Identification and management of atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome immediately post heart transplantation

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a serious hematologic disorder with high mortality if left untreated. A comprehensive literature review revealed only two cases of aHUS post–heart transplantation. In both cases the disease developed after induction of calcineurin inhibitor therapy. We report a case of immediate post–heart transplantation aHUS, manifested before the induction of, and therefore not associated with, calcineurin inhibitor

Efecto de la hormona de crecimiento sobre los parámetros seminales, el hemograma parcial y el nivel de testosterona en búfalos Nili Ravi

The purpose of this trial was to examine the possible effects of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on semen quality, hematological variables and serum testosterone concentration in Nili Ravi buffalo. Bulls of the treatment group (n=3) were injected with recombinant GH 500 mg in a 15 day interval for 10 consecutive weeks, while bulls of control group (n=3) received equal volume of normal saline solution. Semen samples were collected twice per week and analyzed for physiological parameters. Blood samples collected fortnightly were analyzed for red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, and serum testosterone levels. Data were analyzed statistically using t-test. Results indicated that GH treatment of Nili-Ravi buffaloes significantly (p<0.05) increased ejaculatory volume (8.8±0.2 vs 7.7±0.2 ml), sperm motility (72.6±0.4 vs 67.4±0.7%), mass activity (3.35±0.07 vs 2.52±0.08), sperm concentration (982.2±67.8 vs 731.9±50.5 million/ml), live sperm (80.1±0.3 vs 75.8±0.5%) and serum testosterone (4.02±0.21 vs 2.37±0.07 ng/ml) compared to control bulls. Among hematological variables, lymphocytes were increased (p<0.05), but MCV, WBC count, and neutrophils decreased (p<0.05). Hb, RBC and PCV remained unchanged. However, values of these variables were within normal ranges for buffalo bulls. In conclusion, treatment of Nili-Ravi bulls with GH improved semen quality and increased serum testosterone without ostensible adverse effects on the general state.El propósito de este ensayo fue examinar los posibles efectos de la hormona de crecimiento exógena (GH) sobre la calidad del semen, algunas variables del hemograma y la concentración de testosterona en suero de toros bubalinos Nili Ravi. Los búfalos del grupo tratado (n=3) fueron inyectados con 500 mg de somatotropina recombinante cada 15 días durante 10 semanas consecutivas, mientras que los del grupo control (n=3) recibieron igual volumen de solución fisiológica salina. Las muestras de semen fueron tomadas dos veces por semana y analizadas para evaluar los parámetros fisiológicos. Las muestras de sangre colectadas quincenalmente fueron analizadas para establecer el recuento de glóbulos rojos, la  concentración de hemoglobina, el hematocrito, el volumen corpuscular medio (MCV), recuento de glóbulos blancos (WBC), tasa de neutrófilos y linfocitos, así como los niveles séricos de testosterona. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados estadísticamente por medio del test-t de Student. Los resultados indicaron que el tratamiento con somatotropina aumentó significativamente (p<0,05) el volumen eyaculado (8,8±0,2 versus 7,7±0,2 ml), la motilidad del semen (72,6±0,4 versus 67,4±0,7%), la actividad de masa (3,35±0,07 versus 2,52±0,08), la concentración de espermatozoides (982,2±67,8 versus 731,9±50,5 millones/ml), los espermatozoides vivos (80,1±0,3 versus 75,8±0,5%) y el nivel de testosterona sérica (4,02±0,21 versus 2,37±0,07 ng/ml), comparados con los animales controles. En el hemograma aumentaron los linfocitos (p<0,05) y disminuyeron variables como volumen corpuscular medio, recuento de leucocitos y tasa de neutrófilos (p<0,05). Hemoglobina, concentración de eritrocitos y hematocrito permanecieron inalterados. Todos los parámetros investigados se situaron dentro de los rangos normales para toros bubalinos. En conclusión, el tratamiento de búfalos Nili-Ravi con somatotropina mejoró la calidad del semen y aumentó la testosterona sérica, sin provocar ostensibles efectos adversos en el estado general de los toro

Ewald methods for inverse power-law interactions in tridimensional and quasi-two dimensional systems

In this paper, we derive the Ewald method for inverse power-law interactions in quasi-two dimensional systems. The derivation is done by using two different analytical methods. The first uses the Parry's limit, that considers the Ewald methods for quasi-two dimensional systems as a limit of the Ewald methods for tridimensional systems, the second uses Poisson-Jacobi identities for lattice sums. Taking into account the equivalence of both derivations, we obtain a new analytical Fourier transform intregral involving incomplete gamma function. Energies of the generalized restrictive primitive model of electrolytes ($\eta$-RPM) and of the generalized one component plasma model ($\eta$-OCP) are given for the tridimensional, quasi-two dimensional and monolayers systems. Few numerical results, using Monte-Carlo simulations, for $\eta$-RPM and $\eta$-OCP monolayers systems are reported.Comment: to be published in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (19 pages, 2 figures and 3 tables

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Bangladesh

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Irrigation management / Water resource management / Policy / Planning / Institutions / Organizations / Local government / Non-governmental organizations / Legislation / Water users / Participatory management / Public sector / Water allocation / Cost recovery / Households / Income / Expenditure / Irrigation canals / Bangladesh

Correction to: New eco-friendly low-cost binders for Li-ion anodes

The article New eco-friendly low-cost binders for Li-ion anodes, written by D. Versaci, R. Nasi, U. Zubair, J. Amici, M. Sgroi, M. A. Dumitrescu, C. Francia, S. Bodoardo and N. Penazzi, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink)

Olfactory function and viral recovery in COVID-19

Olfactory and taste disorders were reported in up to 30%-80% of COVID-19 patients. The purpose of our study was to objectively assess smell impairment in COVID-19 patients and to correlate olfactory function with viral recovery

An Experimental Study on the Performance of Calcium Carbonate Extracted from Eggshells as Weighting Agent in Drilling Fluid

Drilling mud density is an important factor in drilling operations. The cost of the drilling mud used for oil and gas well drilling can be 10%-15% of the total drilling cost, and the deeper the well, the more the needed drilling mud. This research aims to prepare a mud that provides performance similar to the conventional mud and to lower down the dependency of primitive CaCO3 technology by exploring it from trash/polluted and naturally occurring materials. For that purpose, a mud was prepared by replacing primeval CaCO3 with the CaCO3 derived from eggshells, as eggshells contain CaCO3 in high amounts which range from 70% to 95%. The success of this project will provide an affordable solution and an alternative way to explore new methodologies for obtaining CaCO3. According to the 2017 Report of Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) 18,000 Million table eggs are consumed per year in Pakistan. The obtained results of this research are quite satisfactory. CaCO3 obtained from eggshells is used in high amounts, 275–410g to achieve density ranges from 9.5 to 11.0 pounds per gallon whereas, pure the needed quantity of pure CaCO3 is 150g to obtain the density of 10.5 pounds per gallon. Apart from this, it is also observed that eggshell based CaCO3 samples are more efficient in rheological properties compared to the market samples of CaCO3 t. The pH of pure CaCO3 sample of 10.5 pounds per gallon density is almost the same with the sample of eggshell CaCO3 of 10.5 pounds per gallon density

Addressing the pitfalls when designing intervention studies to discover and validate biomarkers of habitual dietary intake

Introduction Dietary exposure monitoring within populations is reliant on self-reported measures such as Food Frequency Questionnaires and diet diaries. These methods often contain inaccurate information due to participant misreporting, non-compliance and bias. Urinary metabolites derived from individual foods could provide additional objective indicators of dietary exposure. For biomarker approaches to have utility it is essential that they cover a wide-range of commonly consumed foods and the methodology works in a real-world environment. Objectives To test that the methodology works in a real-world environment and to consider the impact of the major sources of likely variance; particularly complex meals, different food formulations, processing and cooking methods, as well as the dynamics of biomarker duration in the body. Methods We designed and tested a dietary exposure biomarker discovery and validation strategy based on a food intervention study involving free-living individuals preparing meals and collecting urine samples at home. Two experimental periods were built around three consecutive day menu plans where all foods and drinks were provided (n = 15 and n = 36). Results The experimental design was validated by confirming known consumption biomarkers in urinary samples after the first menu plan. We tested biomarker performance with different food formulations and processing methods involving meat, wholegrain, fruits and vegetables. Conclusion It was demonstrated that spot urine samples, together with robust dietary biomarkers, despite major sources of variance, could be used successfully for dietary exposure monitoring in large epidemiological studies