Cytomegalovirus infection associated with atypical bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a preterm neonate: a case report

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is frequently isolated from neonates. Symptomatic infection is only apparent in 10% of affected babies with particular predilection for the reticuloendothelial and central nervous system. Isolated respiratory system involvement is rarely encountered. We report a case of a premature 32 weeks infant who required prolonged oxygen dependency and treated for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis was only discovered after detection of CMV DNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage. A high level of clinical awareness is crucial as a definite diagnosis and treatment will significantly alter the morbidity and the cost of therapy

In vitro regeneration system of teak (Tectona grandis L.)

Tectona grandis, commonly known as teak, is a member of the Verbanaceae family. It is one of the world’s premier appearance grade timbers and is highly sought after for its attractiveness, durability and resistance to termite and fungal infection (Appanah and Weinland, 1993)

A method review of surgically induced hypertension in pregnant rats model: modified Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP)

Background: There are various animal models used in the study of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders. RUPP is one of the methods used to induce hypertension via surgical procedure by clipping both ovarian and uterine arteries with specified internal diameter of silver clip. In this study, we modified the method by using a surgical suture instead of clip. Purpose: The objective of this study is to establish hypertension in a pregnant rat model by using a modified method of RUPP. Methodology: Three female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. One of them was non-pregnant rat (C) and the other two rats (R1 & R2) were mated. The establishment of pregnancy were confirmed with the visualization of sperm and it was recorded as D0 of gestation. On D14 of gestation, both uterine and ovarian arteries were tied in R1 by using a suture while in R2, only uterine arteries were tied. Blood pressure was measured via tail-cuff method at D20 of gestation. Result: Complete fetal resorption occurred in R1 and R2 died post-operatively due to infection. Conclusion: This method caused high morbidity and mortality and we could not establish hypertension in pregnant animal model. The alternative methods for induction of hypertension in pregnant animal model are by using a drug that inhibit Nitric Oxide synthase (L-NAME) or by genetic manipulation

A method review of pharmacologically induced hypertension in pregnant rats model: Nω-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride (L-Name)

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute a high percentage in maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. They affect about 8% of pregnancies worldwide. There are various animal models used in the study of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders including induction of animals by surgical, environmental, pharmacological, immunological, or genetic manipulation. L-NAME is a drug that has been used to induce hypertension by inhibition of Nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Purpose: The objective of this study is to establish hypertension in a pregnant rat model by using L-NAME. Methodology: Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=8 in each): Control- non-pregnant (C), control-pregnant (P), Non-pregnant-L-NAME (CL) and pregnant-L-NAME (PL). On Day 13 of gestation, the treated groups were given 60mg/kg/day of L-NAME via oral gavage until the day of delivery. A series of blood pressure were measured via pre-warmed tail-cuff method. The number and weight of the litters and total maternal weight gain were recorded. Result: Introduction of L-NAME to PL group resulted in an increase of the mean SBP and MAP however, it does not follow the definition of hypertension in pregnancy. Introduction of L-NAME to CL group resulted in an increase of the mean SBP and MAP which is higher compared to PL group. The mean of maternal weight gain, number of litters and litters’ weight were not significant. There were several complications that we observed in the treated groups including one rat had died and some of them experienced temporary neurological deficits such as unilateral upper limb paralysis and bloody eye discharge. Conclusion: This method caused maternal morbidity and mortality, but it was relatively safe for the fetus. The pregnancy itself has hypotensive mechanism to protect the fetus. This method used oral gavage as the route of administration could not established hypertension in pregnancy rat model might be due to short-acting of L-NAME. The alternative way is to change the method of administration of L-NAME by giving chronic inhibition of NOS through subcutaneous injection or mixing the drug with drinking water

Nω-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride (L-NAME) induced hypertension in pregnant rat model: an analysis on the effectiveness of administration methods to Induce high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Background: Hypertensive pregnancy disorder (HDP) contributes to a high percentage of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality but there is no definite treatment to cure this disease. A history of having HDP is a known risk factor for women’s cardiovascular disease later in their life even though blood pressure normalizes during the postpartum period. L-NAME is a drug that has been used to pharmacologically induce hypertension by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In the previous study, there are various administration methods used to induce hypertension in pregnant rat models by using L-NAME, but they produced inconsistent outcomes. Objective: This study aims to establish hypertension in a pregnant rat model by using L-NAME. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=6 in each): Control- non-pregnant (C), control-pregnant (P), non-pregnant-L-NAME (CL) and pregnant-L-NAME (PL). The pregnant groups were mated with adult male SD overnight and Day 0 of gestation is considered by the presence of sperm in the vaginal smear. On Day 10 of gestation, the treated groups (PL and CL) were given 125mg/kg/day of L-NAME via subcutaneous route until the day of delivery and then the animals were sacrificed at Day 30 postpartum. A series of blood pressure were measured via pre-warmed tail-cuff method. The mean number and weight of the litters were recorded. Result: Introduction of L-NAME via subcutaneous for 12-13 consecutive days to treated group resulted in significant increase of the mean atrial pressure (MAP) on Day 14 and Day 21 of gestation for both treated groups compared to their controls (P and C group respectively). During the postpartum period, the MAP of PL and CL decreased but was not statistically significant. The mean number and weight of the litters for both P and PL showed no significant differences. Conclusion: This method has successfully induced high blood pressure which fits the criteria of HDP definition, and it was relatively safe for the foetus. We highly recommend these findings regimen and the administration methods to induce high blood pressure in pregnancy-associated hypertension animal model

A method review of surgically-induced hypertension in pregnant rats model: modified Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP)

Background: There are various animal models used in the study of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders. RUPP is one of the methods used to induce hypertension via surgical procedure by clipping both ovarian and uterine arteries with a specified internal diameter of the silver clip. In this study, we modified the method by using a surgical suture instead of a clip. Purpose: The objective of this study is to establish hypertension in a pregnant rat model by using a modified method of RUPP. Methodology: Three female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. One of them was a non-pregnant rat (C) and the other two rats (R1 & R2) were mated. The establishment of pregnancy was confirmed with the visualization of sperm and it was recorded as D0 of gestation. On D14 of gestation, both uterine and ovarian arteries were tied in R1 by using a suture while in R2, only uterine arteries were tied. Blood pressure was measured via the tail-cuff method at D20 of gestation. Result: Complete fetal resorption occurred in R1 and R2 died post-operatively due to infection. Conclusion: This method caused high morbidity and mortality and we could not establish hypertension in pregnant animal model. The alternative methods for induction of hypertension in pregnant animal model are by using a drug that inhibits Nitric Oxide synthase (L-NAME) or by genetic manipulatio

A method review of surgically induced hypertension in pregnant rats model: modified Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP)

Background: There are various animal models used in the study of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders. RUPP is one of the methods used to induce hypertension via surgical procedure by clipping both ovarian and uterine arteries with specified internal diameter of silver clip. In this study, we modified the method by using a surgical suture instead of clip. Purpose: The objective of this study is to establish hypertension in a pregnant rat model by using a modified method of RUPP. Methodology: Three female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. One of them was non-pregnant rat (C) and the other two rats (R1 & R2) were mated. The establishment of pregnancy were confirmed with the visualization of sperm and it was recorded as D0 of gestation. On D14 of gestation, both uterine and ovarian arteries were tied in R1 by using a suture while in R2, only uterine arteries were tied. Blood pressure was measured via tail-cuff method at D20 of gestation. Result: Complete fetal resorption occurred in R1 and R2 died post-operatively due to infection. Conclusion: This method caused high morbidity and mortality and we could not establish hypertension in pregnant animal model. The alternative methods for induction of hypertension in pregnant animal model are by using a drug that inhibit Nitric Oxide synthase (L-NAME) or by genetic manipulation

Chronic post-partum changes of mesenteric arteries in Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)- induced hypertension in pregnant rats model.

Introduction: Women with history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have four-fold increased risk to develop cardiovascular diseases later in life. It has been postulated that the transient increase in blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy leads to ongoing endothelial dysfunction even though BP is normalized during postpartum. A balanced production of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) is important for BP regulation. This study aims to investigate the chronic postpartum effects of hypertension during pregnancy on the mesenteric arteries. Materials and method: 24 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to four groups (n=6). Hypertension was successfully induced in the treated groups given 125mg/kg/day of L-NAME. All groups were sacrificed at Day 30 postpartum. Histopathological study of mesenteric arteries and ELISA analyses were done to measure ET-1 and NO levels. Results: The endothelial cells were seen as a single squamous cell with flatten nucleus. No obvious abnormalities were observed in the treatment groups. The media to luminal ratio did not show significant alteration in the treatment groups. The endothelial cells number to length ratio remains the same across the groups. In addition, the concentration of ET-1 and NO were not significantly different in the treatment groups. Conclusion: Based on the current studies, there is no evidence that demonstrate abnormal changes to the endothelium and tunica media of the resistance artery in long-term duration following HDP. However, further investigation of its potential chronic effect warrants a deeper analysis at the endothelial receptors and alteration at ultrastructure level

Neonatal aortic thrombosis: a life-threatening complication of umbilical artery catheterisation

Umbilical artery catheterisation is considered the standard of care for arterial access in neonatal intensive care unit. It is routinely used for blood sampling and blood pressure monitoring. Unfortunately, an indwelling umbilical catheter have been associated with thrombotic complication which may result in either partial or complete occlusion of the aorta. We report here our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of a neonate with this condition