Comparison of active vs. expectant management of the third stage of labor in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To compare the ‘strictly’ active management protocol in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage using the expectant management protocol with respect to changes in hematologic parameters, uterotonics, blood transfusions, or additional interventions. Material and methods: A randomized controlled prospective trial in which 934 singleton parturients enrolled; 654 were randomly assigned to the active and mixed management groups. The primary outcome parameter was the reduction in hemoglobin concentrations due to delivery, and the secondary outcome parameters were changes in hemoglobin of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3 g/dL), durations of the third stage of labor, need for additional uterotonic agents, blood transfusions, manual removal of the placenta, and surgical evacuation of retained products of conception. Results: The mean postpartum hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P = 0.04) in the active management group with a significantly lower reduction (P = 0.03). Falls of hemoglobin levels of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3g/dL) were less common in the active management group though not significantly (P = 0.32). The mean duration of the third stage of labor was significantly (P < 0.001) shorter in the active management group. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the need for additional uterotonic agents, uterine atony, blood transfusion, manual removal of the placenta, surgical evacuation of retained products of conception, and prolonged third stage of labor. Conclusions: Although active management of the third stage of labor was associated with higher postpartum hemoglobin levels, it did not influence the risk of ‘severe postpartum hemorrhage’ in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage

Imaging Net Retrograde Axonal Transport In Vivo: A Physiological Biomarker

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop a novel method for monitoring the integrity of motor neurons in vivo by quantifying net retrograde axonal transport. METHODS: The method uses single photon emission computed tomography to quantify retrograde transport to spinal cord of tetanus toxin fragment C ((125) I-TTC) following intramuscular injection. We characterized the transport profiles in 3 transgenic mouse models carrying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated genes, aging mice, and SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice following CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Lastly, we studied the effect of prior immunization of tetanus toxoid on the transport profile of TTC. RESULTS: This technique defines a quantitative profile of net retrograde axonal transport of TTC in living mice. The profile is distinctly abnormal in transgenic SOD1(G93A) mice as young as 65 days (presymptomatic) and worsens with disease progression. Moreover, this method detects a distinct therapeutic benefit of gene editing in transgenic SOD1(G93A) mice well before other clinical parameters (eg, grip strength) show improvement. Symptomatic transgenic PFN1(C71G/C71G) ALS mice display gross reductions in net retrograde axonal transport, which is also disturbed in asymptomatic mice harboring a human C9ORF72 transgene with an expanded GGGGCC repeat motif. In wild-type mice, net retrograde axonal transport declines with aging. Lastly, prior immunization with tetanus toxoid does not preclude use of this assay. INTERPRETATION: This assay of net retrograde axonal transport has broad potential clinical applications and should be particularly valuable as a physiological biomarker that permits early detection of benefit from potential therapies for motor neuron diseases

Genetic and bio-ecologic characteristics of common pandora Pagellus erythrinus from the eastern mediterranean coast of Turkey for the ecosystem-based fishery management

Genetic structure and growth characteristics of common pandora Pagellus erythrinus populations collected from the Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya Bays were revealed through D-loop sequencing of mtDNA and length-weight and age-length relationships. While the highest value of genetic diversity was obtained in the Mersin population (0.0024), the lowest value was in Iskenderun population (0.0006). A total of 9 haplotypes was found and mean haplotype diversity was found 0.7485. The highest genetic divergence was observed between the Mersin and Iskenderun Bay populations (0.0206), whereas the Iskenderun and Antalya Bay populations had the least genetic divergence (0.0165). BioMorphv3 was used for determining the length-weight and age-length relationships. The length-weight relationships for all individuals of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya populations were estimated as W=0.0693 x L2.3887 (r=0.9456), W=0.0786 x L2.3338 (r=0.9473) and W=0.0693 x L2.3887 (r=0.9542), respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya populations were calculated as Lt=39.22 [1-e0.210(t+0.32)], Lt=50.48 [1-e0.120(t+2.76)], Lt=38.08 [1-e0.158(t+0.48)], respectively. Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (SUMAE) Trabzon, Turkey.2-s2.0-8508334646

The Relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and Pulmonary Hypertension

Vitamin D deficiency actives renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) which affects cardiovascular system. Activation of RAAS is associated with pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Relation between vitamin D deficiency and PHT could be therefore suggested. In  our study we compared pulmonary artery pressure between vitamin D deficiency and control groups. 115 consecutive patients (average age: 61.86 ± 5.86) who have detected very low vitamin D (vitamin D levels < 10 ng/ml) were enrolled. 117 age matched persons (average age: 61.74 ± 5.99) were selected as the control group. All groups underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Routine biochemical measurement of 25-OH vitamin D and parathormon (PTH) levels were performed. Baseline characteristics of the study groups were comparable. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) of patients in  the low vitamin D group was higher than the control groups. As a  result our study, a  relation between vitamin D deficiency and pulmonary artery hypertension was revealed

First record of marbled stingray, Dasyatis marmorata (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), on the coast of Turkey, north-eastern Mediterranean

Two specimens of marbled stingray, Dasyatis marmorata (Steindachner, 1892), were captured for the first time on 24–25 October 2013 in the Iskenderun Bay, located in the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. This is the first record of D. marmorata in Turkish coastal waters and the seventh dasyatid species reported to date from the area

Recent advances in bioactive 1D and 2D carbon nanomaterials for biomedical applications

One-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the two-dimensional (2D) graphene represent the most widely studied allotropes of carbon. Due to their unique structural, electrical, mechanical and optical properties, 1D and 2D carbon nanostructures are considered to be leading candidates for numerous applications in biomedical fields, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, bioimaging and biosensors. The biocompatibility and toxicity issues associated with these nanostructures have been a critical impediment for their use in biomedical applications. In this review, we present an overview of the various materials types, properties, functionalization strategies and characterization methods of 1D and 2D carbon nanomaterials and their derivatives in terms of their biomedical applications. In addition, we discuss various factors and mechanisms affecting their toxicity and biocompatibility. © 2017 Elsevier Inc