Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Part II: Consensus on the Management of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies' Section of Peripheral Nerve Surgery

peer reviewedBACKGROUND: In the first part of this report, the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies' section of peripheral nerve surgery presented a systematic literature review and consensus statements on anatomy, classification, and diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) along with a subclassification system of neurogenic TOS (nTOS). Because of the lack of level 1 evidence, especially regarding the management of nTOS, we now add a consensus statement on nTOS treatment among experienced neurosurgeons. OBJECTIVE: To document consensus and controversy on nTOS management, with emphasis on timing and types of surgical and nonsurgical nTOS treatment, and to support patient counseling and clinical decision-making within the neurosurgical community. METHODS: The literature available on PubMed/MEDLINE was systematically searched on February 13, 2021, and yielded 2853 results. Screening and classification of abstracts was performed. In an online meeting that was held on December 16, 2021, 14 recommendations on nTOS management were developed and refined in a group process according to the Delphi consensus method. RESULTS: Five RCTs reported on management strategies in nTOS. Three prospective observational studies present outcomes after therapeutic interventions. Fourteen statements on nonsurgical nTOS treatment, timing, and type of surgical therapy were developed. Within our expert group, the agreement rate was high with a mean of 97.8% (± 0.04) for each statement, ranging between 86.7% and 100%. CONCLUSION: Our work may help to improve clinical decision-making among the neurosurgical community and may guide nonspecialized or inexperienced neurosurgeons with initial patient management before patient referral to a specialized center. Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved

High catechin concentrations detected in Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) by high performance liquid chromatography analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Withania somnifera </it>is an important medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases. The present study was carried out to characterize the phenolic acids, flavonoids and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activities in methanolic extracts of <it>W. somnifera </it>fruits, roots and leaves (WSFEt, WSREt and WSLEt).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>WSFEt, WSREt and WSLEt was prepared by using 80% aqueous methanol and total polyphenols, flavonoids as well as DPPH radical scavenging activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods and phenolic acid profiles were determined by HPLC methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High concentrations of both phenolics and flavonoids were detected in all parts of the plant with the former ranging between 17.80 ± 5.80 and 32.58 ± 3.16 mg/g (dry weight) and the latter ranging between 15.49 ± 1.02 and 31.58 ± 5.07 mg/g. All of the three different plant parts showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activities (59.16 ± 1.20 to 91.84 ± 0.38%). Eight polyphenols (gallic, syringic, benzoic, p-coumaric and vanillic acids as well as catechin, kaempferol and naringenin) have been identified by HPLC in parts of the plant as well. Among all the polyphenols, catechin was detected in the highest concentration (13.01 ± 8.93 to 30.61 ± 11.41 mg/g).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results indicating that <it>W. somnifera </it>is a plant with strong therapeutic properties thus further supporting its traditional claims. All major parts of <it>W. somnifera </it>such as the roots, fruits and leaves provide potential benefits for human health because of its high content of polyphenols and antioxidant activities with the leaves containing the highest amounts of polyphenols specially catechin with strong antioxidant properties.</p

Late embryonic and foetal losses in eight dairy herds in north-east Poland

The information about the occurrence of embryonic and fetal losses in dairy herds in Poland is limited. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the pregnancy loss between days 30 and 45 (late embryonic mortality) and between days 45 and 260 after artificial insemination (AI) (foetal loss). The study was carried out in 8 dairy herds in north-east Poland. In total 954 cows were examined for pregnancy on day 30 after AI using an ultrasound scanner. Cows diagnosed pregnant were re-examined on day 45 and 260 after AI using transrectal palpation. The pregnancy rate on day 30 after AI was 62.0%, after re-examination on day 45 after AI the pregnancy rate was 56.4%. The late embryonic loss rate was on an average 9.1%. The occurrence of late embryonic mortality differed not significantly (p > 0.05) among herds and ranged from 13.1% to 19.3%. The pregnancy rate on day 260 after AI was 53.5%. The average foetal loss after day 45 of pregnancy was 5.0%, ranged between herds from 0 to 9.2% (p > 0.05) and was significantly lower than embryonic loss rate (p < 0.05). The study revealed that in 8 dairy herds in north-east Poland the overall pregnancy loss between days 30 and 260 averaged 13.7% and therefore it is an important factor affecting economic efficiency of dairy production. The foetal loss was less prevalent than the late embryonic loss. Future strategies to minimizing late embryonic loss are needed

Effect of faba beans coat with different phenolics content on the use of protein by rats

The aim of the study was to determine the content and biological activity of phenolic compounds of three faba bean genotypes - a coloured flowered Nadwiślański variety, a coloured flowered "self-ending" Tinos variety and white flowered Caspar variety. Comparing the white flowered Caspar variety containing 0.34% of phenolic compounds in the seed coat, in this proantho- cyanidins made from 0.04%, the Polish Nadwiślański and Tinos variety were characterised as having a higher phenolic compound content in the seed coat, i.e. 8.70% and 11.75%, respectively. The proanthocyanidins content, being 6.54% and 8.32% respectively, is in accordance with the lower values determined in the seed coats of many European high-tannin faba bean varieties. Seed coats containing a higher level of polyphenols, added to casein diets in amounts of 15%, highly significantly lowered the digestibility and protein efficiency. Depending on the variety of seed coat, TD protein coefficients amounted to: Caspar — 85.4%, Nadwiślański — 71.3%, Tinos — 69.3%. For these same diets the NPU index was 71.2, 59.3 and 49.4, and the PER index was 2.63, 2.23 and 2.16, respectively. It was also found highly significant decrease of Ca, Fe, and Zn apparent digestibilities in casein diets with faba bean seed coats of a high polyphenolic content.Celem pracy było określenie zawartości i aktywności biologicznej związków fenolowych trzech genotypów bobiku — kwitnącej kolorowo odmiany Nadwiślański, kolorowo kwitnącej odmiany "samokończącej" Tinos oraz biało kwitnącej odmiany Caspar. Okrywa nasienna porównywanych odmian zawierała ok. 5.5% białka ogółem, 0.15% tłuszczu surowego oraz od 73.1% do 80.6% włókna pokarmowego (tab. 2). Czynnikiem w największym stopniu różniącym okrywę nasienną porównywanych odmian bobiku była zawartość związków fenolowych, a głównie proantocyjanidyn (tab. 3). W porównaniu z odmianą Caspar, zawierającą w okrywie 0.04% proantocyjanidyn, odmiany Nadwiślański i Tinos wyróżniały się dużą, charakterystyczną dla odmian wysokotaninowych, zawartością proantocyjanidyn w okrywie nasiennej; odpowiednio 6.54% i 8.32% (tab. 3). Okrywy o większej zawartości proantocyjanidyn, dodawane do standardowych diet kazeinowych w ilości 15%, wysokoistotnie obniżały strawność i wykorzystanie białka diet (tab. 4). Współczynnik strawności rzeczywistej białka zmalał z 95.9% w grupie kontrolnej do 85.4% lub do 71.3% i 69.3%, jeżeli do diety kazeinowej wprowadzono 15% okrywy nasiennej bobiku o małej lub dużej zawartości proantocyjanidyn. Stwierdzono również wysokoistotne obniżenie współczynników strawności pozornej Ca, P, Mg i Zn z diet kazeinowych z udziałem okrywy nasiennej bobiku o większej zawartości polifenoli (tab. 5)

Short Communication: Ovarian Massage: A simple but useful tool to manage Ovarian Acyclicity in dairy cows.

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Concentrations of oestrogens in blood plasma and seminal plasma of boars during the postpuberal period

Concentrations of oestrogens in the blood plasma and seminal plasma of mature boars are high. However, little is known about their concentrations after reaching sexual maturity. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of oestrogens in blood plasma and seminal plasma of boars during the postpuberal period. Free and conjugated oestrone and oestradiol-17β were determined by radioimmunoassay in blood from the testicular vein and artery, and peripheral circulation as well as in seminal plasma collected from 18 Polish Landrace boars. The animals were divided into three groups (n = 6) according to age (8, 12 and 16 months, respectively). Oestrone was predominant free and conjugated oestrogen. The highest values of oestrogens were measured in the testicular vein (p ≤ 0.05). The concentrations of oestrogens in seminal plasma did not differ from those found in the peripheral circulation. An age-dependent increase in levels of all four oestrogens (p ≤ 0.05) was observed. This can be associated with biochemical maturation of the reproductive system during the postpuberal period