PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOCALCAEMIA and subclinical ketosis in buffaloes

ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to while buffaloes in fi rst parity were least affected by the two conditions. The prevalence of both conditions was higher in organised dairy farms than the unorganised dairy units. Of the diagnostic tests utilised for SCH, estimation of serum calcium levels was found superior to the Sulkowitch test while for SCK, estimation of blood ketones was found superior to Rothera's test and the urine dip stick test

Clinical profile of dengue fever with severe thrombocytopenia and its complications: a retrospective study at a tertiary care hospital in South India

Background: Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially lethal illness that is universally prevalent in the tropics and has become a major health concern globally in recent decades. The clinical manifestation of dengue infection varies from asymptomatic to severe life threatening illness in the form of DHF/DSS. Dengue haemorrhagic fever or DSS may be fatal in 40% to 50% of untreated patients. A hallmark of dengue infection is severe thrombocytopenia which causes concern for the patients and treating doctors. The objective of this study was to correlate clinical profile during the evolution of dengue fever with severe thrombocytopenia (platelets <10,000/mm3), and comparing frequencies between the different clinical forms in order to predict the severity of the disease.  The present study includes 40 individuals who were found to be seropositive with the detection of NS1Ag, IgM and IgG antibodies for dengue infection with severe thrombocytopenia. Early diagnosis and monitoring is largely dependent on haematological parameters. As no specific antiviral therapy is available, supportive therapy is of utmost importance.Methods: This is an observational, descriptive and retrospective study of 40 patients with clinical and serological diagnosis of dengue fever with severe thrombocytopenia (platelets<10,000/mm3), in the period from August 2015 to September 2016, who were admitted in a tertiary care hospital in South India. ELISA was performed for the detection of dengue NS1, Ig M and Ig G, haematological parameters by automated analyzer and peripheral smear, coagulation profile analysis were done.Results: Out of 40 cases with severe thrombocytopenia, 50% of the patients had classical dengue fever, 30% cases had DHF with bleeding manifests and 20% cases with DHF plasma leakage signs and 5% lead to DSS. There was lack of association studied between severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding manifestations as p value<0.065 was insignificant. However, the risk of complications increased with decreasing platelet counts in the present study.Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia was most predominant haematological discrepancy. There was no predilection for any age group or gender for thrombocytopenia or bleeding among the dengue patients. The results were relevant in assessing the severity of infection and can help by enabling the adaptation of the therapeutic conduct to the needs of individual patients

Structural, Optical and Magnetic Properties of (In0.90Sn0.05Cu0.05)(2)O-3 Nanoparticles

This study examined structural, optical and magnetic properties of ITO (In0.95Sn0.05)(2)O-3 and Cu doped ITO (In0.90Sn0.05Cu0.05)(2)O-3 nanoparticles synthesized by solid state reaction method. The synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to structural, optical and magnetic studies. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were carried out using XRD, Raman, FT-IR characterization techniques. Optical properties of the samples were studies using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer. The magnetic measurements were carried out using vibrating sample magnetometer. The ITO (In0.95Sn0.05)(2)O-3 nanoparticles exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism with clear hysteresis loop. The strength of magnetization decreased in Cu doped ITO (In0.95Sn0.05)(2)O-3. The ITO nanoparticles were also exhibited ferromagnetism at 100 K with a magnetic moment of 0.02 emu/g

Vitamin D deficiency promotes large rupture-prone abdominal aortic aneurysms and cholecalciferol supplementation limits progression of aneurysms in a mouse model

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA); however, its role in AAA pathogenesis is unclear. The aim of the present study was to inves-tigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on AAA development and examine if administering cholecalciferol (CCF) could limit growth of established AAA within the angiotensin-II (AngII) infused apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse model. Mice were rendered vitamin D deficiency through dietary restriction and during AngII infusion developed larger AAAs as assessed by ultrasound and ex vivo morphometry that ruptured more commonly (48% vs. 19%; P=0.028) than controls. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased aortic expression of osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 than controls. CCF administration to mice with established aortic aneurysms limited AAA growth as assessed by ultrasound (P<0.001) and ex vivo morphometry (P=0.036) and reduced rupture rate (8% vs. 46%; P=0.031). This effect was associated with up-regulation of circulating and aortic sclerostin. Incubation of human aortic smooth muscle cells with 1,25-dihyroxyvitamin D3 (the active metabolite of vitamin D) for 48 h induced up-regulation of sclerostin (P<0.001) and changed the expression of a range of other genes important in extracellular matrix remodeling. The present study suggests that vitamin D deficiency promotes development of large rupture-prone aortic aneurysms in an experimental model. CCF administration limited both growth and rupture of established aneurysms. These effects of vitamin D appeared to be mediated via changes in genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, particularly sclerostin

Parenteral administration of factor Xa/IIa inhibitors limits experimental aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis

Intraluminal thrombus is a consistent feature of human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Coagulation factor Xa (FXa) catalyses FII to thrombin (FIIa). We examined the effect of FXa/FIIa inhibition on experimental aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice infused with angiotensin II (AngII). The concentration of FXa within the supra-renal aorta (SRA) correlated positively with SRA diameter. Parenteral administration of enoxaparin (FXa/IIa inhibitor) and fondaparinux (FXa inhibitor) over 14 days reduced to severity of aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis in AngII-infused ApoE−/− mice. Enteral administration of the FIIa inhibitor dabigatran had no significant effect. Aortic protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 expression increased in response to AngII infusion. Fondaparinux reduced SRA levels of FXa, FIIa, PAR-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, Smad2/3 phosphorylation,and MOMA-2 positive cells in the mouse model. FXa stimulated Smad2/3 phosphorylation and MMP2 expression in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. Expression of MMP2 in FXastimulated VSMC was downregulated in the presence of a PAR-2 but not a PAR-1 inhibitor. These findings suggest that FXa/FIIa inhibition limits aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis severity due to down-regulation of vascular PAR-2-mediated Smad2/3 signalling and MMP2 expression. Inhibition of FXa/FIIa may be a potential therapy for limiting aortic aneurysm