while the difference in the expression levels of myelination related genes is not statistically significant. There is an age-dependent significant increase in expression of microglial/pro-inflammatory genes, from 5-weeks to the near humane end-point, i.e., 16-week time point; while the expression of those genes involved in myelination decreases slightly or remains unchanged. Future studies warrant use of new high-throughput gene expression modalities (such as 10X genomics) to delineate the underlying pathogenesis in SD by detecting gene expression changes in specific neuronal cell types and thus, paving the way for rational and precise therapeutic modalities.

LBODP081 The Relationship Between Body Mass Index Changes And Bone Age Progression During Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist Treatment In Girls With Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty

Abstract Purpose To analyze the relationship between body mass index change and bone age progression during gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist(GnRHa) treatment in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty Methods: 65 girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty who are treated with GnRHa more than 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. Height, weight, Tanner stage, bone age were measured every 6 months from the start of treatment. The degree of obesity was evaluated using the body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS), and the relationship between the change in obesity and the progression of bone age was analyzed. Overweight was defined as a BMI greater than or equal to the 85th percentile. The chronological age at the start and the end of treatment was 7. 00±0. 00 years and 10.63±0.50 years in the overweight group (16 patients), and 6.86±0.35 years and 10.71±0.54 years in the other group (49 patients), respectively. Results There was no difference in bone age between the normal weight group and the overweight group at the start of treatment (9.85±0.57 years vs 10. 04±0.73 years, P=0.263). Bone age was higher in the overweight group, but after 1 year of treatment, 2 years of treatment, and at the end of treatment, the overweight group had a higher bone age than the normal weight group (10.47±0.56 years vs 10.87±0.57 years, P=0. 02; 11. 06±0.47 years vs 11.46±0.51 years, P=0. 004; 11.70±0.46 years vs 12. 01±0.52 years, P=0. 03). Bone age at the end of treatment was related to overweight at the start of treatment (r=0.265, P=0. 03) and the increase in BMI SDS from normal to overweight during treatment (r=0.285, P=0. 02). There were 11 children (17%) whose BMI SDS increased from normal to overweight during treatment, compared with the other patients, there was no difference in bone age during 2 years of treatment, but bone age at the end of treatment was higher (12. 09±0.60 years vs 11.71±0.47 years, P=0. 02), and the difference in bone age before and after treatment was also greater (2.31±0.68 years vs 1.79±0.52 years, P=0. 01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the increase in BMI SDS from normal to overweight during treatment had a positive correlation with bone age at the end of treatment (β=0.31, R2=0. 07, P=0. 03). Conclusion In girls with central precocious puberty, an increase in obesity from normal to overweight during GnRHa treatment does not affect bone age progression until 2 years from the start of treatment, but might be a risk factor for bone age progression at the end of treatment. Presentation: No date and time listed

P-530 tRNA fragments in follicle fluid can be explored in Diminished Ovarian Reserve patients as a marker of IVF outcomes

Abstract Study question Can tRNA fragments in follicle fluid be explored for markers that predict blastocyst formation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve? Summary answer tRNA-Ser-CGA-4 is up-regulated in the follicle fluid of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) What is known already tRNA fragments are a novel class of small non-coding RNAs that have been shown to play regulatory roles in reproductive biology. Study design, size, duration Non-Randomized case control study in patients presenting for IVF treatment at a University affiliated fertility clinic from September 2020- January 2021. Thirty three patients were included: 15 patients with DOR and 18 controls. Participants/materials, setting, methods Patients were stimulated by appropriate protocols according to their age, diagnosis and AMH. At retrieval, non-bloody follicle fluid (FF) was retrieved for after removing the cumulus-oophorus complex. FF was centrifuged at 1600 g x 10 mins and filtered with 80 nm filter for analysis. Main results and the role of chance There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, BMI and duration of infertility. The mean age was 35.1 years As anticipated, the mean AMH, antral follicle count and number of eggs retrieved were statistically lower in the DOR groups compared with controls (&amp;lt;0.05) The fertilization rate was 61.2% in DOR vs 79.5% in controls The blastocyst rate was 39.5% in DOR patients and 50.6% in controls Total RNA yield was lower in DOR patients, as 50% of the DOR samples had undetectable levels (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Samples were predominantly processed in duplicate. Input into the pipeline was paired end data which showed an overall tRNA fragment count that was higher in the DOR population. Log2FC showed an up-regulation of the tRNA fragments tRNA-Ser-CGA-4, tRNA-Cys-GCA-15, tRNA-Cys-GCA-10 and tRNA-Cys-GCA-19 in the DOR population. Limitations, reasons for caution Undetectable levels in follicle fluid of some of the DOR patients introduced selection bias Larger sample size and broader applicability across various ethnic groups. Wider implications of the findings Follicle fluid can be explored to give insight into the signaling pathways of ovarian biology Non-invasive method of assessing oocyte competence Useful in explaining the pathophysiology of DOR Can these findings assist is in the identification of therapeutic targets to delay the progression of age related/non-age related DOR? Trial registration number not applicable

Endocrine Regulation of Lifespan in Insect Diapause.

Diapause is a physiological adaptation to conditions that are unfavorable for growth or reproduction. During diapause, animals become long-lived, stress-resistant, developmentally static, and non-reproductive, in the case of diapausing adults. Diapause has been observed at all developmental stages in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In adults, diapause traits weaken into adaptations such as hibernation, estivation, dormancy, or torpor, which represent evolutionarily diverse versions of the traditional diapause traits. These traits are regulated through modifications of the endocrine program guiding development. In insects, this typically includes changes in molting hormones, as well as metabolic signals that limit growth while skewing the organism’s energetic demands toward conservation. While much work has been done to characterize these modifications, the interactions between hormones and their downstream consequences are incompletely understood. The current state of diapause endocrinology is reviewed here to highlight the relevance of diapause beyond its use as a model to study seasonality and development. Specifically, insect diapause is an emerging model to study mechanisms that determine lifespan. The induction of diapause represents a dramatic change in the normal progression of age. Hormones such as juvenile hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and prothoracicotropic hormone are well-known to modulate this plasticity. The induction of diapause—and by extension, the cessation of normal aging—is coordinated by interactions between these pathways. However, research directly connecting diapause endocrinology to the biology of aging is lacking. This review explores connections between diapause and aging through the perspective of endocrine signaling. The current state of research in both fields suggests appreciable overlap that will greatly contribute to our understanding of diapause and lifespan determination.

Prenatal diagnosis of a 46,XY karyotype female fetus with an SRY-associated gonadal dysgenesis, conceived through an intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a case report

BackgroundPermanent progression of paternal age and development of reproductive medicine lead to increase in number of children conceived with assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Although it is uncertain if ARTs have direct influence on offspring health, advanced paternal age, associated comorbidities and reduced fertility possess significant risks of genetic disorders to the offspring.With a broad implementation of a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), more cases of genetic disorders, including sex discordance are revealed. Among biological causes of sex discordance are disorders of sexual development, majority of which are associated with the SRY gene.Case presentationWe report a case of a non-invasive prenatal testing and ultrasound sex discordance in a 46,XY karyotype female fetus with an SRY pathogenic variant, who was conceived through an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to severe oligozoospermia of the father.Advanced mean age of ICSI patients is associated with risk of de novo mutations and monogenic disorders in the offspring. Additionally, ICSI patients have higher risk to harbour infertility-predisposing mutations, including mutations in the SRY gene. These familial and de novo genetic factors predispose ICSI-conceived children to congenital malformations and might negatively affect reproductive health of ICSI-patients’ offspring.ConclusionsOligozoospermic patients planning assisted reproduction are warranted to undergo genetic counselling and testing for possible inherited and mosaic mutations, and risk factors for de novo mutations.

Identification of Stem Cell-Like Cells in the Ovary.

Understanding the function of stem cells and cellular microenvironments in in vitro oogenesis, including ovarian folliculogenesis, is crucial for reproductive biology. Because mammalian females cannot generate oocytes after birth, the number of oocyte decreases with the progression of reproductive age. Meanwhile, there is an emerging need for the neogenesis of female germ cells to treat the increasing infertility-related issues in cancer survivors. The concept of oocytes neogenesis came from the promising results of stem cells in reproductive medicine. The stem cells that generate oocytes are defined as stem cell-like cells in the ovary (OSCs). Several recent studies have focused on the origin, isolation, and characteristic of OSCs and the differentiation of OSCs into oocytes, ovarian follicles and granulosa cells. Hence, in this review, we focus on the experimental trends in OSC research and discuss the methods of OSC isolation. We further summarized the characteristics of OSCs and discuss the markers used to identify OSCs differentiated from various cell sources. We believe that this review will be beneficial for advancing the research and clinical applications of OSCs.

Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degenerative Disorder Due to Poor Dietary Habits

Globally, food consumption patterns are changed and trends shift to poor dietary habits leading to poor health and food insecurity. Visual health is normally down after a certain age period or with the progression of individual age but now the trends are observed increased visual disorders in early age periods too. The prevalence of age related macular degenerative disorders are increasing mainly due to diets that are deficient in carotenoids like lutein or other essential nutrients that are necessary to improve visual health. Lutein has the potential to directly absorb and deposit in eye macula that even can restore macular pigment density and recover visual strength. Numerous research has proved that diet naturally rich with carotenoids or supplemented has a substantial beneficial impact against age related macular degenerative disorders in all age groups.

Classification of Brain Volumetric Data to Determine Alzheimer’s Disease Using Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm as Feature Selector

Alzheimer&#x2019;s disease is a degenerative disease that affects the progression of age and causes the brain to be unable to fulfill its expected functions. Depending on the stage, the effects of Alzheimer&#x2019;s disease (AD) vary from forgetting the names of surrounding people to not being able to continue daily life without assistance. To the best of our knowledge, there are no generally accepted diagnostic or treatment methods. In this study, a binary version of the artificial bee colony algorithm (BABC) is proposed as a feature selector for classifying AD from volumetric and statistical data of brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs). MRIs were obtained from the Alzheimer&#x2019;s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Volumetric and statistical data from the collected MRIs were obtained from an online system called volBrain. Then, for comparison, binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO), binary grey wolf optimization (BGWO), and binary differential evolution (BDE) were employed. The results of this comparison show that BGWO outperforms BABC, which is a competitive method for this purpose. Additionally, traditional data mining methods such as Info Gain (IG), Gain Ratio (GR), Chi-square (CHI), and ReliefF methods were utilized for comparison. The results also demonstrate the superiority of the BABC over traditional methods. Second, this study focused on exploring which parts of the brain are more relevant for AD diagnosis. The novelty of this study lies in the output of the second point.

Muscle transcriptome provides the first insight into the dynamics of gene expression with progression of age in sheep

The dynamic synergy of genes and pathways in muscles in relation to age affects the muscle characteristics. Investigating the temporal changes in gene expression will help illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle development. Here we report the gene expression changes in skeletal muscles through successive age groups in Bandur, a meat type sheep of India. RNA sequencing data was generated from the longissimus thoracis muscles from four age groups, ranging from lamb to adult. Analysis of 20 highest expressed genes common across the groups revealed muscle protein, phosphorylation, acetylation, metal binding and transport as significant functions. Maximum differentiation was observed after 2.5–3 years on transition from lambs to adult. Transcriptional regulation by the TFAP2 transcription factors, IL-6 signaling and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were enriched in younger animals. The gene-protein network demarcated key interactive genes involved in muscle development and proliferation that can be used as candidates for future research on improvement of muscle characteristics.

Traditional knowledge and field marker development for essential oil content using peltate gland trichome and leaf colour in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Twenty-six accessions of sweet basil obtained from different parts of India were evaluated for morphological and quantitative characters. These accessions were observed for distinguish characters like trichome type, peltate gland (PG) size, sepal and flower colour, stem girth, branching pattern, growth habits and leaf colour. Besides that, they were observed for yield contributing characters viz., maximum plant height, spread, stem girth, fresh leaf, dry leaf, herbage yield and essential oil yield, and DOB-8W was found superior as compared to checks. Maximum number of peltate glands (PG) on abaxial leaf surface as compare to adaxial were recorded at all the three stages (young, mature and old based on leaf position on axis). However, PGs formation takes place only in younger leaves, therefore, the numbers of PGs were reduced in mature and older leaves due to expansion of leaf area with progression of age. Number of PGs on abaxial surface of young leaf, green leaf colour and essential oil content had positive relationship with each other. The green and purple colour intensity in leaf is to be field notch for initial screening of accessions for essential oil content.

Effect of ambient temperature on the properties and action mechanism of silt-based foamed concrete

Foamed concrete involves pouring layers at different ambient temperatures. However, the mechanical indexes in the specification are obtained under standard curing conditions. This paper addresses the respective influences of different ambient temperatures on the mechanical strength of silt-based foamed concrete. Next, comprehensive experiments exploring the mechanism of effect of temperature on silt-based foamed concrete, including compressive strength, flexural-tensile strength, splitting strength and elastic modulus, California bearing ratio (CBR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were conducted. The test results show that the compressive strength of silt-based foamed concrete distributed in the shape of a saddle with increasing ambient temperature. The optimal strength was obtained at approximately 20 ℃. Below 0 ℃, the hydration ceased to influence the structure significantly. The structure of the concrete could be repaired to some extent under the standard curing conditions. When the ambient temperature rose to 20 ℃, the mechanical strength of the concrete rose almost lineally. From 15 to 35 ℃, the change in mechanical strength was not apparent. When the temperature exceeded 35 ℃, the mechanical strength dropped significantly with the rise of temperature influenced by the evaporation. Although the mechanical strength could be improved to some extent with the progression of age after the temperature returned to 20 ℃, the strength was lower than the standard strength, especially in frozen state and high temperature state.

Assessment of Platelet Indices Profile of Pregnant Women Attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Platelets initiate hemostasis by aggregating at the site of injury and participate in ensuring endothelial integrity. A defect in this process could lead to intravascular blood loss. This case-control study sought to determine the platelet counts and indices among pregnant women in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 120 pregnant women as case and 60 non-pregnant women as control were enrolled for this study. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes, and complete platelet count and indices were carried out using an automated five-part haematology analyzer. The mean ± standard deviation of the platelets count among the pregnant women, 226.54 ± 69.76 109 cells/L was not significantly different from that of the non-pregnant women, 214.95 ± 52.22x 109 cells/L (p=0.295). There was a significant differences in mean platelets volume (MPV) of the case and control groups (p=0.036). After post-hoc test, the significant difference was between the pregnant women in 3rd trimester and the control group (p=0.014). However, there was no diffences in the mena platelets larger cell ratio and platelet distribution width in the case and control groups. Fifteen (11.0%) and 7 (12.1%) of the case and control control groups, respectively had mild thrombocytopenia. However, there was no significant association between pregnant status and thrombocytopenia (p=0.836). Based on these findngs, it can be infered that platelet count and MPV decreases while PDW increase with the progression of gestation age compared to the non-pregnant women.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Women with Abnormal Pap Smears

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a widely prevalent sexually transmitted virus. Because HPV is the causative agent of cervical cancer, knowledge of the epidemiology of HPV is critical. Objective: To study the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in cases of abnormal cervical cytology in Kirkuk city. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we collected 55 Pap smears samples from women attending Azadi Teaching Hospital and private clinics in Kirkuk over the period from 2012 to 2015. Two specimens were collected from each patient; one for a Pap smear study and the other for PCR assay to detect HPV. Results: HR-HPV was positive in 58.2% of patients. The HR-HPV positivity was highest in the age group 21-30 years (90.9%) and lowest at the age group ≥ 51 years (25%). The highest positive rate was in the group married at age 21-25 years (76.2%) and this rate decreased with progression of the marriage age until reaching (20%) in the age group married at ≥31 years. The largest group was para 3-4 (58.2%), followed by para 1-2 and nulliparous (29.1% and 9.1%, respectively). The highest positive rate was in the group para 3-4 (65.6%). Majority of the patients (67.3%) had ASC-US on cytological diagnosis, while LSIL and HSIL accounting for (18.2%) and (14.5%) respectively. The prevalence of HR-HPV infection rate increases with increasing the grade of abnormality reaching to (80%) and (87.5%) in cases of LSIL and HSIL respectively, while the positivity for ASCUS was ranking (45.9%), which was statistically significant (P-value=0.029), although the positivity in cases of HSIL was more than in the cases of LSIL the difference was statistically not significant (P-value =0.671). Conclusion: It is worthy to add HR-HPV screen by PCR to Pap test to increase the sensitivity of primary screening for cervical cancer. Key words: Abnormal Pap smears, HPV