Some Comparative Anatomical and Histological Studies on the Laryngeal Cartilages of Buffaloes, Camels and Donkeys

Comparative studies concerned the upper air ways of domestic animals are few. So this study was carried out to compare between the larynx of buffaloes, camels and donkeys. The present investigation was carried out on 39 larynxes, 13 larynxes (7 males, 6 females) of each species. Ten heads from each species were used for gross anatomical study; the remained three heads were used for the histological study. Results revealed that, the laryngeal cartilages of the three species were consisted of three single cartilages; the thyroid, the cricoid and the epiglottis, and two paired cartilages; the arytenoid and the corniculate. The cuneiform cartilages were paired cartilages present only in the larynx of the donkey. Thyroid, arytenoid and cricoid cartilages were of hyaline type, while the epiglottis, cuniform and corniculate cartilages and the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage were of elastic type. The laryngeal epithelium of aditus laryngis, greater part of epiglottis and vocal folds was lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The remained parts of laryngeal epithelium from base of epiglottis and entire parts caudal to vocal folds were lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells. The laryngeal glands of lamina propria were of mixed types in buffaloes and donkeys but in camels it was pure mucous glands. This study will fill a gap in the field of comparative anatomy and help other clinical investigation applied on these animals

Some Comparative Anatomical Studies on the Laryngeal Muscles and Cavity of Buffaloes, Camels and Donkeys

The aim of this study was to compare between the laryngeal muscles and cavity in buffaloes, camels and donkeys. A total of 30 larynxes (10 larynxes from each species) were subjected to study. In the three species, the laryngeal muscles were similar to those of other domestic animals, but the hyoepiglotticus muscle of camel was remarkably longer. Although the thyroarytenoideus muscle was undivided in the buffalo and camel, the slightly deeper lateral ventricle in camel, allowed the muscle anterior part to be covered with mucous membrane forming the vestibular fold. The laryngeal cavity of donkey was characterized by the presence of lateral laryngeal saccule that located between the two separate parts of thyroarytenoideus muscle, the vestibular and vocal muscles; the presence of two small pouches on both sides of median laryngeal recess, and the cuneiform tubercle, which was a mucosal elevation that covered the cuneiform process. This study will fill a gap in the field of comparative anatomy and help other clinical investigation applied on these animals

Comparative Anatomy of the Nasal Cavity in Buffaloes, Camels and Donkeys.

The aim of this study was to reveal the comparative anatomy of the nasal cavity in buffaloes, donkeys and camels. It was carried out on 30 heads of apparently healthy adult animals, 10of each species. Heads were fixed and used for gross and cross sectional anatomy. The study provided information about the peculiarities of nasal anatomy in each species. The conchal arrangement was greatly different in camels, while that of buffaloes and donkeys were similar to other ruminants and equine. In camels, the nasal conchae were condensed in the caudal two thirds, the ventral nasal concha was shorter and twisted and the alar and basal folds were raised from a common extension. Camels have a vestibular pouch known as lateral nasal diverticulum. It was a cylindrical tube anatomically different from the nasal diverticulum of donkeys and other equine. The cartilaginous skeleton of narial aperture was reduced in donkeys and camels. Moreover, the rostral portion of nasal septum in camels was formed of muscles instead of cartilage. In the three species, vomeronasal organ and dorsal and ventral swelling bodies were present on both sides of the nasal septum. However, in camels the vomeronasal organ was notably longer and wider. In conclusion, the anatomy of camel nasal cavity in contrast to other domestic animals was presented interesting anatomical features similar to those of proboscis-bearing mammals

Healthcare Providers' Knowledge and Current Practice of Pain Assessment and Management: How Much Progress Have We Made?

Context: Despite improvement in pain management and availability of clinical treatment guidelines, patients in Jordan are still suffering from pain. Negative consequences of undertreated pain are being recognized as a reason for further illnesses and poor quality of life. Healthcare providers (HCPs) are responsible for relieving pain of their patients. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of HCPs toward pain management in Jordan. Methods: A 16-item questionnaire with agree or disagree options was given to 662 HCPs in seven hospitals in Jordan who volunteered to participate in the study. Following data collection, the responses were coded and entered into SPSS. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.004) in percentage scores between physicians (36%) and pharmacists (36%) versus nurses (24%). The level of knowledge was the best among physicians, followed by pharmacists specifically in the area of cancer pain management. Nurses scored the lowest for knowledge of pain assessment and management among HCPs. However, HCPs overall scores indicated insufficient knowledge specifically in relation to pain assessment and management among children

Geometry of River Networks II: Distributions of Component Size and Number

The structure of a river network may be seen as a discrete set of nested sub-networks built out of individual stream segments. These network components are assigned an integral stream order via a hierarchical and discrete ordering method. Exponential relationships, known as Horton's laws, between stream order and ensemble-averaged quantities pertaining to network components are observed. We extend these observations to incorporate fluctuations and all higher moments by developing functional relationships between distributions. The relationships determined are drawn from a combination of theoretical analysis, analysis of real river networks including the Mississippi, Amazon and Nile, and numerical simulations on a model of directed, random networks. Underlying distributions of stream segment lengths are identified as exponential. Combinations of these distributions form single-humped distributions with exponential tails, the sums of which are in turn shown to give power law distributions of stream lengths. Distributions of basin area and stream segment frequency are also addressed. The calculations identify a single length-scale as a measure of size fluctuations in network components. This article is the second in a series of three addressing the geometry of river networks.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables, Revtex4, submitted to PR

CenomanianTuronian transition in a shallow water sequence of the Sinai, Egypt

Environmental and depositional changes across the Late Cenomanian oceanic anoxic event (OAE2) in the Sinai, Egypt, are examined based on biostratigraphy, mineralogy, &#948;13C values and phosphorus analyses. Comparison with the Pueblo, Colorado, stratotype section reveals the Whadi El Ghaib section as stratigraphically complete across the late Cenomanianearly Turonian. Foraminifera are dominated by high-stress planktic and benthic assemblages characterized by low diversity, low-oxygen and low-salinity tolerant species, which mark shallow-water oceanic dysoxic conditions during OAE2. Oyster biostromes suggest deposition occurred in less than 50 m depths in low-oxygen, brackish, and nutrient-rich waters. Their demise prior to the peak &#948;13C excursion is likely due to a rising sea-level. Characteristic OAE2 anoxic conditions reached this coastal region only at the end of the &#948;13C plateau in deeper waters near the end of the Cenomanian. Increased phosphorus accumulations before and after the &#948;13C excursion suggest higher oxic conditions and increased detrital input. Bulk-rock and clay mineralogy indicate humid climate conditions, increased continental runoff and a rising sea up to the first &#948;13C peak. Above this interval, a dryer and seasonally well-contrasted climate with intermittently dry conditions prevailed. These results reveal the globally synchronous &#948;13C shift, but delayed effects of OAE2 dependent on water depth

Regulation of 130kDa smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase expression by an intronic CArG element

The mylk1 gene encodes a 220-kDa nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a 130-kDa smooth muscle MLCK (smMLCK), as well as the non-catalytic product telokin. Together, these proteins play critical roles in regulating smooth muscle contractility. Changes in their expression are associated with many pathological conditions; thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms regulating expression of mylk1 gene transcripts. Previously, we reported a highly conserved CArG box, which binds serum response factor, in intron 15 of mylk1. Because this CArG element is near the promoter that drives transcription of the 130-kDa smMLCK, we examined its role in regulating expression of this transcript. Results show that deletion of the intronic CArG region from a β-galactosidase reporter gene abolished transgene expression in mice in vivo. Deletion of the CArG region from the endogenous mylk1 gene, specifically in smooth muscle cells, decreased expression of the 130-kDa smMLCK by 40% without affecting expression of the 220-kDa MLCK or telokin. This reduction in 130-kDa smMLCK expression resulted in decreased phosphorylation of myosin light chains, attenuated smooth muscle contractility, and a 24% decrease in small intestine length that was associated with a significant reduction of Ki67-positive smooth muscle cells. Overall, these data show that the CArG element in intron 15 of the mylk1 gene is necessary for maximal expression of the 130-kDa smMLCK and that the 130-kDa smMLCK isoform is specifically required to regulate smooth muscle contractility and small intestine smooth muscle cell proliferation

A synthetic mechanogenetic gene circuit for autonomous drug delivery in engineered tissues

Mechanobiologic signals regulate cellular responses under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Using synthetic biology and tissue engineering, we developed a mechanically responsive bioartificial tissue that responds to mechanical loading to produce a preprogrammed therapeutic biologic drug. By deconstructing the signaling networks induced by activation of the mechanically sensitive ion channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), we created synthetic TRPV4-responsive genetic circuits in chondrocytes. We engineered these cells into living tissues that respond to mechanical loading by producing the anti-inflammatory biologic drug interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Chondrocyte TRPV4 is activated by osmotic loading and not by direct cellular deformation, suggesting that tissue loading is transduced into an osmotic signal that activates TRPV4. Either osmotic or mechanical loading of tissues transduced with TRPV4-responsive circuits protected constructs from inflammatory degradation by interleukin-1α. This synthetic mechanobiology approach was used to develop a mechanogenetic system to enable long-term, autonomously regulated drug delivery driven by physiologically relevant loading

Critical contribution of KV1 channels to the regulation of coronary blood flow

Ion channels in smooth muscle control coronary vascular tone, but the mechanisms require further investigation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional role of KV1 channels on porcine coronary blood flow by using the selective antagonist correolide. KV1 channel gene transcripts were found in porcine coronary arteries, with KCNA5 (encoding KV1.5) being most abundant (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated KV1.5 protein in the vascular smooth muscle layer of both porcine and human coronary arteries, including microvessels. Whole-cell patch clamp experiments demonstrated significant correolide-sensitive (1–10 µM) current in coronary smooth muscle. In vivo studies included direct intracoronary infusion of vehicle or correolide into a pressure-clamped left anterior descending artery of healthy swine (n=5 in each group) with simultaneous measurement of coronary blood flow. Intracoronary correolide (~0.3–3 µM targeted plasma concentration) had no effect on heart rate or systemic pressure, but reduced coronary blood flow in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Dobutamine (0.3–10 µg/kg/min) elicited coronary metabolic vasodilation and intracoronary correolide (3 µM) significantly reduced coronary blood flow at any given level of myocardial oxygen consumption (P<0.001). Coronary artery occlusions (15 s) elicited reactive hyperemia and correolide (3 µM) reduced the flow volume repayment by approximately 30% (P<0.05). Taken together, these data support a major role for KV1 channels in modulating baseline coronary vascular tone and perhaps vasodilation in response to increased metabolism and transient ischemia