Dermal reaction and bigeminal premature ventricular contractions due to neostigmine: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Neostigmine is a frequently used acetylcholinesterase inhibitor administered to reverse muscular relaxation caused by nondepolarizing neuromuscular relaxants in patients recovering from general anesthesia. Severe allergic reactions and urticaria are rarely reported following the use of neostigmine bromide, and never with methylsulfate-containing drugs. In this case, bigeminal premature ventricular contractions added to urticaria provides a warning about the possibility of a life-threatening situation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 23-year-old Persian woman who presented with bigeminal premature ventricular contractions along with urticarial lesions on her arm and trunk as soon as she was administered neostigmine methylsulfate after undergoing a laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report could be of value not only for anesthesiologists who routinely use neostigmine but also for others who administer the pharmaceutical preparation in other situations. The report presents a rare case of drug reaction following neostigmine use. As a result, one should consider any drug a probable cause of drug reaction. The preparation of resuscitative facilities, therefore, is necessary prior to the prescription of the medication.</p

Communication in the Third Dimension: Song Perch Height of Rivals Affects Singing Response in Nightingales

Many animals use long-range signals to compete over mates and resources. Optimal transmission can be achieved by choosing efficient signals, or by choosing adequate signalling perches and song posts. High signalling perches benefit sound transmission and reception, but may be more risky due to exposure to airborne predators. Perch height could thus reflect male quality, with individuals signalling at higher perches appearing as more threatening to rivals. Using playbacks on nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos), we simulated rivals singing at the same height as residents, or singing three metres higher. Surprisingly, residents increased song output stronger, and, varying with future pairing success, overlapped more songs of the playback when rivals were singing at the same height than when they were singing higher. Other than expected, rivals singing at the same height may thus be experienced as more threatening than rivals singing at higher perches. Our study provides new evidence that territorial animals integrate information on signalling height and thus on vertical cues in their assessment of rivals

Genome maps across 26 human populations reveal population-specific patterns of structural variation.

Large structural variants (SVs) in the human genome are difficult to detect and study by conventional sequencing technologies. With long-range genome analysis platforms, such as optical mapping, one can identify large SVs (&gt;2 kb) across the genome in one experiment. Analyzing optical genome maps of 154 individuals from the 26 populations sequenced in the 1000 Genomes Project, we find that phylogenetic population patterns of large SVs are similar to those of single nucleotide variations in 86% of the human genome, while ~2% of the genome has high structural complexity. We are able to characterize SVs in many intractable regions of the genome, including segmental duplications and subtelomeric, pericentromeric, and acrocentric areas. In addition, we discover ~60 Mb of non-redundant genome content missing in the reference genome sequence assembly. Our results highlight the need for a comprehensive set of alternate haplotypes from different populations to represent SV patterns in the genome

Role of Lipid in Sulfite-dependent Propofol Dimerization

Background: During long-term intravenous infusions, sulfite in sulfite-containing propofol emulsions can cause the peroxidation of lipid and dimerization of propofol. This study evaluated the role of lipid in sulfite-dependent propofol dimerization by determining the effects of individual fatty acids in soybean oil emulsion and peroxidized lipids in a model system. Methods: Individual fatty acids, stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), and arachidonic (20:4), were added to sulfite-containing propofol emulsion and incubated for 90 min at 37°C. Model systems containing soybean oil (100 l), water (900 l), propofol (10 mg/ml), and sulfite (0.25 mg/ml) composed of oils with different peroxide values were allowed to react for 60 min at room temperature. After the reactions, propofol dimer and propofol dimer quinone were analyzed by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results: Propofol did not dimerize when added to aqueous sulfite unless soybean oil was also included. The addition of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic) to sulfite-containing propofol emulsion resulted in large increases of propofol dimerization compared with stearic or oleic acid. Using biphasic mixtures of soybean oil and aqueous sulfite, propofol dimerization increased with increasing peroxide content of the oil. In propofol emulsion, lipoxidase and ferrous iron in the absence of sulfite also caused the dimerization of propofol. Conclusions: These results show that lipid can play a significant role in sulfite-dependent propofol dimerization. The relation of dimerization to polyunsaturated fatty acid and soybean oil peroxide content suggests that sulfite reacts with unsaturated lipid or peroxide-modified lipid to facilitate propofol dimerization

Synthesis and DFT investigation of new bismuth-containing MAX phases

The M(n + 1)AX(n) phases (M = early transition metal; A = group A element and X = C and N) are materials exhibiting many important metallic and ceramic properties. In the present study powder processing experiments and density functional theory calculations are employed in parallel to examine formation of Zr(2)(Al(1−x)Bi(x))C (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). Here we show that Zr(2)(Al(1−x)Bi(x))C, and particularly with x ≈ 0.58, can be formed from powders even though the end members Zr(2)BiC and Zr(2)AlC seemingly cannot. This represents a significant extension of the MAX phase family, as this is the first report of a bismuth-based MAX phase

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT POMEGRANATE PEEL AGAINST STERIGMATOCYSTIN TOXICITY IN RAT

Introduction and Aim: Sterigmatocystin (Stg) a mycotoxin with mutagenic and carcinogenic properties is commonly found as the contaminant in grains and animal feeds. Pomegranate peel is a rich source of antioxidants, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. So the aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective effects of aqueous extract of red Pomegranate peel against Stg toxicity in liver, kidney, intestine and lung as well as final body weight using male rats. Methods: Forty eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into six groups (8rats/group) including the control group that fed on a standard diet and water without any treatment, group 2 fed on standard diet plus aqueous extract of RPP (250 mg/rat/day), group 3 fed on standard diet plus aqueous extract of RPP (500 mg/ rat/day), group 4 fed on a standard diet and orally Stg. dissolved at a dose (18µg/rat/day), group 5 fed on a standard diet and Stg  plus aqueous extract of RPP (250mg/day) and group 6 fed on a standard diet and Stg. plus aqueous extract of RPP (500mg/day). At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for serum biochemical analyses. After collecting the blood samples all animals were scarified and dissected samples of liver, kidney, intestine and lung were collected for histological examination. Results: The total phenols and total flavonoids, compounds in aqueous extract of RPP were 1.38 mg/ml and 680.28 mg/ml, respectively. However, the antioxidant activity amounted to 68.0% in the determination of radical DPPH scavenging activity. On the other hand, results indicated that rat orally Stg plus aqueous extract of RPP with low dose and high doses showed a significant improvement in final body weight compared with group administrated of Stg alone. While, the effect of aqueous extract of RPP on kidney and liver function of rats, the results indicated that the rat orally Stg alone caused significant increased in urea, creatinine and uric acid compared with the control group. The aqueous extract of RPP alone at the two tested doses did not induce any significant changes in the biochemical parameters or the histological picture. The combined treatment showed significant improvements in all tested parameters and histological pictures in the liver tissues. Moreover, this improvement was more pronounced in the group received the high dose of aqueous extract of RPP. Conclusion: From results it can be concluded that u the aqueous extract of RPP has a potent antioxidant activity and a protective effect against Stg toxicity and this protection was dose dependent. Keywords: Sterigmatocystin, Red pomegranate peels (RPP), aqueous extract, liver and kidney

Impact of Cation Intercalation on the Electronic Structure of Ti3C2Tx MXenes in Sulfuric Acid

Intercalation in Ti3C2Tx MXene is essential for a diverse set of applications such as water purification, desalination, electrochemical energy storage, and sensing. The interlayer spacing between the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets can be controlled by cation intercalation; however, the impact of intercalation on the Ti3C2Tx MXene chemical and electronic structures is not well understood. Herein, we characterized the electronic structure of pristine, Li , Na , K , and Mg intercalated Ti3C2Tx MXenes dispersed initially in water and 10 mM sulfuric acid H2SO4 using X ray absorption spectroscopy XAS . The cation intercalation is found to dramatically influence the chemical environment of Ti atoms. The Ti oxidation of the MXene increases progressively upon intercalation of cations of larger sizes after drying in air, while interestingly a low Ti oxidation is observed for all intercalated MXenes after dispersion in diluted H2SO4. In situ XAS at the Ti L edge was conducted during electrochemical oxidation to probe the changes in the Ti oxidation state in the presence of different cations in H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. By applying the sensitivity of the Ti L edge to probe the oxidation state of Ti atoms, we demonstrate that cation intercalation and H2SO4 environment significantly alter the Ti3C2Tx surface chemistr

Environmental and Parental Influences on Offspring Health and Growth in Great Tits (Parus major)

PMCID: PMC3728352This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited