Effect of Sodium Saccharin on the Neonatal Rat Bladder

In a two-generation bioassay, high doses of dietary sodium saccharin (NaSac) produce bladder carcinoma in rats, whereas acid saccharin (HSac) does not effect the urothelium. NaSac and HSac administered as 5% of the diet to F0 Sprague-Dawley (SD) and F344 rats, continued through to the weaned male rats for ten additional weeks. Control 3H-thymidine labeling index (LI) was high prior to and at birth (approximately 11%), declining rapidly by weaning (to \u3c 0.2). Neither NaSac nor HSac increased proliferation through 7 days of age. NaSac increased the proliferation rate at later times, whereas HSac did not. The LI decreased to control levels in NaSac-fed rats switched to control diet after weaning and increased in control-fed rats switched to NaSac after birth or weaning. In a second experiment, 5% NaSac did not affect urothelial morphology of SD rats through 7 days. By 21 days post-birth, urothelial hyperplasia occurred in NaSac-fed rat. The LI in treated versus control was similar through gestation, with a slight difference by 7 days. LI was significantly different by 21 days post-birth, but was similar between males and females. These results provide additional evidence for the increased cell proliferative effects of NaSac during the neonatal period, but not during gestation

Documenting the absence of bovine brucellosis in dairy cattle herds in the southern region of Malawi and the associated knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers

Source at https://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/473.There is paucity of Brucella prevalence data in Malawi. For this reason, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from 06 January 2020 to 27 February 2020, to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in dairy cattle herds amongst smallholder farmers, government and private dairy farms in the southern region. A total of 529 serum samples were screened for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A pre-tested electronic (Epicollect tool, Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom) questionnaire was administered to 378 smallholder farmers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards brucellosis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data in Microsoft Excel® and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 21. No animal tested positive for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies, indicating 0% prevalence (individual and herd levels). The majority (94.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 91.8–96.5) of smallholder farmers had never heard about brucellosis. Furthermore, assisting during parturition without protective equipment (41.3%; 95% CI: 36.3–46.2) and using bulls for breeding (75%; 95% CI: 70.2–78.9) were amongst the common risk practices that were identified. We could not detect brucellosis in this study that indicates the disease could be very rare or even absent in the dairy cattle herds of the southern region of Malawi. However, further Brucella studies need to be conducted in cattle, small livestock, wildlife and humans to document the true status of brucellosis in the country. Brucellosis surveillance, monitoring, awareness and preventive measures are required to maintain this favourable situation. Keywords: bovine brucellosis (contagious abortion); dairy cattle herds; seroprevalence; knowledge; attitudes and practices; Malawi

Sequential intravascular ultrasound of the mechanisms of rotational atherectomy and adjunct balloon angioplasty

AbstractObjectives. The purpose of this study was to use sequential intravascular ultrasound imaging before intervention, after rotational atherectomy and after adjunct balloon angioplasty to characterize the mechanisms of lumen enlargement after each.Background. Rotational atherectomy uses a high speed, rotating, diamond-tipped elliptic burr to abrade atherosclerotic plaque to increase lumen size. In vitro studies have shown that high speed rotational atherectomy selectively abrades hard, especially calcified, plaque elements. However, rotational atherectomy procedures usually require adjunct balloon angioplasty.Methods. Forty-eight lesions in 46 patients were treated with rotational atherectomy followed by adjunct balloon angioplasty in 44. Quantitative coronary arteriographic and intravascular ultrasound measurements of the target lesion were made before intervention, after rotational atherectomy and after balloon angioplasty.Results. Before intervention, target lesion external elastic membrane area measured 17.3 ± 5.9 mm2, lumen area measured 1.8 ± 0.9 mm2and plaque plus media area measured 15.7 ± 4.1 mm2. After rotational atherectomy, lumen area increased, plaque plus media area decreased, arc of target lesion calcium decreased and 26% of the target lesions had dissection planes After adjunct balloon angioplasty, external elastic membrane area increased, lumen area increased, plaque plus media area did not change and 77% of the target lesions had dissection planes. Arterial expansion was seen in 80% of lesions. The pattern of dissection plane location, which was predominantly within calcified plaque after rotational atherectomy, became predominantly adjacent to calcified plaque after adjunct balloon angioplasty (p = 0.008).Conclusions. Sequential intravascular ultrasound imaging shows that high speed rotational atherectomy causes lumen enlargement by selective ablation of hard, especially calcific, atherosclerotic plaque with little tissue disruption and rare arterial expansion. Adjunct balloon angioplasty further increased lumen area by a combination of arterial dissection and arterial expansion, especially of compliant, noncalcified plaque elements

Comparative effects of verapamil and nitroprusside on left ventricular function in patients with hypertension

AbstractThe effects of verapamil were compared with those of nitroprusside at matched mean arterial pressures and heart rates in 10 symptomatic hypertensive patients during cardiac catheterization. Simultaneous radionuclide angiography and micromanometer pressure measurements were obtained to assess left ventricular pressure-volume relations. Compared with control conditions, verapamil increased left ventricular end-diastolic volume index from 57 ± 16 to 70 ± 28 ml/m2 (p = 0.05) without a significant increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (from 10 ± 4 to 13 ± 6 mm Hg). Despite a downward and rightward shift in the end-systolic pressure-volume relation indicating negative inotropic effects, ejection fraction did not decrease significantly (from 52 ± 9% to 46 ± 9%); cardiac index and stroke volume index remained unchanged. The change in stroke volume index with verapamil was directly related to the magnitude of change in end-diastolic volume index (r = 0.82, p < 0.005), suggesting that the increase in enddiastolic volume did not arise purely from negative inotropic effects. Systemic vascular resistance index decreased from 42 ± 8 to 34 ± 7 mm Hg-min-m2/liter (p < 0.05).In contrast, nitroprusside decreased left ventricular end-diastolic volume index from 57 ± 16 to 41 ± 10 ml/m2 (p < 0.05), cardiac index from 3.2 ± 0.7 to 2.8 ± 0.6 liters/min per m2 (p < 0.05) and stroke volume index from 28 ± 6 to 24 ± 5 ml/m2 (p < 0.01), with no change in systemic vascular resistance index (40 ± 10 mm Hg·min·m2). The end-systolic pressure-volume relation shifted downward and leftward in all patients, stemming from altered left ventricular loading.Thus, in equihypotensive doses, verapamil and nitroprusside have markedly different effects on left ventricular function. The peripheral vasodilation and apparent improvement in left ventricular filling during verapamil balanced the negative inotropic effects, resulting in maintenance of stroke volume and cardiac index. The primary hypotensive effect of verapamil was a decrease in systemic vascular resistance, whereas that of nitroprusside was a decrease in cardiac index stemming from reduced left ventricular preload

Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stents in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Pooled Analysis From 5 Randomized Trials

ObjectivesWe sought to examine the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).BackgroundCompared with patients without DM, patients with DM undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are at increased risk for mortality and restenosis. The safety of drug-eluting stents in diabetic patients has recently been called into question by a published meta-analysis of randomized trials.MethodsPatient-level data were pooled from 5 prospective, double-blind, randomized trials of PES versus bare-metal stents (BMS) (n = 3,513). Safety and efficacy outcomes through 4 years of follow-up were assessed among the 827 randomized patients (23.6%) with DM.ResultsPatients treated with PES and BMS has similar baseline characteristics among both the diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts within these trials. At 4-year follow-up, there were no significant differences between PES and BMS among diabetic patients in the rates of death (8.4% vs. 10.3%, respectively, p = 0.61), myocardial infarction (6.9% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.17), or stent thrombosis (1.4% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.92). Treatment of diabetic patients with PES compared with treatment with BMS was associated with a significant and durable reduction in target lesion revascularization over the 4-year follow-up period (12.4% vs. 24.7%, p < 0.0001). The relative safety and efficacy of PES compared with the relative safety and efficacy of BMS in diabetic patients extended to both those requiring and not requiring insulin.ConclusionsIn these 5 randomized trials in which patients with single, primarily noncomplex lesions were enrolled, treatment with PES compared with treatment with BMS was safe and effective, resulting in markedly lower rates of target lesion revascularization at 4 years, with similar rates of death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis