A Newborn with Congenital Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia After In Vitro Fertilization

Congenital leukemia is a rare disease. The majority of cases of this disease are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare and most often is of B cell lineage. Rarely, some cases have been designated biphenotypic or mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). Herein, we report a preterm newborn referred to us as a result of the appearance of blue-violaceous dermal nodules on her body at birth. She was a twin and the product of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy. Physical examination showed jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and peripheral facial nerve palsy in addition to dermal nodules. Bone marrow aspiration showed 40% blasts of lymphoid lineage; skin biopsy and its immunohistochemistry revealed myeloblastic infiltration of the dermis. Cytogenetic analysis (46,XX), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, and cranial magnetic resonance were normal. The patient was diagnosed with congenital MPAL, and an association between IVF and congenital leukemia was suggested

Analysis of Higher Spin Field Equations in Four Dimensions

The minimal bosonic higher spin gauge theory in four dimensions contains massless particles of spin s=0,2,4,.. that arise in the symmetric product of two spin 0 singletons. It is based on an infinite dimensional extension of the AdS_4 algebra a la Vasiliev. We derive an expansion scheme in which the gravitational gauge fields are treated exactly and the gravitational curvatures and the higher spin gauge fields as weak perturbations. We also give the details of an explicit iteration procedure for obtaining the field equations to arbitrary order in curvatures. In particular, we highlight the structure of all the quadratic terms in the field equations.Comment: Latex, 30 pages, several clarifications and few references adde

Holography in 4D (Super) Higher Spin Theories and a Test via Cubic Scalar Couplings

The correspondences proposed previously between higher spin gauge theories and free singleton field theories were recently extended into a more complete picture by Klebanov and Polyakov in the case of the minimal bosonic theory in D=4 to include the strongly coupled fixed point of the 3d O(N) vector model. Here we propose an N=1 supersymmetric version of this picture. We also elaborate on the role of parity in constraining the bulk interactions, and in distinguishing two minimal bosonic models obtained as two different consistent truncations of the minimal N=1 model that retain the scalar or the pseudo-scalar field. We refer to these models as the Type A and Type B models, respectively, and conjecture that the latter is holographically dual to the 3d Gross-Neveu model. In the case of the Type A model, we show the vanishing of the three-scalar amplitude with regular boundary conditions. This agrees with the O(N) vector model computation of Petkou, thereby providing a non-trivial test of the Klebanov-Polyakov conjecture.Comment: 30p

Can the Side Effects of Mydriatics Be Reduced with the ROP-bundle Protocol?

Aim:The mydriatics that used for pupil-dilation in the examination of retinopathy-of-prematurity (ROP) may cause some side-effects in the neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular systems by absorption from the nasal mucosa, cornea, conjunctiva, skin. In order to minimize these side-effects, it’s recommended to prepare mydriatics in appropriate concentrations, combinations, and to apply pressure on the naso-lacrimal canal by closing the eyes after the application. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the systemic side-effects in the early period of using 0.5% cyclopentolate-1% phenylephrine combination for pupil-dilatation before the ROP-examination and with the protocol we applied after drip in our unit.Materials and Methods:Thirty-three ROP examinations of 17 cases were included in the study, which was planned retrospectively. After instillation of eye drops containing 0.5% cyclopentolate-1% phenylephrine combination in accordance with our ROP-bundle-protocol, the eye was closed, pressure was applied to the naso-lacrimal canal for 1-2 minutes, and the excess part that had leaked into the skin was wiped off. Oxygen saturation (SaO2), the amount of oxygen given, blood pressure arterial (TA), heart rate were recorded before and after the drop at 10., 30., and 60. minutes. In addition, patients were followed up for 24 hours in dimensions of gastric-residue, distention, apnea and other side-effects.Results:The mean-week of gestation, body weight of 17 newborns, 35.3% (6) of whom were boys, 64.7% (11) of girls, were found to be 27.6±3 weeks, 1025±389 g, respectively. In 33 evaluations made before and after mydriatic in 17 cases; distension developed in two cases, apnea in one, and pallor of the skin in one patient. Although there was a statistically significant difference only in SaO2 and 60th minute systolic TA-measurements between pre- and post-treatment measurements, hemodynamic changes were not evaluated as clinically significant.Conclusion:In-order-to reduce the side-effects that may develop due to mydriatics, it’s necessary to standardize the practices before and after the ROP-examination, close follow-up of the cases after the ROP-examination in terms of early intervention

Effect of Cesium Substitution on the Superconducting Properties of Bi-2212 Samples Prepared Via Solid-State Reaction and Laser Floating Zone Technique

In this work, the effect of cesium substitution on the structural and superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2Ca1-xCsxCu2O+y (where x = 0.0, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.10, 0.125, and 0.15) samples prepared by the solid-state reaction route and by directional growth using the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique has been studied. X-ray diffraction has shown that both kinds of samples present the 2212 phase as the major one, with pseudo tetragonal structure, accompanied by minor amounts of (Sr,Ca)CuO2 and Bi2(Sr,Ca)4O6 + d secondary phases. SEM-EDX results indicate that Bi-2212 phase is the major one, with small amounts of secondary phases. Cs substitution diminishes the size and content of secondary phases. Magnetization measurements reflect different behavior for sintered and LFZ grown samples. Although the diamagnetic transition is very wide for the former samples, it is very sharp for the last ones. The critical onset temperatures, TC, are around 80 and 90 K, for sintered and LFZ grown samples, respectively. Moreover, M–H measurements indicate that LFZ grown samples exhibit larger areas than the sintered ones. The intragranular critical current, JC, calculated from the M–H loops and Bean’s formula, is maximum for x = 0.025Cs sintered and x = 0.05Cs LFZ grown samples. The maximum pinning forces, FPmax, determined in these samples are higher than those obtained in undoped ones, reaching 9 × 107 Oe*A/cm2 and 10 × 108 Oe*A/cm2, at 10 K, for sintered and LFZ grown samples, respectively. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Effect of Carbon Nanotube Addition on the Superconducting Properties of BSCCO Samples Textured via Laser Floating Zone Technique

In this research, the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) addition on the structural and superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy + x wt% CNT materials with x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 3 prepared by solid state method, followed by directional grown using the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique has been investigated. XRD measurements showed that all samples are composed of almost single Bi-2212 phase. SEM images proved that Bi-2212 phase is the major one, with minor amounts of (Sr,Ca)3BiOx, and Bi-2201 secondary phases. According to the magnetic results, carbon nanotubes decrease Tc values and significantly reduce the magnetic hysteresis loops area and the magnetic critical current density. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

The effects of bosentan on hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. There is currently no proven effective treatment modality for BPD, and inflammation and oxidative injury play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. This study investigated the histopathological and biochemical effects of bosentan, which is a non-specific endothelin receptor antagonist with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, on hyperoxia-induced lung injury (HILI) in neonatal rats. Methods: The experiment was performed on newborn rats from the 3rd to the 13th postnatal day. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: Group 1 (air-exposed + saline, n = 6); Group 2 (HILI, n = 8); Group 3 (air-exposed + bosentan, n = 7); Group 4 (HILI + saline, n = 7); Group 5 (HILI + early bosentan-treated group, n = 6), and Group 6 (HILI + late bosentan-treated group, n = 7). Bosentan was administered (30 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally. The histopathological effects of bosentan on lung tissue were assessed by their alveolar surface area, fibrosis, and smooth muscle actin (SMA) scores, and the biochemical effects on lung tissue were assessed by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: The alveolar surface area and fibrosis scores were found to be significantly higher in HILI groups compared with Group 1 (P < 0.01). The SMA scores in HILI groups were also significantly higher than Group 1 (P < 0.01). Bosentan treatment, especially late therapy, reduced all of these histopathological scores and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the hyperoxia groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion: This experimental study showed that bosentan had a protective effect on hyperoxic lung injury through its anti-inflammatory properties. © 2019 Japan Pediatric Societ

Caffeine prevents bilirubin-induced cytotoxicity in cultured newborn rat astrocytes

Objective: Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) may cause neurotoxicity in preterm neonates due to immaturity of UGT1A1 leading to bilirubin accumulation in the brain. Caffeine used in the treatment of apnea of prematurity was reported to decrease mechanical ventilation requirement, the frequencies of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disorders in very low birth weight infants. However, the effect of caffeine on hyperbilirubinemia was not yet clarified. Methods: We used astrocyte cell cultures obtained from 2-day-old Wistar albino rats via modified Cole and de Vellis method. UCB concentration toxic to 50% of astrocytes, and caffeine concentration increasing cell viability 100% were used in experiments. While no medication was applied to the control group, UCB (50 μM) and caffeine (100 μM) were applied to the bilirubin and caffeine groups for 24 h. Prophylactic and therapeutic caffeine groups were treated with caffeine 4 h before and after UCB exposure. The effects of caffeine were investigated in rat astrocytes exposed to UCB in terms of cell viability, apoptosis, antioxidant defense, proinflammatory cytokines, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)s. Results: Compared to the control group, UCB increased apoptosis, malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, total nitrate/nitrite, and TLR4 levels, and decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione, and TLR9 levels (for all p <.001). Conversely, prophylactic and therapeutic caffeine improved the detrimental effects of UCB. Conclusions: Caffeine seems encouraging for the prevention and treatment of bilirubin neurotoxicity in rats by means of its antiapoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-nitrosative, and anti-TLR-4 properties. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group