Praćenje akcesornih spolnih žlijezda i testisa u ovnova pasmine barki pomoću Dopplera i ultrazvuka u B modu tijekom rasplodne sezone

The aim of this study was to perform ultrasonographic imaging of the testes and accessory sex glands in adult Barki rams during the breeding season. The impact of testosterone on the Doppler indices of accessory sex glands was also investigated. Scrotal contents, pelvic urethra and accessory sex glands of twelve mature Barki rams were scanned with multiple imaging of B-mode and colour Doppler ultrasonography. Serum concentrations of testosterone, FSH and LH were determined. The results revealed that the breeding season changed the echogenicity of testicular parenchyma, spermatic cord, epididymal tail, glans penis and echotexture of accessory sex glands. Serum testosterone was 7.27±0.37 ng/mL, FSH was 6.46±0.2 and LH was 5.6±0.28 m IU/mL. The pulsatility index (PI) for the supra-testicular artery (STA), marginal artery (MA) of the testes and epididymal tail was 1.01±0.07, 0.58±0.04 and 0.5±0.04. The resistive index (RI) for the same structures was 0.6±0.04, 0.33±0.04 and 0.3±0.03, respectively. Importantly, testosterone downregulated PI and RI of the ampulla, vesicular gland, prostate gland and bulbourethral gland. In conclusion, the breeding season changed the echogenicity of reproductive organs and accessory genital glands of rams, and testosterone regulated the hemodynamic parameters of the accessory sex glands.Ovo je istraživanje provedeno radi uspostavljanja normalnog ultrazvučnog (UZV) snimanja testisa i akcesornih spolnih žlijezda u odraslih ovnova pasmine barki tijekom rasplodne sezone. Osim toga, istraživan je i utjecaj testosterona na akcesorne spolne žlijezde temeljem uporabe Dopplera. Višestrukim snimanjem u B-modu i ultrazvučnim kolor Dopplerom pretraživan je sadržaj skrotuma, zdječna uretra te akcesorne spolne žlijezde u 12 odraslih ovnova pasmine barki. Određivane su serumske koncentracije testosterona, FSH i LH. Dobiveni su rezultati pokazali da u rasplodnoj sezoni dolazi do promjena u ehogenosti parenhima testisa, sjemenskog užeta, repa epididimisa, glansa penisa i ehoteksture akcesornih spolnih žlijezda. Razina serumskog testosterona iznosila je 7,27±0,37 ng/mL, FSH 6,46±0,2, a LH 5,6±0,28 m IU/mL. Pulzirajući indeksi (PI) supra arterije testisa (SAT), periferne arterije (PA) testisa i repa epididimisa bili su 1,01±0,07, 0,58±0,04, odnosno 0,5±0,04. Istovremeno, indeksi rezistentnosti (RI) gornjih kriterija su bili 0,6±0,04, 0,33±0,04, odnosno 0,3±0,03. Važno je spomenuti da je testosteron snižavao PI i RI ampule (a), vezikularne žlijezde, prostate i bulbouretralne žlijezde. Zaključno, rasplodna je sezona utjecala na promjene ehogenosti reproduktivnih organa i akcesornih spolnih žlijezda u ovnova. Nadalje, testosteron je regulirao hemodinamične pokazatelje akcesornih spolnih žlijezda tijekom rasplodne sezone u ovnova

Usporedna ultrazvučna karakterizacija zdjelice kod klinički zdravih konja i magaraca

This study was conducted to provide detailed a comparative ultrasonographic description of the pelvis in clinically normal horses and donkeys. It was carried out on 48 mature animals (30 horses and 18 donkeys). Evaluation of the pelvis was performed using transcutaneous and transrectal techniques. The following structures were examined: the tubera sacrales (the shape and distance between them and the distance between each of them and the first sacral spinous process), the ilial wing, the tuber coxae, the ilial body, the hip joint, the tuber ischii, the third trochanter, the appearance and measurements of the dorsal and lateral parts of the dorsal sacroiliac ligament and the thoracolumbar fascia, the ischiatic table, the obturator foramen and its contents, the pubis, the medial aspect of the acetabulum and the ilial body, the sacroiliac joint and the ventral aspect of the sacrum. For each evaluated structure, the results obtained were compared between horses and donkeys. A high correspondence was found between the pelvises of horses and donkeys concerning their ultrasonographic appearance and measurements, except for the cross sectional area of both dorsal parts of the dorsal sacroiliac ligament-thoracolumbar fascia combination, and the sacroiliac joint width, where there were significant differences between them.Istraživanje je provedeno kako bi se dobio detaljan usporedni ultrazvučni opis zdjelice kod klinički zdravih konja i magaraca. Uključeno je 48 odraslih životinja, 30 konja i 18 magarca. Zdjelica je analizirana transkutanom i transrektalnom tehnikom. Istražene su sljedeće strukture: križne kvrge (oblik i udaljenost između njih te udaljenost između svake od njih i prvoga križnog šiljastog nastavka), krilo bočne kosti, bočna kvrga, trup bočne kosti, kuk, sjedna kvrga, treći trohanter, izgled i mjere dorzalnih i lateralnih dijelova dorzalnog sakroilijačnog ligamenta i torakolumbalne fascije, ploča sjedne kosti, zastrti otvor i njegov sadržaj, preponska kost, medijalni dio acetabuluma i tijela bočne kosti, sakroilijačni zglob i ventralni dio križne kosti. Podaci dobiveni za svaku strukturu podvrgnuti su usporednoj analizi između konja i magaraca. Nađena je visoka podudarnost oblika i mjera dobivenih ultrazvukom zdjelica kod konja i magaraca, s izuzetkom obaju područja kombinacije između dorzalnog dijela dorzalnog sakroilijačnog ligamenta - torakolumbalne fascije i širine sakroilijačnog zgloba koji su između ovih dviju vrsta pokazali signifikantne razlike

Upper airway muscle exercises outcome in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

AbstractBackgroundObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an important disease that represent a challenge for both patients and physicians to reach optimum choice for treatment mostly because genesis of OSAS is multifactorial. Upper airway muscle function plays a major role in maintenance of the upper airway patency especially during sleep. Oropharyngeal exercises may be an effective treatment option for OSAS.ObjectiveAim of this study was to evaluate upper airway muscle exercise as method to treat OSAS.Patients and methods30 patients divided into 2 groups; Group I moderate OSAS and Group II: severe OSAS patients. Follow up, as regard ESS, AHI, oxygen saturation and snoring was done after 3months of oropharyngeal exercises.ResultsAfter end of study, daytime sleepiness and AHI improved significantly in group I (moderate OSA) 13 out of 15 patients shifted from moderate to mild OSAS. There was significant decrease in oxygen desaturation and snoring index. As for group II, there was decrease but not significant change in same parameters. Only for moderate OSAS, there was, significant decrease in neck circumference, which inversely correlated with changes in AHI (r=0.582; P<0.001).ConclusionUpper airways exercises can be a novel easy non invasive technique to improve AHI, O2 saturation and snoring thus used in treatment of OSAS patients mainly moderate type

Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation programme including either O2 inhalation or noninvasive ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is crucial in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and enhancing functional capacity and health status. Oxygen therapy and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may be needed to be incorporated into rehabilitation to augment the effectiveness of physical training. Objectives: To compare and assess the impact of the PR programme alone and with augmentation with O2 or NIV on COPD patients. Methods: Seventy-five COPD patients were equally divided into three groups: group 1 patients performed 8 week-PR programme only. Group 2 performed the PR programme while receiving O2. Group 3 completed the PR programme plus NIV. Modified Borg scale, VO2 max, modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, 6-minute walk test, COPD assessment test score, spirometric measures and arterial blood gases were assessed before and after the programme. Results: The outcome measurements showed meaningful improvement compared with the baseline in the three studied groups. However, VO2 max in group 3 showed higher significant improvement than both groups 1 and 2. Regarding 6-minute walk test, groups 2 and 3 had a higher significant improvement than group 1. COPD assessment test score in group 3 showed higher significant improvement than groups 1 and 2. Arterial blood gases in groups 2 and 3 showed significant increase in partial pressure of arterial oxygen and arterial oxygen saturation, but group 3 only had a significant decrease in PaCO2. Conclusion: O2 supplementation and NIV help severe to very severe COPD patients to perform higher exercise intensity, so they augment the benefits of PR

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Ultrazvuk B-moda i doppler ultrazvuk akcesornih spolnih žlijezda i testisa jaraca tijekom sezone parenja

The aims of the present study were to scan the echogenicity of reproductive organs of bucks during the breeding season. The influence of testosterone on haemodynamic Doppler indices of accessory genital glands of breeding bucks was also examined. Ten clinically healthy, sexually mature, Egyptian Baladi male goats were examined and the testes, tail of epididymis and accessory sex glands imaged using greyscale B-mode, colour Doppler ultrasonography. The spectral Doppler indices (pulsatility index and resistive index) were measured. Blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of testosterone, FSH and LH were determined. The results revealed that the echogenicity of testes, tail of epididymis and accessory genital glands was changed by breeding season. Pulsatility index values of supra-testicular artery, marginal artery, tail of the epididymis, ampulla, vesicular gland, pars disseminata of the prostate and bulbourethral gland were 0.85±0.04, 0.54±0.03, 0.4±0.03, 0.37±0.04, 0.51±0.03, 0.39±0.02 and 0.41±0.04, respectively. The resistive index of the above criteria were 0.51±0.04, 0.37±0.02, 0.3±0.03, 0.27±0.02, 0.31±0.03, 0.32±0.03 and 0.32±0.03, respectively. Serum testosterone concentration was 4.78±0.46 ng/mL. Furthermore, FSH and LH were 3.71±0.43 and 1.8±0.17 mIU/mL, respectively. Interestingly, testosterone clearly deceased the values of the both the pulsatility and resistive indices of the accessory genital glands of breeding bucks. Season modified the echogenicity of testes, epididymis and accessory genital glands. Testosterone regulated the reproductive indices of blood flow of the accessory genital glands of breeding bucks. Thus, this study could serve as a baseline of reference values of Egyptian Baladi male goats during the breeding season to improve reproductive efficiency.Cilj je ove studije bio skenirati ehogenost spolnih organa jaraca tijekom sezone parenja, a ispitan je i učinak testosterona na hemodinamičke doppler indekse aksecornih spolnih žlijezda rasplodnih mužjaka. U deset klinički zdravih, spolno zrelih egipatskih baladi jaraca ispitani su testisi, rep epididimisa i akcesorne spolne žlijezde putem ultrazvuka B-moda sive skale i color doppler ultrazvuka. Izmjereni su spektralni doppler indeksi poput indeksa pulsatilnosti (PI) i indeksa otpornosti (RI). Prikupljeni su uzorci krvi te su određene koncentracije testosterona, folikulostimulirajućeg hormona (FSH) i luteinizirajućeg hormona (LH) u krvi. Rezultati su otkrili da se ehogenost testisa, repa epididimisa i akcesornih spolnih žlijezda tijekom sezone parenja promijenila. PI vrijednosti supratestikularne arterije (STA), marginalne arterije (MA), repa epididimisa, proširenja (ampulla), vezikularne žlijezde, pars disseminata prostate i bulbouretralne žlijezde bile su 0,85±0,04, 0,54±0,03, 0,4±0,03, 0,37±0,04, 0,51±0,03, 0,39±0,02 i 0,41±0,04. Nadalje, RI iznad navedenih kriterija bio je 0,51±0,04, 0,37±0,02, 0,3±0,03, 0,27±0,02, 0,31±0,03, 0,32±0,03, odnosno 0,32±0,03. Koncentracija testosterona u krvi bila je (4,78±0,46) ng/mL. Nadalje, FSH i LH bile su (3,71±0,43, odnosno 1,8±0,17) mIU/mL. Uočeno je da je testosteron vidno smanjio PI i RI vrijednosti akcesornih spolnih žlijezda rasplodnih mužjaka, što znači da je sezona parenja promijenila ehogenost testisa, epididimisa i akcesornih spolnih žlijezda. Testosteron je regulirao reproduktivne indekse (PI i RI) protoka krvi akcesornih spolnih žlijezda rasplodnih mužjaka. Rezulteti ove studije mogu se uzeti kao referentne vrijednosti egipatskih baladi jaraca tijekom sezone parenja da bi se poboljšala njihova reproduktivna učinkovitost

嗜盐嗜碱多能硫碱弧菌D306基因组编辑和脱硫途径工程研究

硫化氢通常存在于石油和天然气及其下游工艺中，由于其可形成酸雨，对环境的危害很大。多能硫碱弧菌 D306是一种化能自养型、GC含量高的革兰氏阴性嗜盐嗜碱细菌，对硫化氢有较强的脱硫作用，产物是单质硫和硫酸根。为了加强多能硫碱弧菌 D306对天然气的脱硫作用和单质硫的生成，本论文努力解决三个问题，即缺乏基因组编辑方法、硫代谢不明确和硫酸根的产生、 对工业设备和细胞的毒害作用。首先，利用已知的菌株信息，采用细胞死亡诱导 (cell death induced, CDI) 策略，开发出了编辑效率为8.2%的多能硫碱弧菌基因组编辑系统。建立了嗜盐嗜碱多能硫碱弧菌 D306降落PCR (touchdown PCR) 技术，利用不同表达水平的Cas9蛋白和sgRNA对基因组编辑系统进行优化，并通过CDI策略进行筛选，优化后的系统效率提高到41.2%。因此，CDI策略成功简化了多能硫碱弧菌CRISPR系统开发的工作流程，并可以应用于其他极端微生物。第二，我们在多能硫碱弧菌 D306中鉴定了约50个硫代谢相关蛋白，并推测了它们的定位，深化了对D306菌株硫代谢途径的认识。利用CRISPR系统敲除了产生硫酸根的四个关键基因，强化了单质硫的生成。与野生型菌株相比，HdrB基因的敲除使多能硫碱弧菌在以硫代硫酸钠和硫化钠为硫源时，硫酸盐的产量分别下降了20.8%和55.1%。这意味着HdrB的敲除可以防止菌株消耗硫作为能量来源，可以产生更多的单质硫。这些结果也被电子显微镜观察和菌株生长曲线所证实。第三，构建了严紧调控的诱导表达体系，设计、构建、检测和验证了Cas9蛋白、Ⅱ类CRISPR主效应蛋白等天然毒性蛋白的表达。采用补料分批策略提高了多能硫碱弧菌D306的生长速度和生物量，为提高生物脱硫效率奠定了基础。所构建的系统使用铁吸收调节剂调控基因转录水平，使蛋白表达量增加到对照组的27倍。利用该系统成功表达了一种剧毒蛋白，验证了系统的功能。第四，初步构建了具有通用性的多基因编辑载体系统。选择具有通用性的tRNA作为基因编辑靶标，在大肠杆菌中针对11种不同的tRNAs进行了多基因编辑研究，其中，1种tRNAs来源于多能硫碱弧菌D306，1种来源于水稻，9种来源于大肠杆菌。研究结果显示，所构建的多基因编辑载体对LeuW，ValU和LysV的编辑效率分别达到100%，66.7% 和33.3%。综上所述，我们首次在嗜盐嗜碱多能硫碱弧菌 D306中构建了一个基于CRISPR- cas9系统和细胞死亡诱导策略的敲除系统。该体系通过敲除硫酸盐产生途径的基因来提高脱硫效率。结果表明，该方法具有较好的应用价值。经过设计、构建、测试和验证的过程，开发了另一种利用铁抑制蛋白诱导蛋白表达的系统。最后，在大肠杆菌中进行了多重CRISPR的研究，为将来在嗜盐嗜碱多能硫碱弧菌 D306中的应用提供参考。;Hydrogen sulfide, normally found in oil and gas and their down streaming processes, represents a highly toxic environmental threat by forming acid rain. Thioalkalivibrio versutus D306, an autotrophic; high GC content and gram-negative polyextremophile, can strongly desulfurize natural gas and produce sulfur and the less favorable, sulfate. To strengthen the power of T. versutus D306 as a natural gas desulfurizing bacterium, this thesis aimed to solve three different obstacles for this objective, which are lack of genome editing method, unclear sulfur metabolism and unfavorable sulfate production which is both; harmful to industrial equipment and toxic to the cells. To develop efficient genome editing strategy for T. versutus D306 using CRISPR-cas9 system based upon known strain information, cell death induced (CDI) strategy was followed. The strategy used cell death induction, calculated as colony forming units, as an indicator for screening the best knockout plasmid without the need to check colonies using PCR.Firstly, a CRISPR-cas9 system with editing efficiency of 8.2% of the screened colonies was first developed. Further optimization of the system, using different expression levels of Cas9 protein and sgRNA, was screened again by the CDI strategy. The editing efficiency was increased to 41.2% using touchdown PCR technique developed especially for T. versutus D306. Therefore, CDI strategy showed a success in simplifying workflow for CRISPR system development in T. versutus D306 and can be applied to other autotrophs or polyextremophiles. Secondly, 50 sulfur related proteins were identified in T. versutus D306 and their localization were assumed, which gave us a clear picture for different sulfur metabolism steps in the strain. The CRISPR system was used to knockout four sulfate producing key genes to enhance the desulfurization process. HdrB protein knockout enabled us to decrease sulfate production by 20.8 % and 55.1 % for thiosulfate and sulfide grown T. versutus, respectively, as compared to the native strain, which means more sulfur, was produced. It also prevented the strain to consume sulfur as the strain energy substrate. These results were also confirmed by electron microscope and strain growth. The desulfurization process profitability was further improved by proving the ability of T. versutus D306 to produce nano sulfur (less than 50 nm) from sulfide as a substrate using XRD, electron microscope and grain size measurements.Thirdly, a tightly inducible expression system was built using fed-batch and Design, build, test and validate approach for expressing toxic proteins by nature like Cas9 protein, Class 2 CRISPR main effector protein. The fed batch strategy improved the growth of T. versutus D306 to facilitate expression system measurements. The final constructed system, using ferric uptake regulator, enabled the expression to be repressed near the control strain values and increased again to 27 times the control. The system successfully expressed a highly toxic protein as a validation step.Fourthly, a multi gene editing CRISPR-cas9 system was constructed. The universal tRNA was selected as the target of gene editing, and 13 different tRNAs, which were 1 native T. versutus D306, 1 rice native one and 11 E. coli ones, were studied in E. coli. The results showed that the editing efficiency of the constructed system for LeuW, ValU and LysV was 100%, 66.7% and 33.3% respectively.In conclusion, a first knockout system, based on CRISPR- cas9 system and cell- death induced strategy, was built in T. versutus D306. The system was used to improve productivity of desulfurization process by knocking out unfavorable sulfate production pathway genes. The nanometric characteristics of T. versutus sulfur was proved for more profitable bio desulfurization process. Another system for inducible protein expression was developed using ferric repression protein depending upon design, build, test and validate approach. Finally, multiplexing CRISPR was studied in E. coli for future application in T. versutus D306.&nbsp;</p

The diagnostic yield of cryobiopsy versus forceps biopsy of malignant endobronchial lesions

Background: In patients with endoscopically visible lesions, flexible bronchoscopy with FB is the most frequently used technique to obtain specimens for pathologic analysis with sensitivity of approximately 74%. The flexible cryoprobe, so far used for cryotherapy and endoluminal tumor debulking, also seemed to be suitable for biopsies from visible lesions. Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of cryobiopsy and forceps biopsy. Patients and methods: For each patient group with a confirmed endobronchial lesion, diagnostic yield and safety of forceps biopsy and cryobiopsy were recorded. Results: The diagnostic yield was significantly higher with cryobiopsy (95%), compared with forceps biopsy (80%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cryobiopsy is a safe high diagnostic yield technique in sampling endobronchial tumor lesions

Effect of calcium carbonate nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles and advanced platelet-rich fibrin for enhancing bone healing in a rabbit model

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCNPs) to induce new bone formation in a critical size segmental bone defect in rabbit’s radius when used alone, combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a paste, or as a composite containing CCNPs, AgNPs, and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF). Thirty-six adult apparently healthy male New Zealand White rabbits aging from 5 to 6 months and weighting 3.5 ± 0.5 kg were used. The animals were divided into four groups; control group, CCNPs group, CCNPs/AgNPs paste group, and CCNPs/AgNPs/A-PRF composite group. The animals were investigated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation in which the healing was evaluated using computed tomographic (CT) and histopathological evaluation. The results revealed that CCNPs/AgNPs paste and CCNPs/AgNPs/A-PRF composite has a superior effect regarding the amount and the quality of the newly formed bone compared to the control and the CCNPs alone. In conclusion, addition of AgNPs and/or A-PRF to CCNPs has reduced its resorption rate and improved its osteogenic and osteoinductive properties

Degradation of Rhodamine B at Neutral pH Using Modified Sponge Iron as a Heterogeneous Electro-Fenton Catalyst

Sponge iron was used as heterogeneous electro-Fenton (EF) catalyst. Then, the catalytic activity and durability of sponge iron was greatly improved after modified by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, and vibrating sample magnetometer were carried out to further understand the surface morphology, element composition, substance composition, and magnetic property, respectively. The PTFE modified sponge iron exhibited excellent mineralization performance for treatment of 20 mg/L Rhodamine B solution under the optimized conditions (catalyst dosage 0.5 g/L, current density 50 A/m(2)), achieving almost complete decolorization, 90.13% total organic carbon removal, and 93.24% Chemical Oxygen Demand removal after 120 min electrolysis. Moreover, the results confirmed that the modified sponge iron showed satisfactory durability after five times consecutive cycles, and could be a promising heterogeneous EF catalyst. (C) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineer