A study on cryptosporidium spp. isolated from children with diarrhoea admitted to Selayang Hospital and Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia / Nurul Fariza Rossle

This study was conducted to verify the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among children in Selangor. Consenting children aged 12 years and below, admitted with diarrhoea to Hospital Selayang and Hospital Sungai Buloh or contracting diarrhoea in hospitalization, were included as subjects. Each stool sample was distributed into six aliquots and tested for cryptosporidiosis using direct wet mount. Sheather’s sugar flotation, formalin-ether sedimentation, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, direct monoclonal fluorescent antibody, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 160 stool samples, 6 (3.75%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. All children positive for cryptosporidiosis were aged <4 years. Direct wet mount, formalin-ether sedimentation concentration, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and direct monoclonal fluorescent antibody testing showed the same number of positive samples (3.75%). Sheather's sugar flotation detected one less positive sample (3.13%). No noticeable DNA bands were observed on the electrophoresed gel from stool sample amplification, although there were faint bands for positive control using purified Cryptosporidium oocysts. The youngest child infected was 6 months old while the oldest was 3 years 4 months old. Same number of males and females were infected with four Malays and one Chinese and Indian each. There is no significant association between Cryptosporidium infection with gender and race. Age posed the most significant difference with all infected children being less than four years old. Further molecular epidemiological study on a larger scale incorporating humans, animals and environmental samples from the whole of Malaysia is recommended to clarify the dynamic of Cryptosporidium transmission in the country

Recent advances in experimental techniques to probe fast excited-state dynamics in biological molecules in the gas phase : dynamics in nucleotides, amino acids and beyond

In many chemical reactions, an activation barrier must be overcome before a chemical transformation can occur. As such, understanding the behaviour of molecules in energetically excited states is critical to understanding the chemical changes that these molecules undergo. Among the most prominent reactions for mankind to understand are chemical changes that occur in our own biological molecules. A notable example is the focus towards understanding the interaction of DNA with ultraviolet radiation and the subsequent chemical changes. However, the interaction of radiation with large biological structures is highly complex, and thus the photochemistry of these systems as a whole is poorly understood. Studying the gas-phase spectroscopy and ultrafast dynamics of the building blocks of these more complex biomolecules offers the tantalizing prospect of providing a scientifically intuitive bottom-up approach, beginning with the study of the subunits of large polymeric biomolecules and monitoring the evolution in photochemistry as the complexity of the molecules is increased. While highly attractive, one of the main challenges of this approach is in transferring large, and in many cases, thermally labile molecules into vacuum. This review discusses the recent advances in cutting-edge experimental methodologies, emerging as excellent candidates for progressing this bottom-up approach

The effects of short-term temperature variations on activated sludge settling

Settling properties of activated sludge or mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) have been studied for more than 75 years at wastewater treatment plants. Temperature, together with MLSS concentration, has been acknowledged as important contributors to MLSS settling variations. Batch MLSS settling tests are performed on a regular basis at most of the plants. The majority of these MLSS settling test reports reflect the complete absence of any form of temperature compensation or even MLSS sample temperature (Ts) recordings. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of short-term temperature variations on MLSS settling parameters. This is done by means of simplified theoretical calculations, followed by operational reactor temperature (Tr) observations, and batch MLSS settling tests. The experimental work concludes with the implementation of an on-line MLSS settling test procedure at a full-scale plant reactor to develop settling models based on diurnal Tr fluctuations. These settling models illustrate that parameter correlations improve when Tr is included in on-line MLSS concentration-based settling models. The unhindered settling velocity of a single solid biofloc in water is considered in a simplified calculation to estimate the effect of temperature variations on MLSS settling. Over a Ts increase of 20°C, water density and viscosity reductions result in a calculated biofloc settling velocity increase of less than 0.5 m/hr. Similarly, biofloc density, shape, and size changes result in calculated biofloc settling velocity increases of about 11, 10, and 2 m/hr respectively over the 20°C Ts range. Plant temperature recordings show significant short- to long-term variations. Ambient temperature (Ta) and Tr fluctuate about 20°C and 1.8°C respectively per day, and Tr changes by about 4°C within a week, as measured on-line at local plants during the test period in winter. The aeration method can have a significant impact on Tr. Differences in Tr in adjacent surface and bubble aeration reactors in the same plant were about 5°C. Large enough Tr and Ta variations exist at these local plants to affect MLSS settling test results. The MLSS settling test cylinder environment and meteorological conditions have a direct influence on Ts during batch settling tests. Direct solar radiation increases the average Ts by 4.3°C, or by 0.15°C per minute, during a 30-minute MLSS settling test duration. This Ts change leads to a sludge volume index (SVI) change of 63 mℓ/g, at an average SVI decrease of 14.8 mℓ/g per 1°C Ts increase. Changes to other parameters include an initial settling velocity (ISV) increase of about 0.12 m/hr for every 1°C Ts increase, together with a clarified supernatant turbidity increase of about 1.4 formazine nephelometric unit (FNU) for every 1°C Ts increase. Ts adjusts towards Ta before and during a batch MLSS settling test, thereby influencing MLSS settling results. Compensation for Ts variations during routine MLSS settling tests is nevertheless not reported as a common practice. To some extent, this is due to a lack of temperature-controlled MLSS settling test equipment. An automated MLSS settling meter demonstrates a semi-continuous on-line method to determine settling parameters in situ at the operational Tr of a full-scale plant. A basic polynomial fits 11 MLSS settling parameters that indicate in most instances improved MLSS settling at increased Tr. The average SVI decreases by 14.8 mℓ/g for every 1°C Tr increase. Similarly, for every 1°C Tr increase, the maximum settling velocity (u_max) increase is 0.1 m/hr, and the time to reach maximum settling velocity (t_umax) decreases by 2.4 minutes. The incremental 5-minute duration average settling velocities increase over the first 15 minutes of a MLSS settling test, as the MLSS concentration decreases and the Tr increases. This direct incremental settling velocity trend with Tr is reversed between 15 and 30 minutes, as the average 5-minute MLSS settling velocity increases at a reduced Tr. The inclusion of Tr in MLSS concentration-based settling best-fit correlations with SVI, u_max, and t_umax improves the coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) by an average of 0.32. Best-fit SVI models with u_max and t_umax have R2-values of 0.90 and 0.95 respectively. The developed models are only valid for the individual reactor MLSS conditions within the experimental parameter ranges. The main contribution of this study is to present temperature-based MLSS settling models. These models illustrate that an automated on-line MLSS settling meter is suitable to identify and model temperature related MLSS settling data with minimal experimental effort. A suitable approach is provided to improve the reliability of MLSS settling data, as effects of short-term temperature variations can be practically eliminated from settling test.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008.Chemical Engineeringunrestricte

Pancreas volumes in humans from birth to age one hundred taking into account sex, obesity, and presence of type-2 diabetes

Our aims were (1) by computed tomography (CT) to establish a population database for pancreas volume (parenchyma and fat) from birth to age 100 years, (2) in adults, to establish the impact of gender, obesity, and the presence or absence of type-2 diabetes on pancreatic volume (parenchyma and fat), and (3) to confirm the latter histologically from pancreatic tissue obtained at autopsy with a particular emphasis on whether pancreatic fat is increased in type-2 diabetes. We measured pancreas volume in 135 children and 1,886 adults (1,721 nondiabetic and 165 with type-2 diabetes) with no history of pancreas disease who had undergone abdominal CT scan between 2003 and 2006. Pancreas volume was computed from the contour of the pancreas on each CT image. In addition to total pancreas volume, parenchymal volume, fat volume, and fat/parenchyma ratio (F/P ratio) were determined by CT density. We also quantified pancreatic fat in autopsy tissue of 47 adults (24 nondiabetic and 23 with type-2 diabetes). During childhood and adolescence, the volumes of total pancreas, pancreatic parenchyma, and fat increase linearly with age. From age 20–60 years, pancreas volume reaches a plateau (72.4 ± 25.8 cm3 total; 44.5 ± 16.5 cm3 parenchyma) and then declines thereafter. In adults, total (∼32%), parenchymal (∼13%), and fat (∼68%) volumes increase with obesity. Pancreatic fat content also increases with aging but is not further increased in type-2 diabetes. We provide lifelong population data for total pancreatic, parenchymal, and fat volumes in humans. Although pancreatic fat increases with aging and obesity, it is not increased in type-2 diabetes. Clin. Anat. 20:933–942, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Transcaval Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: Preliminary Clinical Results

Objective To determine the feasibility of transcaval transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation in patients with unusual anatomy between the hepatic veins and portal bifurcation, and inaccessible or inadequate hepatic veins. Materials and Methods Transcaval TIPS, performed in six patients, was indicated by active variceal bleeding (n=2), recurrent variceal bleeding (n=2), intractable ascites (n=1), and as a bridge to liver transplantation (n=1). The main reasons for transcaval rather than classic TIPS were the presence of an unusually acute angle between the hepatic veins and the level of the portal bifurcation (n=3), hepatic venous occlusion (n=2), and inadequate small hepatic veins (n=1). Results Technical and functional success was achieved in all patients. The entry site into liver parenchyma from the inferior vena cava was within 2 cm of the atriocaval junction. Procedure-related complications included the death of one patient due to hemoperitoneum despite the absence of contrast media spillage at tractography, and another suffered reversible hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion In patients with unusual anatomy between the hepatic veins and portal bifurcation, and inaccessible or inadequate hepatic veins, transcaval TIPS creation is feasible.ope

A Case of Successful Treatment of Stomal Variceal Bleeding with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and Coil Embolization

Variceal bleeding from enterostomy site is an unusual complication of portal hypertension. The bleeding, however, is often recurrent and may be fatal. The hemorrhage can be managed with local measures in most patients, but when these fail, surgical interventions or portosystemic shunt may be required. Herein, we report a case in which recurrent bleeding from stomal varices, developed after a colectomy for rectal cancer, was successfully treated by placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with coil embolization. Although several treatment options are available for this entity, we consider that TIPS with coil embolization offers minimally invasive and definitive treatment