Influence of blood meal on the responsiveness of olfactory receptor neurons in antennal sensilla trichodea of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

In female Aedes aegypti L. mosquitoes, a blood meal induces physiological and behavioral changes. Previous studies have shown that olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) housed in grooved peg sensilla on the antennae of Ae. aegypti down-regulate their sensitivity to lactic acid, a key component driving host-seeking behavior, which correlates with observed changes in the host-seeking behavior of this species. In the present study, we performed electrophysiological recordings from the most abundant antennal sensillum type, sensilla trichodea. Our results indicate that the response spectra of ORNs contained within most trichoid sensilla do not change in response to blood feeding. However, we observe an increase in sensitivity to primarily indole and phenolic compounds in neurons housed within four of the five functional types of short blunt tipped II trichoid sensilla, both at 24 and 72 h post-blood feeding, which was more pronounced at 24 h than 72 h. Furthermore, sensitivity to undecanone, acetic acid and propionic acid was observed to increase 72 h post-blood meal. Considering the timing of these changes, we believe that these neurons may be involved in driving the orientation behavior of female mosquitoes to oviposition sites, which are known to release these compounds

Profile and anaesthetic management following stabbed hearts: a one year retrospective review

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in branch of Anaesthesiology Johannesburg, 2016Stabbed hearts are surgical emergencies that require a prompt and focused anaesthetic intervention. The aim of this study was to describe the profile and anaesthetic management of patients with stabbed hearts presenting to the Diepkloof Mortuary and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital during a one year period. A retrospective, contextual and descriptive design, with consecutive convenience sampling was used. There were 44 patients with stabbed hearts; most were males (93%), between 20 and 29 years (53%), and stabbed in the right ventricle (63%); 48% survived to hospital admission. Of those 90% survived to receive surgical management in theatre. Seventy-four percent were intubated in theatre. Most patients were induced with etomidate (58%), suxamthonium (41%) or rocuronium (35%), and fentanyl (88%). Arterial lines (71%) and central venous catheters (76%) were frequently inserted. Fluid resuscitation with blood products or cell salvage (76%), colloids (70%) and crystalloids (70%) were used. Postoperatively, 89% of the patients were alive, 47% were still intubated and transferred to ICU. Mainly young males were the victims of stabbed hearts. Almost half of the victims survived to hospital admission. Most patients were intubated in theatre following rapid or modified rapid sequence induction, had arterial lines and central venous catheters inserted, and received blood products. Eighty-nine percent of patients survived to theatre discharge.MT201

Phytochemical and Anti-Diabetic Activity of Indigofera Species

Over the past 30 years, the status of diabetes has changed from being measured as a kind disorder of the old to one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality disturbing the childhood and middle aged people. It is essential to note that the increase in prevalence is seen in all six populated continents of the globe. Diabetes is deadly disease in both developed and developing countries. Indigofera is a varied genus that has shown unique characteristics making it an interesting candidate as a potential perennial crop. Specifically, there is diverse variation among species with a number of unique characteristics. Entire plants of I. astragalina were collected from Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu. The plant was authenticated by Dr. G.V.S. Murthy, Joint Director, Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. The extraction yield of the extracts from plant species is vastly depends on the solvent polarity, which find out both qualitatively and quantitatively the extracted compounds. Ethanol and water are the commonly used solvent for the extraction because of their low toxicity and high extraction yield with the advantage of modulating the polarity of the solvent by using mixtures at different ratios (Jackson et al, 1996). Ethanol soluble fractions were analyzed by TLC. These fractions constituted of mainly nonvolatile mixtures of compounds. The visualizations were aided by either observing the TLC under an UV lamp or by exposing the developed TLC plates to iodine vapor. The plant extracts at both the dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg registered 79.87 to 85.83 mg/dl of fasting blood glucose level at the end of 10h of the study, while the standard drug, glibenclamide showed 71.63 mg/dl at the same time, with a low degree of significance while compared with the solvent treated group. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, I. astragalina, glibenclamide, alloxanisation

Classical and Bayesian estimation of stress-strength reliability of a component having multiple states

PurposeThis article presents the multi-state stress-strength reliability computation of a component having three states namely, working, deteriorating and failed state.Design/methodology/approachThe probabilistic approach is used to obtain the reliability expression by considering the difference between the values of stress and strength of a component, say, for example, the stress (load) and strength of a power generating unit is in terms of megawatt. The range of values taken by the difference variable determines the various states of the component. The method of maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation is used to obtain the estimators of the parameters and system reliability.FindingsThe maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimates of the reliability approach the actual reliability for increasing sample size.Originality/valueObtained a new expression for the multi-state stress-strength reliability of a component and the findings are positively supported by presenting the general trend of estimated values of reliability approaching the actual value of reliability.</jats:sec

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MYXOPYRUM SMILACIFOLIUM BLUME.

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant activity of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Myxopyrum smilacifolium Blume.Methods: Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power, nitric oxide radical and superoxidescavenging activity, using different concentrations (10, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml).Results: The extracts showed significant activity as compared to control; but comparatively less than the ascorbic acid.Conclusion: The extracts of myxopyrum smilacifolium blume showed antioxidant activities.Keywords: Antioxidant, Myxopyrum smilacifolium, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Reducing power, Nitric oxide radical

Utility of opening rhythms in predicting time to return of spontaneous circulation in cardiac arrest victims in a resource constrained setting: a single centre prospective observational study

Background: Time to ROSC has been shown to be an important and independent predictor of mortality and adverse neurological outcome. In resource limited situations judicious deployment of resources is crucial. Prognostication of arrest victims may aid in better resource allocation. This study aimed to assess the time to Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) in cardiac arrest victims and its relationship with opening rhythms.Methods: Consecutive victims of cardiopulmonary arrest who presented to a single center were included in this study if they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Time at which opening rhythm was analyzed and time at which ROSC was achieved was noted. This was done for all cases and mean time to ROSC was calculated for each opening rhythm. All those patients who achieved ROSC were followed up till hospital discharge or death.  Primary outcome measured was achievement of ROSC and the secondary outcome was the survival to hospital discharge.Results: A sample size of 100 was calculated to yield a significance criterion of 0.05 and a power of 0.80 based on prior studies. Out of 100 patients studied. 58% had shockable rhythms and 42% had non-shockable rhythms.  Mean time to ROSC for shockable rhythm was 5.55±3.51 minutes, and for non-shockable rhythm is 17.29±4.18 minutes.  There was a statistically significant difference between opening rhythms in terms of survival to hospital discharge (p=0.0329).Conclusions: Cardiac arrests with shockable rhythms attained ROSC faster when compared to nonshockable rhythms. Shockable rhythms have a better survival to hospital discharge when compared to shockable rhythms. Opening rhythms may aid the clinician in better utility of resources in a resource constrained setting

Adoption of RRII 400 series rubber clones by rubber small growers

The paper examines the response of small growers to the recommendation of multi-clonal planting in the context of release of RRII 400 series clones for commercial cultivation, since 2005. The data pertaining to 56080.6 ha under 130658 RPD permits, which availed subsidy from the Rubber Board during the seven year period from 2004 to 2010, were gathered from 26 Regional Offices of the Rubber Board located in the traditional rubber growing regions. The study revealed that the adoption had been characterised by the mono-clonal status (95.1%) of RRII 105 till the year 2004. However, the share of RRII 105 declined to 55.7 per cent in 2010. Conversely, share of RRII 400 series clones increased from 1.0 per cent in 2004 to 28 per cent in 2010 in the total planted area. But trends in adoption of new clones did not exhibit a consistent pattern across size-classes and regions during the post-release phase. It is in sharp contrast to the experience of RRII 105 since its release in 1980. Adoption of multi-clonal planting was only 2.6 per cent in 2004 which increased to more than 15 per cent in 2010. Multi-clonal planting was positively associated with the size of holdings during the period under review. But the strength of this relationship has been dependent on region-specific factors. Therefore, the study brings out the need for evolving a long term policy of region-specific clone recommendations based on life-cycle commercial yield performance

Trends in adoption of planting density in rubber smallholdings in the traditional regions of India

The analysis of planting density of rubber in small holdings for the period 2004-2010 indicated multifaceted features over time. In the traditional belt, except in North Kerala, the planting density of new planting was higher than that of replanting. After the release of RRII 400 series in the year 2005, significantly higher planting density was adopted for it in South Kerala. In all other regions, no significant difference in planting density was noticed between RRII 105 and RRII 400 series in the case of new planting, but higher density was adopted for replanting of RRII 105. An inverse relationship was observed between the size of holdings and planting density

Developments in 177Lu-based radiopharmaceutical therapy and dosimetry

177Lu is a radioisotope that has become increasingly popular as a therapeutic agent for treating various conditions, including neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic prostate cancer. 177Lu-tagged radioligands are molecules precisely designed to target and bind to specific receptors or proteins characteristic of targeted cancer. This review paper will present an overview of the available 177Lu-labelled radioligands currently used to treat patients. Based on recurring, active, and completed clinical trials and other available literature, we evaluate current status, interests, and developments in assessing patient-specific dosimetry, which will define the future of this particular treatment modality. In addition, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities of the existing dosimetry standards to measure and calculate the radiation dose delivered to patients, which is essential for ensuring treatments’ safety and efficacy. Finally, this article intends to provide an overview of the current state of 177Lu- tagged radioligand therapy and highlight the areas where further research can improve patient treatment outcomes