The Experience of Breast Reconstructive Microsurgery

Autologous techniques in oncoplastic breast surgery may result in graft donor site morbidity. Microsurgery has become a new surgical modality for breast reconstruction; it is a less invasive procedure. In recent experience, we have applied microsurgical technique in oncoplastic breast procedures to minimize morbidity.We reviewed the charts of breast cancer/tumor patients with microsurgical reconstruction.From February 2013 to July 2016, we performed 36 perforator flaps for breast reconstruction. The mean age of the patients was 44.4±6.7 years old, with the median tumor size of 3.7 (1.5-20) cm. No special type of carcinoma (NST) was accounted in 25 (69.4%) cases. Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OPS) was the procedure of choice in 17 (47.2%) cases and mastectomy was followed by free flap in 19 (52.8%) patients. In OPS, we used various perforator flaps to cover the defect. Thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP) was the most common technique used in 8 (22.2%) cases, then lateral intercostal artery (LICAP) flap in 6 (16.7%) cases, anterior intercostal artery (AICAP) flap in 1 (2.8%) cases, and superficial epigastric artery (SEAP) flap in 2 (5.6%) cases. Deep inferior artery perforator (DIEP) free flap was the reconstruction option after mastectomy. During follow-up with the mean time of 12.7±11.4 months, there were 1 local recurrence, 2 regional and systemic metastases, and 1 death due to cerebrovascular disease. There were no flap loss after pedicle perforator reconstruction but total flap necrosis occurred in 5 patients with DIEP free flap. In one patient, we successfully salvaged the flap that had venous congestion. There was no seroma at donor site and no limitation in abdominal wall function after DIEP reconstruction.In our experience, microsurgical reconstruction in breast surgery has been a safe procedure and has less donor site morbidity. Flap failure rate may be improved by refining microsurgical techniqu

Durability and Microstructure Characteristics of Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Considering the environmental impact of cement manufacturing industries, this paper concerns the potential of using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), like fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag, as being essential to replacing the existing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The objective of this paper is to study the microstructural characteristics of concrete with SCMs and improve the durability of the product to increase the lifespan of concrete structures. Replacement SCMs in OPC are 0, 40, 50, and 60 by percentage of cement weight, and we have taken a water-binder ratio of 0.40 for M40 grade and 0.28 for M60 grade concrete. The physical properties and chemical composition of OPC, Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), and fly ash were identified, and three different experiments were conducted to determine the resistance to penetration of chloride ions and corrosion processes. The rapid chloride permeability test, accelerated corrosion, and sorptivity tests were employed to measure concrete's resistance to the effects of aggressive environments and examine the durability properties. The most performed grade samples were analyzed as individual microspheres with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS), and X-ray diffraction. Significant improvements in various concrete properties were achieved through the partial replacement of fly ash and GGBS with cement. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-04-05 Full Text: PD

A study on the effect of silver nitrate and 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate pulsing solutions on Lilium cut flowers

Lilium is one of the most important cut flowers in commercial markets, giving customers ornamental value. Fresh flowers, a highly perishable item, need more care and proper treatment for their longer post-harvest life and due to this, the end users face the post-harvest losses of cut flowers. Such losses can be minimized by using preservative chemical, which plays an important role in increasing the vase life of flowers. To increase the post-harvest life of lilium cut flowers cv. ‘Pavia’, the present investigation was aimed to study the effect of different combinations and concentrations of silver nitrate at 50, 75 and 100 ppm and 8-hydroquinoline citrate at 100, 150 and 200 ppm pulsing solutions with 20 % sucrose. Three replications were completely randomised with 16 treatments and one control. Silver nitrate showed better results in flower bud opening, flower bud opening to complete flowering, flower size, bloom life, dry weight and dry matter percentage. Among the treatment concentrations, AgNO3 at 50 ppm with 20% sucrose showed the most effective result on enhancing the selected parameters and improved flower quality during post-harvest life. Among the treatment combinations, 8-HQC at 100 ppm + AgNO3 at 75 ppm with 20 % sucrose showed better results. These findings will be useful to researchers, farmers, and end users to retain the ornamental value of lilium cut flowers for longer than usual

Response of preservative chemicals on the shelf life of cut lilium (Lilium spp.) flower cv. ‘Pavia’

Lilium cut flowers have commercial importance and extending their vase life is vital. An increase in the vase life quality and quantity can directly increase the viability and price realization of commercially important flowers like lilium. Shelf life of cut lilium flower is influenced by using different preservative chemicals and sucrose added in vase solution. Such an extension of vase life can be achieved via chemical treatment. The trial was carried out to examine the effect of various concentration of two chemicals, AgNO3 (silver nitrate) and 8-HQC (8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate) along with sucrose on the shelf life of lilium cut flower cv. ‘Pavia’ (cross between Asiatic and Longiflorum lilies). In the experiment, sucrose (20%), 8-HQC at 3 concentrations (100, 150, 200 ppm) and AgNO3 at 3 concentrations (50, 75, 100 ppm) and water (distilled) as control were tested alone and with combinations. Cut flowers of lilium were treated at one bud opening stage. The trial was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) having 16 treatments and one control in three (3) replications. The fresh weight and relative fresh weight of the cut flower spike, opening of all flowers on a spike, vase solution uptake on a day, total vase solution uptake and vase life of lilium cut flower spike showed the best outcome with AgNO3 (50 ppm) and 20% sucrose treatment combination. Out of the two chemicals, silver nitrate showed better results than 8-HQC as a preservative in enhancing the shelf life of cut Lilium flower cv. ‘Pavia’. Analysis of this new and exciting method will be useful to research institutes, commercial producers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers or anyone to choose right chemical and concentration of holding solution to maximize the post-harvest life of lilium cut flowers

An Innovative Approach Based on Machine Learning to Evaluate the Risk Factors Importance in Diagnosing Keratoconus

Background and objective: Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory corneal condition affecting both eyes and is present in one out of every 2,000 people worldwide. The cornea deforms into a conical shape and thins, resulting in high-order aberrations and gradual vision loss. Risk factor analysis in the degradation of keratoconus is under-researched. Methods: This research work investigates and uses effective machine learning models to gain insight into how much the risk factors of a patient contribute towards the progressive stages of keratoconus, as well as how significant these factors are in the creation of an accurate prediction model. This research demonstrates the value of machine learning approaches on a clinical dataset. This research paper employs several machine learning algorithms to classify the patients' stage of keratoconus using clinical information, such as measurements of the cornea's topography, elevation, and pachymetry taken using pentacam equipment at Sydney's Vision Eye Institute Chatswood. Results: Eight different machine learning techniques were investigated over three variations of a dataset and achieved an average accuracy of 68, 80, and 90% for the risk factor, pentacam, and cumulative datasets, respectively. The results show a significant increase in accuracy and a 97% increase in AUC upon addition of risk factor data compared to the models trained on pentacam data alone. The machine learning methods shown in this paper outperform those in current research. Conclusions: This research highlights the importance of machine learning methods and risk factor data in the diagnosis of keratoconus and highlights the patient's primary optical aid as the strongest risk factor. The goal of this research is to support the work of the ophthalmologists in diagnosing keratoconus and provide better care for the patient

An investigation of traditional uses and anti-inflammatory property of Clematis buchananiana De Candolle and Tupistra nutans Wall. ex Lindl.: Native ethnomedicinal plants from Sikkim, India

719-727In the traditional medicinal system of Sikkim Clematis buchananiana and Tupistra nutans is used extensively to treat various ailments, however, they have not been validated for their anti-inflammatory property by in vitro method. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate specific ethnomedicinal uses, in-vitro anti-inflammatory property, and phytochemical constituents of Clematis buchananiana and Tupistra nutans. The ethnomedicinal usage was studied by calculating the value for fidelity level, use-value, and informant consensus factor. Stabilization of human red blood cell membrane and protein denaturation method was used to study anti-inflammatory property. The phytochemicals were analysed by the methods described elsewhere. Clematis buchananiana was found to be used more frequently for sinusitis, headache, cold and Tupistra nutans for high blood pressure, diabetes and stomach-ache. Both C. buchananiana and T. nutans was found to inhibit the HRBC membrane and protein denaturation effectively in a dose-dependent manner. However, inhibition of haemolysis and protein denaturation by C. buchananiana was found to be higher than T. nutans at all doses. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolics in both the plants. The results provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory property of C. buchananiana and T. nutans

An investigation of traditional uses and anti-inflammatory property of Clematis buchananiana De Candolle and Tupistra nutans Wall. ex Lindl.: Native ethnomedicinal plants from Sikkim, India

In the traditional medicinal system of Sikkim Clematis buchananiana and Tupistra nutans is used extensively to treat various ailments, however, they have not been validated for their anti-inflammatory property by in vitro method. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate specific ethnomedicinal uses, in-vitro anti-inflammatory property, and phytochemical constituents of Clematis buchananiana and Tupistra nutans. The ethnomedicinal usage was studied by calculating the value for fidelity level, use-value, and informant consensus factor. Stabilization of human red blood cell membrane and protein denaturation method was used to study anti-inflammatory property. The phytochemicals were analysed by the methods described elsewhere. Clematis buchananiana was found to be used more frequently for sinusitis, headache, cold and Tupistra nutans for high blood pressure, diabetes and stomach-ache. Both C. buchananiana and T. nutans was found to inhibit the HRBC membrane and protein denaturation effectively in a dose-dependent manner. However, inhibition of haemolysis and protein denaturation by C. buchananiana was found to be higher than T. nutans at all doses. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolics in both the plants. The results provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory property of C. buchananiana and T. nutans