Analysis of X-knife and surgery in treatment of arteriovenous malformation of brain

Background: The goal of treatment in arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is total obliteration of the AVM, restoration of normal cerebral function, and preservation of life and neurological function. Aim: To analyze the results of X-knife and surgery for AVM of the brain. The endpoints for success or failure were as follows: success was defined as angiographic obliteration and failure as residual lesion, requiring retreatment, or death due to hemorrhage from the AVM. Materials and Methods: From May 2002 to May 2007, 54 patients were enrolled for this study. Grade I AVM was seen in 9%, grade II in 43%, grade III in 26%, grade IV in 9%, and grade V in 13%. Thirty-eight patients were treated by microsurgical resection out of which Grade I was seen in 5 patients, Grade II was seen in 17 patients, Grade III was seen in 9 patients and Grade V was seen in 7 patients. Rest of the sixteen patients were treated by linear accelerator radiosurgery out of which Grade II was seen in 6 patients, Grade III was seen in 5 patients and Grade IV was seen in 5 patients. The follow up was in range of 3-63 months. In follow up, digital subtraction angiography/ magnetic resonance angiography (DSA/MRA) was performed 3 months after surgery and 1 year and 2 years after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Results: Among the patients treated with X-knife, 12/16 (75%) had proven angiographic obliteration. Complications were seen in 4/16 (25%) patients. Among the patients treated with microsurgical resection, 23/38 (61%) had proven angiographic obliteration. Complications (both intraoperative and postoperative) were seen in 19/38 (50%) patients. Conclusions: Sixty-one percent of patients were candidates for surgical resection. X-knife is a good modality of treatment for a low-grade AVM situated in eloquent areas of the brain and also for high-grade AVMs, when the surgical risk and morbidity is high

A novel approach for preferential recovery of Sr from (Sr, Th)O<SUB>2</SUB>

Quantitative leaching of Sr from homogeneous and calcined (Th,Sr) O2 in dilute perchloric acid medium suggests the possibility of reducing the hazardousness of discharged nuclear fuel by separation of 90Sr, a prominent fission product at dissolution stage itself rather than the conventional approach of its recovery from high level nuclear waste. Apart from mitigating the radiotoxicity of the nuclear waste, recovered 90Sr can be employed as a compact heat source and as parent radionuclide for 90Y (used in therapy radiopharmaceuticals), provided it can be made available at desired high purity. Leaching behavior of few other fission products was also investigated to quantify their contamination in leached Sr. Feasibility of employing extraction chromatography using Sr selective resin was explored in perchloric acid medium. In this context, the distribution coefficients of 85Sr(II), Th (IV), Zr(IV), Y(III), Pd(II) as well as 152Eu(III) and 137Cs (I) were determined under varying nitric acid/perchloric acid concentration and under varying loading conditions of metal ions. Perchloric acid medium appears better than nitric acid medium for preferential leaching of Sr from (Th,Sr)O2 as well as for uptake of Sr by Sr selective chromatographic resin

Technical Report - Retrospective analysis of role of interstitial brachytherapy using template (MUPIT) in locally advanced gynecological malignancies

Aim : The aim of this retrospective study was to assess treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced gynecological malignancies being treated with interstitial brachytherapy using Martinez universal perineal interstitial template (MUPIT) and to study the acute and late sequelae and survival after treatment by this technique. Materials and Methods : Ninety seven patients untreated with histopathological confirmation of carcinoma of cervix (37) vault (40) and vagina (20) were treated by combination of external beam RT (EBRT) using megavoltage irradiation to pelvis to dose of 4000-5000 cGy followed by interstitial brachytherapy using MUPIT between September 2001 to March 2005. Median age was 46 years. Only those patients who were found unsuitable for conventional brachytherapy or in whom intracavitatory radiotherapy was found to be unlikely to encompass a proper dose distribution were treated by interstitial template brachytherapy using MUPIT application and were enrolled in this study. The dose of MUPIT was 1600-2400 cGy in 4-6# with 400 cGy /# and two fractions a day with minimum gap of six hours in between two fractions on micro-HDR. Criteria for inclusion of patients were as follows: Hb minimum 10 gm/dl, performance status - 70% or more (Karnofsy scale), histopathological confirmation FIGO stage IIB-IIIB (excluding frozen pelvis). Results : Among the 97 patients studied, 12 patients lost to follow-up and hence they were excluded from the study. Follow-up of rest of the patients was then done up to September 2006. The duration of follow-up was in the range of 20-60 months. Parameters studied were local control rate, complication rate, mortality rate and number of patients developing systemic metastasis. Local control was achieved in 56/85 (64.7%) and complication rate was 15/85 (17.6%). Local control was better for nonbulky tumors compared bulky tumors irrespective of stage of disease. Local control was better in patients with good regression of disease after external beam radiotherapy. Time of gap between EBRT and implant also had an impact on the outcome. Conclusion : Interstitial template brachytherapy by MUPIT is a good alternative to deliver high dose radiation in locally advanced gynecological malignancies where conventional brachytherapy application is either not feasible or likely to give optimal dose distribution. Loco regional control obtained is definitely better than EBRT alone and within the accepted range of complications

Technical Report - Retrospective analysis of role of interstitial brachytherapy using template (MUPIT) in locally advanced gynecological malignancies

Aim : The aim of this retrospective study was to assess treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced gynecological malignancies being treated with interstitial brachytherapy using Martinez universal perineal interstitial template (MUPIT) and to study the acute and late sequelae and survival after treatment by this technique. Materials and Methods : Ninety seven patients untreated with histopathological confirmation of carcinoma of cervix (37) vault (40) and vagina (20) were treated by combination of external beam RT (EBRT) using megavoltage irradiation to pelvis to dose of 4000-5000 cGy followed by interstitial brachytherapy using MUPIT between September 2001 to March 2005. Median age was 46 years. Only those patients who were found unsuitable for conventional brachytherapy or in whom intracavitatory radiotherapy was found to be unlikely to encompass a proper dose distribution were treated by interstitial template brachytherapy using MUPIT application and were enrolled in this study. The dose of MUPIT was 1600-2400 cGy in 4-6# with 400 cGy /# and two fractions a day with minimum gap of six hours in between two fractions on micro-HDR. Criteria for inclusion of patients were as follows: Hb minimum 10 gm/dl, performance status - 70% or more (Karnofsy scale), histopathological confirmation FIGO stage IIB-IIIB (excluding frozen pelvis). Results : Among the 97 patients studied, 12 patients lost to follow-up and hence they were excluded from the study. Follow-up of rest of the patients was then done up to September 2006. The duration of follow-up was in the range of 20-60 months. Parameters studied were local control rate, complication rate, mortality rate and number of patients developing systemic metastasis. Local control was achieved in 56/85 (64.7%) and complication rate was 15/85 (17.6%). Local control was better for nonbulky tumors compared bulky tumors irrespective of stage of disease. Local control was better in patients with good regression of disease after external beam radiotherapy. Time of gap between EBRT and implant also had an impact on the outcome. Conclusion : Interstitial template brachytherapy by MUPIT is a good alternative to deliver high dose radiation in locally advanced gynecological malignancies where conventional brachytherapy application is either not feasible or likely to give optimal dose distribution. Loco regional control obtained is definitely better than EBRT alone and within the accepted range of complications

Analysis of X-knife and surgery in treatment of arteriovenous malformation of brain

Background: The goal of treatment in arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is total obliteration of the AVM, restoration of normal cerebral function, and preservation of life and neurological function. Aim: To analyze the results of X-knife and surgery for AVM of the brain. The endpoints for success or failure were as follows: success was defined as angiographic obliteration and failure as residual lesion, requiring retreatment, or death due to hemorrhage from the AVM. Materials and Methods: From May 2002 to May 2007, 54 patients were enrolled for this study. Grade I AVM was seen in 9%, grade II in 43%, grade III in 26%, grade IV in 9%, and grade V in 13%. Thirty-eight patients were treated by microsurgical resection out of which Grade I was seen in 5 patients, Grade II was seen in 17 patients, Grade III was seen in 9 patients and Grade V was seen in 7 patients. Rest of the sixteen patients were treated by linear accelerator radiosurgery out of which Grade II was seen in 6 patients, Grade III was seen in 5 patients and Grade IV was seen in 5 patients. The follow up was in range of 3-63 months. In follow up, digital subtraction angiography/ magnetic resonance angiography (DSA/MRA) was performed 3 months after surgery and 1 year and 2 years after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Results: Among the patients treated with X-knife, 12/16 (75%) had proven angiographic obliteration. Complications were seen in 4/16 (25%) patients. Among the patients treated with microsurgical resection, 23/38 (61%) had proven angiographic obliteration. Complications (both intraoperative and postoperative) were seen in 19/38 (50%) patients. Conclusions: Sixty-one percent of patients were candidates for surgical resection. X-knife is a good modality of treatment for a low-grade AVM situated in eloquent areas of the brain and also for high-grade AVMs, when the surgical risk and morbidity is high

Growth, nodulation, and yield of soybean and associated weeds as affected by weed management Crescimento, nodulacão, e rendimento da soja influenciados por diferentes manejo de plantas daninhas

Two field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of the National Research Centre at Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, during 2006 and 2007 seasons, to study the effect of three pre-emergence herbicides, prometryn [at the rate of 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25 kg ha-1], oxadiargyl [at the rate of 240, 480 and 720 g ha-1] and butralin [at the rate of 1.20, 2.40 and 3.36 kg ha-1], two hand hoeing treatments and a nonweeded check, on weed infestation, nodulation, growth, yield and yield attributes of soybean plants. Two hand hoeing treatments resulted in the highest weed depression expressed as the lowest fresh and dry weights of broadleaved, grassy and total weeds. The reduction percentage in weed dry matter compared to the nonweeded treatment was 98.3, 92.64 and 96.9% in broadleaved, grassy and total weeds, respectively. Application of the three herbicides at higher or recommended doses significantly reduced fresh and dry weight of the weeds compared to the nonweeded treatment. The results indicated that all the three herbicides at rates higher than the recommended markedly decreased the number, fresh and dry weight of nodules as well as root, shoot and total dry weight plant-1, while application of two hand hoeing treatments significantly increased these traits. Two hand hoeing treatments and pre-emergence herbicides at the recommended rates markedly increased soybean yield and its attributes. Two hand hoeing treatments gave the highest values of number of pods per plant-1, weight of pods per plant-1 and number of seeds per plant-1 by 140.7, 150.0 and 59.8%, respectively, compared to the nonweeded treatment. On the other hand, oxadiargyl at the recommended rate (480 g ha-1) was the best treatment for promoting seed yield (g plant-1), seed yield (kg ha-1) and biological yield (g plant-1) compared to the nonweeded treatment by 87.3, 85.0 and 88.2%, respectively. Prometryn at the rate of 1.50 kg ha-1, followed by two hand hoeing treatments, produced the highest shoot and seed protein percentage as well as seed oil percentage, compared to the other weed control treatments.<br>Dois experimentos de campo foram conduzidos na fazenda experimental do Centro de Pesquisa Nacional em Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egito, durante 2006 e 2007, para estudar o efeito de três herbicidas de pré-emergência, prometryn [doses de 0.75, 1.5 e 2.25 kg ha-1], oxadiargyl [doses de 240, 480 e 720 g ha-1] e butralin [doses de 1.20, 2.40 e 3.36 kg ha-1], dois tratamentos capinados e um controle sem capina, avaliando a infestação de plantas daninhas, a nodulação, o crescimento, o rendimento, e os componentes do rendimento em plantas de soja. Dois tratamentos resultaram em maior redução de plantas daninhas expressa em menores pesos frescos e secos das plantas dicotiledôneas, gramíneas e total. A percentagem de matérias das plantas daninhas comparada ao tratamento sem capina foi de 98.3, 92.64 e 96.9% em dicotiledôneas, gramíneas e total de plantas infestantes, respectivamente. A aplicação de três herbicidas em doses maiores ou nas doses recomendadas reduziu significantemente o peso fresco e seco das plantas daninhas comparado com o tratamento com capina. Os resultados indicaram que todos os três herbicidas nas maiores doses diminuíram o número, peso fresco e seco dos nódulos, raiz, caule e peso seco total da planta, enquanto duas capinas manuais aumentaram significativamente das características citadas. Duas capinas manuais e os herbicidas de pré-emergência aplicados nas doses recomendadas aumentaram o rendimento da soja e seus atributos. Duas capinas manuais produziram maiores números de vagens por planta, peso de vagem por planta e número de sementes por planta em 140,7; 150,0 e 59,8%, respectivamente, comparado ao tratamento capinado. Por outro lado, oxadiargyl aplicado na dose recomendada (480 g ha-1) apresentou maior rendimento de semente (g planta-1), rendimento de semente (kg ha-1) e rendimento biológico (g planta-1) que o tratamento sem capina em 87,3; 85,0 e 88,2%, respectivamente. Prometryn na dose de 1,50 kg ha-1, seguido de duas capinas manuais produziu a maior percentagem de proteína na parte aérea e sementes como também de óleo na semente, comparado a outros tratamentos de controle de plantas daninhas

Evaluation of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine in India

ABSTRACTLumpy skin disease (LSD) was reported for the first time in India in 2019 and since then, it has become endemic. Since a homologous (LSD-virus based) vaccine was not available in the country, goatpox virus (GPV)-based heterologous vaccine was authorized for mass immunization to induce protection against LSD in cattle. This study describes the evaluation of safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated LSD vaccine developed by using an Indian field strain, isolated in 2019 from cattle. The virus was attenuated by continuous passage (P = 50) in Vero cells. The vaccine (50th LSDV passage in Vero cells, named as Lumpi-ProVacInd) did not induce any local or systemic reaction upon its experimental inoculation in calves (n = 10). At day 30 post-vaccination (pv), the vaccinated animals were shown to develop antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses and exhibited complete protection upon virulent LSDV challenge. A minimum Neethling response (0.018% animals; 5 out of 26,940 animals) of the vaccine was observed in the field trials conducted in 26,940 animals. There was no significant reduction in the milk yield in lactating animals (n = 10108), besides there was no abortion or any other reproductive disorder in the pregnant animals (n = 2889). Sero-conversion was observed in 85.18% animals in the field by day 30 pv