32 research outputs found
Colposcopic evaluation and papanicolaou smear in high risk groups and its correlation with histology
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynaecologic neoplasms. PAP smear and colposcopy are used for its early detection. This study aims to find the correlation of colposcopic evaluation with Pap smear in cervical cancer screening and with histology.
Methods: All women attending the OPD with unhealthy cervix and abnormal symptoms, who gave written informed consent were included in the study. Pap smear cytological grading, colposcopic findings were recorded. Pap smear and colposcopy findings was compared with histopathology.
Results: The study included 73 patients. Pap smear was negative in more than half of the patients (56.2%), followed by atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in 12 (16.4%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 17 (23.3%), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 2 (2.7%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 1 patient (1.4%). The histopathology showed normal findings in 46 patients (63%), followed by CIN 1 in 11 (15.1%), CIN 2 in 6 patients (8.2%), CIN 3 and squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients each (6.8%). Pap smearâs predictability of cervical malignancy showed that it had a sensitivity of 48.15, itâs specificity for identifying patients without cervical malignancy was 84.78%. Colposcopyâs predictability of cervical malignancy showed that it had a sensitivity of 88.89%, itâs specificity for identifying patients without cervical malignancy was 95.65%.
Conclusions: Colposcopy does seem to be better than Pap smear in diagnosing cervical carcinoma and also identifying patients without it
Evaluation of recombinant Herpesvirus of Turkey Laryngotracheitis (rHVT-LT) Vaccine against Genotype VI Canadian Wild-Type Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV) Infection
In Alberta, infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) infection is endemic in backyard
poultry flocks; however, outbreaks are only sporadically observed in commercial flocks. In addition
to ILTV vaccine revertant strains, wild-type strains are among the most common causes of infectious
laryngotracheitis (ILT). Given the surge in live attenuated vaccine-related outbreaks, the goal of this
study was to assess the efficacy of a recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (rHVT-LT) vaccine against a
genotype VI Canadian wild-type ILTV infection. One-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) White
Leghorn chickens were vaccinated with the rHVT-LT vaccine or mock vaccinated. At three weeks
of age, half of the vaccinated and the mock-vaccinated animals were challenged. Throughout the
experiment, weights were recorded, and feather tips, cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected
for ILTV genome quantification. Blood was collected to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMC) and quantify CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. At 14 dpi, the chickens were euthanized, and
respiratory tissues were collected to quantify genome loads and histological examination. Results
showed that the vaccine failed to decrease the clinical signs at 6 days post-infection. However, it
was able to significantly reduce ILTV shedding through the oropharyngeal route. Overall, rHVT-LT
produced a partial protection against genotype VI ILTV infection
Pathogenic and transmission potential of wildtype and chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccine revertant infectious laryngotracheitis virus
Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an infectious upper respiratory tract disease that
impacts the poultry industry worldwide. ILT is caused by an alphaherpesvirus commonly referred
to as infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). Vaccination with live attenuated vaccines is practiced
regularly for the control of ILT. However, extensive and improper use of live attenuated vaccines
is related to vaccine viruses reverting to virulence. An increase in mortality and pathogenicity has
been attributed to these vaccine revertant viruses. Recent studies characterized Canadian ILTV
strains originating from ILT outbreaks as related to live attenuated vaccine virus revertants. However,
information is scarce on the pathogenicity and transmission potential of these Canadian isolates.
Hence, in this study, the pathogenicity and transmission potential of two wildtype ILTVs and a
chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccine revertant ILTV of Canadian origin were evaluated. To this
end, 3-week-old specific pathogen-free chickens were experimentally infected with each of the ILTV
isolates and compared to uninfected controls. Additionally, naĂŻve chickens were exposed to the
experimentally infected chickens to mimic naturally occurring infection. Pathogenicity of each of
these ILTV isolates was evaluated by the severity of clinical signs, weight loss, mortality, and lesions
observed at the necropsy. The transmission potential was evaluated by quantification of ILTV genome
loads in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and tissue samples of the experimentally infected and
contact-exposed chickens, as well as in the capacity to produce ILT in contact-exposed chickens.
We observed that the CEO vaccine revertant ILTV isolate induced severe disease in comparison
to the two wildtype ILTV isolates used in this study. According to ILTV genome load data, CEO
vaccine revertant ILTV isolate was successfully transmitted to naĂŻve contact-exposed chickens in
comparison to the tested wildtype ILTV isolates. Overall, the Canadian origin CEO vaccine revertant
ILTV isolate possesses higher virulence, and dissemination potential, when compared to the wildtype
ILTV isolates used in this study. These findings have serious implications in ILT control in chickens
Phase transitions in MgSiO3 post-perovskite in super-Earth mantles
The highest pressure form of the major Earth-forming mantle silicate is
MgSiO3 post-perovskite (PPv). Understanding the fate of PPv at TPa pressures is
the first step for understanding the mineralogy of super-Earths-type
exoplanets, arguably the most interesting for their similarities with Earth.
Modeling their internal structure requires knowledge of stable mineral phases,
their properties under compression, and major element abundances. Several
studies of PPv under extreme pressures support the notion that a sequence of
pressure induced dissociation transitions produce the elementary oxides SiO2
and MgO as the ultimate aggregation form at ~3 TPa. However, none of these
studies have addressed the problem of mantle composition, particularly major
element abundances usually expressed in terms of three main variables, the
Mg/Si and Fe/Si ratios and the Mg#, as in the Earth. Here we show that the
critical compositional parameter, the Mg/Si ratio, whose value in the Earth's
mantle is still debated, is a vital ingredient for modeling phase transitions
and internal structure of super-Earth mantles. Specifically, we have identified
new sequences of phase transformations, including new recombination reactions
that depend decisively on this ratio. This is a new level of complexity that
has not been previously addressed, but proves essential for modeling the nature
and number of internal layers in these rocky mantles.Comment: Submitted to Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 28 pages, 6 figure
Comparative pathogenicity of infectious bronchitis virus Massachusetts and Delmarva (DMV/1639) genotypes in laying hens
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious and acute viral disease of chicken caused by the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) of the family Coronaviridae. Even with extensive vaccination against IB by the poultry industry, the occurrence of new IBV genotypes is a continuous challenge encountered by the global poultry industry. This experiment was designed to compare the pathogenicity of two IBV strains belonging to Massachusetts (Mass) and Delmarva DMV/1639 genotypes. Specific pathogen-free laying hens were challenged during the peak of production (30âweeks), keeping a mock-infected control group. During 21âdays of observation following infection, a significant drop in egg production with miss-shaped and soft shells was observed in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected hens only. The DMV/1639 IBV infected group showed prolonged and higher cloacal viral shedding compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. At the end of the study (21âdays post-infection), the viral genome loads in the respiratory, urogenital, and immune tissues were significantly higher in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. Macroscopic lesions such as distorted ova leading to egg peritonitis were observed only in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group. Moreover, microscopic lesion scores were significantly higher in the lung, kidney, cecal tonsils, and oviduct of the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. Finally, the apoptosis index in the kidney, ovary, magnum, isthmus, and shell gland was significantly higher in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the control and Mass-infected groups. This study examined the pathogenicity of two IBV genotypes that are impacting the layer industry in North America
Infectious Bronchitis Coronavirus Infection in Chickens: Multiple System Disease with Immune Suppression
In the early 1930s, infectious bronchitis (IB) was first characterized as a respiratory disease in young chickens; later, the disease was also described in older chickens. The etiology of IB was confirmed later as being due to a coronavirus: the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Being a coronavirus, IBV is subject to constant genome change due to mutation and recombination, with the consequence of changing clinical and pathological manifestations. The potential use of live attenuated vaccines for the control of IBV infection was demonstrated in the early 1950s, but vaccine breaks occurred due to the emergence of new IBV serotypes. Over the years, various IBV genotypes associated with reproductive, renal, gastrointestinal, muscular and immunosuppressive manifestations have emerged. IBV causes considerable economic impacts on global poultry production due to its pathogenesis involving multiple body systems and immune suppression; hence, there is a need to better understand the pathogenesis of infection and the immune response in order to help developing better management strategies. The evolution of new strains of IBV during the last nine decades against vaccine-induced immune response and changing clinical and pathological manifestations emphasize the necessity of the rational development of intervention strategies based on a thorough understanding of IBV interaction with the host
Penetrative Superplumes in the Mantle of Large SuperâEarth Planets: A Possible Mechanism for Active Tectonics in the Massive SuperâEarths
Abstract Recent theoretical studies suggest that the physical and rheological mantle properties in massive rocky planets fall outside conventional behaviors inferred for mantle properties at the Earth's mantle pressures. The vacancy diffusion occurring at low pressures is assumed to be followed by interstitial diffusion above âŒ0.1 TPa resulting in viscosity reduction at higher pressures. In addition, the dissociation transition of MgSiO3 postâperovskite (pPv) into new phases of minerals at 0.9 and 2.1 TPa, both with large negative Clapeyron slopes, has further impact(s) on the style of circulation in the mantle of superâEarth planets. Further, the electronic contribution of conductivity increases exponentially with temperature at temperatures âŒ5000 K and higher. We employ 3Dâcontrolled volume spherical convection models to explore the style of mantle circulation in large rocky superâEarth planets with different core temperatures. Our numerical models resembling a GJ 876 d size superâEarth reveal that due to the buffering influence of the pPvâdissociation transition at âŒ0.9 TPa, for deep mantle viscosities lower than âŒ1022 Pa.s a smallâscale convective layer may develop at the top of the coreâmantle boundary (CMB). Penetrative superplumes originating from deep mantleâlayered regions can maintain the heat flux from the CMB required for the planet's geodynamo, and can survive for billions of years reaching shallow depths of the mantle without significant lateral migration. The strength of the focused penetrative superplumes that can potentially sustain surface volcanism and plate tectonics is enhanced with increasing CMB temperature, but diminished by higher rates of internal heating
Focused Penetrative Plumes: A Possible Consequence of the Dissociation Transition of PostâPerovskite at âŒ0.9 TPa in Massive Rocky SuperâEarths
Abstract Based on the standard view of depthâincreasing viscosity in the mantle of rocky planets, convection in the deep mantle of these planets is expected to become less likely as the size of planet increases. However, a recent theoretical study suggests that above 100 GPa pressure, the mantle viscosity can instead decrease with pressure at higher depths. We explore the potential impact of this type of viscosity structure on the nature of mantle convection in a superâEarth planet of size GJ 876 d with a mass of âŒ7.33 Mâ (Mâ: Earth's mass). The pressures at the bottom of the mantle of GJ 876 d allow MgSiO3 postâperovskite to dissociate into magnesium oxide (MgO) and relatively highly oxidized magnesium silicate MgSi2O5 at 0.9 TPa with highly negative Clapeyron slope. Our 3Dâspherical numerical model results suggest that for sufficiently low values of viscosity at the transition depth, a vigorous layered mantle convection may develop at the bottom of GJ 876 dâsize superâEarth. Focused penetrative plumes originating from the deep mantle layered region can survive and stabilize over very long geological timescales and reach to the surface, which may induce unique circumstances of volcanism and tectonic activity