Spontaneous Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma in the Stomach of an Aged F344 Rat

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is a very rare tumor in humans and animals including rats. This paper describes a case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma observed in the glandular stomach of an aged female Fischer 344 rat. Grossly, a whitish solid mass was observed at the greater curvature of the glandular stomach. Histologically, the tumor consisted of both atypical polygonal and pleomorphic spindle-shaped cells, with pleomorphic nuclei, and it contained variable amounts of osteoids and small clumps of mature bone tissue. In addition, mitotic figures were frequently observed. Neither invasion of the muscle layer or vessels in the stomach nor metastasis to distant organs was detected. There were no skeletal tumors in the body. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for osteocalcin, osteonectin, vimentin and S-100 protein. Judging from these results, the present tumor was diagnosed as extraskeletal osteosarcoma. This is the first report of spontaneous extraskeletal osteosarcoma arising from the stomach in a rat

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of obstetrical ultrasound in Conakry, Guinea

Background: The authors report an initial assessment of the practice of obstetrical ultrasound in Conakry in order to make suggestions to improve the quality of services in Guinea.Methods: It is about a cross-sectional study of three months (August 1st to October 31st, 2013) conducted in Conakry. The study population consisted of health personnel performing fetal ultrasounds in Conakry and who agreed to participate in the survey. The data collected were about the socio-professional characteristics of the service providers, their knowledge and attitudes. The data were analyzed in a simple descriptive statistical analysis way. The results were analyzed according to the norms and standards issued by the French Fetal Ultrasound College and the National Technical Committee for Prenatal Diagnosis Ultrasound.Results: Twenty one service providers over twenty-six (80.8%) were male (80.8%) aged 40-49 years old (46.2%), obstetrician-gynecologists (76.9%), working in a public hospital (46.2%) and not having an ultrasound degree (59.2%). Eight service providers over twenty-six ((30.8%) affirmed knowing the recommended period for a fetal biometry. The majority (60%) indicated measuring the nuchal translucency and 85.2% (22/26) the craniocaudal length. The anatomical landmarks were not correctly identified in 75.2% of cases for the biparietal and the head circumference and in 63.8% of cases for abdominal circumference. Nine service providers over twenty-six (34.6%) affirmed explaining the limitations of ultrasound. Eighteen devices over twenty-six (69.2%) had more than 9 years of age, 73% (19/26) of them did not have a vaginal probe and 65.3% (17/26) did not have a pulsed wave Doppler.Conclusions: Improving the quality of the practice of obstetrical ultrasound in Guinea goes through training of service providers, establishing distribution and compliance with norms and standards as well as quality control of ultrasound devices

Prevalence and Factors Related to Anaemia in Children Aged 6–59 Months Attending a Quaternary Health Facility in Maputo, Mozambique

Globally, anaemia prevails as a public health issue, being also a concern in Mozambique, where about two-thirds of children 6-59 months of age are affected by this condition. We carried out this study to estimate anaemia prevalence and evaluate structural determinants and haematological parameters association among children aged 6-59 months attending pediatric inpatient and outpatient services in a Quaternary Health Facility in Maputo City Province, Mozambique. We collected data from 637 inpatients or outpatients who attended pediatric consultations at the Maputo Central Hospital. The overall rate of anaemia in children aged 6-59 months was 62.2% (396/637), with 30.9% moderate anaemia (197/637), 23.9% mild anaemia (152/637), and 7.4% severe anaemia (47/637). Among our study participants, critical factors for anaemia were those concerning the age group, child´s caregiver schooling, malaria and size of the liver.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fabrication of a 64-Pixel TES Microcalorimeter Array with Iron Absorbers Uniquely Designed for 14.4-keV Solar Axion Search

If a hypothetical elementary particle called an axion exists, to solve the strong CP problem, a 57Fe nucleus in the solar core could emit a 14.4-keV monochromatic axion through the M1 transition. If such axions are once more transformed into photons by a 57Fe absorber, a transition edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter should be able to detect them efficiently. We have designed and fabricated a dedicated 64-pixel TES array with iron absorbers for the solar axion search. In order to decrease the effect of iron magnetization on spectroscopic performance, the iron absorber is placed next to the TES while maintaining a certain distance. A gold thermal transfer strap connects them. We have accomplished the electroplating of gold straps with high thermal conductivity. The residual resistivity ratio (RRR) was over 23, more than eight times higher than a previous evaporated strap. In addition, we successfully electroplated pure-iron films of more than a few micrometers in thickness for absorbers and a fabricated 64-pixel TES calorimeter structure.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, published in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity on 8 March 202

Fetal death in utero: epidemiological aspects, management and maternal prognosis in the obstetrics and gynecology department of the community medical centre of Ratoma

Background: Fetal death in utero (FDIU) often represents a tragedy badly lived, sometimes incomprehensible. It is considered as a failure of pregnancy's progress and monitoring. It is a frequent problem in obstetrical practice. Objective of study was to contribute to the study of FDIU in the maternity ward of the Ratoma municipal medical center.Methods: This was a prospective study of analytical type conducted over a period of 6 months from 1 January to 30 June 2017.Results: During this study period, we recorded 54 cases of FDIU out of a total of 1256 deliveries, or a frequency of 4.3%. The average age of our patients was 28.5 years with extremes of 16 to 39 years, the most represented age group was 25 to 34 years, with a frequency of 44.4%. The absence of active fetal movement was the main reason for consultation, with a frequency of 51.9%, and housewives were the most affected, with a frequency of 61.1%. The 70.4% of our patients gave birth by vaginal delivery and oxytocin was the most commonly used drug for induction of labor, i.e., 77.8%. The immediate maternal prognosis was 100% favorable and no case of maternal death was recordedConclusions: In-utero fetal death is a frequent obstetrical pathology, the awareness of women for the realization of ANC as well as the early management of risk factors detected during ANC constitutes an element of great importance. Therefore, a regular follow-up of all pregnant women even in the absence of risk factors proves necessary

Evolution of superconductivity in isovalent Te-substituted KxFe2-ySe2 crystals

We report the evolution of superconductivity and the phase diagram of the KxFe2-ySe2-zTez (z=0-0.6) crystals grown by a simple one-step synthesis. No structural transition is observed in any crystals, while lattice parameters exhibit a systematic expansion with Te content. The Tc exhibits a gradual decrease with increasing Te content from Tconset = 32.9 K at z = 0 to Tconset = 27.9 K at z = 0.5, followed by a sudden suppression of superconductivity at z = 0.6. Upon approaching a Te concentration of 0.6, the shielding volume fraction decreases and eventually drops to zero. Simultaneously, hump positions in r-T curve shift to lower temperatures. These results suggest that isovalent substitution of Te for Se in KxFe2-ySe2 crystals suppresses the superconductivity in this system.Comment: 10 pages, 1 table, 8 figure

de Haas-van Alphen Effect in the Two-Dimensional and the Quasi-Two-Dimensional Systems

We study the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillation in two-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional systems. We give a general formula of the dHvA oscillation in two-dimensional multi-band systems. By using this formula, the dHvA oscillation and its temperature-dependence for the two-band system are shown. By introducing the interlayer hopping $t_z$, we examine the crossover from the two-dimension, where the oscillation of the chemical potential plays an important role in the magnetization oscillation, to the three-dimension, where the oscillation of the chemical potential can be neglected as is well know as the Lifshitz and Kosevich formula. The crossover is seen at $4 t_z \sim 8 ta b H /\phi_0$, where a and b are lattice constants, $\phi_0$ is the flux quantum and 8t is the width of the total energy band. We also study the dHvA oscillation in quasi-two-dimensional magnetic breakdown systems. The quantum interference oscillations such as $\beta-\alpha$ oscillation as well as the fundamental oscillations are suppressed by the interlayer hopping $t_z$, while the $\beta+\alpha$ oscillation gradually increases as $t_z$ increases and it has a maximum at $t_z/t\approx 0.025$. This interesting dependence on the dimensionality can be observed in the quasi-two-dimensional organic conductors with uniaxial pressure.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure