Management of Noncatastrophic Internal Carotid Artery Injury in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery.

Arterial injuries are the most feared complication of endoscopic skull base surgery. During resection of the middle fossa component of a large ventral skull base chondrosarcoma, arterial bleeding was encountered near the right internal carotid artery (ICA). Durable hemostasis could not be achieved with packing and the patient was taken for an emergent angiogram that revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the proximal intradural ICA. Given the presence of good collateral flow through the anterior and posterior communicating arteries, the right ICA was sacrificed by coil embolization. The patient was taken back to the operating room for closure then transferred to the intensive care unit and maintained on vasopressors for five days to ensure adequate perfusion. The right ICA was coil embolized and the patient was taken back to the operating room for closure. The patient recovered without complication. Arterial injuries, although serious, are not always catastrophic. Critical steps are immediate recognition of bleeding, vascular imaging, and vessel sacrifice if necessary

Effect of high-fat diet-induced obesity on thyroid gland structure in female rats and the possible ameliorating effect of metformin therapy

Background: Obesity is known to induce a state of lipotoxicity that affects the different organs of the body. Metformin is an antidiabetic drug commonly used in obesity treatment. It was known to improve thyroid function and its regulating hormones. Structural changes in the thyroid gland associated with obesity have not been well investigated. So, the aim of the present study is to detect structural changes in thyroid gland induced by obesity and to investigate the possible protective role of metformin therapy. Materials and methods: Thirty adult female albino rats were divided into three groups (10 rats each). Group I (control group), group II (rats fed with a high-fat diet), and group III (rats fed with a high-fat diet and treated with metformin therapy). After 12 weeks, rats from all groups were sacrificed. Blood samples were taken for measurement of lipid profile, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3 and free T4. Thyroid glands were extracted and processed for histological and ultrastructural study. Morphometric measurements for the colloid area of thyroid follicles and height of the follicular cells were done. Results: Group I displayed normal biochemical parameters and architecture of the thyroid gland. Group II revealed disordered lipid profile, high TSH, free T3 and T4. Microscopically, large thyroid follicles with excessive colloid accumulation and decreased follicular cells height were seen. Some follicular cells showed pyknotic nuclei, vacuolated cytoplasm and disrupted basement membrane with mast cell infiltration of the thyroid tissue. Ultrastructurally, group II follicular cells showed loss of apical microvilli, dense shrunken nuclei, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, swollen damaged mitochondria with large intracellular vacuoles and colloid droplets. In group III, the biochemical parameters and structure of thyroid follicles were improved, and they had a near-normal appearance. Conclusions: Obesity induced by high-fat diet in female rats structurally and functionally changed the thyroid gland in a way that may explain hypothyroidism associated with obesity. These changes were improved by metformin therapy

Development of chitosan-glucose and chitosan-citric complexes edible coating to improve tomatoes post-harvest quality

 The effect of different shrimp chitosan molecular weights as well as shrimp chitosan complexes (chitosan-glucose and chitosan-citric) on the quality characteristics of the stored (at 7°C±2°C and 90% RH) tomato fruits (Lycopersicum esculentum) was investigated.  Coating tomatoes with high molecular weight chitosan (H.M.C.G) significantly improved firmness and weight loss.  The lowest weight loss was found in high molecular weight chitosan-glucose (H.M.C.G) treatment followed by the fruits coated with high molecular weight chitosan (HMC) and then uncoated tomato fruits.  Both molecular weights was clear on retarding the total acidity loss especially for stored tomato fruit coated with low molecular weight chitosan, while control tomatoes exhibited a larger reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in total acidity over storage.  Meanwhile, the increasing of cold storage time significantly (p ≥ 0.05) increased the pH in all uncoated and coated tomatoes.  Generally, no significant (P > 0.05) difference was observed in pH, titratable acidity and total soluble solids (T.S.S.) as well as sensory attributes among the tomato fruits coated with chitosan, chitosan citric and chitosan glucose.  Meanwhile, the fruits coated with low molecular weight chitosan had a higher (p ≥ 0.05) T.S.S. compared with that coated by the high molecular weight chitosan.   Keywords: chitosan, edible coating, tomatoes, firmness and weight loss

Resistance of Alkali Activated Water-Cooled Slag Geopolymer to Sulphate Attack

Ground granulated blast furnace slag is a finely ground, rapidly chilled aluminosilicate melt material that is separated from molten iron in the blast furnace as a by-product. Rapid cooling results in an amorphous or a glassy phase known as GGBFS or water cooled slag (WCS). Alkaline activation of latent hydraulic WCS by sodium hydroxide and/or sodium silicate in different ratios was studied. Curing was performed under 100 % relative humidity and at a temperature of 38°C. The results showed that mixing of both sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in ratio of 3:3 wt.,% is the optimum one giving better mechanical as well as microstructural characteristics as compared with cement mortar that has various cement content (cement : sand were 1:3 and 1:2). Durability of the water cooled slag in 5 % MgSO4 as revealed by better microstructure and high resistivity-clarifying that activation by 3:3 sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, respectively is better than using 2 and 6 % of sodium hydroxide

Comparative Study between the Performances of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus during and Out of the Normal Spawning Season

During the production season (2010-2011), this work was carried out at a commercial tilapia hatchery in Motobas, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate- Egypt. Two experiments were managed using the same design to make a comparison between spawning of Nile tilapia Oreochromisniloticusbroodstock off-season (the winter) and on-season (the summer). The two experiments were tested by studying the effects of using feed additive (Nuvisol hatch P® 0.1%), different broodstocksizes (350, 200, 150 and mixed up to 250 g/fish) and stocking densities (50, 55, 60 female/pond-24m2) on growth performance, feed utilization, reproductive performance and economical profitability parameters of Nile tilapia, O.niloticus spawned in the summer and in the winter. Comparing the results of the economic analysis of the two experiments showed that the total production of Nile tilapia fry per each spawning pond, 24 square meters, is 28,090 within the natural spawning season, an increase of 2.23% from that was spawning outside the normal season (27478 fry). Though total revenue and net income under hatchery conditions in the out off-season (February 2010) much higher than that in natural spawning season (April 2011) by 22.01%. This is of course due to the price of tilapia fry in the winter months is higher than the summer to supply shortages in winter and increased demand at the same time. This is due to the farmers need to start the growing season early, March/April, in order to harvest their fish before temperatures drop in the next winter, which adversely affect the life of the fish

The effect of serum angiotensin II and angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism on pediatric lupus nephritis

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) is found to perpetuate inflammation and visceral damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It mediates most of its actions through Ang II receptor type I (AT1) whose gene polymorphism A1166C (CC genotype) seems to have pathogenic effects. Objective: To measure serum Ang II and the frequency of AT1 receptor CC genotype among a group of Egyptian patients with pediatric onset lupus nephritis (pLN). Methods: This is a case-control cross sectional study which included 24 patients with pLN and 24 age and sex-matched healthy subjects as controls. Clinical evaluation and routine laboratory markers for SLE patients were done. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-2004 renal score were measured. Serum Ang II was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and detection of ATI receptor CC genotype by polymerase chain reaction were done for both patients and controls. Results: Patients had significantly higher serum Ang II than the controls (p=0.0001). The frequency of AT1 receptor CC genotype was significantly higher among patients as compared to the control group (p=0.008). Both serum Ang II and AT1 receptor CC genotype were comparable between patients with proliferative LN class III and IV and those with LN class II (p>0.05). Serum Ang II did not correlate significantly with SLEDAI or BILAG-renal score (p>0.05). Conclusion: Serum Ang II and AT1 receptor CC genotype seem to have pathogenic role in pLN but with no deleterious effects on the phenotype of LN for further assessment.Keywords: Lupus nephritis; Angiotensin II; Angiotensin II type 1 receptor; Polymorphism; Pediatrics

Using negative velocity feedback controller to reduce the vibration of a suspended cable

The system of suspended cable with mixed excitation forces is controlled in this paper by using negative linear velocity feedback controller. The equations of motion of this system contain quadratic and cubic nonlinearities. The multiple scale perturbation technique is applied to determine the response of the nonlinear system near the simultaneous sub-harmonic and combined resonance case of this system. The stability of the obtained numerical solution is investigated using frequency response equations. The effect of different parameters on the vibrating system are investigated and reported

The diagnostic and monitoring value of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Background: JRA is currently diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 revised criteria that are primarily based on clinical parameters. The criteria may be insufficient for the diagnosis of early RA as they are based upon measurements of disease classification predominately featuring manifestations typical of later-stage disease. Measurement of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (MCV) has been shown to be a better marker for early adult RA, and it correlates well with the disease activity score (DAS). Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of antimutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in the diagnosis, and in monitoring disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study included 40 children with JRA fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of JRA: 4 children with oligoarticular JRA, 12 with polyarticular JRA and 24 children with systemic onset JRA. Fifty healthy children, matching the patients in age and sex served as a control group. The studied children with JRA were subjected to laboratory tests including CBC, ESR, CRP, ANA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Serum samples from both patients and controls were assayed for anti-MCV levels using an ELISA technique. Results: The study showed high mean serum anti-MCV antibodies level in JRA patients when compared to controls (P= 0.00). In addition, there were no significant correlations between anti-MCV antibody levels and parameters of disease activity, namely, number of swollen joints, number of tender joints, ESR and CRP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was (0.896). At a cutoff level > 17 u/mL, anti-MCV antibodies had diagnostic specificity of 88%, diagnostic sensitivity of 87.5%, negative and positive predictive values of 89.8% and 85.4%, respectively and diagnostic efficacy of 87.8%. We also reported 3/40 of JRA patients to be positive for RF and 2/40 of JRA patients to be positive for ANA. Conclusion: Measurement of serum anti MCV antibody level holds promise as a diagnostic tool in JRA. However, they failed to show a significant efficacy in determining disease activity.Keywords: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, MCVEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):75-8

Preparation, spectroscopic, thermal and molecular docking studies of covid-19 protease on the manganese(II), iron(III), chromium(III) and cobalt(II) creatinine complexes

ABSTRACT. Creatinine biomolecule has three different coordination modes through the (exocyclic O(5) and ring N(1)), (imine N(2) and ring N(1)) or as monodentate ligand via exocyclic O(1)). The FTIR and electronic spectra of the synthesized manganese(II), iron(III), chromium(III), and cobalt(II) complexes consistent with the coordinated behavioral derived from the structural analyses. Thermogravimetric data agree with the stoichiometry and proposed formulas [Mn(C4H7N3O)2(Cl)2]4H2O, [Fe(C4H7N3O)2(Cl)2]Cl.6H2O, [Cr(C4H7N3O)2(Cl)2]Cl.6H2O, and [Co(C4H7N3O)2(Cl)2]6H2O. Four new transition metal complexes derived from the reaction of creatinine chelate and metal salt (MnCl2.4H2O, FeCl3.6H2O, CrCl3.6H2O, and CoCl2.6H2O), were prepared with 1:2 (metal: ligand) stoichiometry, isolated and well characterized by a different spectral and analytical techniques including FTIR, UV/Vis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, elemental analysis, and TGA/DrTGA/DTA. The solid complexes were formed with the binding of the creatinine ligand through exocyclic O(5) and ring N(1) and presented as an octahedral geometry. In addition molecular docking calculations have been performed between complexes of manganese(II), iron(III), chromium(III) and cobalt(II) with creatinine biomolecule ligand with the Covid-19 protease (6LU7) to determine the best binding site and its inhibitory effect.                     KEY WORDS: Creatinine, Coordination, Transition metals, TGA/DTA, Octahedral geometry   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(2), 399-412. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i2.1