Unique Presentation of Intra-Abdominal Testis: Small Bowel Obstruction

We describe here a two-year-old male who required urgent laparotomy to relieve a strangulated small bowel caused by internal herniation around an intra-abdominal testis. This clinical presentation has not been reported previously

Synthesis, Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterization of Copper(II) and Iron(III) Complexes of Folic Acid and Their Absorption Efficiency in the Blood

The absorption efficiency of any drug in blood is of prime importance. Compounds having the general formula: K(n)[M(FO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] · xH(2)O, where (M = Cu(II) or Fe(III), n = 2 or 1, FO = folate anion, x = 2 or 3 with respect), were prepared, and their absorption efficiency in rodent's blood was determined. The obtained compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared as well as thermogravimetric analysis and polarization of light. The results suggest that the two folate complexes were formed in 1 : 2 molar ratio (metal : folic acid) which acted as a bidentate ligand through both carboxylic groups. Polarization of light proved that the folate complexes have symmetric geometry. Biological application proved that Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes were absorbed more efficiently in rodent blood than folic acid itself

Heat Transfer Performance of a Gasketed Plate Heat Exchanger Subjected to Mechanical Vibration

Heat transfer characteristics in terms of heat transfer coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient and heat exchanger effectiveness of a vertical counter flow Gasket plate heat exchanger (GPHE) are experimentally investigated. The tested PHE is made of stainless-steel plates with 30° chevron angle (β=30°). The surface enlargement factor, Ф for all plates was 1.17. Six plates were installed; providing two hot channels and three cold channels in counter flow arrangement. The vibration effect on tested GPHE has been performed and compared with non-vibration model. Vibration frequencies (ω) are in the range of 13.33 to 46.67 cps and vibrational dimensionless amplitude (A/De) varied from 9.14*10-3 to 52.66*10-3 at various oscillating Reynolds numbers were employed. It is found that the heat transfer performance of the GPHE is enhanced when vibration is applied. The maximum enhancement percentage of the GPHE heat transfer coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient and effectiveness due to vibration are 43%, 31% and 18%, respectively. These maximums are occurred at oscillation Reynolds number of 211.34 and A/De = 52.66*10-3 which after the resonance condition. The GPHE performance after and before resonance condition are obtained. Finally, correlations for GPHE Nusselt number, when vibration is and is not applied, are obtained with an acceptable error of 3.99%

Heat Transfer Performance of a Gasketed Plate Heat Exchanger Subjected to Mechanical Vibration أداء إنتقال الحرارة لمبادل حراري من النوع اللوحي مجهز بمانع تسريب يهتز إهتزازا ميکانيکيا

Heat transfer characteristics in terms of heat transfer coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient and heat exchangereffectiveness of a vertical counter flow Gasket plate heat exchanger (GPHE) are experimentally investigated. The testedPHE is made of stainless-steel plates with 30° chevron angle (β=30°). The surface enlargement factor, Ф for all plateswas 1.17. Six plates were installed; providing two hot channels and three cold channels in counter flow arrangement.The vibration effect on tested GPHE has been performed and compared with non-vibration model. Vibration frequencies(ω) are in the range of 13.33 to 46.67 cps and vibrational dimensionless amplitude (A/De) varied from 9.14*10-3 to52.66*10-3 at various oscillating Reynolds numbers were employed. It is found that the heat transfer performance of theGPHE is enhanced when vibration is applied. The maximum enhancement percentage of the GPHE heat transfercoefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient and effectiveness due to vibration are 43%, 31% and 18%, respectively.These maximums are occurred at oscillation Reynolds number of 211.34 and A/De = 52.66*10-3 which after theresonance condition. The GPHE performance after and before resonance condition are obtained. Finally, correlationsfor GPHE Nusselt number, when vibration is and is not applied, are obtained with an acceptable error of 3.99%

Diagnostic efficacy of monoclonal antibody based sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Fasciola gigantica excretory/secretory antigens in both serum and stool

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This research was carried out to develop a reliable monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-based sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of active <it>Fasciola gigantica </it>infection in both serum and stool for comparative purposes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From a panel of MoAbs raised against <it>F. gigantica </it>excretory/secretory antigens (ES Ags), a pair (12B/11D/3F and 10A/9D/10G) was chosen due to its high reactivity and strict specificity to <it>F. gigantica </it>antigen by indirect ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The two MoAbs were of the IgG₁and IgG_2asubclasses, respectively. Using SDS-PAGE and EITB, the selected MoAbs recognized 83, 64, 45 and 26 kDa bands of ES Ags. The lower detection limit of ELISA assay was 3 ng/ml. In stool, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic efficacy of ELISA was 96%, 98.2 and 97.1%; while in serum they were 94%, 94.6% and 94.3%, respectively. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between ova count in stool of <it>F. gigantica </it>infected patients and the OD readings of ELISA in both stool and serum samples (<it>r </it>= 0.730, p < 0.01 and r = 0.608; p < 0.01, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data showed that the use of MoAb-based sandwich ELISA for the detection of <it>F. gigantica </it>coproantigens in stool specimens was superior to serum samples; it provides a highly efficient, non-invasive technique for the diagnosis of active <it>F. gigantica </it>infection.</p

471 Arrhythmia-free survival in early-persistent atrial fibrillation patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation

Abstract Aims Despite advances in success rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation, outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in patients with persistent AF are highly variable. Early persistent AF (EPsAF) is defined as AF that is sustained beyond 7 days but is less than 3 months in duration. Arrhythmia-free survival data after RFCA in this specific population are still limited. We sought to report the outcomes of RFCA in the subgroup of patients with EPsAF, compared to those with PAF and with 'late' persistent AF (LPsAF) lasting between 3 and 12 months. Methods and results Data from 1143 consecutive AF patients receiving their first RFCA were prospectively collected. Patients with EPsAF (n = 190) were compared with PAF (n = 531) and LPsAF (n = 422) patients. All patients received pulmonary vein antrum isolation + posterior wall and sustained non-pulmonary vein (PV) trigger ablation. Non-sustained non-PV triggers were ablated based on operator discretion. Non-PV triggers were defined as sites of firing leading to sustained (&gt;30 s) or non-sustained arrhythmias (&lt;30 s, including premature atrial contractions ≥10 beats/min) with earliest activation outside the PVs. Mean age of the population was 64 ± 11 years. Female patients were more in PAF group (39%) compared to EPsAF (26%) and LPsAF (28%) (P &lt; 0.001). There was no difference in other clinical characteristics among populations. Non-PV triggers were detected more in EPsAF [127 (66.8%)], and LPsAF [296 (70.1%)] patients compared to PAF [185 (34.8%)] (P &lt; 0.001).One-year arrhythmia-free survival rate after a single procedure was 75.0% (398), 74.2% (141), and 64.5% (272) in PAF, EPsAF, and LPsAF, respectively. Success rate was significantly higher in PAF {[HR: 0.67 (0.53, 0.84), P = 0.001] and EPsAF [HR: 0.67 (0.49, 0.93)], P = 0.015} compared to LPsAF. Conclusions In patients with EPsAF, RFCA may result in significantly better freedom from atrial arrhythmias, compared to LPsAF. In this cohort, ablation might be reasonable as first line approach to improve outcomes and prevent AF progression

Long-term effects of tongue piercing — a case control study

The aim of this study was to evaluate tooth and periodontal damage in subjects wearing a tongue piercing (TP) in comparison to matched control subjects without tongue piercing. Members of the German Federal Armed Forces who had TP (group TP) and a matched control group (group C) volunteered to take part in the study. The time in situ, localization and material of TP were documented. Dental examinations included DMF-T, oral hygiene, enamel fissures (EF), enamel cracks (EC) and recessions. Statistical analysis was determined by χ2 test and the t test. Both groups had 46 male subjects (mean age 22.1 years). The piercings had been in situ for 3.8 ± 3.1 years. Subjects in the TP group had a total of 1,260 teeth. Twenty-nine subjects had 115 teeth (9.1%) with EF (67% lingual). In group C (1,243 teeth), 30 subjects had 60 teeth with EF (4.8%, 78% vestibular) (p < 0.01). Thirty-eight subjects belonging to group TP had EC in 186 teeth (15%). In group C, 26 subjects with 56 teeth (4.5%) were affected by EC (p < 0.001). Twenty-seven subjects in group TP had 97 teeth (7.7%) with recessions. Lingual surfaces of anterior teeth in the lower jaw were affected most frequently (74%). In group C, 8 subjects had 19 teeth (1.5%) with recessions (65% vestibular). Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Tongue piercing is correlated with an increased occurrence of enamel fissures, enamel cracks and lingual recessions. Patients need better information on the potential complications associated with tongue piercing

Haemodynamics and flow modification stents for peripheral arterial disease:a review

Endovascular stents are widely used for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, the development of in-stent restenosis and downstream PAD progression remain a challenge. Stent revascularisation of PAD causes arterial trauma and introduces abnormal haemodynamics, which initiate complicated biological processes detrimental to the arterial wall. The interaction between stent struts and arterial cells in contact, and the blood flow field created in a stented region, are highly affected by stent design. Spiral flow is known as a normal physiologic characteristic of arterial circulation and is believed to prevent the development of flow disturbances. This secondary flow motion is lost in atheromatous disease and its re-introduction after endovascular treatment of PAD has been suggested as a method to induce stabilised and coherent haemodynamics. Stent designs able to generate spiral flow may support endothelial function and therefore increase patency rates. This review is focused on secondary flow phenomena in arteries and the development of flow modification stent technologies for the treatment of PAD