Simulated Surgical Model Design for Myringotomy and Tympanostomy Tube Insertion in Children using Medical Image Processing and 3D-Printing Technologies

Objective: Researchers aimed to design surgical simulation models using medical image processing and 3D-printing technologies to train otolaryngologie residents with correct surgical techniques and study their skills improvement. Materials and Methods: The models were produced for three age ranges (group A: 8-12 years old, group B: 3-7 years old, and group C: 10 months - 2 years old). Eleven residents were practiced from older to younger child models. Overall surgical time and results were evaluated to determine improvement. Both residents and specialists assessed satisfaction surveys after training. Results: The median operational time was significantly reduced by 64.57% in model A and 50.24% in model B (p < 0.05). Operating time and surgical skills improved in order from models A, B, and C. Model C showed the most improvement with correct operational techniques in myringotomy incision (66.7%, p = 0.003) and tympanostomy tube insertion (48.5%, p = 0.011). Residents’ and specialists’ satisfaction assessments exhibited prominent satisfaction results with surgical simulation model training. Conclusion: Surgical simulation models training enhanced residencies’ confidence and improved correct surgical techniques. Residencies can gradually practice skills from fundamental to more complicated techniques in younger child model where symptom occurs

Molecular Approach for Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis Associated AE1 Mutations

The molecular approaches to distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) associated AE1 mutations lead us to understand the genetic and pathophysiological aspects of the acidification defects. An unanticipated high value of the urine-blood (U-B) PCO2 after NaHCO3 loading observed in a case of dRTA and southeast Asian ovalocytosis (SAO) might be from a mistarget of the AE1 to the luminal membrane of type A intercalated cells. The mutations of the AE1 gene resulted in SAO and also affected renal acidification function. Notwithstanding, after the NH4Cl loading in 20 individuals with SAO, the acidification in the distal nephron was normal. The presence of both SAO and G701D mutations of AE1 gene would explain the abnormal urinary acidification in the patients with the compound heterozogosity. In terms of the effect of the mutations on trafficking of AE1, truncated kidney isoform (kAE1) of wild-type showed a 'dominant-positive effect' in rescuing the recessive mutant kAE1 (S773P or G701D) trafficking to the plasma membrane, in contrast with the dominant mutant kAE1 (R589H) resulting in a 'dominant-negative effect' when heterodimerized with the wild-type kAE1. It is notable that the dominant mutants kAE1 (R901X or G609R) expression in MDCK cells clearly results in aberrant surface expression with some mutant protein appearing at the apical membrane. These might result in net bicarbonate secretion and increasing U-B PCO2 in the distal nephron. The molecular physiological and genetic approaches have permitted identification of the molecular defects, predominantly in transporter proteins, and should in turn prompt development of novel therapeutic strategies

Normalization of Red Cell Enolase Level Following Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation in a Child with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

We describe a girl with Diamond-Blackfan anemia with accompanying red cell enolase deficiency. At the age of 9 yr old, the patient received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from her HLA-identical sister who had normal red cell enolase activity. While the post transplant DNA analysis with short tandem repeat has continuously demonstrated a stable mixed chimerism on follow-up, the patient remains transfusion independent and continues to show a steady increase in red cell enolase activity for over two and a half years following bone marrow transplantation

Red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activity in female nulligravid and pregnant rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The alterations of the glutathione peroxidase enzyme complex system occur in physiological conditions such as aging and oxidative stress consequent to strenuous exercise.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Authors optimize the spectrophotometric method to measure glutathione peroxidase activity in rat red blood cell membranes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The optimization, when applied to age paired rats, both nulligravid and pregnant, shows that pregnancy induces, at seventeen d of pregnancy, an increase of both reactive oxygen substance concentration in red blood cells and membrane glutathione peroxidase activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The glutathione peroxidase increase in erythrocyte membranes is induced by systemic oxidative stress long lasting rat pregnancy.</p

The meaning of complementary therapy from the perspective of Thai women with breast cancer

A qualitative study based on Heideggerian phenomenology was conducted with 17 Thai women who had survived breast cancer and had utilized at least one type of complementary therapy. The study explored the meaning of such therapy and the data were collected by an in-depth interview, a demographic data-recording form, and a reflective journal. The data were analyzed by using an interpretative process that was described by Cohen, Kahn, and Steeves. Six themes were generated in relation to the meaning of complementary therapy as perceived by the participants: cancer-controlling treatment; mental strengthening; mind and body therapy; self-determination; natural therapy; and conventional therapy integration. The knowledge gained from this study will help health-care providers better understand the role that complementary therapies play in the lives of women whose lives are threatened by cancer. It is important for health-care providers to be more proactive in the culturally sensitive promotion of using complementary therapies based on the women's values and preferences.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74979/1/j.1442-2018.2009.00432.x.pd

Higher Infection of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 in Human Monocytes of Patients with G6PD Deficiency

The prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is high in Asia. An ex vivo study was conducted to elucidate the association of G6PD deficiency and dengue virus (DENV) infection when many Asian countries are hyper-endemic. Human monocytes from peripheral mononuclear cells collected from 12 G6PD-deficient patients and 24 age-matched controls were infected with one of two DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) strains–the New Guinea C strain (from a case of dengue fever) or the 16681 strain (from a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever) with a multiplicity of infection of 0.1. The infectivity of DENV-2 in human monocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Experimental results indicated that the monocytes of G6PD-deficient patients exhibited a greater levels of infection with DENV-2 New Guinea C strain than did those in healthy controls [mean±SD:33.6%±3.5 (27.2%∼39.2%) vs 20.3%±6.2 (8.0%∼30.4%), P<0.01]. Similar observations were made of infection with the DENV-2 16681 strain [40.9%±3.9 (35.1%∼48.9%) vs 27.4%±7.1 (12.3%∼37.1%), P<0.01]. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time higher infection of human monocytes in G6PD patients with the dengue virus, which may be important in increasing epidemiological transmission and perhaps with the potential to develop more severe cases pathogenically

Partial Deletion of Chromosome 8 β-defensin Cluster Confers Sperm Dysfunction and Infertility in Male Mice

β-defensin peptides are a family of antimicrobial peptides present at mucosal surfaces, with the main site of expression under normal conditions in the male reproductive tract. Although they kill microbes in vitro and interact with immune cells, the precise role of these genes in vivo remains uncertain. We show here that homozygous deletion of a cluster of nine β-defensin genes (DefbΔ9) in the mouse results in male sterility. The sperm derived from the mutants have reduced motility and increased fragility. Epididymal sperm isolated from the cauda should require capacitation to induce the acrosome reaction but sperm from the mutants demonstrate precocious capacitation and increased spontaneous acrosome reaction compared to wild-types but have reduced ability to bind the zona pellucida of oocytes. Ultrastructural examination reveals a defect in microtubule structure of the axoneme with increased disintegration in mutant derived sperm present in the epididymis cauda region, but not in caput region or testes. Consistent with premature acrosome reaction, sperm from mutant animals have significantly increased intracellular calcium content. Thus we demonstrate in vivo that β-defensins are essential for successful sperm maturation, and their disruption leads to alteration in intracellular calcium, inappropriate spontaneous acrosome reaction and profound male infertility

Comparative proteomic analysis of spermatozoa isolated by swim-up or density gradient centrifugation

Abstract BACKGROUND: Reports about the morphologic and functional characteristics of spermatozoa prepared by density gradient centrifugation (DC) or swim-up (SU) have produced discordant results. We have performed a proteomic comparison of cells prepared by DC and SU providing a molecular insight into the differences between these two methods of sperm cell isolation. METHODS: Protein maps were obtained by 2-dimensional (2-D) separations consisting of isoelectrofocusing (IEF) from pI 3 to 11 followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2-D gels were stained with Sypro Ruby. Map images of DC and SU spermatozoa were compared using dedicated software. Intensities of a given spot were considered different between DC and SU when their group mean differed by >1.5-fold (p<0.05, Anova). RESULTS: No differences were observed for 853 spots, indicating a 98.7% similarity between DC and SU. Five spots were DC>SU and 1 was SU>DC. Proteins present in 3 of the differential spots could be identified. One DC>SU spot contained lactate dehydrogenase C and gamma-glutamylhydrolase, a second DC>SU spot contained fumarate hydratase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-2, and a SU>DC spot contained pyruvate kinase M1/M2. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in protein levels found on comparison of DC with SU spermatozoa indicate possible dissimilarities in their glycolytic metabolism and DNA methylation and suggest that DC cells may have a better capacitation potential