Benign intermuscular lipoma in a bitch

A case of intermuscular lipoma located between the external abdominal oblique and internal abdominal oblique muscles in a fourteen- year -old dog is described. Presenting signs, radiographic findings, surgical treatments and the follow-up treatment are discussed

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: iron matters

The interplay between iron and oxygen is longstanding and central to all aerobic life. Tight regulation of these interactions including homeostatic regulation of iron utilization ensures safe usage of this limited resource. However, when control is lost adverse events can ensue, which are known to contribute to an array of disease processes. Recently, associations between disrupted iron homeostasis and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) have been described with the suggestion that there is a contributory link with disease. This review provides a background for iron regulation in humans, describes PAH classifications, and discusses emerging literature, which suggests a role for disrupted iron homeostatic control in various sub-types of PAH, including a role for decompartmentalization of hemoglobin. Finally, the potential for therapeutic options to restore iron homeostatic balance in PAH are discussed

Cluster randomized trial assessing the effects of rapid ethical assessment on informed consent comprehension in a low-resource setting

Background Maximizing comprehension is a major challenge for informed consent processes in low-literacy and resource-limited settings. Application of rapid qualitative assessments to improve the informed consent process is increasingly considered useful. This study assessed the effects of Rapid Ethical Assessment (REA) on comprehension, retention and quality of the informed consent process. Methods A cluster randomized trial was conducted among participants of HPV sero-prevalence study in two districts of Northern Ethiopia, in 2013. A total of 300 study participants, 150 in the intervention and 150 in the control group, were included in the study. For the intervention group, the informed consent process was designed with further revisions based on REA findings. Informed consent comprehension levels and quality of the consent process were measured using the Modular Informed Consent Comprehension Assessment (MICCA) and Quality of Informed Consent (QuIC) process assessment tools, respectively. Result Study recruitment rates were 88.7 % and 80.7 % (p = 0.05), while study retention rates were 85.7 % and 70.3 % (p < 0.005) for the intervention and control groups respectively. Overall, the mean informed consent comprehension scores for the intervention and control groups were 73.1 % and 45.2 %, respectively, with a mean difference in comprehension score of 27.9 % (95 % CI 24.0 % - 33.4 %; p < 0.001,). Mean scores for quality of informed consent for the intervention and control groups were 89.1 % and 78.5 %, respectively, with a mean difference of 10.5 % (95 % CI 6.8 -14.2 %; p < 0.001). Conclusion Levels of informed consent comprehension, quality of the consent process, study recruitment and retention rates were significantly improved in the intervention group. We recommend REA as a potential modality to improve informed consent comprehension and quality of informed consent process in low resource settings

Revealing the activity and selectivity of atomically dispersed Ni in Zn<inf>3</inf>In<inf>2</inf>S<inf>6</inf> for benzyl alcohol photoreforming

Photoreforming enables simultaneous H2 production and organic synthesis in a one-pot system. In this study, a single-step synthesis approach was employed to fabricate atomically dispersed Ni in Zn3In2S6 (NixZIS) for benzyl alcohol photoreforming. While neat ZIS exhibits high selectivity toward hydrobenzoin via C-H activation and C-C coupling, its H2 evolution rate remains below feasible levels. Incorporating Ni single atoms significantly enhances ZIS activity by improving the carrier dynamics, resulting in an optimal H2 evolution rate of 9.13 mmol g−1 h−1 on Ni4ZIS, over five times higher than neat ZIS. The presence of Ni single atoms also alters selectivity, suppressing C-C coupling products and promoting benzaldehyde generation. The Ni single atoms induce facile O-H activation following the C-H activation of benzyl alcohol on ZIS, inhibiting the desorption of carbon radicals and causing consecutive oxidation to benzaldehyde. This study elucidates the role of Ni single atoms in driving activity and selectivity during organic photoreforming

Residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso

Background: Burkina Faso is one of the countries in West Africa most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, despite the implementation of a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program as a strategy to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the disease.Objective: To assess the current risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso.Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2014 and July 2016, in the 13 health regions of Burkina Faso. Women who were screened HIV-positive during a prenatal consultation were followed until delivery. Their babies received dry blood spot (DBS) at birth, at week 6 and at 1year, to screen for HIV.Results: Overall, 186 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 29.17±6.13 years. Of their children, 430 DBS actually received a PCR test, giving a 91.1% PCR implementation rate. After analyses, 6 (1.3%) babies were identified as carriers of HIV1. The newborn’s serological status was associated with delivery pattern (p=0.000), the administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother after delivery (p=0.0064), the administration of Nevirapine to the newborn at birth (p=0.022), the use of contraceptive methods after delivery (p=0.028) and the presence of breast affections/infections since delivery (p=0.013).Conclusion: The results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in the mother-tochild prevention program (PMTCT) for HIV-positive pregnant women can be improved through early initiation of triple therapy in early pregnancy and improved adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.Keywords: Burkina Faso, HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral drugs, pregnant wome

Dietary patterns, inflammatory biomarkers and cognition in older adults: An analysis of three population-based cohorts.

Targeting effective strategies to prevent cognitive decline is key in the aging population. Some diets have been linked to a slower cognitive decline, potentially through reducing inflammation. We aimed at determining the effect of inflammatory dietary patterns (IDPs) on cognitive function in three population-based cohorts. In this longitudinal study, we analyzed data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging, CoLaus|PsyCoLaus and Rotterdam Study. Our analytical sample included participants over 55 years old with baseline data on cognition, dietary intake, and inflammatory markers. IDPs were derived for each cohort using reduced rank regression to reflect maximal variation in three inflammatory markers. We calculated scores of consumption of the IDPs, higher scores indicating more IDP consumption. We used inverse probability of treatment and censoring weights in the marginal structural models to estimate associations of higher versus lower quarters of consumption of an IDP on general cognition (Mini-Mental State Evaluation) and four cognitive domains (memory, verbal fluency, verbal learning and processing speed and executive function) during at least 3 years of follow-up. We included 10,366 participants (mean age 68) followed-up for a mean of 5 years. Diet explained between 1 and 2% of the variation of the inflammatory markers. There were no differences in general cognition when comparing the highest to the lowest quarter of consumption of IDPs among the three cohorts. Mean differences for the four cognitive domains were of small magnitude across cohorts and not clinically relevant. Diet explained low variation in inflammatory markers. Consuming IDPs was not associated with mean differences in general or domain-specific cognitive function

Registration of sorghum varieties ICSV 735, ICSV 758, and ICSV 808 resistant to sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola

The sorghum lines ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 have been released as Yezin 6, Yezin 7 and Yezin 5, respectively, in Myanmar. These cultivars combine resistance to S. sorghicola with yield potential almost similar to that of the commercial cultivar Yezin 1 or Yezin 3. ICSV 735 was derived from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-9-1-1-2-6, whereas ICSV 758 was developed from (ICSV 197 x A 13108)-1-2-1-1-1. ICSV 804 was obtained from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-3-1-1-1-1. The grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were 1.489, 1.949 and 1.721 t/ha, respectively (0.622 t/ha for the local control), during the rainy season of 1993-94. Under fertilizer treatment, the grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 (2.878, 3.389 and 3.416 t/ha) were higher than the grain yield of the local control (1.910 t/ha). At ICRISAT Center, these cultivars had grain yields of 4.65-7.65 t/ha during the rainy season of 1997. ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were comparable to resistant controls DJ 6514 and ICSV 197 interms of resistance to S. sorghicola, and as susceptible to shoot fly [Atherigona soccata], head bugs and stem borer, but less susceptible to aphids as the commercial cultivars ICSV 1 and CSH 9

Guidance on stakeholder engagement practices to inform the development of areawide vector control methods

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.British Academ