Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumour: Correlation of Histopathology with Clinicopathologic Features

Ovarian steroid cell tumours (not otherwise specified) are rare neoplasms of the ovary and are classified under lipid cell tumours. Their diagnosis can be considered as one of exclusion. Histopathologically, the tumour should carefully be evaluated for microscopic features of malignancy, but it is essential for the clinician and the pathologist to remember that in these tumours, pathologically benign histomorphology does not exclude the possibility of clinically malignant behaviour. Our case study focuses on the comparative findings in a postmenopausal female diagnosed with an ovarian steroid tumour (not otherwise specified). A careful correlation between clinical and surgical evaluation and microscopic analysis is necessary, as is a regular followup

Second trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders in Bangladesh

Background: Amniocentesis is characteristically carried out under ultra-sonographic control, between 15 and 17 weeks of pregnancy. The term prenatal diagnosis firmly comprises all diagnostic modalities aimed at gaining information about the embryo. Its history includes the development of cytogenetic, molecular genetics and molecular cytogenetic methods. Prenatal diagnosis is now possible for a considerable number of genetic diseases and/or birth defects using a variety of techniques. Objective was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and outcome of second trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders.Methods: This was a descriptive study, conducted at fetal medicine center, Family Care Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2014 to December 2019. A total of 350 pregnant women had undergone 15-20 week’s transabdominal amniocentesis under real-time ultrasound guidance. A 23 gm/ 88 mm spinal needle was used. The needle was passed though the maternal abdomen into the amniotic cavity in its longitudinal direction. Once the needle was adequately placed, the amniotic fluid is aspirated with a suction force through a 20 cc syringe. All amniocentesis was performed with “two operators” technique.Results: A total of 350 Amniocentesis were done. Beta thalassemia was most common (79.7%). Followed by aneuploidy (10.2%), hemophilia (6.2%), SMA (2.0%), DMD (1.7%), hematoma (7%), intra amniotic bleeding (2%) and per vaginal bleeding (2.8%). 3.7% aspiration was difficult due to fibroid and retroverted uterus. The overall aspiration success rate was 100%.Conclusions: Second trimester transabdominal amniocentesis in an outdoor setting with the help of real-time sonography is a safe procedure with no significant risk to the mother and the fetus

Seasonal pattern of zooplankton communities and their environmental response in subtropical maritime channels systems in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Zooplankton are a primary component of aquatic food chain and play an important role in the functioning of aquatic food webs. Seasonal variation in community structures of zooplankton and potential environmental drivers were studied, during a 1-year cycle (summer 2015 – spring 2016) in subtropical maritime channels systems in the Bay of Bengal, coastal waters in Bangladesh. A total of 32 species representing 25 families, 13 orders and 15 taxonomic groups were identified. Of these species, 23 distributed in all four season of which 8 were dominant species with high contributions of the total communities. Species number was peaked in autumn and fell in summer while maximum abundance was in the winter and minimum in summer. Multivariate analyses showed that there was a clear seasonal shift in zooplankton community structures in relation with environmental conditions. Species diversity and evenness peaked in summer while the high value of species richness was found in autumn. Multivariate correlation (RELATE) and BIO-ENV analysis demonstrated that seasonal variation in community patterns was significantly correlated with temporal shift of environmental conditions and that variation mainly driven by water transparency, salinity, DO, TSS and nutrients. Thus, this finding implies that the zooplankton community represented a clear seasonal shift shaped by environmental drivers in subtropical channels systems

What is the relationship of low back pain to signs of abnormal skeletal metabolism detected by bone scans?

Background: In approximately 80-85% of Patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), a precise pathoanatomical diagnosis cannot be identified. Mechanisms of bone nociception may contribute to NSLBP. Objective: To determine whether findings on bone scans, which provide a pathophysiological picture of functional activity, are associated with self-reports of NSLBP intensity. Design: A cross-sectional study of the relationship of self-reported chronic NSLBP intensity to the uptake of radiolabeled technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate in the lumbosacral area.Study Participants. Patients referred for bone scans who were at least 18 years old. Outcome Measures: Subject reports of pain intensity and intensity of uptake of radiolabeled technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate in the lumbosacral area. Results: Among subjects who were 65 years or younger, the age-adjusted worst pain intensity accounted for 45% of the variability in the amount of tracer uptake (r = 0.67, P = 0.0006). The association was not significant for those older than 65 years. Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted on possible mechanisms relating bone nociception to chronic NSLBP in individuals who are 65 years or younger

Annual pattern of zooplankton communities and their environmental response in a subtropical maritime channel system in the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Zooplankton plays an important role in aquatic food webs by fluxing of energy from primary producer to subsequent trophic levels in the food chain. The annual pattern of zooplankton communities and potential environmental drivers were studied in the Kohelia channel, Bangladesh from summer 2014 to spring 2015. Samples were collected using net at a depth of 1 m. A total of 32 species belonged to 18 orders, 27 families and 15 taxonomic groups were identified. Of these species, 22 distributed in all four seasons of which 8 were dominant and highly contributing to the total communities. Species number peaked in summer next to winter and fall in spring while maximum abundance was in summer and minimum in spring. Multivariate analyses showed that there was a clear annual pattern in the zooplankton communities. Species diversity and evenness peaked in spring but fall in autumn while the high value of species richness was found in winter. Biological-environmental best matching (BIO-ENV) analyses conformed that community pattern of zooplankton was mainly driven by transparency salinity, and temperature individually or combined with water nutrients. These results demonstrate that annual pattern of the zooplankton community shaped by channel environmental factors in subtropical channel ecosystems, thus might be used for community-based subtropical coastal water bioassessment

Seasonal shift in soft bottom-dwelling community structure in coastal waters of the northern Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean

2021-2031Benthic invertebrate communities play an important role in functioning of benthic food webs and commonly used as potential biomarkers in environmental monitoring programs. The seasonal variation in community structures of macro benthos was studied in northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh from summer 2015 to spring 2016. A total of 45 species belonging to 35 families, 25 orders and 5 classes were identified. Of these species, 14 were commonly distributed and 10 were highest contributors. The species number, total abundance and species richness peaked in summer and sharply dropped in winter whereas evenness and diversity were highest in spring and both were lowest in winter. Multivariate analysis (CAP and RELATE) revealed a clear significant seasonal shift in community patterns of the benthic communities with relation to environmental variables. Further, BIOENV signified that water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and water nutrients were the main drivers to shape the community structure. These finding suggest that seasonal shift in benthic communities in response to environmental changes might be used as bio indicators for discriminating environmental quality status in coastal ecosystems

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p<0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p<0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status