Effects of Ultrasound on Follicular Atresia Count

Background: To observe the morphological effectstaking place in ultrasound treated rabbit’s ovaries byobserving the total atretic follicles count.Methods: This experimental study was conducted atNational Institute of Health Islamabad and Army MedicalCollege Rawalpindi. Forty adult, non pregnant femalerabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus strain) weight 900 gm-1500gm were used. They were divided in four groups, I, II, III& IV, each containing ten rabbits, Group I was taken ascontrol. Ovaries of others were exposed to ultrasoundfrequency of 3.5 MHz and intensity of 96 dB for twominutes for 3, 6 and 12 days. After euthanasia, ovarieswere dissected, fixed and processed. Atretic follicles fromthe largest cross section stained by heamatoxylin and eosinwere counted. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used forstatistical comparison among groups.Results: The current study showed increase in totalatretic follicles count especially in group IIIConclusion: Exposure to ultrasound producesmorphological changes in ovarie

Atypical Presentation of Disseminated Zoster in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have 2-fold increased risk of herpes zoster. In literature, limited information exists about disseminated cutaneous zoster in RA patients. An 83-year-old African-American female with RA presented with generalized and widespread vesicular rash covering her entire body. Comorbidities include hypertension, type II diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Patient was on methotrexate 12.5 mg and was not receiving any corticosteroids, anti-TNF therapy, or other biological agents. The patient was afebrile (98 F) with no SIRS criteria. Multiple vesicular lesions were present covering patient’s entire body including face. Lesions were in different stages, some umbilicated with diameter of 2–7 cm. Many lesions have a rim of erythema with no discharge. On admission, patient was also pancytopenic with leukocyte count of 1.70 k/mm3. Biopsies of lesions were performed, which were positive for Varicella antigen. Subsequently, patient was started on Acyclovir. The patient’s clinical status improved and rash resolved. Our patient presented with “atypical” clinical picture of disseminated cutaneous zoster with no obvious dermatome involvement. Disseminated zoster is a potentially serious infection that can have an atypical presentation in patients with immunocompromised status. High index of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis promptly and to initiate therapy to decrease mortality and morbidity

Factors affecting secure software development practices among developers- an investigation

An evidently dominate problem in the software development domain is that software security is not consistently addressed from the initial phase of software development which escalates security concerns, results in insecure software development. Several secure software development methodologies were introduced in literature and recommended to the industry but they are usually ignored by the developers and software practitioners. In this research paper, an extensive literature review is performed to find out factors influencing implementations of secure software development practices in industry. Secondly, based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model 2 (UTAUT2) this study proposes a model to investigate the factors influencing adoption of secure software development practices among software developers

Etiology and chemical composition of gall stone disease: a prospective observational study from the developing world

Background: Aim of the study was to assess the etiology and determine the chemical composition of gallstones in our population.Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at GMC Srinagar from 2018 to 2020. One hundred patients having gall stone disease were enrolled into the study and after cholecystectomy was performed the stones chemical composition was analyzed by fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The data was collated and analysed.Results: 54 patients had mixed stones with chemical composition of cholesterol, calcium carbonate and calcium bilirubinate; 39 had cholesterol stones and 7 patients had pigmented stone with chemical composition of cholesterol, calcium carbonate and calcium bilirubinate.Conclusions: Our results suggest that cholesterol, either singularly or in combination with calcium carbonate or bilirubin is a common component of gall stones in our population

Effect of accumulated Stomach Gas due to Positive Pressure Ventilation in Children on Oximetery Values

stomach gas in children, undergoing positive pressureventilation with face mask, helps in improving the arterialoxygen saturation. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental studywhose procedures were performed at Combined MilitaryHospital, Lahore and Mardan, from May 2005 to Nov 2006.Fifty children scheduled for surgery were included. Agerange of patients was between 06 months to 02 years.Patient status was American Society of AnaesthesiologistsI and II. All were ‘nil by mouth’ for the past 4-6 hours.In 25 cases undergoing positive pressure ventilation, thestomach gas was removed by nasogastric tube (Group A).In the other 25 cases the stomach gas was not removed(Group B). Oximetery was done during the conduct ofanaesthesia. Average value of each case was determinedand the data compared and analyzed. Results: 80% of patients in whom stomach gas wasremoved showed 100% oxygen saturation (SPO2) and theremaining 20% patients had 99% saturation. Whereas thegroup in which stomach gas was not removed, 48%patients showed 100% saturation, 32% patients had 99%and 20% patients had 98% oxygen saturation. Conclusion: Positive pressure ventilation with facemask in children can cause gaseous distension ofthe stomach. Removal of this gas can help improve theoxygen saturation

Cu2+ and Al3+ co-substituted cobalt ferrite: structural analysis, morphology and magnetic properties

Cu-Al substituted Co ferrite nanopowders, Co1-xCux Fe2-x Alx O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The effect of Cu-Al substitution on the structural and magnetic properties have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) are used for studying the effect of variation in the Cu-Al substitution and its impact on particle size, magnetic properties such as Ms and Hc. Cu-Al substitution occurs and produce a secondary phase, α-Fe2O3. The crystallite size of the powder calcined at 800°C was in the range of 19-26 nm. The lattice parameter decreases with increasing Cu-Al content. The nanostructural features were examined by FESEM images. Infrared absorption (IR) spectra shows two vibrational bands; at around 600 (v1) and 400 cm-1 (v2). They are attributed to the tetrahedral and octahedral group complexes of the spinel lattice, respectively. It was found that the physical and magnetic properties have changed with Cu-Al contents. The saturation magnetization decreases with the increase in Cu-Al substitution. The reduction of coercive force, saturation magnetization and magnetic moments are may be due to dilution of the magnetic interaction

Neurotoxicity of aluminium chloride and okadaic acid in zebrafish: insights into alzheimer's disease models through anxiety and locomotion testing, and acute toxicity assessment with Litsea garciae bark's methanolic extract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disorder that presents significant challenges for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. Understanding disease mechanisms and exploring potential treatments require the use of animal models that accurately replicate the pathology of AD. In this study, we investigated the potential of two neurotoxin inducers, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) and okadaic acid (OKA), to validate the zebrafish as a model organism for AD. AD can impact locomotor activity and induce anxiety-like behaviors. To assess these behaviors, a 6-minute novel tank test was conducted. Zebrafish were administered with low, medium, or high doses of neurotoxic agent (AlCl3 or OKA) intraperitoneally twice weekly for 21 days. Behavioral activities were recorded at three time points: day 7 (short duration), day 14 (moderate duration), and day 21 (extended duration). The behavioral task required the evaluation of four endpoints. Methanolic extract of Litsea garciae bark was selected as a potential plant for the treatment of AD in this study, based on its previously demonstrated antioxidant effect. However, the acute toxicity of this plant has not been previously assessed. Therefore, this research was aimed to investigate the acute toxicity of the L. garciae bark’s methanolic extract in adult zebrafish. The extract was immersed in a static system following OECD Test Guideline No. 203, and the acute toxicity test involved monitoring the adult zebrafish for 96 h for any deaths or apparent abnormalities. Regarding the behavioural task, the groups induced with 100 nM of OKA demonstrated significant differences in all measured parameters compared to the control group at the 21-day time point. In contrast, none of the parameters were significantly different between the AlCl3-induced groups and the control group at any of the three time points (7, 14, or 21 days). Regarding acute toxicity, neither the test group (100 mg/L) nor the control group recorded any deaths or abnormalities. Therefore, no LC50 value could be determined. These findings confirm the acceptance of OKA as an inducer in the zebrafish model of AD and highlight the significance of the safe and non-toxic nature of L. garciae bark's methanolic extract for future ethnopharmacological investigations

Neurotoxicity of aluminium chloride and okadaic acid in zebrafish: Insights into Alzheimer's disease models through anxiety and locomotion testing, and acute toxicity assessment with Litsea garciae bark's methanolic extract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disorder that presents significant challenges for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. Understanding disease mechanisms and exploring potential treatments require the use of animal models that accurately replicate the pathology of AD. In this study, we investigated the potential of two neurotoxin inducers, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) and okadaic acid (OKA), to validate the zebrafish as a model organism for AD. AD can impact locomotor activity and induce anxiety-like behaviors. To assess these behaviors, a 6-minute novel tank test was conducted. Zebrafish were administered with low, medium, or high doses of neurotoxic agent (AlCl3 or OKA) intraperitoneally twice weekly for 21 days. Behavioral activities were recorded at three time points: day 7 (short duration), day 14 (moderate duration), and day 21 (extended duration). The behavioral task required the evaluation of four endpoints. Methanolic extract of Litsea garciae bark was selected as a potential plant for the treatment of AD in this study, based on its previously demonstrated antioxidant effect. However, the acute toxicity of this plant has not been previously assessed. Therefore, this research was aimed to investigate the acute toxicity of the L. garciae bark’s methanolic extract in adult zebrafish. The extract was immersed in a static system following OECD Test Guideline No. 203, and the acute toxicity test involved monitoring the adult zebrafish for 96 h for any deaths or apparent abnormalities. Regarding the behavioural task, the groups induced with 100 nM of OKA demonstrated significant differences in all measured parameters compared to the control group at the 21-day time point. In contrast, none of the parameters were significantly different between the AlCl3-induced groups and the control group at any of the three time points (7, 14, or 21 days). Regarding acute toxicity, neither the test group (100 mg/L) nor the control group recorded any deaths or abnormalities. Therefore, no LC50 value could be determined. These findings confirm the acceptance of OKA as an inducer in the zebrafish model of AD and highlight the significance of the safe and non-toxic nature of L. garciae bark's methanolic extract for future ethnopharmacological investigations