Nutritive Value of the Dromedary Camel Meat

The current study was conducted to spotlight on the nutritive value of the dromedary camel meat from different ages in Egypt. A total of 50 samples were randomly collected over a period of 10 months from the hindquarter (glutobicepis) muscle of male camel carcasses slaughtered at Assiut and Sharkia Governorates. The samples were divided into two groups according to the age: Group "A" for young age (1≤5 years) and Group "B" for old ages (5-8 years). All samples were subjected to a proximate analysis (moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate). Only 16 samples from each age were analyzed for some minerals content (Ca, Fe, K, P, Na, and Mg) and for cholesterol, caloric value and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) contents. The statistical analysis of the results declared the presence of a significant increase (p<0.01) in fat, ash, carbohydrate, energy, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, cholesterol and conjugated linoleic acid contents of the camel meat samples with an increasing age. Camel meat from different ages has high nutritive value and it contains considerable amount of protein, which is nearly similar or sometimes higher than other red meat. Pointing to cholesterol and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of camel meat, the obtained mean values in young and old ages were 31.11, 3.19 and 50.63, 5.99 mg/100gm fat, respectively. In conclusion, meat from young camels could be healthier due to its lower fat and cholesterol content

Assessment of early treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer using non-mono-exponential diffusion models: a feasibility study comparing the baseline and mid-treatment MRI examinations.

$\textit{Objectives}$: To assess the feasibility of the mono-exponential, bi-exponential and stretched-exponential models in evaluating response of breast tumours to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) at 3 T. $\textit{Methods}$: Thirty-six female patients (median age 53, range 32-75 years) with invasive breast cancer undergoing NACT were enrolled for diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) prior to the start of treatment. For assessment of early response, changes in parameters were evaluated on mid-treatment MRI in 22 patients. DW-MRI was performed using eight $b$ values (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 300, 600, 900 s/mm$^2$). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), tissue diffusion coefficient ($D_t$), vascular fraction (ƒ), distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) and alpha ($\alpha$) parameters were derived. Then $t$ tests compared the baseline and changes in parameters between response groups. Repeatability was assessed at inter- and intraobserver levels. $\textit{Results}$: All patients underwent baseline MRI whereas 22 lesions were available at mid-treatment. At pretreatment, mean diffusion coefficients demonstrated significant differences between groups ($p$ < 0.05). At mid-treatment, percentage increase in ADC and DDC showed significant differences between responders (49 % and 43 %) and non-responders (21 % and 32 %) ($p$ = 0.03, $p$ = 0.04). Overall, stretched-exponential parameters showed excellent repeatability. $\textit{Conclusion}$: DW-MRI is sensitive to baseline and early treatment changes in breast cancer using non-mono-exponential models, and the stretched-exponential model can potentially monitor such changes.The study has received funding from the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust and the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) awards to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge

Critical role of NKT cells in posttransplant alloantibody production

We previously reported that posttransplant alloantibody production in CD8-deficient hosts is IL-4+ CD4+ T cell-dependent and IgG1 isotype-dominant. The current studies investigated the hypothesis that IL-4-producing natural killer T cells (NKT cells) contribute to maximal alloantibody production. To investigate this, alloantibody levels were examined in CD8-deficient WT, CD1d KO and Jα18 KO transplant recipients. We found that the magnitude of IgG1 alloantibody production was critically dependent on the presence of type I NKT cells, which are activated by day 1 posttransplant. Unexpectedly, type I NKT cell contribution to enhanced IgG1 alloantibody levels was interferon-γ-dependent and IL-4-independent. Cognate interactions between type I NKT and B cells alone do not stimulate alloantibody production. Instead, NKT cells appear to enhance maturation of IL-4+ CD4+ T cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report to substantiate a critical role for type I NKT cells in enhancing in vivo antibody production in response to endogenous antigenic stimuli

Molecular Signaling and Dysfunction of the Human Reactive Enteric Glial Cell Phenotype: Implications for GI Infection, IBD, POI, Neurological, Motility, and GI Disorders

BACKGROUND: Clinical observations or animal studies implicate enteric glial cells in motility disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal (GI) infections, postoperative ileus, and slow transit constipation. Mechanisms underlying glial responses to inflammation in human GI tract are not understood. Our goal was to identify the "reactive human enteric glial cell (rhEGC) phenotype" induced by inflammation, and probe its functional relevance. METHODS: Human enteric glial cells in culture from 15 GI-surgical specimens were used to study gene expression, Ca, and purinergic signaling by Ca/fluo-4 imaging and mechanosensitivity. A nanostring panel of 107 genes was designed as a read out of inflammation, transcription, purinergic signaling, vesicular transport protein, channel, antioxidant, and other pathways. A 24-hour treatment with lipopolysaccharide (200 μg/mL) and interferon-γ (10 μg/mL) was used to induce inflammation and study molecular signaling, flow-dependent Ca responses from 3 mL/min to 10 mL/min, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, and ATP responses. RESULTS: Treatment induced a "rhEGC phenotype" and caused up-regulation in messenger RNA transcripts of 58% of 107 genes analyzed. Regulated genes included inflammatory genes (54%/IP10; IFN-γ; CxCl2; CCL3; CCL2; C3; s100B; IL-1β; IL-2R; TNF-α; IL-4; IL-6; IL-8; IL-10; IL-12A; IL-17A; IL-22; and IL-33), purine-genes (52%/AdoR2A; AdoR2B; P2RY1; P2RY2; P2RY6; P2RX3; P2RX7; AMPD3; ENTPD2; ENTPD3; and NADSYN1), channels (40%/Panx1; CHRNA7; TRPV1; and TRPA1), vesicular transporters (SYT1, SYT2, SNAP25, and SYP), transcription factors (relA/relB, SOCS3, STAT3, GATA_3, and FOXP3), growth factors (IGFBP5 and GMCSF), antioxidant genes (SOD2 and HMOX1), and enzymes (NOS2; TPH2; and CASP3) (P < 0.0001). Treatment disrupted Ca signaling, ATP, and mechanical/flow-dependent Ca responses in human enteric glial cells. ATP release increased 5-fold and s100B decreased 33%. CONCLUSIONS: The "rhEGC phenotype" is identified by a complex cascade of pro-inflammatory pathways leading to alterations of important molecular and functional signaling pathways (Ca, purinergic, and mechanosensory) that could disrupt GI motility. Inflammation induced a "purinergic switch" from ATP to adenosine diphosphate/adenosine/uridine triphosphate signaling. Findings have implications for GI infection, inflammatory bowel disease, postoperative ileus, motility, and GI disorders

Cardiovascular Health and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

The American Heart Association's “Simple 7” offers a practical public health conceptualization of cardiovascular health (CVH). CVH predicts incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in younger populations, but has not been studied in a large, diverse population of aging postmenopausal women. The extent to which CVH predicts cancer in postmenopausal women is unknown

Sugammadex versus neostigmine for neuromuscular blockade reversal in outpatient surgeries: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate efficacy and associated healthcare cost in an academic center

IntroductionNeuromuscular blockade is an essential component of the general anesthesia as it allows for a better airway management and optimal surgical conditions. Despite significant reductions in extubation and OR readiness-for-discharge times have been associated with the use of sugammadex, the cost-effectiveness of this drug remains controversial. We aimed to compare the time to reach a train-of-four (TOF) response of ≥0.9 and operating room readiness for discharge in patients who received sugammadex for moderate neuromuscular blockade reversal when compared to neostigmine during outpatient surgeries under general anesthesia. Potential reduction in time for OR discharge readiness as a result of sugammadex use may compensate for the existing cost-gap between sugammadex and neostigmine.MethodsWe conducted a single-center, randomized, double arm, open-label, prospective clinical trial involving adult patients undergoing outpatient surgeries under general anesthesia. Eligible subjects were randomized (1:1 ratio) into two groups to receive either sugammadex (Groups S), or neostigmine/glycopyrrolate (Group N) at the time of neuromuscular blockade reversal. The primary outcome was the time to reverse moderate rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade (TOF ratio ≥0.9) in both groups. In addition, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)/hospital length of stay (LOS) and perioperative costs were compared among groups as secondary outcomes.ResultsThirty-seven subjects were included in our statistical analysis (Group S= 18 subjects and Group N= 19 subjects). The median time to reach a TOF ratio ≥0.9 was significantly reduced in Group S when compared to Group N (180 versus 540 seconds; p = 0.0052). PACU and hospital LOS were comparable among groups. Postoperative nausea and vomiting was the main adverse effect reported in Group S (22.2% versus 5.3% in Group N; p = 0.18), while urinary retention (10.5%) and shortness of breath (5.3%) were only experienced by some patients in Group N. Moreover, no statistical differences were found between groups regarding OR/anesthesia, PACU, and total admission costs.DiscussionSugammadex use was associated with a significantly faster moderate neuromuscular blockade reversal. We found no evidence of increased perioperative costs associated with the use of sugammadex in patients undergoing outpatient surgeries in our academic institution.Clinical trial registration[https://clinicaltrials.gov/] identifier number [NCT03579589]

Determination of Diclofenac on a Dysprosium Nanowire- Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Accomplished in a Flow Injection System by Advanced Filtering

A new detection technique called Fast Fourier Transform Square-Wave Voltammetry (FFT SWV) is based on measurements of electrode admittance as a function of potential. The response of the detector (microelectrode), which is generated by a redox processes, is fast, which makes the method suitable for most applications involving flowing electrolytes. The carbon paste electrode was modified by nanostructures to improve sensitivity. Synthesized dysprosium nanowires provide a more effective nanotube-like surface [1-4] so they are good candidates for use as a modifier for electrochemical reactions. The redox properties of diclofenac were used for its determination in human serum and urine samples. The support electrolyte that provided a more defined and intense peak current for diclofenac determination was a 0.05 mol L−1 acetate buffer pH = 4.0. The drug presented an irreversible oxidation peak at 850 mV vs. Ag/AgCl on a modified nanowire carbon paste electrode which produced high current and reduced the oxidation potential by about 100 mV. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio was significantly increased by application of a discrete Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method, background subtraction and two-dimensional integration of the electrode response over a selected potential range and time window. To obtain the much sensivity the effective parameters such as frequency, amplitude and pH was optimized. As a result, CDL of 2.0 × 10−9 M and an LOQ of 5.0 × 10−9 M were found for the determination for diclofenac. A good recovery was obtained for assay spiked urine samples and a good quantification of diclofenac was achieved in a commercial formulation

Impact of aprotinin and renal function on mortality: a retrospective single center analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An estimated up to 7% of high-risk cardiac surgery patients return to the operating room for bleeding. Aprotinin was used extensively as an antifibrinolytic agent in cardiac surgery patients for over 15 years and it showed efficacy in reducing bleeding. Aprotinin was removed from the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a large prospective, randomized clinical trial documented an increased mortality risk associated with the drug. Further debate arose when a meta-analysis of 211 randomized controlled trials showed no risk of renal failure or death associated with aprotinin. However, only patients with normal kidney function have been studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we look at a single center clinical trial using patients with varying degrees of baseline kidney function to answer the question: Does aprotinin increase odds of death given varying levels of preoperative kidney dysfunction?</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on our model, aprotinin use was associated with a 3.8-fold increase in odds of death one year later compared to no aprotinin use with p-value = 0.0018, regardless of level of preoperative kidney dysfunction after adjusting for other perioperative variables.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Lessons learned from our experience using aprotinin in the perioperative setting as an antifibrinolytic during open cardiac surgery should guide us in testing future antifibrinolytic drugs for not only efficacy of preventing bleeding, but for overall safety to the whole organism using long-term clinical outcome studies, including those with varying degree of baseline kidney function.</p

Fusarium and allied fusarioid taxa (FUSA). 1

Seven Fusarium species complexes are treated, namely F. aywerte species complex (FASC) (two species), F. buharicum species complex (FBSC) (five species), F. burgessii species complex (FBURSC) (three species), F. camptoceras species complex (FCAMSC) (three species), F. chlamydosporum species complex (FCSC) (eight species), F. citricola species complex (FCCSC) (five species) and the F. concolor species complex (FCOSC) (four species). New species include Fusicolla elongata from soil (Zimbabwe), and Neocosmospora geoasparagicola from soil associated with Asparagus officinalis (Netherlands). New combinations include Neocosmospora akasia, N. awan, N. drepaniformis, N. duplosperma, N. geoasparagicola, N. mekan, N. papillata, N. variasi and N. warna. Newly validated taxa include Longinectria gen. nov., L. lagenoides, L. verticilliforme, Fusicolla gigas and Fusicolla guangxiensis. Furthermore, Fusarium rosicola is reduced to synonymy under N. brevis. Finally, the genome assemblies of Fusarium secorum (CBS 175.32), Microcera coccophila (CBS 310.34), Rectifusarium robinianum (CBS 430.91), Rugonectria rugulosa (CBS 126565), and Thelonectria blattea (CBS 952.68) are also announced her