Changes in novel gastrointestinal and renal injury markers in the blood plasma of sheep following increasing intravenous doses of tolfenamic acid

The administration of high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as tolfenamic acid (TA), has undesirable effects on different organs. Some novel biomarkers have been reported that can determine the gastrointestinal and renal injury caused by a high dose of NSAIDs or other toxic substances. This study was aimed at determining the changes in gastrointestinal (TFF2 and HYP), renal (NGAL and KIM-1) and cardiac (cTn-I, CK-MB) injury markers after the use of increasing intravenous doses of TA in sheep. TA was administered intravenously to groups of six sheep each, at the dose levels of 0 (Group 0, i.e., G0), 2 (G2), 4 (G4), 8 (G8) and 16 (G16) mg/kg. The concentrations of the studied biomarkers were measured at 3, 9, 18 and 36 h after administration of TA. The TFF2 and NGAL concentrations in G16 were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the other groups except for G8 at different sampling times. HYP concentration in G16 was observed to be significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that in all other groups at 36 h. KIM-1 level in G16 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in all other groups at different sampling times. An increase in the renal markers, KIM-1 and NGAL, in G8 was observed before any change in plasma creatinine and urea. The cardiac marker cTn-I in G16 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in other groups at different sampling times. The results showed that the novel biomarkers (HYP, TFF2, NGAL, and KIM-1) can be used to determine gastric and renal injury in sheep

Single-molecule experiments in biological physics: methods and applications

I review single-molecule experiments (SME) in biological physics. Recent technological developments have provided the tools to design and build scientific instruments of high enough sensitivity and precision to manipulate and visualize individual molecules and measure microscopic forces. Using SME it is possible to: manipulate molecules one at a time and measure distributions describing molecular properties; characterize the kinetics of biomolecular reactions and; detect molecular intermediates. SME provide the additional information about thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecular processes. This complements information obtained in traditional bulk assays. In SME it is also possible to measure small energies and detect large Brownian deviations in biomolecular reactions, thereby offering new methods and systems to scrutinize the basic foundations of statistical mechanics. This review is written at a very introductory level emphasizing the importance of SME to scientists interested in knowing the common playground of ideas and the interdisciplinary topics accessible by these techniques. The review discusses SME from an experimental perspective, first exposing the most common experimental methodologies and later presenting various molecular systems where such techniques have been applied. I briefly discuss experimental techniques such as atomic-force microscopy (AFM), laser optical tweezers (LOT), magnetic tweezers (MT), biomembrane force probe (BFP) and single-molecule fluorescence (SMF). I then present several applications of SME to the study of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA and DNA condensation), proteins (protein-protein interactions, protein folding and molecular motors). Finally, I discuss applications of SME to the study of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of small systems and the experimental verification of fluctuation theorems. I conclude with a discussion of open questions and future perspectives.Comment: Latex, 60 pages, 12 figures, Topical Review for J. Phys. C (Cond. Matt

Ruptured superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm with hemorrhagic shock: Case report

Pseudoaneurysm of the superior gluteal artery (SGA) is very rare and the most common causes are blunt or penetrating pelvic traumas. Although pseudoaneurysm can be asymptomatic at the time of initial trauma, it can be symptomatic weeks, months, even years after initial trauma. We present a case of a ruptured superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm with hemorrhagic shock twenty days after a bomb injury in the Syria civil war. In addition, we review the anatomy of the SGA, clinical presentation and pitfalls of pseudoaneurysm, and imaging and treatment options. Keywords: Pseudoaneurysm, Superior gluteal artery, Pitfall, Angiograph

The Influence of Accessory Rods and Connectors on the Quasi-Static and Dynamic Response of Spine Fixation

This study presents a nondestructive technique to assess the influence of accessory rods and connectors on the mechanical response of spine fixation. Eighteen spine specimens were divided into three construct groups such as group I (2 rods [2R]), II (2 primary rods + 2 accessory rods with 2 transverse connectors [4R + 2TC]) and III (2 primary rods + 2 accessory rods with 4 transverse connectors [4R + 4TC]). Anterior corpectomy was performed for all specimens. A custom test setup was built to assess the dynamic responses of constructs in flexion-extension (FE) and left-right lateral bending (LRLB) motions. This setup can slide in lateral direction, and it is excited with an electrodynamic shaker vibrated at band limited random frequencies. Accelerometer and reusable dynamic strain sensors were installed on constructs to monitor the dynamic responses. Quasi-static eccentric loading tests were performed to determine the range of motion (RoM). The results demonstrated that accessory rods significantly increase the resonance frequency (RF) and decrease the strain over standard 2R construction. Although 4R + 4TC provided greatest reduction in rod strain over 4R + 2TC and 2R, additional 2 connectors have no significant influence on dynamic response in FE motion. The findings suggest that 4R + 4TC has a role in the improvement of the fixation's integrity in FE and LRLB motions. However, the additional transverse connectors have significant involvements only in LRLB motion. Hence, the 4R + 4TC configuration is useful for a construct that is subjected to high LRLB moment, as well as excessive compressive stress and fatigue. Furthermore, RF obtained from dynamic tests correlated with the RoM which indicates that the technique could be used as an addendum to the quasi-static test

Optimum design of slurry pipelines by genetic algorithm

Various applications of slurry transportation through pipelines exist. A transportation problem is formulated to determine the pipe diameters and amounts of transported slurry from the production to the consumption points. The minimisation of the cost consisting of the pipe and energy cost terms is considered as the objective function. Pipe cost is given as the function of pipe diameters and the energy cost is defined as the function of pipe diameters and slurry amounts. Energy cost is obtained by using the relation that is previously determined after the experimental studies have been made for the magnetite ore. Genetic algorithm is used as the optimisation method and to apply this method a commercially available software written in the C language is used and modified. The proposed methodology to solve this non-linear programming problem is applied to a transportation system and it is found that the proposed methodology has made the complex, labour-intensive solution process very convenient for the users

Ectopic Reticulum in a Cow

A two years-old Holstein cow with poor appetite, reduced milk production, and partial defecation was evaluated in the present case report. After routine laboratory and clinical examinations, the animal further received ultrasound examination and then a right fossa paralumbal exploratory laparotomy was performed to the cow. The cow was diagnosed with ectopic reticulum on the laparotomy. After the content of the reticulum was removed, liquid paraffin was administered into the reticulum and its wall and abdominal wall was sutured as routinely. The prognosis of the animal deteriorated gradually following to the laparotomy and it was slaughtered by its owner. This is the first report showing the presence of an ectopic reticulum in a cow. (C) 2016 PVJ. All rights reserve