Quisto Pericárdico Gigante a Imitar Dextrocardia na Telerradiografia de Tórax

Pericardial cysts are rare benign congenital malformations, usually small, asymptomatic and detected incidentally on chest X-ray as a mass located in the right costophrenic angle. Giant pericardial cysts are very uncommon and produce symptoms by compressing adjacent structures. In this report, the authors present a case of a symptomatic giant pericardial cyst incorrectly diagnosed as dextrocardia on chest X-ray

Effect of Different Plant Growth Regulators on Callus Induction from Seeds of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present study was undertaken to develop a reproducible protocol for efficient in vitro callus initiation of chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.). The main objectives of this present study were to develop the optimal concentrations and combination of auxin and cytokinin for optimized callus induction from seeds as explants. Callus induction was initiated from seeds on MS media supplement, which varied according to the plant growth regulators treatment. Among the growth regulator combinations the highest rate of callus induction (85%) was observed in MS medium containing 2 mg L -1 of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D), 2 mg L -1 Benzylaminopurine (BAP) showed higher percentage ( 63% ) of callus formation than 1- Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), which produced 49% of callus. There were significant differences in percentage of calli fresh/dry weights (g/jar) on the different initiation ( seven) medium used were the MS+2,4-D, MS+2,4-D +NAA+ BAP and MS+ BAP had the highest fresh/dry weights (g/jar) in both induction medium

Different secretion patterns of matrix metalloproteinases and IL-8 and effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone in preterm and term cervical fibroblasts

The aims of the present study were to compare the levels of mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3, -8 and -9 in human cervical tissue in preterm and term labor as well as not in labor and to determine if corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has an effect on MMP-1, -3 and interleukin (IL)-8 secretion in both preterm and term cervical fibroblasts. Cervical biopsies were taken from 60 women: 18 at preterm labor, 7 at preterm not in labor, 18 at term labor and 17 at term not in labor. ELISA and Immulite were used for protein and real-time RT–PCR for mRNA analysis. Cervical fibroblast cultures were incubated for 18 h with different CRH concentrations (10−13–10−6 M). The mRNA expression of MMP-1, -3 and -9 was higher in laboring groups compared with term not in labor. Protein levels of MMP-8 and -9 were higher in term in labor group compared with non-laboring groups. There were no significant differences in mRNA and protein expression between the preterm and respective term control groups. CRH significantly increased secretion of IL-8 in preterm and term cervical fibroblasts compared with controls. The secretion of IL-8 and MMP-1 was significantly higher and MMP-3 secretion lower in preterm cervical fibroblasts. In conclusion, cervical ripening at preterm seems to be a similar inflammatory process as at term with CRH involved. However, preterm and term cervical fibroblasts might have different phenotypes based on different secretion patterns of IL-8, MMP-1 and MMP-3

EMon : embodied monitorization

Serie : Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5859The amount of seniors in need of constant care is rapidly rising: an evident consequence of population ageing. There are already some monitorization environments which aim to monitor these persons while they remain at home. This, however, although better than delocalizing the elder to some kind of institution, may not still be the ideal solution, as it forces them to stay inside the home more than they wished, as going out means lack of accompaniment and a consequent sensation of fear. In this paper we propose EMon: a monitorization device small enough to be worn by its users, although powerful enough to provide the higher level monitorization systems with vital information about the user and the environment around him. We hope to allow the representation of an intelligent environment to move with its users, instead of being static, mandatorily associated to a single physical location. The first prototype of EMon, as presented in this paper, provides environmental data as well as GPS coordinates and pictures that are useful to describe the context of its user

Variación en parámetros bioquímicos en un grupo de pacientes con tumor cerebral primario: revisión de cuatro estudios

Introduction: It has been well established and evidence-based fact that serum levels of proteins, cholesterol, trace elements, andpseudouridines may suffer changes during a neoplastic disease process. This report encompassed four prospective studies, original in Iraq to our knowledge, had explored the serum total proteins (TP), pseudouridines levels, total serum cholesterol (TSC), and serum trace elements (TE), in groups of patients harboring primary brain tumours (PBT) compared to healthy persons. Patients and Methods:Study number 1: A group of 107 patients, from both sexes, aged 2-75 years, harboring PBT were admitted to and operated upon via formal craniotomy by staff neurosurgeons at The Teaching Hospital at Kadhimiyah (TTHK) and Neurosurgical Hospital (NH); their sera were tested for serum total proteins (TP); the latter biochemical parameters were compared with those of 40 healthy persons. Study number II: the same patients and healthy controls were tested for pseudouridine measurement. Study number III: Another group of 30 patients with PBT were studied for TSC levels and were compared with 30 healthy volunteers. Study number IV: A third group of 26 patients with PBT, from both sexes, their sera were tested and measured for TE; the measurements were compared to 1630 volunteers from both sexes and of different age groups. The sera and brain tumor tissue samples were analysed and examined by appropriate methods at relevant laboratories of the TTHK, NH, The Medical Research Centre (MRC) of The College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University and the Iraqi Atomic Energy Committee (IAEC). Results and Discussion: The serum TP and PBT study: Results are shown in table 1. The serum pseudouridines and PBT study: Mean levels of pseudouridine in serum of PBT patients, were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than its levels in the (normal) controls, table 2. The TSC and PBT study: 1. Hesalthy persons from both sexes: age range, in years, 15 – 75, mean 40.5, SD ± 19.8; TSC range 142 – 230 mg / dl, mean 185.6 mg / dl, SD ± 24.9, (3.7 – 5.9 mmol / l, mean 4.8 mmol / l, SD± 0.6), table 3. 2. Thirty persons from both sexes having peripheral tumors, with no clinical evidence of brain tumors: age range, in years, 15 – 75, mean 54.3 ± 12.8; TSC range 90 – 220 mg / dl, 143 ± 36.3 (2.3 – 5.7 mmol / l, mean 3.7 ± 0.9), table 4. 3. Thirty patients from both sexes with primary and secondary brain tumors, age range, in years, 15 - 75, mean 41.3 ± 20.9; TSC range 140 – 284 mg / dl, 217.6 ± 41.2 (3.6 – 7.3 mmol / l, 5.6 ±1.1), table 4. Study number IV: Serum mean values (and S.D.) of all measured TEs were as follow: Se 0.045 +/- 0.011, Zn 0.320 +/- 0.095, Cu 0.607 +/- 0.154, Fe 0.880 +/- 0.456, Mg 13.625 +/- 3.994, Co 0.020 +/- 0.036, Ni 0.016 +/- 0.030, Mn 0.016 +/- 0.009, Cd 0.050 (one sample), and Cr 0.015 +/- 0.005 micrograms per milliliter (mcg / ml). All mean concentrations were consistently lower in the patients than healthy volunteers; both the Student’s (t) and probability (p value) tests were performed; for Se, Zn, Cu, Mg, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cr the p value was <0.01 showing statistically significant results; however, for Fe, though the mean concentration was also lower in the brain tumor group, there was no statistical significance, p > 0.05. Due to technical difficulties and very low concentration of Cd, it was not measured in healthy volunteers; however, it was measured in only one patient’s serum sample; this has been discarded from the study, table 5. Conclusions: Levels of serum TP, TC, and pseudouridine are higher in patients with PBT than in healthy people; however, those of serum TE are lower in the PBT group than healthy persons; the results of this report are in keeping with those of other researchers. The biochemical parameters can be an additional laboratory monitor in the investigation of PBT patients; however, both the specificity and sensitivity need to be ascertained. To our knowledge, this was the first study to be performed in Iraq in the setting of PB

Management of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) by combinatorial approach using alpha-1-adrenergic antagonists and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Currently, the main available treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) are alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists (ARAs), 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-αRI), anticholinergics, and Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Recent studies support the combined therapy approach using ARAs with 5-αRI for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in BPH patients at risk of clinical progression. We aimed to review BPH management in select group of randomized controlled trials by combination therapy with ARAs and 5-αRIs compared to monotherapy with either drug with respect to the safety and efficacy. A total of 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving comparison of combination therapy with monotherapy using ARAs and 5-αRIs were retrieved from PubMed Central and reviewed for international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), post-residual urinary flow rate (PUF), and clinical progression. The results significantly favour the treatment group that received the combination therapy in comparison with the groups receiving monotherapy. However, outcome with regard to prostate volume showed insignificant improvement when the combination therapy is compared with 5- αRIs alone, rather than ARAs. In conclusion, combination therapy using ARAs and 5-αRI is better than monotherapy in the patients of BPH. Fixed dose combination (FDC), a type of combination, is also cost-effective and its sideeffects profile resembles to that of monotherapy

Thoracic Fluid Content. A Possible Determinant of Ventilatory Efficiency in Patients with Heart Failure

A eficácia ventilatória, avaliada por prova de esforço cardiorrespiratória (PECR), tem um importante valor prognóstico em doentes (dts) com insuficiência cardíaca crónica (ICC) por disfunção sistólica ventricular esquerda (DSVE). Os seus determinantes mantêm-se, contudo, controversos. Objectivo: Investigar a eventual correlação entre parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, obtidos por PECR, e o valor do fluido torácico total (FTT), avaliado por bioimpedância eléctrica torácica (BET), em dts com ICC por DSVE. Métodos: Estudámos 120 dts com ICC por DSVE, referenciados ao nosso laboratório para PECR — 76% do sexo masculino, idade 52,1 ± 12,1 anos, 37% de etiologia isquémica, fracção de ejecção ventricular esquerda 27,6 ± 7,9%, 83% em ritmo sinusal, 96% sob iECA e/ou ARAII, 79% sob beta-bloqueante e 20% tratados com dispositivo de ressincronização cardíaca. Os dts efectuaram PECR, em tapete rolante, protocolo de Bruce modificado,sendo considerados para análise, como parâmetro de capacidade funcional, o consumo de oxigénio de pico (VO2p) e, como parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, o declive (d) da relação entre ventilação minuto(VE) e produção de CO2 (VCO2) e o valor do VE/VCO2 no limiar anaeróbico (LANA). Os estudos por BET, média de 20 minutos de aquisição, foram efectuados após 15 minutos de repouso, em posição supina, imediatamente antes das PECR, sendo analisado o valor do FTT. Resultados: O valor do FTT variou entre 20,6 e 45,8 kOhm−1, média = 32,2, DP = 5,7, mediana = 32,7, o de VO2p entre 8,9 e 40,6 ml/kg/min, média = 21,0, DP = 6,2, mediana = 20,2, o do dVE/VCO2 entre 19,8 e 60,7, média = 30,7, DP = 7,9, mediana = 29,1 e o do VE/VCO2 no LANA entre 21 e 62,média = 33,1, DP = 7,5, mediana = 31,5. Por regressão linear, o FTT não se correlacionou com o VO2p — r = 0,05, p = 0,58 — mas apresentou correlação com os parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória analisados: r = 0,20, p = 0,032, r² = 0,04 com dVE/VCO2 e r = 0,25, p = 0,009, r² = 0.06 com VE/VCO2 no LANA. Conclusão: O FTT correlaciona-se com os parâmetros de eficácia ventilatória, avaliados por PECR, em dts com ICC por DSVE, o que indica que poderá ser um dos seus determinantes