Nerve Transfer for Restoration of Lower Motor Neuron-Lesioned Bladder, Urethral, and Anal Sphincter Function in a Dog Model. Part 3. Nicotinic Receptor Characterization

Very little is known about the physiological role of nicotinic receptors in canine bladders, although functional nicotinic receptors have been reported in bladders of many species. Utilizing in vitro methods, we evaluated nicotinic receptors mediating bladder function in dogs: control (9 female and 11 male normal controls, 5 sham operated), Decentralized (9 females, decentralized 6–21 mo), and obturator-to-pelvic nerve transfer reinnervated (ObNT-Reinn; 9 females; decentralized 9–13 mo, then reinnervated with 8–12 mo recovery). Muscle strips were collected, mucosa-denuded, and mounted in muscle baths before incubation with neurotransmitter antagonists, and contractions to the nicotinic receptor agonist epibatidine were determined. Strip response to epibatidine, expressed as percent potassium chloride, was similar (∼35% in controls, 30% in Decentralized, and 24% in ObNT-Reinn). Differentially, epibatidine responses in Decentralized and ObNT-Reinn bladder strips were lower than controls after tetrodotoxin (TTX, a sodium channel blocker that inhibits axonal action potentials). Yet, in all groups, epibatidine-induced strip contractions were similarly inhibited by mecamylamine and hexamethonium (ganglionic nicotinic receptor antagonists), SR 16584 (α3β4 neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist), atracurium and tubocurarine (neuromuscular nicotinic receptor antagonists), and atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), indicating that nicotinic receptors (particularly α3β4 subtypes), neuromuscular and muscarinic receptors play roles in bladder contractility. In control bladder strips, since tetrodotoxin did not inhibit epibatidine contractions, nicotinic receptors are likely located on nerve terminals. The tetrodotoxin inhibition of epibatidine-induced contractions in Decentralized and ObNT-Reinn suggests a relocation of nicotinic receptors from nerve terminals to more distant axonal sites, perhaps as a compensatory mechanism to recover bladder function

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Morphology and Pollen Chemistry of Several Bee Forage Taxa of Family Rosaceae from Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Pollen grains vary widely in pollen shape, size, aperture type and exine sculpture among the taxa and within the taxon, which make them taxonomically important. They also contain several proteins, lipids and vitamins which are essential for the growth and developments of developing bee larvae. Quantification of these chemical constituents is important for the dietary purposes of honey bees. The present study deals with the morphology and chemical constituents of hand-collected pollen from four bee forage plants viz. Prunus cerasoides D.Don, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don and Rosa brunonii Lindl. from Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The family represents a homogenous group with a tricolporate pollen aperture type in all the studied taxa. Pollen shape varied from sub-prolate to prolate-spheroidal with a smaller pollen size observed in Pyrus pashia (26.53±0.30 µm polar view and 24.20±1.04 µm equatorial view) and a larger one in Prunus persica (38.39±3.06 µm polar view and 36.41±1.34 µm equatorial view). Exine sculpture was psilate to striato-reticulate. Maximum crude protein (68.33±0.14 mg/g) and starch content (32.98±0.67 mg/g) were recorded in pollen of Prunus cerasoides and maximum free amino acid (13.78±0.71 mg/g) in Pyrus pashia. All chemical constituents were found to be significant except the amino acids which were non-significant at the 0.05* level. Results showed that pollen grains of these Rosaceous members contained high amount of crude protein and phenolic content as a bee food source for brood, which makes this family economically important

Prediction of depth from skin to subarachnoid space based on preoperative anthropometric assessment: an observational study

Background and aim: An accurate placement of spinal needle is crucial while injecting drugs to avoid a failed sub arachnoid block (SAB). A pre puncture estimation of skin to subarachnoid depth (SSD) may guide accurate spinal needle placement. This study is aimed to predict the depth from skin to subarachnoid space based on pre-operative anthropometric assessment and to find out formula for predicting SSD, best suited in terms of accuracy when compared with observed depth. Method: In this hospital based, prospective, observational study, a total of 120 patients, of which 68 were men, and 52 were women (non-pregnant) with a mean age of 59.75 ±14.1 kilograms. The SSD was measured after SAB was performed. This SSD was compared with the predicted SSD calculated using the Abe’s, Bonadio’s, Craig’s, Stocker’s, and Chong’s modified formulae. Analysis was done using unpaired t test for quantitative data to determine best suited formula to predict SSD in our population in terms of both accuracy and ease of application. Pearson correlation test was also done. Results: The observed SSD in the overall study population was 4.96 ± 0.67 cm. Stocker’s formula is closest with a mean difference of 0.17cm. In males the mean observed depth was (5.06±0.60 cm) more than that in the non-pregnant female population (4.83±0.74cm). These anthropometric variables were statistically significant with a presentation value of <0.001. Conclusion: Among various formulae Stocker’s formula can most accurately predict the SSD when applied to Indian population

Application of Zn/Al layered double hydroxides for the removal of nano-scale plastic debris from aqueous systems

Nano-scale plastic debris (NPDs) are emerging as potential contaminants as they can be easily ingested by aquatic organisms and carry many pollutants in the environment. This study is aimed to remove NPDs from aqueous environment for the first time by using eco-friendly adsorption techniques. Initially, the interaction between NPDs and synthesized Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) was confirmed by pH titration of Zn-Al LDH against NPDs at varying mass ratio (50:1 to 50:7) and FTIR analysis for both before and after 2 h of contact time. Fast removal was observed in deionized water and synthetic freshwater with maximum sorption capacity (Q(ma)(x)) of 164.49 mg/g,162.62 mg/g, respectively, according to Sips isotherm. Whereas, removal was least in synthetic hard water having a Q(max) value of 53 mg/g. For 2 mM concentration of So(4)(2-) and PO43-, the adsorption capacity significantly decreased to 2%. The removal efficiency was found 100 % at pH 4, while at pH 9, it reached 37 % due to increased competitive binding and destabilization of LDH under alkaline conditions. The process of sorption was spontaneous in different types of water studied. The study reveals that Zn-Al LDH can be used as potential adsorbent for the removal of NPDs from freshwater systems

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Not AvailableThe cultivated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), is self-pollinated, allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 40) with a genome size of 2891 Mbp, originated through a single hybridization and polyploidization event. Groundnut oil comprises about 80 % unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and 20% saturated fatty acid. Consuming oils with high levels of oleic acid is beneficial to human health because it reduces low-density lipoproteins, maintain high-density lipoprotein, slow down atherosclerosis, and reversing the inhibitory effect of insulin production. As a result, peanut oil with a high percentage of oleic acid is preferred, and the oil quality can be determined by the oleic acid and linoleic acid (O/L) ratio. Fatty acid composition of groundnut oil is an important trait from human nutrition point of view as well as oil stability during the storage. Fatty acid desaturase (FAD) enzyme facilitate the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid by adding double bond to oleic acid. This enzyme is coded by two homologous genes (ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B) located on A and B sub genomes. Groundnut breeding for foliar disease resistance with desirable fatty acid composition can help in getting improved varieties. In conventional breeding, selection for fatty acid composition is carried out in advance generations, thus requires huge resources to handle and more time. However, it is possible to reject large number of plants in early generations with use of makers associated with ahFAD2 mutant alleles, thus optimizing resources and time.Not Availabl