Rajesh Varma
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Protective effects of CAPE against testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
No full textObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of CAPE on oxidative stress and apoptosis against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in rat testis after diabetes. Materials and methods: The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control animals, Control animals given CAPE, STZ-induced diabetic animals, and STZ-induced diabetic rats given CAPE. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg). Testicular damage was examined by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and apoptosis was determined by Caspase-3. Potential disorders associated with seminiferous tubular sperm formation were evaluated using the Johnsen score and seminiferous tubule diameters were measured using the Leica Q Win Plus Image Analysis System. Results: Diabetic rats showed an increase in degenerated germ cells along with a decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter. Also, Caspase-3 positive cells were significantly increased in diabetic rats compared to control rats. On the other hand, CAPE significantly reduced the damage and germ cell apoptosis in diabetic rat testis. In testis tissues samples. CAPE treatment significantly decreased the elevated tissue malondialdehyde levels, while increasing the reduced superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that CAPE administered intraperitoneally for 20 days to diabetic rats is a potentially beneficial agent that can be used to reduce testicular damage. </p
Neurofilament light protein as a cerebrospinal fluid marker after whiplash trauma
No full textThe purpose was to investigate if a whiplash trauma may cause an increased concentration of the Neurofilament Light (NFL) protein, and if so; is this related to the injury severity and the radiological findings?Adult car occupants, with neck problems after rear-end collisions, were investigated in a study on Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) in 1997-2001. The study protocol included a neurological examination, plain radiography and MRT of the cervical spine, and a lumbar puncture for Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) within six weeks after the accident. Similar CSF samples were also taken three and twelve months later. All CSF samples were analyzed for NFL. Of 52 subjects who entered the study, 43 completed it. The WAD grade was I in two of the 43 cases, II in 13, and III in 28. No one had radiological signs, indicating injuries to the cervical spine or spinal cord.Six subjects showed an increased NFL concentration at the primary examination. This was judged to be caused by whiplash trauma in three of them (7%). There was no relation between an increased NFL concentration and the number of pathological changes on plain radiographs or MRT. Neither was there a relation between the NFL concentration and the WAD grade. An increased NFL concentration can be found in some WAD patients. It might be difficult to relate such an increase to clinical or radiological findings. Further studies should investigate NFL as a marker for injuries to the central nervous system in whiplash trauma, including minimal traumatic brain injuries. </p
A case study of the association between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, weight training and shoulder dislocation
No full textThis study shows a rare association between the anomalous position of the shoulder girdle, due to scoliosis, with altered shoulder kinematics, injury of joint capsule ligaments and rotator cuff tendons, and shoulder dislocation due to a traumatic event. The subject has developed adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, with convex curvatures to the right side in the lower region of the thorax (with the Cobb angle of 13 degrees) and to the left side of the upper region of the thorax (with the Cobb angle of 24-degrees), both of them with the axial rotation of vertebra and with visible gibbosities. The upper axial rotation has a 6.5-degree, which causes an unbalance between the two shoulder girdles. In normal situations, the shoulder joint is turned 30 degrees anterior to the coronal plane, but in his case, the right shoulder girdle is pulled 28 degrees anterior by the groove, and the left one is pushed 34.5 degrees anterior by the gibbosity. The major effect of shoulder girdle unbalance appears to be the maximum extension of the upper limbs when the hands can’t be aligned to the coronal plane and this is an important risk factor for the injuries of the left shoulder joint, while some weight training exercises are performed.</p
Assessment of farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices toward brucellosis in Sibu Sire District, East Wallaga Zone of Western Oromiya, Ethiopia
No full textBrucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease transferred from sick animals to humans and endemic in Eastern Africa and other countries. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of the knowledge and attitudes relating to brucellosis at the human-animal interface and identify practice at the farm and household level that poses a risk for human infection at the study site. By cross-sectional study design, a total of 120 participants were involved in assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and practice (KAP) toward the disease. From the study, about 20% of respondents knew the disease, out of which 75% heard about it from a veterinary service. Nearly, 79% and 75% understood that the disease can be transmitted between cattle and from cattle to humans respectively. About 54.2% handle placental membranes and aborted fetuses with bare hands. Of the total respondents, 5.8% and 38.3% have had good knowledge and good practice scores respectively. Educational level, with illiterate less, knew, highly influences both knowledge (p = 0.01) and practice (p = 0.018) of the respondents. Males (p = 0.006) had a good practice, which was statistically significant. This indicates that an awareness creation campaign is important so as to equip the farmers in the study areas with knowledge of the disease and to change their malpractice in order to protect themselves from brucellosis.</p
Translational movement of the eyeball under the influence of an air impulse
No full textThe study of the biomechanics of the eye is important for understanding the mechanisms of its functioning and the causes of the development of pathologies. New knowledge helps to better diagnose a number of diseases and develop effective methods for their treatment. The theoretical results obtained can give impetus to new research in this area. In this paper, the displacement of the eyeball as a whole body along the optical axis is considered.</p
Cone cavernoma with a twice secondary intramedullary hemorrhage
No full textPossible complications that may occur and how to solve them before surgery are essential. This case is of special interest for being a low-incidence pathology in a rare location. The case is of high interest because of the importance of evacuating the hemorrhage to prevent sequels and the complexity of its management and highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis of this event.</p
Molecular dynamics of Triton X surfactant molecules with different PEO chain lengths at the air/water interface
No full textThis paper focuses on the structural properties and interface behavior of TX-5, TX-114, and TX-100 molecules at the air/water interface. The results of the density profile show that the polar O atoms of the three TX molecules are basically located on the water surface, and the whole TX molecule is almost parallel to the water surface. The results of the order parameters show that the order parameters of the three TX molecules on the interface are similar and relatively ordered. The TX-100 molecule has the largest gauche defect value. The hydration number of TX molecules at the interface was similar to that of TX molecules in micelles, and the hydration number of PEO chains showed obvious zigzag changes. The research of this paper provides a reference for the further development of TX series micellar and surfactant molecules in the field of pharmaceutical and daily use.</p
Influence of geographical space on the strength of the breathing muscles of elderly residents in the rural and urban areas of the high hinterland of Paraiba
No full textIntroduction: We observe, in the aging process, important functional changes in our organism that can be influenced by the environment in which we are inserted. Objective: To comparatively evaluate the respiratory muscle strength of elderly people in rural and urban areas. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and analytical research, whose data were analyzed quantitatively, which was carried out with elderly people living in the urban area, registered at the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS), and in the rural area, at the Urban Social Center (CSU) in Sousa city, in Paraíba state. The sample was random and for convenience. An anthropometric and respiratory muscle strength assessment was carried out. Individuals aged 60 years or older, of both sexes, who had good mental conditions to answer the questions and could walk were included, and those who had cognitive deficits, visual, cardiac, respiratory, neurological problems, and neoplasms were excluded. Results: 84 elderly people participated in the research, of both sexes, divided into two groups: urban area (n = 43) and rural area (n = 41). With regard to respiratory muscle strength, when comparing the maximal Inspiratory Pressure (IPmax) with the maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) of the elderly in relation to the place of residence, there were no statistically significant results in the evaluated variables (p > 0.05). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the respiratory muscle strength of the elderly evaluated at the expense of the habitat.</p
Study of calf health and management problems in urban and per-urban dairy farms of selected districts of East Wollega Zone of Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia
No full textCalf care is not only essential for the sustenance of the dairy industry but is also essential for preserving and maintaining good-quality of germplasm. On the contrary, high levels of calf mortality have limited dairy herd expansion and genetic improvement in the study area. Therefore, the study was developed to evaluate the existing calf health and management problems and to assess the level of farmers’ knowledge and calf health and management practices in the study areas. Thus, a cross-sectional study design was used and the study districts and peasant association were selected purposely where as the individual household was selected randomly using a systematic random sampling method. A total of 50 households were selected from the three districts and a detailed questionnaire survey format was designed to generate baseline information related to the calf health management system and major calf health problems. As the study result indicated diseases like blackleg, pneumonia, and internal and external parasites were the most dominant calves’ health problems. About 50% of the respondents informed that most calf mortalities occurred due to pneumonia, blackleg, starvation, heartwater, diarrhea, and bloat. Even though all calves were getting access to colostrum feeding, they do not access the optimum level, and regarding calves’ feed natural grass is categorized in the first rank where as concentrated feeds (ground maize, grain, noug cake) and food left over (local brewery by product and straw) were placed in the second and third rank, respectively. And all farmers in the study area have access to veterinary services, however, the accessibility is not uniform among the farmers. In general, as the study revealed there has been poor management practice regarding both feeding and housing of calves in the study area. Therefore, identifying economically important animal diseases and designing strategic preventive and control measures and improvement of calf management practices through awareness creation among farmers is valuable.</p
A possible easy way to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: The role of QRS Index
No full textBackground: Some studies have evaluated the role of QRS duration (QRSd) as predictor of response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). However, their results are still not entirely clear. The goal of our study was to determine the correlation between the relative change in QRS narrowing index (QI) compared to clinical outcome and prognosis in patients who underwent CRT implantation.Methods: We collected clinical and echocardiographic data of 115 patients in whome a CRT device was implanted in accordance with current guidelines. QRS duration before and after CRT implantation and QI were measured. Results: After 6 months, a significant improvement in all echocardiographic parameters was detected. QI was correlated to reverse remodelling (r = +0.19; 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.35, p = 0,049). The value of QI that predicted best LV reverse remodelling after 6 months of CRT was 12.25% (sensitivity = 65,5%, specificity = 75%, area under the curve = 0.737, p = 0,001). Independent predictors of QI are sex, serum creatinine and eGFR measured at baseline and LVEF pre-CRT performed by echocardiography.We observed an betterment in their HF clinical composite score and NYHA class at 12 months. We have also investigated the clinical outcomes and the possible sex differences related to QI.Conclusions: Patients with a larger QI after CRT initiation showed greater echocardiographic reverse remodelling and better outcome from death or cardiovascular hospitalization. QI seems to be an easy-to- measure variable that could be used or evaluated to predict CRT response but further studies are needed.</p