Management of tracheal chondrosarcoma almost completely obstructing the airway: a case report

Checklist and flow diagram. (DOC 2887 kb

Corporate Social Responsibility a contribution to development? : a study examining a major company's CSR initiative in Cape Town

The following study highlights the debates around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and explores to what extent the engagement of companies is contributing to development. This study focuses on one major company and its developmental activities in the Western Cape. The research is based on a main concern with the role of CSR in impoverished communities and whether CSR is contributing to development. Using a case study approach, semi-structured interviews as well as document analysis and observation have been conducted in order to achieve the research objectives

Atomic force spectroscopy-based essay to evaluate oocyte postovulatory aging

Postovulatory aging is a process occurring in the mature (MII) oocyte leading the unfertilized ones to apoptosis. The optimal time window of fertility for different mammalian species after oocytes maturation depends on its timeliness: the higher the time elapsed from the accomplishment of the MII stage, the lower are the chances of fertilization and of development of a viable embryo. In the in vitro fertilization, the selection of competent oocytes for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is mostly made by the visual inspection of the MII oocyte morphology, which does not allow to determine the oocyte postovulatory age. On the other hand, more specific tests usually involve some kind of staining, thus compromising the viability of the oocyte for reproductive purposes. Hence, the need of a noninvasive analysis of oocyte aging to improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization procedures. Here, we exploit atomic force microscopy to examine the evolution of the mechanical properties of mouse oocytes during in vitro postovulatory aging. Three hours before the occurrence of any visual morphological feature related to degradation, we observe a sudden change of the mechanical parameters: the elastic modulus doubles its initial value, while the viscosity decreases significantly. These mechanical variations are temporally correlated with the release of the cortical granules, investigated by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, the oocyte mechanics correlates as well with the yield of embryo formation, evaluated up to the blastocyst formation stage. These results demonstrate that minimally invasive mechanical measurements are very sensitive to the aging of the oocyte and can be used as a label-free method to detect the age of the postovulatory oocytes

AFM macro-probes to investigate whole 3D cardiac spheroids

In its many applications, the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is a promising tool in cardiac mechanobiology because it can unravel the viscoelastic and mechano-dynamic properties of individual cardiomyocytes. However, the biophysical investigation of more accurate 3D models is hampered by commercial probes, which typically operate at the cell sub-compartmental resolution. We have previously shown how flat macro-probes can overcome these limitations by extending the AFM mechanical measurements to multicellular aggregates. Such macro-probes are fabricated by standard micromachining and carry a flat polymeric wedge to offset the AFM mounting tilt. Therefore, the AFM is upgraded to a micro-parallel plate rheometer with unmatched force range and sensitivity. In this article, we show how these macro-probes can be applied to reveal the global rheology of primary cardiomyocytes spheroids, by performing stress-relaxation tests. More importantly, we demonstrate that these macro-probes can be used as passive sensors capable of monitoring the spheroid beating force and beating pattern, and to perform a “micro-CPR” on the spheroid itself

Challenges for local community development in private sector-led renewable energy projects in South Africa: an evolving approach

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in South Africa is intended to support the uptake of renewable energy, help address the current energy supply crisis and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, it also requires project developers to engage with socio-economic development at the local level. The distributed nature of renewable energy generation may induce a more geographically dispersed pattern of development, and renewable energy sites can be highly suited to rural locations with otherwise poor potential to attract local inward investment. Socio-economic development and enterprise development are two of seven economic development elements in the programme.In order to prepare a bid submission, project developers have to assess local socio-economic needs around their project site and develop strategies on how to address these. This paper investigates the challenges for local community development. The research is based on case studies and presents findings from the perspective of a research team working alongside project developers. Early findings indicate that there are potential community benefits from commercial wind projects, providing an appropriate community engagement process that is aligned with the project cycle determined by the tender process and engineering requirements. The Passive Community Needs Assessment approach is introduced as a possible solution

Challenges for local community development in private sector-led renewable energy projects in South Africa: an evolving approach

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in South Africa is intended to support the uptake of renewable energy, help address the current energy supply crisis and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, it also requires project developers to engage with socio-economic development at the local level. The distributed nature of renewable energy generation may induce a more geographically dispersed pattern of development, and renewable energy sites can be highly suited to rural locations with otherwise poor potential to attract local inward investment. Socio-economic development and enterprise development are two of seven economic development elements in the programme. In order to prepare a bid submission, project developers have to assess local socio-economic needs around their project site and develop strategies on how to address these. This paper investigates the challenges for local community development. The research is based on case studies and presents findings from the perspective of a research team working alongside project developers. Early findings indicate that there are potential community benefits from commercial wind projects, providing an appropriate community engagement process that is aligned with the project cycle determined by the tender process and engineering requirements. The Passive Community Needs Assessment approach is introduced as a possible solution

Gulypyrones A and B and phomentrioloxins B and C produced by Diaporthe gulyae, a potential mycoherbicide for saffron thistle (Carthamus lanatus)

A virulent strain of Diaporthe gulyae, isolated from stem cankers of sunflower and known to be pathogenic to saffron thistle, has been shown to produce both known and previously undescribed metabolites when grown in either static liquid culture or a bioreactor. Together with phomentrioloxin, a phytotoxic geranylcyclohexenetriol recently isolated from a strain of Phomopsis sp., two new phytotoxic trisubstituted α-pyrones, named gulypyrones A and B (1 and 2), and two new 1,O- and 2,O-dehydro derivatives of phomentrioloxin, named phomentrioloxins B and C (3 and 4), were isolated from the liquid culture filtrates of D. gulyae. These four metabolites were characterized as 6-[(2S)2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl]-4-methoxy-5-methylpyran-2-one (1), 6-[(1E)-3-hydroxy-1-methylpropenyl]- 4-methoxy-3-methylpyran-2-one (2), 4,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(7-methyl-3-methyleneoct-6-en-1-ynyl)cyclohex-2-enone (3), and 2,5-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(7-methyl-3-methyleneoct-6-en-1-ynyl)cyclohex-3-enone (4) using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The absolute configuration of the hydroxylated secondary carbon of the 2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl side chain at C-6 of gulypyrone A was determined as S by applying a modified Mosher’s method. Other well-known metabolites were also isolated including 3-nitropropionic, succinic, and p-hydroxy- and p-methylbenzoic acids, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and nectriapyrone. When assayed using a 5 mM concentration on punctured leaf disks of weedy and crop plants, apart from 3-nitropropionic acid (the main metabolite responsible for the strong phytotoxicity of the culture filtrate), phomentrioloxin B caused small, but clear, necrotic spots on a number of plant species, whereas gulypyrone A caused leaf necrosis on Helianthus annuus plantlets. All other compounds were weakly active or inactive

Bedside sonography assessment of extravascular lung water increase after major pulmonary resection in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background: Extra vascular lung water (EVLW) following pulmonary resection increases due to fluid infusion and rises in capillary surface and permeability of the alveolar capillary membranes. EVLW increase clinically correlates to pulmonary oedema and it may generate impairments of gas exchanges and acute lung injury. An early and reliable assessment of postoperative EVLW, especially following major pulmonary resection, is useful in terms of reducing the risk of postoperative complications. The currently used methods, though satisfying these criteria, tend to be invasive and cumbersome and these factors might limit its use. The presence and burden of EVLW has been reported to correlate with sonographic B-line artefacts (BLA) assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS). This observational study investigated if bedside LUS could detect EVLW increases after major pulmonary resection. Due to the clinical association between EVLW increase and impairment of gas exchange, secondary aims of the study included investigating for associations between any observed EVLW increases and both respiratory ratio (PaO2/FiO2) and fluid retention, measured by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Methods: Overall, 74 major pulmonary resection patients underwent bedside LUS before surgery and at postoperative days 1 and 4, in the inviolate hemithorax which were divided into four quadrants. BLA were counted with a four-level method. The respiratory ratio PaO2/FiO2 and fluid retention were both assessed. Results: BLA resulted being increased at postoperative day 1 (OR 9.25; 95% CI, 5.28-16.20; P<0.0001 vs. baseline), and decreased at day 4 (OR 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.80; P=0.004 vs. day 1). Moreover, the BLA increase was associated with both increased BNP (OR 1.005; 95% CI, 1.003-1.008; P<0.0001) and body weight (OR 1.040; 95% CI, 1.008-1.073; P=0.015). Significant inverse correlations were observed between the BLA values and the PaO2/FiO2 respiratory ratios. Conclusions: Our results suggest that LUS, due to its non-invasiveness, affordability and capacity to detect increases in EVLW, might be useful in better managing postoperative patients