105 research outputs found
Development of concurrent infection of notoedric mange in rabbits infected with Trypanosoma evansi
This report describes observations on the development of cutaneous lesions in rabbits experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Skinscrapings revealed the presence of different developmental stages of Notoedres cati var. cuniculi and the animals were successfully treated by combined anti-Trypanosoma (diminazene aceturate @ 3.5 mg.kg-1body weight) and acaricid treatments (doramectin @ 400mg.kg-1body weight). T. evansi infection probably made the rabbits more prone to infection of notoedric mange and doramectin proved to be effective, practical and well tolerated means of treatment
Comparative Study of Acetazolamide and Spironolactone on Regional Blood Distribution on Exposure to Acute Hypobaric Hypoxia
Regional blood distribution was studied in rats, which were divided into four groups viz., (i) control, (ii) exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia, (iii) exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia after oral treatment with 25mg acetazolamide, and (iv) exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia after oral treatment with 6mg spironolactone. The regional blood distribution was measured using radio-iodinated serum albumin (R131ISA). The acute hypoxic exposure results in major readjustment in the blood flow to the various organs mainly from the renal and splanchic vascular beds to the heart and brain. Treatment with acetazolamide and spironolactone results only in a slight decrease in blood contents of the heart, brain and lung as compared to thehypoxia alone exposed group
Second echelon node predicts metastatic involvement of additional axillary nodes following sentinel node biopsy in early breast cancer
BACKGROUND : In many patients with early breast cancer, the sentinel
lymph node (SLN) is the sole site of regional nodal metastasis. This
subgroup of patients may not benefit from completion axillary lymph
node dissection (CALND). AIMS: This pilot study evaluates the status
of 2nd echelon (station) lymph nodes in the axilla as a predictor of
additional positive nodes in the axilla in the presence of sentinel
node metastasis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 40
breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with
invasive breast cancer underwent SLN biopsy followed by 2nd echelon
lymph node biopsy in the same sitting. SLN mapping was performed using
a combined technique of isosulfan blue and 99 mTc-sulfur colloid. SLNs
(Station I) were defined as blue and/or hot nodes. These nodes were
then injected with 0.1 ml of blue dye using a fine needle and their
efferent lymphatic was traced to identify the Station II nodes. Then a
complete ALND was performed. All the specimens were sent separately for
histopathological evaluation. RESULTS : SLNs (Station I nodes) were
successfully identified in 98% (39/40) patients. Of the 17 patients
with a positive SLN, 8 (47%) patients had no further positive nodes in
the axilla, 9 (53%) patients had additional metastasis in nonsentinel
lymph nodes upon CALND. Station II nodes were identified in 76% (13/17)
patients with a positive SLN. Station II nodes accurately predicted the
status of the remaining axilla in 92% patients (12/13). STATISTICAL
ANALYSIS : We calculated the Sensitivity, Negative predictive value,
Positive predictive value, False negative rate and Identification rate.
CONCLUSION : Station II nodes may predict metastatic involvement of
additional nodes in the axilla
Prevalence of pre- and postpartum depression in Jamaican women
BACKGROUND: Maternal depression during pregnancy has been studied less than depression in postpartum period. The aims of this study were to find out the prevalence of prepartum and postpartum depression and the risk factors associated in a cohort of Afro-Jamaican pregnant women in Jamaica. METHODS: The Zung self-rating depression scale instrument was administered to 73 healthy pregnant women at 28 weeks gestation and at 6 weeks postpartum for quantitative measurement of depression. Blood samples were collected at 8, 28, 35 weeks gestation and at day 1 and 6 weeks postpartum to study the thyroid status. RESULTS: Study demonstrated depression prevalence rates of 56% and 34% during prepartum and postpartum period, respectively. 94% women suffering depression in both periods were single. There were significant variations in both FT(3 )and TT(4 )concentrations which increased from week 8 to week 28 prepartum (p < 0.05) and then declined at the 35(th )week (p < 0.05 compared with week 28) and 1 day post delivery study (p < 0.05 compared with week 35). The mean values for TSH increased significantly from week 8 through week 35. The mean values at 1 day postpartum and 6 week postpartum were not significantly different from the 35 week values. For FT(3), TT(4 )and TSH there were no significant between group differences in concentrations. The major determinants of postpartum depression were moderate and severe prepartum depression and change in TT(4 )hormone concentrations. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of depression was found during pre- and postpartum periods. Single mothers, prepartum depression and changes in TT(4 )were factors found to be significantly associated with postpartum depression
Wellness through a comprehensive Yogic breathing program – A controlled pilot trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increasing rates of psychosocial disturbances give rise to increased risks and vulnerability for a wide variety of stress-related chronic pain and other illnesses. Relaxation exercises aim at reducing stress and thereby help prevent these unwanted outcomes. One of the widely used relaxation practices is yoga and yogic breathing exercises. One specific form of these exercises is Sudarshan Kriya and related practices (SK&P) which are understood to have favourable effects on the mind-body system. The goal of this pilot study was to design a protocol that can investigate whether SK&P can lead to increased feeling of wellness in healthy volunteers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants were recruited in a small university city in Sweden and were instructed in a 6-day intensive program of SK&P which they practiced daily for six weeks. The control group was instructed to relax in an armchair each day during the same period. Subjects included a total of 103 adults, 55 in the intervention (SK&P) group and 48 in the control group. Various instruments were administered before and after the intervention. Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale measured the degree of anxiety and depression, Life Orientation Test measured dispositional optimism, Stress and Energy Test measured individual's energy and stress experiences. Experienced Deviation from Normal State measured the experience of altered state of consciousness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no safety issues. Compliance was high (only 1 dropout in the SK&P group, and 5 in the control group). Outcome measures appeared to be appropriate for assessing the differences between the groups. Subjective reports generally correlated with the findings from the instruments. The data suggest that participants in the SK&P group, but not the control group, lowered their degree of anxiety, depression and stress, and also increased their degree of optimism (ANOVA; p < 0.001). The participants in the yoga group experienced the practices as a positive event that induced beneficial effects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data indicate that the experimental protocol that is developed here is safe, compliance level is good, and a full scale trial is feasible. The data obtained suggest that adult participants may improve their wellness by learning and applying a program based on yoga and yogic breathing exercises; this can be conclusively assessed in a large-scale trial.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Australian Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN012607000175471.</p
A phase II study of sequential neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus doxorubicin followed by gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with operable breast cancer: prediction of response using molecular profiling
This study examined the pathological complete response (pCR) rate and safety of sequential gemcitabine-based combinations in breast cancer. We also examined gene expression profiles from tumour biopsies to identify biomarkers predictive of response. Indian women with large or locally advanced breast cancer received 4 cycles of gemcitabine 1200 mg m−2 plus doxorubicin 60 mg m−2 (Gem+Dox), then 4 cycles of gemcitabine 1000 mg m−2 plus cisplatin 70 mg m−2 (Gem+Cis), and surgery. Three alternate dosing sequences were used during cycle 1 to examine dynamic changes in molecular profiles. Of 65 women treated, 13 (24.5% of 53 patients with surgery) had a pCR and 22 (33.8%) had a complete clinical response. Patients administered Gem d1, 8 and Dox d2 in cycle 1 (20 of 65) reported more toxicities, with G3/4 neutropenic infection/febrile neutropenia (7 of 20) as the most common cycle-1 event. Four drug-related deaths occurred. In 46 of 65 patients, 10-fold cross validated supervised analyses identified gene expression patterns that predicted with ⩾73% accuracy (1) clinical complete response after eight cycles, (2) overall clinical complete response, and (3) pCR. This regimen shows strong activity. Patients receiving Gem d1, 8 and Dox d2 experienced unacceptable toxicity, whereas patients on other sequences had manageable safety profiles. Gene expression patterns may predict benefit from gemcitabine-containing neoadjuvant therapy
Chromosomal radiosensitivity in head and neck cancer patients: evidence for genetic predisposition?
The association between chromosomal radiosensitivity and genetic predisposition to head and neck cancer was investigated in this study. In all, 101 head and neck cancer patients and 75 healthy control individuals were included in the study. The G2 assay was used to measure chromosomal radiosensitivity. The results demonstrated that head and neck cancer patients had a statistically higher number of radiation-induced chromatid breaks than controls, with mean values of 1.23 and 1.10 breaks per cell, respectively (P<0.001). Using the 90th percentile of the G2 scores of the healthy individuals as a cutoff value for chromosomal radiosensitivity, 26% of the cancer patients were radiosensitive compared with 9% of the healthy controls (P=0.008). The mean number of radiation-induced chromatid breaks and the proportion of radiosensitive individuals were highest for oral cavity cancer patients (1.26 breaks per cell, 38%) and pharynx cancer patients (1.27 breaks per cell, 35%). The difference between patients and controls was most pronounced in the lower age group (⩽50 years, 1.32 breaks per cell, 38%) and in the non- and light smoking patient group (⩽10 pack-years, 1.28 breaks per cell, 46%). In conclusion, enhanced chromosomal radiosensitivity is a marker of genetic predisposition to head and neck cancer, and the genetic contribution is highest for oral cavity and pharynx cancer patients and for early onset and non- and light smoking patients
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