Experimental Studies on Pulmonary Vascular Response to Alveolar Hypoxia during Almitrine Infusion in Anesthetized Dogs

Almitrine bismesylate, a peripheral chemoreceptor stimulant has been shown to increase arterial oxygen tension in patients with chronic airflow obstruction. This effect is thought to be partly attributable to the enhancement of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). However, regarding this point the results of various clinical and animal studies on almitrine are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of almitrine on HPV in anesthetized, open chested dogs. HPV was expressed in terms of flow diversion associated with hypoxic challenge to the left lower lobe (LLL) where LLL and the rest of the lung were separately ventilated. Results showed that the HPV was enhanced by relatively lower doses of almitrine infusion while attenuated by higher doses. Stimulus-response curves (relationship between end-tidal oxygen pressure and LLL blood flow) showed shift to the right, indicating that almitrine induced the pulmonary vasoconstriction dose-dependently at progressively higher end-tidal oxygen tensions during LLL hypoxic challenges. This suggested that almitrine, also enhanced the response of pulmonary vessels to hypoxia. These changes were not found during almitrine vehicle infusion. Plasma level of 6-keto-PGF1α, the stable metabolite of PGI2 did not show any significant changes after infusion of almitrine. Besides this, following denervation of peripheral chemoreceptors, some dogs showed the same effects as observed in those without chemoreceptor denervation i,e HPV was enhanced by low doses of almitrine and attenuated by higher doses where stimulus-response curves also shifted towards the right. Doxapram, another chemoreceptor stimulant drug did not enhance or attenuate HPV. The effect of almitrine was not influenced by blocking the Ca++ entry through the voltage dependent channel. It was therefore concluded that vasoconstriction induced by almitrine may be attributed to a direct effect on pulmonary vessels rather than being mediated via the peripheral chemoreceptors.This study was performed in the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, under a scholarship granted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Monbusho), The Government of Japan

Global Financial Crisis And Its Impact On Textile Industry In Pakistan

This research investigates the impact of Global Financial Crisis on textile industry clusters in Pakistan.  A cross sectional data were collected from 25 textile industries by using simple random technique and data were analysis by using E-Views software. Structural questionnaire was the basic tool for measures the performance of textile industry in financial recession in Pakistan.  It was revealed that the industry is in urgent need of financial and technological investments.  It was revealed that Global financial crisis has negative impact on the export of textile industry in Pakistan.  The export of textile related products has decreased by 20 percent due to decrease in textile demand.  It was further revealed that textile industry facing problems such as electricity and high taxes

Diversified Traditional Wooden Implements Used in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Practices in Ladakh

The traditional wooden tools are the necessities of the daily life of the people of Ladakh region and are linked directly with geographical conditions of the region. A lot of diversity in the wooden tools used by the tribal farmers of Ladakh since ancient times is observed. The tools are made up of different, locally available materials in a unique fashion by the localites. These wooden implements are preferred over modern one’s because of their multipurpose uses. Secondly these traditional implements find wide applicability in the region because of steep terrain, where the scope of mechanized farm implements is very limited. In the present study few important traditional tools of Ladakh have been presented. The important tools viz; chepo, shak, zungba, rzgeem, saddle, khem, khaczhay, thougk, gourgur, butter churner, plough, smeing, rbhat, grookook etc. have been described in detail in this paper

[4-(Methoxy­carbon­yl)benz­yl]triphenyl­phospho­nium bromide hemihydrate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C27H24O2P+·Br−·0.5H2O, there are inter­molecular O—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds between the H atoms of the water of crystallization and the bromide anions. The three phenyl rings of the triphenyl­phosphonium moiety are at angles of 59.73 (15), 79.15 (14) and 82.81 (17)° with the C/P/C planes

Outcome of perforator propeller flap for the coverage of soft tissue defects over middle and distal part of leg

Background: Plastic surgery is a constant battle between blood supply and beauty. The end result of a reconstructive procedure is primarily attributable to the stability of the vascular component, which is fundamental in that it ensures survival and proper functioning of tissues that have been transferred to the recipient site. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of perforator propeller flap for coverage of soft tissue defects in middle and distal legs. Methods: This was a prospective observational study and was conducted in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from September 2018 to February 2020. The study population includes the total of 30 patients having soft tissue defects of the middle and distal thirds of leg necessary for flap coverage in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: In total 30 patients maximum 11 (36.7%) were in 31-40 years age group. Majority 27 (90%) were male and 3 (10%) were female in our study. Out of 22 flaps in distal leg necrosis occurred in 4 (18.19%) and among 8 flaps in middle leg necrosis occurred in 1 (12.5%). Conclusions: This study observed that that perforator propeller flaps are ideal in reconstructing soft tissue defects of the middle and distal third of the leg, being safe, easy to perform, providing similar tissue in texture and thickness of damaged tissues, with low donor site morbidity

Ten years of survival among early-stage breast cancer patients: a hospital-based study

Background: The incidence rate of breast cancer is gradually increasing all over the world. In Bangladesh, we have very little research-based information regarding the survival of patients with early-stage breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the survival outcome of early-stage (Stages I- IIIA) breast cancer among female patients in respect to their age group, stage of the disease, tumor grade, nodal status, and hormone receptor status Methods: This was a prospective observational study focused on the survival outcome conducted in the department of clinical oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical university (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from December 2011 to December 2021. One hundred and five (105) female patients with early-stage (Stages I-IIIA) breast cancer were selected following the inclusion and exclusion criteria as the study subjects. Properly informed written consent was taken from all the participants before starting data collection. All data were processed, analyzed, and disseminated by MS office and SPSS programs as per need.   Results: The survival rate was found 79% (n=83). We observed stage-wise 10-year overall survival among the participants where 51.60%, 36.10%, and 12.30% survived from tumor stage I, II, and III respectively. We also observed that 29%, 60% and 11% of patients had survived from tumor grade I, II, and III respectively (Out of 83 survival cases). On the other hand, among the 83 10-year survival patients, 53.8% were of negative nodal status whereas 34.20% were of positive nodal status patients. Among the survived 83 patients, 86% were from >40 years’ age group whereas the rest 14% were from <40 years of age group. Conclusions: Early detection and treatment of breast cancer provide a definitive survival benefit. The results of the study showed that comprehensive screening and early detection of breast cancer is required to improve the survival outcome

Time trends in the incidence of cancer cervix in Karachi South, 1995-2002

Introduction:The objective of the study was to determine the trends of cancer cervix in Karachi South during an eight (1995-2002) year period. Methododology: Cancer cervix cases recorded at Karachi Cancer Registry during 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2002 were analyzed. Trends were studied by analyzing the age standardized incidence rates (ASR)s in 2 time periods, 1995-97 and 1998-2002. Results: Cancer cervix ranked sixth in the 1995-97 period the age standardized incidence rate (ASR) world and crude incidence rate (CIR) per 100,000 were 6.81 and 3.22. It reached the fifth ranking in the 1998-2002 period with an ASR and CIR of 7.5 and 4.0 per 100,000. Thus between 1995 and 2002, the incidence of cervical cancer registered an approximate 10% increase. The mean age of the cancer cases was 53.3 years (SD 11.6, 95% CI 50.58, 55.96, range 32-85 years) and 50.7 years (SD 11.7, 95% CI 48.8, 52.5, range 51 years) in period 1 and 2 respectively. The morphological components of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma remained stable during this period, though a marginally higher component and increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma was observed throughout. A negligible down staging was observed in the 1998-2002 period. Localized malignancy was observed in 30.8% in period 2 as compared to 25.7% in period 1 and the component of carcinoma in situ increased from 0% percent in period 1 to 1.3% in the second period. Despite this two thirds of the cases still presented with a regional or distant spread of disease. Conclusion: Pakistan at present falls into a low risk cancer cervix region. The cause of concern is the steadily increasing incidence especially in the younger birth cohorts, the advanced disease at presentation, insignificant in-situ cancers and no preventive intervention or awareness practices in place

Meroterpenoids: A Comprehensive Update Insight on Structural Diversity and Biology.

Funder: This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding ProgramMeroterpenoids are secondary metabolites formed due to mixed biosynthetic pathways which are produced in part from a terpenoid co-substrate. These mixed biosynthetically hybrid compounds are widely produced by bacteria, algae, plants, and animals. Notably amazing chemical diversity is generated among meroterpenoids via a combination of terpenoid scaffolds with polyketides, alkaloids, phenols, and amino acids. This review deals with the isolation, chemical diversity, and biological effects of 452 new meroterpenoids reported from natural sources from January 2016 to December 2020. Most of the meroterpenoids possess antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, enzyme inhibitory, and immunosupressive effects

Foodborne Transmission of Nipah Virus, Bangladesh

TOC summary line: Nipah virus was likely transmitted from fruit bats to humans by drinking fresh date palm sap